Haven't Started Yet - Dibetes Question
Find a Conversation
| Wed, 05-16-2007 - 10:31am |
Hi All,
I haven't started my South Beach diet yet (start date is this coming Sunday) but I am reading as much as possible in advance which is how I found this board (yay!). I have question about diabetes and SB. (I am a Type 2 diabetic) In the getting started thread, there is a section relating to dibetes and it suggest that diabetics start on Phase 2 but I don't see a reason. Can someone tell me why? Frankly, if I don't see significant results in the beginning (like the numbers people report from phase 1) I know that I won't stick with it.
Brief history: I was diagosed Type 2 16 months ago and have been on meds (diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure) for 14 months. I have managed to loose 45 pounds (simply by altering my eating habits (lower carb, not atkins low) and walking daily - 30 miles per week) since diagnosis but have recently gained back 7 pounds and have no idea why, (except that I started eating nuts, this is where I think I have gained) I know that it is not just muscle because my pants are noticely tighter) which is why I need to try something else and the reason for looking into SB.
As a diabetic, I have been eating "lower carb" (nowhere near Atkins low) and have achieved excellent results (last 4 A1Cs have been 5.3, 5.7, 5.1 & 5.5) and have lowered my total cholesterol from 462 (yikes) to 144 but am extremely frustrated with the weight issue and my doctor is no help at all as long as I keep these great numbers.
Are there any Type 2s here? If so, did you start with phase one or two?

Hi Carol,
Welcome.
I first started on SBD over 2 years ago and did really well. I was a Type 2 diabetic at that time and I started with Phase 1. I just made sure my doc knew what I was doing and we adjusted my insulin as needed with my insulin pump.
I am going back on SBD this Saturday but the only difference is that I am now a Type 1 following a stroke I had last year. I am still on the insulin pump and on some BP meds too. I am hoping that overall my health will be better. I will just continue to keep an eye on my blood sugar levels and make sure that I am getting what my body needs.
Good Luck to you and congratulations to you for wanting to make these changes! It's not easy for any of us but to do it with underlying health issues makes it even harder. I know it also gives you a little more motivation though.
I have a cousin that is Type 1 diabetic and has already suffered some major vision loss from hers. She started SBD the same time I did but didn't understand that she needed to start on Phase 2. She had some serious issues with her blood sugar and had to spend a night in the hospital. So please, make sure that you and your doc are talking about this and that you thoroughly understand your instructions.
Good Luck and please let us know how you are doing!
Hi, there. I am also Type 2 at the very, very low end. I think my HBA1C was 5.6. My fasting bg's are what has been creeping up -- getting up to the 140 range sometimes. My post-prandials can also get up to almost 200 if I am eating whatever I want. I am not on medication and my doc is not too concerned about the numbers, but he is about the weight since I am only 40 and already at this point. I started SBD 4 weeks ago and have lost 7 lbs so far and am feeling really good on it. My fasting bg has come down -- a couple readings at 103 and one at 121.
I think the primary reason Phase 2 is suggested for those on medication, is because in Phase 1 your bs readings will almost certainly come down and you might find yourself over-medicated. This would be an issue to run by your physician, or if you are testing at each meal you could adjust things as needed.
For me, (not having medication) going through Phase 1 was key. I was able to clean out from the bad carbs and lose my cravings for them (big victory!!). Also, I am taking the movement into Phase 2 very slowly, adding back one carb at a time and noticing how it is affecting both my bs reading and my cravings. So far I have had strawberries at all times of the day, apples in the afternoon and evenings, and a half-whole wheat pita in the afternoon. None have caused cravings. The pita gave a little more rise than the other things. This morning I tried an oatmeal pancake. But it has been a great program for me. I feel like I have been learning a lot about trigger foods for my body and what things help keep my bg in range.
Good luck!