Hey everyone, wonder if anyone can help, I am really struggling at the moment, I’ve been told I need to lose weight so I have cut back and reduced my carb intake, I am exercising daily, they have me on Saxenda injections and I have lost absolutely no weight no in over a month I feel so deflated and fed up as I do not know what I am doing so wrong, I drink only water, no nice foods, just lots of chicken and veg, plain porridge or apples for breakfast all healthy food, is anyone else struggling like this or is it just me ?
Miserable and Fed up
- Thread starter Vickieg67!
- Start Date
Unfortunately the official definition of healthy food, ISN'T for us type 2s. Until you can reduce your carb intake (ALL COLOURS), you will struggle to lose weight.
Drop the porridge and apples for breakfast, try Bacon and eggs, perhaps some fried mushrooms.
Replace carbohydrate with protein and NATURAL fats, don't use vegetable oils etc. Cook with proper olive oil or lard, dripping and butter.
Simplistically eat only vegetables that grow above ground.
This may look counterintuative compared to what you've heard over the years, but it does work.
By switching to eating like this, your body enters a state called diatetic Kentosis, whereby it uses fats for fuel instead of sugar.
By eating low carb you minimise the Insulin levels in your body. Insulin is the hormone that causes the Intolerance which means a raise in blood sugar levels, as your cells won't accept the sugar easily, this causes fatigue and general lack of energy.
Your bodies defence to high sugar levels is increased urination, ie peeing some out, accompanied by thirst to replace lost water. And converting the sugar to fat, primarily Ectopic fat around your internal organs, which causes intolerance in them, then subcutaneous fat under the skin (weight gain). Now you can see how this works, you will realise you had a problem long before diagnosis.
When you reach a state of Ketosis you are essentially fat adapted, natures evolvement to survive times of low carbohydrate availability ie winter. Natures next bit of help is when a scarcity of food, it starts to burn it's own fat stores to supplement the diet.
BINGO this is when the fat can rapidly disappear, BUT don't overdo the calorie restriction too much, as that can kick in famine mode, where your body shuts down none essential functions to save energy, (this is most likely why dieters plateau). The calorie restriction has become the new normal, so no weight loss. Every few days have a day where you eat a little more, this keeps the body expecting more to come on the days you eat less, so it doesn't reduce your metabolism.
Have heart, don't worry, we all struggle at times, and until you can see the root of the problem, the chances of being successful are less. The extra weight is NOT the problem, it's a symptom of the problem.
Drop the porridge and apples for breakfast, try Bacon and eggs, perhaps some fried mushrooms.
Replace carbohydrate with protein and NATURAL fats, don't use vegetable oils etc. Cook with proper olive oil or lard, dripping and butter.
Simplistically eat only vegetables that grow above ground.
This may look counterintuative compared to what you've heard over the years, but it does work.
By switching to eating like this, your body enters a state called diatetic Kentosis, whereby it uses fats for fuel instead of sugar.
By eating low carb you minimise the Insulin levels in your body. Insulin is the hormone that causes the Intolerance which means a raise in blood sugar levels, as your cells won't accept the sugar easily, this causes fatigue and general lack of energy.
Your bodies defence to high sugar levels is increased urination, ie peeing some out, accompanied by thirst to replace lost water. And converting the sugar to fat, primarily Ectopic fat around your internal organs, which causes intolerance in them, then subcutaneous fat under the skin (weight gain). Now you can see how this works, you will realise you had a problem long before diagnosis.
When you reach a state of Ketosis you are essentially fat adapted, natures evolvement to survive times of low carbohydrate availability ie winter. Natures next bit of help is when a scarcity of food, it starts to burn it's own fat stores to supplement the diet.
BINGO this is when the fat can rapidly disappear, BUT don't overdo the calorie restriction too much, as that can kick in famine mode, where your body shuts down none essential functions to save energy, (this is most likely why dieters plateau). The calorie restriction has become the new normal, so no weight loss. Every few days have a day where you eat a little more, this keeps the body expecting more to come on the days you eat less, so it doesn't reduce your metabolism.
