Hi Charlie,

(This is my first post here, so be gentle with me!)

One of the problems is that when you are diagnosed as “diabetic”, they base the decision purely on your HbA1C level. This a bit like throwing a car away when it won’t go, when actually it’s run out of petrol.

There are several types of diabetes, and whilst type 2 is the most common, there are also LADA, MODY and 1.5. If you are not overweight, the chances are it’s more likely to be one of these variants, than type 2 tbh. The only way to know for certain is to see a specialist and ask for a C-Peptide test which shows if you are actually producing enough insulin.

I have been low carbing since I was diagnosed T2 4 years ago btw!

Hope this helps

TP

Thanks Bre123 and Penny,
To be honest I think the exhuastion may be due to my hectic life (work full time, 2 kids, husband works away etc.) and lack of hours in the day to sleep! I have gained weight steadily since becoming a mother I think due to the fact that I eat, not because I am hungry but to give me a boost through the tiredness to enable me to get things done! I think I need to focus on getting enough sleep – I drink pints of water throughout the day and as active as I can be (always go for a walk at lunch time etc.).

I felt particularity tired after eating the bircher museli (recipie in the book) yesterday morning. I wonder if it was due to the raisins and apple juice? Have had the same this morning but swapped the raisins/apple juice for more yogurt and feel _much_ better.

OscarBelle

That’s marvellous scotgran, keep it up ! and make sure the hubby does too.
As he sees his weight and blood sugar come down, he will become as excited as you are.

I’m halfway through week two. Before I started, I’d had flu and no appetite for a week or so. I actually didn’t weigh myself before starting but exactly a month ago I was 12stone7lbs. I’m delighted to report that this morning I weigh11stone 11lbs! I don’t know how much is due to flu but I do know that if I hadn’t gone on this diet, I’d have put it all on and more as I usually stock up on carbs when I’m ill. This diet is such a revelation to me. My diabetic hubby is joining in now too although he does sneak some carbs. Now I’m feeling fitter and the weather is better I’m looking forward to getting more exercise.

Hi Penny.
I am eating alot of fat in steaks /pork and the odd bit of feta cheese plus salmon /Mackerel etc.
I will try eating more fat but the hunger pangs are getting less and if I drink loads of water when they strike it does abate the cravings.
I did the Atkins diet years ago and the BSD is very similar but with less calories as well as a good long term plan for keeping the weight off.
How’s it going on your part and have you achieved any of your goals yet?.
Feeling good today and very optimistic.

Guys thanks so much for all the kind comments.
Hashimoto that’s brilliant news, there’s a sylph like figure in there and now it’s trying to burst out.
My big joke was that I had a six pack, I just chose to hide it under a couple inches of fat to stop people being jealous. Well, now I’m not going to worry about their feelings 😉
Cherrianne, looking forward to seeing you get similar results.

Hope all those who started the BSD on Monday, are happy with how things are progressing. I feel I have had a good start and find as day 3 starts, that I’m down by 1.5lb. Have found like AllieBee I have had the odd hunger pang, but nothing major and actually starting to see some positive results, makes that all worth while. And in truth, it’s not been a struggle, although I do find I want my evening meal earlier than I would normally eat – no big deal.

Hope to hear how everyone else is doing.

Hi. Mine got better naturally. Though I had one on Monday and I put that down to a very light breakfast (50 cals). Stick with it x

Hi Natasha,
My motivation was to get my diabetes under control. I was under threat of needing to start on insulin. I have a very strong family history of diabetes going back at least four generations. In my generation there is myself and two cousins with quite severe type 2, only one of whom is overweight.
I always thought it wouldn’t happen to me as I ate a very healthy vegetarian diet, was at the lower end of my healthy weight range and not the typical apple shape I thought diabetics were.
I really needed something drastic to change. Like you I read the research and it made so much sense. So far I have fasting blood sugars mostly in the non diabetic range so I’m sure my GP will reconsider starting medication at my next review.
I realise now my diet was quite carb heavy so the changes I’ve made have to be life long.
Sounds like you made the right choice to start the diet before you became diabetic. You have lost nearly a third of the weight you wanted to lose already, so well done. At least you’ll be nice and slim when you get to Melbourne next. They have a great cafe lifestyle over there with some really healthy food choices. Plus a fantastic market for fresh produce so you’ll have plenty of options.
I know the hot weather sounds idyllic but it does play havoc with my garden at times. I had no apricots this year because we had days of hot north winds just after the fruit set and they just dropped off the tree. Things can just shrivel up and die despite watering well. I am grateful to be able to grow my own food though and so far my husband and kids haven’t complained about how many of my recipes just happen to contain zucchini!!

