T2 and need to put on weight, anyone been in a similar situation?

[BigBoysDontCry]

I'll try to keep this short. At end of March I randomly did a bg test and it was 19. I cut out sugar and carbs, effectively went keto and blood sugars dropped pretty quickly. However I then got to the point where I was struggling to eat at all and was losing weight and not feeling good at all. At the start my bmi was in normal range (24). I'm 57.

Went to gp and ended up being sent straight to hospital. My ketones were 2.9 and hba1c was 47. They did lots of tests, discharged me and told me to reintroduce some carbs pending results of tests. Was also sent to a dietician to try to stop me losing any more weight. At this point my bmi was down to 19.

They told me not to test bg in the meantime as this was furthering my anxiety about eating.

Anyway, I managed to increase my carbs and calories enough to stabilise my weight just a couple of pounds down from when I was in hospital but now I'm 2 months since then and wasn't well a couple of weeks ago and lost more weight and bmi is now under 18.

However, I do feel better than I was, have more energy etc but I now look anorexic.

I still don't have an official diagnosis as obviously didn't present as a typical T2, probably due to the keto diet.

I've stopped intermittent fasting and having probably about 80 - 100g of carbs a day and no sugar. Eating a reasonable portion for meals and adding in protein shakes made with whole milk.

I'm seeing the dietician again this week and they are going to do an hba1c again. I'm pretty scared that the result is going to be bad but the keto wasn't sustainable for me and I'd really prefer not to be medicated for life.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and how did things pan out?

Not so short after all but hopefully included all info required... 😁

My mum (who was always very thin anyway) has T2. She didn't need to diet (being on the verge of underweight), but when first diagnosed cut down on carbs to bring down her blood sugar. She didn't ever count cals or carbs, just stopped eating massive amounts of bread, potatoes, pasta & rice. Which worked but she became extremely underweight - as someone elderly and a frequent faller this wasn't great. We fed her lots of cheese & other full-fat dairy. Also nuts - basically tried to look for things that were high in calories/fat and at the lower end of carbs. This was probably about 15 years ago and she's not had to have medication. We also got a blood test meter & strips and would re-introduce things and see how they affected her blood sugar - funny enough found that baked butternut squash made it go down slightly.
TBH she's now 90 and has multiple non-diabetic related health problems (she was involved in a serious accident) so we're now fairly relaxed about things as at her age and with her problems quality of life is more important. Obviously you're not in that position, but I think maybe low carb rather than full on keto might be easier to live with permanently. Good luck.

Thank you, I hope your mum continues to do well, and you are right, at her age it's about quality of life and enjoying as much as she can.

I have had episodes of being overweight but not into obese category and not for many years either. I'm essentially on low carb at the moment, but it has made me realise that asides from things like having pizza or macaroni cheese occasionally, I didn't have a particularly high carb diet before, I'm guessing my issues came more from sugar, I was a bit of a chocolate eater.

There are still loads of foods that I can't face post keto, cheese, eggs, mince, avocado, bacon etc. but I am managing chicken a bit more than I was.

Just keeping everying full fat and adding in butter wherever I can and eating kind bars (nuts and low carb) when I can. My appetite is better than it was.

Would it be helpful to join a support group for T2? I wonder if a bit of solidarity and support might help you to feel less anxious. Sending a hug.

Thank you, hug appreciated 😊

I'm under a lot of stress besides this at the moment. Currently separating from husband but still living together until I can release funds to buy him out. Can't sell the house as eldest is autistic (high functioning) and isn't financially independent, younger dc in last year at uni and likely to need housed for a while when he finishes, so I need to keep the bigger house for a while.

I'm sure this is all not helping but I'm hoping it gets better soon.

Look up T1.5

There's more diabetes than 1 + 2, not everyone looks or experiences being diabetic, the way we think.

I know T2s who have to inject, too.

I used the freestyle libre cgm after I was first diagnosed with T2, to help me keep track.

Thank you, yes t1. 5 was mentioned and is part of the reason I don't have an official diagnosis. There was a test they didn't do at the hospital that I've now had that should help with that.

Just a wee update. Didn't get the Hba1c done as no one had booked it. I'm getting that done next week now. However consultant has various results back and now confirmed that it isn't type one or 1.5. Likely now to just being type 2 in a thin person. I'd also had a ct scan on my pancreas and that's all clear.

Oh @BigBoysDontCry it sounds like you're developing an eating disorder, and I have experience of this as my eldest had one for years. I hope that's ok to say, I do know how easy it is to go down that road & it's definitely anxiety that makes it worse.
I'm T2 & I think it's helpful that you're now under the dietician & specialist & receiving that support.

Hi folks, just thought I'd do a wee update since I had a call with the GP earlier. I did an hba1c at the end of September and actually never got/asked for the result.

I've been eating better, gained 3 pounds and I'm now 9 stone, bmi 18.1 so getting close to a normal weight. Still doing low carb but have energy again (although my skin is really shit at the moment for some reason 🤷‍♀️) and generally feeling good and enjoying eating.

I got through a letter to have another hbac1 on Friday past and a follow up annual diabetes check for a couple of weeks time.

Anyway, gp called and was delighted to tell me that my hbac1 is down to 42, she says if I keep it at that or below in 6 months they'll consider that I've reversed diabetes and remove the marker from my record!

She told me my level at end Sept was 51, so I'm nearly 10 points down from that in 2 months. My level when I was in hospital doing full blown keto and virtually no carbs was 47. So, reintroducing carbs did make it rise but not horrendously and it seems that continuing to just be careful with carbs and no sugar has allowed my body to learn to use the insulin again.

I'm over the moon, no medication and hopefully onwards and upwards. If I can get to 9 and a half stone my bmi will be 19. I feel that's totally achievable and the low carb no sugar if easily manageable for me too.

I think I have staved off a full blown eating disorder too.

Thanks once again for all your kind words and encouragement and hope this helps someone to know that lifestyle changes can be enough.