Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

[BM Man]

bomb said:

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.

Hi mate, so what meds you on Metaformin? And what other drug? Do they actully work as I look at them as my armour in the future, firstly I am trying with diet only

[mike9009]

BM Man said:

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?

The only real way to tell is a HBA1C check - as this is an average over three months. A quick blood glucose check is a one off and highly dependent on the time of day, what you have eaten, what exercise you have done and a myriad of other factors.

[DaveGrohl]

If you need a book to go to to get an understanding of what insulin resistance is and a whole host of other dietary aspects, you could do a lot worse than get a copy of Eat Rich Live Long by Ivor Cummins and Dr Jeffry Gerber. It’s easy to dip in and out of and accessible if you don’t understand the subject and find it confusing. Crucial thing to realise is that a lot of what had become accepted fact over decades is gradually being turned over at last.

Telegraph reporting today about the NHS 800 a day calorie regime. It’s basically a starvation diet (all starvation diets work), and a "good" way to lose the weight quickly in order to get T2 under control. Problem is keeping the weight off. Only 23% were still in remission after 5 years. Tells its own story to a degree sadly. Imo if you lose the weight slowly through eating the right foods you’re hugely increasing your chances of staying in remission long-term. Dr Unwin and Cummins were interviewed on GB News this week about the T2 epidemic. Have a look at it if you get a chance. Dr Unwin makes exactly this point about "remission". It’s only "cured" if you don’t go back to what made you insulin resistant in the first place. NHS has quite a way to go.

[WyrleyD]

My personal tale of woe is that I was diagnosed with T2 about 8 years ago when I lived in France. Doctor was a bit surprised as I was not overweight, had a pretty good diet and had a lot of physical exercise due to the work I was doing so none of the usual factors, also, I had no symptoms whatsoever. I had a number of blood tests over a six month period but all said the same. Over there it was very closely monitored with full blood tests and physical exam every three months, when I came back to the UK I reported into my GP and told him of the monitoring and he just laughed and said I will be lucky to get checked once a year and then only by the practice nurse.

I'm on Metformin and have a really restricted diet and do between 6 and 7 hours a week at the gym but things do not improve. It seems I have a slowly degenerating Pancreas so I hope I can last it out to very old age before it fails completely and kills me!

[Phil.]

Thanks for sharing. That puts a different perspective on T2D causes. I hope you have many years of good health ahead of you.

[bomb]

BM Man said:

Hi mate, so what meds you on Metaformin? And what other drug? Do they actually work as I look at them as my armour in the future, firstly I am trying with diet only

I'd strongly recommend you use your diet alongside some decent exercise to combat your type 2. If nothing else, you'll definitely improve your diet if you cut out carbs (rice, spuds, bread, pizza, beer etc), so you may well lose some weight too. Weight loss is a big help too.

Yes, i take a lot of meds as I have had a kidney transplant so its quite complex to ensure my overall health is ok and the blood results are all as they should be.

I take Metaformin, Cimetidine, Linagliptin, asprin, avorstatin, Doxazosin, Lercanidipine, MMF, Tacrolimus and prednisolone !! See.....a balancing act

[BM Man]

bomb said:

I'd strongly recommend you use your diet alongside some decent exercise to combat your type 2. If nothing else, you'll definitely improve your diet if you cut out carbs (rice, spuds, bread, pizza, beer etc), so you may well lose some weight too. Weight loss is a big help too.

Yes, i take a lot of meds as I have had a kidney transplant so its quite complex to ensure my overall health is ok and the blood results are all as they should be.

I take Metaformin, Cimetidine, Linagliptin, asprin, avorstatin, Doxazosin, Lercanidipine, MMF, Tacrolimus and prednisolone !! See.....a balancing act

yes lost around a stone in 1 month, hop to loose another but more slower now, excercise and diet is what I am trying, how does weight loss help with T2?

[bomb]

excess weight makes it harder for your insulin to work properly, so if you are a 'healthy' weight you'll be fitter and generally more healthy.

Its pretty well understood that being grossly overweight 'aint good for you.

[BM Man]

Just bumping up this thread, how are the T2's gettign on?

I am about 6-7 weeks from diagnosis and want to turn this around...

Hopefully someone will be on here soon whos actually turned this around with Diet only and has a good story to tell us...

