Sent this email.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2009. I move around the country because of my work and have seen differences in diabetes care around the country. Some GPs are happy to prescribe test strips, most will not. Yet we are told we should be proactive in our diabetes care. I question how we can be proactive without the necessary tools!
Despite different doctors wanting me to take Metformin I have managed to remain diet controlled, following the advice given by ‘professionals’ to eat carbohydrates. One doctor told me he wanted diabetics (including me!) to have “early aggressive intervention with Metformin, statins and blood pressure medication”. I declined. I did take blood pressure medication (more of that later) and am unable to take statins.
During this time I bought my own test strips (many are not able to do so because of the cost) and noticed that during the day my blood sugars were reasonable, but I always struggled with the fasting blood sugar, never getting it below 7.
In November 2015 I had my HbA1c blood test and when the nurse rang with the result the dreaded Metformin was mentioned. I told her that I had just found a book called ‘The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet’ by Dr Michael Mosley and Professor Roy Taylor. She agreed that I could try that before being prescribed medication.
I am a 65 year old female, 5ft 2ins, and when I started the 8 weeks on 19th December 2015, I weighed 16 stone, my fasting blood sugar was 10.9 and my BMI was 40.9.
At the end of the 8 weeks my weight was 14 stone 1 pound, fasting blood sugar 5.3, BMI 36.
As I still have weight to lose I have continued on the same eating plan, now having completed 16 weeks in total. Weight now 12 stone 11 pounds, fasting blood sugar 4.4, BMI 32.7.
From struggling with fasting blood sugars consistently above 7, they are now between 4 and 4.9, without taking any diabetes medication. I have also stopped blood pressure medication as my blood pressure had dropped as I lost weight. I feel healthier than in a long time, have more energy, my mood is better, I think more clearly and have better concentration. All by severely restricting carbohydrates in my diet. The carbohydrates I do eat are from natural foods, not processed ones. At first it could seem daunting to limit myself to 800 calories a day, with restricted calories, but the results I have had speak for themselves, as does the fact that I am able to maintain that level of calories and carbs longer term with no ill effect, and the benefits continue.
That is my story. And I am not the only one. The forums on the BSD website grow daily, with people reporting being able to reduce, then come off, diabetes medication and significant weight loss. These forums are mutually supportive – which is important as many medical professionals are either unaware of this book or are dismissive of it, despite the research by Professor Taylor that the book is based on.
May I respectfully request that you look into the eating plan in ‘The 8-week Blood Sugar Diet’ as a cost-effective method of controlling and potentially reversing type 2 diabetes without the need for drugs which, as well as being costly for the NHS have potential side-effects for many patients.
I have kept written records from starting this eating plan, and they are available should anyone wish to see them.