"we Need To Learn From You"

Sulasailor · Sep 14, 2018

Aldebaran said:
I went to the Hospital today for an appointment in the Diabetes And Endocrinology department concerning my very low blood reading a few months ago.

I saw the nurse at first who took my weight, height, blood pressure and my waist measurement. After this, I saw a doctor who works with the Specialist. I had the surprised but complimentary remarks and facial expressions about my weight loss, (8 and a half stone), and how I'd reversed my Diabetes from the doctors and nurses. I've become accustomed to this now. We went through my history concerning the Diabetes and any other conditions that I have.

My hba1c has been 27 for a couple of years now and they prefer it to be between 30 and 40. This began to drop dramatically when I radically changed my diet. I told him that I have no symptoms of Hypoglycemia but because I'm in the Perimenopause too, the symptoms can mimic each other. I have tested my blood if I've felt dizzy, for example, and it's been okay and in the normal range for a non-diabetic. When he asked me how I'd done it, I told him that I had done it by going low carb and cutting out the sugar, etc, by 95%. He made notes and after a while he brought the Specialist to see me. He wanted to know if I'd had surgery or joined a group to lose the weight and I told him no, I'd done it on my own.

The Specialist, like the other doctors and nurses, was pleasantly surprised and said they don't see this very often. I believe that some who have done what I have, have needed help and this is what seems to perplex the medical teams because understandably losing so much weight is no easy task. He reeled off so much that my brain decided to take a mini vacation so I just took note of as much as I could. He was willing to listen to see if someone like me could help them regarding the Diabetes itself. One thing that made me smile was when he said:

"We need to learn from you".

It is so refreshing to have this said to me and have amazing doctors and nurses where we live who don't berate you or your choice of eating low carb. This one sentence meant such a lot and if, like another doctor once asked, he wants to use my case to help them, I'm more than happy to do so.

I have to have my cortisol levels checked within four days of having a mixed meal, (a carb drink), then have my bloods tested. I'm always nervous about anything to do with my health but fingers crossed this will all come back okay. I am asymptomatic because I don't appear to have any symptoms of Hypoglycemia and I haven't been diagnosed as that yet. We'll see what the tests say. I'm very grateful for the service I've received.

I have said to my husband again that I want him to come to my appointments just to see the reactions from the doctors and nurses. I'm sure some people must think I'm exaggerating but I'm not. One bonus for me is that I come out of my appointments rather smug although this isn't reciprocated by others around me. It's more a case of.."oh no..she's here again"

Doctors (GPs) receive very little training on nutrition. My story was of worsening T2 diabetes and cardiac issues with three stents. After a third bout of unstable angina, I was referred to a different Consultant who them upped my cardiac drugs rather than stent. Nutritional advice was standard NHS low fat 40% carbs at each meal. I worked out for myself that as diabetes was the root of my heart problems it had to be dealt with first. It also occurred to me that to eat high levels of carbs, which convert to glucose, was nonsensical for a diabetic. GPs I asked said the typical course for my progressive diabetes was to increase my metformin dosage, their dietary advice amounted to phrases like, ‘be careful with your diet and little more. One GP having confirmed my age said ‘just enjoy yourself ‘. Three years later having adopted a low carb diet I had lost over 30lbs and my a1c was below 40. My next visit to my GP was to stop matformin, my GP shook my hand and said ‘well done’. My DN who was dubious about my low carb diet and placed me on shorter intervals of monitoring now calls me her star patient. The worst blow was to be denied strips to measure my BS due to new health board policy. My protestations went unheeded, but a new GP with more progressive attitude whilst unable to prescribe strips did ask me to act as a low carb diet advocate for the practice and is currently educating herself on LCHF.

The message is slowly getting through but GPs need educating by whatever means. There is irrefutable evidence of the benefits of LCHF diets. I now read relevant medical study reports in subject and follow Zoe Harcomb and Ivor Cummings on YouTube. My conclusion is LCHF combats the epidemic of obesity caused by insulin resistance which is the cause of many chronic diseases not just diabetes. Other issues are that a high proportion of our population are at risk from deficiencies in vital minerals like vitamin D, K2 and magnesium. Official Dietary advice is ruled by dogma and commercial interests.

