I started my BSD 800/16:8 intermittent fasting journey on March 28, and made it through 6 weeks before being ordered to go to amaintenance level of calories by my cancer care team. They had some crazy notion that I might need extra energy to heal from surgery and/or make it through radiation. 🙂 I documented Take 1 here: https://thebloodsugardiet.com/forums/topic/dear-diary-my-life-on-the-fast-800-168-intermittent-fasting-diet/

I’m back, on the other side of cancer (clean margins on the surgery, all the best receptors, and nearly side-effect free radiation). Now free from dietary restrictions, I am making one more attempt at achieving daibetic remission. (I moved from diabetic to pre-diabetic in the first 6 weeks of the BSD). I maintained the improved response to consumed carbohydrates – but the background levels (as reflectetd by non-food-related testing) crept up for a variety of reasons.

I probably won’t document it as well as the first attempt – since my life has gotten considerably more hectic. I’m also more confident of my BG levels, so I don’t test as frequently {although that will be balanced by the fact that when I do test, I’m more likely to be testing something I expect to elevate it.}.

I ended Week 6 a 138 lbs. During cancer care, I bounced around between 132 and 135. Eating enough low-carb food to maintain was as challenging as I predicted it would be, but I did my best.

Here’s Week 1 (Take 2):

Week 1
Fasting blood glucose: M: Unknown, T: 5.56 mmol/l W: 5.5 Th: 5 mmol/l F: 3.89 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 4.39 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 135.5 lbs – Ending weight: 129.2 lbs. Loss 6.3 lbs
BG High for the week: 7.39 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 3.89 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.49 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 4.73

Welcome back neohdiver 😃💐

Glad to hear you’re doing ok and looking forward to reading your progress in phase 2.

So glad you have got through it, with your strength of will you will soon be reaching good blood sugar control. The doctors are correct that you might have needed to ‘keep up to strength’ by eating more, your body needs good nutrients to heal. Thing is, this diet has better nutritional value than most ordinary diets and we all know that. Keep on keeping on.

Hi neohdiver,
It was so good to read your post. Only yesterday I was thinking of you, wondering how everything was going…..and today you’ve posted.
May I extend my warmest wishes in welcoming you back to the BSD forum. It’s a joy to hear from you.
I’m sure ‘BSD take 2″ will be a success for you. Continue to take care and look after all aspects of ‘you’.

I’m currently doing BSD5:2 and find this way really easy to adapt to my life. The weight is coming off and I’ve made daily exercise and mindfulness part of most days.

Looking forward to reading of your progress.

Thanks!

If you haven’t followed the link back to my original thread, in on of my last posts there (last week, or the week before), I gave an update on the cancer journey – and a link to the drawing I did (day-by-day) to walk my way through radiation. http://www.butterskotch.com/images/The_Last_Day.jpg (There’s an explanation in the first thread.)

@sunshine-girl – my blood sugar is already good (and has been since 3 days after diagnosis), just by strictly limiting the carbs I consume. What I’m going for is remission – a step beyond control tat would give me the freedom (within reason) to be able to eat without counting every carb I consume in order to keep my BG in the normal range. The Newcastle studies (on which the 800 calorie version of the BSD is based), strongly suggests that early intervention with an 800 calorie diet can renormalize the glucose metabolism system .

@switzerland – I’m primarily science-driven, and I haven’t found peer-reviewed research that definitively supports fasting for diabetic remission. (Jason Fung theorizes it will, and has claimed success for his patients, but hasn’t published any peer reviewed research.) So I’m sticking wtih the 800 calorie diet, on which there have been 2 peer-reviewed studies done (inlcuding a follow-up) that demonstrate the return of the first phase insulin response by 8 weeks. (The first phase insulin response is the first, or at least early, thing to go in the path to diabetes, and is generally thought to be irreversible – the Newcastle studies demonstrated it is not always irreversible).

I do daily intermittent fasting, because there is some peer-reviewed research that fasting for around 14 hours for women (if I remember correctly) also aids in the restoration of normal insulin response. 5:2 doesn’t fit in my life, and I haven’t found any peer-reviewed research that suggests a diabetic benefit beyond around 14 hours. Since I’ve already hit my weight goal, and am only starting the BSD again with the goal of diabetic remission, I’m sticking to the version for which there is the best evidence. For good, or bad, since it is specifically the 800 calories for which there is support – it means I’ve now passed my weight goal, and will likely drop ~ 10 lbs below it.

