on the cusp of not having type 2 diabetes

[Dissie]

OMG got the best news today! I just had to share! OK I have type 2 diabetes because of my weight. I have lost about 100 pounds since I was diagnosed. Now the 100 pounds are 20 pounds lost, 10 gained, etc...wish it really was 100, but its like the same 20 over and over again. lol Anyway, went to the Dr today and while I have done the low carb, over and over again, decided to do the low glycemic thing. Its low carb but not so radical. I still count carbs but stay under 50 per day. I am right on the cusp of being diabetic, but she said more being not having the disease anymore. She left me on my metformin, but told me if I get light headed, eat and if I feel better, then its time to stop the medication! OMG I am so happy! I can't believe I am actually wanting to become lightheaded! (meaning my blood sugar is low) This low carb thing really does work. I didnt even try to lose this past month, just ate lower carb and lost weight without trying. Sorry to make this so long, juste wanted to give encouragement to all and to reinforce that the low carb thing really does work, even eating 50 carbs per day, you can lose! My Dr said just 5 more pounds and I will be out of disease! OMG thats the best news I could have received! Thanks for reading!

[Looweewoo]

That's great about your progress! I also have T2 Diabetes that is almost undetectable by my (previous) doctor. However, there is something you might want to know:

Originally Posted by Dissie

I have type 2 diabetes because of my weight.

There is a very good chance that eating too large a percentage of carbs in your diet caused Diabetes which then caused your obesity, not the other way around. It's interesting research, and I don't know how conclusive it is, but its out there and more people are starting to look at it.

[Steve Parker, M.D.]

Great news! Thanks for sharing words of encouragement.

-Steve

[chiody]

Congrats....you're definitely heading in the right direction....

[Stash'sWife]

Originally Posted by Looweewoo

That's great about your progress! I also have T2 Diabetes that is almost undetectable by my (previous) doctor. However, there is something you might want to know:

There is a very good chance that eating too large a percentage of carbs in your diet caused Diabetes which then caused your obesity, not the other way around. It's interesting research, and I don't know how conclusive it is, but its out there and more people are starting to look at it.

I agree with Lou!

And WAY TO GO! Keep vigilant! One of my lifelong goals is to avoid type 2 (Daddy has it ) so I know that even if I move on from ZC, it is LC for me forever!

[Blood Sugar 101]

One thing to keep in mind. Metformin may be a big part of why you are doing so well so don't be too quick to give it up.

I gained 10 lbs when I went off metformin eating the identical diet I'd maintained on for years very easily. I went back on and the weight came back off on the same diet. My A1c was identical to what it had been with the Metformin because it has never done much for my blood sugar, since I'm not insulin resistant.

But it turns out Metformin appears to block the liver's ability to synthesize and deposit fat so even if your blood sugar is very good, it helps with weight maintenance.

[Dissie]

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

One thing to keep in mind. Metformin may be a big part of why you are doing so well so don't be too quick to give it up.

I gained 10 lbs when I went off metformin eating the identical diet I'd maintained on for years very easily. I went back on and the weight came back off on the same diet. My A1c was identical to what it had been with the Metformin because it has never done much for my blood sugar, since I'm not insulin resistant.

But it turns out Metformin appears to block the liver's ability to synthesize and deposit fat so even if your blood sugar is very good, it helps with weight maintenance.

Actually, I had been off of my metformin for 3 months when I went to this new Dr., so blood drawn was just my body, with no meds. Long story short, lost my job, lost insurance and just got a new job and insurance back, so went to Dr. I had lost 20 pounds during this time on my own, due to being scared of not having the metformin to lower blood sugar, and went on low glycemic to try to control it on my own. Heck you do what you can when you don't have money for dr or don't have insurance. Anywho, thats why Dr was impressed, gave her my presciptions and she represcribed what other Dr had me on, but then she got my results. I was on the borderline of having the disease now due to weight loss. It wasnt because I was now taking metformin again, it was my blood before she even prescribed what the old dr had me on previously. The metformin has me on even keel now, but she seems to think that if I lose 5 more pounds I wont need it anymore, so that is a big accomplishment in my book.

