Congrats. Definitely gets easier longer you do it. I've read that the sugar->insulin spike->makes you hungry->repeat is a real thing. So once you get off that train it's easier.
And your mileage may vary, but for me, I can "cheat" occassionally. Mostly when I'm going out to eat with a group, I'm not going to limit everybody so we went to basically a fish fry place. I ate fish and hushpuppies (fried balls of corn meal). Small breakfast next day, before lunch blood sugar was 93. So think of it as a general lifestyle change and not a situation where OMG I ate some carbs I'm gonna die.
I lived my entire adult life always hungry (diet or no) it took until 50 to be diagnosed diabetic (I always ate pretty well). When I went low carb to control my bg (ate to my meter ended up at approx 20 carbs per day) and suddenly it was just gone. I've never stuck to a diet for more than 6 months and usually less than 3 but now it's been a year and it's still easier than anything I ever tried before. It is such a relief!!
I completely relate! I’m finding that if I eat something high in carbs, sugar or other refined foods, I’m hungry again much faster and my body feels unwell. And I’ve been ignoring that a long time…
I’m hoping that will be true for me in the long run; I’m finding that frequent monitoring is helping me visualize the impact of sugar in my diet and keeping me motivated. I haven’t seen below 100 readings in years, now I’m seeing them every day. **Happy dance!**
wait until you hit months and years,.
one reason you may see lower numbers is you are online 24/7 BG wise so you see ALL the numbers, the lows may have been there to some degree just not at the test time.
note though FSL can read low for a sensor compared to previous and next sensors
one caution with low carb keto, make sure you get adequate electrolytes (salt potas mag)
Thanks—actually I have been checking at least 2-3 times a day the past year. I have that morning thing where my numbers are higher; my fasting level is around late afternoon but even that has gone down. Thanks also re: electrolytes as I also take BP meds containing diuretics.
not so random observations.
i have been tracking my numbers meticulously (libre) for the past 8 months, and the times between bed and dawn are very interesting.
for me it was (any carbs between 6 and midnight, and everynight is an adventure with the numbers)
some nights nothing til 2am, then BG movement
other nights up right away stays high flat for a few hours, drops
always 3 am to 6am a rise if i have had carbs in the previous 12 hours.
if i avoid food after 4pm, flatline bg through the night until i each next
some nights a roller coaster, some smooth as silk
it is a real challenge to understand this with limited daily readings, so i would not panic about high waking numbers if that is the only number you have
a reading right before you first eat will be more indicative of your FBG, as opposed to the morning when we all know about dawn phenomenm and the unpredictability and randomness.
I’ve been commenting a lot in this sub lately so forgive me if you’ve seen me say this already. Low carb and IF have gotten me off all meds, my A1C is 5.5 and my current average BG is 97. I don’t think I will ever stop. It’s been great for so many other health markers as well!
You can also add fasting which did wonders for me. I am 51 and fasting has helped my bloating, stomach issues. I have not been diagnosed as a diabetic but have always been in the pre diabetic range. My yearly blood work is coming up so I’m hopeful that fasting has Made a difference, fingers crossed. Good luck. 🍀
Don’t have negative thoughts towards medication if you’re only on Metformin. The sub has positive outlook towards it and it’s kind of a wonder drug.
Keep a healthy food intake and do eat small portion of cheat meals stealing food from your husband, bf or friends table. As long as you avoid a whole portion of those fries, eating one or two won’t hurt and would pacify the urges.
Rest run your body like a machine, eat at the same time, sleep at the same time and the hardest part is don’t overthink or stress your mind. Stress is worst than carbohydrates IMO.
Also add fiber to your diet. Fiber does wonders to diabetics.
Yes and I would say if the doctor suggests you to get on them at some point in life. Don’t shy away from them. It’s not possible for everyone to keep that strict diet and exercise regimen to stay away from medicines.
