Man who reversed his Type 2 diabetes in 11 days

[Carina1962]

Many of you may have recently read the article relating to the man who reversed his diabetes in 11 days by sticking to 600 calories. The more i am reading about these stories, the more i feel encouraged. I have noticed though that most people that have reversed their diabetes have lost an enormous amount of weight (ie ususally 5 or 6 stones). I have lost a stone but have a very long way to go as i need to lose about 5 stones but am wondering whether to take it nice and steady and hopefully watch my BS levels decrease or just go full pelt and either do 2 days Fasting Diet each week to speed up the weight loss - what do others think?

 

[pav]

I think its best to loose the weight slow and steady. If you virtually starve yourself fair enough you will loose weight rapidly, but what happens when you start to eat normally again, the weight just comes back on.

 

[PhilT]

I think these articles are misleading, because once you become diabetic you will be for the rest of your life except in the case of gestational diabetes or unless a cure is discovered.

These diets may get your BG's to within the tolerance levels of a non-diabetic but they are NOT a cure. It seems to me they are just an extreme way of achieving a tighter control of your BG's.

 

[HOBIE]

Wild horses coudnt stop me from giving it a go ! Go on try it & good luck 🙂

 

[Caroline]

From all the weight loss programmes I have seen the one thing they do say is if you fast when you stop fasting the body puts the weight back on and then a bit more in reserve for when you fast again. It is better to loose the weight in a slower steadier fashion.

 

[happydog]

I would go for slow and steady. Extreme dieting is not the answer IMHO. It seems that a change in lifestyle avoiding sugary foods, cutting down on carbohydrates and eating smaller portions may be it and it is sustainable. I have also found that a 10 minute brisk walk after a meal has helped me. I am not sure that a person would be healthy on only 600 calories per day and I don't think that they could live on it permanently. If you have lost a stone already you are on the right track, well done. 🙂

 

[yorksman]

I have lost a stone but have a very long way to go as i need to lose about 5 stones but am wondering whether to take it nice and steady and hopefully watch my BS levels decrease or just go full pelt and either do 2 days Fasting Diet each week to speed up the weight loss - what do others think?

Roy Taylor, Professor of Medicine and Metabolism at Newcastle University states:

Any pattern of eating which brings about substantial weight loss over a period of time will be effective. Different approaches suit different individual s best.

The essential point is that substantial weight loss must be achieved. The time course of weight loss is much less important.

It is also very important to emphasise that sustainability of weight loss is the most important thing to ensure that diabetes stays away after the initial weight loss. Previous research has shown that steady weight loss over a 5 – 6 month period is more likely to be successful in keeping weight down in the long term. For this reason, I would not recommend a very low calorie diet initially for most people with type 2 diabetes.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/Diabetes-Reversaloftype2study_000.pdf

The severe calorie restriction used in Newcastle's Counterpoint Study is not necessary. Taylor explains:

"The particular diet used in the study was designed to mimic the sudden reduction of calorie intake
that occurs after gastric bypass surgery. By using such a vigorous approach, we were testing whether we could reverse diabetes in a similar short time period to that observed after surgery."

 

[LeeLee]

Roy Taylor, Professor of Medicine and Metabolism at Newcastle University states:

Any pattern of eating which brings about substantial weight loss over a period of time will be effective. Different approaches suit different individual s best.

The essential point is that substantial weight loss must be achieved. The time course of weight loss is much less important.

It is also very important to emphasise that sustainability of weight loss is the most important thing to ensure that diabetes stays away after the initial weight loss. Previous research has shown that steady weight loss over a 5 – 6 month period is more likely to be successful in keeping weight down in the long term. For this reason, I would not recommend a very low calorie diet initially for most people with type 2 diabetes.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/Diabetes-Reversaloftype2study_000.pdf

The severe calorie restriction used in Newcastle's Counterpoint Study is not necessary. Taylor explains:

"The particular diet used in the study was designed to mimic the sudden reduction of calorie intake
that occurs after gastric bypass surgery. By using such a vigorous approach, we were testing whether we could reverse diabetes in a similar short time period to that observed after surgery."

This would tally with my own experience. After the first 6 months of SW, metformin and cycling I'd lost 4 stone and my HbA1c went down to 5.9. My diet is sustainable (apart from the odd moments of madness that keep me sane). I intend to keep it up for the rest of my days. Much as I'd like to never have to think about my weight ever again, that's not how I'm built. I can live with it, or let it kill me slowly. Ho hum.