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PickledPixie

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Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Prefer not to say
Treatment type
Other
A bit of a lurker for a while but now here to say hello :woot:

I have been a Type 2 for almost 13 years (yikes!) and I have been on basal insulin (Levemir) for less than a year, previously been on various tablets and I am still on 2g of Metformin a day.

My last HbA1c was 117%, but that was the result of a difficult period when I had stopped all my medication, previously after commencing insulin last year, it was still at 94% which is one of the reasons I kind of gave up, it felt like even on insulin I was losing the battle of getting any decent control.

I know that diet plays a massive part in controlling blood sugar levels, but it's only in the past 12 months or so that I realised just how many foods I eat and love that are causing the spikes in my blood sugars! My diet has improved dramatically in the last few years and I have lost 30kg, still a long way to go. I need to get my HbA1c lower than 65% that is my target at the moment.

I've also on NovaRapid but it's hit and miss for me, as I am so worried about weight gain on this, in fact I find I have gained 3kg in the two weeks I have been on it, so for now I have ceased it again. Plus I felt I was taking massive amounts of it with meals and not seeing any positive results.

I am hoping by finally taking the plunging and coming here to get some helpful advice and support from others who have or are experiencing the same.
 
PickledPixie said:
A bit of a lurker for a while but now here to say hello :woot:

I have been a Type 2 for almost 13 years (yikes!) and I have been on basal insulin (Levemir) for less than a year, previously been on various tablets and I am still on 2g of Metformin a day.

My last HbA1c was 117%, but that was the result of a difficult period when I had stopped all my medication, previously after commencing insulin last year, it was still at 94% which is one of the reasons I kind of gave up, it felt like even on insulin I was losing the battle of getting any decent control.

I know that diet plays a massive part in controlling blood sugar levels, but it's only in the past 12 months or so that I realised just how many foods I eat and love that are causing the spikes in my blood sugars! My diet has improved dramatically in the last few years and I have lost 30kg, still a long way to go. I need to get my HbA1c lower than 65% that is my target at the moment.

I've also on NovaRapid but it's hit and miss for me, as I am so worried about weight gain on this, in fact I find I have gained 3kg in the two weeks I have been on it, so for now I have ceased it again. Plus I felt I was taking massive amounts of it with meals and not seeing any positive results.

I am hoping by finally taking the plunging and coming here to get some helpful advice and support from others who have or are experiencing the same.
Click to expand...


welcome here PickledPixie
you have come to the right place..
I would recomend you going low really low carb just to start with for a month as see the fantastic results that can create healthwise... and also look a all the amazing recipi´s of all sorts of low carb treats there are in this forum...
just ask and most time there will be sweet people answering what you ask for .... if there is an answer :)

I´ll tag @daisy1 so yuo´ll get the information and links everyone new in here gets -
 
Hi. Be aware that insulin itself doesn't cause weight gain but it enables the body to fully use the carbs you eat. If you have gained weight with it then you are probably having too many carbs. Note that having insulin if you have excess weight may not work very well as you would have insulin resistance limiting what the insulin can achieve. So set yourself a daily carb limit of, say, 150gm or less if you can and see what that does.
 
You are in the right place, but not using insulin and letting your blood glucose levels rise is now being recognised as an unfortunate way to lose weight as it is so dangerous.
The rapid increase in weight when you began to try to control the high blood glucose, is because your carb consumption is higher than you need so it is converted to fat by the insulin. If you can reduce your carbs to the point where keeping your blood glucose at safe levels with insulin doesn't increase your weight then you should see your Hba1c number fall.
 
Thank you all for your warm replies and welcomes.

I am planning to go down the LCHF route and I appreciate there is lots of information online for me to use, but I am worried this kind of diet is not going to be easy on such a low budget which I am currently on!

I will do this, I want desperately to see those numbers fall!
 
Hi pixie, I think even on a budget low carb is doable especially if you read Dr Jason Fung.
Eggs are within most people's budget, mackerel in those little tins, cheese, full fat yogurt from Lidl. Frozen berries which can be defrosted daily. It's not about eating meat it's more like good fat, with veg and meat on the side. Give it a couple of weeks and your sweet tooth goes.
 
I dont think low carb foods are any more expencive than being high carbing.. maybe I use more money on vegetables and berries, cream and high fat yoghurts ,but then I don´t use any on chips and cake and potatoes and bread anymore and on all sorts of candy ..
 
I don't find it an expensive option - as long as you aren't buying things such as skinless boneless chicken breasts but get packs of chicken thighs, not expensive steaks but a slow roasting joint to cook in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. I buy packs of kippers and put them in the freezer, about a pound each. As long as you make good choices you can eat really well for not much.
 
Resurgam said:
I don't find it an expensive option - as long as you aren't buying things such as skinless boneless chicken breasts but get packs of chicken thighs, not expensive steaks but a slow roasting joint to cook in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. I buy packs of kippers and put them in the freezer, about a pound each. As long as you make good choices you can eat really well for not much.
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Thank for your reply. I don't eat fish, so I shall have to rule that out and I am not a fan of chicken thighs, although saying this I am not sure I have had them! I do like other meats though and we have a good market in my town so perhaps I'll see what is on offer there rather than the supermarket!
 
Strangely enough since I was diagnosed a few weeks ago I've never seen so much cheese in the reduced for a quick sale section of the supermarket. Done OK on cooked meats like Mortadella and Parma ham too. Even Cream. Maybe its just the stuff people are avoiding thinking they are being heathy post Christmas, but for me its rather good.
 
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