Question for Diabetics on HCG

[ItsOverSugar]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking on this forum for some time now, soaking up all the information that I can. I just placed an order for pellets and I'm excited to get started. I am diabetic and have been struggling to lose pounds on 20-30 carbs per day. I've been at this since 5/21 and have only lost 18 pounds. Not bad, I know, but I'm so use to losing around that much effortlessly just during the first two weeks of Induction. So I'm hoping the HCG will make this a little less of a battle for me.

My HCG is due to arrive on Monday. I plan on going grocery shopping this weekend. I was wondering if I should include the fruits and breadsticks to my list of things to get. I'm afraid they may raise my blood sugar. I'm not on insulin, I take Metformin and lots of supplements, and I'd really rather not even buy these things if they are going to be problem.

For the diabetics on HCG .. are you eating these things on the plan? Are you continuing to take your diabetes meds? How quickly did the diet help your blood sugar (and blood pressure)?

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by Yoey

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking on this forum for some time now, soaking up all the information that I can. I just placed an order for pellets and I'm excited to get started. I am diabetic and have been struggling to lose pounds on 20-30 carbs per day. I've been at this since 5/21 and have only lost 18 pounds. Not bad, I know, but I'm so use to losing around that much effortlessly just during the first two weeks of Induction. So I'm hoping the HCG will make this a little less of a battle for me.

My HCG is due to arrive on Monday. I plan on going grocery shopping this weekend. I was wondering if I should include the fruits and breadsticks to my list of things to get. I'm afraid they may raise my blood sugar. I'm not on insulin, I take Metformin and lots of supplements, and I'd really rather not even buy these things if they are going to be problem.

For the diabetics on HCG .. are you eating these things on the plan? Are you continuing to take your diabetes meds? How quickly did the diet help your blood sugar (and blood pressure)?

I could have written your first paragraph, and probably did when I first joined. My starting weight was also the same. I lost 31 lbs on Atkins Induction this time around (third time) but found that it really wasn't helping my blood sugar readings at all. I was on both Metformin and Onglyza and on 4/4 my A1C was 8.0 and my fasting glucose anywhere from 175 to 210 and my doc said if I didn't do something drastic, by my next diabetes check-up on 7/8, he'd have to put me on insulin.

I started homeopathic drops on 5/5. I cut out melba toast after the first week because I found they spiked my blood sugar readings. I cut out apples after that for the same reason. I was able to (and still do) enjoy strawberries - and a little extra than the handful mentioned in Pounds and Inches - because they are pretty low on the glycemic index.

Now granted, I have been on an extended round of mostly clean protocol eating - I'm on VLCD70 as of today. But not only did I lose 55 lbs between my 4/4 check-up (I started Atkins on 3/7 and hHCG on 5/5) and my 7/8 check-up, but my A1C on 7/8 was 6.5. A DRAMATIC reduction. So dramatic that my doctor took me off both diabetes meds. My blood pressure also went from an average of 155/100 to 122/80.

I no longer take my blood sugar readings these days because my fasting glucose has returned to 85-110.

My advice due to my experience? No breadsticks, and stick with strawberries, allowing only an occasional apple or orange. Grapefruit may interact with Metformin so try to steer clear of it. If you are anything like me - and you sound like you are - follow protocol and watch your blood sugar readings dramatically decrease pretty early on. Stick with protocol for the longer 40 day round. Your body and doctor will be amazed!!

Oh, and the weight loss? Yes, I am doing this for as long as I can and as of today am on Day 70, but on day 40 of hHCG, I had lost 27.8 lbs on hHCG, compared to the 31 lbs lost in 63 days of 20g of carbs on Induction.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!

[privatediva]

I am diabetic on metformin. My dr's written my plan and it does not contain any grains, so I can't speak to the melba toast. However, he has put all the fruits (but grapefruit, because of metformin) on my plan that are on Dr. Simeon's. For me, apples are saving my life. No kidding. If I don't eat an apple as one of my fruits, I lapse into a kind of stifling lethargy for a time. My BGL is normal during this time of feeling really weird, but it feels like it ought to be in the 50s! I think the apple may be preventing my body from needing to draw stored glucose from my liver, whereas the other fruits just don't seem to quite do it.

