Newbie here - advice appreciated

[AliBabs]

Hi everyone, I am new to this group and was hoping for some advice if possible please?
A background to me - 60 yr old female, diagnosed a year ago with a HbA1c of 88.
I had noticed various symptoms which I thought were menopause related, and it was a random urine sample that I did which showed glucose and ketones at the max (plus a BG of 13) which encouraged me to address it.
I was recommended the 8 week Blood sugar diet by 2 GP’s which I embarked on and lost nearly 3 stone, eradicated all glucose from my urine plus the other symptoms I was concerned about, also reduced my BG to an average of 7.
I continued with this WOE for a year, without any medication, and all was well.
That is, until I got Covid at Christmas. I was quite unwell with it and off work for 4 weeks. Since then the weight is piling on and I am now 1.5 stone heavier. A random BG was 10.
I do work very long hours - about 60/65 a week, and my job can be quite stressful. I feel permanently tired and the added weight is making me feel quite low. The occasional carb additions have crept in, but usually just once a week and I have continued to follow the principles of the low carb WOE.
I did speak to a GP about my diabetes but felt they weren’t listening and their understanding was that I ‘thought’ I had diabetes so told me to see the Diabetic Nurse who would check my weight and discuss my symptoms. I haven’t done this as I don’t have much faith after the last conversation, plus I would need to take an unpaid day off work to do so and am reluctant if it proves to be a waste of time.
Apologies for rambling a little, I guess I am wondering if anyone with more knowledge could give me an idea of why I am out of sorts and putting on weight, plus any advice / guidance would be much appreciated.
Many thanks

 

[catinahat]

Welcome @AliBabs
You are not alone, Covid caused many of us problems and carb creep is something that seems to affect all of us at some point.
You have managed to tame your T2 once, I have no doubt you can do it again.
Just a couple of thoughts,
if your HbA1c is on the rise the reason is almost certainly to be that you are eating too many carbs for your body to deal with.
Have you got a glucose meter and do you use it to test around your meals, testing before and then around 2hr afterwards, helps identify the things that are causing us problems.
Secondly, this may seem a little cynical but I am deeply suspicious of any diet recommended by drs/NHS.
Usually although they may pay lip service to low carb, their main focus seems to be on reducing fat.
It could explain your tiredness if you are not getting enough energy /food to fuel your busy days.
Many of us have found that increasing the amount of healthy fats & protein gives us the energy we need in the absence of carbs. And despite what our Dr's may think, we have managed to reverse our T2, loose weight, improve our cholesterol levels and in many cases drop all of our diabetic medication

 

[AliBabs]

Welcome @AliBabs
You are not alone, Covid caused many of us problems and carb creep is something that seems to affect all of us at some point.
You have managed to tame your T2 once, I have no doubt you can do it again.
Just a couple of thoughts,
if your HbA1c is on the rise the reason is almost certainly to be that you are eating too many carbs for your body to deal with.
Have you got a glucose meter and do you use it to test around your meals, testing before and then around 2hr afterwards, helps identify the things that are causing us problems.
Secondly, this may seem a little cynical but I am deeply suspicious of any diet recommended by drs/NHS.
Usually although they may pay lip service to low carb, their main focus seems to be on reducing fat.
It could explain your tiredness if you are not getting enough energy /food to fuel your busy days.
Many of us have found that increasing the amount of healthy fats & protein gives us the energy we need in the absence of carbs. And despite what our Dr's may think, we have managed to reverse our T2, loose weight, improve our cholesterol levels and in many cases drop all of our diabetic medication

Thank you for replying.
I do have a glucose meter so will try what you suggest to see what spikes my BG.
The WOE the GP’s suggest is a high protein /full fat ‘diet’ so I do tend to eat berries/full fat Greek yogurt/ eggs/ chicken/ fish/ some red meat etc with a lot of green veg. I limit myself to 2 portions of fruit a day ie berries/apples and pears only.
(I completely understand your cynicism re usual recommendations however x)
I am finding I am hungry still though about 3-4 hours after a meal so am eating about 5 times a day. The ‘in between meals’ would be something like miso soup or celery and cream cheese.
Maybe I am consuming too many calories? Or eating too often?

