Satisfy my curiosity by answering the following questions by replying in a comment:
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
3. How did you lose it?
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
February 11, 2009
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52 comments:
1. YES
2. 54lbs 23%
3. Walking, then rollerblading and eating less
4. Yes kept it off 7 years
5. Yes. I was able to get off all diabetes meds for that time period
Not sure if I should participate, because I don't technically have diabetes (yet). I havea diagnosis of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and I keep fairly normal BG (usually 90-120) by minimizing or avoid sugars and starches, but I can easily get BG tests that go to 250 or more if I eat the high carb foods everyone else eats. Disregard my answers if you just want responses from those who have diabetes diagnoses.
1) I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes 10 years ago, so no, I didn't lose weight. But a LC diet during the last trimester prevented me or my baby from gaining too much weight. I wish I had eaten LC the entire pregnancy or even earlier. I now suspect I've had glucose regulation problems for at least 15 years, maybe longer.
I lost weight intentionally 5 years ago with a LC diet (because it was so good for me when I was pregnant), but it was only about 2 years ago when I knew I still had a significant BG regulation problem (had trouble getting a GTT because on paper everything was great). The awareness of IGT strengthened my resolve to keep my BG and weight normal and steady long-term with LC.
2) No weight loss since my diagnosis of IGT. My weight fluctuates a few pounds now and then, especially on vacation when I might not have easy access to my normal LC diet foods, but I easily lose any gain when I get home.
3) I maintain my weight with a diet of naturally low carb *real* foods (prepared at home mostly), high in natural fats (no industrial seed oils), and a serving of high quality (animal) protein at each meal.
4) I've maintained my original weight loss for 5 years.
5) I wasn't monitoring my BG when I weighed 20 lbs. more, so it's hard to say if my BG spikes less now. But it *does* still spike into 160-275 range if I eat high sugar or high starch foods, no doubt about that. I plan to eat naturally LC foods for the rest of my life.
I don't know if you can use my answer. I found my post prandial blood glucose was about 200 although my fasting BG was "normal". I am not on any medication. I am keeping my BG level by diet alone.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? - No, it just happened when I limited my carbs.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this? - I lost 15 lbs or about 11%
3. How did you lose it? - Carb restriction only
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it? - I have been doing this for only 6-8 months - so far so good
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? - No, but I was not overweight. My BMI went from 23.7 to 21.
1. yes
2. 15lbs 9%
3. Strict Atkins induction diet and exercise
4. yes
5. not sure My blood glucose came way down from 250 and I kept it down by low carbing exercise and after a while with insulin to keep it normal (under 100 and mostly under 90). A1c now under 5.
I am 52, female, 5'9" tall, and in July, 2008 weighed 256.5. My fasting blood sugar was 138 at the time.
7 months later, on a 20-40 grams of carb a day, but no caloric restrictions otherwise, I weigh 230 pounds. My fasting blood sugar this morning was 104.
I am not on any medications. However, when I eat a "normal" serving of carb (like 1/2 cup rice, or a small baked potato), my blood sugar will rise to 180 and then my FBS will be 120-130 for a couple of days afterwards.
My weight loss is completely stalled at the moment. If I exercised even a little I would probably see better results.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Yes.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
50 lbs. 28% of my starting weight.
3. How did you lose it?
Walking and yoga, mild carb restriction (130 g/day), portion control, starting a 6-8 glasses of water habit per day habit. It took me about a year to lose the 50 lbs.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
1 year - I gained about 15 back, but still within normal BMI range.
It's been three years since I gained weight back and I've been holding steady at a net 35 lb weight loss.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
Definitely.
1. I had gone back on my gestational diabetes food plan (lacking a better plan) before I was diagnosed, actually, with the intention to lose weight. Getting diagnosed provided additional, compelling motivation.
2. I've lost 75 pounds so far. This was 28% of my starting weight.
3. I lost it by a combination of diet and exercise. I follow a lower-carb food plan. (I started with Prevention.com's low-carb diabetes diet, based on 1800 calories, and tweaked it a bit to include less starches and more dairy and fruit. I generally have only 45 grams of carbs from starch/day.) I weigh and measure portions. I keep a food log, but generally have the same amounts spaced equally through the day. (I tend to overdo a little with low-spike foods, such as nuts, however.) I exercise: 30 minutes of cardio x 5 days/week and 2 days/week of upper-body strength training.
