Hi all!

I started last Wednesday. Currently doing 2 shakes & a 400 calorie meal. Lost 8lbs already.

I’m very very overweight & am prediabetic so it’s my aim to sort that. Morning glucose has dipped into the 5’s a couple of days but up to 7 one day. It remained in the high 6’s on just a very low carb diet I tried last year.

This has been the easiest diet to stick to I’ve ever been on. And the fast loss is very motivating.

Can anyone tell me which spiralizer they have? I have looked online & it’s a bit of a minefield – so many to chose from & they all look so similar! Help please!!!

how did you know how to lower your insulin. the fast acting one I take with food is easier to work out but the 24 hour one, I have no idea?

Hi
I am on Insulin twice daily, and Byetta twice daily.
Since I have been on the BSD my blood sugar has gone down so I have been able to lower my insulin intake and this has also helped me to lose weight, nearly a stone, and all I have done in the way of excersize is walk a bit more.
Give it a go, the diet will help you loseweight even if you’re not running a marathon!!!
Good luck

Wobbly…I’ve been on it for just over a week and lost 7lbs…..using my fitness pal app to record what I’m eating and there have been a couple of days when I’ve give over 800 cals but overall it’s been great. No cravings and feel well…it’s all good!

Hi, I have been on Thyroxine for years, been on the BSD for three weeks and no bad effects ONLY GOOOD ONES, LIKE LOSING 10LBS!!!

Hi Mooster, good question – I take thyroxine too and was wondering the same thing. I would imagine the diet is pretty safe, just go easy on the kale!

Thanks Aliba, day 2 and I’m still motivated so that’s a good sign! Got the book on my kindle yesterday and have spent this morning meal planning for the week ahead so hopefully I won’t go adrift. How long have you been doing the diet for?

Hi
Just starting the diet today I have Hashimotos hypothyroidism and take 100mg levothyroxine per day and need to reduce weight any tips? Thanks

Very well done Bernie….that’s a great weight loss!

End of week 1 for me and have just weighed myself and lost 8lbs which I am overjoyed at. Just done the menu plan for week 2. I have found planning is the key for me so I know what we are all going to eat each day. Looking forward to week 2 which I have never said about any diet I have ever been on.

I made them on Thursday and froze them – haven’t tried them yet but need something to take for lunch at a day conference on Thursday. I found the mixture dry and had to add a bit more orange juice. They look a bit dry now cooked but they smelt lovely. Will report on cooked texture after Thursday.

Yes- cloud bread is a blessing when you want something a bit bready and its lovely with cheese . I first heard of it as oopsie bread (it came about because of a mistake reading a recipe). I add psyllium husks to mine to get more fibre for obvious reasons. Enjoy making it! 🙂

Just noticed you walk 5-6 miles a day!!!

I’m six days in now. My BS has gone from 10.5 to 8.3, so although I still have a way to go I’m very happy (it started at 21.9 in November!) I’ve only lost 4lbs but I haven’t been as strict as I could have, fluctuating between 700 and 1000 cals a day. It’s certainly given me the incentive to carry on which no other diet in the last 30 years has done.

Well done woobear! Are you being really strict? Are you doing exercise as well?

Hi Pinay
That’s very discouraging for you. I saw a good TED talk on you tube. A doctor called Sarah Hallberg who deals with diabetes. Worth a look, very encouraging – she tells her patients ‘No GPS’ which is no grains, potatoes, sugar. At least easy to grasp!
Hope things start improving for you.
Penny

Hi, I have just finished reading Michael’s book and am also starting the diet. Do you have a to reduce your blood glucose levels a lot as well as weight? I certainly have to do both, am very excited about my journey.

Hi all, hope you don’t mind me joining your thread. I started last Wednesday and I’m thrilled to have lost 5lbs already. I’m lucky as I haven’t been hungry so far and the immediate results on the scales have spurred me on. I was diagnosed T2 at the end of October with a grand total of 6.5 stone to lose to even get into the realms of s healthy BMI and still got 4 to go. This book had been a godsend as it has just made beautiful sense to me, plus it’s good I like so I feel very lucky!

