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Low Carb but don’t need weight loss
- Thread starter Lefteris
- Start Date
- Messages
- 4,073
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi Lefteris and welcome.
It would help folks to reply to you if you gave us a few details about yourself - eg what sort of diabetes do you have? How long have you been diabetic? Are you on medication? Are you on other medication (eg statins) for unrelated conditions?
Best of luck!
HSSS
Expert
I’m surprised they are looking at second line medications at just 53mmol/L. Many don’t even start first line until 55. Is there a reason why they are discussing dapagliflozin?
Low carb doesn’t have to mean weight loss. Proteins and fats can be adjusted to suit weight goals, whilst keeping carbs low.
I didn’t do the programme as I wanted all the answers now (just a bit impatient) and to do it at my speed. Others like the structure of a course and the support (though there’s lots of that in here too).
Have a look through the links in my signature below in red (visible on the website not sure about the app) as there’s loads of free info there that might be enough for your needs.
Low carb doesn’t have to mean weight loss. Proteins and fats can be adjusted to suit weight goals, whilst keeping carbs low.
I didn’t do the programme as I wanted all the answers now (just a bit impatient) and to do it at my speed. Others like the structure of a course and the support (though there’s lots of that in here too).
Have a look through the links in my signature below in red (visible on the website not sure about the app) as there’s loads of free info there that might be enough for your needs.
- Messages
- 2,703
- Location
- Harpenden, Herts, England
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- exercise, phone calls
Hi @Lefteris and welcome to the forum.
I too was a fairly slim Type2 diabetic and used a Low Carb way of eating to put my diabetes into remission.
Generally to be slim enough not to be able to afford to lose weight, you would need to have BMI of under 22.
Mine had been around 22 or 23 until all the advice for 'EatWell' (lots of whole grains and fruit, low fat and high Crab) caused my weight to increase slowly, so I had a BMI of 25 by the time I was diagnosed.
The best free/cheap resources for Low Carb are the Low Carb diet forum on this site, www.dietdoctor.com (the free sections) and purchasing your own Blood Glucose monitor ( I say that mine is my independent Type 2 diabetes expert and I trust it more than any other expert).
If you truly can't afford to lose weight, then make sure you eat plenty of fat and protein e.g. cheese, eggs, nuts. Even for those wishing to lose some weight I usually advise not to cut calories, since the body reacts so well to Low Carb it usually raises the resting metabolic rate and so weight loss just happens naturally.
I too was a fairly slim Type2 diabetic and used a Low Carb way of eating to put my diabetes into remission.
Generally to be slim enough not to be able to afford to lose weight, you would need to have BMI of under 22.
Mine had been around 22 or 23 until all the advice for 'EatWell' (lots of whole grains and fruit, low fat and high Crab) caused my weight to increase slowly, so I had a BMI of 25 by the time I was diagnosed.
The best free/cheap resources for Low Carb are the Low Carb diet forum on this site, www.dietdoctor.com (the free sections) and purchasing your own Blood Glucose monitor ( I say that mine is my independent Type 2 diabetes expert and I trust it more than any other expert).
If you truly can't afford to lose weight, then make sure you eat plenty of fat and protein e.g. cheese, eggs, nuts. Even for those wishing to lose some weight I usually advise not to cut calories, since the body reacts so well to Low Carb it usually raises the resting metabolic rate and so weight loss just happens naturally.
Thanks for replies, by way of background, I’m T2D since 2004 and now only use prolonged release Metformin (following gastrointestinal issues on normal type) years ago was on Glic but lost some weight and came off that. Have some heart issues (pacemaker, LVH, ectopic heartbeats and now atrial flutter - such fun!) so cardiologist wants me to have Dapagliflozin as it’s also heart protective but not keen on the potential side effects e.g. UTI, balanitis and worst of all Fourniers Gangrene!
69 now and BMI 22 think my pancreas is knackered!
69 now and BMI 22 think my pancreas is knackered!
D
Deleted member 475901
Guest
In some areas it is possible to get an NHS voucher for the low carb program,via your GP as the app has been approved for NHS use.
As others have said you can avoid losing too much weight by adding more healthy fats, such as olive oil salad dressing, butter on green veg, double cream with a few berries.
And my cholesterol numbers improved on this diet.
As others have said you can avoid losing too much weight by adding more healthy fats, such as olive oil salad dressing, butter on green veg, double cream with a few berries.
And my cholesterol numbers improved on this diet.
I was hb1ac of 106 and BMI of 28.4 when diagnosed in March this year. I soon switched to low carb and that (along with intentionally working on getting my weight down) has seen my hb1ac come down to 43 in 6 months and my BMI is now at or just under 22. As I don't really want to lose any more weight I have been intentionally adding calories (cheese is good for that!) to my diet and that seems to be working.
The primary reason for me going low-carb was to reduce my hb1ac and it has done that very effectively - assisting with my weight loss (and also lowering my cholesterol which is down from 7.5 to 4.6) was a useful side effect. I didn't pay to join any programme though - just targeted eating less than 100g of carbs a day as well as avoiding sugar, sweets and snacking.
One tip if you do go low carb is to make sure you're getting enough fibre in your diet! I had a couple of problems relating to that and have recently started taking fibre supplements.
The primary reason for me going low-carb was to reduce my hb1ac and it has done that very effectively - assisting with my weight loss (and also lowering my cholesterol which is down from 7.5 to 4.6) was a useful side effect. I didn't pay to join any programme though - just targeted eating less than 100g of carbs a day as well as avoiding sugar, sweets and snacking.
One tip if you do go low carb is to make sure you're getting enough fibre in your diet! I had a couple of problems relating to that and have recently started taking fibre supplements.
MissMuffett
Well-Known Member
I’m on Metformin and Dapagliflozin. As long as I stay very low carb and drink plenty of water I don’t have UTIs. I think this side effect is common as people who take it adhere to the ‘Eatwell Plate’ which is far too high in carbs for us diabetics. Obviously very low carb is good for my BG and hba1c too. The gangrene side affect is extremely rare. The Dapagliflozin is working very well for me as my BG is usually in the 6s now (I’d like it lower), were as before it was 13-15!
Thanks, my carb intake is not really high but I do get fed up and eat chips - bad I know but when others all around are tucking in sometimes I give in!
I might have to relent on the Dapagliflozin but sticking to really low carb will be a real challenge even though I know I need to do it. ‘Normal’ people just don’t seem to get it!
I each chips from time to time as well (I had a fish supper last night in fact) - but I don't see that as an issue as an occasional treat.
HSSS
Expert
Be careful. The flozin medications are not recommended with a very low carb diet. There is a raised risk of euglycemic DKA (ie without the usual very high blood glucose levels). Please check into this and discuss this with your medical staff before you do it.
