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I'm getting a bit cross with Dr Trudi Deakin

I would only believe I was permanently cured if I was able to eat my pre diabetes (non junk food :D) amount of carbs again and I no longer had raised/diabetic glucose levels as a result. Which is not to say that I'd choose to have to eat that way again, just that it seems to me to be the only way I'd actually have any evidence of a "cure". If I continued to eat LCHF as I do now, what proof would I actually ave that my body could miraculously handle high quantities of carbs again? Unless someone can tell me different?

Robbity
 
Robbity said:
I would only believe I was permanently cured if I was able to eat my pre diabetes (non junk food :D) amount of carbs again and I no longer had raised/diabetic glucose levels as a result. Which is not to say that I'd choose to have to eat that way again, just that it seems to me to be the only way I'd actually have any evidence of a "cure". If I continued to eat LCHF as I do now, what proof would I actually ave that my body could miraculously handle high quantities of carbs again? Unless someone can tell me different?

Robbity
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I agree, a very sensible answer.
I know after I did my version of the Newcastle Diet I could.
It certainly doesn't mean I need to prove it every day, or put all the weight back on.

I eat a much healthier diet, far less carbs, (and far less everything to be honest) and indeed, unless I shake it up a bit, my first reaction to too many carbs is like everyone else, a bit of a spike initially, then it drives down again.
 
There is a school of thought in the Forum that a ketogenic diet actually reduces the adipose tissue that is a side effect of diabetes (aka Metabolic Syndrome). It is often proposed that this reduction of adipose fat stores reduces IR, and thus allows more of the insulin to work properly.

I have not seen any scientific studies reporting on whether these claims have any basis of proof, so it seems to be one of the myths offered by LCHF and similar keto diets. It is also part of the fasting phiosophy I believe.

If this mechanism is demonstrated to be behind the success stories of these diets, then I can see how it would be possible to claim a reversal of diabetic condition, but it would only last as long as the reduction of adipose fat is sustained. I reckon that a return to a carby diet would pack on the pounds, and hence destroy the apparent reversal. So it is only a temporary 'cure' that relies on a permanent lifestyle change to maintain.

On a personal observation, I have used the LCHF diet, and recently attained ketosis with it. I had been looking at needing jeans with a waistband of 38", but following the diet I ended up downsizing from 36" to 34" instead. i am currently wearing my old 32" jeans with braces to keep them up, but my actual weight has only dropped 11 kg from this time last year. I have certainly reduced my physical BMI (girth) , but have used HF to maintain my theoretical BMI as calculated by my GP.

But my story is anecdotal, and just a simple observation. I am still reliant on medication, and have not myself reached Nirvana. Nor have I reached Valhalla.
 
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I think it's important to bear in mind, any over excess of any type of food will pile on the pounds, so, providing you watch the calories, exercise, and watch the weight, there is no reason any type of diet should be bad.

Excess is always going to be the problem.
 
The moral of the story seems to be that every diabetic is different.

I was diagnosed type 2 about 17 years ago, didn't take very seriously, weight crept down from 20 stone, but Hba1c yo-yo'ed between 7.0 and 13.0. On lots of meds.

wake-up call this january, hba1c 10.5, GP suggesting insulin. I have low-carbed before, done Atkins etc, know it is the only way but struggle with will power. I think I have done it more robustly this time, feels like more of a lifestyle change, loads of supplements etc. Home a1cnow test suggests Hba1c down to 6.3 after 4 1/2 months. weight down from 16 st 6 lbs to 15 st 2 lbs.

Also managed to drop one Mertformin tablet and one Gliclazide (haven't told my GP yet)

It is working this time, I think, because for me high fat is what i need. read loads of recent books convincing me that saturated fat is good for you, so I have about 150ml double cream a day + coconut oil, butter.

I am convinced by advice in "diabetes 101", so trying to join 5% club (get Hba1c below 6), and trying to avoid spikes above 7.7 (but still happens 2 or 3 times a week - rarely above 10 now).

I don't think it matters how you do it. Everyone has different metabolism, different levels of will power etc, different carb tolerance levels. The aim for all of us is to avoid amputation/blindness at the end of the day, so test test test, eat to your meter, avoid big spikes, get your Hba1c down. You may do that with 80% fat or 50% fat, with fasting or without........doesn't much matter.

I think that once a diabetic, always a diabetic, but I'm already a bit more carb tolerant. Can now have 30 grams of Carb in evening meal (one box of micro-chips!), and usually peak at just under 8.0. Upper limit before was more like 20 grams.

I am hoping that if I get down to target weight of 13 stone, and get a little bit of improvement in insulin resistance + beta cell recovery, that I may be able to get away with 40-50 grams some time next year, but know i will always be diabetic, so low-carb and very high fat is essentially for the rest of my life.
 
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