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Trying low carb but losing too much weight

As I was progressing from T2 to LADA, I was losing lots of weigh but bs was still good. I was reducing carbs and protein along the way to maintain good bs. However my bs didn't go crazy until the end of the progression when insulin was imperative. I would also recommend the GAD and cpeptide. It will at least give you some answers one way or another. And agreed, many docs either don't know what it is or don't do it. You may have to beg or fight for them. It didn't matter how many handfuls of nuts, how much protein and fat I was eating. I kept losing weight to a very unhealthy level. If it is LADA your not absorbing your food without insulin so you won't gain weight.
 
Kristin251 said:
As I was progressing from T2 to LADA, I was losing lots of weigh but bs was still good. I was reducing carbs and protein along the way to maintain good bs. However my bs didn't go crazy until the end of the progression when insulin was imperative. I would also recommend the GAD and cpeptide. It will at least give you some answers one way or another. And agreed, many docs either don't know what it is or don't do it. You may have to beg or fight for them. It didn't matter how many handfuls of nuts, how much protein and fat I was eating. I kept losing weight to a very unhealthy level. If it is LADA your not absorbing your food without insulin so you won't gain weight.
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Thanks for all the information. I must confess that I have never heard of LADA not to mention GAD and cpeptide! Is it harmful to stay on the low carb diet until I find someone that will test me for these?
 
Low carbs will not hurt you. Protein and fats are what we are designed to eat.
The reason I emphasised calories is that your doctor needs some actual evidence to make her carry out further investigations,
My own experience is that I can't gain weight eating low levels of carbohydrate, but I can't lose weight without actually dropping calories below my physiological needs.
It's easy to misjudge the amount of calories you are eating because a low carb diet is so satisfying you feel you are eating plenty of food. You sound like a female, and a small one at that, and probably don't eat a lot at the best of times.
 
Kamrita said:
Thanks for all the information. I must confess that I have never heard of LADA not to mention GAD and cpeptide! Is it harmful to stay on the low carb diet until I find someone that will test me for these?
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Would not advise Low Carb diet during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and high energy fitness freaks neeed to take care.

There was a discussion on weight loss/ gain on another thread titled What is the HF in LCHF? and this may help you. It is in the Low Carb section. I am a nice 10 stone weakling wishing to stay that way, and I have used LCHF to stabilise at 66kg with a bmi of 21.
 
I've been diagnosed as T1 (assuming LADA, but my doctors have never used that terminology) based off of my GAD test - that was in mid-June. My initial Hb1Ac was 84mmol. In late September it was 31mmol. I was 72kg when diagnosed, am now 58kg. Weight loss has been steady all the way through, and I reckon I'm still losing.

I eat reasonably low carb, but not as low as some here. I don't count carbs, but eat until satisfied.

I am on 500mg of metformin 2x a day. Based on my testing I think my next Hb1Ac will be higher, but unless something changes shouldn't be too bad.

I would too like to stop losing weight now, but can't see how to do this either.
 
fionaclare said:
I've been diagnosed as T1 (assuming LADA, but my doctors have never used that terminology) based off of my GAD test - that was in mid-June. My initial Hb1Ac was 84mmol. In late September it was 31mmol. I was 72kg when diagnosed, am now 58kg. Weight loss has been steady all the way through, and I reckon I'm still losing.

I eat reasonably low carb, but not as low as some here. I don't count carbs, but eat until satisfied.

I am on 500mg of metformin 2x a day. Based on my testing I think my next Hb1Ac will be higher, but unless something changes shouldn't be too bad.

I would too like to stop losing weight now, but can't see how to do this either.
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If you are type 1 (with a positive gad test you are type 1) and you are not on insulin and you have high blood sugar readings (I'm assuming from your prediction of a higher hba1c) and you are losing weight, the weight loss is likely due to insufficient insulin. You should test for ketones, and get in touch with your doctor to discuss commencing insulin. If you have ketones, you should go to hospital for treatment.
 
fionaclare said:
I've been diagnosed as T1 (assuming LADA, but my doctors have never used that terminology) based off of my GAD test - that was in mid-June. My initial Hb1Ac was 84mmol. In late September it was 31mmol. I was 72kg when diagnosed, am now 58kg. Weight loss has been steady all the way through, and I reckon I'm still losing.