Edited by BM Man on Tuesday 9th May 15:34

[Mr Magooagain]

BM Man said:

Just bumping up this thread, how are the T2's gettign on?

I am about 6-7 weeks from diagnosis and want to turn this around...

Hopefully someoen will be obn here soon whos actually turned ti around with Diet only and has a good story to tell

I'm about the same time in as you.
I'm on a very strict diet with my main meal of the day at lunchtime.
No booze,fizzy drinks or cakes etc.

I've had a two or three low sugar episode's in that time.
I think the strict diet along with the Metformine is keeping me low too much. Another four weeks or
so and I will have the three month blood test and should show me where I am. I was low numbers compared to some to start with.
I want to get off the medication and just stay in the low numbers using the diet.

I'm low on energy most of the time and don't feel that great. My job is physical(plasterer) which I've not been doing hardly anything until tomorrow when I start a small job.
Honestly I'm dreading it.

I've dropped weight by about a stone or more and lost a fair bit of muscle. I've kept busy all the time and walk a lot.
I'm a bit fed up to be honest.

[BM Man]

Mr Magooagain said:

I'm about the same time in as you.
I'm on a very strict diet with my main meal of the day at lunchtime.
No booze,fizzy drinks or cakes etc.

I've had a two or three low sugar episode's in that time.
I think the strict diet along with the Metformine is keeping me low too much. Another four weeks or
so and I will have the three month blood test and should show me where I am. I was low numbers compared to some to start with.
I want to get off the medication and just stay in the low numbers using the diet.

I'm low on energy most of the time and don't feel that great. My job is physical(plasterer) which I've not been doing hardly anything until tomorrow when I start a small job.
Honestly I'm dreading it.

I've dropped weight by about a stone or more and lost a fair bit of muscle. I've kept busy all the time and walk a lot.
I'm a bit fed up to be honest.

Yes its very hard to be fair, I refused the medicien so lets see what happens with my next HBA1c. Are you tetsing yoruself during the day? What readings are you getting

[Mr Magooagain]

BM Man said:

Yes its very hard to be fair, I refused the medicien so lets see what happens with my next HBA1c. Are you tetsing yoruself during the day? What readings are you getting

No testing at the moment,I thought I would wait till after the next set of bloods.
I've no way of testing yet.

[dingg]

Looking likely I'll have to be joining the gang

Last 3 blood tests show 40mmol, 39mmol and most recently 42mmol.

The reduction was due to metformin tablet every morning for 3 months decided to come off it and now 42mmol, wife's a bit of a feeder and I'm easily persuaded, plus I like booze.

Seeing my doc in a couple of weeks to discuss way forward, will probably try metformin again for 6 months and try to sort diet a bit better than currently is....

Ps 62 yo, overweight, could do with losing a stone or two

[bomb]

Don't give up guys !!

You've made an excellent start by modifying your diets.

Cutting out the sugary stuff, like cakes and biscuits is a big step, but it needs time for the small differences to take effect.

Stop the bread, rice, spuds too, and go for salads or green veg such as beans, broccoli, spinach and cauliflower, it'll make a huge difference.

Some exercise too - walking, cycling, swimming are all great.

[BM Man]

bomb said:

Don't give up guys !!

You've made an excellent start by modifying your diets.

Cutting out the sugary stuff, like cakes and biscuits is a big step, but it needs time for the small differences to take effect.

Stop the bread, rice, spuds too, and go for salads or green veg such as beans, broccoli, spinach and cauliflower, it'll make a huge difference.

Some exercise too - walking, cycling, swimming are all great.

Thank You for your kind words, I tend to do walking and gym work. Is weight lifting good for us?

Also tell us abit about your story Bomb, did you conquer this?

Edited by BM Man on Wednesday 10th May 10:01

[BM Man]

dingg said:

Looking likely I'll have to be joining the gang

Last 3 blood tests show 40mmol, 39mmol and most recently 42mmol.

The reduction was due to metformin tablet every morning for 3 months decided to come off it and now 42mmol, wife's a bit of a feeder and I'm easily persuaded, plus I like booze.

Seeing my doc in a couple of weeks to discuss way forward, will probably try metformin again for 6 months and try to sort diet a bit better than currently is....

