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My progress in reversing T2

Hm112819

Active Member
Messages
43
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
I’ve shared my progress before on the forum, but thought it might be worth an update. I found out I had Diabetes early this year, when a random blood test (related to high blood pressure), flagged up that I had a HB1AC of 54.

Luckily that night I found this forum and decided to reject metformin and go a low carb diet (but not high fat), join the gym and start exercising daily. I was consuming approximately 1200 calories and exercising 600-900 (if the machines are to be believed).

By the summer, I’d lost 5 stone and got the great news that my HB1AC had dropped to 31. Since then I’ve been reintroducing carbs to the point where I can now eat whatever I want and it has no impact on my BG. Having said that I am now weight conscious as I associate the diabetes with my excess weight and I exercise a lot (20-30 miles running and 5 weight sessions a week). So although I can eat what I choose I do tend to eat healthy (example: a piece of fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch and a normal dinner and a pudding). I have switched from beer to wine, but that’s mainly due to the calories. I had another HB1AC test recently and that came back at 29.

One slightly strange one, is my blood pressure raised loads, so I’ve had to change medication.

If I’m honest the diagnosis of diabetes was exactly what I needed as it gave me a reason to exercise and sort myself out which has had many other health related benefits (bad back and knees gone, sleep better, loads more energy). I still test regularly after a high carb meal, I appreciate that whilst I may be able to tolerate it now, and that may not always be the case. I think the most reassuring thing is knowing that if this happens a LCHF diet will work.

I really appreciate all the time and effort people put into this forum, the information and knowledge is invaluable.


Adrian Holmes
 

Amazing! Well done!

As a matter of interest, what was the time lag between re-introducing those carbs, and the recent HbA1c of 29?

Did you, or are you, self-testing your BG?

Thanks.
 
Hi

I began eating carbs in roughly June and just checked after each meal. I started with sweet potatoes etc, then built up. I do tend to eat a healthy/No breakfast and a salad for lunch and exercise.

I had one slight high (in the 7's for 5-6 hours) during the summer holiday in France. I'd been eating everything and drinking beer for 6 days, on the 7th it was high. I'd guess it was the cumulative carb load (But I'm no expert).

I still check now, maybe twice a week in the morning and then if I have a meal with a lot of carbs in. I'm normally mid 4's, last night after a 9 mile run i was ravenous so had two burgers in buns, chips and a pudding and it raised to 5.8 after an hour.

Not sure how long it will last, but it seams currently I can exercise/control weight and maintain BG.
 
Many congratulations- always inspiring to hear of other's success. Well done
 
Hm112819 said:
Not sure how long it will last, but it seams currently I can exercise/control weight and maintain BG.
Click to expand...

Your experience is very interesting to me. I started out with a substantially higher HbA1c (67) but like you, brought it down to 30 in a short time, with diet-only and some exercise (much less exercise than you; on the other hand, I was not overweight by BMI). Having got down to an A1c of 30, I did not make any attempt to re-introduce carbs. Three months later, my A1c is still stable and low (i.e. still 30, earlier this month).

You said you are eating "whatever you want" including a "normal dinner." I guess the most interesting figure would be your estimate of total grams of carbs per day -- what do you estimate it to be?
 
Hard to say, I really don't count, I've just checked after I reintroduced different foods, then rechecked over time.

Typically if i eat breakfast, I'll eat fruit or a small bowl of cereal.

Lunch though the week is a salad, at the weekends probably a sandwich and crisps. Meals are whatever my family are having, tonight I had to jacket potatoes with tuba and salad.

My last week' meals have been: burger and chips, lasagne, cottage pie, thai curry with rice, rissoto, salmon noodles, roast dinner. Most days with some form of desert.

I've not really been counting carbs so no idea, but calories wise I'd guess 800-1200 for dinner.

This Saturday I went on a stag do, only ate lunch. Then Sunday had 4 rounds of toast in the morning, a kfc at 11, Eaton mess and chocoate bar at 3pm, then roast dinner at my mum's at night + a bottle of wine at night. I checked myself throughout the day and didnt go above high 5's.

Admittedly not sure what contributes to being able to eat higher carbs, it might be the lower carbs through the day or the exercise.

My main question, which I've not got answered is if exposing a compromised pancreas to carbs (although fine now) will mean it will deteriate overtime?
 