[Dissie]

forgot to mention that I have a bad thyroid and am taking that med too-still lost weight with no thyroid medicine for 3 mos

[Blood Sugar 101]

Dissie,

Let us know how it works out. My polling of many involved in the the online low carb diabetes community has found that only 2-3% see their blood sugars truly normalize when they lose weight, even those of us who get to goal. We can maintain normal numbers by cutting way back on carbs, but the underlying response to carbs remains the same.

Doctors always tell people that weight loss will reverse diabetes--which is why I and so many others have worked so very hard to lose weight--but our experience has not backed this up.

If yours does, it would be wonderful. But what I have taken from this over the years is that people with diabetes would do better if they were told that cutting carbs normalizes blood sugar and health, rather than that they need to lose weight.

So few people can lose that much weight and they blame themselves when they can't, and if they do, and it doesn't impact their blood sugars, many people become very discouraged and allow themselves to regain all the weight.

I have seen people, no matter what their weight, normalize their blood sugars in 3-6 months with carb restriction independent of weight, and their happiness and relief is enormous. Many say that if they had known it was the carbs, not the weight, that controlled blood sugar, they would have gotten back into control years before. But most have a history of failed diets and when doctors tell them to lose weight it adds to their despair.

[Dissie]

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

Dissie,

Let us know how it works out. My polling of many involved in the the online low carb diabetes community has found that only 2-3% see their blood sugars truly normalize when they lose weight, even those of us who get to goal. We can maintain normal numbers by cutting way back on carbs, but the underlying response to carbs remains the same.

Doctors always tell people that weight loss will reverse diabetes--which is why I and so many others have worked so very hard to lose weight--but our experience has not backed this up.

If yours does, it would be wonderful. But what I have taken from this over the years is that people with diabetes would do better if they were told that cutting carbs normalizes blood sugar and health, rather than that they need to lose weight.

So few people can lose that much weight and they blame themselves when they can't, and if they do, and it doesn't impact their blood sugars, many people become very discouraged and allow themselves to regain all the weight.

I have seen people, no matter what their weight, normalize their blood sugars in 3-6 months with carb restriction independent of weight, and their happiness and relief is enormous. Many say that if they had known it was the carbs, not the weight, that controlled blood sugar, they would have gotten back into control years before. But most have a history of failed diets and when doctors tell them to lose weight it adds to their despair.

Thank you for the information. Hopefully I will be in the 2-3%!!

[voxfreak]

Congratulations!

[Looweewoo]

Originally Posted by Dissie

Thank you for the information. Hopefully I will be in the 2-3%!!

Keep eating low carb and no matter what your weight you will be in the large majority that has stabilized their blood sugar.

[7littleangels]

I have lost 25 lbs. and have brought my blood glucose down to 95 (high) when I eat a low-carb meal,but I have checked it recently while eating a meal that used to be normal for me and the high was 175. This morning I had gluten/sugar free pancakes with SF syrup,eggs and bacon and my high was 155. What it ,at this point, has proved to me is that losing weight helps ,but it is the low-carb that keeps it under control. I am not sure I will ever be "cured" of Type II diabetes. I think it will be controlled by healthy eating.

JMHO

Jeanie

[Looweewoo]

Yeah, I'm 330 lbs and have the BG of a non-diabetic with a A1C of 5.2 last time I checked.

[clackley]

That is the kind of evidence that keeps me going. Thanks for sharing.

[chiody]

7littleangels,

Just several posts up your's Blood Sugar 101 succintly hit the nail on the head specifying the ability to control Type 2 D with a regimented LC program in some cases irregardless of body weight.

As long as BS levels remain low, your probability of complications are going to be significantly reduced and you can live a lifestyle as well as a healthy non diabetic IMHO. Do whatever it takes to achieve those numbers...good luck! Whether or not this means NOT having diabetes, frankly it only a matter of semantics at this point.

