I have a new outlook on life after today

[padfun]

Four months ago, I was told that I have the beginning of kidney disease and the Urine Micro-albumin tests showed that. They had been over the threshold for 3 years. but now they were getting higher and he wanted me on meds. Also, two months prior to that, my Optometrist told me that I have the beginning of retinopathy, diabetic blindness. This on top of diabetic neuropathy (numbness) that was half up my leg.

So, after some research, I decided to go ahead and try a high fat, low carb diet. Keto. I also started weekly 2-3 day fasting. At the same time, I took a risk and stopped taking all of my diabetic meds, both metformin and both types of insulin (Humalog and Humalin). My morning glucose readings were 175 or so, a bit high but not terrible as they had been in prior years.

Monday I went in for tests and I told my Doc that I had quit all meds three months prior. And that I had lost 25 pounds. He wasn't real happy about it but strangely, his biggest concern was my high fat diet. I realized that he has to follow guidelines so I told him that I really wanted to go this route and asked him to let me know if any readings were a concern. This lets him off the hook if I keel over, but keeps him in the loop and active as my doctor.

Well, the tests are in. A1C was my lowest in 14 years, 6.6 and it's that high because it counts three months, the first two which had much higher readings. Now my morning reading is 125 and it keeps getting lower with each fast. My goal is a morning reading of 90 or so. 83 would be prime. And all cholesterol readings were normal. Cholesterol=154, HDL=44, LDL=48, Triglycerides=88. White blood count was slightly high but nothing to worry about. ALL other tests were in the normal range.

The new micro-albumin tests for my kidneys show my lowest reading in 5 years and the doc said that I no longer am considered as having kidney disease. And my peripheral neuropathy is nearly gone. Some numbness in the sole and big toe.

These are things that are generally thought of not having any cure. They are considered progressive diseases. Once you have it, it just gets worse and they give you meds to make your trip into early death as comfortable as they can.

Well, they are curable! They are all a result of insulin resistance. The real deadly disease among us. And most people today have it. Some just don't know it yet.

They got it wrong 50 years ago (Ancil Keyes). Most fat is good (not all), it is sugar that can kill you. I am in constant ketosis now, a fat burner instead of a carb burner. I feel better and sharper than ever. Ketones (beta hydroxybutrate) is a better fuel than carbs. I am now actually planning for the next twenty years instead of prepping for death. It is a very wonderful feeling.

[Demovictory9]

1. congrats. change in eating habits is the cure for many conditions

[pnwest]

2. That is wonderful, Congratulations and well done!

Have you had difficulty staying motivated?

[padfun]

4. Not at all. I feel alive again.

When first starting, and I went extreme, no carbs if I could help it, I felt hunger pangs even though I had eaten a ton of food. At least for the first three days, then it becomes normal. Keto doesn't reduce calorie intake but changes where your calories come from, fat instead of carbs. And fasting, determines when, not how much.

And about fasting, a Dr. won a Nobel prize last year about autophagy during fasting. It rejuvenates cells and is a very healthy thing for us unhealthy ones.

The real cure is the fasting. Low carb just makes it a lot easier to fast. I don't get hungry even after 60 hours. I still have quite a bit of stomach fat to go through.

[pnwest]

9. I'm trying the same thing, low to no carbs

and healthy fats - and everyone keeps suggesting I try the intermittent fasting, but I’m afraid I’ll end up punching someone in the face, LOL. I just get so hangry I can’t go more than three hours. Other than that I also feel like a million bucks. That daily 2pm slump is gone. Not reduced, GONE. The brain fog and inability to concentrate and focus is 100% resolved. I have energy and weight is coming off. I don’t own a scale, but 24 days in I am already buying smaller clothes, and had to move my car seat up closer!

Insulin and Leptin resistance, I want to reverse both.

[padfun]

13. You're on the right path.

Intermittent fasting is what many recommend. I do a 17-7 during my non fasting days. In that 7 hours, I eat two decent meals. I also take some of the very best, but expensive, supplements. Youngevity's Tangy Tangerine 2.0

Fasting is much easier after you are fat adapted, and it sounds like you are about there.

[appalachiablue]

3. Wonderful, try to keep up with the effective lifestyle & diet changes.

You're doing great.

[padfun]

6. I wont change. I love my new foods.

I just miss cheese cake, but I found a ton of Keto recipes online that I will try.

It is a lifestyle change. If I went back to my old ways, I would become insulin resistant again.

[appalachiablue]

8. Good for you, so happy that it's working so well.

[Anon-C]

5. congrats on your change and making a difference!

[wishstar]

7. Your results are inspiring- I admire your tenacity and resolve

It's very encouraging when dedicated efforts are successful!

[sandensea]

10. May I suggest Avocados, padfun (no animal fat, if you can).

And Apple Cider Vinegar. I've found it really helps with that.

God Bless, and All the Best!

[padfun]

14. Avocados and Broccoli are two favorites of mine.

And yes, ACV is a regular staple as well.