The world needs too wake up to the dietary damage being done to populations health . It has been said that Curent policy is leading to an extinction event. I won’t go into the poisoning of crops by Monsanto and the use of their product ‘Round Up’ it’s frightening, Just Google Stephanie Sereff on that issue.

KeithT 2 · Sep 14, 2018

Aldebaran said:
I went to the Hospital today for an appointment in the Diabetes And Endocrinology department concerning my very low blood reading a few months ago.

I saw the nurse at first who took my weight, height, blood pressure and my waist measurement. After this, I saw a doctor who works with the Specialist. I had the surprised but complimentary remarks and facial expressions about my weight loss, (8 and a half stone), and how I'd reversed my Diabetes from the doctors and nurses. I've become accustomed to this now. We went through my history concerning the Diabetes and any other conditions that I have.

My hba1c has been 27 for a couple of years now and they prefer it to be between 30 and 40. This began to drop dramatically when I radically changed my diet. I told him that I have no symptoms of Hypoglycemia but because I'm in the Perimenopause too, the symptoms can mimic each other. I have tested my blood if I've felt dizzy, for example, and it's been okay and in the normal range for a non-diabetic. When he asked me how I'd done it, I told him that I had done it by going low carb and cutting out the sugar, etc, by 95%. He made notes and after a while he brought the Specialist to see me. He wanted to know if I'd had surgery or joined a group to lose the weight and I told him no, I'd done it on my own.

The Specialist, like the other doctors and nurses, was pleasantly surprised and said they don't see this very often. I believe that some who have done what I have, have needed help and this is what seems to perplex the medical teams because understandably losing so much weight is no easy task. He reeled off so much that my brain decided to take a mini vacation so I just took note of as much as I could. He was willing to listen to see if someone like me could help them regarding the Diabetes itself. One thing that made me smile was when he said:

"We need to learn from you".

It is so refreshing to have this said to me and have amazing doctors and nurses where we live who don't berate you or your choice of eating low carb. This one sentence meant such a lot and if, like another doctor once asked, he wants to use my case to help them, I'm more than happy to do so.

I have to have my cortisol levels checked within four days of having a mixed meal, (a carb drink), then have my bloods tested. I'm always nervous about anything to do with my health but fingers crossed this will all come back okay. I am asymptomatic because I don't appear to have any symptoms of Hypoglycemia and I haven't been diagnosed as that yet. We'll see what the tests say. I'm very grateful for the service I've received.

I have said to my husband again that I want him to come to my appointments just to see the reactions from the doctors and nurses. I'm sure some people must think I'm exaggerating but I'm not. One bonus for me is that I come out of my appointments rather smug although this isn't reciprocated by others around me. It's more a case of.."oh no..she's here again"

This post is so encouraging and thank you for it. I too took back control of my type 2 of 16 years with this disease at the end of 2017 by lowering the amount of carbs I was eating. Since December 2017 I have brought my numbers down from double digits to prediabetes and non-diabetes levels. My last review a couple of weeks back showed that I had lost 21 lbs in weight, so down to 163.8 lbs. My HbA1c before my self imposed diet changes was 50 so it will be interesting to see what it is when I see the diabetic nurse on the 9th of October. Hopefully I can skip some medication if not all.

I have always said that people in general eat far to many carbs and sugary stuff on a daily basis: cereal and toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pizza, or pasta for the evening meal along with potatoes in all their forms, pastry, sugary drinks, etc, etc.

There is nothing wrong with carbs but they are far worse than calories for piling on the weight. I now eat carbs up until after lunch (but don't always have carbs for lunch) and then only green carbs after that with the evening meal. If you can manage your own diet it will save a fortune, but clearly, some people do need help in organising their diet changes and low carb programmes can be of great help to those who need them in doing this. What cost our health anyway? Good luck to everyone on this track. It's empowering!

