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New diagnosis and immediately started low carb

T

Tansolo

Member
Messages
23
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi

I was diagnosed with a Bg of 13 and hba1c of 11%.

Last Friday I got my measuring machine and started taking my levels through the day.

Fri 14, 13.3, 12.8
Sat. 10.8. 9.0, 11.5
Sun. 11.0, 9.0, 9.0
Mon. 9.8, 7.8, 7.8, 8.3
Yesterday. 7.8, 7.7, 8.9, 8.0

The doctor wanted me to start metformin straight away. I want to try diet first.

My questions are at what levels is it ok to try diet without further damage happening. I'm worried taking metformin will mask what's really happening.

How long did it take for your levels to drop, especially if you never started on metformin.

Thankyou
Tan
 
Low-carb or Newcastle diet, the opinions are that blood glucose will show a marked improvement within a week. If you've only just been diagnosed then that short a period of time should have no detrimental effect, especially if you consider the improved readings already since you've started monitoring yourself.
 
Well done for acting so quickly.

I am diet controlled (5 years now) I begged to try diet changes first.

I tested before food, after 1 hr and after 2 hrs and wrote everything down, listing how much carb, fats etc every meal I ate had. I had some shocks (porridge!!!) but from reading lots of info I worked out lower carb alternatives for my 'normal' veggie foods.

My BG results did show a gradual reduction in terms of my own testing but when I had my second HbA1C test I had a significant reduction in my reading and my GP agreed I could continue with diet only rather than metformin.

I have continued to learn which foods raise my BG and which don't, other things raise BG too such as illness, hormonal fluctuations, dehydration etc.


For the last three years my HbA1C has been 35 or under.
 
Scimama said:
Well done for acting so quickly.

I am diet controlled (5 years now) I begged to try diet changes first.

I tested before food, after 1 hr and after 2 hrs and wrote everything down, listing how much carb, fats etc every meal I ate had. I had some shocks (porridge!!!) but from reading lots of info I worked out lower carb alternatives for my 'normal' veggie foods.

My BG results did show a gradual reduction in terms of my own testing but when I had my second HbA1C test I had a significant reduction in my reading and my GP agreed I could continue with diet only rather than metformin.

I have continued to learn which foods raise my BG and which don't, other things raise BG too such as illness, hormonal fluctuations, dehydration etc.


For the last three years my HbA1C has been 35 or under.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the replies.

Along with my diagnosis, I have an enlarged spleen (currently trying to find out why).

Today my readings are. 7.4, 7.6, 7.2,, 8.4
 
It doesn't really matter how you get your glucose levels down as long as you get (and keep) them well down and well controlled. Look at the NICE recommendations here for acceptable levels. If you can manage those type 2 levels on diet alone (and you're already doing well), you'd probably have a pretty good justification for no meds, but ask your doctor what they would consider acceptable. If you can get them and keep them closer to non-diabetic levels though, then I reckon you'd be on a winning streak! :p

Robbity
 
I have a drs appointment tomorrow. The dr who told me I was diabetic was an emergency one I went to in pain last week. Told me and gave me a prescription.

I'll see what she says in the morning.
 
I did the same and my a1 was down from 142 to 47 in 3 months. Try lchf it's very good.
 
Thankyou

I have all my reading to show the doctor. I'm not sure yet if she will be pro the lchf diet.

She may insist i take the metformin.

Tan
 
I did the same, I saw my doctor last week and he told me I may have diabetes (confirmed yesterday). I immediately started low carb, tossed out all the bread and rice etc. I haven't gotten my monitor yet so I don't know my numbers. One interesting fact is that my back and knees that have been hurting for years suddenly stopped!

I think I also must have a gluten sensitivity I never knew about.
 
I also noticed changes that I never thought would happen in a week.

I had mouth ulcers, cracked tongue, pain in my ankle and all have gone.

Low carb is definitely the way forward for me.
 
So I went to the doctors yesterday and she was delighted with the results after a week.

Told me to continue what I was doing and come back in 3 months for another test.

Really pleased with myself.
 
So today I am 10 days in and I'm still amazed at how low carb is helping..

From readings of 13.3 and 14 ten days ago, to 6.7, 6.7, 6.9 and 7.5 yesterday.

Long may it continue!
 
Hi Tansolo,

Amazing progress so quickly! Hat off to you. :)

Can I suggest that you build a few things into your low carbing right at the beginning?
It's so much easier to start well rather than have to correct established habits later...

My suggestions are:

Make sure you are drinking enough. Try for 1 litre per 5 stones of body weight. That seems a lot, esp if you are at the higher weight range, but my goodness it helps flush out the nasties, keeps you hydrated, and improves the skin.

