My question for T2's who have successfully 'reversed' their diabetes

[carina62]

I am so encouraged by the success stories of those T2's who have knuckled down to reverse their diabetes. After 6 years of being a T2 myself, I have now given myself the kick up the backside to do something as my BS levels are rising and I want to stop that and reverse the process so I am doing the 8 week BSD and going to stick to 800 cals a day (combination of meal replacement drinks a d low carb food). Is it possible to keep to non-diabetic levels for life or will they slowly creep up again in years to come? Thanks

 

[Bluetit1802]

It's impossible to answer that question. So much depends on whether your pancreas is damaged to the extent it won't produce sufficient insulin, whether you rid yourself of all your insulin resistance, what you do as regards eating once your levels are down to non-diabetic levels, and probably many other factors. No two bodies are alike.

Certainly a few people on here have managed to "reverse" and been able to increase carbs successfully, (so far), but who can say this is for life? Most people on here who have reached and maintained non-diabetic levels still continue on a low carb diet. Some of those know it isn't reversed after having experimented with more carbs and seen what the post meal levels are like - diabetic!

All you can do is try. Stick religiously to the 8 week diet you are on now, and see where you are, but continue with a low carb way of eating.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Is it possible to keep to non-diabetic levels for life or will they slowly creep up again in years to come? Thanks

The jury is still out on that one. My DN says it is a progressive disease and she doesn't look like she is going to back down anytime soon. On the other hand there are countless examples of people on this site who maintain low levels over a long period of time.

DN could be wrong, after all she has been handing out dodgy dietary advice for years and so doesn't know everything.

We have yet to see a member that has gone back to their old lifestyle and got away with it though. I suspect that the future for me is to pay attention to my diet, go to my review with DN every six months and smile.

 

[douglas99]

I did the Newcastle diet using Tesco shakes, and vegetables for the meal.
Strictly by the book, I figured that was the only one with recorded, proven results.
I didn't worry about the carbs, as, quite rightly said in the guidance, after a few days your BG will fall anyway, so don't get hung up on that.

It did seem that when I hit my personal 'turning point' yes, my diabetes reversed.

Interestingly, I had lost more, more slowly, previously, without the same results, so I tried the Newcastle diet both to trim up the final bits, and to see what effect it would have on the diabetes.

I eat a lot more healthily now than I ever did before, and a lot loss. Mediterranean diet, not low carb, not high fat.

If I do see my BG start to creep up if I put on too much weight again, (not to diabetic levels though, but still upwards with excess weight/fat) I can lose it easily enough again simply by reducing the food again.
(So this month, I'm on the January diet to pay for Christmas).
But I do appear to have a lot of wriggle room.
I keep active, exercise regularly, and eat a varied diet, and can eat most things if I grab a bite out.
So, while no-one can tell you if it's for life, it's certainly worth trying first, then if things do change, you can always re-address your lifestyle then.

 

[BrianTheElder]

I have only just got rid of my diabetic symptoms and come off all medication, so it's still early days. I don't think I'm cured as that would mean I could eat "normally", which I certainly can't. However, my new normal is 20g LCHF and I continue to measure my food, blood sugar and ketones. I will be doing this for the rest of my life, just like I will be abstaining from smoking and drinking alcohol for the rest of my life. Total abstinence is easier than partial control for me. No problem when you accept the fact that life is so much better this way.

 

[carina62]

I have a way to go yet but feel very positive about your comments. I made the BIG mistake of indulging at Xmas and not testing for about 2 weeks and now I'm paying for it ie my FBG is rising (although this morning was OK, for me at 7.5) and noticed a rise in 2HPM readings but am now on the case and eating low carb breakfast and lunch and having a meal replacement drink for my evening meal and I think things will settle again but in terms of weight loss I have never been able to lose weight on a consistent level (I've tried all the diets under the sun) but now I feel I have to do it once and for all because knowing I have diabetes depresses me at the best of times but it would be so much worse if I let it beat me rather than me beat it. I am terrified of the complications and do not want to be another statistic (like all of us) so only I can do something about it. I have worked all my life, since the age of 17 and want to see my retirement an enjoy it so I have lots of incentives to live as long as I possibly can.

 

[douglas99]

I have a way to go yet but feel very positive about your comments. I made the BIG mistake of indulging at Xmas and not testing for about 2 weeks and now I'm paying for it ie my FBG is rising (although this morning was OK, for me at 7.5) and noticed a rise in 2HPM readings but am now on the case and eating low carb breakfast and lunch and having a meal replacement drink for my evening meal and I think things will settle again but in terms of weight loss I have never been able to lose weight on a consistent level (I've tried all the diets under the sun) but now I feel I have to do it once and for all because knowing I have diabetes depresses me at the best of times but it would be so much worse if I let it beat me rather than me beat it. I am terrified of the complications and do not want to be another statistic (like all of us) so only I can do something about it. I have worked all my life, since the age of 17 and want to see my retirement an enjoy it so I have lots of incentives to live as long as I possibly can.

Why low carb for breakfast and lunch?
I would at least try to match the nutritional values of the shakes used on the Newcastle diet, to replicate the diet as closely as possible.

 

[Nicksu]

I think either way its a case of permanently changing your lifestyle. The combination of factors which all came together to cause the diabetes are still potentially there if you backslide. We'd all like to go back to that but when you start to get into clothes you couldn't fit in for years, it sort of changes your mind. It certainly has mine - not to mention my appetite, which had been out of control for years due to steroids that I am permanently on for an autoimmune condition. I certainly won't be going back - I allow myself the piece of cake occasionally (instead of the 2 or 3 pieces which I would have had historically) and stick to low carb and ensure I get my exercise. It's made an enormous difference and is beginning to rub off on some of my colleagues, and my father - who had been told to improve his sugar levels (and as usual by the doctors not told how to do so!). To this end, I had been leaving printed information when I visited the parents for him to read. It has begun to work and he has started to lose weight and stopped eating for the sake of eating (see food - eat food!).

Sometimes you just need the kick up the rump to get started (and we can all be guilty of that!). Together with underactive thyroid also (which means I have problems with carbs), I won't be going back to the bad habits I had previously. (Sorry if this post sounds preachy!). I've reversed my need for medication in 4½ months. I'm still overweight for my height - with a BMI of 29, so I still have about 2½ stone yet to lose so I'm definitely keeping the straight and narrow.

 

[bulkbiker]

Hi @carina62
I think you have been caught up in the common misconception that the very low calorie diet (Newcastle Diet, Blood Sugar Diet) is low carb. The ND and BSD are ultra low calorie diets which can help some people bring their blood glucose lower by loosing excess weight (especially visceral fat) quickly. As such they can be useful aids to loosing weight. Some people on the forum have used this method to control their diabetes, some say reverse it. It may or may not work for you. Douglas says it has worked for him.
Of the people on the original study some maintained their reversal for some months I think it was 7 out of the 29. They however had regained some of the weight they had lost (as a lot of people find after a very low calorie diet).
LCHF is a bit different as it attempts to reduce blood sugar levels by using fat for fuel, some ingested and some from the bodies reserves. As the fat creates a feeling of satiety you feel fuller for longer and so combined with some fasting, which is far easier because your hunger levels are lower, you can eat less without the urges a low calorie diet may induce.
I have tried both and had success with LCHF but not with Low Cal.. everyone is different.
I will follow the ULCHF way of eating hopefully for the rest of my days because I enjoy it and believe it is sustainable.