What also helped was reading a lot of information specific to diabetes; I read your Blood Sugar 101 web site and other resources on the web.
4. Too soon to tell. I'm only 8 months into this, and I'd like to lose another 47 pounds to get into the middle of my healthy BMI range.
5. I think so. I don't have my charts with me, but I went on Metformin back in the summer, and I'm sure that's making a difference too, but I'm seeing a gradual decline in my fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels as I continue to lose weight. It's *really* rare for me to see a post-meal number over 120 these days, and I've added small amounts of dark chocolate back into my diet. (I was able to have a piece of birthday cake and not have my fasting blood glucose go crazy! This would have been impossible before. Otherwise, I don't really miss the other starches.) My January '09 a1c was 5.7% (yeay! from 9.5% in June 2008).
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
yes
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
240lbs I started at 375 ended 130. Have regained 55 lbs.
3. How did you lose it?
gastric bypass surgery---not the way to go folks---I've had more health problems than you can shake a stick at
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
except for the 55lb regain---yes it has stayed off
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
I can't eat over 20 gms carbs---now I suffer with reactive hypoblycemia
1. not on purpose
2. 90 lb 32%
3. it just fell off when I started restricting carbs
4. it took a couple of years to lose it and I gained back 20-30 lbs, it varies
5. yes i can eat things now I couldn't eat before but they make me feel bad so i don't much
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Yes.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
Beginning of 2008 I was a little over 70 kg. Now I am 63 kg. Lost about 7 kg which is 10% of the original weight
3. How did you lose it?
(a) Mainly by exercise and (b) by reducing the total quantity of food intake.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
It is not yet time to answer the above question.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
It seems that now I can eat more carbs than befow without spiking, but haven't seriously done the experiment of eating till spikes occur. Also, don't have previous data to compare. My morning fasting glucose levels have now become normal (in the 5 mmol/dL range). It was normally above 6 mmol/dL before the weight loss. My Hb A1c came down to 5.3. It was 6 at the end of 2007. Triglycerides decreased, and HDL increased.
Would like to add these general remarks: I think weight loss is just one of the factors that improved my health. The other factors are (a) exercise, (b) reduction in overall food consumption without reducing the proportion of any macro nutrient (in effect, without resorting to low carbing), (c) increasing the consumption of fruits, nuts and vegetables, (d) continuing the use of metformin (750g per day).
Regards,
Rad
1. My diagnosis was a prolonged monitoring process between me and my PCP. Mostly any weight loss has been a side effect of eating food that didn't/doesn't cause my blood sugar to spike. (Ahem! Low carb.)
2. About 15-20 pounds the first time. Then I started antidepressants and didn't care, regained the weight. The second time is a work in progress but it looks like 5 pounds in the last month.
3. Watching carbs and checking my blood sugar a lot.
4. I think my first weight loss lasted a year or so. Too soon to tell this time.
5. I don't know; didn't try it. I hyperfocused on my morning blood sugar, and it wouldn't budge. That may have been part of the reason I quit trying.
6. You didn't ask, but I'll add another comment. When we change the way we eat, we change the way we relate to family and friends. When I was younger, I couldn't seem to do that without making an issue of it, or having someone else make an issue of it. Now I find that most people are very supportive. And butting heads just isn't as much fun as it used to be. ;o)
Margrreet here again. My original weight was maybe 205-210 at 5'6". So I guess I lost 8-10%.
Now I'm working my way down from 210. When I started flirting with 215, I stopped weighing.
Ha! I think, in my case, you already know the answers - but I'll post 'em just the same!
1. I'm trying! Gawd, how I'm trying!! But my Super-High insulin doses are working against me...
2. Gained 100# (appx 40%) since diagnosis. But that also included the ADA recommended (low-fat/high carb) diet + tons of drugs (that made me blow-up like the frickin' Michelin Man!).
Since I've started trying really-super-hard (and after getting BG's under control - Finally!), I've "only" gained (yes, GAINED) 5# - Lucky me!
