In process of type 2 reversal

[maine1965]

I have been diabetic for around 9 years. In January I started a keto diet. My decision to reverse my diabetes was based on a bad experience with a once a week injection that made me really ill for 9 weeks. In January I was told to stop the injection immediately and left without adequate medication and I was to wait until the end of March for my bloods. I was told the only option would be insulin. I decided at this point I was reversing diabetes. Come my blood test I was lowest diagnosable. I was then taken off all medication. Since then I have continued my keto lifestyle change and I love it. I have lost 3 stone. It looks likely diabetes has gone in remission. According to my smart watch my blood averages are 4.7…but I have lows of 3.3 in the early hours. Is this normal??

 

[Resurgam]

If you are not on any medication is is perhaps normal for you at this stage in your life.
For me a diet with no more than 40 gm of carbs a day seems to keep me in normal numbers and I feel absolutely fine.

 

[maine1965]

If you are not on any medication is is perhaps normal for you at this stage in your life.
For me a diet with no more than 40 gm of carbs a day seems to keep me in normal numbers and I feel absolutely fine.

I think your right as I feel really well.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @maine1965 and welcome to the forum.

If you are not having any diabetes medication (except perhaps Metformin) then I strongly suspect that your smart watch is reading lower than the actual numbers.
Have you calibrated it using a Blood Glucos meter? I know that CGM's tend to be less accurate than a BG meter (finger prick test), which is why most Type 1's with a CGM verify a hypo using a BG meter, also because of the approx 15 min delay in the level of glucose in the blood being reflected in the interstitial fluid).

 

[0110]

I have been diabetic for around 9 years. In January I started a keto diet. My decision to reverse my diabetes was based on a bad experience with a once a week injection that made me really ill for 9 weeks. In January I was told to stop the injection immediately and left without adequate medication and I was to wait until the end of March for my bloods. I was told the only option would be insulin. I decided at this point I was reversing diabetes. Come my blood test I was lowest diagnosable. I was then taken off all medication. Since then I have continued my keto lifestyle change and I love it. I have lost 3 stone. It looks likely diabetes has gone in remission. According to my smart watch my blood averages are 4.7…but I have lows of 3.3 in the early hours. Is this normal??

Hi can you tell me what smart watch you are using? I will be up for buying a glucose monitoring watch I didn't know one is available.

 

[maine1965]

Hi @maine1965 and welcome to the forum.

If you are not having any diabetes medication (except perhaps Metformin) then I strongly suspect that your smart watch is reading lower than the actual numbers.
Have you calibrated it using a Blood Glucos meter? I know that CGM's tend to be less accurate than a BG meter (finger prick test), which is why most Type 1's with a CGM verify a hypo using a BG meter, also because of the approx 15 min delay in the level of glucose in the blood being reflected in the interstitial fluid).

Thank you Ian for that information. No I’m on zero meds.

 

[maine1965]

Thank you Ian for that information. No I’m on zero meds.

Hi can you tell me what smart watch you are using? I will be up for buying a glucose monitoring watch I didn't know one is available.

Hi I just have a cheap one. I guess I will know more about me actual readings at the end of July when I have blood tests and my annual review. I’m hoping remission is diagnosed. The low reading of 3.3 did correspond with some systems such as headache, I don’t suffer with headaches normally. I know smart watches are just a guide as such though. I’m hopeful of remission when I see the specialist.

 

[0110]

Hi I just have a cheap one. I guess I will know more about me actual readings at the end of July when I have blood tests and my annual review. I’m hoping remission is diagnosed. The low reading of 3.3 did correspond with some systems such as headache, I don’t suffer with headaches normally. I know smart watches are just a guide as such though. I’m hopeful of remission when I see the specialist.

You not using finger prick readings?

 

[maine1965]

You not using finger prick readings?

I'm not as the doctor won't issue at test kit.

 

[maine1965]

I'm not as the doctor won't issue at test kit.

Hi 0110, yes I did have a kit once, but what happened was my great-grandchildren (aged 3 and 4) disappeared it while I was out one day a few years ago...How they got hold of it I do not know! It's never been seen since. I asked the doctor for a new one and he said 'You don't need one'.

 

[ianf0ster]

I'm not as the doctor won't issue at test kit.

Most (nearly all) Type 2's are told not to test their BG, but at least in here and also in the 'blue forum' a good many of us self fund a BG monitor and test strips (the strips are the main cost). We get through a lot of strips until we understand how our individual bodies handle the foods we typically eat.
When I hear of GP's saying testing is not required or that it can be harmful I know they still view Type 2 diabetes as an incurable progressive disease.

How would you feel about driving without a speedometer - just relying on speeding tickets to guage how much you have your speed under control? That's what it's like when you try to eat healthily as a diabetic when only relying on HbA1C tests!

 

[maine1965]

Most (nearly all) Type 2's are told not to test their BG, but at least in here and also in the 'blue forum' a good many of us self fund a BG monitor and test strips (the strips are the main cost). We get through a lot of strips until we understand how our individual bodies handle the foods we typically eat.
When I hear of GP's saying testing is not required or that it can be harmful I know they still view Type 2 diabetes as an incurable progressive disease.

How would you feel about driving without a speedometer - just relying on speeding tickets to guage how much you have your speed under control? That's what it's like when you try to eat healthily as a diabetic when only relying on HbA1C tests!