Jojo I’m vegetarian too so having to adapt the recipes ( well my husband is). This morning I have lost 3 lbs down to a weight I havent seen since 1992! Fbg was 6.4 . No spikes in sugar readings during the day. Body fat down 1.5%.

Well end of week 1 for me and have lost 10lb, blood sugar down to 5.1 this morning 😀
Looking forward to week 2

Yes 800 cals. Sorry forgot that bit!

I am doing real food. Vegetarian. I am using week one as my test week so while it counts, if it goes wrong I can always do 9 weeks. I haven’t done any drinks yet but they look manageable. I have a fridge at work so both the bircher and cottage cheese are viable lunches. Avocado looks achievable too and the egg recipes. I made a batch of chilli that will do a few too. The portobello toast with cheese and pine nuts works well at home. I am not feeling particularly motivated to make a huge effort with fiddly stuff so I am starting with the easy stuff and slipping a bigger recipe in at a time.

another person who wants to discuss insulin. perhaps you could connect with her? there may be more. I vaguely remember other people discussing their insulin use.

Insulin Deficient – should I still give BSD a go?

posted by Mornhy
on 28 Jan 2016 at 09:08
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I am Type 2 Diabetic and been advised that I am insulin deficient rather than resistant. I’m on Metformin and just started insulin (1 dose 10 units daily, I’m on day 4). I’ve talked about this diet and Professor Roy Taylor’s work with my doctor and insulin nurse a couple of times now and they are not keen at all but I really want to give it a go. I’d obviously prefer to do it with medical support but as I am not overweight and my blood pressure is low (my only really good statistic). My body fat is a bit on the high side which must mean there is some fat in liver and pancras surely?. Any advice on how to approach insulin nurse next week in my first check up since going on insulin? I was thinking I could give it till the 2 week review to convince them.

Thanks

I started following the BSD three weeks ago. In the first week, I religiously kept track of calories and on average thru the week, I managed 800 cal/day (sometimes lower than 800 or 700, sometimes a bit higher than 900. I lost 4 lbs in the first week and my blood sugar reading was down to 6.4 mmol, down from 8.4 usually. So was truly proud and encouraged. My second week was tough as I was travelling for work, which disrupted any new routine I was starting to develop. So my blood sugar was back to 8.1 (though this was also after I forgot to take my evening medication. (I take 4 tabs of Metformin and 2 of Gliclizide a day). Now, my third week, blood sugar is 7.8 (all tests btw were taken in the am, before breakfast). So I think I’m getting stuck, and a bit disheartened. Though I am now also increasing my exercise (10k steps 2x this week plus a 1-HR visit to the gym (mainly cardio), a 1-HR Zumba class, a 20 min bike ride and tomorrow a 1-hr tai chi class. What could I be doing wrong?

It sounds to me, that no matter what you choose to do, you’ll need to learn how to adjust the insulin for your safety’s sake.

okay. thankyou for your help.

Take a look at the blogs where others discuss insulin. I’m truly in over my head on that part and don’t want to give you incorrect information. It does take attention, awareness and a willingness to work with it. I have a very complex medical situation and must be very vigilant. But it has been worth checking my blood sugars multiple times a day to watch for any pancreas inflammation (the blood sugar rise dramatically in just a few hours. Then i must boost my prednisone and contact the do.

yes, it is all trial and error for each of us. The best thing i did was be gentle with myself during the changes.
xoxo

I will try it and see. I don’t really know much about insulin. so by going low carb, I know it will affect the insulin but I have no idea by how much. its very much trial and error.

Many folks on the blogs report that their doctors and nurses are not supportive, sadly. But they are bringing them around by educating them. You still have to eat! Why not the Mediterranean style?

Any chance that you could find another doctor to guide you? Dr. Mosley has suggestions for information for docs under resources.

If you know how to adjust your insulin according to your blood sugars, why not just try the regular Mediterranean diet first without calorie restriction? Most people lose weight on it. Basically you would be cutting out potatoes, white rice, sugar, flour, tropical fruits.

Here’s what Dr. Mosley says in one of the blogs:

Watching what you eat will make a difference
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posted by Michael
on 15 Jan 2016 at 16:11
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Simply changing to a Mediterranean style low carb diet and by watching your portion sizes, you will make an impressive difference to your sugars and weight. Essentially this means cutting out the sugar, starchy carbs and the white stuff (white bread, pasta, processed cereals and rice), and boosting consumption of fats like olive oil. See how others are getting on and share what works for you. Good luck!