Make sure you are getting enough salt. We are indoctrinated into reducing salt, but new evidence shows this is not necessarily beneficial. And cutting bread and carbs drastically reduces salt intake. Also, all that water will flush salt out. So add it to food and/or drink a cup of broth (home made or a good quality stock cube) every day. And watch out for cramps. I get them in hot weather, and a potassium or magnesium tablet sorts them out immediately.

Make sure your new eating habits are sustainable. There's no point going all Gung Ho and not being able to keep it up. This is a lifestyle change, not a few weeks of hard graft before returning to old carby habits. I find the odd low carb cake, cookie or desert makes the difference between failure and ongoing success. :)

Hope that helps!
 
Tansolo said:
Hi

I was diagnosed with a Bg of 13 and hba1c of 11%.

Last Friday I got my measuring machine and started taking my levels through the day.

Fri 14, 13.3, 12.8
Sat. 10.8. 9.0, 11.5
Sun. 11.0, 9.0, 9.0
Mon. 9.8, 7.8, 7.8, 8.3
Yesterday. 7.8, 7.7, 8.9, 8.0

The doctor wanted me to start metformin straight away. I want to try diet first.

My questions are at what levels is it ok to try diet without further damage happening. I'm worried taking metformin will mask what's really happening.

How long did it take for your levels to drop, especially if you never started on metformin.

Thankyou
Tan
Click to expand...

Tan
Impressive drop in your numbers. Good work .
I was diagnosed T2 last week as you were but I have no idea how to monitor as I got told no advice-seems to me diet is working for you. I am doing the same but I doubt to that level. I wasn't even told my hba1c so maybe I should find that out?
What were you told about how to monitor?
Charlesr
Charlesr
 
3 weeks into being. T2 my numbers where from 42 to 84 and she put on metformin straight away then had a talk to the doctor, she told me no drinking alcohol,no carbs,and no sugar, build on my muscle mass in exercising all for 2 weeks until I see the nurse until the 18th. I got to say not been given any diet plan yet but I think ive done quite well, feel tons better, lots of energy and getting up early in the morning and I mean early with energy don't feel sluggish either in the afternoon.. Lost a hole on my belt buckle lol.losing weight I guess. I'll come back with figures later good luck to all..... I'm on a mission now
 
Brunneria said:
Hi Tansolo,

Amazing progress so quickly! Hat off to you. :)

Can I suggest that you build a few things into your low carbing right at the beginning?
It's so much easier to start well rather than have to correct established habits later...

My suggestions are:

Make sure you are drinking enough. Try for 1 litre per 5 stones of body weight. That seems a lot, esp if you are at the higher weight range, but my goodness it helps flush out the nasties, keeps you hydrated, and improves the skin.

Make sure you are getting enough salt. We are indoctrinated into reducing salt, but new evidence shows this is not necessarily beneficial. And cutting bread and carbs drastically reduces salt intake. Also, all that water will flush salt out. So add it to food and/or drink a cup of broth (home made or a good quality stock cube) every day. And watch out for cramps. I get them in hot weather, and a potassium or magnesium tablet sorts them out immediately.

Make sure your new eating habits are sustainable. There's no point going all Gung Ho and not being able to keep it up. This is a lifestyle change, not a few weeks of hard graft before returning to old carby habits. I find the odd low carb cake, cookie or desert makes the difference between failure and ongoing success. :)

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Thank you for the useful tips. I am quite overweight and am scared at the thought of drinking 3-4 litres per day.

Interestingly I have been having more salt but have been worried about it.

Luckily I like low carb food, and enjoy salads, veg, meat, fish etc. I'm missing bananas, grapes and bread. I agree it is a lifestyle for the future so will be introducing the odd treat once my levels have stabilised. My aim is to get them to consistently below 6 before meals.
 
Charlesr said:
Tan
Impressive drop in your numbers. Good work .
I was diagnosed T2 last week as you were but I have no idea how to monitor as I got told no advice-seems to me diet is working for you. I am doing the same but I doubt to that level. I wasn't even told my hba1c so maybe I should find that out?
What were you told about how to monitor?
Charlesr
Charlesr
Click to expand...

Charles
It is very poor how diagnoses are given in some cases.

I was told by an emergency Dr at my local surgery and sent away with a prescription for metformin (didn't take it) and told to see the diabetic nurse.

My plan of attack was to arm myself with all the information. I asked for a printout of all my blood results so I can compare at the next one.

I bought a blood glucose machine (accucheck mobile) and at the moment I am measuring first thing in the morning, 2 hrs after meals and last thing at night.

I cut out all carbs apart from those in veg, salad, meat etc.

Good luck in your journey
 
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