Aldebaran · Sep 14, 2018

Phoenix55 said:
You have reason to be proud of your achievement, it makes my 2 stone loss look positively feeble, and then to have an HbA1c lower than a non-diabetic leaves me speechless. I view LC as a change in emphasis in diet, so rather than fill the plate with potato or other carb, protein and veg roughly in that order, it is reversed to veg, protein and if necessary carbs. Meals are certainly not bland or boring. Well done is an understatement.

Thanks Phoenix. Don't knock your own weight loss and see it as feeble. I was extremely overweight and I had no choice than to lose it but it doesn't make anyone else's achievement any the less amazing. If anything you acted sooner and didn't allow yourself to get to where I was and that is commendable. I was always slim but my love of sugar took over. I'm thrilled not to be that way anymore. I'm just cooking some chicken with a fancy marinade on it. Food can still be fun xx.

ickihun said:
My endocrologist and bariatric surgeon was impressed too but now not able to tolerate metformin it has gone haywire.
Still no added weight now but each kg loss is very very difficult. Much harder than when I was on metformin. Are you meds free now @Aldebaran?

Sorry to hear that you're now intolerant of Metformin ickihun. I hope you find a solution soon. I haven't been on any medications for Diabetes for nearly two years now but I still check my glucose level, daily again so my diary can hopefully be useful to the Specialist when I go back. Good luck.

Goonergal said:
Wow @Aldebaran congratulations on an amazing achievement. So great to have got this reaction from your medical team.

Thanks Goonergal. I was grinning from ear to ear and couldn't wait to tell you guys here how the Specialist had been. Fingers crossed it will add to the positives of low carbing and help in the future.

tayelola said:
@Aldebaran proud of your achievement. Also commend the courage of your specialist for admitting to learn from you. Another feather to the cap of Low Carb Program. Congratulations to all of you.

Thank you tayelola and that is a good way to think of what the Specialist said too because unfortunately there are still doctors who wouldn't say that. Thank goodness he did.

Debandez said:
Awesome. Awesome for what you have achieved and awesome for the medical team acknowledging they can learn from you. Sad on the other hand that after all these years it comes as a surprise to them that low carb is the right diet to recommend to diabetics. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Debandez. I should be going back in October for my mixed meal test and hopefully they'll want even more information from me then. I can give them examples of my meals or anything else they think could be useful.

Aldebaran · Sep 14, 2018

leyburnhealeyman said:
Yes you have done fantastically well, I thought I'd done quite well, until I read what you'd done. I was first diagnosed in late 2011 with BS of 9.2% and weighing a little over 16 stone. I told the nurse I first saw after diagnosis that I would get off medication, I was almost laughed at, and told, that'll be the day. Well after some false starts for personal family reasons I finally got down to 11 1/2 stone and a HbA1c of 38 ( with no medication) it has risen during the winter to 42, but my doctor says that is normal, soon will tell as my blood test is almost due again. I've been this way now for 3 or 4 years, I'm now 74, have a dog, and we walk 5/6 miles daily minimum at 3+mph on rough ground. So far I've climbed two of the three peaks of the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge. the first was very slow, and only managed one mph over the 6 miles climb and descent, but last week the second hill I did easily in less that three hours,and the temperature was much higher, similar distance and height to climb, about 1500 feet. I felt I could have done the climb twice at least in succession, the result of that is that I'm now considering adding to my fitness and going for the 3 peaks challenge, thats 3 peaks, all about 2300/2400 feet high, and a distance of 25 miles to cover, in under 12 hours, butI am only considering, I have seen what it can do to some younger than me.

My inspiration, a visit to the surgery for the retinal eye checks, the one and only time when everyone there has the same problem, T2D, and to see the state of some people is all the inspiration anyone should need! My diet has changed considerable, as little sugar as possible, so little there's none in the house, my wife makes our bread, wholemeal with seeds, all kinds, bakes a lot , all sugar in recipes replaced with Stevia, and now eat very very few potatoes, may not be strictly low carb, but it is working well enough for me, and like you more than willing to to be held up as an example. To think had I done nothing but medicate, there's every chance I'd be dead by now, or quite close. So yes well done, keep spreading the word, and you know, like me, I know, there's no going back for you, this is your life now, as this is mine.

