I honestly don't remember when my initial journey began, probably back in the days of the Atkins diet, to lose a few extra pounds, but that didn't last very long because I hadn't yet learned how to make it a lifestyle instead of a DIET.
In 2012, I was in the best shape of my life, walking an average of 5-10 miles daily, when I suddenly woke up in a hospital room. The doctor was talking to me about diabetes, and I was trying to explain that he clearly had the wrong room because I was not diabetic. I was sure I had simply fainted or something.
He didn't have the wrong room...
No matter how carefully I followed their recommendations, my meds increased with every appointment. At one point, I reached 2,000 mg of Metformin ER daily, along with ridiculous amounts of Glipizide ER, high blood pressure meds, etc. Instead of getting better, I was getting sicker and sicker. When the doctor told me it was time to move to insulin, I knew it was time to change.
It was time for ME to begin taking personal control of my health. This was was when things started to turn around for me.
What is the Keto Lifestyle?
The keto lifestyle is a low-carb, high-fat diet that puts your body into a state of ketosis. Basically, instead of burning carbs for fuel, your body starts to burn fat instead. This means you'll need to reduce your carb intake and up your fat intake drastically.
How Can the Keto Lifestyle Benefit Those with Type 2 Diabetes?
As someone with Type 2 diabetes, I've seen firsthand how keto can benefit my health. Firstly, it's helped me to keep my blood sugar levels in check. By cutting back on carbs, there's less glucose in my bloodstream, which means my blood sugar levels are more stable.
Secondly, it has helped to improve my insulin sensitivity. When you have Type 2 diabetes, your body can become resistant to insulin, which means your blood sugar levels stay high. By cutting back on carbs, I've reduced the amount of insulin my body needs to produce, which has improved my insulin sensitivity.
Getting Started with the Keto Lifestyle
If you're interested in trying the keto lifestyle, it's important to talk to your doctor first, especially with Type 2 diabetes. You may consider finding a Keto friendly doctor in your area. Once you have the all-clear, it's time to start making some changes to your diet.
At first, it can be tough to cut back on carbs. But I found that focusing on healthy fats, like avocados, nuts, and olive oil, helped me stay full and satisfied. It's also important to keep an eye on your protein intake since too much can knock you out of ketosis.
In addition to changing your diet, it's important to stay active and manage stress levels. Exercise can help regulate blood sugar levels and can help with weight loss. Managing stress levels is important, too, since stress can cause your blood sugar levels to spike.
Dealing with Type 2 diabetes can be tough, but the keto lifestyle has been a game-changer for me. By reducing my carb intake and increasing my fat intake, I've managed my blood sugar levels and improved my insulin sensitivity. Stay patient, and take it one day at a time. With dedication and perseverance, you can take control of your health and kick diabetes to the curb.
In 2012, I was in the best shape of my life, walking an average of 5-10 miles daily, when I suddenly woke up in a hospital room. The doctor was talking to me about diabetes, and I was trying to explain that he clearly had the wrong room because I was not diabetic. I was sure I had simply fainted or something.
He didn't have the wrong room...
No matter how carefully I followed their recommendations, my meds increased with every appointment. At one point, I reached 2,000 mg of Metformin ER daily, along with ridiculous amounts of Glipizide ER, high blood pressure meds, etc. Instead of getting better, I was getting sicker and sicker. When the doctor told me it was time to move to insulin, I knew it was time to change.
It was time for ME to begin taking personal control of my health. This was was when things started to turn around for me.
What is the Keto Lifestyle?
The keto lifestyle is a low-carb, high-fat diet that puts your body into a state of ketosis. Basically, instead of burning carbs for fuel, your body starts to burn fat instead. This means you'll need to reduce your carb intake and up your fat intake drastically.
How Can the Keto Lifestyle Benefit Those with Type 2 Diabetes?
As someone with Type 2 diabetes, I've seen firsthand how keto can benefit my health. Firstly, it's helped me to keep my blood sugar levels in check. By cutting back on carbs, there's less glucose in my bloodstream, which means my blood sugar levels are more stable.
Secondly, it has helped to improve my insulin sensitivity. When you have Type 2 diabetes, your body can become resistant to insulin, which means your blood sugar levels stay high. By cutting back on carbs, I've reduced the amount of insulin my body needs to produce, which has improved my insulin sensitivity.
Getting Started with the Keto Lifestyle
If you're interested in trying the keto lifestyle, it's important to talk to your doctor first, especially with Type 2 diabetes. You may consider finding a Keto friendly doctor in your area. Once you have the all-clear, it's time to start making some changes to your diet.
At first, it can be tough to cut back on carbs. But I found that focusing on healthy fats, like avocados, nuts, and olive oil, helped me stay full and satisfied. It's also important to keep an eye on your protein intake since too much can knock you out of ketosis.
In addition to changing your diet, it's important to stay active and manage stress levels. Exercise can help regulate blood sugar levels and can help with weight loss. Managing stress levels is important, too, since stress can cause your blood sugar levels to spike.
Dealing with Type 2 diabetes can be tough, but the keto lifestyle has been a game-changer for me. By reducing my carb intake and increasing my fat intake, I've managed my blood sugar levels and improved my insulin sensitivity. Stay patient, and take it one day at a time. With dedication and perseverance, you can take control of your health and kick diabetes to the curb.
