This is my first post (so excuse the length) but wanted to post my journey of "taking back control" as I never come across postings about long term diabetics of 10 years plus (on meds for years) turning their situations around and becoming med free and if there are any they appear hidden..
It appears all the research and successful trials undertaken ( by institutions/universities) to tightly control and reverse diabetic high blood sugars focus on those who were diagnosed under 10 years ago and there appears to be no appetite to get the same results for those diagnosed more than 10 years ago. Why?
This thread is not claiming a cure or to reversing or putting into remission anyone's diabetes diagnosis but it is claiming that control for long term diabetics on meds is realiseable and can be achieved off meds with the proper interventions and to hopefully inspire those who have had the condition long term 12, 15, 20 years to at least consider renewing their efforts to take back control again. So for those out there that want to know more here goes:-
By way of background I was diagnosed in 2000 with type II as my identical twin was diagnosed a month before so warned me and I got tested and diagnosed insulin resistant Type 2 diabetic, and initially diet controlled.
My medication regime prior to July 27 2017 was as follows:-Statins 20mg Altorvastatin
(First therapy) 2010:1x 500 mg twice a day of Metformin 2015 2x 500 mg twice a day (diet alone prior to this date but Hba1c continued to show increased BG levels)
(Second Therapy) 2016 put on an additional 5 mg of Linagliptin
HbA1c result in May '17 was circa 11%
Saw Diabetic Nurse May 2 2017 who advised I urgently need (Triple therapy) a Third Therapy of Gliclazide as a consequence of poor BG control. I asked for 12 weeks to see if I could turn it around and was told i should start ASAP. I pleaded give me one last chance and c12 weeks, if I can't improve by weight loss and drastic life style changes in 12 weeks I will willingly offer myself up and and take the Gliclazide...
Popped in to Doctor's surgery 2 weeks later to pick up previous HbA1c results on file for comparison and before the Receptionist could print off results she said "It's noted, you must come in urgently to be put on Gliclazide!" I said that I had spoke with the D.N and explained that I was about to undertake major lifestyle changes but it appeared to fall on deaf ears...
Following a month of extensive reading and researching articles and books by Prof Taylor, Dr Bernsteins Diabetic solution, Dr John Mcdougall, Jenny Ruhl's Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes to name just a few I was keyed up and ready to fight back. Being told that I had to take meds that would drop my BG to too low levels and that I might need sugar to rescue me was a wake up call that pushed me over the "ignorance is not bliss" cliff edge and to finally take real action. So.........
May 2 2017 (on all meds) Weight 14 Stone 9 (94.8 Kilos/209 pounds) HbA1c 98 mmol/mol (11.1%)
So a month later on June 2 2017 armed with my new found nuggets of knowledge I went on a strict whole plant only diet 6 days a week and my weakness Salmon Sashimi with soy sauce and wasabi on Wednesdays! No dairy products at all and replaced dairy milk with (unsweetened) soya milk in my coffee, dropped Olive Oil and porridge BG spikes! And kept the following personal mantras to help keep me on track and to stay focused every two weeks
1.- Do you want to do this for 2 weeks or not bother and risk going blind?
2.- Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks or not bother and lose a toe or foot?
3.- Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks or not bother and suffer Neuropathy (Nerve damage)and associated pain long term?
4.- Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks or not bother and suffer Kidney damage?
5.-Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks and take back control or not bother and give control to others?
And that kept me on track. I went and bought a digital bathroom scale, glucose meter and strips from ebay and TEST/TEST/TEST. on wake up, pre meals and post 2 hours after each meal. Any food items that pushed me too high I dropped. Any that didn't I kept. In simply 8 weeks I lost 2 stone (12.70 Kilos/ 28 pounds) on what was simply a low carb low fat regime (yes I know low fat) Remember this was not a long term goal or permanent diet regime change but simply the answer to the question I asked myself after 17 years of being diabetic with worsening blood glucose readings. which was:-"How do I avoid going on Gliclazide?"
