Hello, I’ve just been diagnosed as diabetic with HbAc1 7.7. I had a very upsetting phone consultation with a diabetic nurse yesterday who asked if I wanted to take Ozempic or Dapagliflozin to help control things. I asked for time to consider and she is calling on Monday to hear which one I’ve chosen. I asked if I could try with diet and exercise first and she said no. I then went on to a diabetes site where I was told low carb could really help reduce my levels. Then I remembered reading the Blood Sugar Diet book a while ago. I can’t find my copy of it now but have just ordered 3 of the Mosley/Bailey books and plan to try them. I feel pretty upset and wobbly.

Any advice or tips gratefully received.

Hi Sheila, I have just done a lengthy reply and then accidently deleted it. So, to save me from doing it all again I will summarise.

First of all, this diet really does work.

Ask your nurse if you can have a 3 month period where you can try diet and do it without the drugs. I know she said no but it is your choice and she cant force you. Then get very serious with this plan and you will get excellent results, you might even reverse the diagnosis completely as you are newly diagnosed. You have the books – especially the BDS rather than the Fast800 – although they are basically the same diet the BSD has lots of information about diabetes and is a bit stricter.

Plan and shop and know what you are going to be eating for a few days in advance so you dont get highjacked by not having the right food in. Completely stop eating white, starchy carbs – bread, rice, potatoes, pasta etc. and more….. Drink lots of water, add a little salt to your diet to replace what is being flushed out. Make life easy if you have family. Make the same meals, you just miss out the carbs and replace them with lots of veg or even a bit more of the main protien. Dont be afraid to ask questions as there is so much to learn and without re-writing the book, cant tell you everything you need to know. There is lots of help on here, just shout out.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am dreading the phone call tomorrow but I started the Blood Sugar Diet today. I am pretty determined to try and fix this mess myself if I can.

Hi Sheila
You may not read this until after your phone call but just wanted to say don’t worry too much as this way of eating works (did for me along with lots of others with T2 on here and elsewhere). The people on the diabetes site are right.
I share sunshine-girl’s view but even if you do end up on meds you can still do the BSD and get your blood sugars back into the normal range – and then come off the meds. Again, lots of people have done this.
It might be worth mentioning MM and the Blood Sugar Diet to your nurse as many health practitioners now recommend it to people who are newly diagnosed so it might help.

Do let us know how the phone call goes. Best wishes
Jennie xx

Hi Sheila, have you had your phone call yet. How did it go. I noticed in your first post you said the nurse was going to give you time to decide which one you wanted to take, not whether or not you wanted to take either. Both have fairly bad side effects – do a google search – did nurse discuss these with you.

Thanks so much, Jennie and Sunshine Girl, I’ve just had my phone consultation and I’m pleased to say it went well. I have agreed on a plan with the nurse to try and get the levels down through diet and exercise before taking the medication. She will test me in 3 months by which time she wants me to have lost a stone and reduced sugar level from 7.7 to 6.7.

I’ve been low carb doing the BSD for 1 ½ days so far. Crikey, my stomach is making extraordinary noises!

Hi Sheila,
I’m sure with this way of eating you can get where you need to be. It’s great the nurse is supportive. When I did the F800 first time the doctors hadn’t heard of it, they still attribute the benefits to my bloods on a drug they gave me I never took! Metaphormin doesn’t seem to work for me but this diet does, but agree with others it’s not a short term fix, but I do think you can use 800 to get yourself in a better position maybe the three months til your next check then utilise low carb to maintain longer term (Atleast this is what works for me). Unfortunately I forgot all this in lockdown, and blood sugars increased, drinking and baking will do that!!

So pleased for you Sheila. This is not going to be easy but you will get a lot of support here, just shout out. Anything is better than getting onto the slippery slope of meds and then more meds, so remember that when you are feeling fed up with the diet. 6.7 is just about the pre-diabetic range. Looking forward to seeing you on the other side of this diagnosis.