Hi from a Type 2 Newbie

[al52bal]

Morning everyone, I say Newbie but I was diagnosed in November last year and have been reading the forum regularly and it has been a great source of support and information for me so thank you.

In way of some background on me my HBa1C reading in November was 70, I am 6 foot 5 and at the time was just over 16 stone (16 st 2lbs). I agreed to take part in the TDR/road to remission plan in an attempt to put it into remission. I lasted just under 6 weeks and lost over 15% of my starting body weight but on GP advice have stepped back and now managing my type 2 personally.

I suppose there's a couple of aims to my post, the first being I'm more than happy to share with anyone my experience of the total diet replacement/road to remission but also to say thanks - the forum has been a great support in the early days where things were (and sometimes continue to be) a little scary.

Thanks again

Pete

 

[Leadinglights]

Morning everyone, I say Newbie but I was diagnosed in November last year and have been reading the forum regularly and it has been a great source of support and information for me so thank you.

In way of some background on me my HBa1C reading in November was 70, I am 6 foot 5 and at the time was just over 16 stone (16 st 2lbs). I agreed to take part in the TDR/road to remission plan in an attempt to put it into remission. I lasted just under 6 weeks and lost over 15% of my starting body weight but on GP advice have stepped back and now managing my type 2 personally.

I suppose there's a couple of aims to my post, the first being I'm more than happy to share with anyone my experience of the total diet replacement/road to remission but also to say thanks - the forum has been a great support in the early days where things were (and sometimes continue to be) a little scary.

Thanks again

Pete

Hopefully that approach will have had a positive effect in reducing your HbA1C and you can enter the realm of lifelong dietary changes which will keep you on track but with a more enjoyable way of eating. If you haven't seen it this link may help with just that as it is a way that can become the new normal and be sustainable. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[silver minion]

Hi Pete @al52bal and welcome to the forum. Glad to hear that you have found it supportive and informative especially during the early days following diagnosis.
Well done on your weight loss. How are getting on now you are following a less restrictive regime? You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. There are a lot of links to good recipes and a thread where members post their own ideas.

 

[al52bal]

Thanks everyone, the sudden weight loss has had quite an impact on me and thankfully the GP supported me looking at a new approach.

I'm finding 'eating' again at times a little daunting/nervous as I'm constantly concerned about putting weight back on or spiking glucose levels but overall I'm in a good place.

Thanks for the links - will have a good look through them

 

[JITR]

I'm finding 'eating' again at times a little daunting/nervous as I'm constantly concerned about putting weight back on.

I was too. In the end I carried on eating mainly protein and vegetables with some extra seeds, nuts and olive oil pus berries with yoghurt/cream.

Things I found useful:
- What should we eat? https://www.zoeharcombe.com/2021/08/what-should-we-eat/ [section on weight loss/maintenance]
- https://www.lowcarbfreshwell.com/documents/8/Freshwell_Red_Amber_Green.pdf [meal planner, food lists]
- Cronometer [app to track nutrient intake]
- Exercise [floor exercises, walking: rebuild fitness, muscle mass]

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations for ‘delurking’ @al52bal

Did you see an improvement in your BG levels with the weight loss? Are you checking your BG levels with a meter at home?

 

[al52bal]

Hi everyone.

Quite a week this week. I've been to see the diabetic nurse at my GP and my HBa1C is down to 39 from 70....

I couldn't believe it when I got the results and I know this is the start of the journey.

Hand on heart the Nurse I saw (well we as my wife came along) has given me and my clan some much needed confidence and the feeling of control.

Dietician on Wednesday.

 

[JITR]

Well done @al52bal.

About 15 years ago Prof Roy Taylor and his team at Newcastle University found most T2Ds (recently diagnosed) could get their HbA1c down to normal below 42 by losing 15 kg or more.

You are a copybook example. Keep your weight down, do as much exercise as you reasonably can, anthem with luck you will be good to go for good.

 

[al52bal]

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations for ‘delurking’ @al52bal

Did you see an improvement in your BG levels with the weight loss? Are you checking your BG levels with a meter at home?

That's a really interesting question. I was checking my BG levels at home daily (probably more often) however the nurse has asked me to stop.

 

[harbottle]

Thanks everyone, the sudden weight loss has had quite an impact on me and thankfully the GP supported me looking at a new approach.

I'm finding 'eating' again at times a little daunting/nervous as I'm constantly concerned about putting weight back on or spiking glucose levels but overall I'm in a good place.

Thanks for the links - will have a good look through them

Weight gain may not be 'bad'. I lost a lot of weight upon diagnosis and lost all my belly fat and dropped quite a few sizes in clothes. I haven't changed my diet much but weight has gone up - with no change to my body figure or clothes sizes. When I dropped a lot of weight I looked quite ill, and people used to ask me if I was ill. (When I showed one of the nurses a photograph of myself after initial weight loss, she said she would have been worried I had something going on!)

I put the gain down to so-called 'functional weight gain' and do not worry about it.

It can be a sign of an improved metabolism (Fats being processed better and getting distributed properly around the body, muscle mass growing, glycogen stores being filled due to improved insulin sensitivity) My 'gym mad' son did say a while back that I looked a lot more muscular than a few years ago, especially in my arms.

I still have no arse, though. It's like sitting on bones.

 

[Leadinglights]

That's a really interesting question. I was checking my BG levels at home daily (probably more often) however the nurse has asked me to stop.

Many people ignore that as it gives them control over managing their condition and testing strategically will keep them on track for maintaining the good achievement.
It gives you the confidence that what you are doing is keeping you where you are as it is easy for things to drift in the wrong direction. A bit like exceeding the speed limit if you don't check your speedometer.

 

[JimG]

That's a really interesting question. I was checking my BG levels at home daily (probably more often) however the nurse has asked me to stop.

It sounds as if you are doing all the right things and moving in the right direction. As far as testing goes my experience is that, after a few months following my diagnosis, the GP suggested that I should stop testing three times a day. I agreed with the GP and now I only test if I need to see if I need to take action or change something. Testing for the sake of testing just causes worry. Now, I rarely test my blood but make sure that I have the annual check up and HbA1C I have reached a place where I feel comfortable in bloods, weight and health. A few months ago I had a bit of a jolt with some high blood readings before a couple of cataract operations. I then tested regularly to see what may have caused the highs but the levels seemed normal. I did post a question about whether the high readings were high enough to cause insulin to be prescribed and received some reassurance from the answers from the Forum members. Fortunately, when I saw the nurse with the results of my daily tests and had an HbA1C we put the high readings down to stress.