Thanks leyburnhealeyman and congratulations on your weight loss and what you have achieved and are doing at the ripe young age of 74. Many times when someone gets older they "can't see the point of" improving their health and lives overall but you've shown it can be done. I'm worn out just reading about all the exercise you do lol but I am really impressed.

Dr Snoddy said:
Gobsmakingly awesome achievement!!!

Thank you very much Dr Snoddy.

hooha said:
HI ALDEBARAN You are so lucky, my GP was ACTIVELY obstructive and did not want me to do the Newcastle diet and the Diabetes Nurse gave me a load of old rubbish about eating lots of carbs. I fixed myself IN SPITE OF THEM and then one year later the GP admitted IF SHE had my problem she would have done what I did [ Newcastle diet, then LCHF, AND Dr Jason Fung on I.F. etc. etc ] but she could not recommend it to me because '' practice guidelines '' did not admit it....bleah wa wa wa.. So she admitted she would NOT give me ideal or correct treatment but would use it herself.
IS THIS NOT MALPRACTICE ?
Hippocrates said I shall not harm or through inaction allow harm to come to the patients...

Then I paid privately , saw a consultant - HEY ! The flippin GP would not give me a name at first, said she was afraid of being accused of getting financial '' kick backs '' -TOLD me to go and search the internet. Ha ha get lost.

I FORCED a name out of her, then asked my private consultant first off...carefully...
'' Do you follow the work of Prof Roy Taylor //?
He said NO and I was back on the rubbish swings and roundabouts of''eating lots of carbs is good for diabetics ''

After I showed him some graphs and some lab numbers and talked to him for nearly two hours -- ok I had to pay but in the end he WAS LISTENING and LEARNING from me.. but it WAS NOT EASY.
So I repeat..you are very lucky.
cheers now. hooha.

Thanks hooha. I really do feel lucky that he was listening. I think it was more of a case of him finding it hard to believe that what I've done is possible. I am willing to help in any way. I think that the seemingly hypocritical side of things is because of the code and rules the doctors have to go by. It is frustrating to hear this. We need more doctors to have the courage to step outside of the box and stand up for what is right. I couldn't do their job. They work hard for what they do and many times still have to adhere to rules that people, who are clueless to what works, set in place. Well done to you hooha.

thepolly said:
Absolutely fantastic. Lovely when medical people are interested in how you did what you did. They have your test results and numbers to back up the fact that it works really well and gets amazing results. I just have to follow your example and get back to doing well with my eating. Have been doing appallingly badly lately.

Thanks polly and yes it is amazing when medical professionals take into account what you say. This is hopefully a sign that they want answers and improvements for everyone. It took a couple of years polly for me to get my head around this but the fears I had pushed me to do something about it. If you have a bad day, don't beat yourself up..just jump back onto the healthy wagon and do what you can. Take every little achievement as a huge goal and be proud. I'm still tempted a lot today because we're bombarded with lovely tasting food that is full of rubbish but it will NOT govern me like it did ever. I like ME too much now. Good luck polly xx

ickihun · Sep 14, 2018

Aldebaran said:
Thanks Phoenix. Don't knock your own weight loss and see it as feeble. I was extremely overweight and I had no choice than to lose it but it doesn't make anyone else's achievement any the less amazing. If anything you acted sooner and didn't allow yourself to get to where I was and that is commendable. I was always slim but my love of sugar took over. I'm thrilled not to be that way anymore. I'm just cooking some chicken with a fancy marinade on it. Food can still be fun xx.

Sorry to hear that you're now intolerant of Metformin ickihun. I hope you find a solution soon. I haven't been on any medications for Diabetes for nearly two years now but I still check my glucose level, daily again so my diary can hopefully be useful to the Specialist when I go back. Good luck.

Thanks Goonergal. I was grinning from ear to ear and couldn't wait to tell you guys here how the Specialist had been. Fingers crossed it will add to the positives of low carbing and help in the future.

Thank you tayelola and that is a good way to think of what the Specialist said too because unfortunately there are still doctors who wouldn't say that. Thank goodness he did.

Thanks Debandez. I should be going back in October for my mixed meal test and hopefully they'll want even more information from me then. I can give them examples of my meals or anything else they think could be useful.

