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Happy second time around???

C

comfort

Well-Known Member
Messages
135
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi everyone. A couple of years ago I had great results on HFLC. My fasting numbers dropped from 10 to 5s and 6s and I lost over 3stones.I then had to face a diagnosis and treatment for cancer. It was very successful - thank goodness. However, I went totally off the rails diet wise and wouldn't face up to the diabetes. At last I am back on track. For the past two weeks I have stuck rigidly and happily to HFLC yet my numbers are slow to come down this time. At the start of the diet this time my fasting reading was around 12. After 2 weeks it is now between 10 and 8. I am not on medication. Will the readings get lower if I stick with the HFLC or have I pushed things too far this time. I want to avoid medication if I can. Hope you can help. Thanks for any help you can give.xx
 
comfort said:
Hi everyone. A couple of years ago I had great results on HFLC. My fasting numbers dropped from 10 to 5s and 6s and I lost over 3stones.I then had to face a diagnosis and treatment for cancer. It was very successful - thank goodness. However, I went totally off the rails diet wise and wouldn't face up to the diabetes. At last I am back on track. For the past two weeks I have stuck rigidly and happily to HFLC yet my numbers are slow to come down this time. At the start of the diet this time my fasting reading was around 12. After 2 weeks it is now between 10 and 8. I am not on medication. Will the readings get lower if I stick with the HFLC or have I pushed things too far this time. I want to avoid medication if I can. Hope you can help. Thanks for any help you can give.xx
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Hi comfort. Welcome back, albeit a pity about the circumstances. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

As you probably know, nobody can tell how things will go for you, looking forward.

One thing that I do sometimes think when folks arrive in similar circumstances as yourself, I think sometime when some people come back and adopt their previous way of doing things, they do it from where they left off, and not where they started.

You're obviously testing, which is fab, but are you also keeping a food diary, so that every few days you can look back and review your food intake and sense check to ensure you're actually doing what you think you are? Many folks find when they've trimmed up, and their numbers come down, they add a few more tings back into their diet, because their newly trained and adjusted bodies can cope with them.

Did you regain any of your lost weight during your break from the wagon at all? If you did, that probably isn't helping.

Be patient. Our bodies like to run to routines, including the blood sugar range that is its comfort zone. When adjustments are made, the body tries to compensate for that change to keep it in its comfort zone, by dumping stored glucose from the liver into the blood. After a short while (everyone is different how long), the body effectively gives in and accepts the new comfort zone.

When I was newly my numbers used to notch down, rather than slide in a nice smooth line. Maybe some of the foregoing is happening with you.

Do you have any records from when you were diagnosed to see what happened last time?

Good luck with it all.
 
Thanks for the reply and breath. I kept a record of the numbers but not the food. I think recording the food would be a good step. I'm at u know how it's going. Cheers.
 
comfort, it took me about 4 weeks to bring my numbers down, and they continued to improve over the year that followed. :)
 
I think it is often slower to re-gain control than it was the first time. But stick with it! It'll be worth it. :D
 
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Yes, I agree with you @comfort, it is harder the second time around.

I was doing very well, this time last year, then life got in the way and I drifted a bit, gained back some of the weight but finally gave myself a big talking to and started again. I was doing exactly the same as I was before but losing very little weight and my BG wasn't going back down to the numbers it used to be at. So I'm shaking things up a bit - I'm being much stricter and eating less than 20g of carbs a day and higher fat and have lost a couple of pounds - I'm just hoping that soon my BG goes back down to my old levels.
 
Hi @comfort

Two weeks isn't long enough for you to start worrying. Take comfort from the fact it is trending downwards.

Are you just testing your fasting? This isn't the best indicator of how well you are doing because of the different factors outside our control that come in play. Do keep a food diary (including portion sizes) and record all your levels alongside - before meals and 2 hours after first bite. This will help you with your food choices and portion sizes. I judge how well I am doing from my pre-evening meal readings. By that time our insulin resistance is somewhat improved, and if you don't have an afternoon snack it is like a mini-fast anyway.

Great news about the cancer treatment being a success!
 
I saw my levels drifting downwards in January, and now that the weather is better and I am going out more there are even lower ones from time to time. If you can avoid spikes that seems to allow things to settle down - but keep testing after meals as a nice brisk walk in the fresh air can cause appetite to overcome caution.
 
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but great it was successful!!

I need to stay under 20 c per day and stay away from dairy to maintain my bs and weight.
I'm thinking perhaps the cancer might have something to do with why it's not acting like it used to a few years ago. Or maybe a few years ago you had more beta cells and burnt some out when you were off the rails?

Perhaps lowering your carbs , moderating your protein ( as this can turn to bs as well) and eating just enough healthy fat to satisfy. Many people find avocado does very little to their bs.
 
Hello @comfort I too had a lapse last year and for 6 months I had my head in the sand and ate anything and everything. In October my HbA1c had gone up to 59and I had put on weight! After my doctor had said he wanted to increase my medication I asked for 3 months . I went back on to LCHF diet and swimming. Your right things are not as quick the second time but they do happen! My hbAc1 last week was 44 and I have lost weight too. (Weight loss 26 lbs in 4 months) You have had a tough time recently but don't worry things will happen now your back on track :)
 
Hi @comfort Coming down from 12 to 10 and less in just two weeks is quite impressive. You are doing well!
 
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