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Recently diagnosed and feeling deflated after first nurse appointment...

Keto doesn’t have to be high anything - just minimal carbs of around 20g carb a day - some may be able to eat more - keto diet is about being in ketosis - so as long as your in ketosis with the level of carbs you’re eating then you’re on a keto diet. I don’t eat high fat or high protein, just normal amounts of both, I don’t avoid fats at all but I don’t add a lot either, those I add are from unsaturated sources like avocado, nut oils, good virgin olive oil, a little bit of butter, I eat oily fish but not a lot of animal fat or dairy as in cream or cheese as I find dairy makes me gain weight
Snap exactly the same as me ;)
 
I've never seen a nurse, nor been given any advice other than I have read on this forum. I was told my HbAc1 was very high and I must go on Metformin immediately and stay there for the rest of my life. All he said, when I queried it, was that they had been concerned the previous year, but were far more concerned that I had blood cancer (which I didn't). Anyway, I went on Metformin and have been on it ever since. Haven't really changed my diet, and my HbAc1 was pre-diabetic a year ago. Then I went on the Ascend Plus trial, and have to take another tablet, either a placebo or 14 mg oral semaglutide (it's the latter!). and have since lost significant weight and my HbAc1 is now normal! And I still haven't changed my diet, other than to eat less because I get less hungry!

But I also have - or had - high cholesterol, and, as I said to another GP in the practice (a much nicer one, who doesn't panic at every little fluctuation from normal), if I eat to please my diabetes, my cholesterol doesn't like it, and if I eat to please my cholesterol, my diabetes doesn't like it! So moderation in all things, and if I want a small scoop of ice-cream, I'll have it!
 
I do keto but its mostly vegetarian keto (except for a can of sardines in the morning). I mostly make shakes with leafy green vegetables and protein powder. I make mushroom soups a lot, lentils, and even bread made from lentils.
On 17 July my HBA1C was 78mmol/mol (in the US A1C of 9.3). I changed my diet to low carb not processed food and 12 October it was 42mmol/mol (US A1C 6.0). I paid to have a lab test the first part of November and it was 37mmol/mol ( US A1C 5.5). I stopped taking Metformin on 4 October but I have another appointment in January and I will see what my labs are and discuss if I should take it again.
My Doctor gave me no guidance on diet or exercise-he just wanted to increase my metformin. I read what other people on this forum did and went from 254 pounds to 216 pounds. Stopped eating processed or high carb food. I mostly eat a keto diet now.
If you can get a cgm- it helps a lot.
 
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