The best pure fat is MCT Oil. Medium chain triglycerides. Get the C8 if you can. It is from Coconuts.

[sandensea]

16. Great! Thank you for those.

Here's to your health and wealth - and Bon Appetit!

[KewlKat]

30. Another Ketoian here. I got so the MCT oil reaked havoc with my stomach so switch to MCT oil powder

Glad you found your solution. Keto helps with many things including cancer. Keto on Padfun.

[chillfactor]

11. Good for you......

sometimes we have to take our health care into our own hands...

[fierywoman]

12. Padfun, you're my hero (heroine?) and you've inspired me to go keto and IF.

[padfun]

15. I'm 62 Male.

And give it a try. Spend time looking over You Tubes. Get well educated in it. Then you will know what to do and why you might get the Keto flu at first.

The best resource is the main man in this, Jason Fung. Google him or watch his YouTubes.

And a good source for info is Eric Berg. He has over 2000 video's and he explains in layman's terms what is happening.

[fierywoman]

20. Thank you. I've been listening to Eric Berg and just discovered Jason Fung. Also been checking out

Hyman and Mercola. But it's always so inspiring to hear the results of others, so I thank you for sharing.

[Sophia4]

17. "it is sugar that can kill you" -- I agree.

Chemicals that preserve food are not good for us either. And alcohol, I heard from a chemist who did the experiments, can somehow diminish the amount of oxygen in your blood -- not a good thing.

Too much salt is also bad for those of us with a tendency to high blood pressure.

And smoking -- forget it.

[padfun]

18. True, However someone on Keto will need potassium and sodium.

My "normal" blood pressure was 135/85. Borderline high but not too high. Now it is 110/70. I measure daily. Keto will bring that down.

Keto needs the salt since you will be peeing more of it on Keto. And magnesium is the most important mineral. You will need your electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium.

Salt used to be a concern to me, but isn't anymore.

[Sophia4]

19. I take extra magnesium, but I eat lots of vegetables.

I avoid refined sugar but eat lots of fruit.
I take blood pressure medicine and have been warned by my doctor against too much sodium or potassium. Potassium is less of a proble for me now because I switched blood pressure medicine.

Interesting information.

[fierywoman]

22. Long ago, while living in Italy, I learned that salt was good -- but it has to be

sea salt, natural salt. Not the stuff with the girl and the umbrella on the label, which is chemical and awful.

[True Blue American]

27. I have used sea salt for years

You can also get it iodized for those who have thyroid.

Found the diet on Google.

[Poiuyt]

42. As a chemist, I can tell you that they are basically the same

Sodium chloride is sodium chloride, a mineral. The only difference between sea salt and regular table salt would be the types of impurities in them. Morton's salt has a few things added like iodine and dextrose. Perhaps that's what you're thinking about, but the amounts are very small. Sea salt would have a host of other impurities. If you want pure salt, check to see that sodium chloride is the only ingredient. Kosher salt comes to mind.

[Awsi Dooger]

21. I need to go back to low carb

One year ago I was home cooking salmon, pork chops, chicken breasts, New York strip steak, along with almonds and broccoli and spinach and other things healthy. Fasting for a full day at least once per week. I was also walking around the neighborhood every night and using the exercise cycle more than an hour per day. Likewise I wasn't eating fast food or pizza or buffets or sodas.

And in early September my blood tests were the best ever -- 5.7 AIC along with so many great numbers my aunt the nurse was envious and my doctor was saying they were the best set of numbers he had seen in months.

Unfortunately I didn't keep it going. I got depressed thinking about a relationship with a girl that I messed up. Recently I've been having take out pizza and Burger King multiple times per week. My exercise level is way down. I've been so sluggish my friends and relatives have noticed.

Twice in the past few weeks I've attempted to go back to the 2017 method. I start a daily fast but don't make it beyond early evening. My kitchen is loaded with the correct stuff but I keep getting tempted and succumbing to take out pizza or burgers. I get the supposedly healthy dark chocolate but eat far too much every day.

Maybe I can use this thread as inspiration. Many thanks.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. What a wonderful story!

I am often torn between knowing that modern medicine has truly wrought miracles, and being VERY apprehensive about how so many formerly normal things have been medicalized.

Here's my story. About five years ago I was getting a new life insurance policy that required I pass a physical. My blood pressure was too high. So I found a doctor (who is still officially my primary physician) and she was quite willing to treat the high blood pressure conservatively. With a diuretic. And that pretty much did the trick, although having to pee every twenty minutes, or so it seemed, wasn't high on my list of favorite things.

Blood tests showed high cholesterol, which I'd known about for about 25 years. I was put on cholesterol medication. And then another blood pressure med. I started having unpleasant intestinal things, such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. And then a blood test showed pre-diabetes, which EXACTLY coincided with the cholesterol medication. I decided to stop all meds and stop seeing the doctor.