Hi Neohdiver

See below for your interest. This is an extract from a post here from sunshine-girl on ‘And So the Conflict Begins’ which you may not have seen regarding various reviews of low fat/high protein diets, although fasting isn’t mentioned. Many thanks to sunshine-girl for pointing it out to me and the forum.

“Next time you see your diabetic educator (now there’s a misnomer) show her a page printed from the Public Health Collaboration on Healthy Eating Guidelines and Weight Loss for the United Kingdom. The site is phcuk.org, an official government site for public health.
Conclusion on page 24 said in 2008 “Evidence from this systematic review demonstrates that low-carbohydrate/high-protein diets are more effective at 6 months and are as effective, if not more, as low-fat diets in reducing weight and cardiovascular
disease risk up to 1 year. More evidence and longer-term studies are needed to assessthe long-term cardiovascular benefits from the weight loss achieved using these diets.” That was in 2008
Finally, in February 2016 the fourth specific analysis was published in the British Journal of Nutrition finding that “Compared with subjects on low-fat diets, subjects on low-carbohydrate diets experienced significantly greater weight loss, greater triglycerides
reduction and greater increase in HDL-cholesterol after 6 months to 2 years of intervention.”
So between 2008 and 2016 the medical advice on nutrition has changed from thinking low carb might be a good idea to 2016 concluding it is a great idea. They go on to say that they are concerned that NICE are not taking up this advice and, in particular, still advocating high carb, low fat diets when it has been shown that low fat leads to fatter people. Apparently NICE are waiting for trial to end so phuk have carried out their own trials and their final final conclusion is:
In light of this scientific evidence the Public Health Collaboration recommends thatthe guidelines for weight loss in the UK should include an ad libitum low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet of real foods as an acceptable, effective and safe approach,
Sorry if that goes on a bit but it is quoted verbatim and I did not want to chop it about or be misleading. Print off the last few pages, give them to your educator and show her where to stick her advice. (Sorry, getting cross now, need a lie down)”

Thanks Igorasusual!

That’s most of the stuff I found within days of diagnosis – including the limit on the duration of the research, and the cautionm, “More evidence and long–term studies are needed to assess the long-term cardiovascular benefits from the weight loss achieved using these diets.” Still waiting. Still nothing published that I have found that assess cardiovascular – or other – safety years out.

That’s the primary reason I’m chasing remission, rather than control. (Control is what I do by limiting carbs; remission means I can eat a more balanced diet that includes reasonable quantities of complex carbohydrates.)

As for weight loss, I personally lose weight just as easily – and at about the same rate – with either low calorie-low fat or low carb – moderate protein (which inherently includes a fair amount of fat). My longest stretch of maintenance, to date – around 5 years – was on a way of eating that was low fat, moderate complex carbohydrates.

We all differ – and my body is not particularly well-suited for long-term maintenance on a very low carb diet. Not having complex, grain-based, carbs on a regular basis is one of the things that creates cravings for me. So if I have to stay on this diet to control my diabetes, I will constantly be at risk for binging – and with diabetes, binging on carbs is particularly dangerous. Maintenance will be easier for me if I can get diabetes in remission and include occasional moderate amounts of whole grain bread in my diet.

You are absolutely right that we all differ, neohdiver, and one size most definitely does not fit all.

It seems that our hormone reactions to different nutritional elements within our diets vary, and what suits some people really well will have much less positive effects for others. Whether it will in the end prove possible to research and define ‘most likely to succeed programmes for the majority of the population’ remains to be seen. However, I am convinced that reducing at least one refined carbohydrate, i.e. sugar, is likely to be generally beneficial to most people.

Part of the difficulty is of course carrying out large enough tests over sufficient duration, and then long-term follow-up research. One can only hope that such experiments are in course of action, whilst we continue not to teach doctors or nurses much about nutrition, even that there are alternatives which may be worth trying.

On another thread here I described how on a routine visit to my doctor I described what I had been doing, and told her about the research being carried out by Professor Taylor at Newcastle, which lay behind the BSD. I said that it might be worthwhile her investigating (especially as OH has now been able to come off metformin) and she held her hand up to stop me, saying “I might recommend it, but I simply don’t have time to investigate it”. I greatly regretted not taking her up on that astonishing statement, and asking whether she and the rest of her partners did not have sufficient Type 2 patients to investigate (either personally, or via their nominated Diabetes specialist) what might be a possible treatment for them. One of those wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night moments, kicking yourself for not saying what you should have done.