In response to my reply. That's fantastic. It must be thrilling to be meds free!

Aldebaran · Sep 14, 2018

Sulasailor said:
Doctors (GPs) receive very little training on nutrition. My story was of worsening T2 diabetes and cardiac issues with three stents. After a third bout of unstable angina, I was referred to a different Consultant who them upped my cardiac drugs rather than stent. Nutritional advice was standard NHS low fat 40% carbs at each meal. I worked out for myself that as diabetes was the root of my heart problems it had to be dealt with first. It also occurred to me that to eat high levels of carbs, which convert to glucose, was nonsensical for a diabetic. GPs I asked said the typical course for my progressive diabetes was to increase my metformin dosage, their dietary advice amounted to phrases like, ‘be careful with your diet and little more. One GP having confirmed my age said ‘just enjoy yourself ‘. Three years later having adopted a low carb diet I had lost over 30lbs and my a1c was below 40. My next visit to my GP was to stop matformin, my GP shook my hand and said ‘well done’. My DN who was dubious about my low carb diet and placed me on shorter intervals of monitoring now calls me her star patient. The worst blow was to be denied strips to measure my BS due to new health board policy. My protestations went unheeded, but a new GP with more progressive attitude whilst unable to prescribe strips did ask me to act as a low carb diet advocate for the practice and is currently educating herself on LCHF.

The message is slowly getting through but GPs need educating by whatever means. There is irrefutable evidence of the benefits of LCHF diets. I now read relevant medical study reports in subject and follow Zoe Harcomb and Ivor Cummings on YouTube. My conclusion is LCHF combats the epidemic of obesity caused by insulin resistance which is the cause of many chronic diseases not just diabetes. Other issues are that a high proportion of our population are at risk from deficiencies in vital minerals like vitamin D, K2 and magnesium. Official Dietary advice is ruled by dogma and commercial interests.

The world needs too wake up to the dietary damage being done to populations health . It has been said that Curent policy is leading to an extinction event. I won’t go into the poisoning of crops by Monsanto and the use of their product ‘Round Up’ it’s frightening, Just Google Stephanie Sereff on that issue.

When I began my Diabetes journey, I was met with similar scenarios Sulasailor as it was more of a case of eating less with no mention of removing carbs and beginning the medication. I've come to the realisation that the medical field NEED to see cases such as ours and they must listen to what we say and what we have done to get where we are. Their eyes are being opened slowly. When my checks were coming down to non-diabetic levels, I was being met with a pleasantly surprised and amazed belief. One doctor was literally speechless and he wanted to use my case for students in any future class he would hold. WE are collectively showing them that it can be done. We aren't second guessing..low carbing DOES work and that cannot be refuted and can only be recognised and accepted as the way to go forward concerning Diabetes. I have now realised that what I have done is monumental. I genuinely saw it as vital because of how my health had suffered. I am humbled by the responses from you here and the medical teams I've been involved with. This is one of the biggest achievements of my life and I am eternally thankful that I have done it. Well done Sulasailor.

KeithT 2 said:
This post is so encouraging and thank you for it. I too took back control of my type 2 of 16 years with this disease at the end of 2017 by lowering the amount of carbs I was eating. Since December 2017 I have brought my numbers down from double digits to prediabetes and non-diabetes levels. My last review a couple of weeks back showed that I had lost 21 lbs in weight, so down to 163.8 lbs. My HbA1c before my self imposed diet changes was 50 so it will be interesting to see what it is when I see the diabetic nurse on the 9th of October. Hopefully I can skip some medication if not all.

I have always said that people in general eat far to many carbs and sugary stuff on a daily basis: cereal and toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pizza, or pasta for the evening meal along with potatoes in all their forms, pastry, sugary drinks, etc, etc.

There is nothing wrong with carbs but they are far worse than calories for piling on the weight. I now eat carbs up until after lunch (but don't always have carbs for lunch) and then only green carbs after that with the evening meal. If you can manage your own diet it will save a fortune, but clearly, some people do need help in organising their diet changes and low carb programmes can be of great help to those who need them in doing this. What cost our health anyway? Good luck to everyone on this track. It's empowering!