 

[catinahat]

Your GP sounds like a keeper.
Maybe you need to increase your fats a little, I always find fats very satiating, you could try a coffee with a good dollop of double cream instead of the celery, it what I often have in place of breakfast.

 

[KennyA]

Thank you for replying.
I do have a glucose meter so will try what you suggest to see what spikes my BG.
The WOE the GP’s suggest is a high protein /full fat ‘diet’ so I do tend to eat berries/full fat Greek yogurt/ eggs/ chicken/ fish/ some red meat etc with a lot of green veg. I limit myself to 2 portions of fruit a day ie berries/apples and pears only.
(I completely understand your cynicism re usual recommendations however x)
I am finding I am hungry still though about 3-4 hours after a meal so am eating about 5 times a day. The ‘in between meals’ would be something like miso soup or celery and cream cheese.
Maybe I am consuming too many calories? Or eating too often?

I think your GP is sadly still unusual. You want to hang on to that one.

couple of thoughts/questions:

There are perhaps carbs unaccounted for somewhere within your diet? Fruit has generally a lot of fructose and you might not handle that well?

I find that if I manage the carbs the calories simply don't matter. If you're feeling hungry, perhaps eat more fat (particularly) and protein? Five times a day eating sounds a bit like grazing, and maybe you're not ever hitting the "satiation" buttons? I eat a meat-based meal once a day in the evening and stop eating when I've had enough. I'll have 100g of meat and cheese around 1-2pm, and apart from coffee with cream that's it.

Any use?

 

[ajbod]

Eating five times a day, means five Insulin responses, this will almost certainly account for the weight gain, as you will be hyperinsuliemic . Try to reduce to 2 or 3 meals eating more, ie the same amount as when 5 meals.
Covid can wreak havoc with our systems, and there are many accounts worldwide of diabetic diagnosis after covid, which disappeared a few months later. Yours is not going to disappear but may well reduce as your system recovers it's equilibrium.

 

[AliBabs]

I think your GP is sadly still unusual. You want to hang on to that one.

couple of thoughts/questions:

There are perhaps carbs unaccounted for somewhere within your diet? Fruit has generally a lot of fructose and you might not handle that well?

I find that if I manage the carbs the calories simply don't matter. If you're feeling hungry, perhaps eat more fat (particularly) and protein? Five times a day eating sounds a bit like grazing, and maybe you're not ever hitting the "satiation" buttons? I eat a meat-based meal once a day in the evening and stop eating when I've had enough. I'll have 100g of meat and cheese around 1-2pm, and apart from coffee with cream that's it.

Any use?

Thank you, some good tips.
I find it harder because of working a 12/13 hour day, which is probably why I graze. It’s not always easy to prepare food either and when I get in around 8pm I am too tired to prepare for the next day.
I will try your advice however regarding larger portions of fat and protein across less meals. Thank you for this x

 

[AliBabs]

Eating five times a day, means five Insulin responses, this will almost certainly account for the weight gain, as you will be hyperinsuliemic . Try to reduce to 2 or 3 meals eating more, ie the same amount as when 5 meals.
Covid can wreak havoc with our systems, and there are many accounts worldwide of diabetic diagnosis after covid, which disappeared a few months later. Yours is not going to disappear but may well reduce as your system recovers it's equilibrium.

Thank you, this makes a lot of sense. I looked it up and I can see I have all of the symptoms.
Also interesting to hear how Covid can account for diabetes diagnosis which makes a lot of sense as to why I am all over the place. Thank you for this information, it is very helpful. I will make an effort to reduce the amount of meals but increase the volume x

 

[ajbod]

One of the tricks i used for a packed lunch is a couple of rashers of cooked bacon with 2 hard boiled eggs, and a small pot of full fat mayonnaise with a packet of pork scratchings.

 

[KennyA]

Thank you, some good tips.
I find it harder because of working a 12/13 hour day, which is probably why I graze. It’s not always easy to prepare food either and when I get in around 8pm I am too tired to prepare for the next day.
I will try your advice however regarding larger portions of fat and protein across less meals. Thank you for this x

If I'm busy I batch cook and chill or freeze meals in advance, mainly curries and stews. The other backup is eggs, for omelettes mainly with hams and cheeses added. Both ways mean there's always a decent meal 10 minutes away and no need for half measures.