Instant success

Hi Maryann.

They seem to have caught your Type 2 fairly early, and your reaction on a low-carb diet is not unusual . The first weight loss is usually quite high (mostly fluid) and your BG readings can drop quite dramatically.

About 20% of Type 2s are not fat - you must be one of those. Your problem may be losing too much weight ( oh, how I wish!), so you may need to adjust your carb intake to find the balance between good BGs and weight loss. If you want to stay very low carb (you didn't say how low you have gone) you can increase the amount of fat in your diet - no need to be afraid of good natural fats. Otherwise add in more low GI carbs eg from extra veg and some fruits. Berries are good.

As for statins - do you know what your cholesterol is a present? The NHS are trying to get every diabetic on to statins, but some of us have had bad experiences and won't take them any more, other people can take them with no problems at all. Do a search on this site for statins - you'll find differing opinions and heated arguments! Ask your GP for your full lipid profile instead of just your total cholesterol - much more informative.

Now breakfasts - I can eat Lizi's Granola, available at most supermarkets, in small quantities for breakfast. It's fairly low-carb, and doesn't spike me. I love my eggs, though, and have two most days. You can have bacon, sausage (low carb), eggs, tomatoes. I often eat salad for breakfast in the summer - chicken salad is very refreshing! but I tend not to eat until I've been up an hour or so. If you fancy something like that but are in a rush, prepare a bowl of bite-sized chunks of meat, cheese, baby toms, strips of pepper, radishes, cucumber etc, cover and leave in the fridge overnight. Then just get it out in the morning and grab a bit every time you pass while you're getting ready. Other people eat yoghurt (low-carb) with berries, seeds and nuts.

Hope this helps! and well done on your weight and BG levels

Viv 8)

Dr Bernstein knows what he's talking about from his own experience, though he's a bit extreme even for me. I'm a bit undisciplined and prefer Atkins - just my opinion!

I would take a total cholesterol of 3.2 as being very good indeed, and I wouldn't think you need statins - but again, my personal opinion. I'm not medically qualified so you shouldn't accept my opinion :wink: . Have a good read round before you take them, and make your own mind up. No-one can force you to take anything.

Tell your GP that you want to test before and 2 hours after meals so that you can tell how different foods affect your blood glucose levels. That you want to be pro-active in the management of your diabetes, and that you think testing at the beginning, until you get accustomed to your new lifestyle, would really help you get control. Some of us get a meter and test strips on prescription - I'm one of the lucky ones. Others have to buy them, but if you can afford it, it's really useful to start with. Eventually, when you get used to foods, you hardly need to test at all - just every now and again to make sure everything's okay, or if you eat something different.

Many GPs are anti low-carb, so take care how much you tell him :wink:

I think you're doing very well as you are. You can always add tomatoes back in later!

Viv 8)

Tell your doctor that you think testing is cheaper than amputation!

I respect GPs a great deal, but that's what they are - General Practitioners. They can't know everything about everything, and I wish more of them would admit it. I'm lucky in that mine treats me like an intelligent adult - and sends me away to look things up on the internet, 'cos he knows I will anyway :lol: . But even he makes mistakes.

Viv 8)