Have heart, don't worry, we all struggle at times, and until you can see the root of the problem, the chances of being successful are less. The extra weight is NOT the problem, it's a symptom of the problem.
So foods we are told are healthy are not good for T2s. I find porridge and apples both have too many carbs for me.
Do you have a meter so you can test before and then 2hrs after meals?
Do you have a meter so you can test before and then 2hrs after meals?
I've just noticed on your profile you list Insulin in your treatment, this compounds things, and means you have to be careful when restricting carbs, as this can cause hypos as your Insulin requirement should drop.
As you can see from the essay i wrote above, high levels are the problem Hyperinsulemia. If you are producing enough Insulin yourself, but if resistance is very high, then injected Insulin is the sledge hammer to crack the nut. Unfortunately this IS necessary at times, but does cause problems trying to lose weight.
If you do restrict carbs, you're Insulin requirement will drop. The less Insulin usually the less resistance, the less resistance the less Insulin, and on and on, to a level where fat burning does become possible.
It will take some time, and you DO need the cooperation of your health care professionals. They need to know What and how you're doing it, and what results you're getting. (hopefully they're not the narrow minded kind we so often encounter), and will actually help.
It took a long time to reach your current position, you must accept it will take a while to improve things.
As you can see from the essay i wrote above, high levels are the problem Hyperinsulemia. If you are producing enough Insulin yourself, but if resistance is very high, then injected Insulin is the sledge hammer to crack the nut. Unfortunately this IS necessary at times, but does cause problems trying to lose weight.
If you do restrict carbs, you're Insulin requirement will drop. The less Insulin usually the less resistance, the less resistance the less Insulin, and on and on, to a level where fat burning does become possible.
It will take some time, and you DO need the cooperation of your health care professionals. They need to know What and how you're doing it, and what results you're getting. (hopefully they're not the narrow minded kind we so often encounter), and will actually help.
It took a long time to reach your current position, you must accept it will take a while to improve things.
I do test my blood before and 2 hours after my meals, blood sugars are pretty good between 5-6 before food and no more than 7 after ! I was put on lantus due to not being able to tolerate metformin of any kind. I just find food so hard, I never know what to eat, I was advised by my diabetic team to he careful with ketosis diets but I have no pasta, no bread very few potato’s ! I do not have porridge every day just maybe twice a week, doesn’t seem to affect my levels at all. Just finding this all stressful, seeing no results week after week is soul destroying !!
Munkki
Well-Known Member
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- Diet only
If you eat quite low fat foods, the spike may occur earlier than 2 hours after eating. Maybe try the free trial of the Freestyle Libre to really see what's happening.
I'd really drop the potatoes and porridge anyways, with diabetes you'd need to eat quote small amounts to avoid a spike. Also, I'd aim for lower than 7.
I'd really drop the potatoes and porridge anyways, with diabetes you'd need to eat quote small amounts to avoid a spike. Also, I'd aim for lower than 7.
They are mainly lower that 7 after eating, yesterday my bloods were no higher than 5 all day even after eating !! It’s not my levels I am struggling with here it’s food and weight !!
The problem is not your levels, they're excellent. The problem is with how they're being attained.
The raised levels of Insulin in your system, mean fat burning is nigh on impossible. Insulin not only causes the fat storage, it prevents it's use also.
Just as a matter of interest how long have you been diagnosed.
The raised levels of Insulin in your system, mean fat burning is nigh on impossible. Insulin not only causes the fat storage, it prevents it's use also.
Just as a matter of interest how long have you been diagnosed.
When diagnosed it was 87 I am due to see them again next week, I’ve had my bloods done ready for the appointment!
catinahat
Well-Known Member
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High blood sugar is a symptom of diabetes, not the cause
For someone with T1, their own immune system has attacked their insulin producing cells in the pancreas. They can no longer make insulin so have no alternative to injecting it.
