Trying to turn things around

[Liam1955]

@david1968 - Well Done - Congratulations.

 

[hankjam]

Hi,

My name's David - diagnosed type 2 in September 2012 in the middle of an operation to remove part of my bowel. Put straight onto insulin (novorapid and levemir) but what I was told didn't really sink in that much.
<sipped>
Will post on here as to progress ... in the meantime thanks for your time.

Regards,

David V.

David, good work, not easy with what you been through and taking each bit of good news helps you get to the next one. I have walking a great aid, me time and think about this and that.... and usually refreshed for what ever.
Good on you.
Progress reports are always good.
Hj

 

[david1968]

Today was my latest appointment with my GP and she was delighted with how I'm doing. So much so that she took a pohotcopy of my blood sugar diary to show to other people!

She's fully supportive of low carbs and low calories and I have her full blessing to continue with what I've been doing so far.

Slightly concerned about a couple of lows I'd had but accepted that it's a learning curve.

Wants me to consider going on statins to reduce my cholesterol (currently at 4.7) but will review that in three months time.

Weight as of this morning was down to 17 stone 12 but have been a little bit naughty tonight and had fish and chips for tea.

BMI now 37 but the really good news was the HbA1C reading - was 53 when I last saw her in January but now down to 46.

Feeling really positive.

 

[hankjam]

Today was my latest appointment with my GP and she was delighted with how I'm doing. So much so that she took a pohotcopy of my blood sugar diary to show to other people!

She's fully supportive of low carbs and low calories and I have her full blessing to continue with what I've been doing so far.

Slightly concerned about a couple of lows I'd had but accepted that it's a learning curve.

Wants me to consider going on statins to reduce my cholesterol (currently at 4.7) but will review that in three months time.

Weight as of this morning was down to 17 stone 12 but have been a little bit naughty tonight and had fish and chips for tea.

BMI now 37 but the really good news was the HbA1C reading - was 53 when I last saw her in January but now down to 46.

Feeling really positive.

and so you should, really good stuff.

Once you get the hang of low carb and you see the weight drops and the BG control it makes it easier to carry one. There will be times when you wonder if it is always going to be like this and you may find you are eating the same things repeatedly, as they are "safe"... but it is way better than high BG's and all that brings.
My lipids are +7 and I am in review with my GP about statins... she thinks I should and I think I don't.... my BG's are my main focus.
Good stuff David and thanks for the update.

 

[paula.nolan42]

Today was my latest appointment with my GP and she was delighted with how I'm doing. So much so that she took a pohotcopy of my blood sugar diary to show to other people!

She's fully supportive of low carbs and low calories and I have her full blessing to continue with what I've been doing so far.

Slightly concerned about a couple of lows I'd had but accepted that it's a learning curve.

Wants me to consider going on statins to reduce my cholesterol (currently at 4.7) but will review that in three months time.

Weight as of this morning was down to 17 stone 12 but have been a little bit naughty tonight and had fish and chips for tea.

BMI now 37 but the really good news was the HbA1C reading - was 53 when I last saw her in January but now down to 46.

Feeling really positive.

For this result we need a Gold Star or a LEGEND - well done you must be really pleased

 

[Liam1955]

@david1968 - Hi. Congratulations on reducing your HBA1C to 46 = keep doing what you are doing

 

[seadragon]

Congratulations you are doing great!
4.7 does not seem a high cholesterol reading to me. Normal used to be around 5.5 til the drug companies wanted to make more money and pushed statins 'benefits' (which are debatable ) onto GPs via NICE. Suddenly they want to give it to more people - oh and don't they get paid an incentive now to put you on statins - hmm so how impartial is their advice? My cholesterol was 5.5 and I would not take statins. It's gone up to 6 now but that's because my HDL 'good' cholesterol has increased so don't let them take the total number and push statins on you - at least get a lipid profile and then have a look at 'Statin Nation'. Try www.dietdoctor.com for a link and a free membership trial to view it. Statins do reduce cholesterol but reducing cholesterol is not necessarily a good thing - it's a vital constituent of the body for cell membranes and the brain is basically made out of it.

 

[ickihun]

David up your walking if you want better trigs.
Nothing dramatic thou. @Hiitsme has great experience of low trigs and is considering reducing her 8-10 miles daily walking.
You're doing brilliantly! So proud of you.
Well done.
Keep going with your winning formula. It's working for you.

 

[david1968]

Congratulations you are doing great!
4.7 does not seem a high cholesterol reading to me. Normal used to be around 5.5 til the drug companies wanted to make more money and pushed statins 'benefits' (which are debatable ) onto GPs via NICE. Suddenly they want to give it to more people - oh and don't they get paid an incentive now to put you on statins - hmm so how impartial is their advice? My cholesterol was 5.5 and I would not take statins. It's gone up to 6 now but that's because my HDL 'good' cholesterol has increased so don't let them take the total number and push statins on you - at least get a lipid profile and then have a look at 'Statin Nation'. Try www.dietdoctor.com for a link and a free membership trial to view it. Statins do reduce cholesterol but reducing cholesterol is not necessarily a good thing - it's a vital constituent of the body for cell membranes and the brain is basically made out of it.

I'm not going to be pushed into anything @seadragon - I'm a stubborn ****** when I get going and I don't see the need for this at the moment. 4.7 is actually the reading from January and hasn't been updated this time round and I'm hoping it will have dropped along with everything else. I'll look into it before my next appointment but I've also said that I want an u-to-date reading before I come to a decision. Feeling at the moment is that I don't want to go onto them - don't want to be taking anything if I don't have to!

