Hi everyone. I've just been diagnosed with type 2. Thing is I'm not overweight, so after a bit of research, seems I might have fat packed round my internal organs instead. How on earth do I get rid of this? Hoping to reverse it by diet and exercise but have arthritis in my spine so can't do high impact exercise. Any suggestions?
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New and scared!
- Thread starter Lizbiz
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trophywench
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well the thing you need to concentrate on - both of you - is reducing the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. That's all carb - not only sugar! Do it in stages though to get used to it - not try and eliminate it all in one fell swoop!
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
As said reducing the amount of carbohydrates you have in your diet is the first thing to look at as it is all carbs that convert to glucose not just sugar.
Keeping a food diary to see what you are having at the moment, making a note of everything you eat and drink and estimating the amount of carb, you can see where some savings can be made to gradually reduce the amount to nearer to 130g per day with is considered the maximum amount for a low carb dietary approach, though many people do go lower than that. Cutting down by one third for a couple of weeks, then another third, until you get to where you need to be.
Many people determine that by testing the effect their meals have on their blood glucose levels with a home monitor.
This link may give you some ideas for adjusting your meals. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Keeping a food diary to see what you are having at the moment, making a note of everything you eat and drink and estimating the amount of carb, you can see where some savings can be made to gradually reduce the amount to nearer to 130g per day with is considered the maximum amount for a low carb dietary approach, though many people do go lower than that. Cutting down by one third for a couple of weeks, then another third, until you get to where you need to be.
Many people determine that by testing the effect their meals have on their blood glucose levels with a home monitor.
This link may give you some ideas for adjusting your meals. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Thanks Leadinglights, that's really helpful
Hi @Lizbiz from a skinny Type 2 diabetic who is now in remission. we are also known as TOFI (Thin Outside , Fat Inside).
I put my diabetes into remission in a few weeks just by eating Low Carb High Protein and normal Fat (i.e. higher fat than I had previously been eating) - no additional exercise.
If your initial HbA1C isn't too high to start with then you can reduce carbs (starches like potatoes, grains, bread, pasta, parsnips and possibly carrots) and sugars like table sugar, honey, tropical fruits and fruit juices, quite quickly. But if it's too high (70 or above) then its best to reduce them slower so as to avoid problems as your body adjusts to lower glucose levels.
I got myself a Blood Glucose monitor and tested my reaction to various foods until I knew which foods didn't suit my body. This varies to a certain extend - some people can eat a little porridge, but it's out of the question for me and it used to be my regular breakfast!
I put my diabetes into remission in a few weeks just by eating Low Carb High Protein and normal Fat (i.e. higher fat than I had previously been eating) - no additional exercise.
If your initial HbA1C isn't too high to start with then you can reduce carbs (starches like potatoes, grains, bread, pasta, parsnips and possibly carrots) and sugars like table sugar, honey, tropical fruits and fruit juices, quite quickly. But if it's too high (70 or above) then its best to reduce them slower so as to avoid problems as your body adjusts to lower glucose levels.
I got myself a Blood Glucose monitor and tested my reaction to various foods until I knew which foods didn't suit my body. This varies to a certain extend - some people can eat a little porridge, but it's out of the question for me and it used to be my regular breakfast!
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
I would still be careful of going down on carbs too quickly, My HbA1C was 50 and I went to 70g carb per day and had terrible eye issues which lasted 6 months. I was not aware at the time It might be an problem.
Wow, mine was 53 and I dropped to between 20gms and 40gms of carbs very quickly with no unwanted effects.
Mrs Mimoo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
my HbA1C was 55. I dropped it to 37 in 100 days of eating about 50g of carbs a day instead of my previous 250..... I used the newcastle diet to shift weight and then went low carb. My only carb concession is liv life bread which is 80 cals a slice and a weekend breakfast treat. Otherwise I now eat protein (meat, eggs fish) and green veg with very occasional orange lentils. It has made me feel so much better and my blood sugar is almost normal .
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well one of the quickest ways of causing retinopathy or neuropathy @ianf0ster - you were just mega lucky!
Gwynn
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I do wish those in the NHS had more time to explain things to new diabetics. That moment of diagnosis can be really rough and frightening. Thankfully, there are lots and lots of people here (and elsewhere) who survived diagnosis and beyond. How? Basically they took control of their bodies and their diet. Which means they had to learn a lot and learn it quickly (avoiding the mis information that abounds). Looking at the people here, many managed it. The advice on this forum is very very good but there's no getting around it, you are individuals and will react differently to meds, foods, exercise, you name it. So lots to learn about 'you'
It can become an exciting and a liberating time. And to cap it all I know of no one blowing up at the point of diagnosis or beyond. So the fact that you might not know all you need to know immediately becomes less important, survivable even! 🙂
I was an HbA1c of 150 at diagnosis, given meds, a BG test meter, and zero information. I have learned a lot since then and of course I got it wrong by dropping my carbs very rapidly. I just hadn't learned enough at that point and was basically in a state of panic. Thankfully I didn't suffer any problems doing that and I am now in the non diabetic range (1.5 years after diagnosis) and I try not to panic.