Ps 62 yo, overweight, could do with losing a stone or two

42 is no disaster mate I'm sure you can get a grip on this? How comes you were on Meataformin with numbers like 40 and 39

[dingg]

BM Man said:

dingg said:

Looking likely I'll have to be joining the gang

Last 3 blood tests show 40mmol, 39mmol and most recently 42mmol.

The reduction was due to metformin tablet every morning for 3 months decided to come off it and now 42mmol, wife's a bit of a feeder and I'm easily persuaded, plus I like booze.

Seeing my doc in a couple of weeks to discuss way forward, will probably try metformin again for 6 months and try to sort diet a bit better than currently is....

Ps 62 yo, overweight, could do with losing a stone or two

42 is no disaster mate I'm sure you can get a grip on this? How comes you were on Meataformin with numbers like 40 and 39

Thanks for the positive post, I'm resident in Portugal they put me at risk of developing diabetes due to the 40mmol reading I think that was 5.8 on the other scale, here they say pre diabetic if over 5.7

42 is equal to 6.0 so guess its heading the wrong way, have decided to cut out spuds, cake, rice, pasta altogether, cut back on the booze, get more mobile and try to stick with it this time.

[bomb]

BM Man said:

Thank You for your kind words,

Also tell us abit about your story Bomb, did you conquer this?

Edited by BM Man on Wednesday 10th May 10:01

my story - Due to my family genetics, i inherited Poly-cystic Kidney Disease. This means your kidney function gets les and less over a period of years. Its a slow and steady degeneration. This was passed down via my mothers blood line. I knew I had it when i was in my mid 20's. By the time i was in my 50's my kidney function was so low ( in % terms) I was struggling to function. My diet had been constantly adjusted over the years to take the stress off my kidneys to 'stretch out' their useful lifespan. I could no longer travel abroad for work, my sleep pattern was haphazard at best, my feet were swelling up, my diet was severely restricted ( NO Potassium allowed), and i was always so exhausted I could hardly get up a flight of stairs without struggling. Really struggling.

During this degeneration, I should have gone onto dialysis, but my wife had been tested to become a 'Live Donor' and she was a suitable match, so my new kidney was available when I finally collapsed ( literally !) My Kidney function was around 4% when i was admitted for transplant, alongside my wife. that was in Jan 2014. the 16th actually.

The first year after that date was somewhat of a rocky road, with various bouts of rejection, which was extremely worrying, but the doctors combated it with drugs. Then i got an extremely rare virus which i couldn't shake off, so the balancing act with the lots of anti rejection drugs i take, was another BIG challenge. It was so rare, only a handful of people get it each year - Yes- thats me then !!

Finally after the 1st full year, I manged to get back to work, albeit an office job that my employer very kindly kept for me. Foreign travel wasn't an option. actually - i really enjoyed my time in the office and it was a great success.

i worked for another year and a bit and then took my early retirement at 54.

My kidney is now 'stable', but I have to keep quite fit with cycling and a generally busy day with lots of 'stuff' to do around the house and garden. I watch my weight and lost 2 stones.

i have a constant battle against Type 2, as my medication is always trying to turn me into a bloody diabetic. It's a well documented fact that kidney patients are extremely prone to this. Consequently i have learned about whats involved, and what I can do to combat it. the low carb diet i follow has been pretty strict ( self imposed rigidity on that) and my weight / exercise etc follows suit.
The downside is the constant battle against it. I just have to accept it and do all I can to help myself. The alternative doesn't appeal to me. ( cutting my limbs off etc).

so there you go. Thats my story of how i get to be where I am now. Thanks for reading ( if you're still there ??)

I do get regular checks at the renal clinic every 3 x months, and thats when I get my HbA1c checked.

[Mr Magooagain]

Thanks for that Bomb.
You've been through the mill that's for sure.

[bomb]

Mr Magooagain said:

Thanks for that Bomb.
You've been through the mill that's for sure.

Yes, its been a tough ride for sure. My wife donated her own kidney, and that's been an absolute life saver in every sense of that phrase. Its really transformed my life. I can now cycle, swim and do so much physical stuff I was totally incapable of doing prior to transplant. Yes there are restrictions in my life but its a whole lot better than being on a machine 3 x per week ! i'm still in the 'extremely vulnerable' group as my immune system is severely suppressed with the anti rejection meds, so I have to be very cautious about covid and catching colds etc. I get my 9th Covid jab tomorrow.