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Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it?

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Gilda

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Edited on 31/07/2016 at 05:44

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Gilda

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Last activity on 03/02/2023 at 15:26

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710 comments posted | 28 in the Diabetes (Type 2) Forum

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Here an amazing life story of a person who managed T2 diabetes through diet:

Just over four years ago, my GP gave me unwelcome news: I had type 2 diabetes. I was shocked. I didn’t match the stereotypical patient profile of an overweight couch potato. Aged 59, I was thin, fit and 5ft 7in tall, drank frugally, went running every week and weighed just 10st 7lb. The outlook was not good, with the risk of heart attacks, strokes, blindness, amputations and a 36% greater chance of dying early. I thought, this can’t be happening to me; there has to be a way through. I started trawling the web for information and unearthed a report about a research trial at Newcastle University, led by Professor Roy Taylor.

The results suggested you could reverse type 2 with a daily 800-calorie diet for eight weeks, depending on how quickly and how much weight you need to lose. Taylor’s team discovered that type 2 is caused by fat clogging up the pancreas, preventing it from producing sufficient insulin to control blood sugar level. They calculated you need to reduce your pre-diagnosis body weight by a sixth to starve your body into using up the rogue fat lodged in your pancreas and allow it to function normally. “The body does not like any fat lying around in the pancreas, so it consumes that first,” says Taylor. The daily 800-calorie diet comprises either three 200g liquid food supplements of soups and shakes, and 200g of non-starchy vegetables or the tastier 800g equivalent of calorie-shy meals you measure out yourself, plus 2-3 litres of water.

It sounded tough, but what could I lose? I chose the supplement route. It was like a leap in the dark – I’d always loved my food. After giving in to a normal meal after taking my first supplement, I began in earnest the next day. I would accustom my mind to what was on offer and look forward to the next meal, savour what I ate and enjoy it for what it was. I blanked off thoughts of favourite meals and began to take each day as it came. And I followed Taylor’s advice on drinking water to stave off hunger, which was rarely a problem – my body just seemed to get used to it.

Around day six, my glucose was 4.1, the lowest yet. The next day I treated myself to a chocolate shake to celebrate. Two months later, my doctor declared the diabetes had resolved itself. My glucose level was 5.1mmol/l, well below the diabetes mark of 6. I was free of it, but I now had another equally important task – maintaining my new body weight. How much should I eat? “About two-thirds of what you were used to before the diet,” says Taylor.

We all know that diets are notoriously hard to stick to – unless the incentive is powerful enough. In my case, it is

Which is what I’ve been aiming for – and achieving – ever since. I weigh 8st 6lb, go running on average three times a week, attend a gym, eat healthily and burn around 1,750 calories a day. I am not diabetic any more.

The research I followed is now the subject of a bestselling diet book, The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet by Dr Michael Mosley. Publication could not be more timely, given a WHO report last month reporting that 422 million adults now have diabetes, four times that of 1980.

So, nearly four years down the line, is my diet still successful? Yes – but it takes close monitoring and willpower. We all know that diets are notoriously hard to stick to – unless the incentive is powerful enough. In my case, it is.

What keeps me religiously counting calories on supermarket labels, running in all weathers and reducing the amount I eat and drink (and sadly I do mean alcohol) is knowing that my health could otherwise be seriously at risk. In fact, diet and exercise have left me much healthier, with lower blood pressure, fewer aches and pains, and a more active, alert mind. As well as eating healthily I aim for three 30-minute runs, two visits to the gym including weights (I build up forearm muscles that soak up excess energy before it gets stored as fat) and 15-minute sessions of interval bike training, plus press-ups, sit-ups and the plank (an exercise to help lose excess fat round the stomach).

It sounds tougher than it really is – I’ve learned to enjoy my shift in lifestyle, and I like a whole range of food I didn’t know about before. I positively look forward to my muesli, I can cook stews, grill meat, appreciate all types of fish. Treats are allowed; just compensate by eating frugally in the days after – particularly at Christmas – to balance up your calorie count.

Exercise is basically survival – I can’t afford to take in calories without shedding them as well. It does take effort but I feel so much better afterwards. Regardless of one’s situation, tenacity, focus and single-mindedness are key to reversing type 2 diabetes. Without support, many people will fail to stick to the diet and a change in lifestyle. One of the burning questions being researched now is whether our doctors and nurses can deliver that support and if so, how?

How to lower your blood sugar level: Richard’s 800-calorie daily diet four years ago…

Breakfast Double choc, choc mint, banana or wild cherry food supplement shake (powder mixed with water).

Lunch Chicken and vegetable or curry-flavoured soup.

Supper Home-made pea/carrot/onion soup or roasted non-starchy vegetables, vanilla shake (my favourite – it tasted like ice-cream).

Plus 2-3 litres intake of water/herbal tea daily. Strictly no treats, alcohol, pasta, rice or potatoes.

