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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum, there is lots of information to help you but if you would like to share a bit about your diagnosis then people can point you in the right direction as that may vary depending on your situation, like what your HbA1C is and if you have been prescribed any medication.
saffron15
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
@hefty welcome to the forum. Given your username age and hba1c heading for remission would be a good idea. If you don't want to go for the shakes, low carb seems to work for many. Go to the NHS site to check your bmi and get info about waist to height ratio. I was surprised quite how high the carbs are in some food. Some people swear by keto but I didn't want to try that. There is an nhs site based in the New Forest which has impressive links to useful websites and information. I have posted it here but just Google. The diabetes UK site is good and the learning zone.
mashedupmatt
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Quite a few people have had success with a period of time on a shakes and soup regime for a few weeks to give a kick start but opting for a low carb approach may be a more sustainable approach which would help with weight loss and reducing blood glucose. I started off at 50mmol/mol and by following the principals in this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ reduced my HbA1C to 42 in 3 months and to below 40 in another 6 where it has remained for nearly 4 years by regarding the changes as my new normal way of eating.
You will see there is still plenty you can eat and have tasty filling meals. /
nonethewiser
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Weight loss is a treat tool in turning things around, my wife was told she was prediabetic then went on to lose 5 stone, since this time her bloods have been in normal range, last two being 34 & 36.
Hi @hefty and welcome to the forum!
As some folk have mentioned, remission doesn't have to be extreme as you say, though it does require some changes. Some have gone on the mentioned 'shakes and soup', however others have found that making changes in their go-to foods, looking at carbs, their exercise etc, has helped them in lowering their levels and then maintaining them in that 'healthy range'. Is there anything in particular that you find most challenging when you've read about remission?
As some folk have mentioned, remission doesn't have to be extreme as you say, though it does require some changes. Some have gone on the mentioned 'shakes and soup', however others have found that making changes in their go-to foods, looking at carbs, their exercise etc, has helped them in lowering their levels and then maintaining them in that 'healthy range'. Is there anything in particular that you find most challenging when you've read about remission?
Hi Ieva DUK
I guess a few things run through my head one is if i lose weight (easier said than done) and lower carbs then can i carry on and not worry about diabetes again or is there still risks i need to continue managing. if im honest i dont have a great deal of time to prepare meals/food i am aware i need to make changes in my lifestyle. i live on my own and have tried to manage my weight all my life obviously unsucessfully. changes have to be made i realise that i just feel overwhelmed at the thought of them and the reality of things, sorry this is getting dark and not helpful.
I guess a few things run through my head one is if i lose weight (easier said than done) and lower carbs then can i carry on and not worry about diabetes again or is there still risks i need to continue managing. if im honest i dont have a great deal of time to prepare meals/food i am aware i need to make changes in my lifestyle. i live on my own and have tried to manage my weight all my life obviously unsucessfully. changes have to be made i realise that i just feel overwhelmed at the thought of them and the reality of things, sorry this is getting dark and not helpful.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Once you have been diagnosed and maybe achieved remission then no you can't just forget about it which is why adopting a dietary regime which you enjoy and will be sustainable so it becomes a new way of eating for life.
If you don't have much time for cooking then batch cooking and freezing portions for easy home made ready meals. Cooked meats, cheese, tinned fish with salads make good low carb meals. Omelettes or eggs in any form are quick and easy.
Hi hefty, welcome to the forum!
I was diagnosed in the summer and 100% agree, there's masses of information and it felt overwhelming. The forums here and the general information on this site have been a huge help.
Working out foods that work for you enjoy and which work for your blood sugar level is important. I went nuts after my first diagnosis and dropped so much but it needs to be sustainable and unfortunately you need to be prepared that you'll need to keep it up even in remission as it's not a cure just a ceasing of symptoms. Some of the things I still like - ryvita crackerbread for me is fine and less carbs than bread so I can add a few extra carbs somewhere else, usually a bit more fruit. You do get used to the diet and for me other than eating out I don't really notice it any more and have a number of regular things I prepare. Look into batch cooking, especially if you're on your own. I've done plenty that goes in the freezer then just defrosts in the fridge the night before and takes 5 minutes to heat up in the evening.
I was diagnosed in the summer and 100% agree, there's masses of information and it felt overwhelming. The forums here and the general information on this site have been a huge help.
Working out foods that work for you enjoy and which work for your blood sugar level is important. I went nuts after my first diagnosis and dropped so much but it needs to be sustainable and unfortunately you need to be prepared that you'll need to keep it up even in remission as it's not a cure just a ceasing of symptoms. Some of the things I still like - ryvita crackerbread for me is fine and less carbs than bread so I can add a few extra carbs somewhere else, usually a bit more fruit. You do get used to the diet and for me other than eating out I don't really notice it any more and have a number of regular things I prepare. Look into batch cooking, especially if you're on your own. I've done plenty that goes in the freezer then just defrosts in the fridge the night before and takes 5 minutes to heat up in the evening.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I have found that sticking to a low carb diet means that my health improved and my weight decreased - and I don't find it at all difficult to go on the same way year after year.
I had people advising me to make the wrong sort of changes for decades, so now I either ignore them or set them straight on a few facts.
NearlyWellBeing
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
pjgtech
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome, all good advice above.
Check out the learning zone on here and the lowcarbfreshwell site and the sugarfreelondoner website for good food /recipes.
I also use the "carbs and cals" book (written in conjunction with Diabetes UK) as it shows actual portion sizes next to the info, so is a great visual aid.
Its never too late, and no change is too small.
Even losing a little bit of weight, or changing your food regime just a little bit, or doing a small amount of any sort of exercise, can still help.
Keep us updated on progress.
Diabetes is unfortunately for life, even when in remission, so will still need to keep an eye on things.
Thats why its important to make changes that are sustainable.
Cheers
Check out the learning zone on here and the lowcarbfreshwell site and the sugarfreelondoner website for good food /recipes.
I also use the "carbs and cals" book (written in conjunction with Diabetes UK) as it shows actual portion sizes next to the info, so is a great visual aid.
Its never too late, and no change is too small.
Even losing a little bit of weight, or changing your food regime just a little bit, or doing a small amount of any sort of exercise, can still help.
Keep us updated on progress.
Diabetes is unfortunately for life, even when in remission, so will still need to keep an eye on things.
Thats why its important to make changes that are sustainable.
Cheers
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It is very doable. I did the on -line DESMOND course but having already embarked on a low carb regime following the principals in the Freshwell program https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ I found many of the food suggestions were too high in carbs because it was following the standard NHS advice.
There was also a forum which concerned me as it wasn't moderated and people would be making comments that indicated they had actually got the wrong end of the stick or were asking things that they should have been seeking medical attention for asap but they were not getting timely feedback. I either got excommunicated or membership just ended after a certain length of time.
I hope you will find it useful.