Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

Hi All,

I am a type II diabetic on Atkins. I have lost probably 40-50 pounds
in the year I have been on the diet. I also feel great.

However for the last 4 or 5 months, I have been stalling. I am eating
less than 30 carbs a day and exercising as I have since day one. It
seems I lost most of my weight easily in the first few months. I have
another 110-130 to go. My HbA1c has always been in the mid 5's and my
doctor is very pleased with my glucose control with diet and (later)
exercise alone.

When I saw my doctor today and asked her about stalling, she told me
she would test my insulin levels. Because has seen low carb dieters
run into long stalls and slow loss because of higher insulin levels
EVEN if they have good HbA1c AND good fasting glucose (mines in the
upper 80's usually). I have always struggled to loose weight.

Questions:

Does the above sound reasonable (good blood sugar control, but high
insulin levels)? And could this be my problem?

Also, I tried Glucophage when I was initially diagnosed with Diabetes.
I could *NOT* tolerate this medication. I tried it four 3-4 weeks and
it punished my digestive system. However it was an excellent motivator
to eat right and exercise.

So, my doctor told me that if my insulin levels were high I could go
on Avandia to help lower insulin levels. She initially recommended
Glucophage and also mentioned Glucophage XR, but I am nervous about
considering either because of my very bad Glucophage experience. So
she suggested Avaindia. Yet, I read on Atkins sight that Avandia can
cause stall's!

So, one more question: If my insulin level is high (and that could
cause the above stall/loss problems), should I try the Avandia?

Thanks for reading and any advice you can give! I need it.

Matt

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
wonderful programs.
Dokan

Alice Faber wrote:

In article ,
Matt wrote:


Hi All,

I am a type II diabetic on Atkins. I have lost probably 40-50 pounds
in the year I have been on the diet. I also feel great.

However for the last 4 or 5 months, I have been stalling. I am eating
less than 30 carbs a day and exercising as I have since day one. It
seems I lost most of my weight easily in the first few months. I have
another 110-130 to go. My HbA1c has always been in the mid 5's and my
doctor is very pleased with my glucose control with diet and (later)
exercise alone.

When I saw my doctor today and asked her about stalling, she told me
she would test my insulin levels. Because has seen low carb dieters
run into long stalls and slow loss because of higher insulin levels
EVEN if they have good HbA1c AND good fasting glucose (mines in the
upper 80's usually). I have always struggled to loose weight.

Questions:

Does the above sound reasonable (good blood sugar control, but high
insulin levels)? And could this be my problem?

Also, I tried Glucophage when I was initially diagnosed with Diabetes.
I could *NOT* tolerate this medication. I tried it four 3-4 weeks and
it punished my digestive system. However it was an excellent motivator
to eat right and exercise.

So, my doctor told me that if my insulin levels were high I could go
on Avandia to help lower insulin levels. She initially recommended
Glucophage and also mentioned Glucophage XR, but I am nervous about
considering either because of my very bad Glucophage experience. So
she suggested Avaindia. Yet, I read on Atkins sight that Avandia can
cause stall's!

So, one more question: If my insulin level is high (and that could
cause the above stall/loss problems), should I try the Avandia?

Thanks for reading and any advice you can give! I need it.


Google here and the diabetes newsgroups for posts by Jenny-the-bean. She
had exactly this problem, as I recall.

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

Matt wrote:

I'd be more likely to try the Glucophage XR myself. I've read a lot
about side effects with Actos and Avandia that seem more extreme than
the GI distress from metformin. Google about it.

Plus metformin has two modes of action - it both reduces insulin
resistance as Actos and Avandia do, but also interferes with the liver's
production of glucose from protein. That's particularly important if
your fbg runs high as mine does, but is also important for minimizing
insulin production.

It also seems to increase the rate of weight loss due to limiting
insulin, but until the GI effects are stabilized, it's hard to say if
I'm seeing that or not myself.

I personally feel more comfortable with metformin because it's been on
the market longer; I tend to be generally suspicious of drugs. Too many
get approved and yanked off the market a few years later, I prefer
letting others go first and discover the problems.