Thanks Keith. If what I have said inspires anyone or encourages them then I've done my job. Congratulations on your own improvements and yes it would be interesting to see what your Hba1c will be now. Fingers crossed it will be a lot lower.

I miss my sugar and sweets. They were my best friends and I would indulge every night, even as late as 3.00am in the morning. It woke me up because my body craved it and I had stashes everywhere as a comfort but I knew I had no choice but to stop!

I still have a few carbs. Sometimes I'll make a wrap but it's extremely rare I touch bread anymore and if I'm out at a barbeque, for example, you'd be amazed at what I eat because that is when I have a 'blow out' session. Nothing is safe and everything is edible. But these events are very few and far between. I now stick to my Kitkat Chunkies after my main meal and that is it. Anything else I eat is without carbs, or very small amounts. And yes I do think of the expense of what it costs and I also feel proud that I have saved the NHS a lot of money by doing what I've done. It needs the help whenever we can give it. You're right Keith, it's very empowering.

Aldebaran · Sep 14, 2018

ickihun said:
In response to my reply. That's fantastic. It must be thrilling to be meds free!

It certainly is ickihun. Thank you xx

MauzaM · Sep 14, 2018

Fantastic story and very motivating . I was diagnosed 15years ago with diabetes T2, and was immediately put on Metformin and glicklizide. I was moved to insulin regime in November 2017. My specialist DN and dietitian saw me regularly or phoned me to check how my readings were in the first couple of months. The most important change to my lifestyle was the recommendation from the dietitian to control my carbs. Keep a diary of what I’m eating and how much insulin I have to inject for each meal. She also recommended the book and app Carbs and Cals. I have the book and the app on both my phone and my tablet.
I hate having to inject so I keep my carbs to a minimum most of the time. I have the flash sensor so can take regular readings which show that I am maintaining good control most of the time.
What really puzzles me is how even yet, professionals are still pushing for calorie control, for example the 1600 calories a day regime featured in the recent Balance magazine. It’s a carb feast with bread and pasta and puddings every day. Focus is on the low fat, low sugar. Following a low carb diet I eat full fat Greek yoghurt every day and moved to full fat milk for my coffee. I’m slowly losing weight at around a half kg a week, which suits me fine as at 66 my skin would end up sagging like a deflated balloon if I lose too much too fast. I can’t really do a huge amount of aerobic excercise because I’ve got arthritic knees and hips but I do enjoy the swimming pool. I recommend a low carb diet to everyone diabetic or not. It just makes sense.

leyburnhealeyman · Sep 14, 2018

Aldebaran said:
When I began my Diabetes journey, I was met with similar scenarios Sulasailor as it was more of a case of eating less with no mention of removing carbs and beginning the medication. I've come to the realisation that the medical field NEED to see cases such as ours and they must listen to what we say and what we have done to get where we are. Their eyes are being opened slowly. When my checks were coming down to non-diabetic levels, I was being met with a pleasantly surprised and amazed belief. One doctor was literally speechless and he wanted to use my case for students in any future class he would hold. WE are collectively showing them that it can be done. We aren't second guessing..low carbing DOES work and that cannot be refuted and can only be recognised and accepted as the way to go forward concerning Diabetes. I have now realised that what I have done is monumental. I genuinely saw it as vital because of how my health had suffered. I am humbled by the responses from you here and the medical teams I've been involved with. This is one of the biggest achievements of my life and I am eternally thankful that I have done it. Well done Sulasailor.

Thanks Keith. If what I have said inspires anyone or encourages them then I've done my job. Congratulations on your own improvements and yes it would be interesting to see what your Hba1c will be now. Fingers crossed it will be a lot lower.

I miss my sugar and sweets. They were my best friends and I would indulge every night, even as late as 3.00am in the morning. It woke me up because my body craved it and I had stashes everywhere as a comfort but I knew I had no choice but to stop!

