Diabetic

Sometimes you wonder why you eat health to protect my heart and arteries. So 6 weeks ago cut out all bread biscuits chocolate paste, eating healthy to reduce my weight and ldl. Doctor been keeping an eye on my weight and my ldl levels. Had blood test and everything was great and in 6 weeks I lost a stone. Then on Monday my doctor called me in, weighted me, I said you weighted me 2 weeks ago, well I've put the stone back on and they did my blood again, my hba 1c was 43 and today its 49. It's like what else can I do.

[ali161]

That sounds quite frustrating. I'm not a doctor and it's a personal opinion, but I don't think that people cause illness by having a bit of extra weight or eating sugar etc. But I guess losing weight and watching diet is one of the ways that can help ease symptoms once a condition has set in. It seems that you managed to do quite a lot on the previous weeks so I would take that as a success. Gaining weight just means you are human. Do what you can to stay as healthy as possible, but also be kind to yourself. Maybe smaller/less radical dietary changes could help and could be sustainable? Best of luck!

[Hidden in reply to ali161]

Smaller portions I have 400g of home made stew, so how much more would I need to reduce to. I only changed my diet more because I have FH and I want to reduce my ldl.

[ali161 in reply to Hidden]

To be honest, and that's a personal opinion on what I would do, without knowing enough about your condition or you, I wouldn't cut my portion size and I wouldn't let myself go hungry.

Is it possible to substitute some foods with others? What are your favourite foods, and what are the foods that do not help with your condition?

Again, I think there's only so much someone can do in terms of food. Being malnourished does not help (and one can be malnourished even if they carry extra weight). Don't think that you are failing in any way, I'm sure you are doing your best and I think it's not an easy situation to be in (I have highish blood pressure even though I don't eat much salt so I can undestand you in this way). Are your drs any helpful? Can they recommend a dietician that will suggest nutritious and filling foods that can ease your symptoms at the same time?

[84green]

Hi. I don’t know your history so forgive me if I am telling you what you know or something that isn’t strictly relevant to you. I am a Type 2 diabetic and currently on a strict diet to lose weight and reduce by blood sugar levels before my next HaB1c test in May (last one in Feb was 56).

The diagnostic levels are 42mmol/mol for prediabetes and 48 for diabetes, so you are borderline and you have shown that you can lose weight and reduce your levels yourself. So well done! Try and see the latest results as a setback in a long term battle that you will win.

I have lost a lot of weight quickly partly because of my restricted calorie intake and partly because I was (and still am) very overweight. Whilst obesity is a primary factor in Type 2, it’s not always the case. Relatively slim people can get it as well.

What I do believe is that to achieve lower blood sugar levels you have to be relentless and ruthless about the amount of carbs you eat. Individual tolerance varies but the right level for you might be 150g per day, or 50g. If you find that level, then your BS levels will reduce I’m sure. My daily fasting blood glucose levels have gone from between 8 and 9 in January to 5 and 6 now.

You may find it helpful to invest in a testing kit if you don’t have one already. This will enable you to test your FBG every day as well as your body’s reaction to what you eat. You will soon identify what foods you can tolerate and which you need to be aware of. It may also be helpful to weigh yourself every few days to keep on eye on things.

Different people recommend different diets to combat diabetes (eg keto) but they all have low carb intake in common. Personally, for people with heart/ artery issues I think a low carb Mediterranean diet seems sensible.

Also, remember that stress can itself raise blood sugar without eating anything.

Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to 84green]

Up until monday my pre diabetic has been 38 to 41 for 35 years, from 16 I stopped having salt, I am lactose intolerant. I have familiar hypercholesterolamia, if you have not heard of this, it means I have a enzyme missing, I also have b12 deficiency and have had injections every 8 weeks, have suffered all my life. I have had to watch what my diet. I don't eat processed foods, have always made my own meals. The doctor has tried 4 different statins and I've reacted to them. So I had to control my cholesterol. But since the stents where fitted everything ie my levels have been change since all the medience, they have me on.

So trying to help my FH I cut fat intake to 15g a day and calories to 600 a day, with the help and support of my doctor. Even they can't figure out what's going on.

Feeling sorry for myself, after staying off fast food for over 20 years and I don't drink was it worth it.