and you Aliba, I’ve not tried any different clothes yet, but my ‘tummy wodge’ (you know, that bit that you notice when you sit down ) is definately smaller!

As l wrote before my GP wouldn’t give me the time of day when l mentioned what l would like to try. I am having bloods done next week and then a week later seeing my diabetic nurse. I haven’t started the diet properly yet just testing the ground and getting my menus sorted out as l want to give it a real go. These last 10 days l have lost 8 lbs and fasting bg between 7and 8.
l will have to see what she has to say hopefully she will be able to support me as l really would like to get off some if not all of this medication

Sorry for my ignorance but can someone tell me what rhe DESMOND course is.

Yes, DESMOND was one of the most depressing days of my life, so far. Our host finished with – ” Diabetes is like pregnancy, you can’t be a little bit diabetic. It’s incurable, you can only get worse, but if you follow our diet, and take your medication, you can slow the decline. First you will cope with diet, then you will require medication, and finally insulin. This is the only way to avoid complications.”
I resolved then to take other action if that proved to be the case.

I use something called Red yeast rice capsules & my cholesterol has reduced
I have lost weight also & become generally fitter – rather than going for the ‘reduced fat ‘
option reduce your portion size and increase salads & vegetables .
There are lots of food that lower cholesterol , walnuts are very good as is hibiscus tea .
Good luck 🙂

I attended the DESMOND course & found it totally useless regarding self help
and diet & in a room of 15 people I was the only person
not on medication !
My GP was very insistent that medication was a must in my case but I declined -I attended the DESMOND course thinking it would be more encouraging about changing eating habits & lifestyle
Little or no advice on healthy diet & reversing diabetes was mentioned & attitude to it dismissive ” medication was the only way forward ” seemed to be the opinion!
I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes in June & had reversed it by August by changing my diet and losing 22 lbs.
I have lost further weight & continue to eat & fast and feel much healthier .
Incidentally I just heard of Michael Mosely after I reversed t2d but I can assure you ,exercise change of lifestyle& fasting combined DOES REVERSE TYPE 2DIABETES .

I’ve forgotten to take lunch a couple of times but managed to get boiled eggs and spinach from Pret and hummus and carrot sticks are always available in M and S or any supermarket

Brilliant Laska….well done!
I’m a week in and lost 7lbs…..just tried on two dresses that wouldn’t fit and they look great!

Well nothing recommended worked for me until I started this. The NHS is using our money to pay for our care and I’ve cost them ( and therefore everyone else) a fortune in drugs and appointments since diagnosis so could save them a fortune now and in the future if I finally take care of my own health.
Unfortunately it takes a while for the powers that be to catch up….not their fault but they need tons of research etc.
Luckily we don’t.
I’ve felt really ropey, particularly this past year and truly have never felt so well since starting this eating plan. Given the vile complications of diabetes I’m happy to risk it for a biscuit😇.I don’t even crave them anymore,
So it’s a win for me and a win for the NHS.

Hi, I have high cholesterol so I’m trying hard to get it down with this diet as I need to loose weight and it looks as if I have the start of angina which I’m gutted about as only 58. I’m not sure whether I should be having low fat or no fat products to lower it. Some advice would be helpful please.
Many thanks

Thought I’d start a WI thread , so we can see how we are doing.
(My ‘official’ WI is Fridays ) ,

I have been doing the BSD a week and a half and have lost 8.5 lbs .. so thrilled!

I had Pizza Express leggera superfood salad with chicken , when I went out last week,
It was yummy and myfitness pal puts it as 385 calories

Steve and Ei
I went to see the nurse last week and told her I was starting this. She said she hoped it would work and told me to watch the blood sugar and, if my levels were getting constantly low, to reduce my medication.
It just goes to show how opinions can differ. I suppose I’m lucky as my surgery has a doctor and a nurse who are experienced in diabetic care. I was offfered DESMOND but declined.

Hi Karen
If you use My Fitness Pal we have a group there called BloodSugarDiet which is very supportive too.
Hope yr doing ok.
Penny

Hi Casey
Welcome to the forum. You sound a bit like a lot of us! Hope it’s going ok.
See my post to Bordercol re shakes you can make yourself which are fantastically nutritious.
Penny

Hi Debs
That sounds amazing and not diety! Can’t have dairy but will find substitute.
Penny

Hi Melanie
Sounds like you’re doing really well. Envy you from here in grey and rainy UK!
Penny

Hi Bordercol
There’s a book I’m using called The 5:2 Diet Low carb Nurtibullet recipe book by Susan Fotherington. Lots of info about nutirients. You wouldn’t believe the amazing nutrients in a leaf of kale or a strawberry! Really encouraging- and UK based I think. Gives cals and basic nutrients for each shake. They’re each about 250. They often use protein powder of various sorts which are a bit prices but last for ages. I get mine from Indigo Nitrition through Amazon. I haven’t lost much in the 4 days I’ve done, but enough to just move me from’obese’ to ‘overweight’ and feeling very perky with all these nutrients.
Penny

Hi all,
I’m starting this topic to hopefully support us when we have to eat out, I’m thinking more for quick lunches rather than fine dining…thought it might be useful if we share suggestions when we grab something from M&S, Pret, Boots….etc. It’s not been a challenge yet (on holiday) but it may hit next week. I try & always do packed lunches but sometimes that unravels by Friday.

