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I am stumped, can anyone help please?

WhitbyJet

Well-Known Member
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I received a phone call from a friend of mine, diagnised wth type 2 diabetes, she stopped insulin injections her bg has dropped initially when she first she started low carb three weeks ago, my friend has wirtten out an exact meal plan, printed out the excellent Viv's Modified Atkins and she has not deviated once.

Now the problem is that despite dropping to 20g of carbs per day her bg is staying put at 6.9 all day long, her fasting levels are 6.9. In desperation she has dropped carbs to just 10g per day, she has done this from Monday this week, today Thursday and her bg remains static, how is that possible??

Should she still inject insulin to bring levels down further?? Unfortunately her medics aree not supportive of her going low carb, they practically showed her the door when she asked questions same as those above.

Thanks in advance
Judth
 
Too much protein? On VLC diets some people lean on the old bacon and steaks too much, and end up gluconeogenesising themselves out of ketosis (it's surprisingly easy - I've done it 'nuff times). In ketosis she isn't using much glucose, so if her liver is overproducing it, I suppose it'll have a bigger effect.

I eat <20g, and sometimes none, and by BG is usually in the 5-6 range. I very rarely go sub 5mmol/l like wiflib does.

She could try exercising a bit at moderate intensity to see if it comes down a bit, or at high intensity to provoke a liver dump, which might put her BG up initially, but will leave her deeper in ketosis, with an emptier liver which is less likely to drip glucose into her blood.

I also agree with TP, it takes time for her metabolism to adjust. Her BG are great, so she probably shouldn't sweat it too much.
 
Thank you tree-pony. Yes she is fine, just upset she would like to be in the 5's. She has lost almost a stone in weight, has more energy, increased her exercising, doing all the right things yet her bg is static, doesnt go up at least, but doesnt go down either, its silly this isnt it, I mean almost a week on 9g per day, ahe isnt overdoing it on protein either, I dont know how to advise her on this one.

Oh thank you borofergie, she has had 2 slices of roast beef for breakfast, 2 eggs one slice of turkey for lunch and evening 2 slices of pork, all from packets eg Bernard Mathews. She is eating plenty of coconut oil and Sainsburys Olive oil infused with garlic, she is eatng salads as per Atkins and cauli and broccoli. Nothing else
 
it's very disappointing especially when everyone else seems to come down quickly, but if she's feeling OK then I would give it a while longer. I keep a graph to make sure the trend is really going downwards :)
 
Maybe her pancreas is just worn out, but least low carbing will give it a rest.
 
wiflib thank you for your response, I just looked up those turkey slices and sure enough, there is sugar in them. I never knew but then again I roast my own meats, I try to avoid anything in packets or ready made.

Btw I have passed on your ever so delicious chicken & leeks soup to many people now, so simple but so tasty , I have some in my freezer, my daughter is sipping a mug full right here as we speak.

Ok I will get back to Fiona, advise to roast her own meat and ham, and be patient

Denise that thought came to mind, she used to inject bid doses daily, she hasnt done so since she started low carb

Thank you everyone so much for replying, you are heroes :thumbup:
 
Erm, I know she is type 2 but am I the only one that is a wee bit concerned that this lady is trying to do too much too soon? Surely the fact that she has been on insulin means she needs to be a bit more careful..or maybe not, I don't know.

My gut feeling is that she needs to give herself a lot more time to adapt Judith, 6.9 is not a terribly high figure at all and one that I get often. Pressurising herself to accomplish too much will only add to her stress, I would be advising her that she isn't in a race and to give herself months rather than weeks.
 
I know it's only a tiny bit but it means it's been adulterated.
Funnily enough, I made a pot of chicken and leek today. Haven't had it for a while and I do love it so.

Your friend is doing a sterling job and she sounds like how I was, and still am. She needs to be kind to herself and congratulated for grabbing diabetes by the throat and pounding it until it's dead.
 
wiflib said:
Funnily enough, I made a pot of chicken and leek today. Haven't had it for a while and I do love it so.

I adore your recipe for chicken and leek soup, real comfort food - lush!! :D

Roasting your own meat is the way to go. Funnily enough I was looking at a meat slicer on Amazon yesterday, you know like the bacon slicers? The one I saw was for domestic use though.
 
Do you miss the buttered crusty in it any more? It doesn't even cross my mind these days but I still put a lump of butter in it.
 
wiflib said:
Do you miss the buttered crusty in it any more? It doesn't even cross my mind these days but I still put a lump of butter in it.

Not any more. I don't crave carbs now. Plus like you, I am highly carb intolerant and I prize my low BG's so it's a no brainer for me. I do make my own bread that is really low in carbs, as Burgen just spikes me, so not worth it. I will have to try the butter next time I make it. We could make a really creamy version I suspect, that would be amazing.
 
I think WJ blends half and then mixes it all back together. Or is that you?
I also had two bratwurst today with a little bit of homemade tomato sauce and mayo. I don't eat anything related to tomatoes, but the puree has 3g per tablespoon, so I mix about half a teaspoon with a bit of vinegar and sweetener and its delish.
 
wiflib said:
I think WJ blends half and then mixes it all back together. Or is that you?
I also had two bratwurst today with a little bit of homemade tomato sauce and mayo. I don't eat anything related to tomatoes, but the puree has 3g per tablespoon, so I mix about half a teaspoon with a bit of vinegar and sweetener and its delish.

No not me, I just make it as is. I might give the mix a go, and see what it's like. I like toms, but I don't eat many and when I do it's only 3-4 small cherry's. I need to go shopping this weekend for all my post diet food, I can go back to Atkins induction (minus wheat and grains) Monday.
 
If you can get hold of Huss (dog fish) buy it. Bloody wonderful fish. It's the fillet steak of the aquatic world.
 
wiflib said:
If you can get hold of Huss (dog fish) buy it. Bloody wonderful fish. It's the fillet steak of the aquatic world.

Really? I shall have to have to have a look, not even heard of it. I do have a huge piece of smocked haddock with my name on it on Monday. :lol:

Libby; I have looked around and saw it's also known as Rock Salmon, I have heard of that, and love it. Just trying to locate a local supplier.
 
I'll be very jealous. If I'm right, it's caught in the English Channel so the further north you get, the less chance there is of getting it. I'm a southerner by birth and grew up on it. Living in Leicester, some fishmongers do the blinky fish impression when I ask for it.
 
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