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Newbie trying Newcastle diet.

brettsza said:
One question
250g vegetables are cooked or uncooked. So if I prepare soup I can have 250grams of it in whole day or so I measure 250g of veggies and then make them as I want
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Mine is uncooked and I measure the veg then make the soup but I do it in batches of three portions at a time.
 
Hello everyone,

Just got back form my specialist appointment the news is good, my HbA1c as at 19.03.15 was 36 that's 5.4 in old money. We were both thrilled he has taken me off my Forxiga 10mg altogether and kept me on 4 x 500mg metformin a day. With a view to review all bloods again in tens weeks. My dietician has given me a 1200 cal a day diet to start next Tuesday and booked me in at the gym next Wednesday. Feeling brilliant, like its all heading in the right direction.
 
Really excellent progress, and news. What was your HbA1c immediately before starting the ND?
 
Really well done, I am so happy to see it has worked for you and most importantly you have a healthcare provider who actually cares for you.
 
Done a little research on Dr Jason Fung, seems to have a common sense and progressive approach to treating diabetes. He suggests the odd fasting day to help keep insulin intolerance under control and a low or slow carb diet with exercise. I intend to eat low card and only eat slow carbs (whole grains) when I do have carbs. Dr Fung states that its the fibre in whole grains that make them easier for diabetics to tolerate. I am trying to go for the whole life and balance in all things approach and see if I can maintain the results after the ND ends next week. I have attached the link if anyone interested. http://sigmanutrition.com/episode18/
 
I just heard the first few minutes and it sounds interesting. Will listen to it when I am at home today.
 
Today I started seriously transitioning to solid foods, and it was a little scary for me. On the plus side, I'm ultra cautious about what I am eating. On the negative side, I've got a definite aversion to food, and need to make sure I eat enough . . . which was never a problem previously. On the plus side, snacks and fast food are right out the window!
 

Yes, coming off a semi starvation/VLCD is a delicate time! Indeed. (I need to read your blog again to see if you have come off or are just reintroducing food towards the end ?) We can but hope your current aversion to food will go! . But I have noticed in this period at least (10 days later for me, of ending the V/LCD) I am eating less food than I did normally. This makes total sense to me, as the appetite, food receptors and hormone system in our digestive system/body seems very intricate and complex - and my hope is VLCDs do something to help us in that regard. At least in a gentle appetite readjustment period. But I know what you mean about being careful - I feel quite anxious myself, and even counted calories one day to make sure I wasn't being OTT and eating way too much coming off the V/LCD. (After two months of tiny amounts it felt like the portions were enormous, lol.) I HATE counting calories, so I was very surprised I was sitting there doing it again, but it makes sense too - to be anxious after having so little food, that we don't overdo it when going off it. Learning to trust our appetites again perhaps? The day I counted calories I ate about 1600 cals, and was full, and I am feeling wonderfully satiated, all the time, but eating a lot of protein, which I think will settle down soon. I must say it is great to have so much energy again - I have certainly developed a deeper respect for food as fuel. (Quality of food is really important of course, and is a given.) For if/when off the VLCD - Bon appetite, dear Glitterbritches!
 
Just avoid carbs first few days, then introduce them gradually taking note of BG. Adjust amounts according to meter.
 
Pipp said:
Just avoid carbs first few days, then introduce them gradually taking note of BG. Adjust amounts according to meter.
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I wish I would have read this yesterday

So, serious question - I did an impromptu experiment yesterday after exercise and want an objective assessment of my numbers.
I went for an intense run (well, run/walk) where my average heart rate was around 150 BPM. I did this run with "no fuel in the tank," so to speak, and I know that at that pace, for a little over half an hour, my BG was higher than normal when I was done (it always is when I bike).