3. Now I'm attempting reduced cal & cho intake w/increased physical activity (as much as I can manage).
4. Ha!
5. I'm hoping it will. Reducing carbs (to under 50g/day) *definitely* has a direct impact on my BG#'s and spikes, though. That's confirmed.
I'll be trying Byetta soon... Keep your fingers crossed for me!
1. YES
2. 44lbs 20%
3. Low Carb Diet. Followed Aktins diet to lose initial weight. Have stayed on a low to moderate carb diet since diagnoses.
4. Yes kept it off 6 years
5. yes
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
No, but I lost anyway.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
I don't know, in terms of weight; it was two jeans sizes.
3. How did you lose it?
Cutting carbs.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
Yes, to both, with mild fluctuations (+/- 5 lbs) due to thyroid issues and some medication side effects. Within the past year (10+ years) after diagnosis, I've lost another 10% of my "stable", post-diagnosis weight, by cutting back on protein portion size and eliminating 1 snack/day. I wasn't dieting per se, but I was annoyed at the way meat was sold and decided that if my choice was too big a portion or too small a portion, I'd just eat more salad!
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
Hard to say. It does seem with the last weight loss that I can manage soups with a bit more barley or beans.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? - Yes. It was a combination of counting carbs as well as exercise.
2. How much did you lose? 40lbs or about 16%
3. How did you lose it? - Carb restriction and exercise.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it? Diagnosed in August 08 - so far so good.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? - My blood sugars lowered overall but I still have occasional spikes.
1. Yes, and no. The intention was to lower my blood sugars, not to lose weight. But I lost weight.
2. About 20 lbs. About 12% of the original.
3. Strict low-carb.
4. Kept it off for about 5 years.
5. I wouldn't know. I never (seriously, never, ever) splurged. In all that time, I never indulged myself in even a bite over my limit. When I finally started to up my carbs, even within guidelines, I gained weight, and my blood sugars more than doubled.
Now I'm trying to get back to where I was. Not so easy; it works against me to think, "I can do this," because I follow it up with, "I'll be totally strict tomorrow." But I still stay to a low-carb diet, just not the under 50 gms. per day one.
1. Yes and no. At first, it was just trying to follow both the 1000 mg diet and ADA 1800-calorie diet I was given at diagnosis... Then weight loss incentivized more weight loss.
2. At the greatest, about 90 lb (about 40% of starting weight).
3. Low sodium (1000 mg/day maximum), moderate caloric restriction (1200-1600 cal/day), avoid processed and refined foods.
4. Still losing at 1 year, bounced back about 8 lb a year after. Gained back about 45% of total loss within the 5-year period. Maintaining at that level for about a year.
5. Less a matter of spikes than a matter of average blood glucose levels at standard test points (fasting, postprandial). At the lowest weight, I was almost constantly below the lower bg levels of where my doctor wanted me to be, leading me to eat almost constantly.
1. Yes.
2. 100 pounds, 38%
3. A mixture of strategies, including lots of exercise, portion control, not eating out as much, and trying to eliminate certain unhealthy foods from my diet. I went low to moderate carb during my initial weight loss, but have since increased my carb intake.
4. My weight has been stable in the 150-160 range for the last two years. Who knows where I'll be at five years.
5. I certainly think that it helped with blood sugar control. I was initially on amaryl and metformin, but was able to switch to metformin alone within six months of diagnosis (which was the period of my greatest weight loss.) Although I was low to moderate carb dieting during my initial weight loss, I've added back a lot of carbohydrates as I've become more active in recent years.
At this point I get about 50% of my calories from carbohydrates, which is considered low for people like me who run 25-30 miles per week. My A1C has been under 6% for the last 2.5 years, and very rarely see readings over 140.
1) Yes, I intentionally lost weight after my diagnosis.
2) I lost 28 pounds in the first year after diagnosis (1995). I lost 13% of my starting weight.
3) I did it by restricting sweets and calories, plus walking. This was before I knew about low carb: I only found low carb in 2002.
4) I kept the weight off at the end of 1 year. By 5 years, I’d gained back about 7 pounds. But in 7 years, I discovered low carb and lost down to about 41 pounds total. Currently, 14 years after diagnosis, I’ve lost about 27 pounds total. (I had a bad year in 2007 and regained some weight, but I’m also fitter and leaner than I was in 1996, even though I was 39 then and now I’m 51 years old.)