But very best wishes to you for your ongoing (and well-researched!) journey.

I applaud your doctor for being honest. That reality is the reason I’ve never entirely relied on doctors for care of our medical zebras and unicorns. (Diabetes is just a horse – but the principle still holds.) Doctors have hundreds of patients, with many more conditions (depending on their specialty). I’ve got three. That reality means that I (and my family) will get far better care if I do the basic research and not rely on the doctor to know everything.

My goal, whenever I meet a new doctor – or have a new condition – is to be able to anticpate everything they will discuss – and for them to be familiar with anything I bring up. If, at the end of the visit, they are on a different track than I am, chances are pretty good they will not remain my doctor for long. It annoys some doctors (one fired me this year – after I’d already fired the rest of his team), but any doctor I’m willing to have treat me appreciates it – or at least is willing to work with it and recognizes anything I ask about, even if they don’t agree with it.

When I explained the plan fully to my doctor, gave him a detailed list of 4 days worth of food so he could see I was not starving myself, told him of the research and showed him Notes For Doctors, he said… Yes I agree with all this except I’m not taking you off blood pressure medication, but you can reduce your insulin and Glycazlides etc etc. He then wrote down the name of Prof Taylor and his website so he could look at it for himself.

I will see him again in November for my next 3 monthly check up and hope he is up to speed, I am sure he will be.

Surely any decent doctor would be at least curious to see what is going on.

Week 2!

My numbers are not as low as I expected this week – most mornings >5.0.

On the up side, I celebrated my 35th wedding anniversary yesterday. I took the day off from the calorie cap to enjoy a Japanese Hibachi meal with my sweetie! (I limited the carbs & had a glass of wine with my meal in order to maintain my BG level, but I probably had around 2400 calories, rather than 800).

On the down side, the week was stressful – and the stress is likely to continue & increase. Aside from carbs, emotional stress is the biggest driver of my BG during waking hours. Major changes are coming at work. I’m already working ~80 hours a week, and our 3 person department will be losing its most efficient member. I’m starting to have nightmares about being able to keep up as (at least temporarily) the person in charge.

Without further ado, here are the numbers for this round of the BSD (including week 2):

Week 1
Fasting blood glucose: M: Unknown, T: 5.56 mmol/l W: 5.5 Th: 5 mmol/l F: 3.89 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 4.39 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 135.5 lbs – Ending weight: 129.2 lbs. Loss 6.3 lbs
BG High for the week: 7.39 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 3.89 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.49 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 4.73

Week 2
Fasting blood glucose: M: Unknown, T: 5.00 mmol/l W: 5.28 Th: 5.06 mmol/l F: 5.22 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 5.33 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 129.2 lbs – Ending weight: 127.2 lbs. Loss 2 lbs
BG High for the week: 6.94 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 4.33 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.54 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 5.04

Two week total for weight loss: 8.3 lbs.

(I believe Monday’s reading for week 2 is available, but on another meter I use when I forget my meter at work. 🙁 – if that’s the case, I’ll update it next week.)

Week 3

The changes at work have now been formally announced so I can be less circumspect. My boss has resigned, with no guarantee that we will be able to retain the position. We just (last May) were granted a 3rd position in the department, because two of us were inadequate to handle the job (even working an average of 90 hours/week each). My boss is the most efficient of the team, so we will shortly be down to, effectively, a smaller team than the one it was determined was too small last spring (during which semester I worked 80-100 hours a week, while starting my cancer journey).

Odd day on Saturday (higher than predicted response to melon), and bad day yesterday (got frustrated at being fooled by a sound-alike pasta {yam noodles v. a specific type of yam noodles with zero carbs} at potluck, so a carb meal higher than I have had since October 2, and then I assuaged my frustration by overeating almonds – ok for carb content, but not for calories). Woke up this morning to the highest BG reading in a while (which will show up as the first reading for Week 4)!

