I’ve been trying a few things
Checking how I am with diabetes with carb experiments
I’ve been doing some carb experiments. Almost 2 years ago, I cured my own diabetes through a regimen of a low-carb diet and fasting. Before that, i was diabetic for more than 25 years, and my diabetes was very bad.
in fact, I almost died several times in the past 20 years due to diabetes. I experienced:
- A stroke in 2001
- Many serious infections
- Heart Attack in 2016
I was so happy when my diabetes went away. Now, I have been doing some carb experiments just to see how my blood sugar reacts to eating some carbohydrates.
My current work
I work as Santa Claus in malls and other venues during this time of the year. I have a very busy schedule. Most of my clients feed me, and it always turns out to be carbs!
I started my carb experiments, though, before my Santa work started, in November. One night, after dinner (a keto meal), my wife and I went to the mall to pick up something. After we took care of our purchases, I told my wife that I wanted to do a little experiment. She asked what it was, and I said that I wanted to eat some carbs and see how my blood sugar reacted.
Krispy Kreme
I suggested that we go and have some donuts at Krispy Kreme, and we did. We each ate 2 donuts. I had not eaten anything even remotely like this for about 2 years and I had no idea how my blood sugar would react.
When I checked my blood sugar about 2 hours later, it was 93, perfectly normal, in fact low for after eating. I was so happy.
In addition to diabetes, I am also quite militant about my weight (I am down more than 230 pounds from my peak), so I don’t plan to make it a habit of eating donuts regularly, but I wanted to experiment and see if I would get back to diabetic levels of blood sugar. I was so happy that I did not.
More Carb Experiments
During my Santa work at the malls, as I said, my clients often bring me a meal to eat during my break. It is kind of intense work, and a meal is very welcome, but I rarely have much control over what they feed me.
One client will usually bring me food from McDonald’s. Not high on my list, but it is food. At one event, I ate 2 McDonald’s cheeseburgers and a Coke light. Again, my blood sugar remained completely normal.
My diabetes really is gone
Over the past couple of years since my diabetes was cured, I did worry a bit about whether diabetes would just return if I was eating (I usually fast). I figured that after my weight loss journey was completed, I would get back to eating more regularly. So, I just wondered what my blood sugar numbers would look like when eating became more of a regular part of life.
I am really pleased at this point because I can see that blood sugar and diabetes really is not an issue. I am sure if I went back to full-bore eating of carbs and such I could (would?) develop diabetes again. However, I enjoy eating a ketogenic diet, and I also enjoy fasting, so I don’t see myself eating many carbs at all at any time in the future.
So, it looks to me like I am doing well!
Some pretty interesting results indeed, Bob. Thanks for sharing.
I’m not one for doughnuts, but dang an occasional bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce certainly would be welcome … that’s probably one of my “most craved” food when I’m sticking to eating keto-friendly.
Thanks, Dave.
If you are craving for a bowl of spaghetti, use zoodles (zucchini noodles)or shirataki noodles. Both are keto friendly!
Thanks for the tip. Are either of those pasta substitutes available here in the Philippines?
What I really loved in the USA on my last trip … and I kick myself that I didn’t smuggle some seeds back … was Spaghetti Squash. I really don’t see any reason that it won’t grow here, and one small squash yields plenty of noodles for a multi-person spaghetti feast and noodles left over to stir-fry with butter and eggs for a nice breakfast the next day.
Hi Dave,
I have yet to try spaghetti squash, but you can bet I will soon!
Siratake Noodles are available here, but they are expensive. Don’t buy too much, make sure you like it before you stock up. Many don’t like it, I have grown to like it though. Also, if not properly cooked they won’t taste (or smell) good. Go on YouTube there are tutorial videos on how to cook them properly (when cooked properly they will actually make a whistling sound).
Zoodles.. just go buy some Zucchini and there is a tool you can buy that will turn it into a pasta like substance. I like it but took getting used to. Probably similar to the spaghetti squash, I imagine.
Good to see people are beginning to see the benefits of fasting and eating right. I just completed my first 48 hour water fast and it was tough, but very effective. I usually just do intermittent fasting but that was my first exended fast. I’ve dropped nearly 14 lbs in the last 10 days and am back on the intermittent fast again eating hardly zero carbs. Like many know, the Philippines is a great place, but not so diet friendly. My wife’s family and friends are always eating! Anybody using Apple Cider Vinegar in their diet?
Hi Randy. I ate yesterday after doing a 4 day fast. Congrats on your success. I am down a bit over 230 pounds now and feeling great. I do use ACV as part of my routing on eating days.
What kind of liquids are you consuming during your extended fasts? I’m sure you’ve heard of Snake Juice, huh?
Hi Randy – I drink water or coffee on my fasts. Yeah, I’ve heard of snake oil. One of the major ingredients of snake oil is himalayan pink salt, which I also use.