reverse weight problem

[navkan]

Hi group, I'm a new member, Canadian. Let me bore you with a brief history. I was diagnosed Type 2 about 7 years ago. I am unique in that I was not overweight ( 150 lbs. I fall in that 20% category Dr. Bernstein identifies in his book as possibly a form of Type 1). Anyway I promptly accepted medical (diamicron and, a couple of years ago, Avandia) and nutritional advice (hi carb of course). I tested some but not often and was satisfied with A1c results in the 7-7.5 (126-135) range, especially as my doctor (who never discussed diet with me) indicated I was doing fine. A while back, reading some statisitics about diabetics (13 years lower life expectancy) coupled with some troubling symptoms and a higher than normal A1c got my attention. Through Rick Mendoza's web site I got to Dr. Berstein and not surprisingly a whole new approach to my diabetes management. After extensive testing of my classic recommended diet (I now call it the diabetic-killer diet!), I dropped it like a hot (starchy) potato. No bloody way am I going to lose 13 years! Since being on low-carb meals my glucose levels have been consistently under 8 (144) at the worst and usually below 7 (126). My latest A1C was 5.8 and my doctor is very pleased with my cholesteral numbers. We agreed to halve my dose of diamicron for the moment.

I have been hesitant to bring my current concern to this forum because I think most of the members are struggling with getting their weight down and may quite rightly not be too sympathetic to someone with the opposite problem. Let me assure you that I understand your struggle and am pulling for all of you. Having said that, since being on the Bernstein diet for 2 months, I have lost 5 lbs. Not surprising since a low carb diet is a weight loss diet. I am concerned that I will waste away. Lately I have tried to increase my carbs a bit but, you guessed it, bg's have gone up right away.

Anyone out there have any advice for me?

[Lisa N]

Believe it or not, I can somewhat sympathize with your problem although I certainly don't share it! ;)
There are several things you can do if weight loss was not your goal and none of them involve increasing your carbs. What I would suggest is to first increase your fats...they are calorie dense and blood sugar-neutral, meaning that they will help you increase your calories without impacting your blood sugars. Use olive oil, butter, heavy cream, mayonnaise, full-fat salad dressings, etc...to increase the caloric content of your meals.
The next thing you could do is to slightly increase your protein portions. Excess protein can be converted to glucose, although it is a very long process and would not give you any unwanted spikes...perhaps at the worst, a slight increase in your overall average so you would have to keep an eye on your blood sugars in general to see how that has an effect, if any. Combining both suggestions, you could drink a protein shake made with heavy cream instead of water or part cream, part water.
Last...if you are getting adequate calories to support your metabolism + your daily activity, your weight should stabilize on its own eventually; you won't keep losing indefinitely as long as you are eating enough. If you're not sure of how many calories per day you would need to maintain your weight, you can use www.fitday.com to calculate all that and then track how you're doing on a daily basis.
HTH! :)

[stilt0]

Hello,
I'm in similar boat. I've never been diagnosed as diabetic , but I think I was pretty close. And I've never been overweight. In fact I was losing weight gradually even though I ate constantly. Despite the constant eating I was always hungry. I started low carbing about two months ago and lost a further four pounds in the first two weeks , but I felt immediately better, so I had no doubt I was on the right track. Slept better , felt more grounded and happy- no more mood swings. After the first two weeks I've gradually been putting weight on. When I crack 70 kilos I'll be happy, and I'm sure that's where it will stabilize . I'm just that confident that low carbing is the only way to optimal health.
So I wouldn't worry too much about early weight loss . Particularly if you feel better. Try doing weights . A few repititions done R E A L L Y S L O W L Y (for instance a pushup lasting two or three minutes -ideally to the point of muscle failure) of each muscle group you want to put bulk on . You'll probably find , as I did that even when you feel skinny , when you are not very well, that there are all sorts of places where little body fat patches lurk. If you do weights and low carb, you'll
probably find that you'll make it up in lean muscle very quickly.
As Lisa N pointed out excess protein may create gluconeogenesis glucose problems . My theory is that if you are doing weights , the muscle building human growth hormone release of this type of exercise gets first call on the available amino acids, so a little bit extra protein will go where you want it to .

cheers ,
Stuart

[navkan]

Thank you Lisa and Stuart for your useful information. In particular, I am taken by Stuart's suggestions re weight training. I have fantasized about being a muscular hunk ever since I was a 99 lb weakling teenager!

I am off to the basement (with my bag of almonds Lisa) to hit the weights and start the body sculpting

Thanks again and cheers

Fred

[pepsi max]

i,m so pleased i found this thread. i too have a similar problem. after 2 years with atkins, keeping a steady weight, my bg,s were rising so i have switched to dr. b.i used to have between 50 60 carbs per day .now 30. my bg,s post prandial are fine now, but i,ve lost 2 pounds and i really can,t afford any more weight loss.would the weight training cause more weight loss at first by burning up calories .i do eat a high fat diet and am very active most of the time.i also fall in the category dr. b calls slow onset type 1.i was originally diagnosed t-1 but after 7 years on insulin i went on atkins and came off med.now diet control.any other suggestions please?i don,t want to look like a stick insect.

[Doitnow]

I am newly diagnosed and I have so much to learn. Blood sugars fluctuating but I am learning. I get trained on glucometer on Monday.

[navkan]

since I started this thread my weight has stabilised as Lisa suggested it would. I am eating as much as I can, all LC of course. Lot's of snacks, roasted unsalted almonds, LC protein drinks, etc. I have also upped my exercise with emphasis on resistance training.

I'm a person that rationalises things and on this weight issue I have decided that it is a very secondary measure of my health. My BG, cholesterol, and BP are very good and I think these are most important indicators. I am mobile, reasonably strong and feel pretty good. If people think I am skinny (I prefer "wirey") then they have to deal with that.

My revised goal now is not to gain weight but to get off as many meds as I can

Fred

[pepsi max]

wiry sounds better than stick insect.i can live with that.