Breakfast Home-made muesli – uncooked porridge oats mixed with sultanas, blueberries, plums or other berries. Plus almonds and skimmed milk. Toasted rye bread with thin layers of Benecol spread and jam. Occasional scrambled eggs over a giant grilled tomato.

Lunch Main meal of the day – from a choice of chicken, tinned tuna, fresh oily fish, steamed non-starchy vegetables cooked al dente, just 50g of brown rice or wholegrain spelt/spinach pasta. Or go Greek with olives, hummus, feta cheese and salad. Fresh fruit (berries, apples, oranges, etc, with fat-free yoghurt), creme fraiche, quark.

Supper Thick, home-made soup such as carrot and coriander or mushroom. Or Greek or chicken salad, followed by fresh fruit.

Plus Several glasses of fresh/flavoured water or herbal/fruit tea daily, plus ordinary tea, decaf coffee.

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Olive may

03/05/2016 at 08:58

Olive may

Last activity on 26/11/2019 at 10:02

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3 comments posted | 1 in the Diabetes (Type 2) Forum

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You are amazing. Well done. I too have type two diabetis ,diet controlled. I am in my 70's and don't think I would be able to stick to it. I struggle to stick to my slimming world eating plan. I don't expect to be able to run any distance now, as my balance is not good. I admire your efforts totally and glad the paid off so well

Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/diabetes-type-2/my-library-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-can-you-really-eat-to-beat-it-966 2016-05-03 08:58:40

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28/05/2016 at 10:22

Great article @GildaT continued success to the person who has contributed their story. I am T2 diabetes diagnosed myself which I control with diet and medication I began my diet initially by choosing to go gluten free gluten free in order to loose weight which has proved to be very successful for me as my weight is now at 80kgs down from a starting point of 96kgs now due to a diagnosis of Diverticulosis my diet is also meat free all of these conditions have came to be a part of me ever since I was initially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis also followed closely by fibromyalgia all of this has taken a huge toll on my body's ability to to endure exercise other than the occasional burst on my recumbent exercise bike but in general terms I'm happy with my progress.

Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/diabetes-type-2/my-library-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-can-you-really-eat-to-beat-it-966 2016-05-28 10:22:54

Dalrymple

30/05/2016 at 10:10

Dalrymple

Last activity on 05/02/2021 at 13:58

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2 comments posted | 1 in the Diabetes (Type 2) Forum

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Thank you!!

Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/diabetes-type-2/my-library-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-can-you-really-eat-to-beat-it-966 2016-05-30 10:10:27

Grundy

30/05/2016 at 22:55

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Grundy

Last activity on 10/04/2021 at 14:46

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38 comments posted | 21 in the Diabetes (Type 2) Forum

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I think if you knew foods inside out you would see diet can beet any medical problem My No 1 challenge is tackling Diabetes Enemy Erectile Disfunction ED. I'm tackling this with diet I eat a fixed diet Monday to Friday

of Bacon and eggs lots of oily fish and I choose Salmon, Chicken, red berry smoothies early week strawberry raspberries, and cranberries. lots of spinnich for its iron I have this every meal a large carrot on the meal every day Monday to Friday, Asparagus water boil the asparagus drain it and drink the water, Rhubarb Juice

seeds and nuts feel like a parrot somedays have that much sesame seeds and gentlemen it works!!

Geoff.

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geoffrey.fielden@live.co.uk

Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/diabetes-type-2/my-library-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-can-you-really-eat-to-beat-it-966 2016-05-30 22:55:41

JazzyC

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18/06/2016 at 08:29

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JazzyC

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293 comments posted | 37 in the Diabetes (Type 2) Forum

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My problem is that because of various other digestive health problems as well as serious asthma I am on a fairly limited diet and exercise is hard .I am due to start a pulmonary rehab exercise program so hope that will help and I might then look at this again but for the time being I don't think it's suitable for meb

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Janet Collins

Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/diabetes-type-2/my-library-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-can-you-really-eat-to-beat-it-966 2016-06-18 08:29:36

JazzyC

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31/07/2016 at 05:44

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JazzyC

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Last activity on 04/05/2024 at 07:55

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293 comments posted | 37 in the Diabetes (Type 2) Forum

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Having read up more I decided to try reducing the carbs I ate by cutting out sandwiches ,made with flu free bread , cutting down on potatoes, pasta and adjusting as much as I could within what I could eat the fruit I ate that sort of thing I didn't do anything drastic but have had a nightmare with it , my blood sugar levels have fallen slightly but I have felt really groggy , having no energy , my asthma has been worse , my hernia has decided to remind me that it's still there and yesterday I was really dizzy and felt faint . I shall go back to my normal diet but just cut back on portion sizes a bit

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Janet Collins

Diabetes: can you really eat to beat it? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/diabetes-type-2/my-library-type-2-diabetes/diabetes-can-you-really-eat-to-beat-it-966 2016-07-31 05:44:50

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