wmnnj,

I am so sorry. I can hear and *feel* the pain and frustration in your post...
I wish I had some good news for you, but unfortunately, you are in a bit of a catch-22 situation.
On the one hand, if your diabetes is serious enough that you are insulin-dependent, then going off the insulin is not an option -- at least, not yet. And you say you are too heavy to exercise; does that include walking?.

But there is a book -- actually TWO BOOKS that I want you to get and read right away. They changed my life.
The Schwarzbein Principle and The Schwarzbein Principle II: The Transition both by highly respected and renowned endocrinologist, Diana Schwarzbein, MD.

I'm not kidding; what she has to say about diabetes and the current, misguided *treatments* for diabetes will astound you. And she has helped MANY people who were thought to be *insulin-dependent* get off of the insulin. Maybe she can help you, too.

I like her books because they are very easy to read and understand -- not a lot of *medicalese*. She really helped me to understand the relationship between insulin and stored fat and she helped me to *reverse* my own type II diabetes for these past 2 years.

PLEASE get these books and READ THEM.
I am so sorry you are going through this, but there IS an answer. You may just have to dig a little deeper to find it.
Please don't give up and don't despair.
Giving up will only make things worse...
and please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing.
{{{hugs}}}

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

[This message was edited by Lawbooks on 12-15-03 at 07:58 AM.]

wmnnj

I too was touched by your post and I want to say that you can hang in there. The books that Summer recommended above are great and in fact Dr. Schwartzbein has some info on the web.

This way of eating is different and I have learned many times that if you follow the plan, sometimes you don't lose. Sometimes your body is healing or needing more water or something else is up. Loss comes in spirts and you just have to hang in there and let the "whoosh" fairy visit as you follow the plan to the best of your ability.

Just as an aside I was posting with another person on these boards who had a similar issue and it ended up being a wheat gluten allergy. I think the posting is under fat consumption. She stuck to her LC plan and just couldn't loose and tried and tried and was very frustrated. Last I heard she was losing weight and feeling much much better after she worked with her doc on this allergy.

Disinterested docs stink. I am an avid fan of voting with my feet to someone new who is more up to date than the last guy.

Hang in there. Sometimes it is not about losing weight but about healing and getting better.

Here is the link to the official Schwartzbein site and it will give some good starter info. Some of it is pretty medical but I think you will like it.

http://www.schwarzbeinprinciple.com/

There is another issue that will prevent weight loss, and it is a very common problem -- especially with diabetics.

Candida.

I have a bunch of information on my site, which is in my sig. Please read it and take the tests.

Also, could we see your menus and how much water you are drinking (yes, ounces of water) -- these things will help us to help you better.

In the meantime, please accept these
until this gets figured out...

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

I just had another thought:

You should check out the Apple Cider Vinegar thread we have going in the Everthing Else forum on this site. Summer has experienced some amazing benefits with her bgs from using the apple cider vinegar (organic, not pasturized.)

I did read the Schwarzbein book. It was very well written and interesting. I found the Bernstein book at the same time and read that at the same time. That one seems more "doable" for me. Thank you so much for all your caring. Have a wonderful new year!

I'm a Type 1 diabetic for 8 yrs. I have tried atkins before and it worked pretty well, but I had lots of low blood sugars. I tried it again in 2003 and didn't really lose much 4-6 pounds but I'm not impressed with that amount. My new years resolution is to stop going on and off diets and to eat healthy. I'm eating lower carb but also lower fat and calories.I don't have junk around the house , lots of friuts and vegaetables and grains.The most important thing is your health, don't beat yourself up because that makes it easier for you to binge.Have you seen the recumbent bikes they're really much easier on your back and still as good a workout as a regular stationary bike.

Hang in there and give yourself a break if you're determined you can lose some weight and get healthy, it may happen slow but that's really a better way to lose.

I wanted to let you know I understand your frustration. I to had problems and still do. I read an article that discusses this problem wth insulin dependent diabetics.

The insulin hormone we inject blocks the body's ability to burn calories. That maybe why you are only having a wieght loss of 4 pounds and not much more.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Insulin totally blocks your body’s ability to burn fat, converts all the excess
blood sugar into triglycerides (blood fats)..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
quote from this source:
www.lisaanneleslie.com/documents/A%20New%20Paradigm%20for%20Nutrition.pdf

I hope this helps

Sandra,
265/258/170 is my goal...

Blue Corn Moon -- I've read several of your posts and I just wanted to say, WELCOME!

I truly hope you will find success with this woe (way of eating).
I would like to suggest a book to you which I think you would really enjoy/benefit from... The Schwarzbein Principle by Diana Schwarzbein, MD -- a renowned endocrinologist.
For those of us with diabetes, it is a real eye-opener! Her book convinced me that the ADA diet is all wrong and to eat this way for life.
I wish you the best, whatever you decide.

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

I just wanted to say welcome too.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

I wanted to offer support and say that diabetics taking insulin can lose on low-carb. I know every body is different, however. So I hope your problem is quickly resolved.

My husband, age 35, is a type 2 diabetic and has had it for 11 years. His sugars were completely out of control, even on meds. He started taking insulin last year. He's been doing atkins for five weeks and has lost 21 pounds. Even though he still has another 30 to lose, his sugars are so stable - around 100 to 105 every time he measures - that he's cut out his mealtime insulin shots and only takes insulin before bed. He told his nurse and she approved.

We're hoping with another 10-20 pounds he can go off insulin completely and stick to his oral meds.

I wish you the best of luck with your weight loss.

Best,
Carrie

i am right there with you. :( i have been on and off of atkins several times w/o losing any significant weight. once i even did it for 2 1/2 years religiously. during that time i lost 14 pounds -- all in the first two weeks. BUT i have never had better blood sugars or felt better, so it was worth it for me to stay with the wol even w/ no hope of weight loss. before i found atkins my control was so terrible that i thought i would never be able to have children, but i have since had a wonderful low carb pregnancy with perfect labs throughout and a perfect baby to show for it. so, i guess i feel there is a lot to consider other than weight loss.

otoh, i totally feel your pain regarding the lack of weight loss. i have tried so hard -- all kinds of diets, exercise, etc. and nothing to show for it. :( it really kind of bites to feel like i've just got to come to terms with being so overweight.

btw, i am also a type 1 diabetic. i always thought that "insulin-dependent" meant type 1, but it seems like in this thread people are using it to also include type 2s who use insulin.