P
Pip16
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Three very valuable nuggets of advice, if I may say so.
Like many (NOT ALL) diagnosed with T2 diabetes, I was extremely overweight (18st 8lbs and 5ft 8ins) and did not move around much. My diet was poor in the sense that I ate all that I should but ate and drank a lot that was unnecessary. I think that the modern day diabetes guru Prof Roy Taylor calls this *over-nutrition", I think that "gluttony" would be the old fashioned word.
On diagnosis (HBa1c 82 mmol/mol) I resolved to lose weight and to do this I would follow the diet recommended by the doctor (or strictly in the leaflet I was given by the doctor) and increase my activity levels by an hour or so brisk walking every day. I reasoned that I had been eating abnormally for several years and that the first thing to do was to bring my calorie consumption down to normal levels. I also resolved that I would review the question of diet when I had seen the effects of (hopefully) losing weight.
I had read on this forum the views of many who advocate a low carb diet, usually described as LCHF with the HF being high fat. Shortly after being diagnosed, the BBC Horizon programme "Fat v Sugar" was aired. The programme had twin doctors one of whom had a diet of almost exclusively fat based nutrients and the other whose diet consisted of sugar. The programme concluded that neither was a healthy diet but the glucose readings of the twin with the fat diet shot up more that the readings of the twin with the sugar diet.
I therefore decided that a balanced diet with carbohydrates was for me. I cut out white bread and potatoes, substituting wholemeal and sweet potatoes in their place. Red meat was also to go and replaced by fish. Vegetable (broccoli and beans) intake was increased. Some primitive form of portion control was introduced. I stopped eating as a form of recreation. The net effect of the above was that the weight fell off and and Hba1c likewise went south to 38mmol/mol) in first 3 months from diagnosis. I had decided that I would not take any medication until I had got myself down to a normal weight, so I have not taken any metformin although my diabetes team did want to prescribe it for me.
The upshot of the above is that I am now over 5 stones lighter than at diagnosis but still a few pounds over weight, I eat a normal diet and have normal blood glucose levels. I probably would have been in the same position if I had followed a LCHF diet, but who knows? The advantage of the NHS advised diet to me is that I feel that I can stick to it for the rest of my life, I do not think that I could say the same about a LCHF diet. So my advice to the original poster is to try the balanced diet advised by the NHS and other bodies around the world before embarking on a more restrictive diet, such as the LCHF advocated by many on here.
However, T2 diabetes is not a disease which is contracted overnight and in most (NOT ALL) cases is caused by many years over-nutrution/gluttony and that the main thing to do is to stop doing what one has been doing which has given you diabetes in the first place, which is overeating.
With respect to the original poster and to her DN, I do not think that the latter is advising to former to gorge on bananas and digestive biscuits. I think that the point the DN was making is that there is nothing out of bounds provided it is taken in moderation. I would also say that my diabetes team of a doctor, diabetes nurse and nutritionist (all NHS) have been conscientious, professional and knowledgeable. I have no doubt that they have been acting in my best interests.
Hi Syd Well done with your weight loss and lowering your HBA1C with your diet and exercise. As Brunneria has said you are very lucky in having such great support from your Diabetes team. With my comment i was merely pointing out that not only medical teams but also the general public have a perception that you must be overweight with no exercise and gorge on jam doughnuts to receive a diagnosis of diabetes.
The locum GP (telephone consultation on diagnosis) had never even met me. My medical notes i am sure had no details of my weight, height or my exercise regimes etc. Yet the advise given to me was to lose weight and do more exercise. When i did see the DN the only bit of advice i received was that our bodies do not need jam doughnuts.
Your Comment
......However, T2 diabetes is not a disease which is contracted overnight and in most (NOT ALL) cases is caused by many years over-nutrution/gluttony and that the main thing to do is to stop doing what one has been doing which has given you diabetes in the first place, which is overeating.
I was very first diagnosed? Aged 20, 31 years ago while 9 months pregnant and weighing 7.5 stone. I was working upto 8 months of pregnancy and was fit and healthy. When i gave birth i immediately went back to my pre pregnancy weight of 6.5 stone. The diabetes went? 2 More pregnancies, i put on same weight and back to pre pregnancy weight of 6.5 stone but no diabetes with those. I was running around after 3 young children all under 5. Plenty of trips to the parks and playing football etc and Still working, some days running to 3 different jobs. I was keeping house etc at home. Money was short, food was very healthy and all home cooked. Yes there was the occasional cake and sweet. Nothing to excess as we didnt have the money. Definately no burgers etc. Once again still weighing 6.5 stone i got an infection which showed raised sugar levels and my gp sent me for tests. Came back clear. My last pregnancy 10 years later, however weighing exactly the same before and after but i had diabetes again. This went once again after giving birth. I stayed at 6.5 stone for another 10 years. I was running around even more with my job. (i dont drive) and most days on the go from 6am to 12pm. If i was too busy i wouldnt eat. However my weight started creeping up on me when i reached 47/48 years. I was still eating the same, still some days not eating and doing the same if not more exercise than i had ever done but evenso my weight went up to 10.4 stone. All around the middle. I got a water infection last October and came back as raised sugar and have been tested monthly then 3 monthly until Sept when my HBA1C came back as 51. Diagnosed with type 2. I find it very hard, especially with my own history to believe that diabetes is solely caused by being overweight from eating the wrong foods and lack of exercise. My mother and her 3 siblings all have type 2 and as far as i know have always eaten healthily and not been overweight. Whose to know whether this went back further and my grandparents and even theirs suffered from diabetes.
Yes some people may be overweight, through being a glutton and lack of exercise, i know plenty of those and they do not have diabetes. Likewise i know of plenty who are overweight through a thyoid or other disorder, not caused by overeating or lack of exercise and also those who are of normal weight and do plenty of exercise and who all receive a type 2 diagnosis.
I have been on the lchf (although not too low) diet since around beginning of October and ive now lost just over 1 stone. I am now within the normal weight range for my height. As ive said previously there is no way i can do any more exercise than i already do. My meter readings are all between 4.3 and 6.8-7. I feel fit and healthy and looking forward to my next HBA1C in October. However i dont think that i could ever eat a jam doughnut or any other cake/pudding/sweet (unless i make my own) even in moderation as its not worth the risk to me.
Sorry that should be next HBA1C in December.
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