My name is Adam. I've was diagnosed T2 March 2021 with an HbA1c of 100 and totally symptom free. This is now down to 42. The more I research what the best thing to do is, the less of a clue I have about anything. I figure we're all probably in the same boat, so here I am.
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Hi all.
- Thread starter eyeboy
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Docb
Moderator
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- Type 2
Hi Docb. Initially I reduced my carbs and increased my fat and protein intake. Then my sugars started climbing again, I think due to stress and a reduction in my metformin. Metformin was increased back to previous dose and HbA1c now back down. At my last appointment with a diabetic nurse I was given advice to change almost everything I had been doing. Now I have no clue what to do, hence my joining the forum.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Well done on getting your HbA1c down initially, then a second time. You clearly have motivation and willpower and what you were doing worked for you. What works for me is the lower carb (75-90gm per day) approach with lots of veggies, smaller portions and increased exercise. Diabetes is different for everyone so what works for one person may not for someone else. What advice did your diabetic nurse give you? Some are very up to date, and some are not. My gut instinct says "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!! I'd be interested to know what other posters suggest as well.
Diabetic nurse said - eat when you're hungry but keep your calorie intake up and suggested delaying breakfast. I always have breakfast before I go to work as my clinic schedule isn't conducive to eating when I feel the need. She also said she doesn't believe in medication! Her knowledge seems up-to-date but her views did seem to be at the more extreme end of things.
Hi @eyeboy and welcome to the forum.
Many Type 2's including me have found that after getting fat adapted eating Low Carb Higher Fat, we no longer feel hungry in a morning and thus can delay or skip breakfast. Some even change to only eating OMAD (one meal per day).
Having as long a period between eating as possible certainly helps, it gives the body a break from insulin and allows time for autophagy to kick in. See how you feel about delayed breakfast (or even skipping it) on weekends.
Having said that, don't starve yourself because that does more harm than good.
Many Type 2's including me have found that after getting fat adapted eating Low Carb Higher Fat, we no longer feel hungry in a morning and thus can delay or skip breakfast. Some even change to only eating OMAD (one meal per day).
Having as long a period between eating as possible certainly helps, it gives the body a break from insulin and allows time for autophagy to kick in. See how you feel about delayed breakfast (or even skipping it) on weekends.
Having said that, don't starve yourself because that does more harm than good.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
@eyeboy, what you are beginning to see is that different things work for different people and to me the trick is to remember that advice is not instruction. Most of the advice has some merit but whether it is useful to any individual depends very much on their circumstances and you need to work that out for yourself in your circumstances.
When I started to look into things I found the logic of the low carb approach to be compelling and decided to go that route. I prepare all of my own food and am a reasonable cook, but my circumstances (I'm a carer) meant that I needed to keep to specific routines and really could not be bothered with the palaver of heading full keto. I went for an eating routine which suited this... 3 meals a day + a light supper ... with my carb target of around 120 per day divided roughly equally between them, keeping my carbs in target without dramatic changes in what I ate. That was how I kept my blood glucose levels within bounds. If my DN advised "eating when hungry" I would have said something like...interesting idea but it won't work for me.
Soon I will have to be having a bit of a rethink in that my levels have been creeping up whilst nothing else has changed much. Don't fancy reducing carbs further, I'm at a sensible weight so don't want to lose any and I am slowing down on exercise as anno domini creeps on, so I'm guessing more medication will soon be in order.
That's my history, and I only put it up to say that's my way of going about things. Others can take a lead from it if they wish but it is highly geared to my circumstances, my way of life, my attitudes and the way I naturally do things. To me there is a way for everybody, it just has to be worked out.
When I started to look into things I found the logic of the low carb approach to be compelling and decided to go that route. I prepare all of my own food and am a reasonable cook, but my circumstances (I'm a carer) meant that I needed to keep to specific routines and really could not be bothered with the palaver of heading full keto. I went for an eating routine which suited this... 3 meals a day + a light supper ... with my carb target of around 120 per day divided roughly equally between them, keeping my carbs in target without dramatic changes in what I ate. That was how I kept my blood glucose levels within bounds. If my DN advised "eating when hungry" I would have said something like...interesting idea but it won't work for me.
Soon I will have to be having a bit of a rethink in that my levels have been creeping up whilst nothing else has changed much. Don't fancy reducing carbs further, I'm at a sensible weight so don't want to lose any and I am slowing down on exercise as anno domini creeps on, so I'm guessing more medication will soon be in order.
That's my history, and I only put it up to say that's my way of going about things. Others can take a lead from it if they wish but it is highly geared to my circumstances, my way of life, my attitudes and the way I naturally do things. To me there is a way for everybody, it just has to be worked out.
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- Relationship to Diabetes
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Welcome to the forum @eyeboy
And congratulations on your reduction in HbA1c!
Some members find that eating fairly soon after getting out of bed helps them, because it can help stop their liver releasing glucose in the morning (sometimes called ‘dawn phenomenon’).
How is your weight? And how is your hunger through the day? Is your current treatment system suiting you? It seems to be working really well numerically as far as HbA1c is concerned, but it also has to be right for you to sustain it long term.
Weight is 10st 7lbs (66.6kg), BMI towards lower end of normal. Medications well tolerated. I feel as if I get hungry quite quickly after eating.
I was diagnosed last July when I was rushed into hospital with sepsis, E coli and and a kidney infection in the 3 weeks I was in hospital I was put on Insulin Lantus 10units, my HbA1c was 87. to begin with they gave me the odd shot of what I believe was a fast acting insulin due t it going to high. I was discharged with no advice whatsoever. The DN at our doctors tested again based on my BG but I hadn’t eaten much in hospital and struggled to eat even one meal a day when I got home, they tested my HbA1c again after just 3 weeks and it dropped to 57, since then I have seen the GP who is the lead at our surgery and he says i am doing extremely well and to keep doing whatever i am doing, and said i didn’t need any other medication to help with carbs, he gave me the libra 2 as i am not aware when my blood sugar is low and I have 30 units of Lantus each morning my breakfast consist of a glass of full milk which the hospital suggest, I now have lunch mid day dinner between 6 and 7 pm and even have a snack and a glass of wine for supper most nights, if I were you i would just continue to do what works for you
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Would you like to give some examples of the meals you are having as people may be able to make some suggestions that would help you not to be hungry whilst keeping your carbs low enough.
I'm fine thanks. I think the general consensus is to keep doing what works (and has been working). The different advice different DNs and doctors have given me have muddy the waters somewhat but I'll just stick to what works for me. Advice is exactly that: advice. I need to listen to all the advice and pick what works for me.
Feeling hungry soon after eating tends to be one of 2 things:
A). You aren't eating enough calories in the meal.
B). You are eating too much of fast digesting carbs and so your BG rises quicky followed by your insulin. Then your extra high insulin brings your BG too fast and makes your body feel it is staving - so you feel hungry.
This used to be known as the Chinese meal effect because rice is a fast acting carb.
A). You aren't eating enough calories in the meal.
B). You are eating too much of fast digesting carbs and so your BG rises quicky followed by your insulin. Then your extra high insulin brings your BG too fast and makes your body feel it is staving - so you feel hungry.
This used to be known as the Chinese meal effect because rice is a fast acting carb.
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