Oldvatr
Expert
- Messages
- 8,453
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
I would add to this that unless the fat is increased, then LC diets can scavenge muscle tissue to create that glucose that the brain cells and nerves demand. So it is not just diet protein that feeds the beast. The beast can be cannibal and carnivore on itself. This was a lesson I learnt when researching LCHF and it took me a while to make the switch since it is contrary to traditional nutrition mores (but our ancesors ubderstood it well enough. Pig roast, Sunday roast, sausages, bread and dripping were all on the menu when I was growing up).
I must admit I am now confused. Your bgl levels are better than many here, and your weight does not seem to be anything to be ashamed about. I my case I did get brief 'remission; but chose to add back some medication to give me freedom to breathe and not be tied to a strict regime. I eat many forbidden fruits now and maintain bgl in the prediabetes range. A small amout of medication lessens the stress. But I still get reminders that I remain carb intolerant (my bgl on pancake day rose to 11 mmol/l, but my bgl after a pecan slice from M&S had very little effect. I look at both of these transgressions as relatively low risk, compared to where I was 8 years ago when my readings were off the scales (I thought my meter was just being friendly when it said HI lol)
What surprised me was that when I was in hospital waiting for my bypass op, I was on Eatwell hospital fare for about a month. Because of my condition they took all my diabetic sweeties away from me, so I was having to cope on my own. I expected to spiral into the darkness without a wing and a prayer, but this was the occaasion when the docs pronounced me in remission, I maintained good control by NHS standards even though I was seeing levels that I had not seen for so long. But I was dropping overnight from a level of say 18 post digestive bics and cocoa nightcap down to my fasting 5.4 in the morning sans meds. This showed me quite graphically that I was producing insulin and was also able to use it without prompting. This was my Eureka moment, and proved to me unequivocally that LCHF had done what was claimed for it by my n=1 sample.
Needless to say it did not last and another month of hospital food set me back to needing medication again.
The problem with our bodies and diets is that after a while the body adjusts the metabolism to accommodate the new conditions. But the thermostat remains at the old setting, so it will tend to use liver dumps to maintain that level. Over time it can adjust the setting especially if you lose weight since that reduces the insulin requirement (the two are indeed linked as recent studies on c-peptide have demonstrated) but that is not a quick response. But your frustration shared with many here seems to be that your weight has plateaued and stopped short of what would bring your bgl into line. I think it is Jason Fung who floats the idea of Intermittent Fasting. Apparently if you fast to a repeating schedule the body gets used to it and it stops being effective, so the intermittent part is to surprise it . Maybe a different strategy is required to kick start things off again?