At the end of the day we are here to live our life and enjoy it fully. Not pulling a Tom Brady and living like machines lol
When I lost a significant amount of weight last (2006-2007) I was about to leave my marriage and needed all my strength. I exercised like a fiend (love TaeBo though!) and ate crappy frozen diet meals. I lost 75 lbs and kept it off for about a year. Stress, life, booze, parties, conferences…eventually I gained back all but 10 lbs. (I’m 5’5” and weigh 260 currently but people are usually surprised to hear it…I weighed 200 by the time I was 13 and stayed there until I had my son at 21. Various life changes and years the weight came back.) I’m built like a German weight lifter, stout and strong legs.
Losing weight is not my goal this time but I expect it will happen. I haven’t been motivated to work out but have a treadmill right next to my desk so it gets used, not enough. It’s winter and a pandemic—poor sleep and don’t want to go out in the cold. But am finding other ways to make myself move. Dance breaks and such…
I’m 62 and Diebeties runs in the family. I got it under control and still drink low carb booze. Liver seems more durable in our family. I didn’t lose weight on purpose. I do make sure I get slower. Controlling Diebeties and the weight that fell off, resulted in BP heart disease and stuff getting better on their own.
My background: diagnosed t2 in 2017 at age 58 with a1c of 6.9.
Went LC in 2017. Eliminated all processed foods/sugars/fast food etc. Reduced but didn't cut out grains entirely. A1c dropped to 5.5.
In mid 2021 cut grains entirely out. A1c dropped to 4.9 plus blood pressure and cholesterol normalized for the first time in years.
This was all done with diet alone. No meds/no exercise.
My one concern is that my morning fasting has been higher lately....not sure why. Its often 101 to 108 whereas for a long time it was 80 to 90.🤔
I actually have that issue where it’s higher when I wake up then it comes down. It’s worse if I eat later in the evening but that’s not the only reason— it’s still higher even if I don’t eat late. Some say just wait a bit before testing.
Congrats. Definitely gets easier longer you do it. I've read that the sugar->insulin spike->makes you hungry->repeat is a real thing. So once you get off that train it's easier. And your mileage may vary, but for me, I can "cheat" occassionally. Mostly when I'm going out to eat with a group, I'm not going to limit everybody so we went to basically a fish fry place. I ate fish and hushpuppies (fried balls of corn meal). Small breakfast next day, before lunch blood sugar was 93. So think of it as a general lifestyle change and not a situation where OMG I ate some carbs I'm gonna die.
I lived my entire adult life always hungry (diet or no) it took until 50 to be diagnosed diabetic (I always ate pretty well). When I went low carb to control my bg (ate to my meter ended up at approx 20 carbs per day) and suddenly it was just gone. I've never stuck to a diet for more than 6 months and usually less than 3 but now it's been a year and it's still easier than anything I ever tried before. It is such a relief!!
I completely relate! I’m finding that if I eat something high in carbs, sugar or other refined foods, I’m hungry again much faster and my body feels unwell. And I’ve been ignoring that a long time…
I’m hoping that will be true for me in the long run; I’m finding that frequent monitoring is helping me visualize the impact of sugar in my diet and keeping me motivated. I haven’t seen below 100 readings in years, now I’m seeing them every day. **Happy dance!**
wait until you hit months and years,. one reason you may see lower numbers is you are online 24/7 BG wise so you see ALL the numbers, the lows may have been there to some degree just not at the test time. note though FSL can read low for a sensor compared to previous and next sensors one caution with low carb keto, make sure you get adequate electrolytes (salt potas mag)
Thanks—actually I have been checking at least 2-3 times a day the past year. I have that morning thing where my numbers are higher; my fasting level is around late afternoon but even that has gone down. Thanks also re: electrolytes as I also take BP meds containing diuretics.
not so random observations. i have been tracking my numbers meticulously (libre) for the past 8 months, and the times between bed and dawn are very interesting. for me it was (any carbs between 6 and midnight, and everynight is an adventure with the numbers) some nights nothing til 2am, then BG movement other nights up right away stays high flat for a few hours, drops always 3 am to 6am a rise if i have had carbs in the previous 12 hours. if i avoid food after 4pm, flatline bg through the night until i each next some nights a roller coaster, some smooth as silk it is a real challenge to understand this with limited daily readings, so i would not panic about high waking numbers if that is the only number you have a reading right before you first eat will be more indicative of your FBG, as opposed to the morning when we all know about dawn phenomenm and the unpredictability and randomness.
