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Insulin, weight gain, and how to low carb if.... vegan :-/

-Artemis-

Well-Known Member
Messages
533
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
Hi all;

So, I was reading / replying to a thread about starting insulin and weight gain - and I replied as this has been an issue for me too, so I wanted to follow and see what others recommended.

The overall response was to low carb (and some said calorie count, some not) - which I do get the logic of, but don't know how to do if I don't eat eggs, meat, or dairy... I do eat fish, but only once a week.

I have soul-searched to the n'th degree about eating meat - but I honestly think that doing so will stress me out more than anything else around this condition (btw - I want to just say I believe meat eating is a totally personal choice - and not remotely saying anyone else shouldn't).

I have, in the past, eaten eggs and dairy - and could again - but I have a fear of both as I was told I am extremely intolerant to them about 5 years ago, via a blood test (IgG antibody reaction test). I didn't eat either for around four years, then about a year ago, ate a lot of eggs and dairy - and then, hey presto - got diagnosed t1.

I *know* there is no way to know if the two were remotely linked - but I'm paranoid that the dairy and / or eggs may have been causing an auto-immune response and that was the extra 'trigger'.... I hope no-one now thinks I'm la la.... :-S

Anyway - because I'm still in the honeymoon phase, I'm sorta trying to keep any beta cells I have left - which is why I'm still super-scared about eating dairy or eggs...

SO - my question is - other than just saying I'm a loon - does anyone know whether I can tell if eggs / dairy do / are affecting me, on an autoimmune level?

And, if not - any suggestions for how to be low carb whilst restricting the things I do.... I know nuts and most green veg is fine - but I followed that way of eating for over a year and the restriction of that was also pretty depressing...

Some other info about my weight / exercise etc:
I am 5' 5", and weighed a steady 9st 10lbs until starting insulin 6 weeks ago - in those 6 weeks I've put on about 1/1.5lbs per week - so currently at 10st 4lbs.
I briskly walk at least 4 miles everyday (enthusiastic labs!) - plus swim / and / or do hot yoga & pilates a coupe of times a week, plus a longer hike around once a week.


Thanks for reading my super-long post. Any thoughts, as always, much appreciated....
 
I can only say I feel for you!

My mum has gone Vegan and I'm coeliac and try my best to low carb. I'm on an insulin pump.

Can you give me an idea about what you do eat and enjoy? I would work on some lower carb alternatives.

With dairy do you eat goats/ewes cheese or milk? or nothing at all?

If i were you i would check out Surkrin bread if you can afford it, I loved it and found it helped but its nearly £4 a loaf
 
Ah, thank you - I'll check out that bread...!

Its so interesting you say you're coeliac - I was just reading about the link with dairy and intolerance's - and, apparently, there's something to do with casein (in dairy) and gluten that are interlinked (ie, if you're intolerant to one, you're likely the other too...)

- I remember at the time they said I was super-gluten intolerant too - and that it was the casein that I was likely reacting to in the dairy - so that kinda fits... Anyway - my initial googlings say that I may be OK with ewe's/goats cheese - as it's much lower in casein and doesn't contain the A1 component that cows milk does - is that what you have?

I might experiment with some of that.... otherwise I really did live off nuts and veggies until very recently :-/

Since starting insulin I've added in some pulses and some more starchy veg than before (ie carrots and potatoes - small amounts) - oh, and super dark chocolate (low carb/sugar - 20g carbs per 100g - and I eat around 10/15g a time) - but not a whole lot more.... but even adding in those carbs seem to be making my weight go up....
 

I dont tend to avoid eggs infact I probably get through 6 or more a week in various forms. Milk - I buy lactofree milk (low carb -virtually free) and take it easy on things like ice cream. Cheese however is my down fall. I have some in a salad every day. Although just realised if its finely grated you need less! Chocolate im off completely atm (touch wood) but loving the nutty balls (check out the low carb forum!)

Afraid I cant help with the nuts and veggies bit its kinda a common theme in our diets. what about berries how do they go down?
 

Ah.... so do you eat any/all cheeses....?

Well done re the choccy - it's always been my achilles heel!! Berries are good - seem to do fine with strawberries particularly - hooray!
 
l have 2 vegan friends non diabetic but both started low carbing on my advice...well about 4 weeks ago. l will try get hold of them ask what they eat and let you know. May take a bit of time as elusive. l think they have a lot of sunflower/ pumpkin/ sesame seeds also chia flax and hemp very good. if you eat fish even once a week thats good.
 
IMO
You really need to see a dietitian, which should have been offered already. because you can bloat on carbs and still be malnurished with protein and fat.

