Hi from fat guy in the US

[Trenton Tony]

Hi everyone, I just joined your club last week.

I'm in the US and a visit to my doc for a routine check-up on Wednesday last week ended up with me walking out the office with T2D on my chart. Doc had warned me for years to change my ways - but I never listened. I have a mild family history of T2D, but at the end of the day at 54 years old I got it 1 full decade ahead of anyone else in my family. LOL.

Thu/Fri was crazy with both the shock of the diagnosis and appointments with a cardiologist and nephrologist. But all of those came out OK and things started to calm down by Friday PM.

I spent almost all of Sat/Sun browsing this forum figuring out why insulin was good but it was also bad sometimes and hypo vs hyper etc. Really a great source of information. We have nothing like this forum in the US.

Last night I decided to do the Roy Taylor protocol to try and fat from my liver as quickly as possible. Only issue being that there is no formal program for that over here so its going to be a bit crazy. Its gonna be tough, but I'm gonna give it a hard go.

Hope its OK for Americans to post here!

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi everyone, I just joined your club last week.

I'm in the US and a visit to my doc for a routine check-up on Wednesday last week ended up with me walking out the office with T2D on my chart. Doc had warned me for years to change my ways - but I never listened. I have a mild family history of T2D, but at the end of the day at 54 years old I got it 1 full decade ahead of anyone else in my family. LOL.

Thu/Fri was crazy with both the shock of the diagnosis and appointments with a cardiologist and nephrologist. But all of those came out OK and things started to calm down by Friday PM.

I spent almost all of Sat/Sun browsing this forum figuring out why insulin was good but it was also bad sometimes and hypo vs hyper etc. Really a great source of information. We have nothing like this forum in the US.

Last night I decided to do the Roy Taylor protocol to try and fat from my liver as quickly as possible. Only issue being that there is no formal program for that over here so its going to be a bit crazy. Its gonna be tough, but I'm gonna give it a hard go.

Hope its OK for Americans to post here!

Welcome to the forum, there are and have been people from various counties posting but you need to bear in mind the units for things like HbA1C and blood glucose levels are different here we use mmol/mol or mmol/l not mg/dl as is the nutritional information on packets etc in that here carbohydrates does not include fibre which is shown separately,
I hope you get on with your Newcastle approach but if not then a low carb regime would be an option. This link explains all https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Trenton Tony 🙂 Yes, Diabetes U.K. is a great charity with a wealth of resources🙂 Ask away with any questions you have about diabetes.

 

[saffron15]

@Trenton Tony welcome to the forum. I have high blood pressure but all my surgery did was a blood test and weigh in about every 14 months. I knew I needed to lose weight but didn't lose nor was i encouraged to lose. All I managed was not to get any fatter ie my fattest was below 14 stone. Once I'd asked to be tested for diabetes I cut out most processed food plus sweet things and pastry. Then when test showed diabetic I cut carbs. I was surprised that effortlessly I was losing 2ibs a week. If only i had appreciated this years ago. I would have liked to try remission but was on medication before I discovered the forum.

You can achieve a lot with low carb rather than the stricter Taylor diet. Cutting processed food as far as possible is good.

I have posted this link to a GP Surgery in the New Forest as it has lots of info plus on bottom left link to websites of Moseley Freshwell Caldesi.

You can also sign up to the learning zone on Diabetes org or just check the resources.

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk

I've noticed some members post regular updates as to how they are doing possibly to motivate others but also I suspect to motivate themselves.

Good luck. Do ask anything.

 

[Trenton Tony]

Welcome to the forum, there are and have been people from various counties posting but you need to bear in mind the units for things like HbA1C and blood glucose levels are different here we use mmol/mol or mmol/l not mg/dl as is the nutritional information on packets etc in that here carbohydrates does not include fibre which is shown separately,
I hope you get on with your Newcastle approach but if not then a low carb regime would be an option. This link explains all https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Thank you for that, I will check-it out. Carbs has always been my weakness. I'd regularly eat half an Italian loaf a night with half a pound of potatoe's under the assumption its all good because vegan!