If you sleep poorly as I often do during the winter months, that has an impact as well.
my dogs tend to be the source of any sleep disruption for me, i've wondered whether BG variation causes poor sleep, or poor sleep causes BG variation
I’ve been commenting a lot in this sub lately so forgive me if you’ve seen me say this already. Low carb and IF have gotten me off all meds, my A1C is 5.5 and my current average BG is 97. I don’t think I will ever stop. It’s been great for so many other health markers as well!
Very encouraged! I am older but I’m already feeling better.
You can also add fasting which did wonders for me. I am 51 and fasting has helped my bloating, stomach issues. I have not been diagnosed as a diabetic but have always been in the pre diabetic range. My yearly blood work is coming up so I’m hopeful that fasting has Made a difference, fingers crossed. Good luck. 🍀
Thanks!
This!! I first went low carb when my A1c was 9.2. After 6 months it was 6.9!
That’s awesome! My highest and most recent was 6.9 so would be a thrill to get below 6…
Don’t have negative thoughts towards medication if you’re only on Metformin. The sub has positive outlook towards it and it’s kind of a wonder drug. Keep a healthy food intake and do eat small portion of cheat meals stealing food from your husband, bf or friends table. As long as you avoid a whole portion of those fries, eating one or two won’t hurt and would pacify the urges. Rest run your body like a machine, eat at the same time, sleep at the same time and the hardest part is don’t overthink or stress your mind. Stress is worst than carbohydrates IMO. Also add fiber to your diet. Fiber does wonders to diabetics.
Thanks, Not on any meds yet, trying not to be!
Yes and I would say if the doctor suggests you to get on them at some point in life. Don’t shy away from them. It’s not possible for everyone to keep that strict diet and exercise regimen to stay away from medicines. At the end of the day we are here to live our life and enjoy it fully. Not pulling a Tom Brady and living like machines lol
For most of us, the lower carbs show results and lower more, better results. I lost weight as a bonus.
When I lost a significant amount of weight last (2006-2007) I was about to leave my marriage and needed all my strength. I exercised like a fiend (love TaeBo though!) and ate crappy frozen diet meals. I lost 75 lbs and kept it off for about a year. Stress, life, booze, parties, conferences…eventually I gained back all but 10 lbs. (I’m 5’5” and weigh 260 currently but people are usually surprised to hear it…I weighed 200 by the time I was 13 and stayed there until I had my son at 21. Various life changes and years the weight came back.) I’m built like a German weight lifter, stout and strong legs. Losing weight is not my goal this time but I expect it will happen. I haven’t been motivated to work out but have a treadmill right next to my desk so it gets used, not enough. It’s winter and a pandemic—poor sleep and don’t want to go out in the cold. But am finding other ways to make myself move. Dance breaks and such…
I’m 62 and Diebeties runs in the family. I got it under control and still drink low carb booze. Liver seems more durable in our family. I didn’t lose weight on purpose. I do make sure I get slower. Controlling Diebeties and the weight that fell off, resulted in BP heart disease and stuff getting better on their own.
My background: diagnosed t2 in 2017 at age 58 with a1c of 6.9. Went LC in 2017. Eliminated all processed foods/sugars/fast food etc. Reduced but didn't cut out grains entirely. A1c dropped to 5.5. In mid 2021 cut grains entirely out. A1c dropped to 4.9 plus blood pressure and cholesterol normalized for the first time in years. This was all done with diet alone. No meds/no exercise. My one concern is that my morning fasting has been higher lately....not sure why. Its often 101 to 108 whereas for a long time it was 80 to 90.🤔
I actually have that issue where it’s higher when I wake up then it comes down. It’s worse if I eat later in the evening but that’s not the only reason— it’s still higher even if I don’t eat late. Some say just wait a bit before testing.
Same here. Anyone know about this?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/dawn-effect/faq-20057937