VLCD. Very low calorie diet.

[GrandmaDylan]

I was diagnosed with cirrhosis a couple of months ago, I am type 2 diabetic, have no thyroid tissue and need to lose about 3 stone in weight. I started a low carb high fat, high protein diet in January this year and lost 2 and a half stone. I have been struggling for the last couple of months and although I am not overeating I have gained about 6lb. My friend who had a bmi of 48 has been doing the Cambridge diet and has lost over 7 stone so far. Her diabetes has gone as has her high blood pressure. Apparently the nhs will prescribe a vlcd liquid diet. I have looked on various websites to see if it can be used in a patient with cirrhosis. I've read that epileptics and people with renal problems can't take them but there's nothing about patients with liver disease. I will ask my gp next time I see him, but this could be weeks as I rarely attend the surgery so I thought that I'd ask you knowledgeable forumers if you know anything about it. Thanks in advance, Deb

[LAJ123]

Good morning,

Diet is important for everyone, it is how we keep ourselves alive and in good health. So in ill health it becomes even more important, therefore it is essential to get it right.

In my own experience, as soon as I was diagnosed with cirrhosis and began to see a hepatologist, there was involvement from the dietician attached to the team. Every visit included being weighed, muscle mass assessed and further advice on diet. This continued until listing and the eventual liver transplant.

The internet isn't really the place to decide how to keep healthy in something as important and as complex as a diagnosed liver disease. There are so many different opinions out there, some appropriate, some unhelpful and then the strange and dangerous.

The British Liver Trust website has advice from reliable, properly researched and verified sources.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Ask your GP or consultant to be referred to a dietician so you can be confident that you are getting the correct advice based on your unique circumstances.

Hope this helps a little and points you in the right direction.

Jim

[RodeoJoe]

This is definitely one for your Dr. Unexpected weight gain could be down to water retention which is common with cirrhosis patients. High protein is the right thing to do, a liquid low calorie diet could really do more harm than good and actually cause weight gain.

I put on weight over a long period, cut down on food and still gained weight. It wasn't until I went on diuretics that I lost 3 stone in as many weeks because all the weight I was carrying was water.