I agree. My last A1C was 5 and I don’t want to go lower than that. Nobody wants to bottom out. Congrats on 5 and keep up the good work but stay healthy!
I’m glad you got the “All Clear”, Hana! And congratulations on trying to make Bernstein and Atkins work - I am doing the same but have just started after Christmas and am experiencing some hiccups in the initial phase (especially with “non-compliance” of my diabetologist - I have written a blog about that). I am a LADA or Type 1.5 which is basically type 1 but I am still just on 2x 500mg Metformin like yourself. My recent A1Cs have been 5.6 and 5.4. I was wondering how you were able to convince your GP/endocrinologist/diabetologist of letting you do the Bernstein/Atkins diet? I’d be happy to learn from you because I will face a lot of resistance here in Italy where nobody has ever heard of low-carbing and they all think I am completely crazy.
“I was wondering how you were able to convince your GP/endocrinologist/diabetologist of letting you do the Bernstein/Atkins diet?”
IMHO its up to you to tell them what you want. Dont let your medical team push you into a place you dont want to be. You own the disease.
After diagnosis, I went conventional and had the usual, horrible highs and lows resulting from a “normal” high carb diet. I switched to Bernstein, and although my diabetes team (nurse, endo, dietition) dont agree, and tell me so regularly, they do recognise the excellent results. Good lipids, A1C 5.2-5.4 (up from 5.0, but I’m working on it).
p.s. dropped the dietition, she refused to see past the need for 40+% carbs. Wouldn’t accept dropping below that - so being on 30-40g/day freaked her out.
Awesome Hana,
Seeing people succeed against this affliction is really motivational to the rest of us.
Thanks for sharing.
Great job Hana! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of trying to get there. I’ve got hope!
I don’t ask my doctor’s permission on eating, I just do it. I may tell him or not depending on when I see him to speak to. I see the Nurse twice a year and I think I’ve mentioned it to her.
I only see the doctor to refil a prescription every so often. Usually I do that by email and don’t waste the time he could be seeing someone who is ill.
I think I can say I look after myself.
My doctor has known me over 30 years and knows I’ll do my own thing. In fact I take scientific papers down to him to read.
Hi Scott
I think diabetes is something you have to take charge of. To me it’s really only a minor inconvenience. I’m fit and well and other than watch what I eat, I just get on with life.
I’m a very active involved grandmother. Which does use a lot of my energy. A toddler is exhausting.
Hana
That’s very impressive. I’m curious what your exercise regime is? Is it difficult to exercise on this diet?
I belong to a group ,called “The Pathway” at my local sports centre. I do 2 sessions of Aqua aerobics and 2 of circuits with the group each week. We’re all older, I am 63, or with health issues, I’ve had a stroke… I also do 2 group hikes each week of 2 miles plus in under an hour… Added to that I use my feet as my main mode of getting around. I don’t find it a problem at all. and my blood tests are firmly in the non-diabetic ranges. When the weather’s good, I also walk my Italian Greyhounds for miles. However, we’re having foul weather at the moment and they are making do with going into the garden( yard) and lying in front of the fire.IGs don’t like cold wet weather.
Hana
PS having said I’m fit and well, I currently have a nasty cold. I did circuits at half effort today.
This was good to read Congratulations:) I just started on a very low carb diet after reading Blood Sugar 101,a little over a week ago.My numbers have been mostly under 100. I havent felt this motivated in years,I just hope it’s not to late.
It’s NEVER too late to improve things.
Hana
good for you,I’m just starting on that path 
You will succeed. I’m a firm believer in “Mind over matter”. I know you can’t will diabetes away, but with a positive attitude, you CAN control it. Even the people who find it hard to do so, can if they have the will.
I’m afraid I get a bit impatient with people who just won’t help themselves. I meet them around the place, Not on this forum.
I met a chap( T2) who has gained so much weight from using a large amount of insulin and is now using U500( which has to be specially imported into the UK ) and when I suggested he could get some weight off ( he could barely get through a door and struggled to walk) and reduce his insulin demand if he controlled his carbs at least a little. He said he couldn’t do that.
It doesn’t help that most doctors are teaching people that carbs are essential. Dieticians also say that, but whenever I’ve challenged one to show me the evidence in a proper study, they can’t.
I went to a meeting on Thursday and at the refreshment break, I was shocked at how many people were eating Biscuits( cookies). I had a cup of tea and a cheese cube.
Hanna -I’m so thrilled for you ,keep up the good work HUGGS
Same with mine–I created a group for those following the Bernstein regimen:
http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/drbernstein
I also have spent a fair bit of time collecting supporting medical research at www.dsolve.com.
I am following a strict bernstein diet eating about 30g of carb a day (a little more if I count the micro corrections I do with smarties candies), but I exercise 6 days a week. I was doing 4 days weights and two days cardio, but have been testing out P90X videos (also a six day a week thing) and I feel great. The induction period on a low carb diet can be a bit hard (at least it is for me) and you may want to hold off on rigorous workouts until you are over that hump (for me it takes a while before my brain is happy on the ketones).
Best,
Ryan
Hana Rous: Thanks! for the encouraging post.
I’ve been following Dr. B’s guidelines for over two years. Didn’t know there was a group here. Great!