Have had type 2 for almost 30 years. After diet failed to contro I was put n metformin. About six months ago this started to affect my stomach so I now take a single tablet ( down from 4 a day). GP suggested I do the 8 week blood sugar diet which I have followed for 3 weeks, rather than take more medication. My weight is reducing but my overnight glucose levels hover around 9. Anyone have a similar experience?
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Hi I’m new to this
- Thread starter Cadneykid
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sean123
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
I'm not type 2 so can't comment on metformin but I struggled to get my HBA1C down until I tried low carb.
Personally I only eat carbs 2 or 3 days a week, my HBA1C was over 13 and is now 5.5 which is technically in the not diabetic range. But figure out what works best for you.
I've found that taking carbs and other ultra processed foods out works great, you get less hungry eating fewer carbs, some hormone is triggered when you consume carbs, to make you want to eat more. The best example I can give of this is when you go to a restaurant and people eat ALL of the chips (fries) even though they've eaten a load of food already.
But if you're low carb and eating mainly protein, healthy fats and fibre you don't get that hormone asking for more food, you feel fuller easier and most importantly your blood sugars lower and are more stable.
My diabetes care team were reluctant to let me go low carb as its "hard to stick to" so this is all my own doing after doing a lot of research, so you may not get told to do it either, but maybe that's what they meant with an "8 week blood sugar diet"?
To go a bit deeper on it, in case anyone is curious, I've found eating carbs as your evening meal on the day you do eat carbs is best, helps with sleep - not sure on the mechanism and could just be me, but it works for me so might for others.
Good luck.
Personally I only eat carbs 2 or 3 days a week, my HBA1C was over 13 and is now 5.5 which is technically in the not diabetic range. But figure out what works best for you.
I've found that taking carbs and other ultra processed foods out works great, you get less hungry eating fewer carbs, some hormone is triggered when you consume carbs, to make you want to eat more. The best example I can give of this is when you go to a restaurant and people eat ALL of the chips (fries) even though they've eaten a load of food already.
But if you're low carb and eating mainly protein, healthy fats and fibre you don't get that hormone asking for more food, you feel fuller easier and most importantly your blood sugars lower and are more stable.
My diabetes care team were reluctant to let me go low carb as its "hard to stick to" so this is all my own doing after doing a lot of research, so you may not get told to do it either, but maybe that's what they meant with an "8 week blood sugar diet"?
To go a bit deeper on it, in case anyone is curious, I've found eating carbs as your evening meal on the day you do eat carbs is best, helps with sleep - not sure on the mechanism and could just be me, but it works for me so might for others.
Good luck.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @Cadneykid 🙂 How often are you testing your blood sugar? Are you around 9 all night or do you shoot up to 9 in the morning?
There are lots of success stories from the 8 wk blood sugar diet. It sounds like you’re doing well.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
.. but maybe that's what they meant with an "8 week blood sugar diet"?
I presume they meant the book and plan @sean123
thebloodsugardiet.com
I presume they meant the book and plan @sean123
The 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet by Michael Mosley
Beat diabetes with Michael Mosley's new approach to managing your blood sugar through diet. Get support, recipes and more on your journey to healthy living.
thebloodsugardiet.com
sean123
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
Yeah probably, I had a lil Google after I posted, does seem to be similar - low carb... but maybe that's what they meant with an "8 week blood sugar diet"?
I presume they meant the book and plan @sean123
The 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet by Michael Mosley
Beat diabetes with Michael Mosley's new approach to managing your blood sugar through diet. Get support, recipes and more on your journey to healthy living.
Thanks for your reply. I test early evening and then when I get up in the morning. Is that a fasting glucose measurement? Having cut out carbs I expected that figure to fall perhaps I am being niaive?
Yes that’s the book and diet plan which basically cuts out carbs. Got to keep at it.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Yes, that’s a fasting one (presuming you haven’t eaten!). That can be a bit stubborn in that it’s sometimes one of the last to drop down. This is complicated by the fact our bodies often ‘helpfully’ pump out extra glucose to give us energy to start the day.
If you’ve only been on the diet for 3wks, it’s still quite early days.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
@Cadneykid
You may want to try some strategic testing of some of your meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or no more than 8-8.5mmol/l would indicate the meal is OK. You can than adjust your meals to reduce the carbs. You are aiming at 4-7mmol/l before meals.
You may want to try some strategic testing of some of your meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or no more than 8-8.5mmol/l would indicate the meal is OK. You can than adjust your meals to reduce the carbs. You are aiming at 4-7mmol/l before meals.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
How has the 8 Week diet been going so far @Cadneykid
Are you following a book, website, or similar? Do you think you’ll be able to maintain it for another 5 weeks? And what happens after that? Is is there a recommended ‘maintenance phase’?
Are you following a book, website, or similar? Do you think you’ll be able to maintain it for another 5 weeks? And what happens after that? Is is there a recommended ‘maintenance phase’?
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