All the research pointed to the same answer for most if not all type 2's- weight loss and tight blood glucose control was the answer to achieving non diabetic Hba1c results. Get weight and BG levels under control and the rest happens in most cases automatically and very quickly it would appear.
The weight loss from a mostly lean diet of "Whole plant" (quickest way to weight loss I have ever personally experienced) and the regular monitoring of weight (daily) and use of the glucose meter, gave me instant feedback and the knowledge and control to react in real time if any result required a positive reaction to adjust.
I logged every entry of my readings on a simple excel spread sheet (it really does help one's focus) so that I could see in reality, a snap shot of progress or slippage occurring. It also demonstrates to the diabetic nurse how serious one is about taking personal control, of lifestyle change.
The downward impact on BG readings and the subsequent weight loss are really encouraging and are evident quite quickly and I prefer most things quickly.
I initially walked 7 miles (2 hours 2 mins) twice a week from week 4 to week 8 but in week 9 introduced in place of that, a brisk 4 days out of 7 1 mile walk each way (c33 minutes 2 miles in total to the local Sainsbury's supermarket and back) after lunch or dinner or both which impacted on my BG post meal readings as effectively as my 2x 7 mile walks did. (Simple interventions it appears have a big impact on BG readings and little and often is backed up by improving after meal readings following short walks, the meter doesn't lie, honest!)
Over time (c 2-3 weeks) I added salads from main chain restaurants that had little increase on my BG readings and those that did (like salads with Butternut squash I dropped)
My weight loss on occasion stalled but I stuck to the regime rigidly and the loss resumed as it always does over time.
On July 27 2017 I stopped all medication. My reason for this was simple. If I continued taking the meds and achieved the same result it could be interpreted that the meds had made the impact and contributed to those improvements along with the lifestyle changes, but if they are taken away they couldn't be seen as influencing results. Equally by having a glucose monitor if my results went rocketing after stopping meds but whilst keeping on this regime it would show up and I could go back on them quickly if need be.
So with that in mind I booked my follow up (Sept) HbA1c test . Weight was 12 stone (76.2 Kilos/168 pounds)
15 Sept 2017 HbA1c test
Result 41 mmol/mol (5.9%)
And this was achieved 17 years after being diagnosed Diabetic and all totally achieved without any anti Diabetic Meds!
Weight loss (@15/9/17) 2 stone 9 pounds/ 16.78 Kilos/ 37 pounds) in as little as 12-15 weeks!
Now I know that this regime is extreme but so was the thought of going on Gliclazide. I will introduce other more healthy elements in to my diet and will continue to test to see what happens as I reintroduce a little more carb and protein and some fats.
I am not advocating that this is a cure or reversal or remission but simply that there is hope for those of us who have had this condition for many years and if like me you have been told, that there is no turning back on rising blood glucose results for long term diabetics and you should simply take your meds and suffer the worsening consequences of one's rising blood sugars, you might simply resign yourself to that fact that "these are the cards I've been dealt with"
But in truth there is more we can do, much more, more than we are initially led to believe from many of the "experts" that we entrust our Diabetic care to. we just need all the tools and knowledge to act on it.
More of us are coming to realise that it's all about knowledge and monitoring and taking control. And the medical profession in most cases doesn't want you to have that knowledge nor that control. (If it did guess what, you'd be offered free test strips (not generally available in the UK for non insulin users) and proper diabetic dietary advice that offers quick and measurable change and gives results that are self evident and of course being in possession of the equipment to help you monitor and take control of those lifestyle changes ( Meters!) giving control back to the diabetic and enabling YOU to manage your personal BG improvements and consequently your health outcome.
Can I go back to the old weight and food choices I had? No. Can I treat myself once in a while? Yes but I need to monitor what I do. Is this a whole of life lifestyle? Yes with the reward that I am now in control of my future health not guided by a Diabetic Expert's KPI's.
(25/9) EDIT:- Visit to DN was very encouraging ( in contrast to the receptionist back in June!) DN Happy to confirm on my records that I was no longer on any diabetic medication nor requiring ongoing statin intervention. Agreed to further HbA1c and lipid tests at a timing to suit me and wrote scripts for those tests. So the journey continues...
