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Newbie looking for support to follow "Blood Sugar Diet"

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
M

Megan84

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello, my partner has been diagnosed with Type 2, HbA1C 79. I read the book by Michael Mossley "the 8 week blood sugar diet" and in our appointment with the nurse we told her we would love to work with a dietitian that would support us and advice us following the diet and trying to reverse the diabetes. She referred us to a local diabetic info group and to the community dietitian. A month later going for the 2nd appointment (with a different nurse) we informed her that no one has contacted us. We were advised to go on Metformin while we were waiting to get down the sugar blood level. We were given appointment for 8weeks later with the idea we would be contacted and we would follow the diet and see the results. It's over a month from that second appointment and we are not in any better position, we haven't been contacted by the local group or dietitian. We are full of questions we don't have nobody to ask about and with no support at all motivation is now running thin. I have been told by someone that has gone to one of these local groups (I think DESMOND, but I cannot be sure) that the importance of diet was hardly touched upon and some other people I heard from have been told that carbs are just fine, when clearly the information on the book we have read is completely the opposite. I am starting to think, that, to avoid all sorts of confusions, I would really like to find a local group that follows the research done by Dr. Roy Taylor and Michael Mossley (preferably physical, otherwise online) and I would really love to find a health professional that would support us following that diet, someone we could ask for advise and consultation (probably a dietitian?). My partner has also high blood pressure and cholesterol which we think it would go down once we manage to get the blood sugar down.

Could someone please advise me how could I find a local group and also a dietitian or health professional were we could find the support? We are in Lewisham (South East London)
 
Welcome to the forum. It does seem as if you have been left in limbo with the support but sadly these days one has to be proactive in seeking support and information and you have taken that step in coming on here. People find the help they get here far outweighs any support given by their GP surgery unless they have a specialist support team at that surgery and even then they are often following the standard NHS advice which has not quite caught up with some of the evidential practice by people like Roy Taylor and Michael Mossley.
This link might help you as it follows the principles of low carb approach and is a program designed by that surgery to help their Type 2 diabetic patients based on real healthy foods. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Certainly blood pressure and cholesterol can be improved by a low carb approach.
 
The chair of the newly formed Lewisham DUK Group posted on this forum yesterday - calling @clivelive ! - but anyway, why wait ? Just get stuck in with it! I'm sure anyone on this forum with experience of adopting a lower carb diet will help advising you with Apps etc that can help you.

First question - are you aware of which items are mainly carb, which consist of protein and which are mainly fat? I know I'm old, but my mom (born in 1914) taught me when I was little growing up, years before diabetes even came into the picture. Her mother taught her, it isn't summat new, the concept of balanced meals. Plus of course because of post war shortages, as well as money shortages, nobody over ate anyway.
 
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The Newcastle diet is being trialled in some health authorities, but it doesn't look like it covers Lewisham yet. I did my own version of the Newcastle diet, 3 months of 830 calories per day. There's a nutritionally balanced free meal plan for it, devised by Dr Mike Lean, who was one of the doctors who worked on the low calorie trial with Dr Taylor.
I think you're meant to do it under medical supervision, so worth running it past your GP first.

I hope you manage to find some support locally, I did my diet alone and it would have been nice to meet people in person to compare notes with, though I had forum members here, and that was definitely a help.
Hope you manage to find something that works for you and your partner.
Sarah
 
The low calorie diet has been followed by a lot of members on here, with great results.
I reversed my diabetes using the original 800 calorie Newcastle Diet, shake based.
This was before it was actually rolled out by the NHS, so I simply used Tesco shakes.
The Newcastle Diet is available if you Google it.
It looks like you are already getting the "low carb" advice, I got bombarded in the same way, but I just skipped past that.
 
