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HELP !!!! ... Looking for advice/guidance :)

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xxxleonadxxx

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Location
North Ayrshire, Scotland
Hi all,

I have been on the forum for a while and have sought much solace that I am not the only one who struggles .... even though I feel as though I am hee hee :oops:

Anyhooooo ...... I have struggled for years to get meds right and still to this day I haven't. When I started off on meds (insulin particularly) many years ago I was normal weight, normal BMI etc and was happily plodding along. Now however, I have increased in weight (4 stone over) with an icreased BMI and what feels like a failing body :( . I have spoken to my endo, DSN and GP and expressed concern at the gain, they are all telling me its ok and due to my circumstances they expected nothing else. I feel weird as its usually docs etc that harp on at people to lose weight, whereas I'm being told its ok ......... well my last appointment was funny as I told them it wasn't ok and that I wantd to get back to the old me, who I know is in there somewhere ......... My query is .... whats the best way to start, and progress ?????

My nutritionist says she recommends that people with diabetes maintain a healthy ratio of carbs, fat, and protein. The ideal being ; 50% to 55% carbs, 30% fat, 10% to 15% protein. Now having read previous posts most would disagree with this level of carb intake ...... what would anti-carbers suggest?

Exercise is another issue, I love to walk and do so on a daily basis but want to introduce more ..... my docs weren't overly pleased and advised that I start slowly ..... to me the walking is a start so I want to move on to somethng more substancial ..... but what would I see the best results from? (and quickest)

And lastly .... what are peoples thoughts on surgery .... its always a last resort I spose lol :twisted:

Any advice gratefully appreciated xxx
 
xxxleonadxxx said:
My nutritionist says she recommends that people with diabetes maintain a healthy ratio of carbs, fat, and protein. The ideal being ; 50% to 55% carbs, 30% fat, 10% to 15% protein. Now having read previous posts most would disagree with this level of carb intake ...... what would anti-carbers suggest?

I wouldn't agree with that ratio. I just calculate all the carbs I eat in a day and have a varied healthy diet with much less fat than shown. There may well be 'anti carbers' on here but I'm not one of them. We recommend everybody finds out what works for them and stick to it. I tried low carbing, came off it because of the high fat content and now use low GI/GL method to control my Bg levels, which means strict portion control.

The bonus is that you also lose weight by doing so. I have lost over 5 stone since January 2009 using this method. I do eat carbs every day, however my intake of them is reduced, probably about half what I used to eat. I now eat about 60-90g per day. I can eat many things now that were previously 'off limits' because of the weight loss, another bonus.

There are many things you might need to give up first, but later they might be able to go back on the menu !!
Click to expand...
 
Hi Cugila,

Thanks for that .... I too thought the carb ratio was a bit high. I haven't (and honestly don't intend to :o ) counted the carbs I eat in a day, however my average daily food is:

Brekkie: (about 9am) Cereal (Special K), Cup of Green Tea
Lunch: (about 12 noon) Ham Salad (no eggs etc) or Prawn Salad and diet coke
Snack: (about 3pm) Yogurt and one piece of fruit (usually tangerine)
Dinner: (about 6pm) Fish or Chicken (ether poached or steamed) with MAX 2 baby potatoes and side salad.
Supper: (about 9pm) small yogurt

Through the day I drink water and have the occassional extra diet coke.

As you will see I eat every 3 hours, I have to ..... If I leave a longer gap I am physically sick. Unknown why but .... eating every 3 hours works lol

Leona.
 
Restricting the total amount of carbohydrate you eat and substituting more fibre containing carbs for the ones you do eat will help get blood sugars under control. Less insulin is needed for such meals. Any one on injected insulin will need to remember to cut their insulin dose in proportion to carb reduction.

Keep up the walking. The most effective way to get in shape and reduce weight is interval training or resistance/weight training. You can join a gym and get personalised instruction or use dvds. The advantage of a gym is that you get to know exactly how to do the exercises and you don't have to build up a collection of equipment. Once you know what you are doing you can do more home based routines with dvds.

Although resistance training is the most effective exercise for body changes it won't work for you if you don't enjoy doing it and keep at it.

If you are not that into exercise yet, you may also enjoy going to group classes. Are there any available. These are not likely to focus on weight training but other components of your fitness. Dancing, yoga, pilates, aerobics, swimming all have a place in promoting physical fitness. Just allowing yourself to have 1, 2 or 3 periods of "me time" where you choose to focus on looking after yourself is a great habit to get into.