 

[david1968]

David up your walking if you want better trigs.
Nothing dramatic thou. @Hiitsme has great experience of low trigs and is considering reducing her 8-10 miles daily walking.
You're doing brilliantly! So proud of you.
Well done.
Keep going with your winning formula. It's working for you.

Thanks Vicky.

I'm doing seven miles a day at the moment ... getting more in during the week will be tricky because of work but should be possible on weekends. Will see how it goes. Day one again today - next target is to get below 17 stone by the end of April and hopefully everything else will follow along. Thanks for your support.

 

[david1968]

and so you should, really good stuff.

Once you get the hang of low carb and you see the weight drops and the BG control it makes it easier to carry one. There will be times when you wonder if it is always going to be like this and you may find you are eating the same things repeatedly, as they are "safe"... but it is way better than high BG's and all that brings.
My lipids are +7 and I am in review with my GP about statins... she thinks I should and I think I don't.... my BG's are my main focus.
Good stuff David and thanks for the update.

Thanks. I'm not much of a foodie and like my routines - slowly expanding the 'safe' food list but have already dumped a few things that I thought were ok that weren't. The weight drops the real motivator - weighing myself twice a day now and am disappointed if it hasn't dropped even slightly from the previous day!

 

[david1968]

For this result we need a Gold Star or a LEGEND - well done you must be really pleased

Thanks Paula - I was floating on Cloud Nine yesterday.

 

[david1968]

@david1968 - Hi. Congratulations on reducing your HBA1C to 46 = keep doing what you are doing

Thanks @liam55. Will do!

 

[Brunneria]

Brilliant thread, brilliant progress!
Lovely to read this

Just one thing - cholesterol sometimes rises when ppl are losing weight (all that fat released from fat cells circulating to be burnt as fuel).

If that happens to you, it will almost certainly settle once the weight loss ends, so don't worry - and don't let your doc worry either.

 

[david1968]

Brilliant thread, brilliant progress!
Lovely to read this

Just one thing - cholesterol sometimes rises when ppl are losing weight (all that fat released from fat cells circulating to be burnt as fuel.

If that happens to you, it will almost certainly settle once the weight loss ends, so don't worry - and don't let your doc worry either.

Thanks. To be fair to my doctor, she doesn't seem the sort to worry and seemed perfectly happy for me to be the one to make the decision ... and I'm not one to rush into things. Keeping on losing weight and keeping the blood sugars where they should be is the focus at the moment - don't want to get distracted from that.

 

[AtkinsMo]

Good to read such progress and such a positive attitude.

If I could be permitted to give you one piece of advice, it would be to stop weighing twice a day, the scales can mess up your brain and steal your motivation! Your weight loss will eventually slow down, a 5 lb loss once a week will be just as encouraging as a 1/2 lb loss daily - and when it does slow down to a 1lb loss a week, it will still be motivating. But as you get nearer your goal weight your weight may start to fluctuate on a daily basis, with changes in water weight etc, and, try as we might, it's de-motivating.

Having said that, some people do lose in a linear fashion right down to perfect weight, so if it works for you, what do I know? The overall message must be, keep doing what you are doing, you're doing great!

 

[david1968]

Good to read such progress and such a positive attitude.

If I could be permitted to give you one piece of advice, it would be to stop weighing twice a day, the scales can mess up your brain and steal your motivation! Your weight loss will eventually slow down, a 5 lb loss once a week will be just as encouraging as a 1/2 lb loss daily - and when it does slow down to a 1lb loss a week, it will still be motivating. But as you get nearer your goal weight your weight may start to fluctuate on a daily basis, with changes in water weight etc, and, try as we might, it's de-motivating.

Having said that, some people do lose in a linear fashion right down to perfect weight, so if it works for you, what do I know? The overall message must be, keep doing what you are doing, you're doing great!

Thanks. Weighing myself twice a day is working for me at the moment ... if it creeps up over a couple of days it's a reminder to get back to what I was doing before. Think I'd find it a lot harder if say I weighed myself once a week and my weight had gone up. Might need to review things in time but for now it's working ... and if it'w working then don't fiddle with it!

 

[AtkinsMo]

You are doing great, David - if it's working, great!

 

[Jingerbird]

Hey David, Just thought I'd just congratulate you on all the hard work you have been doing and hopefully to give you a little motivation too. I used to weight over 20 stone too, don't know exactly how much since the scales only went up to 20 stone...lol.

These days, I weigh 10 stone and my goal is to lose another 1/2 stone. I still take meds for diabetes but a fraction of what I used to take. Believe me, your efforts will be rewarded. I feel stronger everyday and so will you. Be proud of your achievements and celebrate every success.

 

[david1968]

Hey David, Just thought I'd just congratulate you on all the hard work you have been doing and hopefully to give you a little motivation too. I used to weight over 20 stone too, don't know exactly how much since the scales only went up to 20 stone...lol.

These days, I weigh 10 stone and my goal is to lose another 1/2 stone. I still take meds for diabetes but a fraction of what I used to take. Believe me, your efforts will be rewarded. I feel stronger everyday and so will you. Be proud of your achievements and celebrate every success.

Thanks very much. Sounds like you've done wonders. Would love to know how you did it.