Controlling type 2 diabetes with diet alone

Posted by chesterc @chesterc, Dec 12, 2017

I live in the UK and have recently been diagnosed type 2 diabetic. I have yet to start testing but have made an attempt at diet.
What are the chances of my being able to control my levels with diet alone?
The Mayo Clinic Connect was my pick as I enjoyed my visit at Rochester in 1959.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Diabetes & Endocrine System Support Group.

Hi @chesterc . I'm afraid that the answer to your question is "it depends." It depends on a lot of things - how far progressed your illness is, how high your sugars are, and how much your pancreas is still functioning. If your doctor hasn't already suggested it, you might ask for a referral to a dietician who specializes in diabetes. (In the U.S. we call them a "diabetes educator"). They can be really helpful at helping you figure out how to eat in this new way and balance what you eat with your blood sugar test results. They can also help you identify which foods impact your blood sugar the most and therefore need to be eaten less frequently. Some type II diabetics can manage their blood sugar with diet alone, some with diet and exercise, and others need medication.

In my case, I had to be on medication for several years. Right now I am able to manage with diet only. That probably won't last forever, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. 🙂

Best of luck to you.

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@coloradogirl

Hi @chesterc . I'm afraid that the answer to your question is "it depends." It depends on a lot of things - how far progressed your illness is, how high your sugars are, and how much your pancreas is still functioning. If your doctor hasn't already suggested it, you might ask for a referral to a dietician who specializes in diabetes. (In the U.S. we call them a "diabetes educator"). They can be really helpful at helping you figure out how to eat in this new way and balance what you eat with your blood sugar test results. They can also help you identify which foods impact your blood sugar the most and therefore need to be eaten less frequently. Some type II diabetics can manage their blood sugar with diet alone, some with diet and exercise, and others need medication.

In my case, I had to be on medication for several years. Right now I am able to manage with diet only. That probably won't last forever, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. 🙂

Best of luck to you.

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Hi, interesting, what event happened or what did u do to be able to get off meds?

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@coloradogirl

Hi @chesterc . I'm afraid that the answer to your question is "it depends." It depends on a lot of things - how far progressed your illness is, how high your sugars are, and how much your pancreas is still functioning. If your doctor hasn't already suggested it, you might ask for a referral to a dietician who specializes in diabetes. (In the U.S. we call them a "diabetes educator"). They can be really helpful at helping you figure out how to eat in this new way and balance what you eat with your blood sugar test results. They can also help you identify which foods impact your blood sugar the most and therefore need to be eaten less frequently. Some type II diabetics can manage their blood sugar with diet alone, some with diet and exercise, and others need medication.

In my case, I had to be on medication for several years. Right now I am able to manage with diet only. That probably won't last forever, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. 🙂

Best of luck to you.

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My sugars were not super high to begin with (but high enough to qualify as diabetic). I eat a very low carb diet. Also, for some reason, going through menopause seemed to stabilize the highs and lows that I was having, so while I still had to work at keeping my blood sugars down, I didn't need the medication to help stabilize my sugars. I also was running several times a week, although I'm not doing that now so it may be a matter of time before I need to take metformin again.

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Same as mine, I can control day time sugars but it's the fasting that's high, they still classify it as diabetes. I also walk 3-4 miles 4 times a week.Im male so that's different, I think I'm going tru mental pause though especially after the diagnosis.im on metformin and a sugar eliminator pill.Its trying on the mind.

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@chesterc I was diagnosed in the early 2000s. Initially the doctor I was seeing put me on insulin just to make sure it was controlled. Then I was on metformin for a little while but my numbers are good so I am not on anything now, have not been for a number of years. My A1C is always below 6, has even been below 5, and that is just with diet. When I was post surgery and taking prednisone my numbers skyrocket and I had to use insulin until they reduced the prednisone. I am still taking a small dose of prednisone daily but my numbers are fine now. Unless your diabetes is severe, diet alone may be able to control it.
JK

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@johnbishop

Hi @chesterc, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and others that have posted here. I started working on my diet 4 or 5 years ago because I was looking to improve my health some. I have been told I'm pre-diabetic but that's been for years and I've never crossed into the full blown diabetes. I was also looking for answers for my small fiber peripheral neuropathy when I found Dr Terry Wahls book "The Wahls Protocol". She has an interesting story that she used diet to reduce and get rid of most of her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. Her book started me looking into changing my lifestyle from live to eat to eat to live (as much as possible anyway).

There is a lot of information out there on what to eat and what not to eat but I'm finding out the real key is to reduce or eliminate sugar, eliminating processed foods as much as possible, eating/buying organic food as much as possible, and zero fast foods - hamburgers and french fries were my nemesis. That's what I strive for but I will be the first to admit I start the day with good intentions and a cookie will find it's way into my hands and it's gone. When I do fall a little, I try to get back on the wagon so to speak.

I found this study (it links to a PDF) on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) which is a great place to search for health information and studies. It is from the JAMA Network (The Journal of the American Medical Association):

Controlling Diabetes with Diet:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/579572

John

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Thank you John and to the others who offered advice. I guess that the answer is to keep calm and carry on.
Without self testing I am very much in the dark so that should be a priority, I will lake an effort to read as much as possible ( thanks for the link) and press ahead with the diet. I too have an occasional cookie and have yet to convince myself that this will put me on the slippery slope. Otherwise our diet seems very good to me.
I will watch out for further advice.

