Hi - I am new here and wanted to say hi. My husband and I are doing atkins (me for the second time - first was several years ago. funny how popular it's become now!!!)

I posted part of this on another thread, but realized that it might not be seen and that you guys can give me good advice on what else we might need to do, what changes diabetics might make in the atkins plan to better accommodate their ailment.

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. (although she did suggest he start adding carbs back in - healthy ones like lentils - in a few weeks. but we'll wait longer, on maintenance, to do that!)

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

What has been other's experiences on Atkins/low-carb? I've heard of people going off their meds completely. Is this common?

Thanks so much...

Carrie

Carrie,

Yes, I have heard of several people going off their meds after staying on Atkins for a while. For this reason, your husband needs to be VERY diligent about checking in with his doctor and monitoring his blood glucose levels.
He also needs to make a very REAL COMMITMENT to eating this way for life if he has any plans of becoming medicine/insulin-free.
I was able to control my blood sugars with diet and exercise alone by staying on Atkins.
One more thing, since he has had poor glucose control, he REALLY needs to protect his kidneys. MAKE SURE he is drinking NO LESS than half his body weight in water each day. Don't guzzle! Sip it throughout the day. It may take a week or so if he is not used to drinking much water, but this is very important -- and more so for diabetics.
If he becomes even *slightly* dehydrated, it could cause problems and the ketones could put an unnecessary strain on his kidneys.

Finally, make sure his doctor does an HbA1c after 3 months of following this woe... and periodically thereafter. This will tell the *true* effect of Atkins on his bg's.
I wish him (and you) the best!

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

This is wonderful news that it's helping him.
I'm not diabetic, but I have the other end of the spectrum, hypoglycemia. I also have other problems, numbness in the fingers when I eat wheat, acid reflux, eczema break outs,muscle cramps, amoung other things, that staying on the diet has pretty much put an end too.

I think, for me, that I had a hidden allergy to wheat that I never knew as well.