I hope that this inspires in whatever way possible for others to take back control.
It appears all the research and successful trials undertaken ( by institutions/universities) to tightly control and reverse diabetic high blood sugars focus on those who were diagnosed under 10 years ago and there appears to be no appetite to get the same results for those diagnosed more than 10 years ago. Why?
This thread is not claiming a cure or to reversing or putting into remission anyone's diabetes diagnosis but it is claiming that control for long term diabetics on meds is realiseable and can be achieved off meds with the proper interventions and to hopefully inspire those who have had the condition long term 12, 15, 20 years to at least consider renewing their efforts to take back control again. So for those out there that want to know more here goes:-
By way of background I was diagnosed in 2000 with type II as my identical twin was diagnosed a month before so warned me and I got tested and diagnosed insulin resistant Type 2 diabetic, and initially diet controlled.
My medication regime prior to July 27 2017 was as follows:-Statins 20mg Altorvastatin
(First therapy) 2010:1x 500 mg twice a day of Metformin 2015 2x 500 mg twice a day (diet alone prior to this date but Hba1c continued to show increased BG levels)
(Second Therapy) 2016 put on an additional 5 mg of Linagliptin
HbA1c result in May '17 was circa 11%
Saw Diabetic Nurse May 2 2017 who advised I urgently need (Triple therapy) a Third Therapy of Gliclazide as a consequence of poor BG control. I asked for 12 weeks to see if I could turn it around and was told i should start ASAP. I pleaded give me one last chance and c12 weeks, if I can't improve by weight loss and drastic life style changes in 12 weeks I will willingly offer myself up and and take the Gliclazide...
Popped in to Doctor's surgery 2 weeks later to pick up previous HbA1c results on file for comparison and before the Receptionist could print off results she said "It's noted, you must come in urgently to be put on Gliclazide!" I said that I had spoke with the D.N and explained that I was about to undertake major lifestyle changes but it appeared to fall on deaf ears...
Following a month of extensive reading and researching articles and books by Prof Taylor, Dr Bernsteins Diabetic solution, Dr John Mcdougall, Jenny Ruhl's Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes to name just a few I was keyed up and ready to fight back. Being told that I had to take meds that would drop my BG to too low levels and that I might need sugar to rescue me was a wake up call that pushed me over the "ignorance is not bliss" cliff edge and to finally take real action. So.........
May 2 2017 (on all meds) Weight 14 Stone 9 (94.8 Kilos/209 pounds) HbA1c 98 mmol/mol (11.1%)
So a month later on June 2 2017 armed with my new found nuggets of knowledge I went on a strict whole plant only diet 6 days a week and my weakness Salmon Sashimi with soy sauce and wasabi on Wednesdays! No dairy products at all and replaced dairy milk with (unsweetened) soya milk in my coffee, dropped Olive Oil and porridge BG spikes! And kept the following personal mantras to help keep me on track and to stay focused every two weeks
1.- Do you want to do this for 2 weeks or not bother and risk going blind?
2.- Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks or not bother and lose a toe or foot?
3.- Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks or not bother and suffer Neuropathy (Nerve damage)and associated pain long term?
4.- Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks or not bother and suffer Kidney damage?
5.-Do you want to do this for a further 2 weeks and take back control or not bother and give control to others?
And that kept me on track. I went and bought a digital bathroom scale, glucose meter and strips from ebay and TEST/TEST/TEST. on wake up, pre meals and post 2 hours after each meal. Any food items that pushed me too high I dropped. Any that didn't I kept. In simply 8 weeks I lost 2 stone (12.70 Kilos/ 28 pounds) on what was simply a low carb low fat regime (yes I know low fat) Remember this was not a long term goal or permanent diet regime change but simply the answer to the question I asked myself after 17 years of being diabetic with worsening blood glucose readings. which was:-"How do I avoid going on Gliclazide?"
All the research pointed to the same answer for most if not all type 2's- weight loss and tight blood glucose control was the answer to achieving non diabetic Hba1c results. Get weight and BG levels under control and the rest happens in most cases automatically and very quickly it would appear.