5) It’s not obvious to me that losing weight alone has helped my blood sugar. However, reducing carbs has absolutely helped my blood sugars and exercise definitely helps in the short term (and possibly the long term).
. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? NO
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this? NONE -- I GAINED
3. How did you lose it?
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? MANY YEARS LATER I LOST A MODICOM OF POUNDS AND IT MADE MO IMPACT ON MY BLOOD SUGARS.
1. Yes, though I didn't usually weigh outside of the doctor's office. I was more concerned to keep my insulin levels down. In regard to weight, my clothes getting baggier and baggier was (and still is) my primary feedback.
2. 130lbs, 42%
3. 30 min walking/per day, 6 days/week; low glycemic diet for first two years, then a low carb, mostly paleo diet to to rebalance gut flora
4. After two years, I got down to about 180. I've stayed there for at least six months, though I continue to slim down.
5. Yes, fasting sugars steadily declined and are now usually below 85, sometimes even in the 70's. Postprandial sugars rarely exceed 120 and often stay below 100. I've been off of meds for about five months. Two months ago, my A1C was 5.2, HDL 94, Tri 79. (A1C was 4.9 a year or two ago - but on 1000mg of Metformin.)
A lot of my goal numbers I got from your site, by the way. You've been exceedingly helpful.
1. Yes
2. Initially 28Kg(64lbs) or 24%, stabilised at 23Kg(53lbs) or 20%.
3. A diet I designed myself, see http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/weight-loss-cooking-and-eating-plan.html and following Jennifer's test, test, test advice, see http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm.
4. Six years, coming up to seven.
5. Not much difference in BG control or tolerance at all. That improved with the test, test, test technique.
1. My main motivation was to lower my BGLs, but I intentionally lost weight, too.
2. About 60 lbs. About 33%.
3. I eat very low carb, following Dr. Bernstein's plan and what my meter tells me.
4. It has been 6 years and I'm still keeping the weight off. I lost the last 20 lbs in the past 2 years after lowering my BGL goal to under 100 at all times (my goal had been under 120 for 4 years).
5. I don't eat things that give me spikes, but I eat fewer carbs now to keep my BGLs under 100 than I did when I was heavier. The smaller I am, the stricter I have to be. But it's worth it!
1. Yes. The nurse said I was too stupid. I like a challenge.
2. Was 82 kg (180 lb), now around 60kg (132 lb). In the summer I weigh 57 kg (125 lb) So between 28 and 35%. I am 159 cm/ 5 ft 3 ins, so BMI was 32.4, now 23-23.5 or thereabouts
3. Low-spike, low-carb. Bought a smaller plate and didn't fill it. Ride my bike every day I can. I was very fit to start with so this was easy to add to my routine.
4. See above. I don't find it too hard but don't weigh myself much, as I have never had the habit..
5. Yes, and I have reduced my Metformin dose. I am on prednisolone (prednisone) so have to be careful to keep my eating even through the day. As I got fitter, I stopped walking around with a sandwich in my pockets... I can get very low from exercise if I'm not careful, so I assume I need a bit more carb now...
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Sort of... I used carb reduction and exercise to control blood sugar, but I knew that it would also melt of some kilos!
2. How much did you lose?
122kg to 98kg, about 20%.
3. How did you lose it?
Restricted carbs and regular walking.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
Most of the loss was within 6-9 months and it's stayed fairly constant in the year since then.
I'd like to lose another 10kg, so that's gonna take some changes!
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
I don't often put it to the test, but I don't think so. Vigorous exercise seems to make a difference in the short term, though.
1. Diagnosed with T1 at age 26, I weighed in at 240lbs. At first, I did not intentionally lose weight except for the initial 10 lbs because of extrmemely high blood sugar at diagnosis. I followed the diet I was prescribed and stayed pretty steady around 225-230 for about a year. I began to lose weight when I completely changed my diet on my own about a year after my diagnosis.
2. It took me about 4 years, but I lost a total of 90lbs.
3. I lost the weight by cutting way back on carbs and portion sizes. As I ate, I noticed what certain foods were doing to my blood sugar and cut out or greatly reduced most of the one that caused high spikes. (CARBS!!) I wasn't trying to lose weight as much as I was trying to avoid the high numbers. But, this caused the weight loss over time.