Another approach is to keep adding small changes to your eating and exercise routine very gradually so that they become habits. Eg stopping using the lift, stop eating desserts, go for a long walk once every weekend.

Have you any pals who would be companions for you?
 
Hi Katharine,

Thanks very much for that. I have loads of friends who are keen to help me get back into the whole fitness side, I am a member of a gym (have been for many years) but sadly my usage of it has been lacking n the last few years, not wholly my fault.

Insulin dosages before exercise etc is also an issue, I am allergic to fast acting insulin and currently take a large dose of lantus morning and evening (my dose was changed at my last appointment) so currently take 320 units per day split into 2 doses (1 am/1 pm) this means that I can't change the dose for when i'm doing exercise towards the evening.

I used to live in the gym before everythng went the wrong way lol :lol: and boxercise was my fav, 1/2 boxing 1/2 circuit training. I foud that this worked well for me but sadly I can no longer do it ... failing body kicks in lol

I do have (and love) my Wii fit and use that quite regularly, I think I'm farly fit but I think what I need is to see results ........ I think bcos I don't see any then somethings not working (if that makes sense) :roll: What am I like :D

Now 'me time' thats an issue, I really have to do exercise that fits round my kids and work, hubby works long shifts and by the time he gets home at night its too late for me to go to the gym or swimming etc (I have asked for a swimming pool at home but he just gives me funny looks lol). I struggle to go swimming as none of my kids are confident themselves (they are 6 and 8) so that kinda knocks out swimming.
 
Hi Leona. Would you mind amending your profile to show that you are on Insulin as well as Byetta. It helps us when answering posts to know what we are dealing with.
Thank you. :)
 
Go into User control panel at top left of board.

Click on Profile.

Edit your entry and then click submit to save it.
 
Sadly no, not a typo.

I was on 200 units a day until doc changed it recently and sadly my dose goes up by 6 units every 4 days. Last time I spoke to my endo he told me that there are people out there taking up to 1000 units per day :cry: As I said to him, I hope I never get to that point (although he gave me a sly smile .... not sure how to take that one lol)

Leona.
 
Leona, I know you said you do not count carbs but, with that amount of insulin maybe you should think about it. The more insulin you take the more weight you will put on. Reducing the amount of carbs in your diet will help reduce the amount of insulin you need to take which in turn will help your lose weight.
 
Carb counting seems a scarey process lol

What about an atkins style diet or cutting carbs completely .... or is this a no-no?

I think what bothers me about counting carbs is havng to find out exactly what is a carb and how to measure it and then finding out that what I enjoy is bad and that i'd be no longer allowed it :cry: lol
 
xxxleonadxxx said:
Carb counting seems a scarey process lol

What about an atkins style diet or cutting carbs completely .... or is this a no-no?

I think what bothers me about counting carbs is havng to find out exactly what is a carb and how to measure it and then finding out that what I enjoy is bad and that i'd be no longer allowed it :cry: lol
Click to expand...

I personally would not recommend an Atkins or No carb diet. My opinion based on my own experience.

It is very simple to get a carb counting book which lists most foods and gives the total carb content per 100g weight. It again is a simple matter to calculate the amount of carbs in each meal.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

As for what a carb is read this:
The main carbs to avoid or reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such a bread, potatoes, pasta and rice also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

Unfortunately, as we all found we have to give up some pleasures in order to have better health....
a stark choice !

Start counting and adjusting portion sizes with one meal at a time and let us know how you get on. You MUST test before the meal and also 2 hrs after the meal. That and keeping a food diary which relates to the readings will tell YOU exactly what is best to avoid or reduce.
 
Carb counting doesn't mean that suddenly your favourite foods are bad and forbidden. It just means that you can do more insulin if you want an extra roast potato less insulin if you just have a chicken salad. Cutting out all carbs is more work than carb counting for a lot of people asots of foods have more carbs than you'd expect and can still affect your blood sugars.

I tried proper low carbing but I felt weak and sick all the time and deeply resented not being allowed potatoes. After a few weeks all I could think about was crisps and a latte so I gave up on carb free before I went proper mental!

However I do think the 50% carbs thing is counterproductive. Personally I like most of my meals to be 60% vegcsis it means I can stuff my face without getting too fat. Also protein is handy as it contains chemicals that fool your brain into thinking you're full faster, as opposed to carbs which fill you up when you eat a larger volume and also create cravings for more carbs.

Sounds like you're on quite a lot of insulin, that's some serious insulin resistance. I take approx 50 units of humalog and 36 units of lantus, and apparently that's high. I think the only way you can sort this out is to count carbs and try to eat less of them.

Good luck!
 
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