If it were me, I'd try the XR stuff and taper the dosage up very, very
slowly to minimize side effects. If that doesn't work for you, the
other meds are always there.

--
As you accelerate your food, it takes exponentially more and more energy
to increase its velocity, until you hit a limit at C. This energy has
to come from somewhere; in this case, from the food's nutritional value.
Thus, the faster the food is, the worse it gets.
-- Mark Hughes, comprehending the taste of fast food

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

Well... then it's a good thing you're not a diabetic.

First: A low carb diet does include vegetables. It's odd that you post
here and don't know that.

Second: No one needs fruits to survive.

Third: A low carb diet is "well rounded"

And last: Many many many diabetics control their blood glucose levels
ONLY with a low carb diet.

I have. For five years. ALL my quarterly tests are in the non-diabetic
range. By eating low carb.

Jennifer


Dolkian wrote:

I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
wonderful programs.
Dokan

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

Dolkian wrote:
:: I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
:: need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
:: Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
:: wonderful programs.
:: Dokan

Why don't you speak about things you know something about? I've been a type
2 for 24 years and via low carb and exericse, I have fasting BG around 80,
A1Cs around 5.1, and have lost 130 lbs. The ADA recommendations for
diabetics are a kiss of death, imo.

::
:: Alice Faber wrote:
::
::: In article ,
::: Matt wrote:
:::
:::
:::: Hi All,
::::
:::: I am a type II diabetic on Atkins. I have lost probably 40-50
:::: pounds in the year I have been on the diet. I also feel great.
::::
:::: However for the last 4 or 5 months, I have been stalling. I am
:::: eating less than 30 carbs a day and exercising as I have since day
:::: one. It seems I lost most of my weight easily in the first few
:::: months. I have another 110-130 to go. My HbA1c has always been in
:::: the mid 5's and my doctor is very pleased with my glucose control
:::: with diet and (later) exercise alone.
::::
:::: When I saw my doctor today and asked her about stalling, she told
:::: me she would test my insulin levels. Because has seen low carb
:::: dieters run into long stalls and slow loss because of higher
:::: insulin levels EVEN if they have good HbA1c AND good fasting
:::: glucose (mines in the upper 80's usually). I have always struggled
:::: to loose weight.
::::
:::: Questions:
::::
:::: Does the above sound reasonable (good blood sugar control, but high
:::: insulin levels)? And could this be my problem?
::::
:::: Also, I tried Glucophage when I was initially diagnosed with
:::: Diabetes. I could *NOT* tolerate this medication. I tried it four
:::: 3-4 weeks and it punished my digestive system. However it was an
:::: excellent motivator to eat right and exercise.
::::
:::: So, my doctor told me that if my insulin levels were high I could
:::: go on Avandia to help lower insulin levels. She initially
:::: recommended Glucophage and also mentioned Glucophage XR, but I am
:::: nervous about considering either because of my very bad Glucophage
:::: experience. So she suggested Avaindia. Yet, I read on Atkins sight
:::: that Avandia can cause stall's!
::::
:::: So, one more question: If my insulin level is high (and that could
:::: cause the above stall/loss problems), should I try the Avandia?
::::
:::: Thanks for reading and any advice you can give! I need it.
:::
:::
::: Google here and the diabetes newsgroups for posts by
::: Jenny-the-bean. She had exactly this problem, as I recall.

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

Dolkian wrote:
:: I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
:: need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
:: Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
:: wonderful programs.
:: Dokan

And another thing -- us LCers probably eat more veggies than most....

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

If you're a typical T2, you're insulin resistant.

Which means most likely your body makes a lot of insulin... it just
doesn't use it properly.

Unfortunately Metformin (Glucophage) is a great med for insulin
resistance. Ask about the extended release Metformin.. it's supposed
to be easier on the tummy.

I've never ever heard that Avandia "lowers insulin levels" that doesn't
make sense. Here's how Avandia works:

Avandia works to help overcome this insulin resistance by making the
body's cells more sensitive to insulin. Avandia contains an
insulin-sensitizing drug called rosiglitazone maleate — a TZD. TZDs
target a special "receptor site" at the center of certain cells. This
decreases the cells' resistance to insulin and allows more sugar to
enter. As more sugar enters the cells, sugar and insulin levels in the
bloodstream drop. This results in lower blood sugar levels.

