Posted on 05/24/2025 1:24:15 PM PDT by Mean Daddy
My doctor just prescribe Metformin for Type II diabetes. He says I'm borderline but I'm hoping to control it via diet vs. medicine.
My question is what have other Freepers with T II done? How many carbs do you limit yourself too each day? Recipes? What other things should I be thinking about? I walk 1.5 to 5 miles per day and I'm pretty sure I can control it via diet as I have a sweet tooth.
I've done the Aikens diet in the past and had luck, is that a route others have taken? My recollection was to get to 0 carbs and then add some until you found your sweet spot for carbs or have you taken a different approach?
I had a doctor tell me in 2009 I had type II diabetes but I did not believe him.
I just stopped drinking 6+ cans of coke a day and changed my bad diet of fast food or canned food and tv dinners.
I am still here and feeling a whole lot better.
Now if I could stop eating chips and drinking diet soda....
My favorite internet doctor...even with all his stupid clickbait thumbnails.
If you do intermittent fasting and low carb you can get it turned around.
Have your doctor track your insulin levels NOT just your A1c.
https://youtu.be/7RXQJM-YO-M?si=xeFix9Efx_V0BGEP
Portion control was the first thing we worked on. They were way out of sync with what he was eating.
What is FMD?
Interesting. I do take iron supplements & B12 after I donate power reds but usually only for a week or so. I’ll look into that as we do eat a lot of red meat.
It’s going to be tough but I want to do as much as I can to stay off medicine. Sweets are my downfall.
To me, it’s interesting to see what others are doing and why. I’m planning on reaching out to a dietician along with my doctor.
I can control my sweet tooth by a low carb cheesecake that you use ground almonds & butter for the crust. I love ice cream & can buy a tub and get by with two scoops for a helping. The tough one will be home made ice cream that has three cups of sugar in it.
We are not diabetic or even pre diabetic but I’ve read that Berberine is a natural version of Metformin....
Berberine is a bioactive substance extracted from certain plants.
It isn’t well known but may be one of the most powerful supplements on Earth.
It provides various health benefits but is particularly effective at lowering blood sugar levels (1Trusted Source).
These effects are thought to be due to numerous mechanisms. In particular, berberine is believed to reduce glucose production in your liver and improve insulin sensitivity (2Trusted Source).
Studies show that taking berberine can lower blood sugar levels to a similar extent as the popular diabetes drug metformin (3Trusted Source).
In a study in 116 people with type 2 diabetes, the substance reduced fasting blood sugar levels by 20% and HbA1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar levels) by 12% (4Trusted Source).
https://www.healthline.com/health/4-supplements-as-powerful-as-drugs#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
That is helpful. I did it years ago so I know I can do it again.
When we first started the Keto lifestyle, years ago .... this website’s recipes were a huge help .... really good and not too complicated.
They also have a great cheesecake recipe....
Good luck!!
Fast-Mimicking Diet.
After i was told i was prediabetic i started a spreadsheet and tracked calories, fat, carbs, etc for everything i ate to get a baseline. Did that for a month and changed diet.
Portion size and exercise.
Most people - unless they are seriously over weight or have pancreas damage - can reset their blood sugar to a healthy level for three to four days, with a total fast.
Of course, you cannot massively over eat after your fast stops.
If you do, your blood sugar will quickly return to an un-healthy level.
Look at Berberine and Bitter Melon, 1-2 caps 1-2 times a day.
50 grams of carbs.
Look at The 5 2 Diet book. Eat normal 5 days, 500 calories 2 days - your choice.
Metformin is terrible - look it up.
Find Dr Berg, too.
I’m a long-time Type II diabetes sufferer and I have found the information in “The Glucose Revolution” by Jessie Inchauspe to be really useful. Not just the hacks, but also a layman’s explanation of what is going on in your body with glucose and insulin. I’ve read a lot of books on the topic over the years, but this is the most solid information I have come across.
initally (186lbs 5’10”) the dietician set 45 grams? IIRC later I was down to 30 or
so lots of meat and vegies
found I could eat a 1/4# w/cheese but could not touch french fries
EXERCISE
doc precribed meloxicam and I was able to walk 30 min daily
took about three years to get to 160lbs and at that point my fasting glucose was running <120 so I was able to get off meds
EXERCISE ! diet per the dietician’s instructions
also find foods you like to work into your varbs
I found small rice crispi treats were an OK snack and still use
those on road trips
r
edit to add keep testing check your glucose per instructions
but am fasting numbers are critical (well they were to me anyway)
I got a dexcom7..
Real time blood sugar readings helps you to know not only what but how much you can eat
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