I still have a few carbs. Sometimes I'll make a wrap but it's extremely rare I touch bread anymore and if I'm out at a barbeque, for example, you'd be amazed at what I eat because that is when I have a 'blow out' session. Nothing is safe and everything is edible. But these events are very few and far between. I now stick to my Kitkat Chunkies after my main meal and that is it. Anything else I eat is without carbs, or very small amounts. And yes I do think of the expense of what it costs and I also feel proud that I have saved the NHS a lot of money by doing what I've done. It needs the help whenever we can give it. You're right Keith, it's very empowering.

I may have an answer to your missing sweets, I used to have some, not many, but some. Now none at all, but, I do buy 85% dark chocolate from Aldi, melt 5 packs, thats 20 of the indivually wrapped pieces. melt it over a suace pan of heated water in a pyrex bowl, blanche 200 grams of almonds and remove the skins ( probably not essential) soak in milk, I use powdered, then roast to taste, mine are almost black, then in sn A4 or so sized ally tray mix the chocolate and almonds and cool in the fridge, after about an hour maybe more, score into 18 pieces with a sharp knife, leave in fridge until really cold and break into squares. Keep in a plastic tub in the fridge, and slowly consume, one piece every evening until gone, then start the process again. Delicious !

Aldebaran · Sep 17, 2018

MauzaM said:
Fantastic story and very motivating . I was diagnosed 15years ago with diabetes T2, and was immediately put on Metformin and glicklizide. I was moved to insulin regime in November 2017. My specialist DN and dietitian saw me regularly or phoned me to check how my readings were in the first couple of months. The most important change to my lifestyle was the recommendation from the dietitian to control my carbs. Keep a diary of what I’m eating and how much insulin I have to inject for each meal. She also recommended the book and app Carbs and Cals. I have the book and the app on both my phone and my tablet.
I hate having to inject so I keep my carbs to a minimum most of the time. I have the flash sensor so can take regular readings which show that I am maintaining good control most of the time.
What really puzzles me is how even yet, professionals are still pushing for calorie control, for example the 1600 calories a day regime featured in the recent Balance magazine. It’s a carb feast with bread and pasta and puddings every day. Focus is on the low fat, low sugar. Following a low carb diet I eat full fat Greek yoghurt every day and moved to full fat milk for my coffee. I’m slowly losing weight at around a half kg a week, which suits me fine as at 66 my skin would end up sagging like a deflated balloon if I lose too much too fast. I can’t really do a huge amount of aerobic excercise because I’ve got arthritic knees and hips but I do enjoy the swimming pool. I recommend a low carb diet to everyone diabetic or not. It just makes sense.

Thanks Mauza and well done to you too. You're choosing a sensible diet even though you're having to inject and it shows that it must be beneficial to you. I lost my weight at one or two pounds a week at first but then it gradually slows down the less you have to lose. You're doing brilliantly. Well done xx.

leyburnhealeyman said:
I may have an answer to your missing sweets, I used to have some, not many, but some. Now none at all, but, I do buy 85% dark chocolate from Aldi, melt 5 packs, thats 20 of the indivually wrapped pieces. melt it over a suace pan of heated water in a pyrex bowl, blanche 200 grams of almonds and remove the skins ( probably not essential) soak in milk, I use powdered, then roast to taste, mine are almost black, then in sn A4 or so sized ally tray mix the chocolate and almonds and cool in the fridge, after about an hour maybe more, score into 18 pieces with a sharp knife, leave in fridge until really cold and break into squares. Keep in a plastic tub in the fridge, and slowly consume, one piece every evening until gone, then start the process again. Delicious !

Thanks leyburnhealeyman, my mouth wants to water just reading this. I love chocolate and almonds and I'll bet this is even more tasty than a lot of chocolate we can buy today. Nothing beats homemade food and this is a treat that anyone could eat and enjoy

leyburnhealeyman · Sep 17, 2018

Aldebaran said:
Thanks Mauza and well done to you too. You're choosing a sensible diet even though you're having to inject and it shows that it must be beneficial to you. I lost my weight at one or two pounds a week at first but then it gradually slows down the less you have to lose. You're doing brilliantly. Well done xx.