4. I keep the weight off by following my diet that makes me feel good, very low carb and lots of protein, veggies. I still have a weakness for dark chocolate and doritos. They are my 'indulgence' and I know how much I can have without hating how I feel in an hour.
5. It has made a huge difference in my blood sugar. I still have highs and lows, but I am not on a huge roller coaster like I once was. My numbers are much more predictable because I did the work to see what food affected me and how. But even still I find foods that make me go haywire...brussels sprouts can skyrocket my blood sugar numbers, while cottage cheese has almost no effect despite the carbs in it. I had to learn how my body operates, and that what works for some will not work for me and vice versa.
Thanks for all you do, I have learned a ton from you and am healthier for it. When I found you, I couldn't believe that someone was actually putting into words what I was living with in terms of a 'diet' - but more of a lifestyle.
1. Yes
2. 30 pounds, 20%
3. ADA diet, being hungry all the time.
4. Yes. Switching to LC cured the hunger and kept me from regaining.
5. Not really.
I seem to be the odd person here. I've never lost anything on a LC diet, but by the time I adopted it, I was close to my goal weight.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? YES
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this? 40#
3. How did you lose it? originally, the mainstream way, calorie reduction; 2nd time around low-carb
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it? NO
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? don't know
Note: I had a back injury after losing the 40# and was incapacitated for 9 months. Gained all the weight back and spent 5 years after that ignoring the diabetes and weight issues. The second time around started in October 2007. I went low-carb, high protein/fat, plus resistance and strength training 5 days a week. I've lost 95# and kept it off for almost one year. Blood sugars are normal, very few spikes.
Don't fit the QNs, but if you can use this:
Started low carbing in 2003 before diagnosis. Went in size (Mens) shirts XL to M, and shorts, L to S. I also started weight lifting and put a large amount of muscle on. Weight 205 at start, 185 low, usually 190. I still wear 32 inch jeans (think they are really 34s). Weight went up last year following a neurological/fatigue attack that lasted several months. But pants still fit, tight. My conspicuous beer belly and round face disappeared within three months of low carbing, and have never come back. Weight seems to bounce around whereever it wants to.
Losing weight DID NOT prevent my glucose metabolism decline. Following two sessions of retinopathy I started metering, and went very low carb. I keep a log, and can document my entire decline, from that second diagnosis in December of 2006. RobLL
1. I only lost a little weight.
2. 6-10 lbs, which is very little as I started at 241 lbs.
3. eating less
4. 1 1/2 years
5. No difference- sugars steadily getting worse.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Yes.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
75lbs. Approx 33% of starting body weight.
3. How did you lose it?
Constant testing resulted in an eating plan that became lower carb version of Paleo with intermittent fasting; walking; resistance training; interval training.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
Am at year 3, haven’t gained anything back, BMI remains in the normal range while continuing to build muscle.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
I avoid all carbs that used to cause spikes (no grain, no sugar, no processed food, minimal starch), except fresh fruit in moderation. I can eat fresh fruit now without spikes. My blood sugar remains very even now in the normal range over the course of the day. My last A1C was 4.9 with no meds.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
No, actually, my weight just sort of melted off once I started eating low carb.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
I lost fifty pounds.
3. How did you lose it?
I started walking a bit more and went low carb.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
It has been one year and I have kept if off.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
Absolutely not. My control even on under 20 carbs a day became worse and worse until I asked to be put on insulin about six months after diagnosis. Now I am usually under 100 at all times.
I was tested and told I have IGT. That said,
1. Yes
2. 109lbs 38%
3. Via tweaked Atkins (longer induction period) otherwise by the book.
4. I'm only some 15 months into this. But it isn't a diet for me, it was a lifestyle change.
5. Very much of a difference, but I don't care to indulge in foods that got me into trouble before. I've become protective of my 4.8 A1c and fasting 4.3 - 4.5
Did I lose weight after diagnosis? No - I was not overweight at the time. (6'2", 160 lbs)
Did I maintain weight loss - well, as stated above I wasn't overweight at diagnosis, but in the over 40 years since, I have mostly maintained a normal weight. A few years in there when diet/bg control was lacking, went up to 190 lbs or so.
