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What are you views on a resrticted calorie diet?

D

diva19871987

Well-Known Member
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74
Location
Nottingham
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/newcastl ... -diet.html

I have just seen this article and would like to know what other diabetics think of it. I was under the impression that 600 calories would be a big no no even if you wasnt diabetic. I am very interested to know more about calorie restrictions whether it has ever been advised by you GP to do this. I weigh 9 stone and I am not overweight. I have a BMI of 20.1. Would this be dangerous for me as a type 1? Whats the lowest amount of calories you have had per day as a diabetic? Ive never heard of the extreme 600 calorie diet, is this for type 1 or 2 diabetes. I don't want to lose weight and only would like to have better control of sugar levels.

Thank you
 
Hi Diva,

Not sure about the diet as I dont know if I would follow it ( dont think I could have so little carbs, I have reduced them but tried a meal with no carbs whilst experimenting with carb counting and sugars went high! )

How are you doing with your thyroid? Hope your feeling better!

Lucy.

:)
 
Hi diva

The Newcastle diet is really for T2s who want to lose weight although I guess it would help any overweight T1s. I am just under 11 stone/5'11" and my Dr would have a fit if I lost any weight (I was stuck at 8.5 stone for years until they discovered I was coeliac) so I've been stocking up on calories :)
 
I am 5'2 and between 8 1/2 and 9 stn. Last summer I was 10st, heaviest Ive ever been. ( 1st time my weight changed as a direct result of overeating ) So I reduced my portion sizes and increased excercise gently and lost weight. Had always been underweight as a child, young adult. Had an overactive thyroid about 10 yrs ago and went down to 6stn. Had radio iodine treatment and went up to 10stn v quickly because i had then gone underactive. My ideal weight is between 8/9 stn so trying to maintain a healthy weight. I have been underweight for too long. Just dont think it would be for me. Great results for others though!!
 
I have cut my carbs over the last several months from 300g to 130g/day. I haven't lost any weight, so I must be compensating with extra calories, but not consciously. I plan to keep edging down unless anything unexpected happens.
 
I definately agree with cutting them down. I am so much better since I now know how much insulin per carb etc. Didnt have a clue before. Insulin dosage kept going up on Hospitals advice and then I was eating more carbs as scared of having a hypo. No weighing or calculating. Nightmare!!!
 
My usual diet (ie not trying to lose weight) is 1000 calories a day. If I'm trying to lose some pounds I drip to between 600 and 800. I find that anything 1000 makes me put weight on. I know that a lot of this is because it's why my body is used to etc. If I want to shift the weight I really need to cut the calories and up the exercise.

How many calories are you taking in, on average, at the minute? Try cutting 10-20% and see how you feel. If you go from say 2000 calories to just 600 calories ou will lose weight but you will probably feel awful for it. You need to fid a level that works for you - lose weight but gives you enough energy to keep going.

Em
 
The Newcastle diet is for T2 diabetic's it doesn't work for T1's unless they have a serious weight issue and an high degree of insulin resistance..

If you've got no weight issues, then why worry about calories?

All you need to concern yourself with pairing up your Carb intake with blood glucose control.. If you want to avoid carbs like the plague then read Bernstein diet solution!

I've never worked with calories, purely because I've never had a weight issue to consider, just worked with carbs, counting them to make my insulin dose adjustment... Even though my daily Carb intake is pretty low and does vary but averages out to below 100g's it's not a restricted diet... Just got a naturally small appetite so I eat all types of carbs just not a lot of them!
 
Hi Diva,
I am not sure that anyone should follow such a low carb diet, I am a member of weight watchers, and a type 2, I find that following a sensible eating plan is the best way, and I have tried quite a few, the only one successful for me, has been weight watchers, but you really need to do some experimenting to find what foods suit you best. my leader is aware of my diabetes and she does try to help my particular needs. :)
 
You really need to speak to your GP before attempting such an extreme diet.