@Hm112819
Without a fasting insulin test (very likely you will have to pay yourself for it) you don't know your current insulin resistance. If your insulin resistance is still high, having many carbs will result in a high insulin level, and hence damage to your blood vessels etc from the insulin. Your insulin resistance will also tell you how hard you are making your pancreas work.

Personly however good my AC1 gets, I am not going to go back to having carbs at most meals, but not having to think about carbs when eating out etc would be very nice....
 
Thanks very much for the response, I think it sounds prudent to get an insulin resistance test.

I've had a quick scan online and there are a number of firms, you can send a blood sample too. Any recommndations?
 
ringi said:
I think @bulkbiker has had one done and has a thread about it.
Click to expand...
Thanks @ringi

I had a fasting insulin test done (in fact I have had 2)
@Hm112819 I had mine done by medichecks
https://www.medichecks.com
I would recommend them but suggest getting the blood drawn professionally rather than trying the finger prick at home option. Unless you are a "gusher" the amount of blood sample you need for the test would (I think) be very hard to get by finger pricking. The most recent one I timed alongside my HbA1c and the phlebotomist was quite happy to fill the medichecks vial for me. She was quite interested by the test too. Try and get an accurate blood glucose reading at the same time and you can calculate your own insulin resistance number or pay the extra £10 and get medichecks to do it for you.
 
Hm112819 said:
My main question ... [will it] deteriate overtime?
Click to expand...

That's why I have not dared to increase carbs despite getting a result similar to yours. The conventional wisdom being that although T2D can be "reversed," returning to a carb-laden diet will in due course "undo" the reversal.

Although you are not counting carbs, it looks to me as if your diet may now be "moderate carb" (130g to 225g per day as defined by DCUK) and has been that way for several months prior to your recent A1c test whose result was 30.

You result is really encouraging, not just for you but for me! But I am not sure what to do with the information, and will follow this with interest. Thank you for sharing your experience.
 
Thanks for the advice, I've got a doctors appointment next week. I'll see if I can convince them to do it on the NHS, but if not i'll use the link above.

Much appreciated.
 
Hm112819 said:
One slightly strange one, is my blood pressure raised loads, so I’ve had to change medication.
Click to expand...
Brilliantly done Adrian.

I too ended up on more blood pressure tablets or strength increased.
This is very common for me on excellent bgs.
I often wondered if due to t4 and t3 exchanges in my under active thyroid condition. Can I ask? Do you also need meds for your thyroid?
Thyroid conditions are linked to blood pressure as of bgs and their fluctuations.
If not must be just extra adrenalin produced in heavy exercise, maybe.
Are you in perfect bmi range now too?
 
Hm112819 said:
Thanks for the advice, I've got a doctors appointment next week. I'll see if I can convince them to do it on the NHS, but if not i'll use the link above.

Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
If your surgery is anything like mine they will claim never to have heard of the test.. but as you say no harm in asking.
 
bulkbiker said:
If your surgery is anything like mine they will claim never to have heard of the test.. but as you say no harm in asking.
Click to expand...
I know my practice phlebotomist wouldn't do a private one for anyone. My gp practice would only do for a charge.
Work to rule is heavy in Sunderland. Very little room for flexibility. Unless charged for it. They must think I have money. Not this time of year, for sure.
I really like the idea of this test. A lot.

I read yesterday that type1s can have same horrific insulin resistance as me. Scary.

I would probables search out this test if I reach perfect hba1c and ideal bmi. To see if no longer IR but I know I'm hugely IR currently so no real point for me. Unless you can see any other advantage to knowing how Much IR an overweight person has?
My whole family are probables IR but no diabetes but other IR related conditions, hormonal and related to inflammation. Even thou I have severe IR I have very low inflammation, even when I'll.
Reversing diabetes gives hope to other conditions people are suffering from due to IR. Arthritis, hugely!!!! Would you agree?
 
I don't think I take meds for my thyroid??? but then again I blindly took Statins for 9 years until I worked out how bad they are. The weight loss and change in diet allowed me to stop taking them.

I first had high blood pressure when I was 25 and still playing Sunday football. It's hereditary in my family (admittedly at a later age). Currently my only vice would be a few bottles of wine a week.

I'm just at the top end of a normal bmi (24), I might be wrong but i dont place to much credance in bmi. I don't currently carry any weight on my stomach. I'd guess waist and hip measurements would be more important than bmi, you could have skinny legs/arms and carry all your weight around your middle.

Thanks for the advice/support. I'l report back when I have this check.
 

Very encouraging
Thanks for sharing
 
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