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Megan84 said:
Hello, my partner has been diagnosed with Type 2, HbA1C 79. I read the book by Michael Mossley "the 8 week blood sugar diet" and in our appointment with the nurse we told her we would love to work with a dietitian that would support us and advice us following the diet and trying to reverse the diabetes. She referred us to a local diabetic info group and to the community dietitian. A month later going for the 2nd appointment (with a different nurse) we informed her that no one has contacted us. We were advised to go on Metformin while we were waiting to get down the sugar blood level. We were given appointment for 8weeks later with the idea we would be contacted and we would follow the diet and see the results. It's over a month from that second appointment and we are not in any better position, we haven't been contacted by the local group or dietitian. We are full of questions we don't have nobody to ask about and with no support at all motivation is now running thin. I have been told by someone that has gone to one of these local groups (I think DESMOND, but I cannot be sure) that the importance of diet was hardly touched upon and some other people I heard from have been told that carbs are just fine, when clearly the information on the book we have read is completely the opposite. I am starting to think, that, to avoid all sorts of confusions, I would really like to find a local group that follows the research done by Dr. Roy Taylor and Michael Mossley (preferably physical, otherwise online) and I would really love to find a health professional that would support us following that diet, someone we could ask for advise and consultation (probably a dietitian?). My partner has also high blood pressure and cholesterol which we think it would go down once we manage to get the blood sugar down.

Could someone please advise me how could I find a local group and also a dietitian or health professional were we could find the support? We are in Lewisham (South East London)
Click to expand...
I’ve got the book and read it but not started it also have the book with just a shorter version which just has more receipes - hoping to start it at some point really would like the wright loss that goes with it
 
Megan84 said:
My partner has also high blood pressure and cholesterol
Click to expand...
I meant to say, I also have high BP, which has been treated with antihypertensive pills (ramipril). Weight loss is meant to help with reducing BP, so I hope to reduce the dose eventually as I continue to lose weight.
I also had high cholesterol and lost 16Kg since diagnosis, which meant when I was tested again in February, my cholesterol wasn't high any more.
Megan84 said:
the 8 week blood sugar diet
Click to expand...
I also bought this book, but didn't follow it as it didn't have may vegetarian recipes in. It's a nice book though and the recipes look nice. I'd say, with or without support, you and your partner should give it a go for a few weeks and see. I know it's easier if you're supported by professionals or other people, but you aren't losing anything by trying for yourself.
Megan84 said:
I think DESMOND
Click to expand...
I did the DESMOND course and they don't advocate low carb, nor anything approaching the blood sugar diet book's advice. They recommend the Eatwell guide plate, which is 1/3 of carbs like potatoes, wholemeal bread, pasta etc.

I don't know where you're based, but some health authorities are trialling the Newcastle diet, it's worth asking your GP if you live in one of these areas as it's a supported diet, with follow ups from health staff to keep you on track.

There's tonnes of conflicting advice out there; low carb, blood sugar diet, Newcastle diet, Keto, etc. I'm firmly in the "whatever works for you" camp, rather than low carb or whatever. The best diet to follow is the one that you stay on and does the job.
Best of luck for you and your partner, Sarah
 
trophywench said:
The chair of the newly formed Lewisham DUK Group posted on this forum yesterday - calling @clivelive ! - but anyway, why wait ? Just get stuck in with it! I'm sure anyone on this forum with experience of adopting a lower carb diet will help advising you with Apps etc that can help you.

First question - are you aware of which items are mainly carb, which consist of protein and which are mainly fat? I know I'm old, but my mom (born in 1914) taught me when I was little growing up, years before diabetes even came into the picture. Her mother taught her, it isn't summat new, the concept of balanced meals. Plus of course because of post war shortages, as well as money shortages, nobody over ate anyway.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I will be definitely checking if they are meeting somewhere local. I couldn't find any local groups in Lewisham at all.
Regarding the diet, up until a couple of years ago I was very involved in fitness myself, following a diet according to my "ideal" macros, yes, I know exactly what carbs are, my confusion goes into swapping ingredients ; I used to swap bulgur for rice; swede instead of potatoes, parsnips/ carrots instead of potatos. However "somewhere" I read that "underground" veg. are not ideal (?) and I can't remember right now where. So, silly things like that is what makes me doubt when I cook and I serve the plate "should he be eating this?" (I think to myself)
 
Mrs Mimoo said:
The newcastle diet could be a better option for you? Michael Mosely based his diet on it I believe. See links: its very easy to follow. Exante shakes are the nicest in my view. I did it for 10 weeks and lost stacks of weight and got my HbA1C down to 37.



