Hi everyone
I’m hoping to get some input from other users on the BSD fast.
I have successfully followed the plan for 6 weeks and lost 10% of my body weight.
I recently had my bloods tested as part of my annual check up (I live now in USA).
My triglycerides have increased since last year, my liver enzymes have increased and my cholesterol has also increased both HDL and LDL. My HbA1C has remained static in the pre-diabetes range.

So my question is has anyone else had blood/lab changes worsen whilst following the plan? My liver enzymes have now turned abnormal.

My dr has advised (generic) info to eliminate refined carbs, dairy, red meat and alcohol.
Since following the plan I’ve had a small amount of red wine perhaps one glass once or twice a week. Obviously whilst following the plan I’ve not eaten any refined carbs, though I have had cheese and red meat.
I’m quite distressed as I felt I was doing really well….. Not sure if this now means I need to stop following the plan

Have you thought that since your tests are annual that the negative change took place over the last 11months and maybe the diet is gradually improving them? My liver tests have gone back to normal but it’s taken quite a few months. some things take time. Don’t give up it will improve.

I agree with Angiebabe …. if these tests are annual wouldn’t the last 6 weeks be a drop in the bucket. I know the only reason my 3 month A1c tests were even somewhat okay was that for 2 of the most recent months i was “good” … if the A1c test had been taken in August instead of October my doctor would likely have given me a good spanking because everything was totally out of control in the summer.

Thanks Shalimar and Angiebabe. I’m not too sure as my dr wouldn’t do the bloods at start of diet – so you’re right in the sense they could be improved on what they would have been before doing the BSD fast.
I’ve had a terrible day comfort eating…. The worst thing I could actually do, I know!

I’m headed to bed now to contain the damage even further with renewed determination that either way, continuing to loose weight and stomach fat HAS TO BE GOOD FOR ME. As opposed to coming off the plan and un-doing everything I’ve achieved.
Thanks for “covering my back” it’s a real comfort to know there’s others out there routing for us all to do well!
Wishing you a good week…… Be in touch again soon x

After years of terrible cholesterol and triglyceride results with the doctor despairing of me, he kept coming up with new reasons, ie do you drink too much, are you eating too much meat, maybe you have a fatty liver so stop eating cheese. So it went on. 6 weeks after starting this diet I had my first scheduled test and didn’t think much would come of it. BG down, cholesterol down, triglycerides down, blood pressure down. My doctor is very cautious and although happy for me to stay on this diet, will not reduce any of my meds except I am allowed for play around with the diabetes meds which I have reduced greatly. Give this a good go and no comfort eating. Why do they call it that when it should be called misery eating, does you no good. As I always say, keep on keeping on…

Good morning

I have been lurking for about four weeks but have just got back from the doctors a bit fed up and had to post. I had a set of bloods done at the end of October for various reasons, mainly I went and asked for them because I had a bad burn last February and had skin grafts etc and I was really sedentary and eating all sorts of stuff for months and wanted to know how much damage had been done. Those results came out with an HbA1c result of 43 and I started the BSD on 2nd November to try and reduce that. My doctor booked a new HbA1c for four weeks after the first and I had that done on 25th November. I had followed the BSD very carefully and have lost almost a stone. In addition I have completed Couch25K and now jog 5-6K several times a week – aiming at every other day. On the other days I do the 30 day shred. This was my pre-burn regime. Anyway, I went in this morning to discuss the new test results with my doctor and my HBa1c has now gone up to 45! I know that it is an average over 12 weeks but I thought that having really stuck to the diet for three of those weeks – and the proof is reducing BMI by two points having lost almost a stone – it might have at least have gone down a little. Has anyone else has this experience? Actually not just a bit fed up- really FED UP! Now booked for a new set of tests in three months. One the plus side the doctor says my cholesterol is really low so I can try coming off statins and my BP is 130 over 70 so that’s fine too, and she says that she thinks that if I keep up the changes then I should see a big improvement in 12 weeks. But that doesn’t stop me being really disheartened that the ******* think has gone up!

Hi Rosebery,

I can understand your frustration but I think the answer is in your post. HBA1C is not a particularly accurate test at any given moment. The cholesterol and BP results show the benefits you’re getting after only three weeks, but HBA1C is a notorious lagging indicator giving only a snapshot of the past. Interestingly my GP practice only suggests/”authorises” HBA1C tests at three month intervals as the results may drift over too short a period.

It sounds like you can see the benefits, just keep the faith. With BSD and the brilliant exercise, and resultant new muscle build, should start to push down the HBA1C results soon.

Best of luck and I wish I could match your dedication!

Thank you Jules,

I guess I will have to contain myself for twelve weeks and see what happens then – of course that twelve weeks contains Christmas and as it happens also two trips where there will be unlimited food on offer and reduced ops for exercise so I shall need to be particularly vigilant. The doctor was saying that she wasn’t worried and thought things would improve, I just don’t know why the retest was booked so soon if the result is not to be taken as significant.

Rosebery I don’t understand the HBA1c results you use but going up from 43 to 45 sound miniscule. The fact that other markers have improved shows and overall improvement and your BG will follow, after all it has only been 4 weeks. Your body needs time to adjust and catch up. The fact your doctor is so optimistic should give you some consolation. Chin up and keep on keeping on…

Thanks Sunshine girl – the units on the hba1c are mmol and below 42 is the normal range, while 48 is a diagnosis of type 2, so there are only about 6 points between normal and diabetic and I went up two of them in four weeks, three of which I was really following the diet. However, as you say the doctor is optimistic and I shall be rigorous for the next twelve weeks and keep my fingers crossed. I deffo don’t want a diagnosis! I don’t really see how it would be possible for it to go up again if I stick to the regime which /I most certainly will be.

Have you been testing your blood sugar yourself? The medical companies will send you a free blood sugar monitor, which come with 10 testing strips, plus the lances. They are pretty accurate and they will do a good job of monitoring your levels.
I am no expert, but if your daily blood sugar levels are OK it seems reasonable to think that your hba1c levels will fall too.
I sounds like you are doing all the right things.

No Jande9 I haven’t been testing but I think that’s a good idea and have a meter on the way so I will be doing that to try and see what’s happening before the next Hba1c.

Hello again Jande9, Just thought I’d post that my first blood sugar test with my new meter, done about 1 hr 50 mins after starting to eat has come out at 5mmol. Seems fairly normal to me, hopefully things are working.

I am not an expert but I think you should test in the morning before your first meal, after fasting for at least 10 hours. That way you will have a baseline that you can use to track changes, but according to the books 5mmol is perfectly fine.
Jan

Thanks Jande9,

I have been doing morning readings on waking and also 90-120 mins after meals. The average overall reading is 5.7, overall range 4.6 to 7- but the 7 was once after a nervous night when I had to get up to catch a plane so I am inclined to think it an outlier and discount it. I think that equates to a fairly respectable hba1c if it carries on at these levels, though I should like it to be a bit lower. However,, I am just about to get on a cruise ship so will need to really try and restrain myself for the next week!

Sue

I too have elevated liver enzymes since doing the diet. When I had been doing it for 4 weeks I had a medication review and all was normal except APT which was 67 ul. So I had another after the 8 weeks and it had increased to 129. I have been following BSD to the letter apart from the odd glass of wine which I am now giving up and am due another test in 4 weeks. Everything thing else in the test is within normal range, and I have lost 1stone 7 lb. has anyone else had the same results? Any idea how I can improve the result?