Thanks leyburnhealeyman, my mouth wants to water just reading this. I love chocolate and almonds and I'll bet this is even more tasty than a lot of chocolate we can buy today. Nothing beats homemade food and this is a treat that anyone could eat and enjoy

Hit the nail there then didn'tI! I got the idea from what I used to have as a kid, Bourneville, dark chocolate with burnt almond, can't get it any more. So as I was reading up on T2 when first diagnosed, of course almonds and dark chocolate came up, and hey presto, put the two together, and look I've turned back the clock, in more ways than one. So if you get around to trying it, and why wouldn't you, if you run into problems, though unlikely, just shout. As an aside, my garden is on a hill, 53 steps from the front gate to the wall at the back, do this a few times during the course of the day, no problems, but Saturday I did a new walk, it was only when I hit them I found out there was a climb of 240 steps, all concrete but uneven lifts and lengths, quite a killer.

Debandez · Sep 17, 2018

Aldebaran said:
Thanks Rachox and congratulations on your own success and 6 stone weight loss is fantastic The doctor did say that they like the Hba1c, for a non-diabetic, to be in the 30 to 40 range so mine is a tad lower.

Please let us know what your GP says. It's now made me want to ask again. In all honesty, I haven't asked mine mainly because I got the impression that no one has done it before at our surgery. But surely, that can't be right? But then again, if Debandez got that reply, maybe that's right. Wow, that is a surprise.

Thank you Bluetit. I feel so proud of myself and now I'm desperate to share my achievements with others so that they know it can work. I was so impressed with the doctor and as I've said before I'm more than happy to help them and tell them anything to support the low carb, etc. I still enjoy my potatoes, etc, on special occasions and challenge anyone to eat me under the table but apart from the special occasions, (very few), I low carb. I think some people are immediately put off because of what you can't eat. I know I was but then it became part of me and there is no need to eat boring and bland meals. I have linked more than a few people to this site and pointed them towards the recipes.

As with Rachox, would you let us know what your surgery says if you ask them? I would love to know. I need to ask our surgery now to see what they say

As @Rachox said, when I asked by email I got a reply by email so I know I didn't mishear! I'm the only one apart from post bariatric pts. Well today I dropped off some info to my surgery. It included our inspirational stories booklet, 100 stone lost doc, Dr Unwins paper, details of mp tom Watson's reversal with LCHF. Our low carb recipe book and the longest covering letter in history. I addressed it to the 2 main DNs. Inside was a tick list of all the hcp's I would like them to show info to. 10 in total. I popped my email and mobile on there. Watch this space.

kitedoc · Sep 18, 2018

hooha said:
HI ALDEBARAN You are so lucky, my GP was ACTIVELY obstructive and did not want me to do the Newcastle diet and the Diabetes Nurse gave me a load of old rubbish about eating lots of carbs. I fixed myself IN SPITE OF THEM and then one year later the GP admitted IF SHE had my problem she would have done what I did [ Newcastle diet, then LCHF, AND Dr Jason Fung on I.F. etc. etc ] but she could not recommend it to me because '' practice guidelines '' did not admit it....bleah wa wa wa.. So she admitted she would NOT give me ideal or correct treatment but would use it herself.
IS THIS NOT MALPRACTICE ?
Hippocrates said I shall not harm or through inaction allow harm to come to the patients...

Then I paid privately , saw a consultant - HEY ! The flippin GP would not give me a name at first, said she was afraid of being accused of getting financial '' kick backs '' -TOLD me to go and search the internet. Ha ha get lost.

I FORCED a name out of her, then asked my private consultant first off...carefully...
'' Do you follow the work of Prof Roy Taylor //?
He said NO and I was back on the rubbish swings and roundabouts of''eating lots of carbs is good for diabetics ''

After I showed him some graphs and some lab numbers and talked to him for nearly two hours -- ok I had to pay but in the end he WAS LISTENING and LEARNING from me.. but it WAS NOT EASY.
So I repeat..you are very lucky.
cheers now. hooha.

Well Done. Perhaps the doc should have been paying you!! If docs cannot be allowed (or allow themselves) to be independent thinkers they become indentured clerks of sorts. That is in no-one's best interest except bureaucracy seeking compliance above reason.

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