Elderly diabetic on Atkins

[nicole714]

I gave my father the Atkins for diabetes book in an attempt to try and help him get his health and eating in check since he had been diagnosed in the last couple years and he's had a lifetime of bad eating habits. I figured it would be a great start to help him recognize what foods he could eat and what he should avoid. He is 80 years old and also has high blood pressure. I weighed him in 2 weeks ago when he began induction and again Sunday night only to find he had gained 7 lbs! I went over his meals with him so I know he's been eating clean and drinking lots of water. He is a reliv distributor so I also know he makes 1 shake every morning with waterto get his supplements in and has been taking that for years but the serving is only 2 carbs. He was so excited to weigh in and then when we saw the weight gain I could see the disappointment in his face and the last thing I want is for him to be discouraged. On a good note his blood sugar and blood pressure readings have improved so I know it must be helping. But I just don't understand the weight gain. He has completely changed his eating and I could understand a pound or two but 7? I told him to stick it out and keep doing what he's doing but now I'm concerned for him because he really does need to loose some weight. I'm wondering if age factors in at all and this extreme? I personally don't usually see my losses in lbs but rather in inches but again 7lb weight gain still seems like a lot. Any Advice?

[CarolynF]

Well, he might have water retention issues and all that water might not have gotten flushed out, if you know what I mean.

The blessing is that his blood sugar and blood pressure is better. Honestly, he might have been dehydrated before and his body is hanging on to the badly needed water..Just a thought..

[svenskamae]

I'm not elderly or diabetic, but my body will easily hang onto 8 extra pounds of water (at TOM, for example). I suggest you encourage your father to drink lots and lots and lots of water; the best way to get your body to give up retained water is to drink LOTS of water. Also, make sure that he is staying cool (in air-conditioning if possible) in the summer heat and getting enough sleep; being overheated or overtired can also cause us to hang onto extra water.

Also, a change in diet can cause constipation in some people, and that can add pounds on the scale. I know this might be a little sensitive to raise with your dad, but you might inquire if he has been as regular as usual in his bathroom habits. Coconut oil or coconut butter (introduced gradually, to avoid nausea), psyllium, nuts (for me, anyway), and/or flax (as in a MIM) can all help if he has been having constipation problems.

Good luck to you and your father. He's fortunate to have a daughter like you looking out for his health.

[Leo41]

For a diabetic, my suggestion would be to introduce him to Dr. Richard Bernstein's Diabetic Solution rather than Atkins.

Dr. B not only explains how low carb helps control blood sugar, he gives advice that is specific to diabetics in terms of how many carbs to allow for each meal, etc. He is himself a Type 1. You might want to take a look at his website to get a sense of his approach. Last time I checked, it was also possible to read chapters from his book on the site.

As to the weight gain, does your father tend to eat a lot? I can easily gain on almost zero carbs because I have an enormous appetite and have to watch portions, too. Could there be a particular low carb food that he enjoys and is overeating?

[ravenrose]

that is disappointing. how accurate were the scales you used? was it at the same time of day with the exact same intake of water and food amounts as the previous weighing date? what about constipation which can really add weight for some people.

[DeltaSierra]

I know he must be disappointed but try to keep him on track, and tell him that being on LC especially if it puts him in ketosis can help save his kidneys.

[watcher513]

re: the same time of day thing. Definitely weigh at the same time of day, or within 1 hour if possible. First thing in the morning is best for me since I Always weigh more in the afternoon and evening.

[clackley]

You are a fabulous daughter and he is a lucky man. I would want to have his thyroid checked out.

[Mobear]

It is really great that you are taking an active interest in your dad's health. I am a T2 diabetic and follow Dr. Bernstein. I wasn't aware of Dr. Atkins book for diabetics.

Dr. Bernstein recommends 30g of carbs a day for diabetics diabetics divided into 6g at breakfast; 12g at lunch; 12 at supper. On the issue of protein he just gives a general guideline. Based on lean body weight he recommends .8 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of lean body weight. Based on his age and activity level 1g per kilogram would probably be approptiate - but you would need to calculate that like this: Ideal body weight/2.2=weight in kilograms. Multiply weight in kilograms by (.8, 1, or 1.2) = grams of protein per day. Grams of protein/6= ounces of protein per day. This is all covered in his book "Diabetes Solution".

Thyroid problems are frequent in diabetics so having his thyroid checked is a great idea. Also, make sure his kidneys are ok since that could be an issue if he is consuming a great deal of protein (more than Dr. B recommends).

Also, be patient. When I did Protein Power 20 years ago weight came off at an unbelievable rate. This time around (starting in 2010) has been considerably slower.

If he is on diabetes medication be very careful. Meds would be reduced based on his blood sugar.

Best of luck with this. I wish you both well.

