I have been doing Atkins for 5 days now. I couldn't resist the scale this morning and was happy to see it moving downward. So far, I'm having a easy time with this. I am not hungry, I have no problem with my water (I've always been a water drinker). I'm averaging about 1500 calories per day. Is that okay?

I haven't given up the caffeine yet, but I have cut down and I'm going to try to switch to de-caf. And I have yet to start exercising. I have severe back pain right now, but I have some stretches to do, and I should be able to get out and walk.

The only strange thing is my blood sugar is higher then I thought it would be. I'm still in the 140-150 2 hours after meals, even though I split my carbs with lunch and dinner and I've been under 20 every day. I am still on my diabetes medication, 1600 mg of glucaphage and 30 mg of Actos daily. I have an appointment with my doctor in 2 weeks, and I am going to ask her to take me of the Actos. I know she won't if my numbers are still high.

My personal experience has been that it took a couple of weeks for my blood sugars to come back into the normal range, even with the Glucophage and I absolutely had to stay away from Aspartame or they would go back up again. I've been doing this for a year and now no longer need medication to keep my blood sugars at an average of 100. I'd highly suggest getting Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution (the book). It's extremely valuable in understanding your diabetes and how low carbing is the best way to control it....a must-read for any diabetic in my opinion! Way to go on the weight loss. Isn't it nice to see the scale moving down instead of up for a change?

This is the guy that JEY100 called a " hard case ". I'm anal when it comes to writing down what I eat HFLC, I take my BP 3X a day, BG 4X aday,the time and amount of insulin I take. I just got on the scale Monday and I gained 7 lbs. I usally weight myself once a month. I take in 20-25 carbs aday with 2-3 cups of coffee a day with 4 tbsp. of heavy whipping cream and 2 pkg of Splenda. I finally got my sugars down from the 200's to 70-85 following Dr. Fungs advice on fasting every other day. I'm so happy that I now have good control of my BG. I don't know what else to do to try to lose weight at this point. The more weight that I lose, the longer that I'll be here. I'll take any suggestions!

Hi Thomas,
Please see this thread where we answered your questions about doctors, click on this to open it! http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=48819

So we know you don't have a doctor to guide you on lowering your medications after your BG is under control. Many congrats on that!!

But if you have listened to some of Dr. Fung's and Dr. Westman's talks, you probably understand that it is difficult to lose weight if you are still injecting insulin, and BP meds don't help loss of weight either. I'm just some random person on the internet and so this is not medical advice, but will point you to a few resources.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=452693

https://intensivedietarymanagement....atient-profile/

https://web.archive.org/web/2015031...t-to-Expect.pdf (Canadian 5 to 7 BG equals about 90 to 125). So you are doing very well...maybe time to consider lowering some medications...this sheet gives you an example how one doctor might do it.

Thank you JEY100

Also to find previous threads, be sure you have "subscription" notices on. Up in the second dark green bar, USER CP, is where you edit your profile, change weight, signature, whatever.
EDIT OPTIONS allows the forum to send you emails daily with links back to your question and any answers. Hit SAVE at bottom of the User CP if you do need to change anything in your profile (or Control Panel/CP).

Hi again Thomas,
Forgot to mention about your food. First without details, what you are eating is probably fine, unless you are truly overeating protein, unlikely if you fast every other day. More likely that it is medications which hinder weight loss, and I hope the information above gives you some guidance how to find a doctor/consider lowering insulin.

2 packets of Splenda is not the end of the world, even with it having the filler maltodextrin. Some switch to the Sugar-free syrups which dont have fillers, you can it find in groceries, Walmart near the coffee and on-line.

But on the food question, wanted to share a Facebook page called "Reversing Diabetes" that has made a very reasonable policy decision about artificial sweeteners for their FB members, who are all on Dr Westman/Dr. Fung/Dr Bernstein VLC type diets like you are. Consider their experience quoted here:

Hi again Thomas,

It happened again! I write about some aspect of LC and later some bit of news comes in about that same topic. DietDoctor just posted this interview with a man who Reversed his T2 diabetes. His doctors did not help him reducing his meds. And about ten minutes into this 20 minute interview he talks about using Atkins bars and other processed sweets in the beginning of the diet. He could have written the above quote. His start weight is also near yours. Perfect timing...Think you will like this guy!
http://www.dietdoctor.com/member/interviews/benjamin