The Fast Fix: Diabetes - ITV, 13th/14th June 2018

[SB2015]

😡 I wish they'd get the title correct. This diet will not fix my type of diabetes. I don't want people at work or anywhere coming up and saying ooh I saw this programme and you can fix it by doing this. 😡

But you know that they will. I regularly get advice on how to cure my diabetes.
Not from close friends. I have to remind myself to smile and remember that they do mean well.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Whatever worked for you traveller was good for you. I have been trying to do the “do not eat c&£p” diet.i have lost just over 5 stone since before diagnosis in Nov 2015 and weight now stable, but not to lose any more. Trying hard to get BG down but reliant on 3 type of meds, but look at beige food or sugar and do spike. What I am doing is mainly working but that compliance thing is sometimes a trial. Get bloods done in August to see if I have sustained my compliance, but maybe need injectables. If so, it is so

Yes, that's why I chose the rapid weight loss, based on press about its effects on BG, as well as the weight loss

 

[Alister]

interesting programme but missed or skipped a lot that would not be obvious to a layman (nondiabetic) and seemed to only cover part of the problem, fatty liver. with barely a mention of the role of insulin or insulin resistance.

Reversing diabetes does not mean you are cured, just now under control without medication.
It also has not followed up on what happens to the guinepigs once they resume a "normal" diet. perhaps a follow up program in 6 - 12 months is in order.

at least it was not as sensationalist I a feared it might be.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

interesting programme but missed or skipped a lot that would not be obvious to a layman (nondiabetic) and seemed to only cover part of the problem, fatty liver. with barely a mention of the role of insulin or insulin resistance.

Reversing diabetes does not mean you are cured, just now under control without medication.
It also has not followed up on what happens to the guinepigs once they resume a "normal" diet. perhaps a follow up program in 6 - 12 months is in order.

at least it was not as sensationalist I a feared it might be.

I seriously can't think why "reversed" means not reversed?
I'm not "under control", as I don't need to control it.

Me, I am reversed, and very proud of my success to be honest.

 

[Alister]

glad to hear it, but as i understand it you still need to take care to eat healthily to ensure the diabetes does not return, which is why i personally don't like the term cured, reversed or remission is ok, my point was these programs don't make the meanings clear

 

[Martin Canty]

but as i understand it you still need to take care to eat healthily to ensure the diabetes does not return

Well, it's still there, but it's the level of control we have over it..... that's why I personally prefer the term "In Control" rather than "reversed" & I won't even go there with "cured"....

It also has not followed up on what happens to the guinepigs once they resume a "normal" diet. perhaps a follow up program in 6 - 12 months is in order.

Seeing some follow-up on other sensational weight loss programs, I suspect the follow-up will not be good unless the participants embrace the lifestyle changes required.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Well, it's still there, but it's the level of control we have over it..... that's why I personally prefer the term "In Control" rather than "reversed" & I won't even go there with "cured"....


Seeing some follow-up on other sensational weight loss programs, I suspect the follow-up will not be good unless the participants embrace the lifestyle changes required.

Bit wrong then. sorry to be the bearer of good news, on an otherwise disappointing scenario?

 

[Teadance]

I was always told if you manage to bring your levels down to the non-diabetic range your diabetes is considered to be ‘well controlled’. Go back to eating the way you did before and it will come back. Could be wrong, but that’s what I understood.

 

[Martin Canty]

I was always told if you manage to bring your levels down to the non-diabetic range your diabetes is considered to be ‘well controlled’. Go back to eating the way you did before and it will come back. Could be wrong, but that’s what I understood.

Very true..... last winter my A1c went from being in the normal range to Pre-D because I relaxed control.... Back on Tight Control ready for another A1c at the end of the month & I'm hoping for numbers in the mid-low 5% range, already showing how well my control is when my FBG is often sub 5.0 these days (4.2 this morning) from typically being in the high 5's & 6's through last winter

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I was always told if you manage to bring your levels down to the non-diabetic range your diabetes is considered to be ‘well controlled’. Go back to eating the way you did before and it will come back. Could be wrong, but that’s what I understood.

I think it depends on your "control"
Yes, if you avoid carbs, obviously it's merely a control.
Not a fix as such, as if you eat carbs again, you bounce like a space hopper on steroids.

But if you really fix it, by something like the Newcastle diet, that does have a track record for that, you can eat normally, without spiking again.
Make your choice, it's really not a hard decision.

 

[Bubbsie]

I think it depends on your "control"
Yes, if you avoid carbs, obviously it's merely a control.
Not a fix as such, as if you eat carbs again, you bounce like a space hopper on steroids.

But if you really fix it, by something like the Newcastle diet, that does have a track record for that, you can eat normally, without spiking again.
Make your choice, it's really not a hard decision.

That sounds very much like a sales pitch traveller?

 

[kentish maid]

I think it depends on your "control"
Yes, if you avoid carbs, obviously it's merely a control.
Not a fix as such, as if you eat carbs again, you bounce like a space hopper on steroids.

But if you really fix it, by something like the Newcastle diet, that does have a track record for that, you can eat normally, without spiking again.
Make your choice, it's really not a hard decision.

Hi @travellor, I've not been a member for very long, just wondered how long ago you did the Newcastle diet, and how long you have been reversed? I'm waiting on an HbA1c result later this week, and depending on the result am having to consider what my options are if the result is not what I hope for. I am currently controlling my diabetes by diet and exercise

 

[Northerner]

For me, the bottom line is that if you have been diagnosed with diabetes then you have shown you have the genetic propensity to develop it (as discussed earlier, maybe 5-8% of the population have this, most people don't). You can bring it under control and quite possibly remain well-controlled for the remainder of your life, but it doesn't alter your genes so you will remain at risk and therefore need to remain vigilant.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

That sounds very much like a sales pitch traveller?

It depends.
Like snake oil.
Sell it once.
Like the Newcastle diet.
Or sell it forever, like low carb?

I know what my choice is.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Hi @travellor, I've not been a member for very long, just wondered how long ago you did the Newcastle diet, and how long you have been reversed? I'm waiting on an HbA1c result later this week, and depending on the result am having to consider what my options are if the result is not what I hope for. I am currently controlling my diabetes by diet and exercise

Around 5 years now.
A normal diet since, and normal hba1c ever since.
Personally, I'd say go for it, if you don't reverse, low carb is a fall back position.

 

[kentish maid]

Around 5 years now.
A normal diet since, and normal hba1c ever since.
Personally, I'd say go for it, if you don't reverse, low carb is a fall back position.

Thank you, I'll bear it in mind

 

[Martin Canty]

Around 5 years now.
A normal diet since, and normal hba1c ever since.
Personally, I'd say go for it, if you don't reverse, low carb is a fall back position.

Interesting, so how is your A1c these days?

 

[Diabetes UK]

It can be very frustrating when titles such as the "Fast Fix" are used, for obvious reasons that you have all mentioned i.e it is not a fix for other types of diabetes and it may not be a fix for many people living with type 2. But I would like to add that it's not even a 'quick fix' for those who are successful - it requires a lot of commitment and dedication, with long-term lifestyle changes involved.

It's good to hear your experience @travellor in having success with a low-calorie diet. As you have rightly mentioned - it is a complex diet, much more than just 8 weeks of low-calorie shakes and importantly, it may not be successful for everyone. For example - in the DiRECT (Newcastle) Trial for example - just under half (46%) of those who took part in the programme were in remission after 12 months. Volunteers for the trial were overweight or obese, had their Type 2 diabetes for less than six years and were not using insulin.

So - you can see that the approach would not be applicable to everyone. The trial is still ongoing to establish what the long-term implications are.
However, scientific research such as DiRECT (Newcastle) study, does have very promising results, despite that we don't yet have the level of evidence needed to determine if a treatment like this should be made available within the NHS in the future. (DiRECT is currently happening in GP practices in Scotland and Newcastle, to see if this treatment can be delivered within the NHS).

But, promisingly, the world of science continues to move forward! Diabetes UK are now funding a new trial at Newcastle University ReTune, to see if the same approach to weight loss can put type 2 into remission for those who are not overweight.

Emily Burns, from the Diabetes UK research Team has written a blog about the 'Fast Fix' program that some of you may find interesting: https://blogs.diabetes.org.uk/?p=10630

 

[Diabetes UK]

Hi @travellor, I've not been a member for very long, just wondered how long ago you did the Newcastle diet, and how long you have been reversed? I'm waiting on an HbA1c result later this week, and depending on the result am having to consider what my options are if the result is not what I hope for. I am currently controlling my diabetes by diet and exercise

Good luck with your results @kentish maid 🙂 If you do consider a low calorie diet, have a discussion with your GP as they will be able to advise whether it will be suitable for you, based on your own medical circumstances. They can also support you in monitoring you during any sort of low-calorie diet to ensure that it is being managed safely.

Great there are people here who have experienced the diet first-hand to support you.

 

[kentish maid]

Good luck with your results @kentish maid 🙂 If you do consider a low calorie diet, have a discussion with your GP as they will be able to advise whether it will be suitable for you, based on your own medical circumstances. They can also support you in monitoring you during any sort of low-calorie diet to ensure that it is being managed safely.

Great there are people here who have experienced the diet first-hand to support you.

Thank you, I will bear that in mind.