Before the run my BG was at 78. After the run, I didn't test (facepalm) but shortly thereafter I decided to fuel up with a snack. I had two pieces of Market Pantry whole wheat toast (pieces were bigger than my hand) and spread a total of two-three tablespoons of chunky peanut butter on top of them. I also drank a Slim Fast-the eating and drinking were all done in less than five minutes. Total, the carb content of this snack/meal was 74g, with 28g being sugars and 18 of those sugar grams coming from the terrible GI liquid Slim Fast.

So, with wheat toast and sugar drink, and not knowing my baseline, here were my numbers:

15 minutes the snack/meal: 127 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L)
30 minutes: 129 mg/dL (5.8 mmol/L)
45 minutes: 127 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L)
One hour: 109 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)
One hour 15 minutes: 104 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L)
Then I had to go to work and could track them any lower.

Not incredibly useful numbers without a pre-eating baseline, but "fasted" high HR exercise that requires my liver to provide me with some glucose usually puts me in the 110ish range (stress, I have no idea what my numbers actually were). In any event, is there anything I can glean from those numbers? They are way better than they would have been pre-diet, but does anyone have any opinions or experience to share? Is that how any diabetic would react to what I ate? I'm dying to know where I am at.

I'm still overweight (I'll post before/after pictures this weekend) and am wondering (concerned) if I needed to maybe lose more before going off the diet.
 
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nope they are useful in that you stayed well within reasonable limits. However, the thick peanut butter would have slowed it all down and the initial numbers you saw are likely from your run. You really needed to have tested at 2 hours as well to see if you were rising again. Just remember to increase cabs levels over a few days and do not go zero to hero
 
Well said.

Going to try another experiment this weekend (nothing as insane as a OGTT, but something with faster acting carbs) and get all the right measurements through baseline to three hours. If I have the strips to spare (I think I do) I'm also going to try and use my wife as a control (if she is willing).
 

Thanks, Andrew. You replied before I could, and much more succinctly.

@Glitterbritches the way I introduced real food again was
day 1, one less meal replacement, 1 meal of extra veg, small amount lean meat or white fish
Day 2, two less meal replacements, 2 meals extra veg with protein include an egg maybe or cheese
Day 3 as day 2 but have a small portion of carb with one meal
Day 4 as day 2 , but small carb portion with 2 meals
Day 5, drop the meal replacements, have meals of choice, but test BG regularly and eat to meter.

Check weight at least weekly. Be aware there could be a gain when eating real food due to glycogen stores being replenished. Remain vigilant with BG and weight checks take action if gains occur, by reducing carbs and calories as necessary.
 

I started my transition yesterday and I feel the same, I am so afraid of my sugar being too high and the weight going back on. I am still on the same amount of calories but real food this week not slim fast and one portion of veg. Does anyone know what range my prick test should be between two hours after foo to be considered normal. I have only just started to test with prick tests and I need more information but the net is not much help.
 

I have done something very similar to this over the last few days, my first carb intake (small amount) I felt shocking two hours after and my prick test was 8.6. I have no idea if that is really bad or ok and my body was just not used to carbs. Any advice.
 

Hi,

There are different goals set by different countries, organisations and doctors, so you won't get a single answer.

Personally, I aim lower than the NHS guidelines which are here
And prefer to aim for levels suggested here.
Bernstein suggests even lower.

The arguments for aiming lower are that (long story short) the NHS believes that diabetes is degenerative and will over time lead to complications. But I believe it is only degenerative if BG levels are too high, too long. So I think the NHS levels must be too high, if their patients degenerate.
 

Dear Andrew, we have spoken before about the fact my doctor did not want me to test with a metre and that you and others on the forum thought that I should. The problem is I have purchased the metre can do the prick test but have no idea what the results mean. Can you or anyone else give me an overview. Panic is starting to set in, I am a need to know kind of person so that I can make the necessary changes. Thanks again.
 

Thank you I agree with your statement about diabetes only being degenerative if not under normal level control. I will check out the links now. Sat here afraid to eat in case level goes up again. Cant live like that need to sort it out.
 
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