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thankyou. I really would like to try this but I don’t get help from my doctor, I tend to work things out myself. I must admit I am a bit nervous because of the insulin. I did speak to a general nurse and she didn’t recommend it. I hope that things carry on going well for you. it doesn’t matter if it takes you longer than others not on medication. the fact that you are losing weight, you should be proud of yourself.

Oh yes, and drink water, water, water and take in salt per Dr. Mosley as needed. I found a good water filter and my water is now tasty and that makes a difference!

I am following the diet to a T for 8 weeks. Start week 5 tomorrow. No deviations, but i am pre-diabetic and am on no medication for it. I am on high dose steroids which also interfere with weight loss and cause significant weight gain. Most of the time, I have no hunger, but on occasion i am hungry enough to eat the frig door, lol because the steroid level had to be boosted. But i just persevered because the significant weight loss is motivating. i am losing more weight than i ever have. Probably not as fast now as many others, but it is going in the right direction. After many weeks, i’ve lost 19 pounds and have about 95 to go.

I think patience and taking the time to read the book and other resources on this website is key.

Key: As Dr. Mosley says, the 800 calories causes significant weight loss and that IS motivating.

Only you and your doctor would know whether you can tolerate the 800 calories for 8 weeks. If not that, why not try the Mediterranean diet for most of the week and then go to 800 calories one or two days a week? You would have to constantly check your blood sugars on both the regular Mediterranean diet and the 800 calorie diet and adjust your insulin levels as needed. How to do that would be up to you and your doctor. Perhaps staring off slowly might be helpful. The diet works. I have autoimmune pancreatitis and it is slowly destroying my pancreas. While i may have to go onto insulin later, at this time i do not need to. I don’t expect the diet at that time to bring down the blood sugars, but the weight loss is a significant piece and will help with other problems. With good supervision, I think you would do well.

From the FAQ’s : You SHOULD NOT do a low calorie / fasting diet if you are:

Underweight and/or have a history of an eating disorder
Under 18 years of age
Breastfeeding
Diagnosed with a significant psychiatric disorder
Frail or recovering from surgery
Under active investigation or treatment or have a significant medical condition affecting ability to comply with diet and / or
On certain medications
A Type 1 diabetic
Unwell or have a fever

You should also confirm with your doctor that you really are a type 2 diabetic as there are other rarer forms of diabetes that will not respond in the same way to weight loss.

Use CAUTION doing a low calorie / fasting diet & DISCUSS WITH DOCTOR if any of the following apply:

On insulin – detailed assessment & education by health professional to plan a suitable reduction in medication/insulin to avoid a drop in blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetics and those who have other, rarer forms of the disease, like pancreatic or monogenic diabetes will not respond in the same way to weight loss

Hi Bill
I know. We were all told that. But michael says people do better if they weigh more often.
The disappointment is certainly worse if I wait a whole week and haven’t lost. If I know each day it’s not such a shock!
Thanks fir advice
Penny

Hi Chinta
You could freeze some spring onions for the winter?
Penny

Hi Netty
Sounds good
Penny

Hi Jojo
Sounds like you have a handle on it!
Penny

any tips you can give me, I would be really grateful.

can I ask you how please. the only time I can lose weight is when I stop my insulin, which I shouldn’t really do.

I too, cannot exercise, but i am still losing weight. Because of the insulin, i would be sure to be under a doctor’s care.

