“Hello LCHF – goodbye type 2 diabetes”
in Diabetes 
Yet another story from a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic, who’s doing the opposite of what the health care system recommends and quickly improves his health dramatically:
Hi.
Two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, after having had morning blood sugar levels around 300 mg/dl (17 mmol/l), as self-monitored at home. Changed my diet to low-carb and my blood sugar levels are now consistently below 125 mg/dl (7 mmol/l), and most often at 90-105 mg/dl (5-6 mmol/l). I want to let you know that your website has given me proper information that I would have missed otherwise…
All the best, and thank you.
Magnus Karlsson
I congratulated him and asked if I could share his story on my blog.
Yes, of course!
I am very happy with the results of the diet. Two weeks ago I was 255 lbs (116 kg) and today I’m 242 lbs (110 kg).
Magnus also noted his fasting blood glucose numbers each day when he started. Do you want to see?
Two weeks with type 2 diabetes, where I completely changed to an LCHF diet has produced the following fasting blood glucose results. Started out with high numbers that look really good towards the end.
306 mg/dl (17.0 mmol/l)
252 (14.0)
198 (11.0)
198 (11.0)
140 (7.8)
97 (5.4)
97 (5.4)
108 (6.0)
110 (6.1)
124 (6.9)
missed a day
88 (4.9)
101 (5.6)
88 (4.9)
This result from just changing my diet, and I have also lost a few pounds, which doesn’t make things any worse. Now I just have to maintain these low levels and live with my new diet.
I ended up on Diet Doctor through a friend, who has given me a lot of information on how this works. At the same time I’m finding stories from others, who have been where I am now.
A Strong Start
Going from abnormally high blood sugar levels, that are eating away at the body’s blood vessels, to a completely normal blood sugar. Great work, Magnus!
Update
The other week Magnus updated his story on how he’s doing. Note that a nurse actually mentioned LCHF to him. Things are moving along, even within the health care system:
When 16 days ago, I was given the pleasure to live the rest of my life with type 2 diabetes I didn’t know much about this. I didn’t receive any further information on lifestyle except that a nurse said that LCHF might be my thing and if I eat right I can live with the disease. Around the same time I met Roger Marberg, who gave me really good advice in the very first days on how and what to eat and recommended following the DietDoctor’s website, chock-full of advice. Now, 16 days later, my morning blood sugar stays around 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/l) every morning and I have more energy than I’ve had in many years, as my sleeping has improved.
With exercise and a new diet even this old, tired body has awakened and my clothes are starting to be a little loose after more than 15 lbs (7 kg) have melted away. My goal is to reach below 220 lbs (100 kg) before Christmas, and I will make it happen. On my latest birthday I was 258 lbs (117 kg) and it’s embarrassing to think about how I didn’t take care of myself for so many years.
It is so very encouraging that we are now at the stage where you heard about the LCHF approach (even as just an option) from a friend but even more encouragingly from an health care professional! And so early after diagnosis.
It can be daunting at first (Type 2 diagnosed in March 2003) but it looks as if you are off to a great start!
He does say, in his piece, that the results are from diet alone.
And if anybody want to talk to him self.. in France.. he got a B&B!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chez-Amis-BB/498156300212146
Its there Metformin do its jobb!
I am not a medical person and can only state what I have found and what friends have told me. Obviously if you have any underlying health issues these may need to be taken into consideration*.
But it would appear the health benefits it can bring to all,diabetic or not ,is getting far wider appeal now.
Congratulations to Magnus, and all others that have good LCHF news to share.
If you are reading this and haven't tried the change it can make - why not give it a try*.
Keep spreading the word
All the best Jan
the weight fell ONLY when I switched to LCHF. While following the official dietary advice from the NHS (The notorious Eatwell plate with it's massive amount of heart healthy "complex" carbs and also minimum fat content), my weight was still creeping up and my sugars were way too high. I wouldn't have known about my sugars still being an issue if I hadn't bought myself my own meter and strips, the NHS refusing to prescribe them for me in what I consider to be a stupidly short-sighted budgetary decision. The evidence that my sugars were still not under control is what caused me to seek out advice on diabetic forums that were NOT toeing the NHS party line with their advice. Dr. Briffa's book "Escape the Diet Trap" helped massively along with Jenny Ruhl's "Blood Sugar 101, What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes". I would consider the official advice given to me by the NHS to be dangerous and completely wrong.
My fasting BS is now 5.4... it was over 9 at the start... During the day, I can have readings as low as 4.6 before meals and only 5.5 2 hours after..
My doctor is amazed by my results as the HbA1c and my weight loss doesn't lie, but he's not sure about the long term as he considers it to be a "fad diet" and unsafe for more than a few months.
@paulc
Your experience with the NHS echos mine in so many ways. The 'official' advice they give people with T2 diabetes is actually making the condition worse. Ditto on the testing strips etc.
I've been doing LCHF (without exercise - which I do plan to get into) for 6 months.
The results - HbA1c started at 11.6 - it's now down to 6.7; I lost around 7-8kg (still have around 14kg to lose); my HDL went up (it had been very low at diagnosis), liver function improved, etc.
Basically LCHF has only had a positive impact on my health but 99% of people working in the NHS are either ignorant of this approach or are pro-actively hostile to LCHF.
This 'dietary fat = ultimate evil' mythology still rules the mindset of the NHS sadly.
I had a very similar experience. I tried a lowfat diet and found myself chugging coffee and energy drinks to stay awake at work. I was napping often. Felt pretty awful and succumbed to eating sweets or bad food often.
After a 5 month stall at 250lbs in November 2012 I decided to go LCHF. Today I am 188lbs (My peak weight was 300lbs, goal is 150lbs). My starting A1C was 7.1% and I brought it down to 5.1%. I was diagnosed about 21 months ago with Type II diabetes. My doctor declared me disease free last month.
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I made a three egg omelette with a 2tsp of butter, 3 tablespoons of cheddar cheese and some precooked broccoli, with two peaces of crispy bacon and as a small bonus for myself I had one piece of whole wheat bread made by a local German Bakery buttered with real butter.
I do not suffer from gluten allergies or celiac disease or any other allergies which would exempt me from this choice. I enjoy carbs in moderation. I say moderation. I do not live in the extremes and would have a difficult time adhering to any type of diet that became oppressively restrictive.
So now I go off to enjoy my workout on a well energized breakfast. I read somewhere in the morning Eat like a king, in the afternoon eat like a prince and in the evening eat like a pauper. Not bad advice.
"...three egg omelette with a 2tsp of butter, 3 tablespoons of cheddar cheese and some precooked broccoli, with two peaces of crispy bacon..."
would be so:
"...oppressively restrictive."
As I said, just go away eddy.
You really don't miss bread once you shed the habit.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/woe
Read this instead.. in plain english!
http://www.fitintegrity.com/uploads/9/5/1/6/9516119/no_sugar_no_starc...
Gazelle
Try this one instead_
https://www.google.se/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so...
I've just started this myself, but from what I understand even though the blood sugar comes down, you are still very insulin resistant which makes it hard to get at the fat and so you don't lose weight. It takes a long time to reverse the insulin resistance.
I am 66 and going through the same thing and I've been on LCHF diets for years. I always stopped after awhile and went moderate low carb because I didn't lose any weight and got so discouraged. Even now, it is very, very slow, but I have started intermittant fasting and I hope this will make a difference. Keep trying and maybe add some fasting and see if it makes a difference!
As I said, I am new at this so if I am giving wrong information, please someone chime in with the correct advice.