Asked to try Atkins by new Doctor

[Luscious]

Hi all,

I am writing from Sydney Australia. 2 days ago I bought the Atkins book after having been asked to commit to it for 3 months by my new Doctor.

I am a diabetic, talking oral meds. I have had no long term success at losing weight since I became insulin resistent. I have had a lot of problem controlling my blood sugar levels.

I just moved to a new area and found a new doctor, and went for a full blood work up. Everything is good except my weight and blood sugar levels. The doc's recommendation was Atkins. I was a little surprised, as my diabetic educator when I was first diagnosed told me to eat carbs (low GI). When I aksed wouldn't it be better to cut carbs she was HORRIFIED that I should suggest such an unhealthy course of action. My new doc has said the jury is still out and that there is still a very split opinion.

Anyway, here I am. I agreed to commit to this for at least 3 months to see how my weight and BGL is impacted.

I have read the book, and it seems straight forward enough. I have looked through the forum a bit, it looks like a good place to get support and hints and tips. Coming into summer here, so sure am going to miss my summer stone fruits though :(

I'm going to post this on the Diabetic and Australian site too, as they are the places I will likely hang the most.

Hi to everyone.

Luscious.

[nopie]

Wow! You've found a new doctor who is willing to try something new rather than prescribing the same old high carb diet and then blaming the patient because his blood sugar is too high.
Atkins induction level should bring your sugar right down - and if it is a big drop you may feel funny for a day or two until you get used to normal sugar levels. I'm sure your doctor is willing to work with you on adjusting your meds as needed. If your sugar has been too high for very long, you are in for a real treat. Once you get over the shock of having normal sugars - you are going to feel better than you have in years.
Most people here would probably also recommend that you get Dr Bernstein's book Diabetes Solution. It will give you the information you need to take charge of your life.
Keep us informed on how you are doing!

[Luscious]

Well, I am very happy this morning.

End of week 2 of Low Carb eating, and my morning blood sugar levels were down to 7.6. This is the lowest I have ever measured them. Prior to low-carbing my Morning BGL were varying between 14.0 and 17.00. I can't wait to get my blood work up done again after week 6. I am so interested to see how everything is changing.

I managed to find a copy of Dr Bernstein's book, which I had to have sent over from America, so I will read that when it arrives.

In any event, I'm a happy girl, oh, and 12 pounds lighter too.

I am finding this very easy to manage. I am going on holiday next week, so won't be able to do my end of week 3 stats, but hope that there will be a plentiful supply of low carb foods where I am going. I might pack my home made flax cereal just in case :)

Luscious :angel:

[Kestrel]

Dr. Lutz mentions in his second book (published in 1995) that diabetes was routinely treated with low carb diets prior to World War II in Europe, which is where his 6 bread units come from in his first book...

[Lisa N]

diabetes was routinely treated with low carb diets prior to World War II in Europe

My dad was a doctor in the Netherlands during this time and confirms that to me; low carb was the diet of choice for diabetics during that time. Of course, the diet was also low in fat and we don't see eye to eye on the amount of fat that I eat, but my lipid panel is excellent and his opinion is that as long as it stays that way, I'm on the right track with low carbing to control my diabetes. Incidentally, he's very interested in what I'm doing and the results I've gotten with low carb vs. the ADA diet. We go over my bloodwork results every time I get tested and he's been very impressed with the improvements. He told me when we first started discussing this that he never understood the recommendations to allow diabetics to consume more carbs. In his opinion, it was the advent of reliable insulin and oral antihypoglycemic agents that changed the dietary recommendations for diabetics to allow them to eat more like "normal people". Unfortunately, the way that "normal people" eat is bad for them, too, and even worse for diabetics, medicated or not. :rolleyes:

[clb1968]

Dr. Lutz mentions in his second book (published in 1995)

New to this site ,so I am not familiar(sp) with all the names. Who is Dr. Lutz?
Thanks so much for the info.http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/newbie.gif

[Luscious]

I just tested my post lunch BGL. It was 5.4 (or 97.2 to my American friends). This is the first time, in the 3 years since i was diagnosed, that my BGL has been under 6. Over the past few weeks I have been steadily in the 6 to 8 range. This is very good for me, as when i started low carbing end November I was in the 13 to 17 (or about 300) range.

I am going to get my 6 week blood checks done next week, can't wait to see if other readings have improved also.

