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Thats it then, its the fat that does it

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I have been type 2 for about 4 to 5 years now. It was a great disappointment when I found out I had it.

Anyway, had the tests, started taking the Metformin, the Statins, the Aspirin etc - as you do. I even took part in a phase 2b drug trial for SGLT2 inhibitors.

I had got a bit overweight when first diagnosed, and my weight fluctuated a bit during the past 5 years. My hba1c had varied from about 6.8 to 7.8 but usually over 7.I and was taking 4 x 500mg of Metformin a day. Three months ago I had the shock of my life, the hbA1C shot up to 9 and my blood pressure was creeping up too. About the same time a new GP had started at my practice, a nice woman middle aged and experienced.

She had me in to discuss my poor result and said "look you really have to loose weight, and if you do, you may even go into remission" Now I wasn't that big, certainly not as big as a lot you see these days. However was surprised and highly cynical that there may even be a possibility of being "cured". Anyway I thought I would give it ago. So I started on an almost zero carbohydrate regime and took 30 min walking every day. Today got my result: I have lost 9.5 kg and my HbA1C is now 6.6 and my blood pressure 129/80.

So it works. Its the fat. Loose the fat, get fit and get better. My GP told me today that if I carry on loosing weight I will be in the normal range for HbA1C and though always genetically predisposed to diabetes, it is possible to reverse it.

I'm feeling on top of the world and my 38 inch trousers are getting looser by the day - I'm aiming for 36 inch in the next 3 months and who knows 34 inch ? - like I was in my late 20's.

:thumbup: :mrgreen: :wave: :crazy:
 
Hi Flyerphil

Very interesting post. I think it depends on your diabetes. Everyone is different, and some thin people have poor BS control and need medicine. However, for some people it is very weight related, and I think that may the case with you, and perhaps with me.

I have lost 47lb since diagnosis, my last Hbac1 was 9.2, (16.2 on diagnosis) and since I have started using a meter (only in the last few days) I have never had a reading above 7, even 2 hours after a meal with 55g of carbs. I wonder what I will be like when I get my BMI into the 20's.

However, as I said, weight loss will not work for everyone, as some people are slim when diagnosed..
 
hi Phil

Fantastic results. I like you was bigger than I should be but not so big as to make me get my ass into gear. Diabetes did that for me. Hard at the time but so glad it happend now.

Jump forward 8 months - 3 stone lighter, normal HBA1c, normal cholesterol.

where I disagree with your doc, until proven otherswise, is that your db is in remission.

From my point of view you can only say that if you are able to tollerate a 'normalish' level of carbs and control the BG and BP and cholesterol. When I get to my goal weight, another stone I think, I fully intend to re-introduce, very carefully some carbs and measure the results. Who knows how the reduction of visceral fat around my organs has improved my insulin resistance.

Too scared to try til I'm at my ideal weight, as I might get a taste for bread etc again lol.

Mary x
 
I think that for some people that fat is the problem.

But my neighbour is as thin as a rail, always has been, and at the age of 58 is now a Type 2 diabetic. So no fat for her to lose.
 
Yes thanks for your replies.

I suppose in my case its because I have insulin resistance due to the BMI, whereas some people with type 2 are not producing enough insulin, of the correct quality and may be as thin as a rake.

Still I think if you are overweight, then loosing it is the way to go, but its not easy. I think for most people the low carb high protein approach works well - its not new and has been known about since the 1930's. After all the carbohydrate starts being converted to sugar as soon as hits your mouth, since the amylase in your saliva starts the starch to sugar conversion process.
 
Hey flyerphil that's a great result so well done :clap:

In T2's there is generally two things going on. First as you say there is insulin resistance which is normally caused by fat but very importantly the length of time you ran your levels dangerously high prior to and after diagnosis will determine to a large extent how reversible T2 is. The problem is that running high levels will actually destroy the beta cells that make insulin so after a while your insulin production capability gets impaired and even if you do later lose all the fat and consequently most of the insulin resistance then the condition cannot be reversed because of the permanent damage done to your insulin production capability as beta cells do not regenerate. Of course you should still lose the weight as losing the insulin resistance it creates will make whatever insulin you are producing work efficiently and obviously losing weight is good for loads of other reasons.

In my case I was diagnosed when somewhat overweight BMI 29, but now my BMI is 23 and although I've lost a good amount of insulin resistance then my condition is not reversed as I lost quite a lot of insulin production capability over the months it took to realise what all the symptoms were. Saying that my doctor describes my T2 as "in remission" as through adopting a low carb high fat (not high protein) diet I've reduced my hBA1c from 11.3% to 4.9% and normalised my cholesterol levels as well. At that hBA1c I effectively control my blood levels in the range of most non diabetics. If however I try to eat anything like a normal amount of carbs (sugar, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals, bread etc.) my blood meter soon tells me that my condition is by no means reversed :lol:

So it's great you have managed to reverse your insulin resistance but for a load of us that is not the same as reversing T2 itself.
 
flyerphil said:
I have been type 2 for about 4 to 5 years now. It was a great disappointment when I found out I had it.

Anyway, had the tests, started taking the Metformin, the Statins, the Aspirin etc - as you do. I even took part in a phase 2b drug trial for SGLT2 inhibitors.

I had got a bit overweight when first diagnosed, and my weight fluctuated a bit during the past 5 years. My hba1c had varied from about 6.8 to 7.8 but usually over 7.I and was taking 4 x 500mg of Metformin a day. Three months ago I had the shock of my life, the hbA1C shot up to 9 and my blood pressure was creeping up too. About the same time a new GP had started at my practice, a nice woman middle aged and experienced.

She had me in to discuss my poor result and said "look you really have to loose weight, and if you do, you may even go into remission" Now I wasn't that big, certainly not as big as a lot you see these days. However was surprised and highly cynical that there may even be a possibility of being "cured". Anyway I thought I would give it ago. So I started on an almost zero carbohydrate regime and took 30 min walking every day. Today got my result: I have lost 9.5 kg and my HbA1C is now 6.6 and my blood pressure 129/80.

So it works. Its the fat. Loose the fat, get fit and get better. My GP told me today that if I carry on loosing weight I will be in the normal range for HbA1C and though always genetically predisposed to diabetes, it is possible to reverse it.

I'm feeling on top of the world and my 38 inch trousers are getting looser by the day - I'm aiming for 36 inch in the next 3 months and who knows 34 inch ? - like I was in my late 20's.

:thumbup: :mrgreen: :wave: :crazy:
Click to expand...
Excellent work flyerphil, :D :thumbup: but the only thing I would disagree with is the title of this thread. It's not the fat that does it, its the sugar and the carbs. As for thin people who are T2, I would love to see what their diet is, I bet even though they are thin, they are still eating a high carb and high sugar diet. People shouldnt be afraid of animal fat, if you are low carbing your body just burns the fat as fuel instead of carbs.
Ive been T2 now for 2 1/2 years, just got my latest hba1c result on Wednesday, BGs 6.00, Trigs 1.93 BP excellen(cant remember the exact score) cholesterol 5.8. Yes, some might say my Cholesterol is a bit high, but I can live with that. I still believe Im in a fight for life though.
 
Hi Phil

A jolly good effort I think. Well done! It's worth adding at this point that even if T2 doesn't go into remission for the reasons given here, you will find that, with low body fat, your T2 will be much easier to manage.

The important thing to remember is that a good diet with exercise is the best thing for most of us, and restricting carbs is the best way to go.

Dave
 
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