How do I maintain weight? Strict lowcarb...Dr Bernstein's 6/12/12. My A1C stays between 4.9 and 5.3. Current weight is 160 lbs. I walk many miles a week, between 50 and 70 miles, which seems to help bg's.
When first diagnosed, I took sulfonylureas, but lowcarb has enabled me to stop them altogether.Also to Precose(acarbose) for some years, too, but quit it when I want on lowcarb.
I am NOT a typical type 2. Maybe MODY from what you have said here. Again, I was 21 when diagnosed, never overweight. I'm 64 now. What few complications I had, retinopathy and neuropathy, have totally disappeared after 7 years of really good control.
I THINK the reason I didn't have more complications, is that my first doctor scared me about complications, kidneys especially. We didn't have meters, so I used the Clinistix urine test strips, and tried religiously to avoid coloring them. He made it clear that it wasn't a good thing to make kidneys remove excess sugar in addition to their other tasks. So I tended to avoid things that made me "pee purple" and I'm sure that helped.
Is this blog mainly for type II's?
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? No. Lost weight before diagnosis due to what I learned was very out of contol diabetes.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this? I lost 40 pounds from a high of 270.
3. How did you lose it? Due to the diabetes
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it? I recently put back on about 10 pounds. Have started to lose that in the last week!!! This recent loss is due to further portion and carb control.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? No.
Anonymous,
This blog is not mostly for Type 2s, just this particular poll. My goal here is to compare people's experience to what doctors tell Type 2s, which is usually that if they lose weight, they will "reverse" their diabetes or greatly improve blood sugar.
I'm also trying to get a feeling for how much weight loss people can realistically expect to maintain over time.
1. Yes
2. 50lbs, 20%
3. Treadmill
4. 2 years
5. Not much. Carb-tolerance didn't improve much until I started testosterone replacement therapy one year ago. For me, Metformin+Simvastatin = Androgel. Men, get your levels checked.
1.Not really; I was more interested in getting bg control, the weight loss followed on.
2. 25 Kg, 23%
3. Low spiking leading to low carbing; walking leading to a bunch of things as the neuropathy reversed. Currently karate and weightlifting.
4. Yes, and yes in May
5. Yes - at least, either the weight loss and/or the drop in IR due to exercise has given me a bit more leeway.
1. Yes. In fact, I lost weight before due to high blood sugar, but that's not a good way to lose.
2. 115 lbs, About 30%
3. Low carb. Metformin probably helped too.
4. Still off after 3 years. My weight has gone up & down this past year, but nowhere near what it was at the max.
5. No. I am still keeping to Bernstein levels. i was able to get of some of my meds.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? -- Yes.
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this? -- So far, 30 pounds since diagnosis (and 50 pounds down from my highest weight), which is about 15% (a little over 20% from highest)of what I weighed previously.
3. How did you lose it? -- Cutting carbs.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it? -- It is two years now, and I'm still losing very slowly, about .5 pounds every 3 to 4 weeks.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? -- I still spike if I eat carbs over 15 to 20 grams at a time. I seem to tolerate very small amounts of carbs from fruit or sugars more easily than the same amount of carbs from grain foods. Added fat helps delay response to carbs from grain foods, but the effect does hit eventually, so I just try to avoid grains as often as possible.
I might have lost more weight if I cut the carbs as low as a "low carb diet" usually calls for, but I enjoy my diet as it is, and if I can lose weight slowly and control my blood glucose levels while eating carbs in the amounts I do now, I can live with that.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis? No, but weight loss started immediately upon going 30 g per day "low carb" upon finding Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book and following his plan.
2. How much did you lose? 50 pounds (25%) in about 6 months.
3. How did you lose it? Bernstein plan. Generally wear a pedometer and follow a 10,000 step per day plan, a good beginning approach for a person with a sedentary desk-bound lifestyle (which I think prevented developing flabbiness and poor proportions during and after weight loss).
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it? Mainly kept off for 1.5 years so far (but am up 5 pounds right now, and possibly related to dental infection which has raised BG readings).
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes? No, but I was able to drop many other medications, clean up a fatty liver and have better-than-ever health as a direct result of the weight loss achieved by following a low carb plan.