[nicole714]

Thanks all for such great input and advice! It made me think about a few things... I do know that my father has been complaining that he hasn't been sleeping well this has been going on for months and I recently found out that he was drinking green tea all day so I figured the caffeine was the culprit and asked him to either switch to caffeine free or no more after noon but I wonder if the lack of sleep could also contribute to the weight gain? Water retention is a huge possibility also. I have hypertension and even with my additional water pill I retain water constantly. Not too mention that "Healthwise" I also seem to take after his side of the family. He said hes drinking lots of water but I don't know what that is for him so maybe I can ask him to drink more As for the amounts of food he's eating well with his past eating habits I know he had the tendency to eat a lot. I've tried to explain that part of the beauty of low carb eating was to eat until you were comfortably full but not overdo it and over time his appetite may even decrease a bit. He is on medication for both his blood pressure and diabetes. I checked in with him this morning and everything is still within a normal range and he said his pants are a little loose but still having trouble sleeping. I will get Dr. Richard Bernsteins Diabetic Solutions I hadn't heard of it but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get my father's health in check as long as he's on board and willing to make the necessary changes. I lost my mother 4 years ago so I want my dad around and healthy for as long as possible!

[nicole714]

Originally Posted by Mobear

It is really great that you are taking an active interest in your dad's health. I am a T2 diabetic and follow Dr. Bernstein. I wasn't aware of Dr. Atkins book for diabetics.

Dr. Bernstein recommends 30g of carbs a day for diabetics diabetics divided into 6g at breakfast; 12g at lunch; 12 at supper. On the issue of protein he just gives a general guideline. Based on lean body weight he recommends .8 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of lean body weight. Based on his age and activity level 1g per kilogram would probably be approptiate - but you would need to calculate that like this: Ideal body weight/2.2=weight in kilograms. Multiply weight in kilograms by (.8, 1, or 1.2) = grams of protein per day. Grams of protein/6= ounces of protein per day. This is all covered in his book "Diabetes Solution".

Thyroid problems are frequent in diabetics so having his thyroid checked is a great idea. Also, make sure his kidneys are ok since that could be an issue if he is consuming a great deal of protein (more than Dr. B recommends).

Also, be patient. When I did Protein Power 20 years ago weight came off at an unbelievable rate. This time around (starting in 2010) has been considerably slower.

If he is on diabetes medication be very careful. Meds would be reduced based on his blood sugar.

Best of luck with this. I wish you both well.

Thanks! I hadn't thought about thyroid problems either, I will mention it to him so that maybe it is something he can discuss with his doctor on his next visit. I'm a reflexologist so I regularly work on him to help with his circulation and with all the medication he is on take extra care to work his liver, kidneys and the elimination organs as well as his endocrine system.

He is getting ready to leave on a 10 day sailing trip so not sure how that will factor in to all of this but I hope he stays hydrated and sticks to his eating plan. I will weigh him again once he returns.

[moonmirror]

Originally Posted by nicole714

I gave my father the Atkins for diabetes book in an attempt to try and help him get his health and eating in check since he had been diagnosed in the last couple years and he's had a lifetime of bad eating habits. I figured it would be a great start to help him recognize what foods he could eat and what he should avoid. He is 80 years old and also has high blood pressure. I weighed him in 2 weeks ago when he began induction and again Sunday night only to find he had gained 7 lbs! I went over his meals with him so I know he's been eating clean and drinking lots of water. He is a reliv distributor so I also know he makes 1 shake every morning with waterto get his supplements in and has been taking that for years but the serving is only 2 carbs. He was so excited to weigh in and then when we saw the weight gain I could see the disappointment in his face and the last thing I want is for him to be discouraged. On a good note his blood sugar and blood pressure readings have improved so I know it must be helping. But I just don't understand the weight gain. He has completely changed his eating and I could understand a pound or two but 7? I told him to stick it out and keep doing what he's doing but now I'm concerned for him because he really does need to loose some weight. I'm wondering if age factors in at all and this extreme? I personally don't usually see my losses in lbs but rather in inches but again 7lb weight gain still seems like a lot. Any Advice?

Oh wow. I have a similar story: my dad is 78 years old and diabetic with mild cardiovascular disease.

He gains weight on Atkins.

I really don't know why it happens but it does.

He went vegan and lost about 22 pounds, but now he is fatigued and pale all the time.

Wish I had an answer. I think just moderate eating and close attention to meds and md appointments is best for the elderly with health issues.

[svenskamae]

Originally Posted by moonmirror

Oh wow. I have a similar story: my dad is 78 years old and diabetic with mild cardiovascular disease.

He gains weight on Atkins.

I really don't know why it happens but it does.

He went vegan and lost about 22 pounds, but now he is fatigued and pale all the time.

Wish I had an answer. I think just moderate eating and close attention to meds and md appointments is best for the elderly with health issues.

Has your dad tried doing low carb according to Dr. Bernstein's specifications, Moonmirror? It sounds like a pretty regimented plan that is especially targeted toward dealing with diabetes, so maybe that would work better than some flavor of Atkins.

