maintain weight? losing weight - diabetic review

[grantg]

Any suggestions for maintaining weight, I appear to be losing a little weight each month.

I'm eating around plently calories per day of which carb intake is somewhere around 80-90g daily currently. sugar levels within target range most of the time.

Not long back from gp surgey diabetic review nurse left a couple of times, first time to grab another set of scales from another room then again to speak to the dr. Weights been checked twice on different scales. Found that pretty odd. I asked why rechecking as very little difference to own scales at home. Reply received was just double checking, as shouldnt really be losing weight after going through food diary.

I used to be overweight classed as obese before diagnosed. Lost just under a third of body weight within the last 18 months. now at 63.2kg which is within 'normal' Im currently a small in trousers, was an xl when diagnosed as xxl just a few months prior to that.

BP is 120/65 which is good. heart rate 81bpm (usually resting is around 72) which is also 'ok'.

cholesterol been dropping since diagnosis nurse seems fairly pleased 4.3mmol/l down from 17.2. hdl cholesterol dsn wants me to increase and at same time decrease ldl so confusing.

Triglycerides: 1.9 now been told thats a little high, tbh was pleased with that as 63.2 when diagnosed and 2.3mmol/L 7 months ago.

hba1c current 38.0 mmol/mol 7 months ago 46 january when diagnosed a whopping 162.

weight loss since june this year (roughly when came off insulin lada honeymoon period)

26/06/2025 71.0
20/07/2025 70.4
20/08/2025 67.6
10/09/2025 67.4
14/10/2025 66.9
03/11/2025 66.3
19/11/2025 65.6
23/12/2025 63.2

Now why im confused. Been given qfit stool test thing. YUK. when diagnosed was losing significant amount of blood sitting down to the loo constipated when did go lots fresh bright red blood. I dont have that no more. Was one of the subjects nurse was discussing. still get constipation now and then, i put down to co-codomal / pregablin (take senna but not needing as much as used to, have reduced amount of co-codomal by half) and pregablin by half morning dose. still frigging painful back/hip sciatica - cause spondylothesis. I've been advised to add a couple spoons of sugar to morning coffees and a slice of wholemeal toast with jam prior to bed? nurse wishes me to reintroduce pasta (albiet wholemeal) which usually spikes me for several hours afterwards. Protein/fat intake is pretty high. 1-2 eggs at breakfast scambled (usually with cheese) alongside either slice wholemeal toast or 1-2 wheatabix depending on what i'm doing. Been suggested i also eat a couple of snacks throughout the day eg couple of crackers. Snacks at the moment im eating if hungry (not very often lately) is nuts/keto bar. lunches usually homemade dal curry (25g carbs) or homemade lentil & splittpea soup 18g + single slice wholemeal small bread 9g (27g total) sandwhich wholemeal with cheese and coleslaw. 26g.. evening meals usually either fairly low carb quiche (crustless) salad (peppers and cucumber mostly/bean burger/beef burger/ homemade bolongnese (without pasta) or lasangu made with aubergine sliced with cheese sauce layers in between. usually 25-35g carbs. 2-3 coffees per day ontop of that. other snacks eat if hungry carrot/cucumber sticks dipped in a homemade satay sauce/hummus. nurse has also suggested 150ml fruit juice is a good idea daily :O I also have watermelon fairly regularly <3 that approx 50g which would be around 4g carbs.

any ideas to prevent weightloss. ketones for me appear to be fairly high however could be nutricinal so not particularly worried even thou ketone test this afternoon nurse went to go speak to the dr yet again as was 2.3. I have been saying to diabetic team for several months on the ketone front prior to september. lowest ketone result since diagnosed think was 1.9. when had dka ketones were very high +20.

dsn few months ago requested i eat 200g+ carbs a day looking for some possible alternatives. im also being refered which will now be 3rd time to diabetic dietician, who said last time around when spoke to them meal choices were ok.

t1/lada is diagnosis with honeymoon period (and currently not on insulin) postive antibodys. fasted c-peptide.

Aware that they might be looking for another illness regarding weight loss, kidney function alongside other full bloods all ok.. although do have foamy pee a fair bit alb/creatin ratio was 'ok' slightly high not a lot. fitbit versa reckons i burn between 2k and 2.5k cals max daily, cals wise pretty sure eating over what i burn. I stopped adding snacks carbs (will be readding them to libre app now), dietician was whining at amount of details in log book said wasnt necessary to log snacks. only readding as will be marking down cals alongside carbs to see full amount rather than 'best guess'. libre usually reads around 1.5 mmol lower for me daytime and slightly lower again when laying down.

 

[lovinglife]

I find dairy as in cheese, cream, butter can stall or cause me weight gain, but not fat from other sources - maybe same for you?

 

[EllieM]

I agree with @lovinglife , cheese is my kryptonite as regards weight gain. (Still slightly heavier than my ideal weight but not enough to make me want to actively pursue weight loss strategies, just not gain back any.)