I eat reasonably low carb, but not as low as some here. I don't count carbs, but eat until satisfied.

I am on 500mg of metformin 2x a day. Based on my testing I think my next Hb1Ac will be higher, but unless something changes shouldn't be too bad.

I would too like to stop losing weight now, but can't see how to do this either.
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I agree with @catapillar LADA is late onset Type 1. It comes on slower than Type 1 in a child, and it can be quite sneaky in a way as often tests will miss spikes so give the impression all is well.

There is also evidence that starting insulin early can help the remaining islets.

Most Type 1s here eat moderate carbs.

Even if you only need tiny doses of insulin at this stage, that may still help and be preferable. Speak to your consultant and get further help and advice :)
 
Thanks. I will ask. I have raised weight loss with my GP and at the diabetes clinic at the hospital and it didn't ring any bells.

I expect a higher Hb1Ac, but I still think depending on my readings it will be considered good (just not as low as before).

I will see if I can find a way to test for ketones (I'm in NZ).
 
Post meals I go no higher than 8, and mostly it is 6 or 7.

I don't get strips funded as not on insulin, so as a single Mum can't afford to test before and after every meal.

But, I will ask.
 
If you were in the uk, the guidelines say that type 1 diabetics should be supported to test at least 4 times a day and this support is not dependant on what medication they are on.

If you have been diagnosed type 1 with a positive gad test, but you are not yet on insulin, I would expect that you should be keeping a very close eye indeed on your blood sugar level. This is essential to ensure you are keeping up with the progression of your diabetes and you get access to insulin when you need it. If test strips aren't prescribed/covered have a good chat with you doctor about whether they should be - I've got no idea how it works in NZ, sorry, but I think it's well worth you looking into it.
 
catapillar said:
If you were in the uk, the guidelines say that type 1 diabetics should be supported to test at least 4 times a day and this support is not dependant on what medication they are on.

If you have been diagnosed type 1 with a positive gad test, but you are not yet on insulin, I would expect that you should be keeping a very close eye indeed on your blood sugar level. This is essential to ensure you are keeping up with the progression of your diabetes and you get access to insulin when you need it. If test strips aren't prescribed/covered have a good chat with you doctor about whether they should be - I've got no idea how it works in NZ, sorry, but I think it's well worth you looking into it.
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In addition, you need a bgl meter that can also read ketone levels, and in fact this is needed now even of not on insulin. High bgl levels with poor insulin production can lead to DKA which has serious health implications, so please make sure you research Diabetic Ketone Acidosis (DKA) so you are aware od the possible symptoms. It is having high bgl that increases this risk.

The risk reduces as bgl levels come into control, and your present levels around 9 mmol/l are looking good, and not a worry. The DKA generally starts around 25;

As a T2 I was getting 32+ readings, but I was ok on that, and this was because I was still able to produce my own insulin. Got pretty beeps and flashing lights when I hit that jackpot !
 
Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can follow up with my Doctor.

Haven't had anything over 9. I do test 4 times a day, and the endocrinologist I saw initially said to ring if I got a reading of 15.
 
fionaclare said:
I've been diagnosed as T1 (assuming LADA, but my doctors have never used that terminology) based off of my GAD test - that was in mid-June. My initial Hb1Ac was 84mmol. In late September it was 31mmol. I was 72kg when diagnosed, am now 58kg. Weight loss has been steady all the way through, and I reckon I'm still losing.

I eat reasonably low carb, but not as low as some here. I don't count carbs, but eat until satisfied.

I am on 500mg of metformin 2x a day. Based on my testing I think my next Hb1Ac will be higher, but unless something changes shouldn't be too bad.

I would too like to stop losing weight now, but can't see how to do this either.
Click to expand...

I am a bit concerned as to why you are losing weight without really dieting. I lost weight like that before I was diagnosed, and it was definitely a diabetic symptom. After I was diagnosed as Type 2 I carried on losing weight for many months.
Basically, a Type 1 diabetic losing weight without dieting is in trouble. Damage will be occurring to your body. I am shocked that NZ doctors are not dealing with this. They seem to be waiting for you to go into meltdown before they treat you.
You can get ketone sticks on ebay. Check your ketones. You do not want a DKA, believe me.
 
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