My x couldn't handle dairy and she was on goat milk and cheese, as engineer said

The dietitian will work within your requirements and have a healthy diet
There may even be some supplements
 
@Mud Island Dweller if you did manage to get hold of them that would be awesome! I do eat *lots* of seeds / nuts etc - but just nuts and seeds and green veg can get a bit repetitive... :-/

Interesting @jack412 re your ex.... was she OK with goats milk/cheese then? I have requested to see a dietician - but these things always seem to take a loooonnnnggggg time.... meanwhile, I'm gonna have put on a stone or more if I don't adjust something pronto!
 


I would actually avoid dietitions over here like the plauge. at best they are bloody useless at worst they are downright dangerous. Expect to be told carbs and meat are the cure.

How scared are you of eggs? could you maybe introduce a little at a time? possibly in something else first?
 

... It's not the taste I dislike - actually quite like a poached egg its more the antibody test and auto-immune side of t1 that makes me avoid them... Cos I *think* I'm still in honeymoon (so still have some beta cells working) then I'm paranoid about having some sort of auto-immune response to the eggs and that making my last remaining beta cells keel over... Dunno if that makes any sense ;-)

... Cos I live in the middle of the countryside I can get eggs really easily - where I can see the chooks roaming free so know they're properly looked after - its just the total unknown of the autoimmune thing that stops me... :-S


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
PS - I've never 'felt bad' eating eggs... Just that the time I reintroduced them after four years not eating them, I 'suddenly' became t1... But as I said in my original post - I don't know how on earth I'd know if there was any connection or none whatsoever...


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Wow, must be difficult low carbing with no eggs and cheese! I can't think of much other than the veggies, nuts and pulses already mentioned.

How about tofu, avocados, chickpeas (are they a pulse?)?
 
Hi @-Artemis- I don't know much about food intolerances or T1, but popped in to share my favourite low carb vegan recipe...coconut lime cauliflower rice. So flavoursome and great with chickpea curry. (The recipe has a link to Maggi coconut milk powder - this contains whey, but vegan versions are available)

http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/201...iflower-rice-recipe-low-carb-gluten-free.html

Have you tried making cashew* cheese? I made it once. It was...interesting lol. I would eat it again though if I couldn't eat dairy. All the best

*it might have been almond cheese now I think of it. Goldfish brain here.
 
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Hey @-Artemis- Just wondering has your thyroid been checked? I'm kindof dealing with a similar situation ive gained nearly half a stone in a short period of time. Im on thyroxine so wondering if my levels need upping.

How are you feeling in yourself?
 
Hi Artemis

I've been type 1 for close to 30 years and have followed a strict vegan diet for 24 years of that time. Moreover, I also adhere to low-carb and gluten-free for the best part. I don't find my diet at all restrictive but I am aware that I have to put a lot more effort into it than most people in order to ensure that this is the case. I'm not one for specialist vegan products, rather I prefer to follow a diet based as much as possible on whole foods and fresh, natural produce. I eat lots of vegetables (obviously), relying on those that are in season where possible but also picking up unusual varieties from Asian supermarkets from time to time just to keep things varied. I eat plenty of coconut products (flour, water, milk and oil), soaked nuts, plus berries and other low-sugar fruits. Meanwhile, well-soaked and well-cooked legumes, sweet potatoes, and home-baked products made with gluten-free flours make up a smaller part of my diet but again help to keep things varied. On days when I feel like I haven't managed enough protein though meals alone, I supplement with shakes/smoothies made from either pea or hemp protein powders.

I tend not to eat soy products because of the bad press they get (digestive enzyme inhibitors and endocrine disruptors) but occasionally enjoy a stir fry with tofu in it. I also eat tempeh now and again because the fermentation process used in making it allegedly addresses some of the indigestibility issues.

Hope that helps.
 
Agh - you lot are amazing - thank you!! Lil bit quick reply as I'm just about to head away for the bank holiday weekend - but loads of super helpful suggestions for me to try! Thank you!
 
There's always the dreaded tofu and other soya products. In moderation due to the cancer risk? :-(

I was vegetarian, for ethical reasons, for the first ten years or so of Type 1 diabetes, but I gave up once I realised I needed to low carb, and felt I couldn't do it without eating animal products. There is an ethical difference between eating animal products for pleasure, when you have a choice, and eating animal products for serious health reasons. If it helps (this helped me), the Dalai Lama personally eats meat, on health advice, despite Buddhist monks in general being vegetarian.

I hope the advice from other T1 vegans works for you, but if not, please put your needs first. x
 
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