Question:
I'm not sure whether my question has been answered before but,
I am insulin dependent and have very recently started a low carb diet (read
dr. bernstein's diabetes solution etc., which made a lot of sense to me).
After being programmed to believe that I absolutely have to have bread and
potatoes in one form or another or I'll drop dead, the low carb, high
protein diet is not something I thought appopriate for diabetics.
Before I waffle on, are there other insulin dependent diabetics in this
group doing the same thing?
Insulin dependent for 9 years
Answer:
Are you a type 2 diabetic or type 1? I've been a type 2 for about 8 years
and was insulin dependent for about 4 years. I started low carbing the
first of August and as I lost weight, I decreased the insulin amount that I
used each night. I originally was using 55 units a night and went down to
10 units by the end of October. At that point my endocrinologist said that
I could quit insulin. I have lost a total of about 32lbs and have stayed
off insulin with very good control of my blood sugar. I am taking oral
diabetic medications. It's essential that you have some interaction with
your Doctor to adjust your medication as you reduce carb intake, otherwise
you will have low blood sugar problems. I had tried the diet some time ago
with another Doctor who was resistant to changing dosages and consequently I
had numerous low blood sugar incidents, causing me to quit diet the diet out
of frustration. That Doctor said that I would never get off insulin. Glad
I changed Doctors.
I've still got another 20 lbs or so to go but I know that if I want to stay
off of insulin, I will always have to manage my carb intake.