 

[Trenton Tony]

Welcome @Trenton Tony 🙂 Yes, Diabetes U.K. is a great charity with a wealth of resources🙂 Ask away with any questions you have about diabetes.

Thank you for welcoming me. I wasn't sure if this was just for NHS patients or something which I know you have the public healthcare system over there (we have nothing similar here, so you're left sort of struggling on your own).

 

[Trenton Tony]

@Trenton Tony welcome to the forum. I have high blood pressure but all my surgery did was a blood test and weigh in about every 14 months. I knew I needed to lose weight but didn't lose nor was i encouraged to lose. All I managed was not to get any fatter ie my fattest was below 14 stone. Once I'd asked to be tested for diabetes I cut out most processed food plus sweet things and pastry. Then when test showed diabetic I cut carbs. I was surprised that effortlessly I was losing 2ibs a week. If only i had appreciated this years ago. I would have liked to try remission but was on medication before I discovered the forum.

You can achieve a lot with low carb rather than the stricter Taylor diet. Cutting processed food as far as possible is good.

I have posted this link to a GP Surgery in the New Forest as it has lots of info plus on bottom left link to websites of Moseley Freshwell Caldesi.

You can also sign up to the learning zone on Diabetes org or just check the resources.

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk

I've noticed some members post regular updates as to how they are doing possibly to motivate others but also I suspect to motivate themselves.

Good luck. Do ask anything.

Thanks - I started a thread in the weight-loss group as well for public accountabillity.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Tony and welcome.

So pleased you have found the forum and hope you find it as beneficial as I have. The NHS here now offer a Path to Remission Program based on Roy Taylor's work, so some people here have been able to take advantage of that and I think @pjgtech has documented his journey so far with that program and is seeing great results, so hopefully he will be able to give you some support if you get stuck. We do have other members who have applied Professor Taylor's ideas, but done it independently as you are intending, also with success. Some have used real food which takes a bit more planning and some have used total meal replacement items, like soups and shakes to ensure they get all the nutrients and calorie restriction in an easy to access form. I think @zuludog may have taken the real food route and possibly @JITR

Anyway, very best of luck. I think many of us were carb monsters at diagnosis. When you look back after a few years from changing diet it can be quite horrifying to realise just how much we used to eat. I have found a significant number of other health benefits have come with changing my diet, so that I can actually look back at my diagnosis as a positive turning point for my general wellbeing. I hope you will feel the same too in time, but it can be a bit overwhelming at first.

 

[HayleyR]

Hi Tony, and a warm welcome from me as well 🙂 . Although I've had Diabetes for several years, I have only recently joined the Forum, wish I had joined a long time ago........ I find it's so helpful to be able to relate to others and share info and experiences of the condition. It's quite staggering when you realise how many carbs are in certain foods (sugar & starch) and seriously cutting back will help so you much! Do keep us updated 🙂

 

[beating_my_betes]

Not to make you feel unwelcome, but there's a State-side community that's not too dissimilar to this place. No problem being a member of both places, but it might also be useful to have some of the pertinent info filtered through a U.S lens, as well as other reasons:

Diabetes Daily Forums

Helping people touched by diabetes thrive!

www.diabetesdaily.com

 

[Trenton Tony]

Hi Tony and welcome.