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@johnbishop

Hi @chesterc, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and others that have posted here. I started working on my diet 4 or 5 years ago because I was looking to improve my health some. I have been told I'm pre-diabetic but that's been for years and I've never crossed into the full blown diabetes. I was also looking for answers for my small fiber peripheral neuropathy when I found Dr Terry Wahls book "The Wahls Protocol". She has an interesting story that she used diet to reduce and get rid of most of her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. Her book started me looking into changing my lifestyle from live to eat to eat to live (as much as possible anyway).

There is a lot of information out there on what to eat and what not to eat but I'm finding out the real key is to reduce or eliminate sugar, eliminating processed foods as much as possible, eating/buying organic food as much as possible, and zero fast foods - hamburgers and french fries were my nemesis. That's what I strive for but I will be the first to admit I start the day with good intentions and a cookie will find it's way into my hands and it's gone. When I do fall a little, I try to get back on the wagon so to speak.

I found this study (it links to a PDF) on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) which is a great place to search for health information and studies. It is from the JAMA Network (The Journal of the American Medical Association):

Controlling Diabetes with Diet:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/579572

John

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@chesterc Chesterc, one of the problems many of us face with diabetes is the cost of the medication. Insulin, if you have to buy your own at standard prices, can run as much as $6,000 per month. But thankfully there are alternatives.First thing you need to know is that the pharmacist is supposedly doing something illegal if they offer, without being asked, the least expensive alternative. However, if the customer asks, they are required to tell about alternatives. One great alternative, at least for me, is the two Novolin R and Novolin N, with many chain pharmacies sell at about $25 per small bottle. The R is quick acting, and the N is longer lasting, and takes longer to start work in the body. But even better, if you have good pharma insurance and can purchase more at a time, the bottles cost about $10 each, or about $115 for 12 bottles, about 90 days worth. Ask your pharmacist.

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@johnbishop

Hi @chesterc, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and others that have posted here. I started working on my diet 4 or 5 years ago because I was looking to improve my health some. I have been told I'm pre-diabetic but that's been for years and I've never crossed into the full blown diabetes. I was also looking for answers for my small fiber peripheral neuropathy when I found Dr Terry Wahls book "The Wahls Protocol". She has an interesting story that she used diet to reduce and get rid of most of her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. Her book started me looking into changing my lifestyle from live to eat to eat to live (as much as possible anyway).

There is a lot of information out there on what to eat and what not to eat but I'm finding out the real key is to reduce or eliminate sugar, eliminating processed foods as much as possible, eating/buying organic food as much as possible, and zero fast foods - hamburgers and french fries were my nemesis. That's what I strive for but I will be the first to admit I start the day with good intentions and a cookie will find it's way into my hands and it's gone. When I do fall a little, I try to get back on the wagon so to speak.

I found this study (it links to a PDF) on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) which is a great place to search for health information and studies. It is from the JAMA Network (The Journal of the American Medical Association):

Controlling Diabetes with Diet:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/579572

John

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@chesterc I think all of us have an occasional sweet of some sort. They say to just plan it into your daily carbs.

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@johnbishop

Hi @chesterc, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and others that have posted here. I started working on my diet 4 or 5 years ago because I was looking to improve my health some. I have been told I'm pre-diabetic but that's been for years and I've never crossed into the full blown diabetes. I was also looking for answers for my small fiber peripheral neuropathy when I found Dr Terry Wahls book "The Wahls Protocol". She has an interesting story that she used diet to reduce and get rid of most of her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. Her book started me looking into changing my lifestyle from live to eat to eat to live (as much as possible anyway).

There is a lot of information out there on what to eat and what not to eat but I'm finding out the real key is to reduce or eliminate sugar, eliminating processed foods as much as possible, eating/buying organic food as much as possible, and zero fast foods - hamburgers and french fries were my nemesis. That's what I strive for but I will be the first to admit I start the day with good intentions and a cookie will find it's way into my hands and it's gone. When I do fall a little, I try to get back on the wagon so to speak.

I found this study (it links to a PDF) on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) which is a great place to search for health information and studies. It is from the JAMA Network (The Journal of the American Medical Association):

Controlling Diabetes with Diet:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/579572

John

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@oldkarl I am amazed at how little I have to pay for pharmaceuticals. Between Medicare and my supplemental I pay very little. For those of you not yet on Medicare, when you do get on it, it will be a blessing. That’s assuming that the current administration does not change things of course.
JK

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@johnbishop

Hi @chesterc, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and others that have posted here. I started working on my diet 4 or 5 years ago because I was looking to improve my health some. I have been told I'm pre-diabetic but that's been for years and I've never crossed into the full blown diabetes. I was also looking for answers for my small fiber peripheral neuropathy when I found Dr Terry Wahls book "The Wahls Protocol". She has an interesting story that she used diet to reduce and get rid of most of her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. Her book started me looking into changing my lifestyle from live to eat to eat to live (as much as possible anyway).

There is a lot of information out there on what to eat and what not to eat but I'm finding out the real key is to reduce or eliminate sugar, eliminating processed foods as much as possible, eating/buying organic food as much as possible, and zero fast foods - hamburgers and french fries were my nemesis. That's what I strive for but I will be the first to admit I start the day with good intentions and a cookie will find it's way into my hands and it's gone. When I do fall a little, I try to get back on the wagon so to speak.

I found this study (it links to a PDF) on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) which is a great place to search for health information and studies. It is from the JAMA Network (The Journal of the American Medical Association):

Controlling Diabetes with Diet:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/579572

John

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@contentandwell I am sure the current admin will change things if they can to take more money from po' fokes and put it in the pocket of rich foks.

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