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How can I increase my weight but not increase Hba1c please ?

Littletenderness

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20
Hello everyone, I am 67 have type 2 Diabetes and I was recently given the opportunity to partake in a Diabetes management course and so over the last 5 weeks have changed the type and portion size of carbs I am eating. My weight has gradually dropped from a stable 7stone 13 lbs to 7 stone 6 lbs and as I am a medium frame 5ft 1inch tall I now look like a bag of bones ! My main problems are how to work out how many carbs a person of my type could healthily eat in order to regain original weight and then maintain it. Before the course I was maintaining my weight and my last Hba1c was 53 (is that correct way to say it ?) The DB management team said that was perfect but after listening to their advice about slow release carb food and using, pearl barley, black rice, sweet potatoes etc all in small amounts, the weight is dropping off me and I don't want or need to lose it ! Can anyone suggest a 'weight gain ' food that will not raise blood glucose levels, please in desperation!
 
Normal weight for a lady of your height is between 100 lbs and 125 lbs. It might be an idea to look at the Harris Benedict formula to calculate recommended calories.

BMR calculation for women (imperial) BMR = 655.1 + ( 4.35 × weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 × height in inches ) - ( 4.7 × age in years )

There are a couple of revision but they all come out pretty close.

All the best with this juggling act we have to perform.
 
Hi. Normally I would suggest increasing proteins and fats and continue to keep the carbs sensibly down and low-GI. The carbs can be increased a bit if, and only if, it doesn't affect your HBA1C. Sometimes meds can enable you to control blood sugar together with having some carbs but overall choose lower carbs rather than too many meds. BTW I'm assuming you aren't actually late onset T1 where the body starts to burn fat as it doesn't have enough insulin to use the carbs you eat. There are tests if needed. Come back here if the weight loss continues for some further thoughts and then see the GP.
 
DavidGrahamJones said:
BMR calculation for women (imperial) BMR = 655.1 + ( 4.35 × weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 × height in inches ) - ( 4.7 × age in years )
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I should mention that a formula with 4 variables (2 usually fixed - height and age) means that you can use it to calculate other things. So in theory you can calculate how many calories you should eat to maintain the weight, and how many calories to reach a certain weight. So, if you wanted to weigh 8 stone, put that in and you'll get the number of calories required.

One slight problem, as useful as this formula might be, it's flawed, in that it doesn't work for everyone (it says I should eat 2300 calories just to lie in bed 24/7) and as you lose weight it's accuracy goes adrift possibly because you weigh less therefore require less. You can play with the formula to see how little that calorie reduction is. I created a spread sheet so I can see calories required for all weights from 12 1/2 stone to 20 + stone (can't remember). A good guideline but not 100%.
 
Hi,

The problem with many of these diabetes diet plans is they cater for those needing to lose weight.

I follow a very low carb diet and lost all my excess weight in the first 9 or 10 months and then had to decide what to do to maintain and not lose any more. It was difficult. I had no intention of increasing my carbs because I wanted to continue to improve my diabetes control. All I could do was increase fats and protein. I had to go back to basics and in addition to carb counting I had to calorie count. By trial and error, and using my meter and my scales, I did eventually find the right balance. For me it was a matter of introducing cheese to my diet (it wasn't previously in my menu) plus an extra egg each day, and (purely for medical reasons you understand ) I went back to my old habit of a glass of red every evening. It was a fine balance, but I got there in the end and have maintained my new weight for 2 and a half years. It really was a matter of eating to both my meter and my scales.

I would not advise you to increase your carbs at all. That will lead to worsening diabetes control.
 
I find it hard to imagine anyone refusing to eat more cheese! That's just me

Agree 100% : one's weight should stabilize on ones total calories in vs out (although gaining weight / losing weight is more complex than that simple formula, it does in fact form the basis of ones' weight in the end, I mean, it has to, this is physics there is no way around conservation of energy).

Just boost fats a bit + red wine is very good indeed! I love my broccoli with tons of melted cheese on top. yum Often that's be me entire dinner, no meat necessary (excess protein is also bad since it gets converted to sugar).
 
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Thanks David, I guess if I was able to get back to 112lbs or 8 stone then I would be halfway between the two which seems that it was a perfect weight for me and i was happy. The 104lbs has left me looking like a walking skeleton covered in skin. NOT a pretty sight !!
 

That sounds like common sense. As far as I know I am Type 2 and have been for 27 years. i have been told that I have controlled it well as the highest HBa1c I have had is the one I quoted of 53. However, I didn't realise that one could become a Type 1 from being Type 2 ! Is that what you meant ? I will increase the proteins by the way and thanks X
 
Thanks very much for the reply. So I guess I can still gain weight by eating fats and protein. I have to admit that the worry over the falling weight has put me in a panic and I have increased my carbs today because Im so fed up with the anxiety., I thought I'd just go back to eating as I did before which seems to have been averagely okay. I guess I have to find a happy medium with my diet as you did. thanks again X
 

I strongly urge you not to go back to eating carbs. Your HbA1c of 53 is still well within the diabetic range (It is the level I was diagnosed with). If you want to get it lower, or at the very least no higher, then carbs are not the answer. Fats and protein are the answer - maybe from the same food such as eggs and cheese. It does require some effort with measuring portions, recording food, weight and BS levels. Good luck.
 
I was in a similar position to you....I am about the same age but taller. I exercise four times a week. I have found I need to eat about 2300 calories to stop any further weight loss. It is a bit of a struggle whilst keeping the carbs low. I seem to be stuffing myself all day. I make low carb high calorie snacks...cake, sausage rolls and biscuits. For the last few weeks I seem to have stabilised. My Hba1c is now 35...down from 95 last September..and I have lost about 50lbs.
 
Nuts or/and eggs helps many if one eat This in between meals
 
I'm going to try, thankyou X
 
Thanks, this sounds, like a good combination and delicious too ! X
 
Littletenderness said:
Thanks, I would love to get my HBA1c to your level of 48 without losing weight !
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I wish you well with it. Buy some nuts and snack on them. I remember that it worked for someone else in your position. They are carbs but with a very low GI which means they are absorbed slowly.
 
Wow, cake ? sausage rolls ? biscuits ? that sounds great but entirely different to all the advice given to us for years. I was told I had wheat intolerance so have avoided this for years too ! I was having severe tummy pains eating whole meal breads and pastas so gave all wheat products up. It caused a freeze of my gut resulting in pain and terrible constipation,. however recently have been using a drink doc prescribed and its a lot better so I may try the idea of a good old piece of cake in a small portion X
 

None of them have any grains. I find the recipes on various low carb websites. Mostly they are between 2 and 3g of carb per portion. I cook in batches. If I find my weight is going down again I have a couple of days snacking on them until I get back to where I want to be. Not the biscuits though. They get hoovered up on a daily basis. Do have a look in the food and nutrition section of this site, you will find loads of ideas there.
Please don't eat any more carbs, it won't do you any good. I eat about 80-100g spread out during a day.
 
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