LOW CARB SUCCESS STORIES

[DaisyDuke 2]

Ok so was diagnosed about a year a go. HB1C was 54. I was given very little info from the doctor's but loads of help from here. Within 6 months I got my HB1C to 41 and weight from 160lbs to 140lbs Daily meter readings fasting are 4.5ish and after between 7 and 9. Doing really well thanks to low carbs. However I still need to lose another 7 to 9 lbs bit can't seem to shift it. So really pleased with how far I've come but would be interested in any ideas to shift that last half a stone.

Well done your doing great and your fasting reading is really good... are you getting daily exercise?

 

[Miss_Piggywig]

Well done your doing great and your fasting reading is really good... are you getting daily exercise?

That's my summer aim. Bloods been really good so getting a little complacent. Given my self a talking too and gone back to using my fitness Pal to track for a while.

 

[MrTickle]

As some may recall, a clinic visit (for something else) showed up an HbA1C score of 55 early this year and I was advised to go to the GP to get a formal T2D diagnosis but instead I decided to follow low-carb and see if I can address the issue through diet first.

Since Feb. I have followed LCHF although there have been occasional cheats along the way, although for me thats the only way I can realistically maintain this as a lifestyle. As long as any cheat is followed by a few days of very low carb, I've found it all pretty manageable.

Anyway, since Feb, I have lost circa 4 stone and just had the results from a follow up clinic visit, and my HbA1C is now down to 35 which my doctor classifies as 'normal'. My doc was amazed at the result and mused - as we all have - as to why this approach isn't more widely pushed by the NHS.

Anyway, just been abroad for a week where I wasn't easily able to follow low carb (although did visit the Keto cafe in Berlin, which I would heartily recommend for anyone going there - their pizza was fantastic!), but back now and on the low carb train again....

Thanks to all on this forum for the vital information which has allowed me to navigate the sometimes counter-intuitive world of LCHF, and I hope that I will be able to maintain the diet and the good numbers in my next set of bloods, which will be early 2019

 

[shelley262]

As some may recall, a clinic visit (for something else) showed up an HbA1C score of 55 early this year and I was advised to go to the GP to get a formal T2D diagnosis but instead I decided to follow low-carb and see if I can address the issue through diet first.

Since Feb. I have followed LCHF although there have been occasional cheats along the way, although for me thats the only way I can realistically maintain this as a lifestyle. As long as any cheat is followed by a few days of very low carb, I've found it all pretty manageable.

Anyway, since Feb, I have lost circa 4 stone and just had the results from a follow up clinic visit, and my HbA1C is now down to 35 which my doctor classifies as 'normal'. My doc was amazed at the result and mused - as we all have - as to why this approach isn't more widely pushed by the NHS.

Anyway, just been abroad for a week where I wasn't easily able to follow low carb (although did visit the Keto cafe in Berlin, which I would heartily recommend for anyone going there - their pizza was fantastic!), but back now and on the low carb train again....

Thanks to all on this forum for the vital information which has allowed me to navigate the sometimes counter-intuitive world of LCHF, and I hope that I will be able to maintain the diet and the good numbers in my next set of bloods, which will be early 2019

Congratulations @MrTickle brilliant that you addressed this full on with amazing results including your four stone loss in such a short time too.
Love to visit keto cafe in Berlin Berlin is on my wish list for a visit but can imagine low carb may be difficult
Interesting too that your GP actually mused about why lCHF isn’t more widely promoted by the NHS.......
Well done you

 

[Gazzamius1]

