Hello, I'm Jack

[Jacklinger]

I just registered. I'm currently on a diet to lose weight and try to reverse my type 2 diabetes and hopefully save my life. I started at 320 and now weigh 238. My doctor wants me to get down to 200 and I would like to be not heavier than 190.

I like getting all kinds of tips from other people.

 

[Jane Dough]

Hi!
Congratulations on your weight loss so far. I think it is awesome that you are taking charge of your health, people seem to forget that diabetes is a reversal disease. My grandpa died from diabetes and it is an awful way to die. He lived well into his 80`s and had a great life but the last few years were not pretty - dialysis, amputation, you name it.
If you don`t mind my asking - how old are you?
When my half sister found out she was pre-diabetic she got her health back on track and it doing awesome. My cousin, on the otherhand, IS diabetic and still drinks soda daily. They`re both under 30. They live in Memphis and eat really, really unhealthy foods - stereotypical southern comfort foods - deep fried everything washed down with soda. My aunt actually has a separate full-sized fridge for beverages!!!

 

[Jacklinger]

I'm 34. I was diagnosed about 2 years ago, but I believe I've had the condition long before that.

I've been fat all my life. I feel hungry most of the time these days because I'm restricting.

I still eat most of the same kinds of foods I ate before, just much less of them. I have stopped drinking regular soda though. Diet only, now.

 

[Jane Dough]

I posted on your other thread but didn't make the connection. Again, the fact that you are losing weight is awesome. But if you have type 2 diabetes - you have to be very vigilant about maintaining your blood sugar. There is no way you can maintain a stable, steady blood sugar all day if your eating such low calories. There are numerous studies online reporting the benefits of calorie restriction at slowing diabetes - the one I looked at mentioned ~1800 calories/day and being extremely sure that all required nutrients were being obtained. I would be very skeptical of a doctor that recommends eating only 1000 calories or less per day... at the very least I would seek a second opinion.
I checked my BMR on an online calculator and I need over 2000 calories per day to maintain my weight - I'm 200 Lbs, 5'9, and 22 years old (female). Since you're heavier and male you probably need way more than that. Cutting 500 calories per day and exercising daily should be enough to lose weight.

I don't have diabetes so I don't know what is right for you - but not all doctors are good. I would get a second opinion!

Also, while sugar-free things don't have calories - they can actually make you feel hungrier.

 

[Jacklinger]

I posted on your other thread but didn't make the connection. Again, the fact that you are losing weight is awesome. But if you have type 2 diabetes - you have to be very vigilant about maintaining your blood sugar. There is no way you can maintain a stable, steady blood sugar all day if your eating such low calories. There are numerous studies online reporting the benefits of calorie restriction at slowing diabetes - the one I looked at mentioned ~1800 calories/day and being extremely sure that all required nutrients were being obtained. I would be very skeptical of a doctor that recommends eating only 1000 calories or less per day... at the very least I would seek a second opinion.
I checked my BMR on an online calculator and I need over 2000 calories per day to maintain my weight - I'm 200 Lbs, 5'9, and 22 years old (female). Since you're heavier and male you probably need way more than that. Cutting 500 calories per day and exercising daily should be enough to lose weight.

I don't have diabetes so I don't know what is right for you - but not all doctors are good. I would get a second opinion!

Also, while sugar-free things don't have calories - they can actually make you feel hungrier.

Thanks for the feedback. My doctor is a nephrologist. He specializes in the kidneys and blood so he's really into diabetes so I trust him. I also find similar advice from other medical sources. Usually the people saying I need more calories are people trying to sell me special foods or push special diets, but I haven't really had many doctors recommend stuff like that. They tend to just tell me to eat less and watch out for sugar.