ZOE Weight loss app

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edboal

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Type 2
Hello! First time posting on here.

Just wondering if anyone with T2 has signed up for ZOE and has found it to be useful in managing your condition? I’m T2 and have my diabetes relatively under control and am thinking it could be a good idea as I still don’t feel like I really understand how diet is affecting my condition!
 
Welcome @edboal 🙂 Are you on any medication for your diabetes? You say you’ve got good control, which is great, so what was your last HbA1C? Are you looking to improve that? Do you have a blood glucose meter? If so, you can test to see how you react to certain meals.

You can also ask anything you like about diet here. Nothing is ‘silly’ or too trivial.

I realise I haven’t answered your Zoe question. I’m Type 1 not Type 2, but from what I’ve seen I don’t like the idea of it, but that’s just my gut reaction as I haven’t used it.
 
Reading through some of the information about the ZOE program there do seem to be quite a number of exclusions to suitability for the program one of which looks as if it may be if diagnosed with diabetes.
Read the small print carefully about what you would be committing yourself to both financially and participation.
This link may help you with understanding how diet influences you blood glucose levels. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
Inka said:
Welcome @edboal 🙂 Are you on any medication for your diabetes? You say you’ve got good control, which is great, so what was your last HbA1C? Are you looking to improve that? Do you have a blood glucose meter? If so, you can test to see how you react to certain meals.

You can also ask anything you like about diet here. Nothing is ‘silly’ or too trivial.

I realise I haven’t answered your Zoe question. I’m Type 1 not Type 2, but from what I’ve seen I don’t like the idea of it, but that’s just my gut reaction as I haven’t used it.
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I was diagnosed about a year ago - bit of a surprise and it took the docs some while to figure out whether it was T2 or LADA. HbA1c at diagnosis was 98 and most recently 48. Currently trying to transition from insulin to Metformin - it’s been a rough couple of weeks with the usual side effects, but I’m trying to persevere then once things feel a bit less ‘iffy’ up my dose. BG is fairly predictable throughout the day with a high of 9/10 and low of 6. I think it’s taken me quite some time to accept that I have diabetes and then there’s been a couple of family bereavements this year so I’ve not really had much drive to be disciplined around diet as I should. Which probably makes me a really crappy diabetic!

I don’t have a CGM and while ZOE isn’t marketed as one, it’s one of the reasons I was looking at it. I do wonder if it’s a gimmick - the initial diagnostic tests is £300 then it’s £25+ per month. It’s probably be cheaper to get a personal trainer!
 
Leadinglights said:
Reading through some of the information about the ZOE program there do seem to be quite a number of exclusions to suitability for the program one of which looks as if it may be if diagnosed with diabetes.
Read the small print carefully about what you would be committing yourself to both financially and participation.
This link may help you with understanding how diet influences you blood glucose levels. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Click to expand...
Thanks - I’ll take a look! ZOE makes it clear that it’s not intended to be a medical device for the purpose of glucose monitoring, however it is suitable for diabetics and they’re currently running a programme for those with diabetes as part of a trial to evaluate the product for that purpose.
 
edboal said:
Hello! First time posting on here.

Just wondering if anyone with T2 has signed up for ZOE and has found it to be useful in managing your condition? I’m T2 and have my diabetes relatively under control and am thinking it could be a good idea as I still don’t feel like I really understand how diet is affecting my condition!
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I don’t think you can join if you have diabetes, or at least it’s a limited version as you can’t do the blood sugar sensor parts
 

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I think the key with any intervention is to have a clear sense of why you’re doing it, understanding the limitations of what it can do, and having considered what you have to do, is important to make it worthwhile

as it happens a non-diabetic friend of mine is doing Zoe the moment. Setting aside my views on people with the massive good fortune to have well-functioning pancreases obsessing over “spikes“ (unless it’s in the teens, and staying there for hours, often, it’s not worth worrying about imho) and “crashes” (ditto, in reverse), the basic message seems sensible diet wise- eat plenty of plants, protein, sensible amounts of fats, and limit processed foods. if you think it will help you, fair enough, or getting hold of a libre maybe on free trial lif that’s possible (libre is the device Zoe use I think )and keeping a good food diary for the time you have it would give you some insight as a start, perhaps?
 