For what it's worth, I think (based on euleev.de publications) that any extreme diet for weight loss is bound to fail. In general, things are much more complex than "less calories = weight loss".

Re everyone: You're not a doctor and you haven't met anyone here, but I'm sure you're quite right to tell every T1 and their dog to disregard medical advice and eat a low carb diet.
 
diva19871987 said:
I don't want to lose weight and only would like to have better control of sugar levels.
Click to expand...


Weight is something you'd be guaranteed to lose on such a restricted calorie diet. I remember you were saying you were waiting for a place on a DAFNE course, hopefully once you've enrolled you can ask for all the advice you want on the course and maybe see an improvement in your diabetes control thereafter.
 
mytribe said:
Hi Diva,
I am not sure that anyone should follow such a low carb diet, I am a member of weight watchers, and a type 2, I find that following a sensible eating plan is the best way, and I have tried quite a few, the only one successful for me, has been weight watchers, but you really need to do some experimenting to find what foods suit you best. my leader is aware of my diabetes and she does try to help my particular needs. :)
Click to expand...

Sorry Peeps. Can see this is a T1 thread but just want to point stuff out to mytribe then I'll butt out ...

Controlling T2 is not just about diet. Its also and most importantly about controlling blood sugar levels. The two things are distinct and separate. Carbohydrate is the primary food stuff that makes our blood sugar levels rise and can and WILL lead to all those complications we all don't like to think about if it is not controlled. If the Weight Watchers stuff is working for you and you are controlling your levels (under 8 after 2 hours) and have been getting good HbA1c results (<48mmol/mol or 7.5% in the old style) then fine.

There is no evidence that suggests that a low carb or even a very low carb diet does harm in fact research increasingly suggests that a low carb high fat diet works as well as a high carb low fat one for weight loss. In my case adopting a low carb high fat regime (note NOT diet) has reduced my HbA1c by 6% in 4 months (from 11.3% to 5.3% or 35mmol/mol), my weight by 20kg (3st) and brought my Cholesterol levels back to normal and actually INCREASED my good choloesterol. In its simplest form the key to ANY diet is the calories you eat and the sustainability of the diet. The plain fact is that a low carb high fat regime (again note NOT diet) will make controlling your blood sugars far easier and require you to take far less medication than a high carb low fat regime.

In some countries for example America, Sweden and Germany to name a few you would be TOLD to go on a low carb regime at diagnosis for entirely those reasons.

Have a read of this thread http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3763 and see how many forum members have been helped by adopting one of the many variations of low carb regimes.
 
Re everyone: You're not a doctor and you haven't met anyone here, but I'm sure you're quite right to tell every T1 and their dog to disregard medical advice and eat a low carb diet.[/quote]


I dont think anyone is actualy saying that!

I have reduced my carbs in conjunction with carb counting to help me control my BG levels. I lost weight by using portion control. I was simply eating too much.

Can I also point out that Diva is currently being treated for an overactive thyroid. ( I have had this myself, and without treatment you do actualy loose alot of weight. ) We have discussed this recently because I had been through the same thing.

Diva.....Am I correct in saying that you are concerned about the possibility of gaining weight as a result of thyroid medication and possibly in the future radio iodine treatment ?

I would also say that if she this is the case. I would speak with your Dr. Yes I did put weight on after radio iodine treatment but it was soon stablized once on the correct dose of replacement thyroxine.

Hope this helps Diva and hope you feeling better....Lucy.
 
Hi, so sorry for the very late reply. I thought I would receive an email if I had an answer! Which I didnt!! Thank you very much for your answers! Yes I was worried about weight gain because of my thyroid problems. I spoke with my GP and she told me that once the treatment for the overactive thyroid is finished they will then be able to catch it earlier when it goes underactive which will be treated with thyroxine at its early stages and shouldnt cause too much weight gain! Phew!!
 
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