I ended up prediabetic and switched over to eating what basically amounts to a strict paleo diet, or something like whole30, and 0 sugar (other than the occasional piece of fruit). Something switched in my head, as I had other issues going on and thought I was going to die. In 3 days some of the really worrying issues went away. 3 months later my blood sugar levels had come down considerably, and a few months after that they were well within the health range. I didn’t count calories or carbs or anything like that. I just ate stuff with 1 ingredient… and hot sauce or whatever, that had real ingredients and no sugar (or fake sugar). It’s kind of crazy, after a while, carrots start to taste sweet.
My dad ended up with Type2, I mentioned the no sugar thing. He said it sounded too hard and he had done Atkins before. He read all the recommended books and tried all the recommended diets, even went vegan for a while. After about 6 years he found some doctor that put him on an extreme elimination diet as part of a medical study, basically nothing but protein shakes (with some added nutrients). He didn’t eat solid food for months. Then had to slowly add real food back over several months after that. It ended up working for him, but it seemed far more difficult and unmaintainable than what I suggested to him 6 years earlier.
My mom also ran into it. She called me, did what I mentioned and was good to go a few months later. Of course that doesn’t mean she could go back to eating how she did before, but still has some treats and things she enjoys. She found some balance once out of the danger zone.
My dad’s experience made me pretty cynical of the industry around type 2 diabetes. They have no incentive to cure a person, when they can keep them sick and have a lifelong customer buying all that medication. The diet may have been extreme, but for me, I’d rather be extreme for a few months than have it drag on for years like my dad. And actually, I didn’t feel like I was being that extreme. I ate until I was full (giant plates full of vegetables), I felt great, and didn’t feel deprived. Every Saturday I’d cook myself a big ribeye with a sweet potato; it was great. It was only other people saying it was extreme or too hard that got to me. I started questioning myself. My doctor told me I was doing awesome and not to listen to them.
Best of luck on your next A1C check. Hopefully the road you’re on work for you. If things aren’t working, I’d question the motivations of those providing the information, or the systems which educated them. A doctor telling someone with type 2 diabetes to eat white flour and sugar doesn’t sound like a doctor who understands what type 2 diabetes is.
My dad ended up with Type2, I mentioned the no sugar thing. He said it sounded too hard and he had done Atkins before. He read all the recommended books and tried all the recommended diets, even went vegan for a while. After about 6 years he found some doctor that put him on an extreme elimination diet as part of a medical study, basically nothing but protein shakes (with some added nutrients). He didn’t eat solid food for months. Then had to slowly add real food back over several months after that. It ended up working for him, but it seemed far more difficult and unmaintainable than what I suggested to him 6 years earlier.
My mom also ran into it. She called me, did what I mentioned and was good to go a few months later. Of course that doesn’t mean she could go back to eating how she did before, but still has some treats and things she enjoys. She found some balance once out of the danger zone.
My dad’s experience made me pretty cynical of the industry around type 2 diabetes. They have no incentive to cure a person, when they can keep them sick and have a lifelong customer buying all that medication. The diet may have been extreme, but for me, I’d rather be extreme for a few months than have it drag on for years like my dad. And actually, I didn’t feel like I was being that extreme. I ate until I was full (giant plates full of vegetables), I felt great, and didn’t feel deprived. Every Saturday I’d cook myself a big ribeye with a sweet potato; it was great. It was only other people saying it was extreme or too hard that got to me. I started questioning myself. My doctor told me I was doing awesome and not to listen to them.
Best of luck on your next A1C check. Hopefully the road you’re on work for you. If things aren’t working, I’d question the motivations of those providing the information, or the systems which educated them. A doctor telling someone with type 2 diabetes to eat white flour and sugar doesn’t sound like a doctor who understands what type 2 diabetes is.