Diabetes * Scared to Stop All Meds * The Starch Diet

[Rhythm]

Hi! I am new to Dr McDougall's forum.
I committed to be a vegetarian eleven months ago and doing pretty well.
I have lost 30(+) pounds since July 2015 and went from BMI 34 to BMI 31.
I started exercising last week and have completed five straight days of
exercise which is about 30minutes cardio and 60minutes of weights.
I want to lose another 40 pounds. When I do exercise, my BGLevels drop
extremely low to the 50-60 range. So, adding more starch seems awesome!

I am diabetic type two and take Metformin and both insulins N and R.
I take Lisinopril and am recently off of Atorvastatin as my total cholesterol is 90.

I've watched at least ten+ Dr McDougall 45min-75min YouTube videos.

I want to go "medicine free" and've read The Starch Solution can possibly do that.
Or, if I read correctly, "WILL get me off all meds". I understand TSS food list.

I am scared to get off all meds and go straight to The Starch Solution.
I pretty much do The Starch Solution and eat vegetarian foods, anyway, but still using meds.

Do I just cold-turkey stop Metformin and insulin and Lisinopril????
then increase my starch foods and the amounts of starch foods above and beyond
what I've been eating for vegetarian foods?

Believe me, I can do The Starch Solution, but am I risking having high BGLs for how long?
Will I get diabetes damages during the time The Starch Solution diet/program takes effect?

Thanks for any and all responses. Rhythm

[patty]

I am sure you will get a lot of help and reassurance of what has worked with many. I just want to suggest Eric Topol's book "The Patient Will See You Now" in essence he shares in the future anyone with a smart phone will have better communication with their doctor. And I am sure that will apply in your case. Keep doing your research. We are blessed Dr McDougall has provided these forums where we practice being open minded and teachable. Dr McDougall has stated even he has learned a few things. He is open to receive emails. Seeing you healthy and well starch centered.

Aloha, patty

[colonyofcells]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u4IiVbPdKk

[baardmk]

Wow, great work/results so far

People will recommend working with your doctor when it comes to the medications. He/she should in many cases respect your wishes to get off or wean off them, if you want. As another option you could try to find a physician sympathetic towards your new diet. Here's a place you could find some of them: https://www.drmcdougall.com/doctors/

what is the TSD food list?
what does THD stand for?

do you monitor blood sugar levels and blood pressure?
Getting off insulin would probably be first item of concern. With this diet and taking insulin as T2D you could get into hypoglycemia, and from your numbers this could be a concern.

Metformin has a good reputation. When Hb1Ac or average blood sugar levels get within normal you could probably think about removing that medication.

Believe me, I can do The Starch Diet, but am I risking having high BGLs for how long?
Will I get diabetes damages during the time THD takes effect?

Maybe monitor the process and gradually get into it. You don't have to do it cold Turkey, but that could also be ok. This diet will probably increase the spikes after some of the meals, but if your fasting BGL levels are low, and they go down to a reasonable level 2-3h after eating, this means you're succeeding, and getting more insulin sensitive. With too much insulin, though, there are risks of hypoglycemia. So maybe look out for that.

Disclaimer: don't listen to random strangers on the internet like me. :/

Good luck, I have all reasons to believe you'll succeed!

[Rhythm]

Hi, BeardMK!
My bad
TSD is The Starch Diet, should be TSS The Starch Solution.

I have a doctor. Just need to better understand what to ask him.
I have been doing Metformin and insulin for years. My A1C is usually 7.

Now, I am so motivated ~ today is six days with six workouts.

The doctor said today to keep Metformin as is and start lowering insulin dosage.

[Paul21]

The doctor said today to keep Metformin as is and start lowering insulin dosage.

Congratulations on the start of your journey. You will find many more success milestones as you continue along.

[hazelrah]

Hi, BeardMK!
My bad
TSD is The Starch Diet, should be TSS The Starch Solution.

