Reversing Type 2 Diabetes
Discussion
Hi Guys, 45 years old HBAC1c 82 diagnosed around 3 weeks ago. Been trying hard to loose weight 5ft 11 tall was around 104 KG now around 97. Eating less carbs but one whole meal toast a day which doesn't actually spike my levels that much. I used to eat big meals and alot of chocolate everyday. Been around 3 weeks no chocs now. I feel scared and worried all the time, guys can i turn this around and how? They offered me Metaformin and another drug I refused I said lets come back in 3 months and discuss.
boxst said:
I'm still okay, had a H1BAC test two weeks ago and it's 45. It was over 80 originally and I just lost lots of weight and now watch what I eat and drink.
Wow similar HBAC1 as mine 82, I would love mine to come down to 45, Please explain how you did this as I have made changes but feel scared about the whole thing. BM Man said:
Wow similar HBAC1 as mine 82, I would love mine to come down to 45, Please explain how you did this as I have made changes but feel scared about the whole thing.
Feeling scared is normal, especially at the beginning, and is a good motivator for change.You’re doing the right thing by reducing carbs and losing weight. You need to continue losing weight until your diabetes is in remission and then continue with a low carb diet. There are several options to achieve this.
You could ask the doc to put you on the 800 calories a day NHS ‘fluid’ diet which is brutal but you lose weight quickly and glucose levels reduce quickly too. However, coming off such a diet requires planning and it can be difficult to return to normal eating whilst not putting weight back on.
Alternatively, continue your low carb diet and lose weight over time, hopefully creating new eating habits as you go along. It could take 2-3 months or even longer to achieve remission. However, this is likely to be more sustainable in my opinion.
Whatever you do walk more. I find my sugar levels drop massively even after an hours brisk walk. Walk after a meal if you can as this is when your glucose increases. If you want to get into the gym, then do some weights to add muscle as increasing your muscle will burn more glucose.
You haven’t mentioned alcohol but stay off it especially while losing weight.
It’s a horrible thing to come to terms with and you’ll probably feel pissed off or down about having to adopt new eating habits at some point, again which is normal. Positively, by taking those actions you putting yourself in a position to live a healthy long life
Feel free to ask anything else on here.
Phil. said:
Feeling scared is normal, especially at the beginning, and is a good motivator for change.
You’re doing the right thing by reducing carbs and losing weight. You need to continue losing weight until your diabetes is in remission and then continue with a low carb diet. There are several options to achieve this.
You could ask the doc to put you on the 800 calories a day NHS ‘fluid’ diet which is brutal but you lose weight quickly and glucose levels reduce quickly too. However, coming off such a diet requires planning and it can be difficult to return to normal eating whilst not putting weight back on.
Alternatively, continue your low carb diet and lose weight over time, hopefully creating new eating habits as you go along. It could take 2-3 months or even longer to achieve remission. However, this is likely to be more sustainable in my opinion.
Whatever you do walk more. I find my sugar levels drop massively even after an hours brisk walk. Walk after a meal if you can as this is when your glucose increases. If you want to get into the gym, then do some weights to add muscle as increasing your muscle will burn more glucose.
You haven’t mentioned alcohol but stay off it especially while losing weight.
It’s a horrible thing to come to terms with and you’ll probably feel pissed off or down about having to adopt new eating habits at some point, again which is normal. Positively, by taking those actions you putting yourself in a position to live a healthy long life
Feel free to ask anything else on here.
Thank you so much for your encouragement, no more desserts for me now. Training in the gym, is weights good for diabetes? I have always done weights but adding cardio into the equation as well now. Your post mentions I can out this into remission in 2-3 months? wow that gives me hope. I am dropping weight for sure and I have noticed everything getting lose. Why does losing weight help with diabetes? I do a finger test on most days and mostly my mornings show up as 6.5 - 7. I am doing fasts as well trying to only eat between 12pm - 6pm and two meals only. But I find my sugar goes up maybe the liver is dumping glucose as its adjusting to my new regime.You’re doing the right thing by reducing carbs and losing weight. You need to continue losing weight until your diabetes is in remission and then continue with a low carb diet. There are several options to achieve this.
You could ask the doc to put you on the 800 calories a day NHS ‘fluid’ diet which is brutal but you lose weight quickly and glucose levels reduce quickly too. However, coming off such a diet requires planning and it can be difficult to return to normal eating whilst not putting weight back on.