So pleased you have found the forum and hope you find it as beneficial as I have. The NHS here now offer a Path to Remission Program based on Roy Taylor's work, so some people here have been able to take advantage of that and I think @pjgtech has documented his journey so far with that program and is seeing great results, so hopefully he will be able to give you some support if you get stuck. We do have other members who have applied Professor Taylor's ideas, but done it independently as you are intending, also with success. Some have used real food which takes a bit more planning and some have used total meal replacement items, like soups and shakes to ensure they get all the nutrients and calorie restriction in an easy to access form. I think @zuludog may have taken the real food route and possibly @JITR

Anyway, very best of luck. I think many of us were carb monsters at diagnosis. When you look back after a few years from changing diet it can be quite horrifying to realise just how much we used to eat. I have found a significant number of other health benefits have come with changing my diet, so that I can actually look back at my diagnosis as a positive turning point for my general wellbeing. I hope you will feel the same too in time, but it can be a bit overwhelming at first.

Thanksk rebrascora, I found those Newcastle diaries and I'm going thru them now. Fascinating to see peoples experiances with this,.

 

[Trenton Tony]

Hi Tony, and a warm welcome from me as well 🙂 . Although I've had Diabetes for several years, I have only recently joined the Forum, wish I had joined a long time ago........ I find it's so helpful to be able to relate to others and share info and experiences of the condition. It's quite staggering when you realise how many carbs are in certain foods (sugar & starch) and seriously cutting back will help so you much! Do keep us updated 🙂

Thank you. I was shocked at how much I was overdoing carbs. My Doc said to just cut down things to reasonable portions. Like a 5oz potatoes not 16oz. And I think I will get there. One day. But between now and then I've decided to go cold turkey. Although even the Ensure shake contains some carbs. LOL.

 

[Trenton Tony]

Not to make you feel unwelcome, but there's a State-side community that's not too dissimilar to this place. No problem being a member of both places, but it might also be useful to have some of the pertinent info filtered through a U.S lens, as well as other reasons:

Diabetes Daily Forums

Helping people touched by diabetes thrive!

www.diabetesdaily.com

Thanks buddy!

In all my searches I didnt find that site once.

The only 3 forums that come up for me are 2 from the UK and a German one in English that seems rarely used.

Appreciate the tip off.

 

[pjgtech]

Hi and welcome. You've been given lots of good advice already....
If you can share a few more details, you will get more suitable advice, eg: are you on any medication? what was your last HbA1c level, if you have any other significant health issues, if you need to lose weight, how much exercise you do and what sort of things you currently eat.

In the UK, HbA1c level of 41 or below is deemed to be normal, non Diabetic.
HbA1c levels of 42 to 47 are deemed to be Pre Diabetic.
HbA1c levels of 48 or above is deemed to be Diabetic.
GP's generally want to see two HbA1c level blood tests, (each three months apart), in the dibetic range before officially diagnosing, (unless the figures are really high!)
Obviously in the US you may have different measurements?

General dietary advice (for type 2's) is to reduce carbs, thats all carbs, not just sugar, so bread, pasta, rice, cake, starchy veg, eg: potato, sweets, crisps, biscuits, alcohol, etc.

Also worth checking out a couple of other websites for recipe / food ideas:
Lowcarbfreshwell website.
Sugarfreelondoner website.
Plus lots of good recipe idea on here (Diabetes UK website) too.

Some books that are often recommended good reads for diabetics include:
Life without diabetes - Prof Roy Taylor
Carbs and Cals book (in conjunction with Diabetes UK)
Giancarlo Caldesi cookbooks
The Real Meal Revolution- Prof Tim Noakes

Please keep us updated and let us know how you get on.

 

[HayleyR]

Thank you. I was shocked at how much I was overdoing carbs. My Doc said to just cut down things to reasonable portions. Like a 5oz potatoes not 16oz. And I think I will get there. One day. But between now and then I've decided to go cold turkey. Although even the Ensure shake contains some carbs. LOL.

Just wondered if you have a Blood Glucose Meter? it will really help to check on your readings to see how much improvement you are achieving which I'm sure you will with patience and motivation!

 

[Trenton Tony]

Hi and welcome. You've been given lots of good advice already....
If you can share a few more details, you will get more suitable advice, eg: are you on any medication? what was your last HbA1c level, if you have any other significant health issues, if you need to lose weight, how much exercise you do and what sort of things you currently eat.