Day three and all seems to be going well. Managing to keep the calories under control and can honestly say I haven’t felt ravenous – little hungry every now and then, but nothing major. Have settled into small meals breakfast and lunch, so that I can still eat the main meal in the evening with my husband. The diet is making me take a real look at what I’m consuming and what new dishes I can cook. Only thing I really need to sort is the exercise aspect, but I find motivation here a tough one. I have tried to be more active, without doing specific exercises, but I know that really needs to change.

Still, for now I’m happy with how things are progressing, checked the scales and I’m down by 1.5lb at present, which is very encouraging! Hope everyone else is doing well and starting to see results too.

Hi Clare, do you think Michael could do some similar research into hypothyroidism? This is the first diet which has worked for me in terms of shifting fat and I would love to know if going permanently low carb will benefit all those of us with hypothyroidism. Thankyou for your posts

Hi. I have lost 1 stone in one month. Ecstatic with that but my BM levels have been 4.9 5.7 5.3 over the last 3 weeks after fasting overnight. I have not strayed from the diet. Should I be concerned? x

Great news on Monday, as my jeans were starting to slip down I decided to find my old walking trousers that I haven’t been able to wear for a couple of years. Went on easily. I was so happy. Then the unexpected happened – they started slipping down too! I can’t believe the impact this diet is having on my belly fat. Big thanks to Bill and everyone on these forums for the help and encouragement – and to Michael M, of course!

Thank you Rainybow

Wow Bill, huge achievements since you started this thread just three weeks ago. Blood sugars in a range you could only have dreamed about back then. Weight and inches lost. One medication gone. Congratulations. You have become so knowledgeable about the diet and lifestyle to keep you healthy. Looks like you’re in charge of the diabetes now, not the other way round.

Hi Bill, I too wish this info had been out there years ago as this is the first diet that is having an impact on my weight ( I have hypothyroidism) and have been worried about developing diabetes. I love your posts, they are so inspiring. Good luck with your retinopathy. I have a diabetic friend who has recently developed retinopathy but won’t change to this diet as he has always been told to eat lots of carbs. grrrrrr

Hi Bill, thankyou for the info on the chickpea flour (gram flour) I have the confidence to make some onion bhajis again after reading your post. I’m impressed with your blood sugar results! Your GP must be delighted with you

Lots and lots and lots of water , it helps with the headache and also keeps hunger at bay . Stick with it once you get through the tough first few days / week it gets easier . You can do it ! Good luck

No worries Nic, the nurses will have seen it all before!

Well, after a chat with a nurse last week I decided as an experiment to drop my Exanatide (Byetta) injections this week.
Pleased to report that the blood sugar readings are still (Fasting) between 5.6 and 6.2 and in the 4’s before dinner.
Feeling a little more hungry at night but nothing I can’t cope with.
So it looks like that’s 1 of my meds gone, just need to work on the Metformin.
Wow wouldn’t it be good to have a life that didn’t include those horrible Metformin “moments”

Morning Penny. I’m not eating much fruit, just a handful of blueberries on my morning omelette, with some Greek yogurt. I do have a very good breakfast! My other carbs come from veg, chickpeas, and occasionally a small portion of lentils. For lunch, I’m generally having a small salad with chicken, prawns,feta or falafels. Evening is a small portion of whatever the family is having, minus the carbs. I made a similar stew to yours at the weekend, tonight is salmon and stir fried veg. My evening treat is a small cup of cocoa made with half almond milk, half full fat milk – I don’t think too many calories. So apart from the treat, think its ok. I suspect I’m not exercising enough, although my job in a busy shop means I am on my feet all day. Not in today, so just off for a walk! Thanks for the encouragement, and hope it is going well for you.

Hi Day 3 I’ve woken up hungry and tired. I decided to jump on the scales. They reckon I’ve put 1/2 a kilo on. So taking control I’m not getting on the anymore. I’ll judge my weightless on my clothing instead. (just incase they’re lying). Any ideas of how to get rid of the headaches without drugs ?

He He, Jahooly did I not say last week that you would be excited about your results
Keep it up, you’re well on the way.

Thanks Penny! One day at a time 🙂

I think I’ve found another problem, I’m not eating enough fat. Old habits die hard! I’m still trying to make my meals as big as I can for the allowable calories but I seem to be making low carb and low fat meals.
What sort of parallel universe have I entered where I actively look to add fat to my food??!! Haha. Time to redo my meal plans!