Alternatively, continue your low carb diet and lose weight over time, hopefully creating new eating habits as you go along. It could take 2-3 months or even longer to achieve remission. However, this is likely to be more sustainable in my opinion.
Whatever you do walk more. I find my sugar levels drop massively even after an hours brisk walk. Walk after a meal if you can as this is when your glucose increases. If you want to get into the gym, then do some weights to add muscle as increasing your muscle will burn more glucose.
You haven’t mentioned alcohol but stay off it especially while losing weight.
It’s a horrible thing to come to terms with and you’ll probably feel pissed off or down about having to adopt new eating habits at some point, again which is normal. Positively, by taking those actions you putting yourself in a position to live a healthy long life
Feel free to ask anything else on here.
BM Man said:
Thank you so much for your encouragement, no more desserts for me now. Training in the gym, is weights good for diabetes? I have always done weights but adding cardio into the equation as well now. Your post mentions I can out this into remission in 2-3 months? wow that gives me hope. I am dropping weight for sure and I have noticed everything getting lose. Why does losing weight help with diabetes? I do a finger test on most days and mostly my mornings show up as 6.5 - 7. I am doing fasts as well trying to only eat between 12pm - 6pm and two meals only. But I find my sugar goes up maybe the liver is dumping glucose as its adjusting to my new regime.
Sounds like you are heading in the right direction. Fasting and not snacking as you are doing is good. Losing weight helps most people because one of the reasons they have become insulin resistant (the precursor to diabetes) is a build up of fat around your liver and spleen. This is the fat you really need to lose so they can begin working better.
Building muscle is good for diabetes as muscle uses glucose even when you are not exercising. I find sometimes though that my glucose increases while at the gym. However, it always falls after a brisk walk.
Look up Keto diets as they can help you reduce glucose and weight more quickly but without you feeling hungry.
Dr David Unwin is one of a few GP’s who are treating T2D through diet. He’s worth looking up for advice:
https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/articles/dr-david-u...
Phil. said:
BM Man said:
Thank you so much for your encouragement, no more desserts for me now. Training in the gym, is weights good for diabetes? I have always done weights but adding cardio into the equation as well now. Your post mentions I can out this into remission in 2-3 months? wow that gives me hope. I am dropping weight for sure and I have noticed everything getting lose. Why does losing weight help with diabetes? I do a finger test on most days and mostly my mornings show up as 6.5 - 7. I am doing fasts as well trying to only eat between 12pm - 6pm and two meals only. But I find my sugar goes up maybe the liver is dumping glucose as its adjusting to my new regime.
Sounds like you are heading in the right direction. Fasting and not snacking as you are doing is good. Losing weight helps most people because one of the reasons they have become insulin resistant (the precursor to diabetes) is a build up of fat around your liver and spleen. This is the fat you really need to lose so they can begin working better.
Building muscle is good for diabetes as muscle uses glucose even when you are not exercising. I find sometimes though that my glucose increases while at the gym. However, it always falls after a brisk walk.
Look up Keto diets as they can help you reduce glucose and weight more quickly but without you feeling hungry.
Dr David Unwin is one of a few GP’s who are treating T2D through diet. He’s worth looking up for advice:
https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/articles/dr-david-u...
A big part of the reason losing weight helps is the fact that you’ve altered your diet and that’s what reducing the diabetes, and the weight coming off is just the visible effect of that. The change of diet is the thing that counts. The key thing is to find a diet that works for you, avoidance of hunger temptation is the thing that works long-term. I’ve been eating far fewer carbs (but more fat) for 3 years and I’m never hungry these days
BM Man said:
boxst said:
I'm still okay, had a H1BAC test two weeks ago and it's 45. It was over 80 originally and I just lost lots of weight and now watch what I eat and drink.
Wow similar HBAC1 as mine 82, I would love mine to come down to 45, Please explain how you did this as I have made changes but feel scared about the whole thing. Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
mike9009 said:
Best of luck. My Dad reversed his Type 2 through a change in diet alone. (mainly his sweet tooth and desserts, his BMI and exercise regimes were already good.)
Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
I've been told to eat fruit with my meals. Type 2 here.Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
Mr Magooagain said:
I've been told to eat fruit with my meals. Type 2 here.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
Are you taking Metformin or similar and is that advice from a NHS person? If so it highlights the dichotomy of drugs that lower glucose levels but then require the intake of carbs to balance things. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
Taking a drug that lowers glucose levels doesn’t address insulin resistance, the only way to do that is to minimise carbs while considering reducing or eliminating the drugs that require continued carb intake. Some GP’s don’t know this yet and continue to prescribe for the symptom (raised glucose levels) rather than dealing with the cause of insulin resistance (carbs).
Phil. said:
Mr Magooagain said:
I've been told to eat fruit with my meals. Type 2 here.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
Are you taking Metformin or similar and is that advice from a NHS person? If so it highlights the dichotomy of drugs that lower glucose levels but then require the intake of carbs to balance things. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
Taking a drug that lowers glucose levels doesn’t address insulin resistance, the only way to do that is to minimise carbs while considering reducing or eliminating the drugs that require continued carb intake. Some GP’s don’t know this yet and continue to prescribe for the symptom (raised glucose levels) rather than dealing with the cause of insulin resistance (carbs).
In the uk I would be described as pre diabetic.
Mr Magooagain said:
mike9009 said:
Best of luck. My Dad reversed his Type 2 through a change in diet alone. (mainly his sweet tooth and desserts, his BMI and exercise regimes were already good.)
Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
I've been told to eat fruit with my meals. Type 2 here.Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
mike9009 said:
Mr Magooagain said:
mike9009 said:
Best of luck. My Dad reversed his Type 2 through a change in diet alone. (mainly his sweet tooth and desserts, his BMI and exercise regimes were already good.)
Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
I've been told to eat fruit with my meals. Type 2 here.Already some good advice on this thread. I am Type 1 and have been for 42 years now, so I cannot offer direct advice - I feel for T2Ds who have settled into a certain lifestyle over many years and then need to change. It must be difficult!
A few tips. Cardio exercise after eating will definitely help. Avoid fruit and especially fruit juices. Avoid pizza - an absolute killer for me.
It might be worthwhile paying for a freestyle Libre sensor or two (each one lasts two weeks). This will continually track your blood sugars, so whilst wearing it you can experiment with different meals and exercise regimes to see which combinations work for your body - everyone is different! The graphs it provides are really useful.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjo...
I had already stopped booze since Christmas. So now limited whole meal bread,limited carbs in a balanced diet meal. Plain yoghurt with main meal(lunchtime)and fruit with all meals.
A large plate of letuce and coleslaw before main meal and more of the same before my evening supper.
No fruit juice.
Mr Magooagain said:
To be fair,I'm new to all of this and don't have my own tester yet. So I'm giving it 3 months until my next set of bloods then see if I've done any good with getting the numbers down.
I had already stopped booze since Christmas. So now limited whole meal bread,limited carbs in a balanced diet meal. Plain yoghurt with main meal(lunchtime)and fruit with all meals.
A large plate of letuce and coleslaw before main meal and more of the same before my evening supper.
No fruit juice.
Good luck... sounds like you doing well with some significant changes - must be tough. Fingers crossed for the next blood test.... I had already stopped booze since Christmas. So now limited whole meal bread,limited carbs in a balanced diet meal. Plain yoghurt with main meal(lunchtime)and fruit with all meals.
A large plate of letuce and coleslaw before main meal and more of the same before my evening supper.
No fruit juice.
mike9009 said:
Mr Magooagain said:
To be fair,I'm new to all of this and don't have my own tester yet. So I'm giving it 3 months until my next set of bloods then see if I've done any good with getting the numbers down.
I had already stopped booze since Christmas. So now limited whole meal bread,limited carbs in a balanced diet meal. Plain yoghurt with main meal(lunchtime)and fruit with all meals.
A large plate of letuce and coleslaw before main meal and more of the same before my evening supper.
No fruit juice.
Good luck... sounds like you doing well with some significant changes - must be tough. Fingers crossed for the next blood test.... I had already stopped booze since Christmas. So now limited whole meal bread,limited carbs in a balanced diet meal. Plain yoghurt with main meal(lunchtime)and fruit with all meals.
A large plate of letuce and coleslaw before main meal and more of the same before my evening supper.
No fruit juice.