Hi everyone and specially Fergus for starting this thread. i have been a member here for sometime, and i do lapse my commitment to regularly coming here and keeping up to date. not because i don't want to... i just forget a lot. but i am in complete agreement with LCHF, tried it several times over the past 3 years or so. but always lapsed back into eating way too much old habit forming fish and chips and steak pies etc etc. you all know the score. Well i am 65 and after 60 odd years of eating the conventional British way. it's so hard to change to a completely different way of eating. i would generally last eating LCHF for a few weeks then drop out. but for the last 3 months i have knuckled down, quit the regular drinking of lager and absolutely stuck rigidly to LCHF. around 20 grams carbs per day and that's mostly green carbs. have completely abstained from bread, rice, any starchy product, sugar, potatoes, root veggies, I eat mostly Fish, beef, pork, lamb, Bought myself a proper portion size dinner plate, (the one with sections for vegetables, protein and animal fat ) cos generally i have eyes bigger than my belly. took me a little time to get used to. so the first month i was generally eating a little too much, trying to educate my brain was getting a bit difficult ......... BUT in general for the first month my blood sugars started to drop, i was injecting over 180 units daily (Humalog 50) i was gaining weight using this high dosage.........Hbaic was 12........... but slowly i controlled my portion size and knocked the carbs off. i bought myself a set of scales that connects via bluetooth to my iphone. saves all that taking notes and keeping a diary. this little bit of magic automatically updates your weight, BMI, Body Fat etc. to your phone and gives you a sliding scale of how your doing. well....... i was 18stone 2Lbs .... a month ago. i don't use the scales every day just once a week. but, i am now down to 17stone 2 Lbs. testing my blood everyday ( i have always done regularly) was between 11 and 19 mmols. before committing properly to Keto. now for the last 2 months my blood sugars have never been over 8 and i regularly wake up in the morning and i test, sometimes 5 and the highest read has been 7 mmols. i cannot wait for my next Hbaic result which is due in November after hospital blood test.
I will also take note from my Diabetic nurse, my Hbaic. Weight, Total cholesterol, Hdl and ldl levels from now on. now i understand what they mean. I am finding it much easier to stick to this ( i will not say diet any more ) But this way of eating. these forums help people in a big way. but i am sure there are lots of people who need to commit to Keto. it is Sooooo Hard to get used to. but as soon as a person wakes up to the fact that HIGH CARB low fat is the killer diet. the better off they will be. i mean if you are diabetic obviously. Good Luck with the crusade People. see you all again soon. hopefully i will hear better and better news from all trying to get to grips with their diabetes .

Gaz

 

[Deleted member 475901]

Most of the type 2s I heard about who were not overweight found that upping protein slightly if needed and eating more healthy fats stopped the undesired weight loss while enabling them to keep carbs down and control their blood sugar. However, it does sound as if you might really be a type 1 not type 2, eg a LADA?

Re: Success stories

Hi, what an interesting topic. I'm not sure if my input would be regarded as a success story but I hope it adds a bit more information to the subject.
First of all, I think I am correct in thinking that the approach to diabetes treatment in the USA is different from the UK in that they actively encourage a low carb diet?

In my own case I was diagnosed in Jan 2004 as Type 2, at the age of 54. The "cause" of my diabetes was considered to be hereditary. There is a history of the condition in my family. I certainly was not overweight at 12st and 6ft tall. I am fairly fit and active - I play golf and badminton and do a fair amount of walking. Anyway, one gliclazide per day later I was back under control but my weight had dropped during the intervening period to just over 11st. As per normal, I was encouraged to eat plenty of starchy foods.

I stayed under control until 2006 when my sugar levels went skyward. After several visits to the local Diabetes Clinic I regained control via 4 gliclazide and 2 metformin / day - quite an increase. At this point I had lost more weight and was just under 11st. I battled on with my sugar levels for the next year or so. My sugar levels would creep up and my only means of bringing them back under control was to reduce the amount I ate, effectively reducing my carb intake. However, whilst this regained sugar level control it also lost me a bit more weight. The weight loss was probably exacerbated by my exercise levels. As my weight drifted down to 10st I was urged by my Diabetes Nurse to ensure that there was nothing sinister causing the weight loss - subsequent tests showed nothing amiss. I decided that losing more weight was not an attractive proposition, so I played around with my diet, generally eating more of everything (except battenburg cake, I still miss it!) and managed to stop the weight loss, but at the cost of a higher blood sugar count. My conclusion was that the drugs were simply not working any more, my body was unable to convert enough of my carb intake to support my needs and my body was "topping up" on body fat.

I was again referred to the Diabetes Clinic where the Specialist Nurse concluded (as I had) that I needed to go on to insulin. I received my first insulin pen today, injected myself this evening AND lived to tell the tale. How I will get on regarding body weight in the future, only time will tell. However, the purpose of telling you all that is that a low carb approach would probably not always be suitable for us underweight diabetics out there. Hope that adds a bit to the discussion.