[7littleangels]

I agree. What I worry about are people thinking they have "cured " their Type II by losing the weight,so they return to "normal" eating and stop worrying about their glucose numbers because they thought they were "cured". I'm not sure that the majority of us are ever "cured" it is just controlled.
I have been doing a lot of reading on the Diabetic Forum and it is a good place to go if you are having problems.

I am new to this,so take what I say with a grain of salt. There are those that are far wiser on the diabetic forum.

Jeanie

[peanutte]

Congratulations on your improving health, Dissie!

Your excitement was so evident in your post--I am happy for you.

[Looweewoo]

I can testify that after being "normal" for 8 years, it only took a few weeks of slightly off plan eating for me to be right back where I started. (IOW, mostly low carbs except for Ben and Jerry's at night)

It doesn't go away, it just hides and waits.

[oceandiva]

Dissie, seeing your health improve with low carb is wonderful--congrats!

[trans4mation2005]

Congrats!

I am on metformin also... hoping they drop the dose.. but they help with weight loss also..I took other diabetes pills and my weight loss was lower.. my doc said the metformin wil increase weight loss.. hopefully you keep doing what reversed your blood sugars.. it can always come back

[Armystolehim04]

That great news! I was on Metformin for PCOS i really respect people who can take it and live it!I could never get past 500mg.I didn't work for me though,i actually gained.Probably due to my bad thyroid that wasn't dxed until recently.Good luck I'm rooting for you.Keep up the good work.

[Blood Sugar 101]

One note on Metformin. Many (dumb) doctors prescribe the plain kind. It is really tough on the digestive tract. There is an extended release form that is a generic too, which is much easier for many people to handle.

Before you give up on it, try the extended release form. It is sold as Metformin ER or Glucophage XR. I do much better on the ER form myself.

I also find it works best for me if I take it after lunch, so that I have some food in my stomach. If I take it on an empty stomach it irritates my stomach lining.

[Armystolehim04]

I tried the XR and just the regular metformin nothing worked.I could tolerate 500mgs but once i took my other 500mg pill i'd throw up when it took effect.I even tried cutting my last pill in a few pieces and taking it throughout the day.I just can't take it!

Just thinking of it gives me the creeps!

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by Armystolehim04

I tried the XR and just the regular metformin nothing worked.I could tolerate 500mgs but once i took my other 500mg pill i'd throw up when it took effect.I even tried cutting my last pill in a few pieces and taking it throughout the day.I just can't take it!

Just thinking of it gives me the creeps!

Sounds horrible!

I wonder what the underlying condition is that causes this reaction. I have heard it reported by a small number of people. Because Metformin appears to impact the liver most strongly, I wonder if it might be related to some specific underlying condition.

It would probably be easy to determine using common research techniques, except that drug companies NEVER do research to explore the significant, even life-threatening impacts of their drugs.

Metformin is a safe drug--one of the very few that we have used long enough to be able to say that. However, it is known to cause problems in people with kidney or liver abnormalities and doctors are supposed to check liver enzymes and kidney function before prescribing it, though few do.

[Armystolehim04]

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

Sounds horrible!


It would probably be easy to determine using common research techniques, except that drug companies NEVER do research to explore the significant, even life-threatening impacts of their drugs.

Totally agree with you.The sicker we get the more money for them. If they showed WHY certain people couldn't take metformin they'd lose money.That is all they care about.I'm not sure why i reacted that way the 3 times i tried it.It was the same.I think it is maybe because i have PCOS but not diabetes.My best friend is also the same as me,was prescribed Metformin and had the same results.Although it does work for certain people and it works wonders.For others it makes them really sick.

[Blood Sugar 101]

I doubt the problem is that you don't have diabetes, as some people with diabetes have the same problem with metformin.

I think it has to do with some abnormality of liver function since it is the liver metformin mostly affects.