• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Thank you and a few questions

D

DooWop

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
South Africa
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello everyone

Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my first post here. It's made such a difference to the way I felt when I received the news about being diabetic, 9 days ago. My good news is that I've lost weight, and so far, haven't had any huge sugar cravings. I also feel as if I'm adjusting to the idea of planning meals. I did a large and sensible shop over the weekend!

I've been walking and trying really hard to watch my carb intake but I have some questions I'd like to ask. I'd really appreciate answers on any or all of the following.
  1. Since cutting as many carbs as possible, I've lost 2kg, which feels like a lot in just 9 days?
  2. I looked up fruits etc and read that a handful of grapes eaten along with nuts was okay to eat (but never on their own), but having read more posts here, this doesn't seem to be the case, and cashews aren't recommended?
  3. What happens if you miss a dose of meds? (I missed my Metformin this evening; still getting into the routine of taking regular meds.) Should you take it later than recommended or skip the dose altogether, or try to space out the next doses until you get back to the 12 hourly dose prescribed?
  4. Coconut oil and cream seem to be recommended here, but what about coconut flour? Can that be used?
  5. I'm seeing a dietitian on Thursday afternoon and am worried about what she's going to say re cholesterol and diabetes combined. I really want to go high fat low carb, but what if she says that's no good risk-wise for cholesterol? My doctor recommended that I see her. I'd like to go prepared.
  6. Finally - I've read with interest that being insulin resistant leads to diabetes which makes sense to me when I look back and see how I've become less and less energetic and more susceptible to sugar cravings over the years. Is this a proven fact or is it still a case what came first, the chicken or the egg?
That's me done for now!
 
Ok my responses are as follows, just my opinion mind you!
1) Initially on low carb eating you loose a lot of water so rapid weight loss at first is common.
2) I don’t touch grapes now as they are quite a high carb fruit, these days I stick to berries, here’s a useful graphic:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/fruits
And another one for nuts, cashews score high:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/nuts
3) Metformin is not a quick acting drug so the timing isn’t crucial. I take three a day and used to spread them out evenly but was forgetting the midday one, so my GP suggested taking two in the morning and one in the evening. The usual advice is take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember but not if the next dose is due very soon. I think if you miss an evening dose, that anytime up til bedtime would be ok to take it, it doesn’t have to be exactly 12 hours apart.
4) I use coconut products a lot, oil, cream and flour. Here’s my favourite coconut recipe, it uses coconut cream and flour:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/recipes/keto-coconut-porridge
5) The dietitian will probably advise against LCHF but personally I have seen my cholesterol numbers improve after initially deteriorating. Rapid weight loss can cause cholesterol numbers to deteriorate initially.
6) My personal experience is identical to you, energy levels going down and down which I just put down to getting older and craving for sugary stuff. Now my energy levels are right back up I and don’t crave the junk I used to eat.
Phew! I feel like I’ve just written an exam paper! ;) No seriously, I hope that helps :)
 
Back
Top