Some people can eat lots of protein and lose easily on lowcarb, but others turn the extra protein into sugar (sorry, I don't remember the technical terms here), which is why the Bernstein plan limits the amount of protein and says to cut back on protein progressively if one isn't losing or is gaining weight. Others who have followed this plan can speak to it better than I can, but it might be a reason why some elderly/non-elderly people don't lose well or even gain on Atkins or some other lowcarb approaches.

I've done vegan for about 9 months in the past, and I ate a lot of whole grains and legumes (but no sugar). It's hard for me to imagine that being good for someone who is diabetic, but I don't know anything about your dad's specific diet/circumstances.

[clackley]

Originally Posted by moonmirror

Oh wow. I have a similar story: my dad is 78 years old and diabetic with mild cardiovascular disease.

He gains weight on Atkins.

I really don't know why it happens but it does.

He went vegan and lost about 22 pounds, but now he is fatigued and pale all the time.

Wish I had an answer. I think just moderate eating and close attention to meds and md appointments is best for the elderly with health issues.

I hope he is having his b12 levels monitored. The fatigue and paleness are signs of deficiency.

[moonmirror]

I believe he is very clearly deficient. But he takes all sorts of supplements, so my mother thinks he is "covered," although I wonder how well they are absorbed.

It was a typical pattern for a new vegan: lose tons of weight and feel awesome for about a month; then crash and burn. I worry.

About the Atkins thing: he never did it correctly. My mother tells a story of some pulled pork she made; about 5 pounds or so. She came home from work and it was gone! He binged on meat. I think the vegan diet doesn't taste good enough to him to maintain calories; thus the weight loss.

[nicole714]

Originally Posted by moonmirror

Oh wow. I have a similar story: my dad is 78 years old and diabetic with mild cardiovascular disease.

He gains weight on Atkins.

I really don't know why it happens but it does.

He went vegan and lost about 22 pounds, but now he is fatigued and pale all the time.

Wish I had an answer. I think just moderate eating and close attention to meds and md appointments is best for the elderly with health issues.

It is very interesting that your story is so similar to mine. I understand the eating dilema too. I don't know if my father would ever go vegan though, he was in the restaurant / catering / food biz all his life and he's eaten very "well" over the years getting him to modify his sugar and carbs wasn't exactly easy but he's been sticking to it because he loves being able to eat all the protein in the form of meat/eggs. When he returns from his trip I'm going to read Dr. Bernstein's book and talk to him about it to see if it is something he would be interested in. If I can find an audio version even better. (He's blind from macular degeneration so he can no longer read books)
I'll keep you posted on how this works out for him.

I also have to agree that the paleness and fatigue sounds like a deficiency. Becoming vegan is a drastic lifestyle change and I'm sure even moreso for an elderly person. I hope your dad gets whatever he needs so that the paleness and fatigue goes away.

[lterry913]

Could it be that he isn't just eating lc food but he is eating more food in general...my elderly in in laws just don't seem to eat as much or as often as they used to often skipping meals. So putting them on a structured eating plan would probably add a meal a day(to keep blood sugar constant or whatever) and make them gain.
I hope you understand what I am trying to say...because they just don't eat near as much as they used too.

[Auntie Em]

Here is the Dr. Bernstein support thread.

[svenskamae]

Originally Posted by nicole714

It is very interesting that your story is so similar to mine. I understand the eating dilema too. I don't know if my father would ever go vegan though, he was in the restaurant / catering / food biz all his life and he's eaten very "well" over the years getting him to modify his sugar and carbs wasn't exactly easy but he's been sticking to it because he loves being able to eat all the protein in the form of meat/eggs. When he returns from his trip I'm going to read Dr. Bernstein's book and talk to him about it to see if it is something he would be interested in. If I can find an audio version even better. (He's blind from macular degeneration so he can no longer read books)
I'll keep you posted on how this works out for him.

I also have to agree that the paleness and fatigue sounds like a deficiency. Becoming vegan is a drastic lifestyle change and I'm sure even moreso for an elderly person. I hope your dad gets whatever he needs so that the paleness and fatigue goes away.

I'm someone who has eaten vegan--for 9 months--and was vegetarian for lots of years, and I would NOT advocate those woes for your elderly diabetic dad. A lowcarb approach that is specifically tailored to diabetics--like Bernstein's plan--sounds like a much more sensible approach. The older someone is, and the more serious health problems someone has, the more careful one has to be, and food really is like medicine that needs to be properly chosen to fit that person's special circumstances.

[flatferenghi]

ATKINS always helped me, blood sugar wise. The scale is a game no one can win. It is always coming up with surprises, and unpleasant ones, especially when we are doing everything right. if i had a dime for everyone who has given up owing to what the scale says I would be a filthy rich troll about now. I hope he sticks with it. the improvement in blood chemistry and blood pressure is most certainly worth it. I think the 7 lbs is not fat. If he continues along the right path, and is still not seeing results, then it IS time to check the thyroid. also, check the tape measure, which, as u know is a more accurate indicator of success. Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI