About 30 years ago an Endocrinologist told me I had no hope of avoiding diabetes. The better I managed my weight the longer I’d avoid it but by menopause it would definitely be diagnosed. I made it several years past menopause but when it arrived it arrived with fireworks (a1c 119) I’ve been put on metformin, sitagliptin, and now dapagliflozan and finding it impossible to lose weight. We’ve embarked on a pescatarian diet and I’m working as many carb substitutes as I can etc. I’m determined to get this under control. After that goal I’m hoping for remission. One step at a time
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- Thread starter TeacheD
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Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello @TeacheD and welcome to the forum.
Did no one advise on eating low carb for control of weight and to reduce the possibility of diabetes?
I have been rather pleased to have reduced my weight and size eating protein and fats - plus carbs from berries and other things with 10 percent carbs or less. At the moment that is mostly strawberries, I have to confess.
Before diagnosed type 2 I had become almost spherical trying to do a high carb low fat diet, but that was years ago now and I feel so much better these days.
Did no one advise on eating low carb for control of weight and to reduce the possibility of diabetes?
I have been rather pleased to have reduced my weight and size eating protein and fats - plus carbs from berries and other things with 10 percent carbs or less. At the moment that is mostly strawberries, I have to confess.
Before diagnosed type 2 I had become almost spherical trying to do a high carb low fat diet, but that was years ago now and I feel so much better these days.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
You are taking quite a few medications so need to be careful about dietary changes but looking at your carb intake would be one thing that might help. You say you have become pescatarian, does that mean you were vegetarian before or have you decided to cut out meat from your diet as meat is low carb as well as fish of course, eggs and cheese and dairy are all low carb options together with veg and salads.
Have a look at this link for a low carb approach which people have found successful at losing weight and reducing blood glucose, the caveat being be careful because of the meds you are taking. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Are you testing your blood glucose at home with a home testing monitor as people find that very useful in identifying foods which are not tolerated by testing before eating and after 2 hours when an increase of less than 2-3mmol/l would be the aim.
I think with the medication you are taking you should be prescribed one by your GP. If you haven't then ask.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @TeacheD
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis with diabetes. Hopefully you can find a balance between your menu and meds to gently steer your glucose levels back towards a healthy range. Great to hear you are determined to tackle your diabetes head-on 🙂
We have a few on the forum who began with an HbA1c in 3 figures, who were able to successfully reduce their levels, and some have moved towards remission (where their HbA1c is 48 or below without the support of medication).
There are a variety of dietary approaches that people on the forum find helpful. Some focus more on weight loss (including the short-term 800 calorie ‘soup and shake’ / Newcastle diet), while others focus more on long-term glucose management by significantly reducing the total carbohydrate content of their menu without particularly worrying about calories. Still others take a blended approach, with a moderate carb intake, and an eye on total calories too.
At the end of the day it’s about finding an approach that works for you as an individual, and suits your own unique version of diabetes and metabolism / gut biome.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis with diabetes. Hopefully you can find a balance between your menu and meds to gently steer your glucose levels back towards a healthy range. Great to hear you are determined to tackle your diabetes head-on 🙂
We have a few on the forum who began with an HbA1c in 3 figures, who were able to successfully reduce their levels, and some have moved towards remission (where their HbA1c is 48 or below without the support of medication).
There are a variety of dietary approaches that people on the forum find helpful. Some focus more on weight loss (including the short-term 800 calorie ‘soup and shake’ / Newcastle diet), while others focus more on long-term glucose management by significantly reducing the total carbohydrate content of their menu without particularly worrying about calories. Still others take a blended approach, with a moderate carb intake, and an eye on total calories too.
At the end of the day it’s about finding an approach that works for you as an individual, and suits your own unique version of diabetes and metabolism / gut biome.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂
askeelsepttype2
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I have been prescribed Sitagliptin but my GP warned me that hypos were a side effect. She has arranged for me to be shown how to do finger prick tests to monitor my BG but I would need to do this 4-5 times a day . I'm wondering if this medication is worth it.
dalebyrne88
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Root cause is being insulin resistant it's not going to easy or quick but as many have been saying I have turned to a low carb diet cut out pasta, bread, potatoes and rice and I am seeing results have come off insulin within starting it within 7 months and now levels range from 4 to 8 mainly.
Maybe if you give more info on diet people could help with suggestions
Not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight. If my husband lost any weight he would be a bag of bones. I met him in the army when he was tall and slim and in all of 56 years of marriage he has always been the same. Though had a bit more muscle and strength way back then . For him diabetes is genetic and a few members of his family are and were diabetic. So there will never be a “remission” for him. Problem being, Metformin has made him extremely thin. He is 79 now and with mobility and joint problems. He was sooo much better before he was diagnosed. Very little flesh on the bones now and really needs a good dinner. I do think if folk have type 2 because of weight problems it is often much easier to deal with it …
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well cook and serve him a good dinner then! Just don't give him too many spuds or parsnips - but he can have as much meat as he feels like eating and just as many different veg with it as you have saucepans. Metformin has NOT caused his mobility problems - I know lots of folk 80+, some of whom also have T2 diabetes and a thing my late mother in law said when she was 70+ (and had had bowel cancer for a number of years) definitely applies here and in most cases - she said 'Old age doesn't come on its own, you know!' - which is 100% true - whether we like that, or not.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I developed mobility problems when taking Metformin and a statin just after diagnosis.
