Struggling with Type 2 Diabetes

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I have been afflicted with Type 2 Diabetes for more than twenty-five years. Perhaps even longer, since my partner reports that she saw symptoms of it even in my late twenties and early thirties. But despite diagnosis in the 1990’s by my doctors, and a referral to an endocrinologist who worked out of St. Paul’s hospital at the same time, the seriousness of the disease and its potential consequences were not really taken into account until relatively recently, when some of the symptoms started to become more pronounced.

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Truthfully, until the summer of last year, I didn’t really feel like it was even possible to have any real impact on my diabetes. After being put on insulin, nearly fifteen years ago, with steady weight gain and gradually increasing problems related to my diabetes, I think I didn’t really believe there was anything I could do about the decline in my health, and probable premature death from diabetes related conditions and disease.

On my birthday last year, my middle son gave me a copy of a book by Dr. Jason Fung, on which I have written a lot in this blog in the past. Reading his book, The Diabetic Code, taught me that I need not be doomed to continual decline as a result of diabetes, but in fact could take control of my lifestyle, and thereby forestal future declines in my health, and even, perhaps, recaptures some of the vigor of my earlier years.

From July until the present I have been working towards a better life. I’ve lost a bit of weight, about 30 pounds down from my weight last summer, although I’m back up 10 pounds more or less since November, as a result of failing to maintain my lifestyle changes over the Christmas break.

Starting last night I am back to doing my intermittent fasting for three days a week, thirty-six hours for each day. During November I went from strictly obeying the fasting hours, and not eating anything, to eating Keto foods which are not supposed to break the fast. Whatever I thought I was doing, what was really happening was that my fasts became shorter and far less effective.

Fasting now until I reach my net goal of reaching 15 BMI during the current calendar years is my objective, for now, until I get my weight down from 222 pounds down to 167 pounds for a total weight loss of 55 pounds over the next 12 months. It doesn’t sound too daunting, having to lose between four and five pounds a month to reach my goal. But of course my goal isn’t really so much about losing weight as it is about gaining control over my blood glucose levels, and wrestling my metabolic syndrome to a point where my health doesn’t continue to decline, or lead to ever more serious consequences of my diabetes.

It is discouraging losing weight by changing your lifestyle, in many different ways, but intermittent fasting and eating a low carb diet is probably the least difficult method. All it requires of me is to pay attention to what I eat when I’m not fasting, and to fast long enough and for enough days, to ensure that my liver gets a reboot, during this process. Even when I reach my targeted goal it will not be the end of managing my carbohydrate and sugar intake. A healthy lifestyle for a diabetic (or former diabetic, which is what I’m trying to achieve) should be one that avoids carbohydrate and sugar in one’s diet, on a day to day basis.

Of course, all people need some carbohydrate and sugar in their diets, but it should always be extremely limited since it has proved to be so problematic to long term health. I’m recommitting to changing my lifestyle to a healthier and strong future. This recommitment includes reasserting my plan to get out and walk an average of 4,000 or more steps, at least four or five days out of the week. With serious neuropathy in my feet this isn’t always easy, but it is nonetheless critically important, to build and maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

It’s currently two o’clock in the afternoon, and I haven’t eaten anything since about eight o’clock last night. My next meal will be tomorrow morning about eight o’clock, when I’ll have breakfast. My next fast will start tomorrow after dinner, at about eight o’clock tomorrow night, and will continue until 8:00 am on Thursday morning.

Hang in there with me, folks. I may not be changing the world, but I’m certainly changing my world.

32 thoughts on “Struggling with Type 2 Diabetes”

  2. Pingback: Struggling with Type 2 Diabetes — Rain Coast Review – Diabetes Diet Food Blog

  8. Hope you reach your goal. Type 2 Diabetes is highly responsive to dietary change. So the power to heal is in your hands. You may consider working with a naturopath doctor to support your efforts.

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  12. I’ve done a bit of fasting myself in the past, but those times were being sponsored for the charity World Vision. I do know of one person who has done a very successful juice fast called Collette O’Neil and she is on WordPress via the name Bealtaine Cottage. She also has a very relaxing YouTube channel (apart from when she goes on a bit of a rant, but that’s just as good for us and informative too). Glad it’s working for you and best wishes.

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    • p.s. I started a fast yesterday from lunchtime, that will last until tomorrow morning, for I had a horrible hyperinsulinemia moment (again) of falling asleep after eating the wrong food (again, but that I won’t bore you with all the details, but there was chocolate involved after a weekend involving chips, vegan cheese and lots of bread). I’ve done a bit of research into what you’re taking about and I too have decided to take control. It’s a start. Thank you for sharing.