I have a doctor. Just need to better understand what to ask him.

I don' have direct experience with this, but as an outside observer, I would advise you to have a broader discussion with your doctor, beginning with something like, " My goal is to get off all medications for T2D. It is my understanding that this disease can be completely controlled by lifestyle,... " If he disagrees with that statement, it might be time to find a new doctor, as I believe there are many, probably most, physicians who believe that a strict lifestyle will control it. I tend to consider it less of a disease than a lifestyle choice. I expected it to be the, "Come to Jesus," moment for the healthcare industry, as it may yet become. Then I would guide the discussion to form a plan of how you can work together to achieve that goal. Make it clear to him that you are interested in using a high carb very low fat approach to controlling the disease. If he balks at that I would refer him to Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes. If he tries to redirect you to lifestyles that use glycemic index and low carb approaches it may be time to find a new doctor. Hopefully he is aware of the way fat and insulin interact and believes that a high carb, very low fat approach can cure T2D. Either way, even if I was certain about the path to health, I'd definitely try to establish a partnership with him, and I'd make sure he knows that. There should be many PCPs out there who are interested in using lifestyle to address the disease, and fewer, but still many who want to use a very low fat approach to it. Sounds like you are convinced. You should be able to offer enough arguments using your success so far to convince him/her as well.

As I said I don't have direct experience with this. Maybe one of the MDs on the forums can tell you how they would be encouraged to work with you towards a cure.

Good luck.

Mark

[colonyofcells]

I heard that Dr McDougall usually just stops all the medications for diabetes for those who are following the mcdougall diet to avoid blood sugar going too low from insulin. Metformin can be kept if desired bec it does not cause low blood sugar like the other diabetes pills. Metformin is mainly for improving insulin sensitivity altho after many years it will not be effective any more bec the body gets used to the Metformin. Can always put back the insulin if really needed. Diet and exercise are the real cure for diabetes and not the drugs and insulin which treat only the symptoms of diabetes. I also increased my exercise so I now exercise after each meal and I do not use chairs any more so I can stand or move the whole day.

[Rhythm]

Thanks, everyone!
I had a specific doctor appointment today.
I discussed The Starch Solution food, nutrition and lifestyle plan.
He said to go for it and if it works, my body will let me know.

I was concerned about stopping all meds at once.
He said do The Starch Solution plan, and decrease
the insulin slowly as I deem.

This seems like the best of both worlds.
I will begin TSS program and check my BGLs.
Then apply insulin as needed.
Hopefully, after time no insulin will be needed.
Cheers!

[Hopingthisworks]

That sounds great Rhythm

[Rhythm]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u4IiVbPdKk

Holy Cow, Colony!
This webinar is totally awesome!!!
Thank you.
I am on my way

[hazelrah]

I discussed The Starch Solution food, nutrition and lifestyle plan.
He said to go for it and if it works, my body will let me know.

Sounds like a good partner in health.

Congratulations!

Mark

[Rhythm]

4th day on The Starch Solution plan.
Woke up with a BGL of 94.
Eating more starch and of course, good food on the plan.
This is going great.
Have reduced my insulin by 50%.

[Rhythm]

I'm posting in the McDougall Journal forum section.
Cheers. Rhythm.

[patty]

4th day on The Starch Solution plan.
Woke up with a BGL of 94.
Eating more starch and of course, good food on the plan.
This is going great.
Have reduced my insulin by 50%.

Wow... how great is that!!! Be sure to keep the door of communication open with your doctor as I feel we all have socially a impact on those who surround us. Dr. McDougall is a like that small pebble that drops into the sea and creates rings in the water that reach the shore. You are one of those rings. We don't have to be afraid. I was telling my granddaughter whose other grandmother has diabetes and migrated here from the Philippines, Dr. McDougall learned a starch base diet of the elder plantation workers on the Big Island of Hawaii. As the elders were healthier than their offspring.

Aloha, patty