I started this diet on 27th Jan & I’ve lost 7lb so far. It’s slowing this week but I think that’s because I’m on holiday so not running around as much. Still last year it took me a year to lose a stone so to do half that in 10 days is very encouraging! I’m struggling if I’m not organised. But I skipped breakfast today to have a lovely lunch of figs, mozzarella, tomatoes & prosciutto – 200 cal. Small plate but felt indulgent & so nice to have proper buffalo mozzarella. Fingers crossed work doesn’t derail me next week!

I am a practice nurse in a GP surgery and was pre diabetic. I have recommended this diet to several of my type 2s 🙂

Oh I forgot- http://www.eatthismuch.com and http://www.loseit.com both help track and plan meals.

You are a lucky man, then. Most health professionals I have met are working from a (out of date?) script. I asked about Newcastle, and diet, and did they want volunteers to try something different, a year ago, and was told “that is only for fat people”.
At DESMOND I queried the “must eat carbs”, and asked for a view on low carbing as an alternative way out, and was told that “it would put your cholesterol up, wouldn’t it. Better to raise your glucose levels and then take drugs”.

Hey Penny
weight loss does tend to fluctuate, I was told years ago not to weigh myself too often as you can lose confidence when the rsults aren’t what you expect.
Best to pick a certain day each week and make that your weigh day.

Hi Everyone, I purchased the BSD book this week and am still reading – I’m a slow reader! My BS is typically about 12 and I have 100lbs to lose. I was diagnosed with diabetes one year ago at my surgery after signing up for a free health check – unfortunately I already had full on diabetes and some liver malfunction. I am on Metformin SR which I tolerate perfectly well – unlike the regular Metformin that made me feel nauseous. I suspect I have a genetic tendency to diabetes as even at 7.5 stone my waist was thickish. Anyhow, I am very unfit but gonna try some HIIT walks – that is walk as fast as I can up hill for 1 minute then slow down to a relaxed pace for 1 min – and try and keep going. Also gonna try and complete at least 10k steps daily. I usually do about 200-400 steps a day so quite a change. For food I am planning on eating soups from The Soup Cleanse by Angela Blatteis and Vivienne Vellaa. I’m thinking I won’t bother with breakfast and try and keep my eating window to 6 hours (midday to 6pm) – that’s fasting for 18 out of 24 hours. Fingers crossed.

Tesco Cholesterol Reducing Strawberry Yoghurt Drinks is better, at 3.5g sugar per bottle, cheaper too! I think I will swap. 🙂

Thanks for sharing – I’ll take a look 😊

Thank you. I’ve just had a look and Benecol light (the one I usually have) has 4.7g of sugar per bottle – nearly 1tsp. Is that OK or too much sugar? I’ll see if I can compare with some other makes, such as own brands.

Guys thanks so much for the comments and the support. Sugar reading was 7.8 again this morning, I have to say that I’m not really having any of the side effects that others have had, never felt hungy, and I feel that I’ll be able to stay on the plan for as long as it takes.
I’ve been following a Utube channel for quite a while that specialises in absolutely brilliant Indian food. I’m sure the recipes could be easily adapted to this diet so I’m going to go through them all this weekend to check them out.
If anyones interested, the channel is Als kitchen, and if you decide to indulge, remember to make the base gravy first and bear in mind, it’s not a dish, it’s an ingredient.

My nurse fully supports the diet. TBH the guys who came up with this are far more experienced than your nurse and have been involved in the actual research from the start.
This diet isn’t faddy, it’s common sense really, and it works.
Tell her to ring professor Taylor at Newcastle university if she has reservations.

I have had reports from two people, now, that their NHS diabetic nurse has warned them off this diet. They were given the usual script about low fat, 1/3 plate carbs etc.- “this diet will harm you in the long run”.
Personally I’m pretty thrilled with the diet so far. Continual (carb addiction?) hunger gone, energy up, mood better, BG down.

Now, I’ve got an HbA1c coming up next month. I’m already a stone lighter than last time, and my fasting BG has been around the low 4s, as opposed to 6-7. I’m assuming the BG results will be good. Not sure what I’m expecting the cholesterol to do, but the hope is for down, as I’m pretty convinced the fat-cholesterol connection is a mistake.
But do you tell her what you’ve been doing? Is it easier to keep schtum, and let them take the credit, and avoid arguments? It would be nice to have some NHS back up on this. Get them on board. You’d think they’d be interested to have some guinea pigs.

