- Messages
- 7
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- bullies, unfairness, cruelty,
I first became diabetic about 5 yrs ago. My blood sugar was 56. I said i would rather use diet to change it and the Dr at the time agreed and suggested that (although she had no knowledge of it) a low carb diet might work. She gave me 3 months to change it - or /I would have to take meds.
I did so - no sugars/alcohol/bread or any other major carbs. Also cut out most fruits and starchy veg - no carrots even!!
It made me really ill.... I had extreme stomach aches and lots of diarrhoea ..... but it did reverse my diabetes and it went down to 38.
I then tried to avoid major carbs but after a few months I was on a long cycle tour in Asia - and they do love their sugar there! Every drink would come sweetened unless you really made a fuss! The miles of cycling and heat made it impossible to avoid alcohol completely too.... So by the end of the trip i was on a normal diet for me - lots of veg, some protein , some carbs - mostly wholefoods, rarely anything pre-made. But some alcohol and occasionally sweet things.. (I shared a cake twice a week!)
But within 4 years my blood sugar had shot up again. Obvs with covid - did not get any testing until this august - and my blood level was up to 56 again!
This time a Dr phoned me - I said I would do the low carb thing again and she said 'Definitey Not' She said that a low carb diert would reverse it but make me more prone to swinging back to a diabetic level. As a low carb diet was impossible to follow for any longer than the 3 months - (the pain and discomfort was awful - and I really never eat that much protein/fat etc.) and my cholesterol (which has aways been ok) was now high 5.9 - i agreed to go on a WholeLife Course that the surgery had set up with many people reversing their diabetes/losing weight/lowering blood pressure.
The course was 7 weeks long and was a website and an hour zoom meeting each week. It wanted everyone to try to do at least 4 weeks on a vegan, wholefood diet. No pre-made food, no alcohol/sugar etc - only plant-based protein and veg, fruit and wholegrain carbs - brown rice, wholegrain bread - and only 3 teaspoons of olive oil a day - no other fat, no eggs/dairy either.
Well - i did it for 6 weeks - to the letter - my Blood sugar came down to 48, my cholesterol reduced only a little 5.6 and i did lose one and a half stone in weight..... But the diet did suit me - I had no pain or bowel problems and it made me actually want to eat less meat and fish. i now eat mostly vegan with eggs once or twice and meat once a week.... I have had alcohol but am limiting it to once a week.
It seems to me that both diets reduce the blood sugar - but only one is feasible for me - I cannot cope with the pain and discomfort of the low carb. I think we are suited to one or the other - my husband could easily eat a totally protein and veg diet - and mostly does (he can't do gluten or dairy - or he gets asthmatic!)
Has anyone else had experience of either or both diets? Has anyone done it for mare than a year or so and kept their blood sugar low??
I did so - no sugars/alcohol/bread or any other major carbs. Also cut out most fruits and starchy veg - no carrots even!!
It made me really ill.... I had extreme stomach aches and lots of diarrhoea ..... but it did reverse my diabetes and it went down to 38.
I then tried to avoid major carbs but after a few months I was on a long cycle tour in Asia - and they do love their sugar there! Every drink would come sweetened unless you really made a fuss! The miles of cycling and heat made it impossible to avoid alcohol completely too.... So by the end of the trip i was on a normal diet for me - lots of veg, some protein , some carbs - mostly wholefoods, rarely anything pre-made. But some alcohol and occasionally sweet things.. (I shared a cake twice a week!)
But within 4 years my blood sugar had shot up again. Obvs with covid - did not get any testing until this august - and my blood level was up to 56 again!
This time a Dr phoned me - I said I would do the low carb thing again and she said 'Definitey Not' She said that a low carb diert would reverse it but make me more prone to swinging back to a diabetic level. As a low carb diet was impossible to follow for any longer than the 3 months - (the pain and discomfort was awful - and I really never eat that much protein/fat etc.) and my cholesterol (which has aways been ok) was now high 5.9 - i agreed to go on a WholeLife Course that the surgery had set up with many people reversing their diabetes/losing weight/lowering blood pressure.
The course was 7 weeks long and was a website and an hour zoom meeting each week. It wanted everyone to try to do at least 4 weeks on a vegan, wholefood diet. No pre-made food, no alcohol/sugar etc - only plant-based protein and veg, fruit and wholegrain carbs - brown rice, wholegrain bread - and only 3 teaspoons of olive oil a day - no other fat, no eggs/dairy either.
Well - i did it for 6 weeks - to the letter - my Blood sugar came down to 48, my cholesterol reduced only a little 5.6 and i did lose one and a half stone in weight..... But the diet did suit me - I had no pain or bowel problems and it made me actually want to eat less meat and fish. i now eat mostly vegan with eggs once or twice and meat once a week.... I have had alcohol but am limiting it to once a week.
It seems to me that both diets reduce the blood sugar - but only one is feasible for me - I cannot cope with the pain and discomfort of the low carb. I think we are suited to one or the other - my husband could easily eat a totally protein and veg diet - and mostly does (he can't do gluten or dairy - or he gets asthmatic!)
Has anyone else had experience of either or both diets? Has anyone done it for mare than a year or so and kept their blood sugar low??