 

[Deleted member 475901]

I was diagnosed at the end of May this year:
HbA1C 51
triglycerides 1.97

I went low carb instead of metformin, with limited support. I also opted for a 45 min appointment with a dietician instead of the Desmond programme as I'd heard they don't support low carb.
Self-testing showed my blood sugars were mostly down within the normal range within 2 weeks, plus I was finally losing weight.
I then saw the dietician, and ignored her advice to eat more carbs. At that point I was on 100g a day.
I'm now down to 85g of carbs a day, all my BS readings are good.
At the 3 month point the official figures came back:
HbA1C 38
triglycerides 1.41

My DN was amazed and promised, at last, to visit the lowcarbprogram site and look at the stats.
Low carb is still working for me, but I am disappointed how many people do not understand - they think they've eliminated all the sugar in their diet if they just stop adding it to drinks and don't eat chocolate and cake. I am constantly offered food I no longer eat by helpful friends who think it fits my diet!

BTW I've also lost 3 st since the end of May.
If you want to try low carb and don't need to lose weight, just add more healthy fats.

 

[DaisyDuke 2]

Most of the type 2s I heard about who were not overweight found that upping protein slightly if needed and eating more healthy fats stopped the undesired weight loss while enabling them to keep carbs down and control their blood sugar. However, it does sound as if you might really be a type 1 not type 2, eg a LADA?

My Dr advised me to eat more protein because I was losing to much weight. It seems to be working so far.

 

[pr126]

I am on a Ketogenic diet for the last 3 months. Less than 40 gr of carbs a day.
Average BG for the last 3 months is 6.9 mmol/L.

Stopped taking Glucophage SR for the last few days with no noticeable adverse signs.

Also losing weight slowly but steadily. Nearly 4 Kg in 3 months.

 

[LynnieG33]

Success following by Low Carb High Fat Diet

When I was diagnosed as diabetic Type 2 in January 2013 my mmol reading was 52mmol.
In October 2017 my reading was 76mmol my diabetic nurse was very concerned.
Today my reading was 46mmol. I have for the last 6 weeks been following a Low Carb High Fat Diet.
My diabetic nurse was dumbfounded today saying "if I was giving you these results today of 46mmol, my diagnosis would be that you're not diabetic"

I've also lost 14 lb in the last six weeks following a Low Carb High Fat diet and am now out of the obese zone
I have more energy, no longer have joint pain, do not feel the need to sleep after every meal and no longer suffer from sever acid reflux.

A huge thanks to the wise BG is usually between words of Dr Unwin and Dr Xand van Tulleken for his inspiration BBC programme "The Truth About Carbs" and of course everyone on this forum

Hi I have been on a low carb diet now for 12 days , my weight has stayed the same . How long before I should see anything weight loss ? I’m doing betweeen 10-15,000 steps a day at work . I’m feelin a bit panicked that I’m doing something wrong . My BG is usually between 6 and 9 .

 

[pr126]

I am on a low carb (ketogenic) diet, no pasta, potatoes, rice or grain products at all for the last 4 months.
Lost 4 kilos in weight.

Average glucose level 6.6 Rarely get over 7.
It all depends on the diet. It must be less than 20 gr carb a day.

 

[pr126]

I thought to share this video for the diabetes forum.

And,
Foods to eat or to avoid
Download pdf file, print.

https://www.drberg.com/uploads/other-files/Dr. Berg’s Healthy Ketosis™ Acceptable Foods List.pdf

 

[Sandra1953]

Low card diet

 

[bulkbiker]

I thought to share this video for the diabetes forum.

And,
Foods to eat or to avoid
Download pdf file, print.

https://www.drberg.com/uploads/other-files/Dr. Berg’s Healthy Ketosis™ Acceptable Foods List.pdf

Not a Dr Berg fan..have you seen any Dr Ben Bikman or Dr Ken Berry vids?

 

[zauberflote]

@LynnieG33 welcome! That’s alot of steps at work!
I am not very knowledgeable here yet, but I’d say don’t worry. As in so many things, it’s a marathon not a sprint. Have your BGs come down any in the 12 days, well now it’s 3 weeks? Do you test before and 2 hrs after meals, to learn what happens in your case for a particular food combo? You’ve probably discussed this all on other threads...
Anyway, not to panic! Do your best and expect to be individual, just like every other soul on these boards

 

[pr126]

Average blood glucose monitoring for the last 3 months.
Weight loss 5 Kg.
Very low carb diet.