Without further ado, here are the numbers for this round of the BSD (including weeks 1 & 2):
Week 1
Fasting blood glucose: M: Unknown, T: 5.56 mmol/l W: 5.5 Th: 5 mmol/l F: 3.89 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 4.39 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 135.5 lbs – Ending weight: 129.2 lbs. Loss 6.3 lbs
BG High for the week: 7.39 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 3.89 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.49 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 4.73

Week 2
Fasting blood glucose: M: 4.94 mmol/l, T: 5.00 mmol/l W: 5.28 Th: 5.06 mmol/l F: 5.22 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 5.33 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 129.2 lbs – Ending weight: 127.2 lbs. Loss 2 lbs
BG High for the week: 6.94 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 4.33 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.54 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 5.02

Week 3
Fasting blood glucose: M: 5.33 mmol/l, T: 5.11 mmol/l W: 4.78 Th: 4.44 mmol/l F: 4.5 mmol/l S: 4.56 mmol/l Sun: 5.00 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 127.2 lbs – Ending weight: 124.8 lbs (my lowest post-college weight). Loss 2.4 lbs
BG High for the week: 8.5 mmol/l (Yikes!! – that’s 22 net carbs of melon – normally I can eat 23-25 and stay below 7.8, but it dropped to 5.3 by an hour later), Low for the Week: 4.11 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.51 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 4.82

Total weight loss for 3 weeks: 10.7 lbs.

Very bizarre week!

I’m not being as rigid with the calories as I did the first time around – which seems to be reflected in the higher AM fasting numbers – but not the later in the day numbers. Sunday is high after around 1600 calories on Saturday, the bulk of which were consumed too close to bedtime to drop to a decent fasting BG. But the later readings in the day Sunday were nearly all lower than normal – including the low for the week.

Something is going on – my daytime readings for most of the week have been largely 6.11 or below (including the post-meal spikes), and often in the 4.06-4.7 range. In contrast, my morning readings are not as low as is typical on 800 calories a day (aside from Saturday’s blip). My average BG, even with last Monday’s and Sunday’s high fasting numbers is still a smidge below the previous two weeks’.

This week is the last week on the blood sugar diet, for now. I’m off to Cozumel for a well-deserved break the following week. I haven’t decided what I will do about carbs yet – but I will not be sticking to 800 calories a day 🙂 So I’m stopping a week from today to give myself a bit of a gradual re-entry to eating a maintenance range of calories.

Today is my 60th birthday – I’m very glad to leave the curse that 59 has been (diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and breast cancer) in the dust.

The full stats, so far:

Week 1
Fasting blood glucose: M: Unknown, T: 5.56 mmol/l W: 5.5 Th: 5 mmol/l F: 3.89 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 4.39 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 135.5 lbs – Ending weight: 129.2 lbs. Loss 6.3 lbs
BG High for the week: 7.39 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 3.89 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.49 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 4.73

Week 2
Fasting blood glucose: M: 4.94 mmol/l, T: 5.00 mmol/l W: 5.28 Th: 5.06 mmol/l F: 5.22 mmol/l S: 4.33 mmol/l Sun: 5.33 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 129.2 lbs – Ending weight: 127.2 lbs. Loss 2 lbs
BG High for the week: 6.94 mmol/l, Low for the Week: 4.33 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.54 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 5.02

Week 3
Fasting blood glucose: M: 5.33 mmol/l, T: 5.11 mmol/l W: 4.78 Th: 4.44 mmol/l F: 4.5 mmol/l S: 4.56 mmol/l Sun: 5.00 mmol/l
Starting weight (this week): 127.2 lbs – Ending weight: 124.8 lbs (my lowest post-college weight). Loss 2.4 lbs
BG High for the week: 8.5 mmol/l (Yikes!! – that’s 22 net carbs of melon – normally I can eat 23-25 and stay below 7.8, but it dropped to 5.3 by an hour later), Low for the Week: 4.11 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.51 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 4.82

Week 4
Fasting blood glucose: M: 5.72 mmol/l, T: 4.83 mmol/l W: 5.11 Th: 4.33 mmol/l F: 4.89 mmol/l S: 5.52 mmol/l Sun: 6.61 mmol/l (Yowsa!!! That’s the highest in close to forever for an AM fasting)
Starting weight (this week): 124.8 lbs – Ending weight: 124.4 lbs (my new lowest post-college weight). Loss .2 lbs
BG High for the week: 6.89, Low for the Week: 4.06 mmol/l, Average for the week: 5.50 mmol/l Average fasting BG for the week: 5.24

Total weight loss for 4 weeks: 10.9 lbs.