I started the BSD back in Jan or Feb and very quickly lost nearly a stone, which I was over the moon with (I have about 4 stone to lose altogether). I’m diabetic Type 2 and at the time was on Metformin, however, it gave me terrible stomach upsets and even worse squits (even the slow release one I was on). On discussing this with my nurse, she advised me to drop the Met and go onto Gliclazide instead…although she warned me that Glic could make me put on weight. Well, it has….weighed myself a few days ago and have put back on all that I lost. To be fair, it’s probably not just the Glic, we’ve had some family upset going on which has meant I’ve fallen back into emotional eating of carby things (bread mainly) now and then, and although maintaining the BSD principles, haven’t been as strict as I should have.

My weight is really getting me down now, so have decided to stop taking the Gliclazide and go back on Metformin, despite knowing the side effects will start up again. I suppose one good thing about that is ‘going’ regularly (which all helps with weight loss!)….with the Glic I was often constipated (one extreme to the other!!).

I’m so annoyed with myself….not about taking the Glic, but for being weak-willed and not staying focused on the BSD. It’s so demoralising to have lost so much weight only to put it back on again….now it feels like I’m having to start again from Day 1 and that’s such a kicker :-((

Have they taken your blood sugar readings lately and have they come down at all – if so can they decrease the meds? Sorry I’m asking from the point of view of someone who didn’t want any meds as I’m generally dubious of them.

On a positive note, you’ve already been down this road and know that you can and will lose weight with this style of eating 🙂 I’ve lost a stone altogether too but nothing has shifted for the last fortnight which is a bit annoying. Don’t feel terrible, just take today as a new day and keep on going – that weight will be gone before you know it 😀

I hung around waiting for some inspirational posts but as only one response I will say; don’t be despondent it does not use enough calories. Being happy uses more. You know the score and the system just change the brain cells and keep going. It is not a race. I know about depression and low mood and I have to say that it can be difficult to break out of either never mind both. Investing in BSD and going for it wholeheartedly has really helped me to get some aspects of my life and lifestyle sorted and even my body too. The research of foods through the many websites is time consuming but wonderfully enlightening at times. It is only a short term diet until we reach near ideal and then switch to 5:2 or similar. The discipline is something that we all learn to cope with but at different rates. Keep reading, post when you need support and good luck, I am sorry for the massive disappointment but you can make a mere blip when you are past all this and into the summer weather, can’t you? Good luck…

Sooze39, I recommend you to have a look at a website called dietdoctor.com and particularly some articles on there by Jason Fung who is a kidney specialist and recommends intermittent fasting as a cure for type 2 diabetes. He has written a book called ‘the obesity code’ which is excellent. His approach is to combine low carb high fat eating with 16, 24 and 36 hours of fasting. It sounds hard but when you think you sleep for at least 9 of the hours it’s really quite easy. There are no complicated recipes or formulas to follow, no costs involved, no mad exercise routines to do.

The idea is to let the insulin levels in your body drop back to normal by ‘resting’ the body and it makes perfect sense. I have totally adapted my lifestyle to fasting now and it surely is the easiest way to lose weight. I am not type 2 but I think the fact I struggled to lose weight before meant I was insulin resistant – like most of the population! But I am now correcting this with the fasting. Of course, you need to adjust your meds accordingly but it sounds like you already have supportive medics around you and Jason Fung has advice on that too on his own website.

Don’t be despondent, we all have setbacks, not least because of the crap advice we have been given over the years. But finally it was on the news yesterday – more fat, less carbs, fewer snacks. You don’t say! Our message is finally being taken seriously. Hallelujah!

Hi Sooze39, you have my sympathy regarding the Metformin! I’ve been on it for 5 years – necessitating visiting the loo up to 6 times a day due to the gastro problems! Since sticking with the BSD for 12 weeks, those side effects have disappeared (due to the sensible eating) and I now “go” only once a day. It’s as if I’ve got my life back!! I hope you can get back to it – even for this benefit alone. Good luck.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, it’s much appreciated. My HbA1C did come down quite a lot on the Glic…..5.2 now, it was 6.9 before because half the time I wasn’t taking the Met because of the constant loo visits. I’m just taking 1 Met now, at lunchtime, to see how it goes….so far it’s been ok. I’ll have a look at those Jason Fung articles. I’m feeling much more positive now and ready to start afresh today. Thanks again.