I found the UK diabetes website quite informative. Lots of recipes which have calories, fat, protein measured out and they seem quite big on the low carb way to managing diabetes. There is a 10 week low carb program you can join and you don’t have to live in the UK to do so (I’m outside the UK).

http://www.diabetes.co.uk

I would be weary of eating too many Carrots, as they have a high sugar content. As do Parsnips and Swede.

Hi James,

I’d love to join in! I just discovered the blood sugar diet today and plan to start straight away. Good luck to everyone!

Doing great, Teej!
Penny

Hi Natasha
You could work them out by googling the ingredients. Then you d know…
Penny

Hi Malkay
Sorry- I’ve recommended it to all and sundry so couldn’t remember. It’s so great having the facts, really helpful probably you would do better being more accurate for a while.
Where are you getting your carbs?
Mine are just non tropocal fruit plus veg, so I just check on the ‘Nutrition’ bit of Myfitness pal to see how they’re working out. Today it was 29 grams. That was one small Apple , one orange, kale, lettuce, carrot, beetroot. Plus tiny bits in just about everything.
Penny

I have had the blueberry and green tea shake, chicken with butter beans and walnut salad a d crab cakes for 3 days in a row (tomorrow is my last day!!).

This would present a problem if I didn’t love crab lol

I’m completely intent on sticking to the menu plan too, so I totally understand where you’re coming from lol xx

Ps, omg I love the Bircher too, so delicious.

Hi Penny.
I did read the book you recommended. It’s really helpful, particularly the bit about going above the ‘ketogenic boundary’. That may be my problem, as I’m not measuring my carbs very accurately, but I’m not eating any starchy carbs at all. In the book, Michael doesn’t actually talk about ketosis, so I wasn’t sure whether we need to worry about it. I was trying to avoid having to weigh everything and be too strict, but maybe it’s just time to up my game and get a bit more serious!

Think I’ll leave the crab cakes Natasha, Not a huge lover of crab ….. Lol. But so Intent on trying to stick to the menu plan…..must learn to lighten up 😍😍. Ha
Good luck all, tomorrow is another day on this journey ……
Ummmm dreaming of no carb bicher tonight ..😊

Yes it all helps us. The more info the better.
Penny

Hi, yes a buddy would be good , on day 8 and 12 lbs lighter , feels good and most imif time not hungry but when it hits find it hard to resist but so far other than a few olives and squid I e kept to it and. It does it work ……. Have another 5 stone to lose which seems like a mountain to climb but help and support from buddies would be good ……..

Catch you soon And good luck this week

Hi Che
Great isn’t it. Very empowering to know facts. Once I d read the book I could see people on the forums struggling because they don’t know this stuff. ( so of course I tell them about the book !)
Penny

Yes I really like that site and quite inspiring to read the case studies.

Videos!

Aliba- have you seen diet doctor. Com? Interesting stuff with good vudeos.
Penny

Hi Aliba
Us and millions of others!
Now we know- but most people still don’t, and the low fat message is so engrained…
Penny

Thanks Penny, really interesting, especially the bit about fat being needed to regulate blood sugar. I’m totally convinced of it after eating low fat for decades, ended up nearly 5 stone overweight and diabetic!

Seems like they have… But Michael also says it’s ok to have slightly higher one day slightly lower the next. But I think we need to check the calories ourselves in any recipe.
Penny

Marvellous Natasha!
Penny

Good Nic. ☺️

Aliba- I love your list! Mine would be similar but soya instead of dairy. Also some red meat to cook delicious stews in the slow cooker. And pears and occasionally a bit of watermelon, and oranges.
We re so Lucky to live in such a well- provided society!
Penny

Hi FatCat,

Thanks for your response.

I have measuring spoons and level off portions with a knife by dragging it over the top of the spoon.

I think they should state that in the book, that regular cutlery tablespoons are totally different to a tablespoon size a measuring spoon gives.

I am losing weight pretty fast since I started 2 weeks ago and have had the Bircher several times, so I **think** the calories are correct. I hope so anyway!!!!

That should have read ‘ the bad effect’!!

Hi Malkay
Did you have a look at this book?
‘Low carbs problems solved’ by Jenny Ruhl.
(£3 on kindle)
If you haven’t it might help you.
Penny

Hi, I said my no carb Bircher came out at nearer 300 cals (not 180), but it’s a recipe that’s given in tablespoonfuls – so the size of the spoon (tablespoons vary, I don’t have a measure), whether they’re heaped or level, makes a big difference. So in my case, I think it’s my measurement error – I need one of the ‘official’ spoon measures I think.