Oedema, HbA1C and weight gain

[TinaD]

Rather mixed news at the medics today.

I had a face to face rather than a telecon as was rather concerned about oedema which was not reducing much over night and leaving my legs shiny red. I was also in seach of a CT scan as my usual check up on some lung lumps had been put on hold by Covid.

Further I hoped (disappointed) for a little support for my diet - I want another 10 kgs off and have been sticking at the same blasted weight for 3 months - until 3 weeks ago found I had put on 2kgs. (95% of time 20gms carbs or under, only exceeded 30 during one naughty,tasty, lapse, calories vary 800-1500, about 80% under 1000 (lamb is low carb but Hellish calorific). Support?Was urged to up carbs "to avoid feeling faint" - I don't and obviously the young medic is a bit vague about ketones.

Sadly my gain appears likely to be heart failure as oedema is accompanied by a weakish pulse in the feet but starting frusimide today - so I may be peeing the weight off in no time. The good news, however, is that my HbA1c is 35 - so for 2 tests running I am not diabetic (altho' my blood glucose monitor after my naughty lapse would argue otherwise). Also I now have scans of lungs and abdomen arranged and a future appointment once the results are in. We will decide on whether to consult a surgeon about the reduced blood flow in the pins once the results are to hand. All other tests normal except bilirubin.

Not too depressed about heart failure but considering whether it justifies a cheering drink of alcohol (on the wagon for 14 months so perhaps not....altho' if I invited a friend over I could justify it as hospitality?).

 

[Nayshiftin]

Hi sounds good and bad a lot to cope with. You seem to know what you need with your body. I can’t offer advice as new. All the best eel done getting your HbA1c low. I’m going to try and stop carbs

 

[TinaD]

Hi sounds good and bad a lot to cope with. You seem to know what you need with your body. I can’t offer advice as new. All the best eel done getting your HbA1c low. I’m going to try and stop carbs

Hi Nayshiftin - if you drop carbs you will have to change your name to "Itsdroppinoff". Low carb diets do seem not only to help get rid of the chubby bits but, much more important, they give much more control of Type 2 blood glucose levels, and that control is in the patient's hands, rather than relying on increasing drugs and possibly not very clued up Drs.

 

[Nayshiftin]

Where did you start and do you buy all the expensive bread and things my budget and hubby say that’s out of the question

 

[TinaD]

Where did you start and do you buy all the expensive bread and things my budget and hubby say that’s out of the question

I do not buy any expensive bread or other "pretend" food. I don't cook with almond/coconut flour/walnut or avocado oil or buy other expensive ingredients - if I cannot have old fashioned flour based bread, Yorkshire puddings or proper lasagne sheet etc then I will do without! Also the more one spends on food the less there is for other enjoyable things.

I started by not eating (or drinking) bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, pastry, cake, desserts, crisps, sweeties, breakfast cereals, or anything containing sugar (in any form) and avoiding so far as possible any other foodstuff containing starch (carbohydrate). No alcohol and no "pop". I cook everything from scratch - no prepared/microwavable/processed stuff,

I limit dairy as I find it puts up my blood sugar - many other people can drink milk,eat yoghurt etc with no problem - I have the odd Greek yoghurt when I can bear abstinence no longer but am careful with quantity.

I eat meat, fish, cheese, eggs, and green leafy veggies, mushrooms, cucumber, some leeks, celariac, courgette and radish, nuts (buy kilos from Amazon as half the price of shops but don't eat too many as Hellish calorific). I am allergic to tomatoes sadly but they are regarded as a real winner for low carb cooking. Meat - meat supermarket on the web or Aldis when not shielding - unless family comes to visit when they expect organic. Chicken is dead cheap as are eggs - buy big chickens, cut them up and freeze - pre-portioned packs are much more expensive.. You can get sausages which are 99% meat - read the labels carefully! Pork is also cheap but watch for the calories - low carb is not an excuse to pig out - it is a solution to hunger and blood glucose problems. If beef is on offer it gets hurried into the freezer. Fresh fish can be a bit dear but you can get frozen (always buy without batter or breading) or tinned in brine - tuna and red salmon won't break the housekeeping budget. A neighbour shoots and fishes providing the odd mallard and sea trout.

Olive oil is a bit expensive but you can shop around and butter isn't too bad if you keep your eye out, Old fashioned lard is cheap but sometimes hard to find. Veggies are pretty cheap - raspberries/blackberries are a tad dearer but they are meant to be a treat (and need to be limited as too many will spike my blood sugar) so I only eat them on the day I do my weekly shop. I am lucky to have a large and productive garden so once summer comes I just wander out and pick what I need and I freeze my own home reared lamb. Major expense is new clothes as old ones fell off - once off this plateau I'll be hopefully needing another sett!

 

[Nayshiftin]

When I am reading above it is making me aware that it is about what I am doing at the moment. I will take note of your dairy as I think that might be where I am going wrong. I like my coffee so I will. I try and cook without fat as much as possible and enjoy less meat but there is fish, having Cajun salmon tonight so looking forward to that and I do eat eggs and have had yoghurt for dessert. However, I can look into ways of cutting it out. I do have to watch nuts as stomach and visits to the loo put me off tmi. Thank you so much for the above I can read more. I was worried re the bread £9.95 a loaf and £5 plus for a back of coconut flour that would really be out of our way. The above is common sense like you I cook from scratch and try not to have processed unless that is what it is. Coffee is processed but I'd never been able to give that up but maybe without milk. I don't get it when they say use high-fat cream. Type two can be prone to strokes or heart attacks although my Bp has only once been high and we now think as a one off was indeed a mistake. Thanks for your time and patience has helped me greatly.

