Welcome to this post
I hope my story gives you some useful advice and helps with whatever situation you are in.
So what is the keto diet For diabetics About. And what can this diet do for you.
My results for the keto diet and diabetes are all my own findings and factual. I know that everyone is different for many reasons but my findings should give the same results or similar to many of you.
My weight size and fitness
It would appear that my situation as regards to weight and size is
not typical for a diabetic. When I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1996 I
was very fit at the time and taking part in many sports.
I am only 5′ 6″ tall and weighed about 65kgs.
I have a stocky build
due to exercise and weight training. Plus some jobs I’ve have had in the
past have been very physical and required a lot of lifting.
I could not in any way be classed as overweight at that time.
So it
came as quite a shock to find out that I was a diabetic at a routine
medical check up in order to obtain my motorcycle racing license.
Diabetic diet
As soon as I found out that I was a diabetic I immediately changed my
eating habits to what I thought was the right food and drinks for my
condition. I followed all the information that was given to me by the
diabetic nurses. At the time I don’t remember thinking my new diet was
too drastic at all, it just seemed a normal healthy diet without the
cakes or sweets and I cut down on the alcohol.
Anyway my size and weight did not change but my blood sugar levels
did stabilize at the right levels and this was all controlled by diet
only. A couple of years went by and my blood sugar started to slowly
rise again, that’s when I had to start taking various medication.
Everything went back to controllable levels but eventually the drugs had
to be increased to the maximum. Then I was back to the doctor being
prescribed insulin (which was to be injected daily!) and still having to
take all the other drugs. Plus my weight had increased from around
65kgs to 74kgs.
Normal diet
My normal diet before I was diagnosed with type two diabetes used to be quite varied and not what I would consider unhealthy by any means. I usually ate cereals or porridge in the mornings for breakfast, occasionally a full English fry up. Lunch time could be varied but was generally a light meal consisting of a sandwich and fruit with coffee or tea (no sugar). Evening meals could be anything from pasta based dishes to steak and everything in between.
I have never been much of a chocolate or sweet eater but sometimes did enjoy eating honey, cakes and large ice creams. I did not drink many fizzy drinks but I did consume quite a bit of alcohol.
Back in April 2018 I was given the news that I needed to start taking insulin. My heart sank and I felt at an all time low although I knew this day would arrive at some point.
I had been having some minor health problems with my diabetes for several months and felt a bit out of sorts and didn’t feel quite right. As I hadn’t been taking blood sugar tests for a long time I thought I had better start. In the past my blood readings were constantly okay so I stopped taking the tests. However, when I next tested my blood levels they were very high indeed. My readings had gone from a range of between 4.5 and 10, to now getting to highs of 21 and lows of 12. We as diabetics definitely don’t want these results at all. No wonder I was not feeling well at times.
Keto diet and weight loss
I started on the keto diet after the Easter holidays, one last normal feast of roast dinners. Out went all the usual cereals, no more sugar free Alpen or Porridge ( too many carbs!) In came boiled eggs, fried eggs, poached eggs etc. with bacon and mushrooms. I cut out all the chips, pasta, rice, bread and products with high sugar content. The first two weeks were quite a challenge, especially at lunch times as I was used to just eating sandwiches, filled rolls and baguettes plus always lots of fruit (Some of which are high in natural sugar but not all!)
My weight before the start of the keto diet had increased to 74 kilos.
In the first two weeks I saw no change in my weight at all but by the end of the third week I had lost two kilos, so now I am at 72 kilos. From the end of the third week onwards, I kept losing weight at a rate of on average of half a kilo per week. This continued right through until the beginning of October by which time my weight had dropped right down to 62 kilos. So by now I had lost a total of 12 kilos and began to worry that I had lost too much weight and began to look too skinny. Many people commented on my new appearance and some asked if I was unwell in any way. However, after finding the right balance of nutritious food and recipes this then also stabilized.
Diabetic results
After the first two weeks on this diet my blood sugar levels also started to change and then quite quickly dropped to normal levels. I visited the doctor after about three months, and he could not believe my results, they were so good. He then wanted to see me again in another four months time. This time the doctor said my sugar levels were quite alarming and too low (In a good way!) therefore I am now reducing my medication. What a complete change from six months earlier when I was about to start on daily insulin injections.
Conclusion
Well there is no doubt in my mind that this keto diet works a treat! I really thought that I was going to be dependent on insulin for the rest of my life. However now I’ve even come off some medication and my weight is now at 65 kilos after changing to the keto diet.
This diet can certainly be very challenging at times and you have to prepare in advance, luckily my wife and I have found quite a lot of recipes. Many of which are quite straight forward, as long as they have the right nutritious ingredients too. Knowing what are the right kinds of vegetables, fruit and food is the key! As my wife wanted to support me (and didn’t want to make separate meals for us both!) she has also lost three stone. She doesn’t have diabetes but was suffering with high blood pressure but after also losing weight this has also brought her blood pressure back to normal levels.
I have found that I have at least as much energy as before and maybe even more after losing weight (My wife will also agree with this! She has also written her own account and experience of the keto diet). I did suffer with leg cramps at one time for about three weeks. I don’t know if this is due to the diet or not, having suffered with cramps in the past.
My doctor told me that he is telling everyone about the results which I am getting on this keto diet! Would I recommend this diet? Yes I would, what have you got to lose but weight and high sugar levels!
I wish you the best of luck and good health.
Please feel free to ask any questions or share your comments below.
Kind regards,
Steve