Weight loss

[Julie20111]

Mid last year when my A1C was 6.9 and I went on a very low carb diet I had taken another A1C at home 3 months later and my A1C went to 7.3 around December 2012. I kept on the very low carb diet, eating mostly proteins - fish fish and more fish I started losing weight really fast. I was originally at 112 - 115 keeping my weight at that by eating a ton on carbs. As soon as I was diagnosed I cut out carbs and now my weight is at 92 - 95 pounds. I am very small boned and when I was younger I weighed between 90 & 95 pounds until I turn 40 something. My morning blood sugar fasting when I was first diagnosed at hardly ever below 135 in the morning. Even the first 3 months with a high protein low carb diet my sugar was staying about 125 in the morning. Now it is between 105 and 119 every morning but I have to hardly eat to maintain this blood sugar fasting. I am not on any medications at this time. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can keep my weight from going down any further without my blood sugars going up? My last A1C was 6.2 - Thanks so much, Julie

[Julie20111]

Wow...I am not sure I am ready for insulin, or for that matter Metformin.  I do not want to take Metformin and become ill, especially since I still work full time.  But in a few years - I may try all of these.  My weight seems to have leveled off.  Not losing any more weight, I uped my carb intake, was practically eating no carbs.  I will wait to see what my nex A1c is ... Thaks so much for your input ... I have never heard of LADA type diabetes.

Happy Holidays, Julie

[Super_sally888]

Hi Julie,

Don't be scared of metformin. It is worth a try. When taking metformin you must also take a good quality vitamn B supplement.

Start metformin as follows, increasing the dose if and when you have no more side effects (most people only have mild side effects that ressolve within a few days).

1. Start 1/4 tablet at night
2. Increase to 1/2 tablet at night
3. Increase to 1 tablet at night
4. Increase to 1 tab at night at 1 in morning. (increase further if need be up to Max of 2 g/day).

Give the metformin 1 month trial once you are at Max dose. If blood sugars are still high (target ideal is < 95 fasting and before eating, and not higher than 120 (or Max 140 @ 1.5 - 2 hrs after eating)) or you fimnd you can't tolerate the metformin, then would highly recommend you start on insulin.


Many people are scared of insulin, but I tell you from experience that it is such a relief and so liberating to have a medication that works (insulin always works when dosed correctly combined with lower carb diet), and that also let's you eat a bit more normally.

If you do get onto insulin I can recommend some excellent reference materials to help guide you.

It is better to start early on insulin to help preserve your pancreas and get excellent blood sugar levels / to prevent complications.

Another thought: can you ask your Dr to test for antibodies for diabetes? You may also have LADA type diabetes, which is adult slow onset type 1 diabetes (in this case, treatment should always be insuin).

[Julie20111]

Yes your right I am basically starving myself to keep my A1c at 6.2.  I used to weigh 88 lbs when I was in my 20's and maybe 95 when I was in my 30's - I did not gain any extra weight until I became peri-menupausal and started to enjoy eating.  Then my stomach bloated up like I was 6 months pregnant.  I did get Metformin from the doctor, but never took them (am afraid of the side-effects) but I should seriously think about trying them.  Just at the end of my rope, trying everything but the diabetes is winning.  Thanks for your response.  

[Super_sally888]

You could try reducing the protein and increasing the fat.

This would be very low carb, moderate protein (about 1g / kg of body weight) and high fat.

However, in your case I think you would benefit from insulin. Your fasting is still too high.  And you are having to use a starvation diet in order to keep your HBA1c even at 6.2, this is not long-term sustainable.

[Super_sally888]

Hello Julie,

you are already doing everything you can lifestyle wise, and congratulations on your efforts.

Now you need to get on some medications.  First line to try would be metformin.  If this does not get your levels down, then I would recommend that you get started on low dose insulin.

This will be important to allow you to eat enough so that you will stop losing weight.

Hope this helps.