Hi,
I've been watching these forums for a while after I've been diagnosed with Type 2 back in July of this year.
I've never been obese though I was slightly overweight. But my frame was always muscular with a detectable gut around my waist. I began a diet and exercise regimen a couple of years ago identifying that I was possibly at risk. So my goal was to lose weight, become more fit, and reduce my risk for diabetes. Ironic that I ended up being diagnosed a couple of years later.
The rub really though was that there didn't seem to be any immediate concern about diabetes when I first started. I make regular visits to my GP and get checked over. I've had spot checks done on my blood sugar and it was always considered to be normal without concern. I think my doctor was more shocked than I was when my A1C came back positive for diabetes.
In 2012 I developed a herniated disc in my lower back. I had been taking Prednisone to deal with the inflammation which was the only thing that was allowing me to live somewhat without too much pain. I ended up having surgery for it in September 2013 and prior to that consumed three dose packs of Prednisone. I suspect that maybe my diabetes was either steroid induced, or that I was on the edge and the steroid treatment pushed me across the finish line so to speak.
I was diagnosed by an A1C of 6.6% and since then I have been doing a lot of research trying to find something that will help me manage my diabetes. That's how I came across articles about the NC diet and some posts that I found on here about people that have tried it.
I just want to be clear that I didn't set out looking for a 'cure' but a reliable way to control my blood sugar levels and get them within the non-diabetic ranges. I do not believe that a cure exists, but I do believe that with proper management via diet and exercise those ranges were probably achievable.
I am 12 days into the NC diet and I am already seeing astounding results concerning the control of my blood sugar.
When I started my own diet 2 years ago I weighed 250lbs.(17.9 st). When I was diagnosed I weighed 230lbs (16.4 st), and when I started the diet I weighed in at 220lbs (15.7 st). Once again I do have a muscular frame so not all of that weight was fat. I now currently weigh 210lbs (15st) since the start of the diet.
Prior to starting I was on a low carb diet approximately < 100 grams a day. I had been checking my blood sugar for months and these were the results over a 2 month period expressed as an average over time:
Average:
FBG: 93 (5.2 mmol)
Pre-meal: 90 (5.0 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 98 (5.4 mmol)
Median:
FBG: 95 (5.3 mmol)
Pre-meal: 90 (5.0 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 97 (5.4 mmol)
Range:
FBG: 4.7-5.7
Pre-meal: 4.5-5.4
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 4.9-6.3
The above results were from a low carb diet and plenty of exercise. Another point of interest is that my 2 hour and 3 hour post meal checks were statistically the same. So if I had a 2-Hour of 6.3 it would still be 6.3 at 3-Hour. Just basically pointing out that there was no movement even hours after eating.
By the end of the first week on the NC I was seeing some positive results. While on the diet I am exercising 3-4 times a day.
Average:
FBG: 86 (4.6 mmol)
Pre-meal: 85 (4.8 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 103 (5.6 mmol)
Median:
FBG: 85 (4.7 mmol)
Pre-meal: 83 (4.6 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 103 (5.7 mmol)
Range:
FBG: 4.5-5.3
Pre-meal: 4.2-5.2
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 5.2-6.4
I have not completed week 2 just yet since I am only 5 days into it. But I've noticed a dramatic change in my blood sugar levels. I am still exercising 3-4 times a day but now I am considering scaling it back to twice a day because of the drops.
Average:
FBG: 75 (4.2 mmol)
Pre-Meal: 84 (4.7 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 90 (5.0 mmol)
Median:
FBG: 77 (4.3 mmol)
Pre-meal: 84 (4.7 mmol)
2-Hour Postprandial: 88 (4.9 mmol)
Range:
FBG: 3.8-4.3
Pre-meal: 4.4-4.9
2-Hour Postprandial: 4.8-5.3
The big thing I have noticed is that my 3-Hour post-prandial now returns to baseline which is huge where before it remained elevated. Before, I would check my BS and it would be in the mid to high 90s before bed, and when I wake it would be the same if not slightly higher.
Instead now I check my BS before bed and when I wake in the morning it will decline to "normal" levels. On average my bedtime reading is 85 (4.7) and when I wake it will be around 75 (4.2). And for me that is a huge victory.
Prior to starting the diet my blood sugars would spike about 15-20 points after a meal. Now they only spike about 10-15 points after a meal.
This morning I recorded my lowest FBG level yet of 69 (3.8 mmol), but now I'm getting concerned. I'm afraid that my BS will continue to drop too low causing me problems there. I've decided to scale back my workouts to just twice a day and track the results over the next couple of days.
What do you suppose I should do if it continues to decline; gradually come off the diet? I am contemplating that, but I don't want to because I feel like I'm getting fantastic results.
A few details about my diet.
I'm sticking to the NC diet to the letter. I get about 540 calories from meal replacement shakes and fill the remaining 200 with non-starchy vegetables, and the 3 liters of water per day. The water was tough for the first few days but now it seems like it's not enough water as I guzzle them down without a second thought.
I've opted for the Glucerna shakes because they are formulated for diabetics and also because I cannot get the Optifast HP shakes that were used in the study.
It took me about 7 days to adjust to it and I did not experience any of the side effects described (except for one day where I got a little dizzy). I think this is partially due to that my body was already primed for a low calorie diet because I had been eating an average of 1200 calories/day a month leading up to it.
I've decided at this point that when I do eventually come off the diet that the NC diet will be a permanent fixture in some way. I'm thinking at least two meals a day of non-starchy vegetables or meal replacement shakes.
My main concern at this point is as I stated before should I start coming off the diet now because the really low blood sugars is freaking me out.
What do you guys think? Has anyone that completed the NC diet come across the same crossroad?