In the UK, HbA1c level of 41 or below is deemed to be normal, non Diabetic.
HbA1c levels of 42 to 47 are deemed to be Pre Diabetic.
HbA1c levels of 48 or above is deemed to be Diabetic.
GP's generally want to see two HbA1c level blood tests, (each three months apart), in the dibetic range before officially diagnosing, (unless the figures are really high!)
Obviously in the US you may have different measurements?

General dietary advice (for type 2's) is to reduce carbs, thats all carbs, not just sugar, so bread, pasta, rice, cake, starchy veg, eg: potato, sweets, crisps, biscuits, alcohol, etc.

Also worth checking out a couple of other websites for recipe / food ideas:
Lowcarbfreshwell website.
Sugarfreelondoner website.
Plus lots of good recipe idea on here (Diabetes UK website) too.

Some books that are often recommended good reads for diabetics include:
Life without diabetes - Prof Roy Taylor
Carbs and Cals book (in conjunction with Diabetes UK)
Giancarlo Caldesi cookbooks
The Real Meal Revolution- Prof Tim Noakes

Please keep us updated and let us know how you get on.

Hey, thank you!

A1C on a blood test was 10.2 and no health issues other than 268lbs and 5' 10" which is sorta a big one! Doc gave me Metformin 1000mg twice daily and warned I might get gastro symptoms but nothing yet. Also gave me an option to go on Mounjaro if I want, but I declined that. Planning to go strict Newcastle for a few weeks (just adding the veg for fibre).

Will check-out the links provided!

 

[Trenton Tony]

Just wondered if you have a Blood Glucose Meter? it will really help to check on your readings to see how much improvement you are achieving which I'm sure you will with patience and motivation!

Yes, they gave me a hand held meter and told me to check daily 2 hours after dinner.

I haven't used it yet, just feel its gonna make me react badly if I see a high score.

I will test later this week after a few days on the Newcastle diet.

They also gave me a script for Libre 3+ but I'm not sure I want to do that just yet.

 

[Leadinglights]

@HayleyR's suggestion of a blood glucose monitor is a very good one especially when people have reduced options for low carb foods because of dietary restrictions. The go to foods for many of us who are Type 2 are meat, fish, eggs, cheese as they are pretty well zero carbs which are obviously off the menu for you. Finding alternatives will be what you need to do but certainly bread, potatoes, rice and pasta as well as cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks are all foods which need to be reduced or cut out.

 

[Leadinglights]

Yes, they gave me a hand held meter and told me to check daily 2 hours after dinner.

I haven't used it yet, just feel its gonna make me react badly if I see a high score.

I will test later this week after a few days on the Newcastle diet.

They also gave me a script for Libre 3+ but I'm not sure I want to do that just yet.

Look upon the information you get from your monitor as a good thing as it is key in helping you make better food choices.
Pairs of readings are more useful as that will tell you how well you have tolerated the carbohydrates in your meal. What we look for is an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or in your money 36-54mg/dl. If it is then the meal is too carb heavy

 

[pjgtech]

Yes, they gave me a hand held meter and told me to check daily 2 hours after dinner.
I haven't used it yet, just feel its gonna make me react badly if I see a high score.
I will test later this week after a few days on the Newcastle diet.
They also gave me a script for Libre 3+ but I'm not sure I want to do that just yet.

Hi, if using the finger prick testing monitors, and using to test to see whether foods spike your blood glucose (bg), its best to test right before you start eating, have your meal as normal, then test again approx 2 hours after you started eating. NB: not two hours after you stopped eating, bearing in mind that some meals can be quite long, say a multi course meal, meze, etc, could easily last an hour or more. In UK we like to see no more than a rise of 2 (3 max), so if before the meal your bg was 6, then after 2 hrs you would like it to be 8 (9 max). Not sure if US figures are different? Cheers