Diabetic Weight Loss

[Jules]

I've read almost every posting on the diabetic sight, but I still don't get much feedback on weight loss. If I've overlooked a posting on this, please guide me to it. Just want to hear about a diabetic medifaster who is doing the program correctly and has lost weight. Wanting to lose weight in Ga., Jules

[Nancy]

Jules, we have a LOT of people with diabetes who have lost weight with our Take Shape For Life Program.

I have several men that are diabetic and they do not ever post...


Lil Ms Texas is one of them that has written a lot of posts about her success. Do a search using the clicky up there ^

[catwoman]

Jules: I am also diabetic. I started MF in June, then restarted last week. I've lost 12 poinds so far. What I noticed, though, is that I need to eat my protein/veggies at lunch and not dinner so that I can avoid high numbers in the morning. I take both pills and shots. Believe it or not, after the first 10 pounds I had to increase the units of insulin, but my dr is hopeful that it's a temporary situation. Since MF my numbers are overall consistent. I have to be absolutely religious about drinking the shakes every 3 hours to avoid "crashing". Good luck in your venture.

[Nancy]

Hi there, Catwoman and welcome to you!

Ideally we all will have our shakes or meal replacements every three hours. When we go longer, non-diabetics also risk crashing and when that happens, we risk stuffing things in our mouth that are off-program...

Regular meals is what keeps us from going round and rounder!

[catwoman]

Thanks, Nancy, for the welcome. I do drink the shakes every three hours. Depending on the stress level of the day, or even the heat here in Florida, sometimes I need to do it a bit sooner. My sugar levels have come down nicely. And the "dawn effect" of extremely high numbers in the mornings that I have had for the past six years appears to be gone...I've been awaking with levels in the 90's. I am looking forward as much to getting of the meds as I am to losing the weight.

[Nancy]

Most people share your same goal - to be medication-free. Weight loss almost seems like a side benefit. When people follow the program as it is outlined, it makes such a difference to their health. Most of our clients with diabetes are considered to be in remission after a relatively short period of time on the program.

Keep up the consistent work - your health is your incentive!

[Jules]

Catwoman ~ Many thanks for your post. Is the twelve pound weight loss since you started back in August? That is great. My numbers are good and I have experienced a crash or two, also.

[Nancy]

FYI, some people with diabetes have their bar as their last meal to prevent sleeping crashes; others have their bar in the afternoon near the time they go walking or have a workout so they are better able to handle the higher carbs. What's your experience?

[Jules]

Blood sugar is influenced by many factors: the kind of food consumed (carbohydrates, sugar, fat, protein, etc.) and the timing of food consumption. Blood sugar is also influenced by emotions like stress, fatigue, depression, nervousness, etc. Realizing this, all kinds of things can figure in to blood sugar levels. It is a puzzle to figure out every single day! Everyone is different! What works for one diabetic may not work for another, even though we live by the basic creed of low carb/sugar. For me, if I ate a bar in the evening, my blood sugar reading in the morning would be higher, as my blood glucose level rises during sleeping hours. For others who experience blood sugar lows during sleeping hours, a MF bar is an excellent choice. The best thing about Medifast is the soy protein. Diabetics are at high risk for heart disease. Soy is an excellent defense against heart disease. Feel safe with Medifast!

[catwoman]

I agree with what Jules said. And I have the same experience with morning sugars being high. I think that I said before that I eat my real food at lunch time and then only have a shake at dinner. I never have an evening shake because it will cause me to spike overnight despite injecting insulin. In fact, I don't eat the bars, soups, or oatmeal because I find the tastes and textures revolting (sorry). I saw my doctor yesterday (total weight loss is now 15 pounds...since starting in June. It's actually 5 pounds since re-starting in August). He suggested a new type of insulin for person with metabolic syndrome. We'll see how that works out.

[catwoman]

I'm sorry, Nancy. I never answered your question. I check my blood sugar prior to exercise and then eat or not eat accordingly. Many times I can lower my number by 30 points with an hour of walking. I use that number (30) as a guide to make the "eat or not eat" decision.

[Nancy]

Catwoman ~

Be sure to check out my comments about soup and oatmeal preparation sprinkled throughout the Forum - it makes a world of difference...it is always best to prepare the soup several hours in advance or to simmer it on the stove top - same with the oatmeal if you have the time. If not, varying the amount of water - usually adding 7-8 ounces of water for the oatmeal and then a packet of Splenda and more cinnamon, micro wave for 1-2 minutes and then allow the apples to reconstitute for 5-10 minutes and it is very good.

There is a big difference among how people's bodies assimilate their food. It is really important to frequently monitor blood glucose levels...

[Jules]

I've had many "do-overs" since I started in August. I attribute this to the low blood sugar crashes I'd experience. (Once as low as 52 and after I'd been the perfect Medifaster all day!!) Now, when I feel these lows coming on, I take a glucose tablet before I raid the pantry. A glucose tablet is not part of the medifast program, but these tablets, taken as needed for low blood sugar crashes, have kept me on the program. It still takes a lot of willpower to choose a tablet over great tasting food. It's better todo this than to have to start the "3-Day Do-Over". Now I'm losing weight.