Click to expand...
Thank you soo soo much for sending this links, I didn't see this interview and I didn't know I could actually access this book online. It is really motivating to hear that in just 10 weeks you managed to get your blood sugar level down to normal. I will have to check for the shakes, usually I have been put off by "shake diets" because they can be quite "pricey", also because I feel I would rather follow the diet with real food than having a "shake" and feeling hungry the rest of the day for not having that "chewing" sensation after eating. So it is something to think about. He seems ready to go for it, but then I am thinking "will he actually do it? or will he ask me to serve him some "proper food" after the shake and completely defeat the purpose of having the shakes.
It is definitely encouraging to know you managed such an improvement in just a short time.
 
Windy said:
The Newcastle diet is being trialled in some health authorities, but it doesn't look like it covers Lewisham yet. I did my own version of the Newcastle diet, 3 months of 830 calories per day. There's a nutritionally balanced free meal plan for it, devised by Dr Mike Lean, who was one of the doctors who worked on the low calorie trial with Dr Taylor.
I think you're meant to do it under medical supervision, so worth running it past your GP first.

I hope you manage to find some support locally, I did my diet alone and it would have been nice to meet people in person to compare notes with, though I had forum members here, and that was definitely a help.
Hope you manage to find something that works for you and your partner.
Sarah
Click to expand...
Windy, I am desperate to find somewhere, where we could actually go for it and have the support. I have been searching for months but I cannot find any place at all. At least not in our area (yet). The nurse told me that there is a group in Lewisham that follows that diet ( I don't know which) but his BMI is not in the range to make the referral, so we should probably end up "getting fatter" so we can access the support (?? maybe something to think about).

I found very frustrating that I even ask for the possibility of a GP checking on him once a month or every few weeks (as the book recommends) if we just do it ourselves. I was told that as a diabetic the routine checks are after 3 months of initial consultation and then every 6 months, so it seems that they are counting on you "long term" from the beginning, which felt very frustrating.
I even asked if we could have an initial scan to see the amount of fat in the liver and pancreas and then another scan after a few months to see the improvement, but I didn't have any luck with that question, she looked at me like "nah, you have to go private".
So, I feel like we don't have the support of our GPs in any way you want to improve your health.
 
travellor said:
The low calorie diet has been followed by a lot of members on here, with great results.
I reversed my diabetes using the original 800 calorie Newcastle Diet, shake based.
This was before it was actually rolled out by the NHS, so I simply used Tesco shakes.
The Newcastle Diet is available if you Google it.
It looks like you are already getting the "low carb" advice, I got bombarded in the same way, but I just skipped past that.
Click to expand...
I will definitely check the price of the shakes, did you find it expensive following the diet just with the shakes?, How easy did you find getting out of the shakes into normal food without piling the weight back? (when you stopped having the shakes was your blood sugar level already normal or you just transition because the diet is for a limited number of weeks?
Sorry for so many questions, I am just considering whether to follow the shakes (for the "sake" of the convenience "you know exactly how many calories you had") or following the diet with normal food for the idea that you might feel less hungry and it might be easier to transition to "maintenance" phase.
 
The shakes are cheap. At the time, Tesco had three packs of ten on offer for ten pounds, so a pound a day.
I was morbidly obese at diagnosis, I did a low fat diet for around a year, and lost around five stone.
My diabetes wasn't fully reversed thought, and the Newcastle diet had just hit the news.
So I decided to try that.
I lost more weight, actually I looked so thin people worried about me.
But it reversed my diabetes.

The shake diet I found easy.
After a couple of days I broke my eating habit, after that it's very easy to decide what food you what to eat, as your body is open to reprogramming.

To be honest though, I knew I got diabetes by being fat.
I knew I got fat by overeating.
My responsibility, no one else's.
No one forced food into me.
Once I understood that, and accepted it, it was fairly easy to know I had the power to fix it.
That's just my story though.
 
Can you register with a GP in South West London as it looks like they're part of the Newcastle diet trial? I believe that you can move surgeries to one closer to work. Are you far from the boundary to SW London? (sorry, I don't know London well).

