starting newcastle diet on 2nd jan

I'm going to start on this diet next week, with my GPs approval even though he doesn't know about it - he trusts me!

The only thing I don't quite understand is about coming off metformin. I'm on 3 x 500mg per day because I have insulin resistance and I also hope it helps me to lose weight. I also like the protective effect against heart/stroke problems.

I'm already on near non-diabetic BG levels - I was caught very early, and went low carb straight away. Last but one HbA1c was 5.2. Last one was upset by steroids/antibiotics but was still "only" 6.0.

Don't get me wrong, I know that people on metformin can have hypos, but the metformin doesn't cause them - it doesn't affect insulin production but it does affect insulin metabolism by helping to get the energy from blood glucose into the (resistant) muscle cells.

How do you suggest coming off it? 500mg at a time over a period of days/weeks? which would seem sensible to me.

Viv 8)

Hi Viv, as I'm sure you are aware each 500mg tab of Met will knock around .3 to.5 mmol/L off your numbers so if you are on the full dose 4 X 500mg I would probably drop 1000mg straight off and drop the remaining 1000mg maybe one tab a week over the next fortnight but obviously keep an eye on your numbers in case they drop too low...

Good luck BTW :thumbup:

Geordie90, you are doing incredibly well - your results are fantastic!

I have a friend who's mum has type 2 and has been controlling with diet only although not very successfully. I mentioned your diet and she is keen to have a go. I wasn't sure however what food you are eating in addition to the meal replacements drinks and would be grateful if you could list what you have been consuming on a typical day. I know she has tried slim fast before but would eat quite a large evening meal and from what I've read it seems that you have 3 meal replacements a day?

Thanks.

The diet is basically 3 slimfast type shakes a day made with water plus 250g of non starchy vegetabeles a day, this equates t0 800 kcal a day, nothing else, i know it sounds tough but its OK once you get used to it also 3 litres of fluid a day, non sugar type so water, black coffee, diet drinks, no juice. This is for 8 weeks!!!! There are a few links for the official paperwork on the board if you search for newcastle, dont know to put a link in otherwise I would do it!

Yes, 2 great minds that cant put a link in !!! LOL

Geordie, do you mix your shakes with milk as it says on the tin, half-and-half or just water?

I'm thinking of sticking to my usual breakfast to start with (2-egg omelette, about 180 calories), having a shake for lunch, my veggies for tea followed by a shake closer to bedtime. 3 shakes a day is a lot more carbs than I'm used to!

I think I'll drop my evening Metformin off first, then the morning one and continue with the one at lunchtime as long as I don't go too low in the afternoon.

I've got a big ratatouille on the go at the moment which must fit in to the allowed veg category, apart from the olive oil in this one which could easily be left out if I make another during the diet. Instead of sauteing the onion and garlic in the oil to begin with, I could leave out the oil, mix all the ingredients cold and put it in a lowish oven for about 4 hours.

The recipe, if anyone's interested, includes an onion, about 4 cloves garlic, one or two leeks, one or two courgettes, an aubergine, a packet of frozen mixed peppers or a couple of large fresh ones, 2 tins plum tomatoes chopped as they go in, a good squeeze of tomato paste, mixed herbs, oregano and a bay leaf, a glug of mushroom ketchup and as many mushrooms as I can fit in to the pan. Green beans when in season. If using oil I start it on top of the stove but always do the main cooking in a slow-ish oven because I prefer the outcome. And I can just leave it to get on with it.

When I have it as an Atkins meal I put cheese on top, or have sausages with it, or put a serving in a casserole and cook pork or salmon in it. It's very versatile, though it can be a bit acid-y.

Hmm. That means if I stick to my egg breakfast I could start the diet tomorrow!

Viv 8)

Hi Superrams,

I am type 1.5 and my blood sugar is not lowering as fast as Geordies. I am staying at around 6 or seven, but I have reduced my medication a little.

Second week in I am not finding the diet too hard Weigh day tomorrow!

Hi all,
Congrats to all of you for doing so well. I have also been on the Newcastle diet since 2nd Jan and I am doing great. I have lost 6kgs and it hasnt even been two weeks. I have stopped taking my short acting insulin and am just taking the long acting one at night, almost half the dose. I would love to hear from anyone else doing this diet that is on insulin.

Does anyone else suffer from bad flatulence? I find that I am farting terribly! Especially after my lunchtime shake. I am also still extremely hungry all the time, even dreaming of food. I have been very good and am sticking to the diet religiously but I did think the hunger would diminish by this stage. Any good ideas for veg meals? I have made veg curry, stir fries and soups but I am looking for some inspiration.

Thanks for the advice, Geordie, but I'm going to give it a go as I described above, at least for the first week. My normal carb intake is less than 50g per day, and I stop losing weight if I go over 70g. It will be interesting to see if the deliberately restricted calories makes a difference, as I lose weight very well on Atkins (usually between 1500 and 2000 cals a day), including burning my own body fat (ie, going into ketosis as the Newcastle diet does).

As far as exercise goes - all very well if you can, but my lumbar spinal stenosis means I can't stand for long, and can't walk more than 100 yards. My physio has told me exercise bike only so as not to aggravate the spine, so I'm starting at the gym in February. At the moment I can't afford the subs. Another reason for trying the diet - £3 for 6 days' food (2 shakes a day, with only eggs and veg to buy), is a cheap way to eat!

You didn't say whether you make up the shakes with milk, as per the tin?

Viv 8)

Thanks, Geordie!

Having just inspected the fridge I find I have a couple of days' 'Atkins' food to eat up, so I will be starting next week after my slap-up meal out. Pity - Friday 13th is my lucky day - but I'm afraid I'm constitutionally incapable of wasting food. I was brought up during rationing in the early 50s and some things stick. Particularly round the waist if you clear your plate every time! :lol:

I shall remove temptation by taking all crispbread, tinned food etc round to a friend to look after for me. Even I can't impulse-eat things from the freezer :shock:

I'm going to count my calories for the next few days, though, and see how many I'm eating at the moment.

I'll crawl back into the woodwork now, and start my own thread when I start on the shakes.

Thanks for your help and advice

Viv 8)

Hi. Everyone is doing well sticking to the diet, nobody seems to have dropped out yet! I agree it is strangley much easier to keep to than I feared - I dont seem to get ravenously hungry like I have on normal diets.
Good news on the BG - down to 5.4 this morning. Other trends good too - I have a set of analyser scales which show visceral fat down from 17% to 16% (need to get down to less than 10% if possible).
Blood pressure coming down nicely as well
Amazing how quickly improvments are showing up.