 

[grantg]

I find dairy as in cheese, cream, butter can stall or cause me weight gain, but not fat from other sources - maybe same for you?

eating a fair bit of cheese. 120g per day approx between cheese slices.. cauliflower cheese. grated cheese ontop of bolognese meal have sometimes for dinner. not really a fan of butter. cream is possibly an idea instead of using milk in coffee will try switch to that thanks.


edit: oh wait just read the stall OR cause weight gain
i'll increase a little more, if still lose, will try try cut out see how that goes for a week or two

 

[Outlier]

I think you are wise to be so selective about the dietary advice you have been given, some of which is not diabetic-friendly. I'm another who puts on weight with cheese, but you are already eating plenty. Fatty meat and butter or olive oilon your veg.might help you if you like it - I do. I went from size xl to xs on keto, love that result but not losing any more at present. Your blood in bowel might be a result of medication, so check out your information leaflets - I had intestinal bleeding from one of my meds that took a while to resolve after I stopped using it. All the very best to you, keep on with that enquiring mind, we are the guardians of our own wellbeing when the professionals let us down. Koiwi fruit is good for sluggish bowels, I have one every day, also soaked chia seeds in my yoghurt, might help you and quite pleasant.

 

[grantg]

I think you are wise to be so selective about the dietary advice you have been given, some of which is not diabetic-friendly. I'm another who puts on weight with cheese, but you are already eating plenty. Fatty meat and butter or olive oilon your veg.might help you if you like it - I do. I went from size xl to xs on keto, love that result but not losing any more at present. Your blood in bowel might be a result of medication, so check out your information leaflets - I had intestinal bleeding from one of my meds that took a while to resolve after I stopped using it. All the very best to you, keep on with that enquiring mind, we are the guardians of our own wellbeing when the professionals let us down. Koiwi fruit is good for sluggish bowels, I have one every day, also soaked chia seeds in my yoghurt, might help you and quite pleasant.

no more blood in poo used to have a LOT including few months after diagnosis that seems to of resolved thankfully when constipation got a lot better. i'll try 10% instead of the usual leaner 5% mince been getting never liked 20%+ cuts. olive oil prob a good idea. Meds wise when was admitted hospital had a fit over taking diclofenac sodium tabs max dose (150mg a day twice 75g) was prescribed that despite them knowing gi bleed for around a year curiously voltrol is still is on my repeat although thats same ingredient as the tablet i dont use that at all. I'll buy some kiwi's and perhaps some yogurt replace milk cereal with that would be little more higher in cals.

not too keen on lots of changes at once.. don't want constipation nor blood back in stools, more importantly don't want big changes to glucose levels which appear to be pretty good at the moment depending on what i eat. realise some suggestions are not particularly diabetic friendly, think they are concerned ketone levels. which tbh i was too originally months ago more at ease (maybe a good thing maybe bad heck knows). Senna only take now for a few days if any constipation flares up which happens every so often for a few days, rest of time not needing to strain so much and no longer sore used to be terrified going to the bathroom that's a welcome changed days.

I'm not doing keto diet just a relatively low carb intake to what had in past. I e or two wee changes at a time for couple weeks before adding a other I think is perhaps good idea.

Fasted ketones this morning: 2.4 via fingerprick will be keeping eye on them although do expect them to be a little raised presuming nutritional. Fully aware on NHS guidelines ketone front. Blood glucose was fine this morning

 

[EllieM]

Fasted ketones this morning: 2.4 via fingerprick will be keeping eye on them although do expect them to be a little raised presuming nutritional. Fully aware on NHS guidelines ketone front. Blood glucose was fine this morning

Personally I would need to eat a lot less carbs than you to go into nutritional ketosis. But you seem to be atypical in a number of ways so I guess this could be just one of them....

Is your endocrinologist absolutely certain you are LADA and not something rarer (eg MODY, T3C, etc etc)?

You do sound to be infinitely better off than pre diagnosis so hopefully the weight loss just tapers off. Good luck.

 

[Redshank]

WEll done on the changes you have made
I lost weight (that I didn't want to lose) when I switched to low carb.
I was carefully tracked carbs in my diet, but ignored calories.
So I tracked calories for a couple of weeks and found I wasn't eating enough (for me). I needed to eat about 2500Kcal per day to maintain my weight (64kg). If I went a lot below this (and I found I was only eating about 1500 on many days) I would lose weight. Obviously this will vary a lot for individuals.
Looking at your lunches, from the carb count I would estimate that these are very low in calories. Similarly your breakfast also looks fairly low in calories. I think tracking this for a couple of days might be helpful.
Tree nuts (walnuts/brazils/pecans/hazelnuts) are all fairly low in carbs and high in calories
I have a lot of chopped nuts, greek yoghurt and berries for breakfast. I find it an easy way to get a good number of calories into me!
Best of luck

 

[Melgar]

@grantg I could not maintain a keto diet I lost too much weight, weight I could ill afford to lose. I am unable to eat enough fats in my diet to compensate for the lack of carbohydrates. Apologies if you have already answered this, but how many carbs are you eating per day? My understanding is they will have to be pretty low to go into Nutritional ketosis.
The blood in your poop, if it is fresh red blood, could this be from hemorrhoids ? I see you have issues with constipation. Bleeding further up the intestinal tract, I’m assuming, would cause your poop to be very dark/black. I know this as I have had peptic ulcers that have bled in the past.