 

[Oldvatr]

Average blood glucose monitoring for the last 3 months.
Weight loss 5 Kg.
Very low carb diet.

I think I know what the answer should be, but your figures seem to be a bit low for mg/dL units. Presume they should be mmol/L? or even %

 

[pr126]

It is mmol (UK standards).
For the US multiply by 18.

 

[Garway]

Re: Success stories

Hi All,

This is my first post; I have been lurking here since April, decided to register yesterday to make this post. My name is Alan and I am 46 yrs old.

I went for one of these glucose tolerance test thingys last December, the doc said in a very nonchalant way that I had just failed the test and was now diagnosed type 2 diabetic. He gave me the results: 7.2 fasting and 12.1 after 2 hours. Then he explained what the numbers meant and that I had only just failed. This meant to me that I will just take another one in 6 months and then I would pass. Of course he said it doesn’t work like that. I nearly fell of my chair ; I couldn’t believe it (I was obviously suffering from cretinopathy ). Anyway after 5 minutes of him waffling on about government guidelines and what not, he sent me away with a small piece of paper detailing the usual exercise more, lose weight, eat less fat, more fruit veg and whole grains blah, blah, blah (No mention of self testing). I was already eating half a loaf of wholegrain bread a day plus a shed load of cereals, an equivalent 8 portions of fruit and juices, and hardly any meat. On diagnoses, my weight was 150Kg, with a morbidly obese BMI of 43. I never suspected carbohydrates were all that fattening. Naïve, idiotic, foolish me .

A week later I made an appointment with the DN. She said the same as that tiny slither of paper. (No mention of self testing). Tests for kidney and liver function were sound.

I cut back on total calories to about 2000. Started walking about 2 miles a day.

April came and I felt like I was dying. As well as starving, I was tired all the time, stomach cramps, going toilet more than 3 times a day (IBS maybe). I felt very weak, light headed, blurred vision and burning sole on my right foot. Also I was suffering from Acid reflux. I had lost 10 Kilos in weight though which was not bad. April was the date of my first blood tests and my first HBA1c (6.4). I asked the DN is there anything that she could suggest to remedy the above problems. She told me that I probably am not eating enough, my jaw nearly dropped to the floor . I said 2000Kcals are enough surely (I still want to lose weight). She checked my foot for neuropathy, and said it was ok. She then went on to mention statins and metformin. When I refused to entertain either of these she went on to say that eventually I would have to go on drugs and then finally insulin, because diabetes is a progressive disease (she was very insistent, almost like she was trying to punish me :twisted: ). I said like hell am I going on insulin. She basically scared the hell out of me. I hate drugs and needles. I trust drug companies about as much as I trust capt Darling with the economy. I decided I have got to do some of my own research.

I got myself a meter and some test strips. My fasting BS was up to 7.5-8, my after meal (2hrs) reading was anything from 10-15. I researched diabetes on the internet. That is when I first came across this excellent website. I read all the threads especially the ones on carbs and “the cure”. After researching low-carb all over the web, I got a copy of Atkins New Diet Revolution. Before I would try to low-carb though, due to my paranoia I thought I would try to find the evidence against eating “artery clogging saturated fat”. I could not find any real proof that saturated fat was evil.

So I decided to cut right back on carbs (Atkins induction 20g/day). At that time I was more paranoid of drugs, than any negative effects of low-carb and the thought of sticking insulin needles in me, I was bordering on psychosis. Within 3 days my Acid reflux had disappeared and never had it since. My stomach cramps had gone. Fasting blood sugars of around 5. The downside was to come one week later when I got “Atkins flu”, only lasted for one week. After that my energy levels just exploded and so did my bowels, diarrhea like I had never known before. I just persevered with Atkins, this just had to work if I didn’t want to inject (is my paranoia showing? ). It took nearly three weeks to get back to normal. I decided to put all that energy to use by doing jobs around the house/garden (the Mrs. is very happy ). I was never tired after a meal, unlike when I use to eat a high-carb meal I use to collapse in my armchair after dinner. I also started walking everywhere I could, plus more for pleasure, about 35 miles a week. NOTE: I only started Atkins due to my properly functioning kidneys. It is also worth noting that I started to drink a lot more water than normal, in fact about 3 litres a day. This is to flush out the nitrogen and other toxins caused by the increased gluconeogenesis that is required to fuel the parts of the body that can not use ketones or free fatty acids.