It’s not as difficult as it sounds! I felt hungry the first 3 or 4 days making it easy to drink lots of fluids but now I don’t even feel any hunger. I started the diet on the 20th January. A tip I would give you for the first few days is make sure your next meal is prepared as I found the hunger could hit suddenly the first few days.
As you see the weight drop of and your clothes become looser it is much easier to be motivated.
I also need to lose 2 stones or so. I have lost almost one stone already. I find I lose more weight on the days I have done more exercise – mostly walking and resistance work.
So hold on to your hat and let the good times roll!!!

I started on 18th January at 8.6 and I am now 5.3 so it does work.

OMG I totally agree!!!

Although I live on my own which makes dieting easier I still manage to have friends and family round for meals. I calculate the overall calories in a dish – so if I am cooking for three people I may divide the total calories by 4 and give myself one quarter and divide the remainder between the two guests. Just by leaving out the carbs I can eat the same food. I also use the Fast diet recipe book which helps when catering for others, I may make two low calorie meals from the book and have a half portion of each for myself. Guests are happy with their two course delicious meal.
Investing in a spiraliser to make courgetti has been really helpful. A ‘starter’ of courgetti with a simple dressing of garlic and chilli with a small sprinkle of parmesan or a tablespoon of low fat cream cheese stirred in is only around 100 calories or so.

Stick with it, people on this forum are having amazing results.
I started on Monday and already I’m seeing a blood sugar reduction, down from 9.8 to 7.8 and if i can do it, anyone can.

I am on day 5 and am shocked I’ve not had a headache as it’s something I would normally get on a fast too but think it’s because I have drunk so much water and most of it warm… Never drunk so much in my life…. Water, water, water…. Wee, wee, wee…. But it works!

Have started today with blood sugars 9.8 so am hoping they drop over next few days.

Have just read the BSD book and wondering if it’s for me. My blood sugar is fine (so far!) but have PCOS, my Dad had type II diabetes and I’m about 20kg overweight (carrying lots of this weight around my waist). I have tried the 5/2 diet but would always get a migraine on the fast days. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks Squidgy. I tried the yoghurt and berries etc and prepd it then took into work . It tasted a lot better than I thought it would . Will definitely have it again

Hi Hippo

Holland & Barrett sell flaxseeds.

It does sound nice but I have found that carbs push up my blood sugars too much – even healthy oats – I think I must be really carb sensitive.

I’m hoping with time and clearing out my liver that it gets better!

Tuppence

Hi I am Day 5 tomorrow. This is the only diet I think I’ve ever enjoyed. Being type 2 D for 6 years I have finally made a stark reality check with myself.
I am a little concerned that I have gone over my 800 cals the last couple of days by about 30 to 50 cals…
But I am also thrilled that I have gone from having good no exercise to almost 10000 steps every day which is equating to just over an hour of brisk walking.
The calories I’m burning walking – will that impact on me going over slightly ???

My hubby really enjoyed the No carb bircher Tuppence. We need to find some flaxseeds though.

Hippo

Good luck Aliba.

Hippo

Well we are on day 4 and I am pleased to say, that hubby and I have lost 1/2 stone each already!

Favourite meals so far are the No carb ploughmans, No carb bircher, Portobello toast with goat’s cheese and pine nuts (outstanding) plus had Sardine dip for lunch – very tasty. No issues with eating less calories. I actually feel better – no spikes in blood sugar. So good so far.

Hippo

It’s weird Bill ……I felt exactly the same. Didn’t know how I’d survive especially as I had absorbed all the advice about eating carbs etc.
I’m a week in, lost 6lbs and feel brilliant. Haven’t felt this good since I was diagnosed. Sleeping well, eating well, wake up feeling alert not worn out, more energy, better mood. Have missed sugar, bread etc and no cravings.
To be honest there hasn’t been a downside for me, I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I love these forums.
Lots of positive encouragement which we all need

Bill that’s marvellous news…..congratulations. Hope you’re finding it easy and enjoying the feeling of being virtuous!

Hi Southern
This just what I have…..I’m sure others will have different ideas.
The practice nurse gave me a Mediterranean diet off the internet last year but I had no idea about how to put it together or what to do on a daily basis.
This is much easier and I’ve lost 6lbs in a week.
Hope you’re going to give it a go…..I was a bit scared that it wouldn’t be possible or I would faint through lack of food but nothing could be further from the truth…..it’s been remarkably straight forward!
Good luck

Is it ok to use liver/kidneys and the like in the 8 week diet? I notice it’s never mentioned in the book.

Yep know the feeling . Skinny husband cupboards full of biscuits sweets etc.