I've been watching these forums for a while after I've been diagnosed with Type 2 back in July of this year.
I've never been obese though I was slightly overweight. But my frame was always muscular with a detectable gut around my waist. I began a diet and exercise regimen a couple of years ago identifying that I was possibly at risk. So my goal was to lose weight, become more fit, and reduce my risk for diabetes. Ironic that I ended up being diagnosed a couple of years later.
The rub really though was that there didn't seem to be any immediate concern about diabetes when I first started. I make regular visits to my GP and get checked over. I've had spot checks done on my blood sugar and it was always considered to be normal without concern. I think my doctor was more shocked than I was when my A1C came back positive for diabetes.
In 2012 I developed a herniated disc in my lower back. I had been taking Prednisone to deal with the inflammation which was the only thing that was allowing me to live somewhat without too much pain. I ended up having surgery for it in September 2013 and prior to that consumed three dose packs of Prednisone. I suspect that maybe my diabetes was either steroid induced, or that I was on the edge and the steroid treatment pushed me across the finish line so to speak.
I was diagnosed by an A1C of 6.6% and since then I have been doing a lot of research trying to find something that will help me manage my diabetes. That's how I came across articles about the NC diet and some posts that I found on here about people that have tried it.
I just want to be clear that I didn't set out looking for a 'cure' but a reliable way to control my blood sugar levels and get them within the non-diabetic ranges. I do not believe that a cure exists, but I do believe that with proper management via diet and exercise those ranges were probably achievable.
I am 12 days into the NC diet and I am already seeing astounding results concerning the control of my blood sugar.
When I started my own diet 2 years ago I weighed 250lbs.(17.9 st). When I was diagnosed I weighed 230lbs (16.4 st), and when I started the diet I weighed in at 220lbs (15.7 st). Once again I do have a muscular frame so not all of that weight was fat. I now currently weigh 210lbs (15st) since the start of the diet.
Prior to starting I was on a low carb diet approximately < 100 grams a day. I had been checking my blood sugar for months and these were the results over a 2 month period expressed as an average over time:
Average:
FBG: 93 (5.2 mmol)
Pre-meal: 90 (5.0 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 98 (5.4 mmol)
Median:
FBG: 95 (5.3 mmol)
Pre-meal: 90 (5.0 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 97 (5.4 mmol)
Range:
FBG: 4.7-5.7
Pre-meal: 4.5-5.4
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 4.9-6.3
The above results were from a low carb diet and plenty of exercise. Another point of interest is that my 2 hour and 3 hour post meal checks were statistically the same. So if I had a 2-Hour of 6.3 it would still be 6.3 at 3-Hour. Just basically pointing out that there was no movement even hours after eating.
By the end of the first week on the NC I was seeing some positive results. While on the diet I am exercising 3-4 times a day.
Average:
FBG: 86 (4.6 mmol)
Pre-meal: 85 (4.8 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 103 (5.6 mmol)
Median:
FBG: 85 (4.7 mmol)
Pre-meal: 83 (4.6 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 103 (5.7 mmol)
Range:
FBG: 4.5-5.3
Pre-meal: 4.2-5.2
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 5.2-6.4
I have not completed week 2 just yet since I am only 5 days into it. But I've noticed a dramatic change in my blood sugar levels. I am still exercising 3-4 times a day but now I am considering scaling it back to twice a day because of the drops.
Average:
FBG: 75 (4.2 mmol)
Pre-Meal: 84 (4.7 mmol)
2-Hour Post-Prandial: 90 (5.0 mmol)
Median:
FBG: 77 (4.3 mmol)
Pre-meal: 84 (4.7 mmol)
2-Hour Postprandial: 88 (4.9 mmol)
Range:
FBG: 3.8-4.3
Pre-meal: 4.4-4.9
2-Hour Postprandial: 4.8-5.3
The big thing I have noticed is that my 3-Hour post-prandial now returns to baseline which is huge where before it remained elevated. Before, I would check my BS and it would be in the mid to high 90s before bed, and when I wake it would be the same if not slightly higher.
Instead now I check my BS before bed and when I wake in the morning it will decline to "normal" levels. On average my bedtime reading is 85 (4.7) and when I wake it will be around 75 (4.2). And for me that is a huge victory.
Prior to starting the diet my blood sugars would spike about 15-20 points after a meal. Now they only spike about 10-15 points after a meal.
This morning I recorded my lowest FBG level yet of 69 (3.8 mmol), but now I'm getting concerned. I'm afraid that my BS will continue to drop too low causing me problems there. I've decided to scale back my workouts to just twice a day and track the results over the next couple of days.
What do you suppose I should do if it continues to decline; gradually come off the diet? I am contemplating that, but I don't want to because I feel like I'm getting fantastic results.
A few details about my diet.
I'm sticking to the NC diet to the letter. I get about 540 calories from meal replacement shakes and fill the remaining 200 with non-starchy vegetables, and the 3 liters of water per day. The water was tough for the first few days but now it seems like it's not enough water as I guzzle them down without a second thought.
I've opted for the Glucerna shakes because they are formulated for diabetics and also because I cannot get the Optifast HP shakes that were used in the study.
It took me about 7 days to adjust to it and I did not experience any of the side effects described (except for one day where I got a little dizzy). I think this is partially due to that my body was already primed for a low calorie diet because I had been eating an average of 1200 calories/day a month leading up to it.
I've decided at this point that when I do eventually come off the diet that the NC diet will be a permanent fixture in some way. I'm thinking at least two meals a day of non-starchy vegetables or meal replacement shakes.
My main concern at this point is as I stated before should I start coming off the diet now because the really low blood sugars is freaking me out.
What do you guys think? Has anyone that completed the NC diet come across the same crossroad?