I have been told that it is not a real problem - all in the mind - but I went from riding my bike to walking with sticks in the three weeks after starting to take the tablets and really struggling, heart pounding, muscles and joints shrieking.
It was 18 months before the last knot in my muscles resolved - but I have never experienced anything like it before or since, so that is one huge coincidence.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
There is no reason he cannot eat sufficient to put some weight on, making sure he has meals with plenty of protein and healthy fats rather than carbohydrates.
Eggs, cheese, full fat yoghurt, meat, fish, nuts, avocado, butter on his veg, mayonnaise on salads, sugar free jelly with berries and cream for desert or high protein yoghurt, custard made with real eggs and cream.
Nature Valley, KIND or shop own high protein bars.
I have a friend about the same age who was diagnosed 2 years ago as Type 2 put on metformin but continued to lose weight, then put on gliclazide but still continued to lose weight but now 2 years on as been diagnosed as Type 1 and put on an insulin regime.
I think you need to press your GP for a review of his diagnosis and even if they insist he is Type 2 then an insulin regime would allow him to eat normally and hopefully put some weight on.
Finger pricking should not be too much of a problem for most people. Those of us with Type 1 haven't had much of a choice for the last 20 years and I know it has little impact on my life.
As for hypos, I would temper the comment: hypos are a possible side effect of your medication.
It is important to get your GP to explain when this is most likely to occur and always carry hypo treatment with you (many people use jelly babies but other fast acting carbs such as dextrose or small fruit juice containers are also suitable).
At no point did I say Metformin have caused his mobility or joint problems .... they were caused long ago when he was a medic on ambulances, lifting and carrying, left him with serious back problems ...... and of course we do eat a good dinner, been doing that many years , never had a takeaway, always home made ...make my own biscuits too, but stopped making bread ... we eat plenty of real meat and veg as we were always brought up on proper meals .... ..but I do a lot of research, and as metformin was one of his diabetic meds I looked it up ....it is known to cause weight loss and is now being given for obesity ... it works because a certain thing in your body called leptin tells you that you are full up.... metformin interferes with this .... it is also known to deplete B12 among other things ....his numbers are also higher than most folks because he is on permanent steroids, cannot come off them, and they are known to give high sugar readings ..... sadly too many folk seem to think diabetic is caused by being fat ....
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
There are many people with steroid induced diabetes who need an insulin regime to enable them to eat more appropriately, it sounds as if the metformin is not actually doing any good in enabling him to reduce blood glucose anyway.
He is also on glimipiride ... been on steroids since the 1970s after getting a serious chest infection (picked up during a big flu epidemic and having to go to the local morgue) left with a patch on his lung .... but the diabetes is genetic as the hospital told him years ago ..... very little will get his figures down further than 10mmols ... he did get down to 7 but had collapsed with that, too low for him ... everyone is different as our doc said, and that is the best for him .... he eats normally, just feels full a bit quicker, and that is from the metformin, ... I just have to give him a nudge to eat a bit more ...
Nayshiftin
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I don't think weight really has a lot to do with but it is a stick used to say you are too fat too thin. It is more important to be healthy.
You are doing all you can and I would as others have said go and ask for a review and see if there is a better way forward.
Metformin is said as you say prone to have weight loss for that reason alone I wish I could stomach it as they say. I am on a good med at the moment but it makes me lousy and is not good to be so miserable all the time but well sometimes there is acceptance. We just have to accept the way we are and that although you do all you can somethings are not possible. They have said genes play a part in how thin or how fat they are and seeing as it does run in families then I think it is good to accept.
Some folks blame steroids for making them fat. So I would also mention that to the GP.
Take care but sounds like you are doing the best you can.
You are doing all you can and I would as others have said go and ask for a review and see if there is a better way forward.
Metformin is said as you say prone to have weight loss for that reason alone I wish I could stomach it as they say. I am on a good med at the moment but it makes me lousy and is not good to be so miserable all the time but well sometimes there is acceptance. We just have to accept the way we are and that although you do all you can somethings are not possible. They have said genes play a part in how thin or how fat they are and seeing as it does run in families then I think it is good to accept.
Some folks blame steroids for making them fat. So I would also mention that to the GP.
Take care but sounds like you are doing the best you can.
Thank you , much appreciated ...
askeelsepttype2
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Thank you for your comments. My GP did recommend fruit juice cartons for hypos. She said before breakfast was most likely for a hypo but to check before every meal and before driving. I am on blood thinners which I assume will not effect finger prick blood tests as my GP is fully aware of this. I did wonder whether I should request a blood sugar blood test to find out if my sugar levels have dropped from 78
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Blood thinners should make it easier to get your drop of blood out.
If your previous HbA1C was less than 3 months ago then another test would be too soon. It needs to be 3 months from making lifestyle changes or starting medication to be worthwhile.
Deb_l
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I’m prescribed Sitagliptin and as far as I’m aware, hypos aren’t a known side effect. My GP said, when reading the gubbins before prescribing it to me, that it is in fact clever enough to stop working when our own pancreas is working efficiently enough to produce the appropriate amount of insulin.
The drug has very few noted side effects. I’ve not had any problems with it.
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