Weigh to go.

I've been researching diets suitable for diabetics (I've been a type 2 forever).

My diabetes is controlled by tablets - Metformin 500 mg 3 times a day. It's so well controlled, at a steady 6 mmol/L blood sugars, that I tend only to eat to keep it between 4-6 mmol/L. It helps, of course, that I have no idea what 'hungry' feels like.

I'm advised that to lose weight I've got to eat more. Sounds daft doesn't it?

However, it does make a certain sense. If you aren't a big eater, the body goes into emergency mode, because it doesn't know when it's going to be refuelled next. So it hangs onto as many reserves as it can, for as long as it can. It's for that reason that people who 'crash' diet become discouraged because after an initial weight loss they suddenly seem to pile on the pounds again.

As a diabetic, if I crash dieted my blood sugars would be swinging around wildly, which on the low end might send me hypoglycaemic, which can be fatal. Too high, and I could become hyperglycaemic, which is equally dangerous as they have problems with neuropathy, which leaves hundreds every year with ulcers, limb or digit loss or arteriosclerosis (blocked arteries) weight gain and sight loss.

I've escaped all that by tightly controlling my diabetes. I'm not going to screw all those years of hard work by messing around with some fad diet.

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Aside.

Gosh, don't people 'alf get fanatical on the Internet? All one way or the other. No carbs, low carbs, high protein, no fat, mid fat. Keep protein up, down left right. Heck, it makes you dizzy. As for exercise? I'm tempted to post a video of The Bear hammering the heck out of the huts hinges to straighten them. Pure pornography. That'll show 'em, by 'eck. Makes me sweat just thinking about it. Phew! I love to see a woman yielding a lump hammer. I think I need a lie down.

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I'll not get into the technical gumph. Basically, I have to use carbohydrates to maintain my blood sugars at around 5-6 mmol/L. I need to lose just over a stone, and get my body fat ratio (BMI - Body Mass Index is a little outdated now) down from 30.2% to around 20% or less.

I've decided to keep tight track of my carbohydrates. They're converted to sugars. As an experiment, I'm going to limit carbs to 100 - 120 grams max per day. That means keeping tight track of my veg, basically. Luckily, I have freebie diabetic program that helps. I'm going to eat at least 2 meals a day. No way am I calorie counting! Bear has Done That for years - it drives her mad.

As I have to reduce my total body fat by 50% (not to be confused with weight) I have to watch all my fat intake - good and bad. Spare (unused) Carbs are converted to waistline.

My diabetic meter is 10 years old. So My Lad has ordered me a more modern one that plugs into my computer for better accuracy. (a Bayer Contour USB) because it would have cost the same for the equipment to connect my present meter.



I'm not too worried about exercise. Walking is difficult, but I've worn a pedometer for the last few days which measures how many steps you take, and with rests I hit 257 today. Cool!

I'll keep you updated now and again how I get on.


Me souhaiter bonne chance les amis!