 

[Leadinglights]

I do not buy any expensive bread or other "pretend" food. I don't cook with almond/coconut flour/walnut or avocado oil or buy other expensive ingredients - if I cannot have old fashioned flour based bread, Yorkshire puddings or proper lasagne sheet etc then I will do without! Also the more one spends on food the less there is for other enjoyable things.

I started by not eating (or drinking) bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, pastry, cake, desserts, crisps, sweeties, breakfast cereals, or anything containing sugar (in any form) and avoiding so far as possible any other foodstuff containing starch (carbohydrate). No alcohol and no "pop". I cook everything from scratch - no prepared/microwavable/processed stuff,

I limit dairy as I find it puts up my blood sugar - many other people can drink milk,eat yoghurt etc with no problem - I have the odd Greek yoghurt when I can bear abstinence no longer but am careful with quantity.

I eat meat, fish, cheese, eggs, and green leafy veggies, mushrooms, cucumber, some leeks, celariac, courgette and radish, nuts (buy kilos from Amazon as half the price of shops but don't eat too many as Hellish calorific). I am allergic to tomatoes sadly but they are regarded as a real winner for low carb cooking. Meat - meat supermarket on the web or Aldis when not shielding - unless family comes to visit when they expect organic. Chicken is dead cheap as are eggs - buy big chickens, cut them up and freeze - pre-portioned packs are much more expensive.. You can get sausages which are 99% meat - read the labels carefully! Pork is also cheap but watch for the calories - low carb is not an excuse to pig out - it is a solution to hunger and blood glucose problems. If beef is on offer it gets hurried into the freezer. Fresh fish can be a bit dear but you can get frozen (always buy without batter or breading) or tinned in brine - tuna and red salmon won't break the housekeeping budget. A neighbour shoots and fishes providing the odd mallard and sea trout.

Olive oil is a bit expensive but you can shop around and butter isn't too bad if you keep your eye out, Old fashioned lard is cheap but sometimes hard to find. Veggies are pretty cheap - raspberries/blackberries are a tad dearer but they are meant to be a treat (and need to be limited as too many will spike my blood sugar) so I only eat them on the day I do my weekly shop. I am lucky to have a large and productive garden so once summer comes I just wander out and pick what I need and I freeze my own home reared lamb. Major expense is new clothes as old ones fell off - once off this plateau I'll be hopefully needing another sett!

This is very much what I have, grow lots of veg and berries and freeze any extra, but do have yogurt and dairy as this is OK for me. It all comes down to testing what you as an individual can tolerate for your blood glucose levels, digestive issues and budget.
I find home made soups brilliant and it's surprising how a few veggies can make a huge pot and can be frozen as well.

 

[Nayshiftin]

Thanks, I love and make lots of soups the bean and cauliflower one is very good for me filling and good for BS thanks. I am aware I seem to have stolen your post-Tina (Sorry). This should really be about you, Tina. You had a good HbA1c but I am sorry too that you are suffering from oedema that cannot be nice. Let us hope others now reply to you. Forgive me.

 

[ajax]

Diabetes and œdema don't ✻mix✻ well ..I had to overcome some inertia to report the redness and swelling on my right leg and foot, to my local health centre ..the receptionist told me to go to A&E, which I did ..and in the three weeks after that ..I have been referred to 4 different clinics ..I am now on the mend, but ulceration was on the cards.

The only bit of advice I feel qualified to give is to elevate your legs above the heart, and keep the skin moisturised.

 

[TinaD]

Thanks, I love and make lots of soups the bean and cauliflower one is very good for me filling and good for BS thanks. I am aware I seem to have stolen your post-Tina (Sorry). This should really be about you, Tina. You had a good HbA1c but I am sorry too that you are suffering from oedema that cannot be nice. Let us hope others now reply to you. Forgive me.

You are welcome Nayshiftin! No problem. I expect some experienced bods will be along soon if they have had or know of problems with diabetes and diuretics.

 

[TinaD]

Diabetes and œdema don't ✻mix✻ well ..I had to overcome some inertia to report the redness and swelling on my right leg and foot, to my local health centre ..the receptionist told me to go to A&E, which I did ..and in the three weeks after that ..I have been referred to 4 different clinics ..I am now on the mend, but ulceration was on the cards.

The only bit of advice I feel qualified to give is to elevate your legs above the heart, and keep the skin moisturised.

Thanks Steven - your advice is noted and welcome. I need to put some blocks under the bed legs to create a slope, I think, as I do not get on well with using a pillow to raise the feet, too fidgetty and it ends up on the floor. I'll lay in some more Dove and get hydrating the lobster legs
Glad you are on the mend and I hope you are soon completely better: ulcers are not a nice prospect. I am hoping that a determined bg control to normal levels will help prevent me getting ulcers alth' the thin skin from long term steroid use is a bit of a worry. I think I am "draining" a bit better but no instant magical cure as yet.