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  13. Congratulations on losing the 30 lbs – well done. (hopefully that regained 10 lbs will drop again quickly too).

    I envy you being able to walk so much. I was able to up until my hip deteriorated too much and my heart is medicated to keep its beat very slow with severe obstructive HCM. I, now, literally can’t walk hardly at all and certainly only very very slowly. I still do some morning core strengthening exercises though. I have kept up those non-aerobic exercises for some years now. They don’t help my pre-Diabetic state, but they do help my mental stability and teach me to Breeeeeeathe. Almost a meditation.

    I can assure fellow followers it really is easy to start regular walking once you get your mindset around forming new habits and of course, this means making time to walk a bit extra. I used to do power walking and after about the first 5-7 minutes walk, found a real ‘high’ in the vigorous exercise back 15 years ago. I was lucky enough to live in a superb location next to the Botanic Gardens so just got up a bit earlier to walk to work through the Gardens to work.

    I really admire the positive changes you have made to your lifestyle. It’s not easy to start, but once you form those new habits, ideally, keeping them up 350-360 days of the year is really quite easy. I think the important thing is to be kind to yourself when there is the odd day when something – work, medical, important social function or whatever means missing a day.

    I think some people try too hard and then feel guilty or ‘beat themselves up’ when they miss a day (of exercise) and their mental attitude starts going down from there. I figure 29 days out of 30 is a good goal.

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  15. Hang in there, sometimes when we don’t think the end will be near, it’s closer than we think. Don’t forget to rest on those days that you are taking to bring your body into shape. Rooting for you. For me seeing your article for the first time, reminds me of a tree learning to be supple to change in order to survive the raging elements. Keep on going.

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  18. Strangely enough, I just posted ‘Winter Wanderlust’ on my blog, which contains a paragraph on just this subject. I’ve struggled with weight all my life (at 15 years old I weighed 224 pounds) and not because of lack of fitness. I weighed 350 pounds a year ago, now reduced to 308 pounds. Still monstrous, but getting there! I can only claim to be an expert because I have spent all my adult life dieting, with no result, until now, and two things I regard as essential: firstly, no diet can gain results by deprivation – lifestyle change can be satisfying and can teach your body to demand less,, rather than leave your body crying out for more. Sooner or later the still small voice will win. Secondly, if you are heavy, beware of exercise which puts weight upon ageing joints. It’s good to keep supple, but wise to ration the way you approach it. I enjoy my new eating regime and I am unlikely to revert: good luck with yours!

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  20. When it comes to diabetes and management, a lot has to taken into consideration and I am happy for the fact that though it might be challenging trying to keep up with the routines but you still make it a priority to stay healthy 🌻

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  21. Hi, I was diagnosed 18 months ago that I had type 2 diabetes. Not a usual candidate for diabetes, weight not a problem, occupation a PE teacher so I get plenty of exercise, so the diagnosis came as a big shock. But still must plod on everyday taking the medication. Thanks for sharing your story and keep posting more information.
    All the best.

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  22. My husband had been a diabetic 46 years. Back in 94 he had 2 massive heart attacks and quintuple bypass surgery. He was stage 4 kidney failure, and on 40 units of insulin morning and night. I still have him at age 86, and now takes 12 units in the morning and 8 at night.

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  24. It’s great to read your thoughts on this. My husband is a type 2 diabetic and has lost weight, increased exercise, but struggles to be able to continually stay on top of his diet at times. While at other times he does so with ease. He has found that if he goes without eating much of anything then his blood sugar actually has a tendency to become high as well.

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  27. I’ve been keto for 4 years now and I totally believe that it is a great plan for diabetics to follow for better weight and glucose control. 36 hour fast seems kinda extreme. I usually fast about 18 hours a day with a 6 hour eating window and once a month do a 24-36 hours fast (break my fast when my tummy starts growling). Listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs.
    I’m sorry to hear about your neuropathy, but hopefully as you control your sugars some feeling may return.
    Good luck and stay strong. It’s hard in today’s world with terrible food all around us.

    Liked by 2 people

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  28. Hello Donald;
    I was diagnosed last year to be type two,and have made many changes due to two wonderful books I think you will enjoy.
    “Let food be your medicine:” By: Don Colbert,MD
    “The Diabetes Cure” By: Alexa Fleckenstein,MD
    Very good information.God Bless and keep you on the right track.
    Sincerely
    Julia

    Liked by 1 person

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