So...you might test your own body and see what works for you. I'd keep an apple on hand, anyway, in case you feel like I described. It is a feeling that, if I'd had it while not on this diet, I would have sworn I needed to chew some glucose tabs.

Best of luck. It is a great plan for diabetics.

[ItsOverSugar]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I could have written your first paragraph, and probably did when I first joined. My starting weight was also the same. I lost 31 lbs on Atkins Induction this time around (third time) but found that it really wasn't helping my blood sugar readings at all. I was on both Metformin and Onglyza and on 4/4 my A1C was 8.0 and my fasting glucose anywhere from 175 to 210 and my doc said if I didn't do something drastic, by my next diabetes check-up on 7/8, he'd have to put me on insulin.

I started homeopathic drops on 5/5. I cut out melba toast after the first week because I found they spiked my blood sugar readings. I cut out apples after that for the same reason. I was able to (and still do) enjoy strawberries - and a little extra than the handful mentioned in Pounds and Inches - because they are pretty low on the glycemic index.

Now granted, I have been on an extended round of mostly clean protocol eating - I'm on VLCD70 as of today. But not only did I lose 55 lbs between my 4/4 check-up (I started Atkins on 3/7 and hHCG on 5/5) and my 7/8 check-up, but my A1C on 7/8 was 6.5. A DRAMATIC reduction. So dramatic that my doctor took me off both diabetes meds. My blood pressure also went from an average of 155/100 to 122/80.

I no longer take my blood sugar readings these days because my fasting glucose has returned to 85-110.

My advice due to my experience? No breadsticks, and stick with strawberries, allowing only an occasional apple or orange. Grapefruit may interact with Metformin so try to steer clear of it. If you are anything like me - and you sound like you are - follow protocol and watch your blood sugar readings dramatically decrease pretty early on. Stick with protocol for the longer 40 day round. Your body and doctor will be amazed!!

Oh, and the weight loss? Yes, I am doing this for as long as I can and as of today am on Day 70, but on day 40 of hHCG, I had lost 27.8 lbs on hHCG, compared to the 31 lbs lost in 63 days of 20g of carbs on Induction.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!

OMG - your progress is AMAZING!!! I am truly amazed at how you've brought your A1C down. And the weight loss, oh man. I want results like that!

Though I don't like grapefruit much, that's good to know (that it interacts with Metformin) because I have a habit of retrying things I don't like, just to see if my tastebuds have changed, or maybe if I will like it prepared a different way.

I did buy some of the grissini breadsticks, but maybe I will wait awhile before I try them. Bought apples too, but if I don't do so well with them, at least the kids and hubby will eat them.

[ItsOverSugar]

Originally Posted by privatediva

I am diabetic on metformin. My dr's written my plan and it does not contain any grains, so I can't speak to the melba toast. However, he has put all the fruits (but grapefruit, because of metformin) on my plan that are on Dr. Simeon's. For me, apples are saving my life. No kidding. If I don't eat an apple as one of my fruits, I lapse into a kind of stifling lethargy for a time. My BGL is normal during this time of feeling really weird, but it feels like it ought to be in the 50s! I think the apple may be preventing my body from needing to draw stored glucose from my liver, whereas the other fruits just don't seem to quite do it.

So...you might test your own body and see what works for you. I'd keep an apple on hand, anyway, in case you feel like I described. It is a feeling that, if I'd had it while not on this diet, I would have sworn I needed to chew some glucose tabs.

Best of luck. It is a great plan for diabetics.

It is so great to know that this is a good plan. I'm really ready to see the pounds drop away. So, from what you and LilacBruze have said, I will keep away from the bread products and keep testing my blood sugar on a regular basis to see how this goes. My first load day is tomorrow. Can't wait!

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by Yoey

It is so great to know that this is a good plan. I'm really ready to see the pounds drop away. So, from what you and LilacBruze have said, I will keep away from the bread products and keep testing my blood sugar on a regular basis to see how this goes. My first load day is tomorrow. Can't wait!

Make sure you load with lots of healthy fats and try to minimize carbs/sugars as you load (unless you can't stand not saying goodbye to something).
My best load menu:

Cream cheese
olives
pepperoni baked on a baking sheet crispy
avocados
heavy whipping cream in my coffee
real no-sugar ice cream made with all cream
cheese
protein that is fatty-chicken thighs, eggs, etc.