I could not be happier :)

[jeanie]

Luscious, I am so happy for you. Having been "diagnosed" a diabetic, I can relate to your struggles. Eating low carb has been the answer for me. My BG is under control and while I will always have the propensity to have high BG readings, as long as I follow Atkins, I am able to keep it under control. Good Job!! Keep up the good work! Jeanie

[catspaw]

Excellent news! What a drop - how are you feeling overall?
Keep it up!

[Lisa N]

Great job, Luscious!

Doesn't it feel great to see those numbers coming down? I bet you're feeling a whole lot better, too! Keep up the good work! :)

[Luscious]

Thank you all for your replies, support and encouragement and help... This forum has certainly helped me over the past 7 weeks.

Overall I am feeling like a different person....

This summer has been hot, but I have not been sweating like a dishrag (which has been my plight the past few summers). I don't have to sleep with the fan blowing on me. I have not suffered recurring bouts of thrush, my hair, skin and nails are looking great. My energy levels are about 100% higher. I don't fall asleep on the couch exhausted at 9pm every night, in fact most nights I 'm not going to sleep until midnight. I am starting to feel like being more social (I have been isolating myself quite a lot the last couple of years) and overall my mood has elevated.

Is LC good for me... you betcha.

[beanerz]

Hey! you are one of the lucky ones to have a doctor tell you to do low carb, I had to switch doctors! good thing I did too, becuase I am now off of glucovance and my A1C went from 7.6 to 6.0

[lilgizmo]

Luscious...I'm glad you are being healed by the Atkins WOL! I was just diagnosed Jan 27. I am on metformin 1x/day, and my BS levels are not too bad. The highest morning BS was 145 since starting metformin. Ok...the horrified part was my MD when I asked him if I could do Atkins. He held up his fingers in front of him in the form of a cross and said nooooo...you don't want to get into a "ketotic state" since you are a diabetic. But much to my relief, he did state that I should check out the "South Beach" diet. I really don't know what to do...I don't want to have problems with low BS from eating LC and taking metformin...any advice? I have read so much about so many LC diets. I just don't know which would be best...Any insight would be appreciated. :spin:
Thanks in advance, and have a wiggly evening...lol! :wiggle:
~*Kelly*~

[kevjol]

lilgizmo
Either diet should work for you as there is not a big difference between them. If your doctor says do South Beach and you don't want to go against him then do it,but If it doesn't work for you then try Atkins and don't bring it up at the Drs office. Mainly its the low carb woe that helps control BG since high carb = high BG low carb = low BG

You also may want to check out Dr. Bernstein's "Diabetic Solution" book as It should be the diabetics bible! That book will give you all the info you will ever want to know about diabetes and it was written by a diabetic.

Good Luck on whatever you decide

[lilgizmo]

Thanks kev...I will look online and buy it since I will always be a diabetic now, even with controlled BS...
Have a nice evening!
~*Kelly*~

[Lisa N]

Ok...the horrified part was my MD when I asked him if I could do Atkins. He held up his fingers in front of him in the form of a cross and said nooooo...you don't want to get into a "ketotic state" since you are a diabetic.

lilgizmo...your doctor is making an all too common mistake of confusing diabetic ketoacidosis with benign dietary ketosis. The two are not at all the same thing!
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a very dangerous condition and your doctor would be right in cautioning you against putting yourself in that situation, but....you must have a very elevated blood sugar (250+) to get into that territory.
Dietary ketosis is nothing more than your body burning its fat stores because it is not being given a dietary source of fuel (carbs) and is not dangerous, even to a diabetic.
I second Kevjol's recommendation to at least read Dr. Bernstein's book. I think you will find it most helpful in your situation at least in understanding your disease and how best to combat it. :)

[Luscious]

Hi lilgizmo. I read your post where you said you were concerned about your blood sugar dropping too low with the LC eating and taking metformin.

I am longing for the day my blood sugar reaches alarming low levels (not sure its gonna happen until I lose considerably more weight, and my cells can utilise better). Even with meformin dosage I can't get under 5.8 (or 104). I'm pretty happy with that though.

I would say to you to just monitor your bgl readings. I guess the ultimate goal for us all, if its possible, is to be able to reduce our medication dosage, or ultimately be without it all together. This is where it is important to stay in contact with your doctor, even if he doesn't agree with the plan YOU choose to follow.

Good Luck

[lilgizmo]

Thanks for your advice everyone. I have been feeling really good. The mixture of LCing & metformin is making me have afternoon energy..something I have not had for a long while. I used to have to take an afternoon nappy...lol :o
Have a great night...
~*Kelly*~