Four and a half weeks on the Newcastle Diet

Friday the 13th of September

Not weighed myself since Monday, I am trying to stick to the same time and day each week to get a better picture.

I have continued with limited testing but I have done the odd spot tests mostly a couple of hours after food. The vast majority have been 5.6 to 5.8mmol/L with one 6.8mmol/L, which was a bit of a surprise and a 4.6mmol/L after swimming which again I am happy with.

A trip to the GP on Wednesday to update him on what I was doing. I half expected a rollicking. Far from it very supportive, he had heard of the Newcastle study and said it was right after being reminded of the vague details of it. Very pleased that I was having a crack at fixing myself and wishes more people would. He does have patients who have lost weight in the past and have "cured" their type 2 diabetes.

His words "I bet at the end of this you will have cured your diabetes, it will probably bite you back in 15 years or so though.".

So off I go home uplifted that I have my GP's support. I got a prescription for some more test strips ( I was about to run out and was not that bothered for a couple of weeks as my results are more than acceptable). New instructions though. Once or twice a week to test 2 hours after each meal. Not bothered about fasting results as they are now less relevant. Keep on the Metformin it won't do any harm. I have a form already for blood tests in 4 weeks and then back to see him for a review and see what's next.

Cravings, give a steak, a whole chicken, a freshly baked loaf of bread..............  I don't want to see another freaking vegetable!

Strangely for someone who in the past was a beer monster, I can't say I fancy a beer at all. My beer gut is none existent.

The end of Week Four on the Newcastle Diet

Monday the Ninth of September 

Fasting blood sugars this morning were a little higher than of late at 6.3mmol/L. I have had nothing above 6 fasting all week till this one. It seems that fasting blood glucose levels are between 5.8mmol/L and 6.00 mmol/L pretty much every day, dropping to the mid 5's a couple of hours after breakfast.

Yesterday 

Waking/Fasting 6.00mmol/L

After breakfast 5.2mmol/L

Before lunch/ 5.7mmol/L

2 hours after lunch 5.7mmol/L

Before my evening  meal 5.8mmol/L

2 hours after  5.7mmol/L

bedtime was 5.8mmol/L

I missed my morning dose of metformin on Saturday. Normally I would have just taken it with lunch but as I tested before lunch and was still 5.7mmol/L I just missed it out.

Saturday was a tad unusual as I went and did a 5km Parkrun in Huddersfield. 29 minutes and 10 seconds with no prep apart from swimming and walking so just generaly fit. Ok probably about 10 minutes slower that I would have done it 30 years ago but then I was running marathons and training for running. It was an enjoyable change from swimming but I am not sure I would make it a regular thing. Maybe........... it would be nice to knock the time down a bit.


The weigh in!

A 5lb loss this week bringing me to 11stone 5lbs and a BMI of 24.1. I have little faith in BMI as an instrument of healthy weight but at least it is uncomplicated.

So halfway there. Will my diabetes be cured by the end of it? At what point do I reduce the medication to see? How much will it cost me in new clothes?

I have been a tad surprised by a few peoples attitude of they don't want to be regarded as diabetes free as they would loose the free prescriptions.............

So the question I ask myself every time I see  a bacon butty. Is it worth it?

Yes, if I can at the end of it not have to worry quite so much about what I eat. Reduce the risk of going blind or loosing kidneys or limbs. I think I have already reduced the heart attack risk.

I am not that bothered about a long life but to be healthy enough to do the things I want to do is a better goal for me.

Newcastle Diet update

Three and a half weeks in and no real problems so far.

Not checking blood sugars much will be doing a full day profile in the next few dates. No problems with energy levels or feeling cold or constipated.

Quick blood pressure check this evening and a massive improvement.

I could murder a sarnie

3 Weeks of the Newcastle Diet finished!

Well nearly as I did have three cheating days ....


No cheating since though.

Saturday the 31st of August 

6.6mmol/L when I woke up, a little higher than I expected but I I have always had the odd one that sticks a finger up. It was 5.6mmol/L at 11.30 the night before.

Went for a swim did just over a mile in 45 minutes and it dropped down to 5.7mmol/L.

Two hours after breakfast I was down to 4.6mmol/L.

Then later we went for a walk about 3.5 miles over rough ground, I should have eaten first as I did get a bit dizzy when I stood up too quick. I was reet after a bite of my daughters sandwich though ( I did knock half a shake of later to compensate).

Sunday 1st of September

I only tested two hours after eating breakfast today and it was 5.7mmol/L

A cut back on the exercise today. A 2.5 mile walk.

I felt terribly cold after the walk and at first i though it was just me. It had been cold and windy up on the moors. I looked around and realised the rest of the household was wrapped up not just me. Someone on facebook even said they had put the heating on... way too early in the year for that :)

I have to say that I did feel hungry all day .

Monday 2nd of September

The weigh in 11 stone 10lbs, A full stone lost. 

Waking blood glucose was 6.0 mmol/L

Today is a mostly exercise free day. I was tempted to go and swim this morning and then walk on to work but I do try and keep Mondays exercise free to give my body a recovery. 

Back to the Newcastle Diet

Well last weekend I fell of the wagon... A couple of cooked breakfasts and a KFC so it was almost back to the drawing board on Tuesday.

A couple of bits of good news in that though. No weight gain and even after that my fasting blood glucose was 6.3mmol/L

So back to a bit of testing.

Thursday the 29th

Fasting was 5.8, up to 6.6 after exercise and down to 4.9mmol/L two hours after breakfast.

Today, Friday the 30th of August

Fasting was 5.9 down to 5.5mmol/L two hours after eating.

5.3mmol/L before my evening meal.


No feeling cold or any other problems really

Weigh in on Monday which should be interesting. I started at 12st 10lb and know i have already dipped under 12stone.

Newcastle Diet Day 10

Wednesday 21st of August

A good swim this morning with an extra 50m thrown in, still within 30 minutes so it would appear the energy levels are still fine. Having said that I had a very lazy day otherwise. Mostly consisting of keeping out of the way and not listening to the crazy furniture moving plans.

I will wait till version 8 at least before I move anything.


Blood glucose, I am still trying to be good and not test too often. I am even considering having a few days of testing. I am not on any medication that will make me go hypoglycaemic and the highest in the last 7 days was a one off 7.2mmol.

6.2mmo/L on rising and a 4.6mmol/L two hours after breakfast.

4.6mmol/L not seen one of those since I was diagnosed.

Newcastle Diet day 9

Tuesday 20th of August

Not a lot to report really.

Apart from really bad wind for the last day. Still no constipation or feeling cold. No weakness or unusual things happening at all.

Food wise pretty much the same.

Blood glucose level was 5.6mmol/L in the morning and was pretty much all day.

Still plenty of energy for swimming.

Grumbles hhm a certain lack of support about being two thin. Great I try to get sorted then a kick in the bollocks and yah wonder why i was ratty last night.