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Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

bbc.com

21–30 of 208 posts

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that's why weight loss techniques need to be treated like a new lifestyle, instead of a goal you hit and then finish. I lost 60 lbs a couple of years ago and found that 20 of those had recently crept back on, so I went on another shorter diet to get myself back on track. It's totally doable. You have to be aware and keep correcting.

> And that's why weight loss techniques need to be treated like a new lifestyle, instead of a goal you hit and then finish. I lost 60 lbs a couple of years ago ... Firstly, fantastic achievement. I'm curious as to what motivated you enough to put in the effort (I'm assuming it required effort). Secondly, I wonder if the speed/drastic nature of the weight-loss can be counter-productive. When you think about people don…

It was my health. My snoring was bothering my wife, and I was exhibiting sleep apnea so I knew I either had to lose weight or go to a doctor, and I hate visiting the doctor.

And the time is certainly a factor - people have to set up weight loss scenarios that are sustainable over the long term. My weight loss goal was 1-2 lbs a week, so that was aggressive, but I am large enough that I can lose weight on enough calories to not feel deprived. By counting calories and making sure I had enough to enjoy myself it was a relatively easy process, once I got used to the counting and accountability.

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#23
post #3

Losing a lot of weight with very low calorie diets is hard, but not regaining it over the next couple of years is next to impossible. Your body will try all the tricks in the book, it will reduce your metabolism to way below that of the person of the same weight, it will amp up your hunger hormones so much that you will think and dream about food 24/7. Only 5 to 7% of people that lose a large amount weight are able t…

That is why there needs to be some visible and lasting penalties...as in if you have a disease like diabetes that you can prevent or fix by simply eating better and not eating so much - then you are responsible for any and all medical costs associated with it. We don't allow insurance claims if you purposefully wreck your car or burn your house down; why do we allow this when it comes to your health?

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#24
This sounds pretty similar to some of the things Dr. Valter Longo has been mentioning in his book the longevity diet where a part of it are also occasional 5 day fasts with 800 calories, that (supposedly) have great benefits. Great to see this being tested with the general public.

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that's why weight loss techniques need to be treated like a new lifestyle, instead of a goal you hit and then finish. I lost 60 lbs a couple of years ago and found that 20 of those had recently crept back on, so I went on another shorter diet to get myself back on track. It's totally doable. You have to be aware and keep correcting.

Garry's blog post about this was particularly insightful.[0] He shares a graph of his progress and how it goes both forwards and backwards, as well as the things he's learned along the way. 0: https://garry.tv/2018/10/17/fatty/

> When you’re weighing yourself every day you need to understand that you’re creating a weekly/monthly average. What you ate yesterday isn’t going to show up on the scales the next day. If you ran around the park yesterday, don’t expect to have lost weight today.

I only weighed myself once a week for this reason. Every day can be demoralizing if you have a bloat day, but once a week gives enough to have a pretty regular drop. Whatever behaviour you do can't be considered on a day by day basis, it needs to be considered as a week of good behaviour, and then weeks and then months. You gotta stay consistent every day over the long term to expect results.

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#26
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lost 40 pounds in 3 months, then another 20 in 3 months. I've kept the weight off for another year. I still eat healthy and in moderation (and occasionally fast). I avoid sugars and high-carb foods and my body has been hovering at the same weight. Maybe, for some people, it's harder to keep the weight off (assuming diet is the same)? Or, maybe some people don't have the mental will-power to stay on the diet that lo…

Superb. Clearly in your case you summoned the necessary will to lose all that weight. But I think another important factor is that you established a new lifestyle/better eating habits.

> But I think another important factor is that you established a new lifestyle/better eating habits.

How is it not a given that you need to do this? Your lifestyle and eating habits got you to that overweight state in the first place. Of course you will return to that state eventually if you don't permanently change them.

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#27
post #7

I think that this is effective because it reduces the carbohydrate load. Protein and fat consumption also increase insulin response but not nearly as much. Type 2 diabetics could get most of the blood sugar reducing benefit of this by just removing/replacing the carbs. That has been my N=1 experience with both fasting and carb restriction.

Well reversing is different but most cases can be reveresed with dietary/lifestyle changes.

On the other hand prevention of type2 is N=100% with these changes. I know people, especially in the US consider it thier right/freedom to eat what they want and live how they want, but in my mind it’s deeply disturbing especially because children don’t have any choice (it’s parental).

I think as soon as a child is diagnosed with fatty liver disease...there should be some mandate on parents to “treat” their child with diet (which I know is probably equally disturbing to people, government dictated diet).

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#28
post #16

When I was first diagnosed with T2 I did some reading around. Interesting history, especially pre- manufactured insulin. For example, war is "good" for reducing incidence of diabetes, because famine.

Two minor points: T2 isn’t controlled with insulin; it’s a syndrome of insulin resistance and other metabolic dysfunctions. And “manufactured insulin” came on the scene in 1922. Before that, T1 diabetes was universally fatal.

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#29

Calories are not the core problem - carbohydrates are. The research from VirtaHealth.com makes this clear. They are getting T2 diabetics off of insulin within a week, while still giving patients the satiety they want from meals.

Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. McDoughall are my heros. Carbs and starch are not the problem, animal fats and proteins are. Whole food plant based diet are the best

It's interesting that once I cut out grains, potatoes, pasta, fruit/sweets, starches and continued to eat beef, chicken, fish, Organ meat, low carb vegetables and foods filled with fat (nuts, cheese, olives, etc) caused a 100lb weight loss that I have kept off over 3 years. This was without any exercise or extra activity.

Perhaps I am an outlier.

Re: Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. McDoughall are my heros. Carbs and starch are not the problem, animal fats and proteins are. Whole food plant based diet are the best

It's interesting that once I cut out grains, potatoes, pasta, fruit/sweets, starches and continued to eat beef, chicken, fish, Organ meat, low carb vegetables and foods filled with fat (nuts, cheese, olives, etc) caused a 100lb weight loss that I have kept off over 3 years. This was without any exercise or extra activity. Perhaps I am an outlier.

I think that's pretty normal. Carbohydrate-heavy foods are good for over-loading your body with enegy. It's fine if you're working on a farm 10 hours a day, less so if you're sitting in an office.

The reality is 2k calories of lean meat, fruits, and veggies is A LOT more food than 2k calories worth of cereals. It's physically difficult to overeat when your diet looks like that.

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