I went through a phase of that. According to my doctor, that meant that i was beginning to burn fat instead of protein and carbs – which is ideal. He told me to pretty much to follow what Dr. Mosley suggests, but to be sure that i was adding fat to each meal. I’m doing the 8 weeks, and then will go to the regular Mediterranean diet after that with 2 days a week of 800’s to finish the 100 pounds i have to lose. This will allow me to increase my carbs at that time. I’m eating about 50 carbs a day right now. In the 3rd week, I noticed a significant change. More energy, more clarity of mind, better sleeping. But during the transition phase I wasn’t all that comfortable. I am pre-diabetic, controlled by food only – no meds – in very close contact with my doc. This gives me more leeway than many. For poo, i eat 2 tablespoons of ground flax a day – something that has to be started very slowly or it will cause gas. I started with 1/2 TB and gradually increased it. One can increase it to 3 Tbs. Greens are fabulous for this as Dr. Mosley points out in his book. On occasion, i have used xylotol to ‘move’ things along – but i prefer to stay away from anything artificially sweet, to get used to that type of eating. I do allow myself to sleep as needed when possible, while the adjustments are happening. My body is smarter than i am! 🙂

Hi JoJo, are you doing the 800 cal diet? If so are you managing with making real food or are you on the meal drinks. I plan to try and eat healthy and take one of the drinks to work if I find it difficult there. Half way through book and at planning stage.

So tired? I’m on day 6 and have gone from feeling amazing and full of energy to so tired and grumpy. I’m wondering if I should be eating some fruit for natural sugar as I have been living on just meat, tons of veg ( mainly green with lots of onions and peppers), some dairy and some nuts and olive oil. It’s not the fluid… I’ve been drinking masses and masses, mainly water with the occasional cup of tea or coffee. Also… Haven’t poo’d in a while!! It’s a shame as I have been feeling amazing and still can’t believe I’ve resisted the carbs all week… Even buttered beautiful fresh white bakers bread for my kids!! Have been telling everyone how fab I feel and now I just want to curl up and sleep. Any ideas?
Ela.

Day 4 of week 1. I am accepting a margin of error this week as I adapt as I had some root vegetables to use up for the first three days so it has been phased. I have adapted the Skinny Chilli to be vegetarian and slow cooker friendly (hopefully, it’s in there now). I had the mushroom toast but with feta as I forgot goats cheese and loved it. I loved cottage cheese with walnut and pear and I really really love no carb bircher. I like the snacks and can use my Nutri Ninja Lite on the shakes and probably on cauliflower rice so I feel like I am making headway on the recipes. This week I have to eat out twice and have been a bit chaotic but I still started it as it eases me into the mindset. I have some aubergine to do a vegetarian version of the lamb dish and I am planning pea omelette tomorrow. I don’t follow recipes religiously because I am vegetarian and very busy but I do what I can and track on my fitness pal. I work from Wednesday as I prefer a mid week start so hoping to see results by mid of next week even though it’s been a bit bitty this week. I am in London at the end of the month but the breakfast in the hotel is continental so I am confident I can cobble together a bircher. My goal is 15 lb off by my 40th in May and I need to lose a whopping 9 inches from my waist. Almost all my weight is belly and I am only 5 lb overweight. I did 5:2 2013/14 and lost a lot so this is more of a targeted process for me.

I am vegetarian and on day 4. I am using quorn mince in the chilli at the moment and it is actually less calories than beef. You could also try the dried soya. I work on the philosophy that as long as I am broadly in line with it as a vegetarian, it is fine. Marinated tofu is nice too.

I am on day 4 and I am finding it good so far. I am eating out twice next week but I think I can work around it more or less ok as I can have a salad.

I am on day 4 and I am starting to get to grips with some of the recipes now. For the first few days I improvised a lot so it wasn’t perfect. I decided that if the first week goes a bit awry it’s OK. I can always do 9 weeks if need be. I don’t find 800 calories hard but I did 5:2 in 2013 and 2014 and got on pretty well with that. I am not Diabetic. I have about 15 lb to lose and the bulk of it is around my middle. I am focusing more on inches than anything else. My mum is type 1. My Auntie is type 2. Carbs and sugar are my issues.

I hadn’the heard of it until you posted but looking it up it does look interesting.

Hi,
Yes I’m doing the 800 calorie and its going well. I do normally eat fairly healithly …just too much.. so am filling up on veg and surprisingly enough am not hungry and as I said feeling great so far.
For me this is good as I don’t have breakfast usually so can have two slightly bigger meals and save a few cals for a natural greek yoghurt if I want anything sweet.
When did you start?

Thanks Penny. I feel better this evening and am drinking lots of water. Had quorn, kale and a tomato sauce . Didn’t eat it all so have left half. Might eat it later or tomorrow.