Weekender
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I’ve just completed Week 2 and thought I would add my experiences so far.
Background
I’m 59 and was diagnosed Type 2 three weeks ago. I was 101kg. My GP didn’t mention my blood glucose HbA1c levels, and they lost the second test results. I used my wife’s Contour monitor (she’s hypoglycaemic) and recorded my fasting blood sugars as 8 and 7.5 the first 2 days. I’d been drinking a lot of beer during lockdown and snack a lot in front of the telly.
The Newcastle Diet as it had been in the paper recently. I read the stories from people on this web site who had succeeded with it on this forum. I decided to buy Prof Roy Taylor’s new book, and downloaded info from the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre website
To reduce weight by the 15kg in 8 weeks (to clear fat from my pancreas and reset my insulin responses) I started the diet of 800 calories from 3 meal replacement shakes and soups (I’m using Optifast and Exante) + veg. To ‘turbo charge’ it I’m limiting my intake to between 12:00pm to 6pm and jogging and swimming in morning.
Observations
The first three days were challenging, I felt hungry and unsure if I could manage it.
After this though, my body had got used to using my fat stores for energy, and I don’t feel hungry at all hungry in the morning and can exercise. I feel peckish after I have my first meal replacement shakes and soups.
I feel quite hungry and tempted to snack an hour or so after the final 6pm shake and vegetable meal. I often also really fancy a pint of beer. Going for a walk distracts me.
Fasting Blood Sugar
The level dropped from 8-7 to normal after week 1
Blood Pressure
This has dropped in line the weight loss and is in the normal range by week 2
Ketone Strips
I bought some ketone urine testing strips and got encouragement in the first week seeing that I was in ketosis and burning fat.
Energy Levels
The reason I went to the GP was that I was very lethargic. I thought I had a thyroid problem – but it was obviously Type 2 diabetes. Within a few days of starting the diet I am 100% more energetic and my mood is great. My family are all pleased with the change.
Water
The literature states ‘drink 3 litres of water’. Converting fat to energy uses water. I found when I go for a jog around 9 am, I grind to halt without water. Once I have some, I perk up instantly. The same applies when I’m swimming.
If I feel tired or grumpy, a glass of water fixes it pretty quickly.
Sleep
I have an enlarged prostrate and am not on medication yet. The increased water consumption for fat oxidation has resulted in very disturbed sleep due to frequent trips to the loo. I will be seeing the prostate clinic to accept their offer of alpha blockers as soon as I can get an appointment.
My sleep is reduced (Fitbit data) and deep sleep has almost disappeared. I don’t know if this is an effect of the fat metabolism – I can’t find any literature on this.
Bowel
Constipation is a known and obvious effect of not eating solids. Despite eating the prescribed salad and vegetable meals, the first week ranged from rabbit pellets to diarrhea ☹ . I bought some psyllium husk capsules and week 2 is better.
Data Tracking
I used to work in project control and like with playing spreadsheets and data so have set up trackers for blood sugar, blood pressure (I have a monitor), weight (I have a smart scale) and activity (via fitbit). I enjoy my morning data collection and updating graphs - I’m happy to share the mechanics in the unlikely event any else is interested.
Weight data can fluctuates +/- several pounds for a variety of reasons, and the ‘I put on weight days’ are discouraging. Many people recommend only weighing yourself weekly for this reason. However, you will still get a potential +/- several pounds on the day – so I like to keep a running average to forecast the trend. 15kg in 8 weeks = 267g (quarter kilo) or 9.5 oz a day. I'm averaging 295g per day over 10 days - so I'm well on track.
Background
I’m 59 and was diagnosed Type 2 three weeks ago. I was 101kg. My GP didn’t mention my blood glucose HbA1c levels, and they lost the second test results. I used my wife’s Contour monitor (she’s hypoglycaemic) and recorded my fasting blood sugars as 8 and 7.5 the first 2 days. I’d been drinking a lot of beer during lockdown and snack a lot in front of the telly.
The Newcastle Diet as it had been in the paper recently. I read the stories from people on this web site who had succeeded with it on this forum. I decided to buy Prof Roy Taylor’s new book, and downloaded info from the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre website
To reduce weight by the 15kg in 8 weeks (to clear fat from my pancreas and reset my insulin responses) I started the diet of 800 calories from 3 meal replacement shakes and soups (I’m using Optifast and Exante) + veg. To ‘turbo charge’ it I’m limiting my intake to between 12:00pm to 6pm and jogging and swimming in morning.
Observations
The first three days were challenging, I felt hungry and unsure if I could manage it.
After this though, my body had got used to using my fat stores for energy, and I don’t feel hungry at all hungry in the morning and can exercise. I feel peckish after I have my first meal replacement shakes and soups.
I feel quite hungry and tempted to snack an hour or so after the final 6pm shake and vegetable meal. I often also really fancy a pint of beer. Going for a walk distracts me.
Fasting Blood Sugar
The level dropped from 8-7 to normal after week 1
Blood Pressure
This has dropped in line the weight loss and is in the normal range by week 2
Ketone Strips
I bought some ketone urine testing strips and got encouragement in the first week seeing that I was in ketosis and burning fat.
Energy Levels
The reason I went to the GP was that I was very lethargic. I thought I had a thyroid problem – but it was obviously Type 2 diabetes. Within a few days of starting the diet I am 100% more energetic and my mood is great. My family are all pleased with the change.
Water
The literature states ‘drink 3 litres of water’. Converting fat to energy uses water. I found when I go for a jog around 9 am, I grind to halt without water. Once I have some, I perk up instantly. The same applies when I’m swimming.
If I feel tired or grumpy, a glass of water fixes it pretty quickly.
Sleep
I have an enlarged prostrate and am not on medication yet. The increased water consumption for fat oxidation has resulted in very disturbed sleep due to frequent trips to the loo. I will be seeing the prostate clinic to accept their offer of alpha blockers as soon as I can get an appointment.
My sleep is reduced (Fitbit data) and deep sleep has almost disappeared. I don’t know if this is an effect of the fat metabolism – I can’t find any literature on this.
Bowel
Constipation is a known and obvious effect of not eating solids. Despite eating the prescribed salad and vegetable meals, the first week ranged from rabbit pellets to diarrhea ☹ . I bought some psyllium husk capsules and week 2 is better.
Data Tracking
I used to work in project control and like with playing spreadsheets and data so have set up trackers for blood sugar, blood pressure (I have a monitor), weight (I have a smart scale) and activity (via fitbit). I enjoy my morning data collection and updating graphs - I’m happy to share the mechanics in the unlikely event any else is interested.
Weight data can fluctuates +/- several pounds for a variety of reasons, and the ‘I put on weight days’ are discouraging. Many people recommend only weighing yourself weekly for this reason. However, you will still get a potential +/- several pounds on the day – so I like to keep a running average to forecast the trend. 15kg in 8 weeks = 267g (quarter kilo) or 9.5 oz a day. I'm averaging 295g per day over 10 days - so I'm well on track.
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