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Type 2 Long Term Control With Diet Alone, No Meds

F

Flora123

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,078
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Just curious who out there has had long term control with just diet and no meds. Anyone care share their experiences to inspire me please! Thanks
 
What do you consider long term dietary control?

I have been low carbing for decades, very low carbing for... um... 5-10 years, keto for 3-5 years, and carnivore for 9 months now.

I have normal blood glucose levels (below pre-diabetic), but it took going keto and carnivore to achieve that. Low carbing in the 30g carbs or above range had my blood glucose levels in the pre-diabetic range or above.

During the last few years I have trialled both berberine (and more recently metformin) but neither seemed to offer enough benefit to outweigh the gut consequences - and the hassle of remembering to take the dratted tablets. I am currently on no D medication, but may trial Metformin again in the future as another experiment. However that won't be for some time, since I am currently dealing with other gut 'stuff' and I'm not going to put metformin into the mix.
 
I have been diet only since diagnosis, January 2014. By June 2014 my HbA1c was 46. It has remained under the diabetic threshold since that time, and is currently 40.
 
My 5th Diaversary is in about a month.

HbA1c was 73 on diagnosis, and 37 4 months later (I had been overseas, away from the NHS) for the full 4 months, and my A1c has only been lower since. My last was 30, in March.

I have never taken any diabetes meds, and only recently started a very modest dose of Levothyroxine, as an experiment to try to improve some temperature regulation issues.
 
I was diagnosed at the end of Novermber 2013, and by my next HbA1c in Feb 2014 having reduced all the obvious high carb foods it was down to pre diabetic levels (47). Since then my HbA1c results have - apart from a single "blip" - remained in the range 40-43 by eating (in general) under 50g carbs a day. And for most of that time my post meal glucose levels have been well within the normal range. I was originally on metformin, which I came off over a year ago, and have never taken any other diabetic medication.

Robbity
 
Brunneria said:
What do you consider long term dietary control?

I have been low carbing for decades, very low carbing for... um... 5-10 years, keto for 3-5 years, and carnivore for 9 months now.

I have normal blood glucose levels (below pre-diabetic), but it took going keto and carnivore to achieve that. Low carbing in the 30g carbs or above range had my blood glucose levels in the pre-diabetic range or above.

During the last few years I have trialled both berberine (and more recently metformin) but neither seemed to offer enough benefit to outweigh the gut consequences - and the hassle of remembering to take the dratted tablets. I am currently on no D medication, but may trial Metformin again in the future as another experiment. However that won't be for some time, since I am currently dealing with other gut 'stuff' and I'm not going to put metformin into the mix.
Click to expand...

Yes that is long term. Thank you. I just wondered who has achieved this as I keep getting told it isn’t possible!!
 
Brunneria, where do you get your berberine? I have been trying to find this product with no success. Is there a reliable source?
Many thanks.
 
rosco 2 said:
Brunneria, where do you get your berberine? I have been trying to find this product with no success. Is there a reliable source?
Many thanks.
Click to expand...

I gave up on it exactly because I don't think there is a reliable source. Too many different herbs used, too many variables, and the potencies differ, plus all the same draw backs of Metformin (guts and long term B12 deficiency) but none of the consistency and controlled production that Metformin has.
 
Thank you. I did wonder about reliability as there are - seemingly - good anecdotal accounts of berberine. Local health food shops no longer stock and this may be EU regs. Shame because I was willing to give it a go. Also sea buckthorn but this was £40 in H&B so that was way too pricey for me to consider an experiment on self. Thank you for response.
 
I am a long time low carber, and after going back to it from the moment of diagnosis I was under the diabetic threshold for Hba1c in weeks, and at 6 months was the top end of normal, 41. I ate 50 gm of carbs a day to achieve that. I am now eating no more than 40 gm in an effort to reduce my weight and perhaps see lower Hba1c, but I found that I have had an abscess under a tooth for some time and had the wrong treatment - but it is now healing so that might explain why my Hba1c did not go down despite having normal BG levels after meals. Even with that I am still at the top end of normal and have been for over a year.
I take Thyroxine (175micrograms daily) and have needed it for a long time, but apart from 5 weeks on Metformin and a statin after diagnosis, no other medication.
 
I went lowish carb, occasional potatoes and pasta, no bread or rice with above ground veg. I lost 2 stone in weight, achieved weight balance, got to pre diabetic levels in HbA1c and have since maintained the same regime for the last two years. I am careful but still enjoy the rare 'treat day' but jump straight back on the wagon. Is it sustainable? I have found it to be so. I have sufficient nutrients - no supplements, no tablets. I am firm believer in a little of what you fancy will do you good, so bar of 85%+ chocolate in the fridge will last me for weeks, but there are no cakes or biscuits in the house.
 
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