Losing weight may be difficult for you... and very very slow.

BUT

By doing what you're doing, low carb and exercise... you have
accomplished a great deal!!!

You've brought your diabetes in control. That's a success story, no
matter what you're pants size is.

Jennifer


Matt wrote:

Hi All,

I am a type II diabetic on Atkins. I have lost probably 40-50 pounds
in the year I have been on the diet. I also feel great.

However for the last 4 or 5 months, I have been stalling. I am eating
less than 30 carbs a day and exercising as I have since day one. It
seems I lost most of my weight easily in the first few months. I have
another 110-130 to go. My HbA1c has always been in the mid 5's and my
doctor is very pleased with my glucose control with diet and (later)
exercise alone.

When I saw my doctor today and asked her about stalling, she told me
she would test my insulin levels. Because has seen low carb dieters
run into long stalls and slow loss because of higher insulin levels
EVEN if they have good HbA1c AND good fasting glucose (mines in the
upper 80's usually). I have always struggled to loose weight.

Questions:

Does the above sound reasonable (good blood sugar control, but high
insulin levels)? And could this be my problem?

Also, I tried Glucophage when I was initially diagnosed with Diabetes.
I could *NOT* tolerate this medication. I tried it four 3-4 weeks and
it punished my digestive system. However it was an excellent motivator
to eat right and exercise.

So, my doctor told me that if my insulin levels were high I could go
on Avandia to help lower insulin levels. She initially recommended
Glucophage and also mentioned Glucophage XR, but I am nervous about
considering either because of my very bad Glucophage experience. So
she suggested Avaindia. Yet, I read on Atkins sight that Avandia can
cause stall's!

So, one more question: If my insulin level is high (and that could
cause the above stall/loss problems), should I try the Avandia?

Thanks for reading and any advice you can give! I need it.

Matt

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

Dolkian wrote:

I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
wonderful programs.
Dokan

The ADA has finally admitted that starch is the same as sugar; thus they
have advised diabetics that it's OK to eat sugar.

Diabetes is a disease involving errors in metabolizing carbohydrates.
Suggesting that a diabetic eat lots of carbs is akin to suggesting that
an alcoholic drink lots of beer.

My low-carb diet contains more produce than any high-carb diet I was
ever on. The bit about needing produce is a red herring.

Diabetics should not believe the ADA or *anyone* else, not even me.
They should believe their meters.

Even a small serving of pasta raises my bg to over 350. This is not
healthy no matter what the ADA or anyone else says.

Maintaining normal blood glucose is the primary factor effecting whether
one has diabetic complications.

Avoiding amputation, heart disease, dialysis, impotence, and early death
is in the hands of the diabetic, not in the hands of the ADA or anyone else.

--
As you accelerate your food, it takes exponentially more and more energy
to increase its velocity, until you hit a limit at C. This energy has
to come from somewhere; in this case, from the food's nutritional value.
Thus, the faster the food is, the worse it gets.
-- Mark Hughes, comprehending the taste of fast food

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

"Alice Faber" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Dolkian wrote:

I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
wonderful programs.
Dokan

Me too. I'm not diabetic, but if I were, I'd hate to disappoint the
pharmaceutical companies who have worked so hard to find drugs to control
ailments that often can be controlled by diet.

Type II diabetes, low carb (Atkins) and insulin levels..
 

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 12:45:30 -0500, Jim Bard wrote:


"Alice Faber" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Dolkian wrote:

I would never try a low carb diet if I were Diabetic. Diabetics
need a well rounded diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
Check out the ADA site (American Diabetic Assoc.) They have
wonderful programs.
Dokan

Me too. I'm not diabetic, but if I were, I'd hate to disappoint the
pharmaceutical companies who have worked so hard to find drugs to control
ailments that often can be controlled by diet.



The ADA is horrible. They're the ones who say you can eat sugar while
being a diabetic. Shame on them! Moreover, why doesn't a low carb diet
include fruits and vegetables? Mine does.

--
Bob in CT
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