Hi Ian, To be honest I’ve bought 2.. 1 came faulty and 1 didn’t arrive at all.. right now I’m happy with my watch as it gives a good idea of what is happening with my bloods.

 

[KennyA]

I have been diabetic for around 9 years. In January I started a keto diet. My decision to reverse my diabetes was based on a bad experience with a once a week injection that made me really ill for 9 weeks. In January I was told to stop the injection immediately and left without adequate medication and I was to wait until the end of March for my bloods. I was told the only option would be insulin. I decided at this point I was reversing diabetes. Come my blood test I was lowest diagnosable. I was then taken off all medication. Since then I have continued my keto lifestyle change and I love it. I have lost 3 stone. It looks likely diabetes has gone in remission. According to my smart watch my blood averages are 4.7…but I have lows of 3.3 in the early hours. Is this normal??

Don't know about "normal" but it happens to me. I'd had "night sweats" for years - vivid dreams/nightmares, heavy sweating, wake up anywhere from 0300 to 0530.

I tried a Libre and what it showed was interesting. The sweats correlate with a sharp drop in my BG. It will have been trending very slowly down when it cliff-edges abruptly. The drop can be to 3 or below - according to the Libre. I presume at that point my liver decides to do something about it and starts dumping glucose, which seems to be the kick-off point for dawn phenom.

A few people on the fporum have reported this. It doesn't seem to have been detectable before CGMs were developed, and before the free trial very few people who didn't have T1 had used one.

I also know of one non-diabetic person who self-funded a Libre and reported exactly the same thing.

How does your smart watch operate? Most reports I've read have not been complimentary - in particular the variance with BG measured via fingerprick.

 

[maine1965]

Don't know about "normal" but it happens to me. I'd had "night sweats" for years - vivid dreams/nightmares, heavy sweating, wake up anywhere from 0300 to 0530.

I tried a Libre and what it showed was interesting. The sweats correlate with a sharp drop in my BG. It will have been trending very slowly down when it cliff-edges abruptly. The drop can be to 3 or below - according to the Libre. I presume at that point my liver decides to do something about it and starts dumping glucose, which seems to be the kick-off point for dawn phenom.

A few people on the fporum have reported this. It doesn't seem to have been detectable before CGMs were developed, and before the free trial very few people who didn't have T1 had used one.

I also know of one non-diabetic person who self-funded a Libre and reported exactly the same thing.

How does your smart watch operate? Most reports I've read have not been complimentary - in particular the variance with BG measured via fingerprick.

Hiya Kenny, I’m not sure what a libre is. This smart watch seems pretty good, works on an electrode next to skin… I have a low body temperature always have had and it picks it up. I think it’s fairly accurate as it seems to match with my natural flow of blood sugar… and what I’m eating…I’m not on any meds either.

 

[maine1965]

Hiya Kenny, I’m not sure what a libre is. This smart watch seems pretty good, works on an electrode next to skin… I have a low body temperature always have had and it picks it up. I think it’s fairly accurate as it seems to match with my natural flow of blood sugar… and what I’m eating…I’m not on any meds either.

Basically I have 1 danish bread toast a day and any other carbs are either in total proteins and fruit.

 

[KennyA]

Hiya Kenny, I’m not sure what a libre is. This smart watch seems pretty good, works on an electrode next to skin… I have a low body temperature always have had and it picks it up. I think it’s fairly accurate as it seems to match with my natural flow of blood sugar… and what I’m eating…I’m not on any meds either.

Ah - a Libre is a brand of constant glucose monitor made by Abbott. They offer a free trial to anyone with a diabetes diagnosis. Otherwise they cost (around) £50 a fortnight. It works with a phone app and can generate graphs and whizzy stuff.

They measure glucose in interstitial fluid rather than blood via a short thin "needle" filament. When they work, they work very well. My readings did not however mesh at all with fingerprick test results and also weren't consistently off, so you couldn't apply a standard correction. I got some useful info from the trial but had two Libres fail - one immediately and the other after about 12 days. Given the cost, I haven't used one since.

Until now, I'd heard nothing good about the glucose-reading "smart watches".

 

[maine1965]

Ah - a Libre is a brand of constant glucose monitor made by Abbott. They offer a free trial to anyone with a diabetes diagnosis. Otherwise they cost (around) £50 a fortnight. It works with a phone app and can generate graphs and whizzy stuff.

They measure glucose in interstitial fluid rather than blood via a short thin "needle" filament. When they work, they work very well. My readings did not however mesh at all with fingerprick test results and also weren't consistently off, so you couldn't apply a standard correction. I got some useful info from the trial but had two Libres fail - one immediately and the other after about 12 days. Given the cost, I haven't used one since.

Until now, I'd heard nothing good about the glucose-reading "smart watches".

Ooo sounds good that libre… I have my diabetic review on 24 th of this month so I’ll be able to confirm the outcome.. fingers and toes crossed.. and everything else.

 

[maine1965]

Ooo sounds good that libre… I have my diabetic review on 24 th of this month so I’ll be able to confirm the outcome.. fingers and toes crossed.. and everything else.

My HbA1 was 48 in March then I was taken off Jardiance the only med I had, it only lowers blood sugars by 0.5 or less, I think. I had only been on keto properly for about 5 weeks when I had my bloods in March. Since then I have been on keto constantly without wavering so hopefully I'll get good results... Even if I am pre-diabetic I'll be happy...although I would love to be in remission.