@EllieM I believe @grant is autoantibody positive with low non fasting C-Peptides . LADA can be very slow progressing, unlike early onset T1 , but you know this of course

 

[grantg]

Personally I would need to eat a lot less carbs than you to go into nutritional ketosis. But you seem to be atypical in a number of ways so I guess this could be just one of them....

Is your endocrinologist absolutely certain you are LADA and not something rarer (eg MODY, T3C, etc etc)?

You do sound to be infinitely better off than pre diagnosis so hopefully the weight loss just tapers off. Good luck.

lot better than pre diagnosis thanks. More energy levels in general lot more active. I raised the question mody couple of times ago with them they've said definately not that. I also asked as my mum was type2 diagnosed if there was any possibility she had t3c (she had pancreatitis several times) late mum also had nafld, in end liver failure alongside dka again. I have not had liver/pancreas scans endo says no point in them as ai-2 antibody test confirmed type1/lada. Will however bring up again and try do a little more research on various other types. GAD vial lab rejected no reason stated.

I was carefully tracked carbs in my diet, but ignored calories.
So I tracked calories for a couple of weeks and found I wasn't eating enough (for me). I needed to eat about 2500Kcal per day to maintain my weight (64kg). If I went a lot below this (and I found I was only eating about 1500 on many days) I would lose weight. Obviously this will vary a lot for individuals.
Looking at your lunches, from the carb count I would estimate that these are very low in calories. Similarly your breakfast also looks fairly low in calories. I think tracking this for a couple of days might be helpful.
Tree nuts (walnuts/brazils/pecans/hazelnuts) are all fairly low in carbs and high in calories
I have a lot of chopped nuts, greek yoghurt and berries for breakfast. I find it an easy way to get a good number of calories into me!
Best of luck

thanks for explaination on your own cals.

love hazlenuts will try some walnuts (not keen on those) like most other nuts.

breakfast which may look low dont think is actually that low. this mornings i counted. 300ml milk between wheatabix & latte 131cals. 2 wheatabix 136 large coffee with milk. 2 large eggs 150cal 50ml elenlea double cream 142cal approx 30g cheddar 125cal alongside 30g roasted peanuts around an hour later 179cals total 873cals.

lunch: homemade lentil and splitt pea soup carrots leek 200cal 1 slice small wholemeal bread 54cal 2 slice leerdammer light cheese 104cal another latte 200ml milk 87cal will grab a bar pulins keto rasp & choc chip 248cals prob after walk (1 mile). total: 693cals lunch

unless something is drastically wrong with my calorie figures?

@Melgar around 80-90g carbs daily havent put the odd 30g peanuts nor 5/6g keto bars within the libre screenshot which otherwise shows decent bg control (to me) nurse at the dr's surgery arguing isn't well controlled levels i dont get that to me its vast difference! screenshot attached 18 units toujeo & 6 units novarapid with each meal.

edit clearing up: used to have issue with blood in poo, no longer. I did have couple pollops cut out years ago. don know much in way hemmaroids query nor does that seem to be an issue. maybe no idea, think mostly from straining in the past. Not letting get back to the state where couldn't sit down to loo for over a week. now if by end day 3 no loo, take senna til easy to go for couple of days then stop.

 

[Lainie71]

I put started putting on weight eating walnuts, and pumpkins seeds. I couldn't resist them! Have since stopped and started losing weight, quite rapidly now dont know if that's good or bad!

 

[grantg]

I put started putting on weight eating walnuts, and pumpkins seeds. I couldn't resist them! Have since stopped and started losing weight, quite rapidly now dont know if that's good or bad!

pumpkin seeds hmm used to love seeded loaves. wonder if can make some of own bread some add a handful of seeds at reasonable costs

ty something else for me to add for next wee change. issue for me is Small size. and the steady decline which nurse is concerned about. im nearing the bottom end of 'ideal weight' giving a fairly low bmi. Its not intentional weight loss. ketone issue as well which is always higher than 'the norm'. ie levels were i would be telling someone to up fluids and get medical advice if didn't go down. nhs guidance appears a little conservative comparing to some studies have looked at.

If you use a meter to test for ketones in your blood:

under 0.6mmol/L is normal
0.6 to 1.5mmol/L is slightly high – test again in 2 hours
1.6 to 3mmol/L means you're at risk of DKA and should speak to your diabetes care team for advice
over 3mmol/L is high and means you may have DKA and should call 999 or go to A&E

.