help diabedic

[xpon22s]

im 29 5'10" 212 type 2 diabedies on a med and a b/p pill . i have droped 80 pounds in the last year would like to get to 175 and then start putting on mass is it safe for me to get on or start anything ? i am new here and the people i know are not sure .

[RangersLTW]

Are you on a diabetic diet?

[xpon22s]

yes i am

[NATE0406]

bro if you use anything you need to be under the supervision of a doc. i would talk to your doc and see what he can do.

[xpon22s]

i think he would flip out if i asked him

[RangersLTW]

I agree man talk to your doc.

[xpon22s]

thanks nate and ranger that is what i thought it was just a little wishful thinking on my part with all the changes i have made going to the next level in the next year would of been great but i will just keep on trucken like this

[RedBaron]

The problem you are going to have as a type II diabetic is that just about every anabolic substance, peptide, or even some OTC supplements are going to have to potential to effect your insulin sensitivity and resulting BG levels. You would end up needing more or less medication, and keeping your BG level stable would be a tough proposition. While I know some type II's that have successfully done so, it is a tricky proposition and one that would need to be carefully monitored by a doctor that knows his stuff in dealing with situations such as that. The other issue is the fact you are on a BP medication add a whole other wrinkle to the addition of any anabolic or peptide, many of which could negatively impact your BP.

Probably a more profitable method would be to get your doctor to prescribe some type II medications (if he hasn't already) that will allow you to continue to lose weight with a reasonable exercise routine. Some medications are a bit more friendly to getting and keeping a desirable weight than others. Metformin (Glucophage) and things like Januvia are medications that are going to be reasonably friendly to weight loss.

Keeping your diet clean while working out on things like 45 minues of a Precor cycle while keeping in the lower end of cardio level heart rate for your age are going to keep the pounds coming down.

Quite honestly, if you stay on your medications, work out religiously 4-5 days a week, and eat a good balanced diet you should get to your goals without having to turn to any anabolic substance. If after another couple of years of hard work you still are stumbling around and not making headway, at that point you could go to an endocrinologist, explain your situation, and then he could dial in your hormone levels in a controlled and monitored fashion. I certainly wouldn't suggest jumping into anything without that type of support ... but as mentioned I don't think you will have to. Keep at it for another year or two and you should be there. Religious attention to diet, workout, and some system friendly meds will be the key.

[xpon22s]

yes he has me on glucophage now. can you point me to maybe a diffrent diet?

[RedBaron]

The best suggestion I would have for a diabetic would be something like the following -

Eat every 3-4 hours during your waking time.

For your protein sources, use things like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, turkey breast, shrimp, salmon, water pack tuna, and other high quality, low-fat proteins. I would stay away from red meats, pork and the like except for the occasional treat. Protein powders would be okay, but I wouldn't nail yourself with a high amount of whey isolate or the like as it can potentially effect your BG levels due to the rate of absorption.

For your carbs, I would only use low-glycemic sources of whole-grains (tough to find in the grocery stores) - things like steel-cut scottish oatmeal (not so processed), 100% whole-grain bread (in moderation), low-glycemic pastas, some of the lower glycemic legumes, sweet potatoes, and only fruits such as apples, strawberries, etc. I would only use about 40 grams or so of these carbs each meal during 3-4 or your meals. I would include some vegetables like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and other diabetic friendly vegetables as well for at least a couple of meals daily.

A really important, often overlooked element will also be some health fats. I would suggest that olive oil, avacado, almonds and other nuts are going to be essential to your fat loss. These healthy fats actually make it much more possible for your body to pull fat OUT of your system.

While certainly I wouldn't suggest the following as a general eating plan for a normal, aspiring bodybuilder, if you were to eat each of your meals using 30-40 grams of protein, 30-40 grams of low-glycemic carbs, and a reasonable (20 or so) grams of healthy fats for each of your meals, you will do well. For your size, you will probably end up with somewhere between 2000-2600 calories daily to keep the weight shedding at a healthy, controlled rate in what I have seen in other similar cases. If you notice you are losing too much weight too fast, add a few calories. If you aren't losing anything at all over the course of a few weeks, then drop just a small bit. From here on out, you can probably lose about 6-8 pounds a month (averaged out) if you keep the diet on task and hit a Precor elliptical 4 times a week.

I am not sure how that differs from your current plan, but I can attest to the fact it works in a bunch of type II's. Best of luck to you. Sounds like you are to be commended for your progress so far. Keep it up!! You will be to your goal before too much longer.

[xpon22s]

it differs a lil, more of a reminder red meat is a hard one but i must do it !! what do you think about a diabedic meal replacesment bar or the snack bar or should i stop eating them and eat real food ? i have been doing a 1800 - 2000 calorie diet max

[RedBaron]

The meal replacement bars and snack bars are okay in a pinch (if it is that or not eating at all for many, many hours), but in general I would try to get some real food as the rule. Your body processes the real meals a lot more efficiently than depending on bars. Even though they are "diabetic friendly", they still aren't going to give you the same quality of nutrients that real, quality foods in a meal will give. If a couple-thousands calories is working for you, then I would stick with it for now. As your activity levels steps up a few notches, you can then evaluate how to bump up the calories to match it.

The issue with red meat has some pretty valid implications in diabetics. There are a few studies that have been run and several more in the works. In general, steering clear of it will do your diabetes and your weight a lot of good. I can't even remember the last time I ate red meat, though there was a time that I would have said that was really hard as well. Once you get into the habit of finding palatable choices of meals with chicken, turkey, fish, or legumes as the protein source, you will be amazed at how unpleasant a meal with a lot of red meat will become. Best of luck again. Be sure to keep me posted on how things work out for you.

[xpon22s]

thank you very much redbaron alot of good info and it is motovating me to stick with it . i think staying on this site will help also. i will keep you posted on how things are going

[RedBaron]

I forgot to ask about the bp medication. Are you on it for a real problem with your blood pressure, or as a part of your diabetes control?

A typical protocol for a type II would be to put them on a glucose control (and/or disposal) agent, an ACE inhibitor (blood pressure med - to protect the kidneys ... irrespective of any real problem with bp), and a statin.

If you really are having issues with your bp, then finding a gym with a Precor elliptical will be all the more important. I suggest that as opposed to running as a diabetic may have issues with their feet. The elliptical is much more friendly on the feet and other joints while still giving your muscles and cardio system a good workout. If you are having bp issues, that should help over a few months for sure.

[xpon22s]

its more for my kidneys but the elliptical is a great idea i did not think about it like that

[xpon22s]

redbaron i have a new problem, i have 2 rupsured disks and a nerve problem my doc told me to stop every thing even work and do nothing when he seen my ct scan (the pain is very bad in my leg and foot a vicodin 750 every 4 hrs) should i cut my diet back down to help with my weight . next im getting a mri and ESI injections in my spine i hope that will fix it so he does not need to cut me open any ideas to help me out???