The weight loss from a mostly lean diet of "Whole plant" (quickest way to weight loss I have ever personally experienced) and the regular monitoring of weight (daily) and use of the glucose meter, gave me instant feedback and the knowledge and control to react in real time if any result required a positive reaction to adjust.
I logged every entry of my readings on a simple excel spread sheet (it really does help one's focus) so that I could see in reality, a snap shot of progress or slippage occurring. It also demonstrates to the diabetic nurse how serious one is about taking personal control, of lifestyle change.
The downward impact on BG readings and the subsequent weight loss are really encouraging and are evident quite quickly and I prefer most things quickly.
I initially walked 7 miles (2 hours 2 mins) twice a week from week 4 to week 8 but in week 9 introduced in place of that, a brisk 4 days out of 7 1 mile walk each way (c33 minutes 2 miles in total to the local Sainsbury's supermarket and back) after lunch or dinner or both which impacted on my BG post meal readings as effectively as my 2x 7 mile walks did. (Simple interventions it appears have a big impact on BG readings and little and often is backed up by improving after meal readings following short walks, the meter doesn't lie, honest!)
Over time (c 2-3 weeks) I added salads from main chain restaurants that had little increase on my BG readings and those that did (like salads with Butternut squash I dropped)
My weight loss on occasion stalled but I stuck to the regime rigidly and the loss resumed as it always does over time.
On July 27 2017 I stopped all medication. My reason for this was simple. If I continued taking the meds and achieved the same result it could be interpreted that the meds had made the impact and contributed to those improvements along with the lifestyle changes, but if they are taken away they couldn't be seen as influencing results. Equally by having a glucose monitor if my results went rocketing after stopping meds but whilst keeping on this regime it would show up and I could go back on them quickly if need be.
So with that in mind I booked my follow up (Sept) HbA1c test . Weight was 12 stone (76.2 Kilos/168 pounds)
15 Sept 2017 HbA1c test
Result 41 mmol/mol (5.9%)
And this was achieved 17 years after being diagnosed Diabetic and all totally achieved without any anti Diabetic Meds!
Weight loss (@15/9/17) 2 stone 9 pounds/ 16.78 Kilos/ 37 pounds) in as little as 12-15 weeks!
Now I know that this regime is extreme but so was the thought of going on Gliclazide. I will introduce other more healthy elements in to my diet and will continue to test to see what happens as I reintroduce a little more carb and protein and some fats.
I am not advocating that this is a cure or reversal or remission but simply that there is hope for those of us who have had this condition for many years and if like me you have been told, that there is no turning back on rising blood glucose results for long term diabetics and you should simply take your meds and suffer the worsening consequences of one's rising blood sugars, you might simply resign yourself to that fact that "these are the cards I've been dealt with"
But in truth there is more we can do, much more, more than we are initially led to believe from many of the "experts" that we entrust our Diabetic care to. we just need all the tools and knowledge to act on it.
More of us are coming to realise that it's all about knowledge and monitoring and taking control. And the medical profession in most cases doesn't want you to have that knowledge nor that control. (If it did guess what, you'd be offered free test strips (not generally available in the UK for non insulin users) and proper diabetic dietary advice that offers quick and measurable change and gives results that are self evident and of course being in possession of the equipment to help you monitor and take control of those lifestyle changes ( Meters!) giving control back to the diabetic and enabling YOU to manage your personal BG improvements and consequently your health outcome.
Can I go back to the old weight and food choices I had? No. Can I treat myself once in a while? Yes but I need to monitor what I do. Is this a whole of life lifestyle? Yes with the reward that I am now in control of my future health not guided by a Diabetic Expert's KPI's.
(25/9) EDIT:- Visit to DN was very encouraging ( in contrast to the receptionist back in June!) DN Happy to confirm on my records that I was no longer on any diabetic medication nor requiring ongoing statin intervention. Agreed to further HbA1c and lipid tests at a timing to suit me and wrote scripts for those tests. So the journey continues...
I hope that this inspires in whatever way possible for others to take back control.
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