One of the main warning signs of T1 is unintentional weight loss. Without insulin, no matter how many carbs they eat, their body can't use the glucose and is forced to use its stored fat
People with T2 have no problem making insulin but they have become resistant to it, this means that their insulin is not so effective. When a T2 eats carbs, because insulin doesn't work too well their blood sugar remain high, so the pancreas releases more insulin, and keeps doing so until the levels have come down. This means their body's have excess insulin circulating.
Only when insulin levels are low can the fat stores be used, you can't burn glucose and fat at the same time, if insulin levels are high then fat burning is turned off.
Injecting extra insulin when their body is already swimming in it makes it impossible to lose weight. It also ensures that the real problem, insulin resistance, gets worse
If only Dr's would stop treating the symptom of T2, and concentrate on the real cause, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.
For someone with T1, their own immune system has attacked their insulin producing cells in the pancreas. They can no longer make insulin so have no alternative to injecting it.
One of the main warning signs of T1 is unintentional weight loss. Without insulin, no matter how many carbs they eat, their body can't use the glucose and is forced to use its stored fat
People with T2 have no problem making insulin but they have become resistant to it, this means that their insulin is not so effective. When a T2 eats carbs, because insulin doesn't work too well their blood sugar remain high, so the pancreas releases more insulin, and keeps doing so until the levels have come down. This means their body's have excess insulin circulating.
Only when insulin levels are low can the fat stores be used, you can't burn glucose and fat at the same time, if insulin levels are high then fat burning is turned off.
Injecting extra insulin when their body is already swimming in it makes it impossible to lose weight. It also ensures that the real problem, insulin resistance, gets worse
If only Dr's would stop treating the symptom of T2, and concentrate on the real cause, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.
Hi @Vickieg67! We are skirting the rules about no medical advice in here.
So at the risk of being banned, here is my (non-medical but a Type 2 in remission) opinion:
1. When your latest HbA1C was 87 and you are unable to tolerate Metformin, then it was quite reasonable to prescribe Insulin. Based upon the usual medication led approach to controlling Blood Glucose.
2. You have now changed your lifestyle and your finger prick readings show that your HbA1C will have dropped considerably. So now you will be able to ask about other alternatives to injecting 'fat storage hormone' (which is insulin). The problem is that insulin (both internally produced plus injected) needs to be in balance with the amount of carbs you are eating - otherwise your Blood Glucose will be either too high (too much Insulin/too many carbs) or too low (too few carbs/too much insulin). So in order to slowly come off or reduce insulin, you need help from your diabetes team and to learn how to count carbs like Type 1 Diabetics do.
Unfortunately you can't do this all by yourself - you need the assistance of your diabetes team. But it is my opinion that if you can slowly come off the injected insulin, then you will probably find that eating Low Carb will both keep your Blood Glucose in the normal range and allow you to lose weight by 'burning off' a fair bit of internal body fat i.e. lose weight without feeling hungry or tired!
So at the risk of being banned, here is my (non-medical but a Type 2 in remission) opinion:
1. When your latest HbA1C was 87 and you are unable to tolerate Metformin, then it was quite reasonable to prescribe Insulin. Based upon the usual medication led approach to controlling Blood Glucose.
2. You have now changed your lifestyle and your finger prick readings show that your HbA1C will have dropped considerably. So now you will be able to ask about other alternatives to injecting 'fat storage hormone' (which is insulin). The problem is that insulin (both internally produced plus injected) needs to be in balance with the amount of carbs you are eating - otherwise your Blood Glucose will be either too high (too much Insulin/too many carbs) or too low (too few carbs/too much insulin). So in order to slowly come off or reduce insulin, you need help from your diabetes team and to learn how to count carbs like Type 1 Diabetics do.
Unfortunately you can't do this all by yourself - you need the assistance of your diabetes team. But it is my opinion that if you can slowly come off the injected insulin, then you will probably find that eating Low Carb will both keep your Blood Glucose in the normal range and allow you to lose weight by 'burning off' a fair bit of internal body fat i.e. lose weight without feeling hungry or tired!
