Michael Mosley - Blood sugar diet

[Yddraigoldragon]

Just wondering if anyone has tried this and how it went? I am about ten days in and coping well so far.

I have been low carbing for years on and off, and on 5:2 since Sept which seems to make the fasting easier.

[FannyBurney]

I've just got the book on my kindle and am reading with interest. I'm not prediabetic, I don't think, just a bit (stone, stone and a half) overweight, but the science is making sense and I would like to be long-term healthy. Not sure I've got the willpower for 800 cals a day every day for two months, so good for you for doing so well! I'll finish the book tonight.

[Yddraigoldragon]

I am not stressing about the med diet (mainly because I struggle eating fish) but low carbing, so just meat and veg and a little bit of fat. Also haven't bothered with his recipes, I have mfp and a scales. I just count everything I chuck in the pressure cooker

[Vibrantella]

I haven't read this book, but I'm also low carbing and doing 5:2 together. I have to eat a strict LC diet because of my recently diagnosed T2 diabetes (and no medication given) - it works great to keep my blood glucose down and helped me go from the BMI of 40 to about 34. Since I added 5:2, I'm down to 32.

Like you, I find FDs much easier after being on LC for a while (I tried 5:2 in the past, on a "normal" diet, and it was hard). My theory is that LC/ketosis started to mobilise fat from my body, and now it continues to be burned for fuel, and even more when I'm fasting!

How are you finding the book?

[Yddraigoldragon]

It is quite a short book, but like most of his stuff the theories make sense.

I think ketosis is the thing that works, going from a fast day back to eating carbs seems weird to me, fast days are the kickstarts to ratchet up weight loss in my mind. So I am treating the blood sugar diet period as an extended fast, and will do LC afterwards with 5:2 to continue as needed.

Were you advised to LC by the medics? Also T2 here, when diagnosed I was shown the godawful portion size book stating porridge for breakfast etc, and the standard plate pic on every GP's wall. Laughable really!

I knew LC was a better bet and just got on with it, not sure the medics approve but I was told to keep on doing what I was doing because it was working.

[EElisavetaOfBelsornia]

Would you mind summarising what the diet is please?

[Yddraigoldragon]

Essentially 800 calories per day for two months. The theory is that diabetes can be reversed or improved by removing visceral fat, and he has not found a need to reduce weight slowly so short sharp shock tactics to hit it hard.

It mimics the quick improvements made after bariatric surgery, the first immediate weight loss often reverses diabetes.

It has been lab tested by using calorie counted fluids and also by staying on real foods, which is where the med diet comes in.

[EElisavetaOfBelsornia]

Ah yes I've read the theory behind this though hadn't seen MM took it up.

You say you're coping well. Can I ask whether it has affected how you are at work, with family, sleep? DH is diabetic and has considered doing something like this, but worries he won't be able to concentrate and will be permanently grumpy for a change

[BigChocFrenzy]

It's based on work by Prof. Taylor (Newcastle Uni Hospital ) that is really gaining ground now and IIRC won him the Diabetes UK Banting prize.
Basically:
. T2 is caused by excess fat in the liver & pancreas, which disrupts the insulin system.
. How much fat you store there & how much you can tolerate is specific to the individual. Hence why slim folk can have T2
. T2 / pre-T2 has been reversed in many cases by VLCD resulting in quick and significant weight loss. In particular, by losing fat stored in liver and pancreas

The diet is 800 cals daily, but it should be the low carb form of Mediteranean, with lentils, beans and legumes (e.g. peas) replacing starches.
Definitely the tyoe of food within the 800 cals matters: low carb & no sugary crap or even though you lose weight, you won't get the fat reduction in liver & pancreas.

Several studies have shown that lentils, beans & legumes can help T2, so I recommend that the low carbers try adding a spoonful of these.
I tried a week, just out of interest (no sugar problem AFAIK) and I found also that adding these made it sustainable and surprisingly easy.

[Yddraigoldragon]

I am fine with it, no real grumpiness at all. Or any issues with sleep either. I find I am most grumpy and tired when I eat refined carbs, I feel it may be a product of the insulin roller coaster. Like LC there are a few potential fluey days at the start depending on what previous diet has been like.

[BigChocFrenzy]

Mosely recommends beans & legumes in the book.
Taylor wrote the forward and his advice is quoted a lot, so he seems to have contributed a fair bit to the book and endorses it.

[Yddraigoldragon]

Thanks BigChoc! Am living on meat, veg, and lentils n stuff so hopefully it will work.

[Yddraigoldragon]

Tonight is gammon and veg and haricot beans in tomato sauce which feels a bit Mediterranean

[BigChocFrenzy]

Good luck to anyone trying this to reverse T2 or pre-T2.

Do let us know how you get on.
Everyone is also welcome to join our main Fasting Thread #60
We've all sorts of fasting there, not just 5:2

[FannyBurney]

I'm still reading, but as a big bean fan (the more you eat etc...) who has had success with low carb and 5.2 in the past, I think this might be the diet for me. I will prob do the less stringent 5.2 version, partly because counting cals every day would get me down. Will see you on the main thread when I get my act together. Thanks, OP for alerting me to this.

[Yddraigoldragon]

Good luck with it FannyBurney

[ColinFirthsGirth]

Hi, I have a question if you don't mind. Is it possible to do this low carbon diet as a vegetarian?

[Yddraigoldragon]

It would be more difficult, but others have done it Colin. If you look on the low carb diet boards here rather than 5:2 there are many examples.

[ginandbearit]

Have a look at Dr Jason Fung, a Canadian endocrinologist who has reversed diabetes by putting his patients on strict fasts, basically he says that insulin is the problem, so supplying insulin makes things worse. Lots on youtube, very persuasive and some good case studies

[ginandbearit]

Edit above, Dr Fung is a nephrologist , working on Kidney disease

[BigChocFrenzy]

Colin Low carb Med should be ok with beans, lentils, legumes as your protein. Even easier if you can eat yoghurt, eggs or cheese.

[Yddraigoldragon]

Oooh web chat next week!

[IguanaTail]

I've ordered this book. And one of those water fruit basket things...

[spababe]

I've done the first week now and lost 6lb. DH has also lost 6lb. We don't eat meat and are basically following the menus suggested for week 1, week 2 etc in the book but using a different dinner recipe if a meaty one is suggested. I've had a few 'hangry' moments but not felt tired. I have felt very cold at times though.
I'm surprised at how few cravings I have had. I'm also surprised that the recipes are mostly delicious and we have been enjoying the food.

[Yddraigoldragon]

Spababe nice losses both of you! I have been feeling cold as well, which is very unusual for me.