Which means I don't really know at this point what my cholesterol is (although high cholesterol is not really correlated with heart disease) nor my blood pressure nor my blood sugar. But I don't have the other symptoms, and I honestly feel great.

Again, I don't want to trash modern medication because I do know how wonderful it can be. But I also know there are certain down sides. It's the medicalization of otherwise normal conditions that bothers me a lot. What you've accomplished isn't amazing, but a simple return to how we should be living.

I know too many people my age (and I turn 70 in a week) who are on a whole slew of medications, who are convinced that every single one of them is necessary, and while I fully understand I'm not a doctor and I have no business attempting to diagnose or treat anyone, I just have my doubts.

[PaulX2]

24. Check Out The Eat To Live Diet If You Can't Fast

Nutrients per calorie.

[snort]

25. I did what you are trying.

I did it 13+ years ago. I did it as a vegetarian. Exercise while you're fasting, take my word for it. I was a Type II Diabetic. Now my morning BGL is around 90. I like pancakes. Keep at it, it works.

P.S. Lose all the weight and never, ever get cocky. Check your pride in at the door, so to speak. Good luck.

[Drahthaardogs]

26. Keto is a good way to live

I'm a firm believer in it.

[duforsure]

28. Right there with you

Had diabetes 2 also and changed to a higher protein diet until I could see i no longer needed insulin, and got off of it completely , and also take some natural supplements and vitamins good for keeping it lower. Dropped 50 lbs so far. Stop going to my diabetes Dr. . It was a waste of money for him to just push more insulin into me instead of fixing the problem. Feel like the Dr's have a good racket going to keep people dependent on their services , and prescription drugs, instead of fixing the problem .

[2naSalit]

29. Being aware of how your food intake

effects your health is essential to living a healthy life. Most older culture recognize this: food is best medicine. Why is that? Because what your organs actually do is make blood, if they don't have the essential nutrients to accomplish tha, you will have unhealthy blood and thus, a lack of health.

[Stinky The Clown]

31. Its odd. Just this morning I got three pieces of spam about Keto diets.

[PatSeg]

32. That is fascinating

I hope your experience had a positive impact on your doctor. He must have been startled by your test results.

Adelle Davis was way ahead of her time over fifty years ago, when she warned people of the many dangers of processed sugar, yet mainstream medicine kept pushing low fat everything, often creating serious deficiencies in vital vitamins and minerals.

The last few years I discovered chlorophyll, which turned out to be very effective for the kidneys. You can tell it is working when it eliminates body odor and your urine becomes like water. I was amazed at how quickly it works.

Congratulations. Sometimes we have to take control of our own health. We live with these bodies 24/7, not just 20 minutes every few months in a doctor's office.

[coeur_de_lion]

33. I like the idea of keto diet

And I certainly like your results. But how do you deal with never having fresh food?

I tried keto for about a week and I missed tomatoes and fruit.

How do you deal with that?

[padfun]

35. What do you mean?

Keto diets still produce fresh blood.

[coeur_de_lion]

36. blood?

[padfun]

38. Sorry, I was in a Ford dealership when I wrote that.

Food. I eat as fresh as I ever did, but I never actually ate that much fresh food before. Which is probably why I am diabetic.

I eat lots of salads and veggies. They are a lot of my food intake. I do eat some tomatoes though. I also each cheese (which I love) and meats, preferably chicken or sea food. And I eat bacon and eggs with my wife everyday.

But fruits are a no-no until I heal myself.

Edited for clarity.

[TexasBushwhacker]

39. You can still eat plenty of non starchy veggies including tomatoes

Not too many fruits, although berries aren't too bad. Just shoot for 20 g net carbs per day - total carbs - fiber.

[spanone]

34. K&R...

[Awsi Dooger]

37. Inspired by this thread I'm attempting to fast today

Made it to 7:30 PM no problem. I haven't gotten beyond this point in recent tries.

I think I'm going to drive to the grocery store to get some things. That actually helps, not hurts. It was my strategy in Las Vegas when I ate every other day. I called it Go and No. I ate so much on the Go days I didn't think about food at all on the No days, other than late night drives to stock up for the forthcoming Go day.

I wish I still lived in Las Vegas, for this type of venture. So many more ways to distract myself from eating. And the grocery stores at that point were open all night. I'd stock up at 2-4 AM. Best I can do here in Miami is midnight for the closest Winn Dixie.

BTW, I think yesterday I reported my AIC last September at 5.7. It was actually 4.7. That was amazing. I registered 4.7 both at home and also at the clinic two weeks later. I have a self-test kit now but I'm reluctant to use it, worried how far above the 4.7 I'd be.

I tested my blood pressure today and it was awful. Not surprised. I've been sedentary recently. I haven't even been playing golf.

Okay, off to Aldi

[padfun]

40. Good Luck!

Those first few times when going back can be rough.

[USALiberal]

41. I lost 80 pounds on low carb diet in 10 months. Have kept it off 3 years. Carbs were my issue......

Also no more blood pressure meds needed.