All in all, a T2 diabetes diagnosis lead to a health and appearance improvement beyond anything I would have thought possible.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Yes
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
40 lbs
3. How did you lose it?
Primary: Quit drinking
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
No - drinking again
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
Yes
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Yes, it took about 2 years and came off very slowly
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
I lost 50lbs 20% Started 9/04 at 253lbs A1c 9.3 11/06 at 203 A!c 5.7
3. How did you lose it?
I stuck to 30g of carbs/day and ate anything else I wanted.
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
It has been just over 2 years and I fluctuate between 203 and 209. Once for 1 week went up to 218. Don't know how that happened. Now stay very stable even though I want to lose another 50 lbs.
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
I don"t believe it has.
1. Yes
2. 130lbs 40%
3. Low Carb, Metformin, Walking 45 minutes a day, intervals or weights 30 minutes a day.
4. One year and counting.
5. Discontinued metformin, able to eat closer to 70 to 80 grams of carbs per day with no issues.
1. Yes
2. 55 lbs. -- 25%
3. Protein Power diet
4. I intend to -- ask me in 6 mos.
5. Not appreciably but dr. took me off Lantus due to an "alarmingly low" A1c of 5.8 -- struggling to stabilize on over the counter NPH.
I do a lot of stuff backwards, I had a BMI of 22 and what I now know were nearly diabetic BG and severely diabetic lipids (high insulin resistance)
The only time I have ever gained weight was on the Healthy High Carb Low Fat diet, and the weight gain took an extra boost when the dietician reduced my fat consumption even further. It was all "middle age spread" round my belly.
I put on around 20 - 30 lbs, about 15 - 20%, and once I met Jenny, Alan and others too numerous to mention, and started following Test Test Test the weight kind of evaporated as fast as it had come on.
The key was reducing carbs until my BG seldom spiked, which also nailed my lipids and reduced BP. I was previously quite fit but became very anergic on the Heart Healthy diet - the fitness has returned and I walk a lot and do gardening and other things.
So far it's coming up on 5 years and I am still at my original (normal) weight, my BG is seldom out of range and my lipids and BP are the envy of many nondiabetics.
I think the weight gain - and loss - was an artefact of insulin resistance and getting that down is what had improved all my results and symptoms. My carb input is still limited at breakfast but I can on occasion eat more later in the day. I only do this when I have to, eg. eating out.
I used to need to snack on small carb/fat boluses to avoid highs and lows while exerting myself but this need seems to have improved also, I am generally around 60g carbs and seldom over 100g. What I eat now is somewhere around Michael Eades' Protein Power and Mark Sisson's Primal diet
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-definitive-guide-to-the-primal-eating-plan/
Interesting thread, maybe some of the Authorities at the ADA, Joslin etc. ought to be reading it
1.yes
2.270 to 225 45lbs 16%
3. very low carb
4.2 years, never over 239. Still struggle, 3 cycles of mid low 220's to upper 230's. Even at 239 a 30 lb loss which is just over 10%
5. Don't mess with carbs. My "cheats" are lack of portion control and too many snacks- nuts and cheese. Twice, both new years, had beans in chili, spiked 40 to 50 pts and took a couple days to fully normalize.
10.1 @ dx, 5.4 hbalc last time. I am sure the carb control is what works for me.
1. Did you lose weight intentionally after your diabetes diagnosis?
Yes
2. How much did you lose? What percentage of your starting weight was this?
So far, 14 pounds.
3. How did you lose it?
LC...20 or less a day
4. Did you keep the weight off 1 and 5 years after you lost it?
It's only been 6 mo sense my diagnoses
5. Did the weight loss make a difference in your blood sugars in terms of changing how much carbohydrate you could eat without spikes?
Most definately...I find I can not take in more than 20 carbs a day and even with that, I have to watch "what" they are.
I am not on any meds at this time, strictly diet and exercise (which I haven't been very good at yet). I plan on asking for oral meds at my next meeting to see if maybe I can regulate my readings and to keep them all in the normal range instead of the ups and downs they are now even though they are more near the normal range.
I'm still trying to figure out how to get the morning fasting down so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Jenny has contributed a lot to us and I think it is a shame that more of us have not contributed to her poll. Let's get with it!
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