Early days yet and it's a bit boring but I'm confident that she will mix it up more as time goes.
I've lost weight,down from 14 stone to 13 this morning. I didn't lose much since stopping the booze but now I'm virtually off spuds and bread it's dropped. I was eating a lot of spuds and bread everyday.
Yes, it can be done, and if you stick to a low carb diet, do a moderate amount of exercise, keep your weight down and in check, its certainly achievable.
I was well on the way to getting to the threshold of type 2 and almost below it, but I take a lot of anti-rejection meds for my kidney transplant and its one heck of a struggle.
Latest with me, is that I've been put on additional tablet that will help reduce my HbA1c so that will make it a little easier to cope with. I've only been on it a couple of weeks but can already see a downward trend in my daily random sugar level checks.
I think the biggest help is diet. Get off the spuds, rice, bread, beer and lager, and other carb laden foods. Obviously stuff like sugar laden cereals are not good for you !
if you understand what is good/bad for your type 2 situation you're going to win, BUT, it does take a lot of will power. i can do it but many cannot. The easiest way to think about is - if i eat that thick bread sandwich and drink that pint of beer - they will be along soon to cut off my foot. you can make your own choices in life.
Good luck.
I was well on the way to getting to the threshold of type 2 and almost below it, but I take a lot of anti-rejection meds for my kidney transplant and its one heck of a struggle.
Latest with me, is that I've been put on additional tablet that will help reduce my HbA1c so that will make it a little easier to cope with. I've only been on it a couple of weeks but can already see a downward trend in my daily random sugar level checks.
I think the biggest help is diet. Get off the spuds, rice, bread, beer and lager, and other carb laden foods. Obviously stuff like sugar laden cereals are not good for you !
if you understand what is good/bad for your type 2 situation you're going to win, BUT, it does take a lot of will power. i can do it but many cannot. The easiest way to think about is - if i eat that thick bread sandwich and drink that pint of beer - they will be along soon to cut off my foot. you can make your own choices in life.
Good luck.
BM Man said:
Hi - has anyone on this forum reversed there T2 Diabetes? Realisticlaly can this be done, I need some motivational stories.
It depends what you mean by 'reversed'. As I mentioned above somewhere, I am effectively now classed as pre-diabetic based on a test from a few weeks ago. But it is just a permanent life style change, so I haven't cured / reversed it, I'm just managing it without medication. I do have the occasional cheat, but it really does mean very little sugar, very few carbohydrates, reasonable weight.If I went back to my beer drinking, pizza loving state it would instantly come back.
BM Man said:
Hi - has anyone on this forum reversed there T2 Diabetes? Realisticlaly can this be done, I need some motivational stories.
Yep, my Dad managed to reverse it. Unfortunately I am T1D so not possible. T2D ran in our family, so early detection for my Dad helped. He made some relatively simple changes to his diet (nothing drastic) but most importantly he stuck to it - no cheat days or in between meal goodies. He basically took all sweet stuff out of his diet, which included my mums desserts, cereal with sugar, jams, marmalades, doughnuts, afternoon cake and tea, chocolate snacks and biscuits. Other than his sweet tooth, his underlying diet was relatively good (, 5 fruit/ veg a day, no takeouts, not much alcohol, etc).
He was (and still is) a regular cyclist at 79 years old, but managed to lose a stone in weight (something like 13 stone to just under 12 stone). 6 months in to the changed lifestyle he went from 51 to 38 Hba1c.
boxst said:
It depends what you mean by 'reversed'. As I mentioned above somewhere, I am effectively now classed as pre-diabetic based on a test from a few weeks ago. But it is just a permanent life style change, so I haven't cured / reversed it, I'm just managing it without medication. I do have the occasional cheat, but it really does mean very little sugar, very few carbohydrates, reasonable weight.
If I went back to my beer drinking, pizza loving state it would instantly come back.
Hi - so my HBACi was 82 around 4 weeks ago, since then lost one stone watching what im eating and fasting levels seems to be around 6.5 and last night night in the evening 5.8. I refused to take Metaformn and Dapa they offered me 4 weeks ago, hwo are you classed as pre-diabetic did you do another HBACi or you going by your daily readings? Also as you loose weight and the belly gets smaller does that help and why?If I went back to my beer drinking, pizza loving state it would instantly come back.
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