high carb low carb I am confused

You are right, your diet is working for you and that is the important thing !

Many Diabetics cannot tolerate the amount of carbs that you eat so they give their own opinions based on their experiences which can be confusing.

Diabetes is a condition where we have difficulty coping with carbs so it does make sense to limit the amount we eat. It is the amount that people can tolerate that is different in each one of us.

We each have to find the diet that works for us and you obviously have....as they say...if it ain't broke don't fix it ! You levels indicate that you are doing well without changing anything.

It is however always interesting to read how others cope and control their Diabetes and it reinforces that often quoted phrase on the forum that we are all different.

 

GINNFLY,

Sounds like what you are doing is working a treat for you, which just proves that we are indeed 'all different' and there isn't one diet or method that is suitable to all. Pleased your hypo's have stopped, they can be a pain in the ....!

Best wishes

Nigel

 

Gill it sounds like you are doing great. And therefore the saying "If it aint broke don't fix it" springs to mind.

Congratulations

 

Hi Gill,

If you had a car that was reliable and suited your needs would you change it if someone came along and said, "That car is not right for you and I advise you to get rid of it and buy the one that I recommend?"
It is obvious that you are doing the right thing to manage your diabetes, (NOTE YOUR DIABETES) and that is why there is no one size fits all.

Congratulations on your HBA1c, you are doing really well.

Catherine.

 

GINNYFLY - when you have type 2 diabetes you have lost the ability to normally metabolize carbohydrates. You have two choices: you can cut them out of your diet, or you can take meds. If you try to do both, you will run into trouble. Hypos are an example of that. If you are trying to get off the meds by diet and exercise, most of the benefit will come from diet if the diet involves significantly cutting the carbs. There are books that can help you. I recommend the newest Atkins book (by Westman, Phinney and Volek) and that diabetics stay on the induction phase indefinitely. Good luck.

 

I don't know if you realised it or not but the post you replied to is a year old and GINNFLY has not visited the forum since 20th July 2010, just thought I'd point that out to you.

Personally, I would hate that but that's just me. I like a variety of food in my diet otherwise it can get pretty boring. I also don't like the taste of fat and always cut the fat off before cooking/frying. I tried it a couple of times but I nearly vomited and hat to spit it out again. I don't like eating things like octopus/eal or horse meat either but there are people who love it and eat it by the ton, just a taste thing I guess.

 

Hi Benedict, can't find any reference to the promotion of low carb in the rules above.

What's the difference between discussing low carb and promoting it? I presume I can tell people about my success using low carb? But then surely that's promoting it? You could argue that any discussion of low carb that puts any kind of positive spin on it is 'promoting' it?

Could you clarify?

As to the OP, seems you are doing a great job, keep doing what you are doing!!!

Your next Hba1c will give you an indication of how well you are doing though. Personally, as a type 2 myself, I aim for Hba1cs in the 5s. There's no way I could eat what you are eating and get away with it.

I often run at 3.9 or so and don't feel 'hypo' at all, it's just what you are used to. We are all different after all, but then I take no meds whatsoever, this clearly complicates things if you do.

 

Canuck posted:

Could you explain this a bit further, please, Canuck? I take 3 x 500mg Metformin daily, at my own request, as well as following what is basically the Atkins diet at a level (at present) of between 50g and 70g of carbohydrate. I have had to up my carbohydrate levels at present - I have lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) for which I am taking untold amounts of prescribed painkillers, all of which cause constipation, so I've added a couple of slices of organic wholemeal bread and 50g of high-fibre granola, daily, to the basic Aktins induction diet.

I have had great success with Atkins previously (80lbs in 14 months on Induction). While I had an intital fast weight loss, and corresponding lowering of BGs, HbA1c and BP, in the first months after diabetes diagnosis, I very quickly stalled, and asked for the metformin because I thought it might well be insulin resistance that was slowing the weight loss. Apart from the LSS, I am extremely healthy.

We've discussed fat before, Ka-mon :lol: , and will still have to agree to differ! I'm fortunate that I can eat it, and I don't find Atkins Induction in the slightest bit boring! Mind you, I even like chicken salad for breakfast - strange woman!

Infinite Variety in Infinite Combination :wink:

Viv 8)

 

I am confused too Viv, but for a different reason. Quite an ambiguous statement that does not take anyone else's management into consideration. Other methods producing good results with no medication/some medication are seemingly not possible either. :roll: :roll:

 

Yes we have discussed it before viv but the good Doctor might not know and why the "Infinite induction" sounds very boring for me. You are after all restricted as to what you can eat and hence why I find it boring.

I prefer chicken sandwich for breakfast and loads of salad with my lunch/dinner.
As the good Doctor hasn't (intentionally or unintentionally) replied to my questions in this and another thread re salt intake, I am left with no option but to take his advice with a "pinch of salt" (pan definitely intended) :lol: :lol:

 

Viv, re medication and low carb.
You might also like to listen to this podcast from Dr Bernstein.
He quite clearly says he prescribes medication for people alongside his diet and that only those that have what he seems to term very mild diabetes can manage diabetes without some form of drugs.
http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=19381665

 

Hi Phoenix

Yes, I've read Bernstein - he was the reason I knew to ask for Metformin in the first place! I'm not confused about Canuck's statement, I'd just like to see it expanded a bit so that I know what he's talking about.

It's possible that there are other diabetes medications out there that could cause problems with a very low carb diet (or vice versa). For instance, if a person on insulin suddenly went very low carb, and didn't understand enough to adjust their dose, there could be great problems. Could any of the other meds cause problems in this situation? I don't know, I only take Metformin. I'd like to know more.

It's very easy for someone who knows a subject very well, to forget that others don't, and to miss out the simplest basics in any argument because they are so simple and basic. I learned that lesson in the late 1960s, trying to teach people to use banking accounting machines in the pre-computer days. I've never forgotten it. Always assume you have to start at the very basic level, if you don't know your audience. That's one of the reasons why this site is so good. It caters for every level of knowledge.

Viv 8)

 

For people with conditions associated with insulin resistance, a low-carb diet is an alternative to the current approach of high-carb plus meds. I don't see how making this statement is construed as "promoting" a low-carb diet in violation of the forum rules - please clarify.

Metformin is the drug with the lowest risk of hypoglycemia. It reduces glucose output from the liver and improves glucose uptake in the periphery. If you are reducing carbs while taking metformin your chances of having a problem of hypos is not great. Most people, however, should be able to get off their metformin or significantly reduce it. The other drugs that stimulate insulin production, however, will get you into trouble if you continue to take them in their usual dosages when you start a low-carb diet. Same for insulin. Of course, type 1 diabetics will always need some insulin and severe type 2's may need to continue taking some insulin or meds as well. For most people (type 2), however, getting completely off meds and insulin should be the goal of carbohydrate restriction.

An Atkins induction level of carb restriction is not hard to do. I have been doing it for almost nine years now and would not consider any other way of eating.

 

That's what I thought, Canuck - thanks for the explanation!

I seem to have slipped off Induction and on to Ongoing Weight Loss, thanks to these dratted painkillers! Fortunately my blood glucose readings are staying stable and well within target range, so I should be okay for a while. I have a CT scan lined up, an interview with Orthopaedics and another with the pain management clinic. After that I should be able to get back on Induction - like you I enjoy it and have no problem with staying on it.

Viv 8)

 

Would you honestly say the same if you could control your diabetes any other way and minimal meds?

It's not the only way to control diabetes though is it?

 

Surely it's all about finding the right way for you as an individual. After all, we are all different.