I looked at Zoe but as a T2, I'm not eligible to join. It's really pricy and i feel its just a gimmick. I'm starting my libre 2 free trial just now, I can't wait to see the data on my changes to my diet etc. Good luck with what you decide to do.
 
Welcome to the forum @edboal

The Zoe App is very expensive and they tie you in. One of the things that you get as part of Zoe is access to a Libre but only for for two weeks, and you can do that with a free trial from Abbott.

You might find it useful to access the Libre, (for free) as it can help you to identify any other changes you might want to make, although it sounds like you are already on track with such a big improvement in your HbA1c.

Let us know how you get on.
 
Welcome to the forum @edboal

In your shoes I think I’d probably stick with general healthy eating advice, and opt for a free trial of Libre2.

For the monthly cost of the app you could purchase additional Libre sensors to monitor your menu changes, and tweak your way of eating based on those data.
 
SB2015 said:
Welcome to the forum @edboal

The Zoe App is very expensive and they tie you in. One of the things that you get as part of Zoe is access to a Libre but only for for two weeks, and you can do that with a free trial from Abbott.
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You don’t get that if you’re diabetic though
 
Lucyr said:
You don’t get that if you’re diabetic though
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Even more reason to steer clear of the app, or are you saying that you can’t get the free trial from Abbott if you are T2?
 
SB2015 said:
Even more reason to steer clear of the app, or are you saying that you can’t get the free trial from Abbott if you are T2?
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You can’t use the sensor through Zoe if diabetic (any type)
 
Suggest you read the terms and conditions carefully and ask yourself what you are actually getting for your £300 up front and £300 a year subscription. What you do not get is an offer of an apolgy and refund if it turns out to be of little value.

Flashy web site though.
 
Lucyr said:
You can’t use the sensor through Zoe if diabetic (any type)
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Presumably because the larger spikes and dips are too difficult for them to interpret. Or they don’t have any medical qualifications to do so.

I had a quick look and I think they are using your blood sugar variations to advise you on your diet. I’d have thought if you don’t have diabetes the diet advice would be the same even without having your blood sugar data available, after all as someone said the spikes are not really spikes and resolve themselves again quickly if you have a functioning pancreas. If you don’t, then you should be looking to qualified doctors/nutritionists for advice. Which I agree can be a bit of a minefield, but paying a ridiculous amount of money for some random person on the internet to help you can’t be any better!
 
I asked a friend who has signed up to ZOE what use they made of the data from the Libre that she wore. She was advised that a ‘spike’ up to 8 after eating oats was a concern and that she should eliminate oats from her diet. I was amazed, as I would be happy with an 8 after eating oats especially as her levels then returned to her pre meal level.

She was impressed by the imediate and detailed other support that was readily available. Many of the tests that they get are part of the aged 60+ blood tests that I think are still available through GP. I am unconvinced about its value. Their marketing and website have been well thought out to tap into people’s concerns about lack of NHS appointments.
 
SB2015 said:
I asked a friend who has signed up to ZOE what use they made of the data from the Libre that she wore. She was advised that a ‘spike’ up to 8 after eating oats was a concern and that she should eliminate oats from her diet. I was amazed, as I would be happy with an 8 after eating oats especially as her levels then returned to her pre meal level.
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That doesn’t sound like particularly good or helpful advice to me :(
 
My partner, who is not diabetic, did the tests and has received dietary recommendations. She wore the CGM for the first time - she got spikes with meals, but nothing that looked abnormal to my untrained eye. After eating one of the muffins that they supply for testing purposes, she got a spike of 14 mmol/L and felt very ill in a way that she hadn't felt before. ZOE reckon that she has poor blood sugar control. Their recommended recipes look reasonably ok from *my* point of view (though I'm wary of corn flour) - quite practical and tasty... They advise eating less bread and fruit.
Of course, recording your meals is known to help with weight loss, even without a special diet. She suggested that I try it, but I think T2 (apparently in remission) probably disqualifies me. I will try some of the recipes (particularly since I'm the cook in our household).
 
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