Hi, I was diagnosed with type 2 in 2017 and am new to the forum. So far I have managed (sometimes better than others) my blood sugars through diet and exercise. I'm struggling a bit at the moment with motivation and my last HBA1c was 63 which is the highest since diagnosis (I started at 103). It is usually around the 50 mark. I'm also struggling but also with finding information that relates to my situation. My BMI is low (around 20 but sometimes lower) and always has been and the drs aren't even sure why I developed diabetes. It was after having a child but no gestational diabetes present. Whenever I look for information or support it is either for people who are on medication or about weight loss and while I understand that there are a lot of people out there who that is relevant for, it isn't for me and this can get me quite down if I'm honest. I feel a bit alone in this and as I'm not on medication I don't get much support from the drs either, just 6 monthly blood test. They have been great but I just don't get any specialist input so not sure where to go next. Any advice, signposting, stories would be most appreciated. It's more to get ideas and motivation to ge me back on track or even below that 48 mark!!
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Type 2, diet and exercise only low BMI
- Thread starter foz556
- Start Date
- Messages
- 11,582
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Foz, I am T2, disgnosed at an HbA1c or 73 in 2013, and in remission since 2014. I am fortunate that I haven't had too many issues sticking to a protein focused diet, with veg, salads and a modest amount of fruit. I have never taken any medication for diabetes.
When diagnosed, I don't know what my BMI was because I hadn't weighed myself for a long time, and wasn't weighed by the GP, but I now run between 18 and 20, so I'm trim.
One things I will shout it that you don't have to be carrying excess weight to develop T2 and some folks can run extremely overweight yet not develop diabetes. Stereotypes are really not useful and indeed can be extremely harmful when applied - especially by health care professionals.
What are the specific challenges you feel you have?
I am unmedicated and have a very low bmi (18). I have pancreatic issues and my damaged pancreas is the cause of my diabetes. I, and this is not advice, eat a carnivore diet (or very close to it) with zero to five carbs a day to keep my blood sugars as low as possible. I also exercise daily….i lift weights, do yoga, and walk at least 10,000 steps a day. To maintain weight I eat fat and protein heavy meals and never, ever count calories.
That’s what I do. Is it right ….who knows, but it works for me. You must do what works for you. Wear a CGM if you can so you know how your body reacts to food.
That’s what I do. Is it right ….who knows, but it works for me. You must do what works for you. Wear a CGM if you can so you know how your body reacts to food.
MrsA2
Expert
- Messages
- 6,932
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi there @foz556 As already mentioned lean people can develop fat around their livers, and other organs, high insulin resistance and other metabolic issues - TOFI - are just as relevant for some lean individuals as people who are overweight. So whilst some people look slim on the outside, internally they are 'obese', meaning they have fat around their organs, which includes the muscles. BMI doesn't necessarily represent what is going on in the inside of the body. A pancreas that either cannot produce enough insulin to compensate for insulin resistance, or a pancreas that simply doesn't produce enough insulin because it's been damaged or there are other issues such as autoimmune. By far the biggest reason is insulin resistance and an inability of the pancreas to overcome the resistance, which is classic T2.
I'm also a lean , fit diabetic. I have a BMI of 19, I do around 25,000 steps a day. I do weights too. I'm not on a very low carbohydrate diet as I struggle to keep my weight on , plus I'm having issues with fat absorption. I maintain a Mediterranean diet, predominantly, Middle Eastern. I struggle to keep my blood sugars in range, given my lifestyle. I have no diabetes in my family, other than my brother who is T1. I have low normal C-Peptides, which means I'm not over producing insulin. My liver stats are great.
The important thing to know is you are not alone. There are a number of members who are slim and fit who struggle with impaired glucose intolerance and diabetes. Cutting down carbohydrates or going on a very low carbohydrate diet has worked for many.
I have attached a link for you, if you are interested. It covers in greater depth what has already been said, it's an interesting read. There are some very dense bits, but you will get the gist.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ed spelling
I'm also a lean , fit diabetic. I have a BMI of 19, I do around 25,000 steps a day. I do weights too. I'm not on a very low carbohydrate diet as I struggle to keep my weight on , plus I'm having issues with fat absorption. I maintain a Mediterranean diet, predominantly, Middle Eastern. I struggle to keep my blood sugars in range, given my lifestyle. I have no diabetes in my family, other than my brother who is T1. I have low normal C-Peptides, which means I'm not over producing insulin. My liver stats are great.
The important thing to know is you are not alone. There are a number of members who are slim and fit who struggle with impaired glucose intolerance and diabetes. Cutting down carbohydrates or going on a very low carbohydrate diet has worked for many.
I have attached a link for you, if you are interested. It covers in greater depth what has already been said, it's an interesting read. There are some very dense bits, but you will get the gist.
Lean diabetes mellitus: An emerging entity in the era of obesity - PMC
Much has been published on the characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with the epidemic of obesity. But relatively little is known about the incidence of lean diabetes, progression of disease and fate of the patients with ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ed spelling
Thank you for the link on lean diabetics, which I read through and found interesting, even though it doesn't seem to apply to me. I am female, not male. I was not malnourished as a child. As a young woman, I was very thin, with a 55 cm waist (22 inches) and not at all muscular apart from my legs moderately (yay, biking, mountain hiking, skiing). As an older woman, I became clearly apple-shaped and a lot of that presumably visceral fat. Now, with Type 2 diabetes - I did gain some weight with it, but never obese - my problem is my weight drops off everywhere except my waist. It's not clear what I should do. I don't think the propensity to acquire or lose visceral fat is evenly distributed. All I read is it will diminish together with subcutaneous fat in weight loss, but that is not the case for me, and really, as I am not overweight, I don't want to lose more. I am now chicken-legged enough. But glad to know I am not the only thin diabetic. (BMI c. 22)
@Rosie9876 It's frustrating isn't it. No matter what you read nothing seems to apply. I feel I'm eating to simply maintain my weight. If I reduce my carb intake I start losing weight. The annoying part is my blood sugars don't go down, but my weight does. It's not like I need to lose any weight. In point of fact I could do with gaining weight. I posted that paper because it does apply to some lean diabetics, but like you, it doesn't apply to me either.
