What should be the diet of diabetic type 2 with CHD and HTN?

[patliputra]

Bp and bs under control with medication and insulin.How to reduce insulin and other medications.

[Bumley]

I am both Diabetic type 2 on insulin and have had a heart attack followed by a triple by pass and have minor heart failure. Sorry I don't know what HTN is (I haven't got it anyway). I do have High blood pressure but it is now under control with drugs.

I have been a type 2 diabetic for 20 years and on insulin for the last 16 years. I try to keep to a high fibre low carb and reduced fat diet. I eat a salad every day, porridge or Bran flakes for breakfast. I do not eat a great deal of red meat and tend to eat more fish than chicken and rice rather than potatoes. I do not eat a great deal of processed food and have given up on low fat milk ,cheese etc. (now have full fat). My cholesterol is good with levels around 4.5

In the last 5 years my HBAC1 have been erratic and my Insulin dose level were getting higher. I have been referred by my enlightened new GP to a specialist Diabetic clinic and last year I was given Metformin as well as my normal insulin but, unfortunately this did not help that much. I was able to reduce my insulin level by 10 units twice a day

I have now (since June this year) been put on Exanatide in addition to Metformin and insulin and it has made a world of difference. I have reduced my Long term insulin by half to 30 units twice daily, still taking Novarapid insulin before meals decreased slightly and Metformin reduced by half. My blood sugars are for the most part pretty well on the button and the other bonus of Exanatide is that it gives you an almost constant full feeling and so you reduce your portions accordingly. I have lost 18 lbs (sorry, only do old money) since starting, but still keeping to the same diet regime.

Regards

David

[patliputra in reply to Bumley]

Thanks for reply.HTN is hypertension or high blood pressure.exanatide is very expensive and still some doubts exists about its safety.

If same results can be obtained with reduction of carbohydrate and increasing fat intake,would it not be great.

[Bumley]

I get Exanatide on prescription and since I am over 60 I get it free (I also qualify for free prescriptions because I am on insulin and Thyroxine). It is due to the feeling of fullness given by Exanatide that I have cut down on carbs particularly and this has additional benefits in reducing my insulin requirements.

Losing weight has, I am convinced, helped to reduce my Blood pressure but calcium channel blockers and water tablets have helped. Since I have had a heart attack and bypass I feel that the drugs I now take are essential and have been more effective than diets (of which I have participated in many).

As far as fat Intake is concerned I have found that Low fat milk, cheese etc., do not help with weight reduction or cholesterol levels. In fact, since low fat foods contain more sugar (deliberately done to compensate for the reduction of taste) it is more of a problem for me as a diabetic.

Most medical people have told me that being hypothyroid and taking insulin are a sure fire way of increasing weight or at the very least causes difficulties in losing it.

regards

David

[patliputra]

You are doing fine and are very satisfied,so nothing to worry.Can you share your diet? By the way I meant high fat and not low fat.