I did "normal food" as I didn't fancy shakes and I quite like cooking. The advantage of shakes is that they're nutritionally balanced, so you're going to get all the nutrients needed, you don't have to think about what you're going to have and there's no worry about portion control.
travellor said:
Tesco had three packs of ten on offer for ten pounds, so a pound a day
Click to expand...
From Travellor's post, they don't look too expensive either.

My normal food diet was a two egg omelette with 100g mushrooms and 20g of cheese, home made soup for lunch and a small portion of veggie curry with mashed cauliflower (or similar). I bulk cooked the soups and curry to save time and froze individual portions. I wrote to my GP and told him I was doing it, and he didn't say no.
If the shakes and soups had been available with support from my local surgery, I'd probably have gone down that route instead.
Megan84 said:
I was told that as a diabetic the routine checks are after 3 months of initial consultation and then every 6 months
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They are, but you may need to prompt your surgery, rather than waiting for an invitation. I had to phone mine ask about the 3 month check and the receptionist had to call me back as she wasn't sure if they were on hold due to covid vaccinations.
Megan84 said:
asked if we could have an initial scan to see the amount of fat in the liver and pancreas and then another scan after a few months to see the improvement,
Click to expand...
The blood tests at three months should show how fatty the liver is then, and you can compare it to readings now to see how things are going. The pancreas, I have no idea, Prof Taylor used MRI scanners to assess fat levels there, and that would be expensive if you chose to pay privately for it.
I hope you get something sorted, let us know how it goes. Even if you can't find a local group, I hope you find something that works for you and your partner.
Best wishes, Sarah
 
Good luck with everything @Megan84

Hope you find a successful strategy that works for your partner, whichever option you choose.

And I hope the support of the forum provides the encouragement and help that you are struggling to access from face-to-face appointments.

Let us know how things go!
 
Hello Megan 84. My name is Clive and I am the chair of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Diabetes Uk group. I know you live in Lewisham as do I. I also have been using Michael Mosley low blood sugar diet since 2017.So if I can be of use to you and husband please let me know. I do have an ulterior motive as I am looking to rebuild the Lewisham component of the group as Lewisham sort of fell apart a few years back. So if you both want to come along for the ride then please let me know!
The joy of Mosley's low blood sugar diet is that even on 800 calories a day you don't feel as if you are starving on it and it is real food! I can talk with husband and you as there isn't much that I don't know about the Mosley diet. He has refined it even more since 2016 and there is a two day fasting component if you want that.
The 'live' part of my address reflects the fact that I had a stroke in 2009 which nearly killed me!
 
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@clivelive - can I encourage you to message your email address to Megan84 instead of posting it here please? You're going to get spammed to kingdom come. Sarah
 
I should add that it is a slow sort of diet which is good. Initially you should lose a stone or two in the eight weeks before doing a maintenance diet of about 1500 calories per day. I am off and on with the diet after several years of following it slavishly.
 
That’s good I would like to try the diet about a stone and bit to lose was going to do the exante diet as the shakes are nice - but some of the carbs and sugar levels are high but yet supposed to help lose weight for diabetics - so may have two shakes a day and attempt a 3rd meal as a low calorie meal
 
Megan84 said:
Thank you soo soo much for sending this links, I didn't see this interview and I didn't know I could actually access this book online. It is really motivating to hear that in just 10 weeks you managed to get your blood sugar level down to normal. I will have to check for the shakes, usually I have been put off by "shake diets" because they can be quite "pricey", also because I feel I would rather follow the diet with real food than having a "shake" and feeling hungry the rest of the day for not having that "chewing" sensation after eating. So it is something to think about. He seems ready to go for it, but then I am thinking "will he actually do it? or will he ask me to serve him some "proper food" after the shake and completely defeat the purpose of having the shakes.
It is definitely encouraging to know you managed such an improvement in just a short time.
Click to expand...
What I didn't mention is that Professor Roy Taylor wrote back to me after I emailed him for advice, and he encouraged me to lose weight on his diet. I did. He was so kind and helpful. He said if I lost 15kg and kept it off, I'd be in remission. I have lost 11.5kg and my HbA1C is now 37. I have wobbled a bit with some ciabbatta bread last week (couldn't say no) but overall I now eat low carb and stick to under 1000 calories a day and am stable. I love love vegetables and lean protein and full fat dairy so that's my diet. xxxx
 
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