Now nearly 5 months I have been getting lower and lower fasting readings of between 4.2 and 4.7, no meter reading is greater than 5.3, at ANY time; in fact it generally is less than 5. Vision is normal and no burning foot. In fact I swear I have a lot more feeling in the soles of my feet now. I sleep much sounder now than since I was in my teens. I only need about 6-7 hours of continual sleep, whereas I used to need 8-9 hours of intermittent sleep. I have now lost a total of more than 30 kilos (BMI 33, yippee, getting there) eating 70% fat, 125g protein and approx 60g carbs daily (~2500Kcal). All cravings for carbs/sugar have gone the way of the dodo . I never feel hungry between meals anymore, I don’t even think of food anymore. Steadily losing about a kilo a week walking the 35 miles a week and I am now doing half an hour 4 days a week of yoga. I am going to start weight training when I have finished converting my garage into a gym. I don’t like exercising, I LOVE it.

I do supplement with a multivitamin, chromium, Omega 3 (EPA, DHA, ALA) and extra vitamin D and E. I have stopped eating all vegetable oils that are high in Omega 6 (Linoleic acid). The only oil I use is Extra Virgin Olive Oil for salads and light frying (mostly lard for frying). Very few nuts except for walnuts (better Omega 3/6 ratio). I try to get as close to a 1-1 ratio of the Omegas. No fast food, ready meals or any thing with artificial trans-fats at all. I eat cheese, butter and bacon along with all the fresh foods that there are, except high fructose and starchy fruits. I have not eaten so well in my life; I am fully satisfied at every meal. I do not eat any grains or starchy veg at all including legumes (a small portion of freshly picked garden peas are the exception). I tend to eat all cuts of meat, chicken and fish. Fresh veggys cooked in garlic butter or some other delicious low-carb sauce. Eggs are eaten daily. I am doing the dreaded Atkins (against the advice of my care team), but without any of his products or any other low-carb packaged pap. I like to think of it as a more natural way of eating. I cannot for the life of me know what all the negative press about Atkins or low-carb in general is all about. Is it the “BUT YOU NEED CARBOHYDRATES FOR ENERGY” nonsense? Or the “DIE OF A HEART ATTACK IF YOU JUST LOOK AT BUTTER” mentality?

I cannot describe how I feel now; all I will say is that it feels like I have at last found a healthy way to eat and live for the rest of my life. As corny as it sounds, I feel reborn, much younger and healthier. I have been on what must be at least a dozen different diets and lost weight, sometimes even more than what I have lost so far doing this. The difference this time is that I am NOT hungry doing this. The first month or so was hard what with “Atkins flu” and the exploding bowels, but persistence pays. I feel as I have reversed some of the insulin resistance due in part to the weight loss, but also I think the balance of the essential fatty acids and removal of all processed food/grains has gone a long way.

My last/first HBA1C in April was 6.4. Blood lipids: HDL 1.0, LDL 4.4, Trig 1.5. BP 140/80 and resting heartbeat 88. Now my BP is 105/65 and resting heart beat 60. I am due my next blood test in Oct/Nov. This hopefully will show an improvement, fingers crossed.

My ultimate goal is to get my weight down to 80 Kilos (BMI 23 - 6ft 2, I haven’t been 80Kg since I was 21), be active and build more muscle (at least retain as much as possible) so I can reverse as much of the insulin resistance as I can.

One final note: I know when people make their first post; it is usually to ask for help. The reason I have made this post is not to ask for any help but it is to thank you all for the helpful information that you have posted, because without this website and obviously caring people I would not have the control that I have, and I want you to know that you are very much appreciated not just by me but probably by lots of other “lurkers out there”.

Kind regards,

Alan

Hey, I might be Grainless, but at least I am happy!

Insulin, hmm the aging hormone? Please DO NOT ABUSE! Your life depends on it!

 

[pr126]

Progress on the keto diet.