All I can really say is try to enjoy the journey of finding out who you really are and in being able to take control where you can.
I won't repeat the advice already given here.
There are plenty of people here to help if you get stuck, worried, disheartened, confused, and, lets be honest, we all like to hear success stories, so for each step and milestone, let us know how you are doing.
Good luck
It can become an exciting and a liberating time. And to cap it all I know of no one blowing up at the point of diagnosis or beyond. So the fact that you might not know all you need to know immediately becomes less important, survivable even! 🙂
I was an HbA1c of 150 at diagnosis, given meds, a BG test meter, and zero information. I have learned a lot since then and of course I got it wrong by dropping my carbs very rapidly. I just hadn't learned enough at that point and was basically in a state of panic. Thankfully I didn't suffer any problems doing that and I am now in the non diabetic range (1.5 years after diagnosis) and I try not to panic.
All I can really say is try to enjoy the journey of finding out who you really are and in being able to take control where you can.
I won't repeat the advice already given here.
There are plenty of people here to help if you get stuck, worried, disheartened, confused, and, lets be honest, we all like to hear success stories, so for each step and milestone, let us know how you are doing.
Good luck
nonethewiser
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Check out work of Prof Taylor & Newcastle Diet on how to lose visceral fat around organs & possibly reverse diabetes.
Hello LIZBIZ and welcome to the Forum
You are right to be concerned about Diabetes and treat it seriously, but try not to be scared - yes, easy to say I know, but we've all been there
And don't be put off by any horror stories about side effects
First thing is to reduce the amount of carbohydrates you eat, and remember that means starchy food like bread, spuds, rice, pasta, as well as the obviously sweet things like cakes, sweets & biscuits
You can live well with diabetes, and take it as the motivation to improve your diet, cut out junk food, do some exercise, and all the healthy stuff we hear about!
Read through older Threads & Posts, especially in the Newbies and Food & carbs section to see the sort of things that are done..... Living with diabetes section at the top of the Home Page....... and Learning Zone, the red tab at the top of this page
I used to do a lot of hiking & backpacking, but as I got older I can no longer do the really long & hard walking, so I've taken up Tai Chi
This is a martial art, but not as strenuous or aggressive as things like judo or karate; it is a series of short exercises or movements that you do in a longer sequence called a form, that's why you might hear of people 'doing their form'
Although it's gentle, you definitely feel like you've done some exercise at the end of a session
There is some spiritual stuff about life force and focusing your energy, which you can use, or just ignore and treat it as a straightforward exercise
You can do aqua or seated Tai Chi if you wish
Find it on YouTube or local classes
Ask any questions you like on here, don't feel embarrassed, nothing is too simple or too silly
You are right to be concerned about Diabetes and treat it seriously, but try not to be scared - yes, easy to say I know, but we've all been there
And don't be put off by any horror stories about side effects
First thing is to reduce the amount of carbohydrates you eat, and remember that means starchy food like bread, spuds, rice, pasta, as well as the obviously sweet things like cakes, sweets & biscuits
You can live well with diabetes, and take it as the motivation to improve your diet, cut out junk food, do some exercise, and all the healthy stuff we hear about!
Read through older Threads & Posts, especially in the Newbies and Food & carbs section to see the sort of things that are done..... Living with diabetes section at the top of the Home Page....... and Learning Zone, the red tab at the top of this page
I used to do a lot of hiking & backpacking, but as I got older I can no longer do the really long & hard walking, so I've taken up Tai Chi
This is a martial art, but not as strenuous or aggressive as things like judo or karate; it is a series of short exercises or movements that you do in a longer sequence called a form, that's why you might hear of people 'doing their form'
Although it's gentle, you definitely feel like you've done some exercise at the end of a session
There is some spiritual stuff about life force and focusing your energy, which you can use, or just ignore and treat it as a straightforward exercise
You can do aqua or seated Tai Chi if you wish
Find it on YouTube or local classes
Ask any questions you like on here, don't feel embarrassed, nothing is too simple or too silly
Thanks. Mine is 52, so pretty low. Really interesting and heartening to hear of someone else who is skinny and managed to put it in remission. I've been looking at the full Keto thing but it looks a bit daunting, however, you have made it sound doable! I shall certainly get a monitor.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Any exercise is beneficial, walking, swimming, gardening, housework (or is that a swear word), it doesn't need to be a gym workout and there are some NHS seated exercises and some on the Diabetes UK site for those who are less mobile.
Was thinking of maybe just cutting out non wholemeal carbs to start with?
I do a lot of gardening, never thought of that as exercise, lol!!
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
I'm afraid the wholemeal carbs are just as high as the white ones, in some people they convert to glucose a bit more slowly.
I always thought you had to do quite tough aerobic exercise to do any good. Not possible with my arthritis. Aqua aerobics might be good though - so long as the water is warm!!
Thank you, I will
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