Hello FC on the Beach!
I am recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes and the doc says my only hope of getting off insulin is to change my lifestyle and lose weight. I have battled my weight for quite a while. I lost 10 lbs here in Jan with WW, then piddled around and here it is Sept, and I'm still only 10 lbs down from Jan 1st. I quit smoking June 6th, so it's actually an accomplishment I have kept my weight the same.
Anywhoooo, I am busy reading your FAQs, going to go buy the book today and make a decent shopping list and start phase I tomorrow, or maybe Tuesday with the holiday.
My specialist said South Beach was the only diet for diabetics! She said I could try to go back to WW, but that in her opinion SB was the only way to go. Well, I'm spending good money on her, so decided to take her advice. I'm pretty anxious as I'm quite the carb-aholic.
I just wanted to say hello, and ask for experiences from other chicks with diabetes if this diet affected their insulin doses or any tips they would like to share.
Thanks,
Kim
PS I do keep a journal here too.

Welcome to the Beach. My endocrinologist says SBD is the way to go. I have managed to stabilize my BGL over the past two years on this plan. Try it and see!

Kim, welcome to the Beach!
Yes, Ruth and others with diabetes have had good success with South Beach.

My father also has diabetes, and he and my mother are both on the Beach. Dad's biggest help for getting his weight under control, though, was walking - he walks at least a little every day, sometimes more than one walk a day. I don't follow his advice as I have foot problems, but if you can get up and walk, go for it! He lost a lot of weight just dropping sweets and walking (pre-SBD). Now his blood sugar levels are quite good.

Welcome to the Beach.

Welcome to the Beach, Kim! I don't know if South Beach will effect your insulin levels but my guess is that losing weight alone will require your medication to be adjusted. During the time I was losing weight quickest, my doctor was seeing me once every month or two to reduce the amount of my blood pressure medicine. Now that I am losing slower, I go once every 6 months (next time I hope to be off my meds totally). I would recommend checking your glucose level frequently (which you probably already do) and being monitored closely by your doctor.

SB was also recommended to me by my PA after she handed me the diabetes diagnosis. It has worked great for me. My BS was 73 this morning, but it is usually around 95. If you follow the diet and stay on your meds you should see the BS start to come down significantly in 2 or 3 weeks. My BP is also normal these days, but I also take medication for that. Before SB it was high even with the meds.

I also check in here daily. These gals have lots of recipes to share that have made staying on the diet easy. It really doesn't feel much like dieting anymore.

Good luck in P1. Its the toughest. After that, it's a peice of cake. (or fruit) lol

What medication are you on? I'm on metformin. Most type II diabetics don't need insulin.

Yes, but some do. I'm on Metformin too.

I'm on 24 units of insulin in 2 shots a day. My Dad was on glucophage, which I think is metformin, for 3 years and it stopped working, now he's on 100 units of insulin a day. Doc won't put me on metformin because we may try to get preggers again.
Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone.
Kim

I would ask for another opinion!! I see a reproductive endocrinologist (infertility doc) and I am on Fortamet (metformin/glucophage). I have PCOS and insulin resistance. I have been on the Fortamet 1500mg for 6 months and am currently trying to conceive. Once I get pregnant, I will stop taking the metformin at 12 wks. In women with fertility problems who have trouble ovulating and have pcos or insulin resisitance, metformin can sometimes jump start the body so you start ovulating regularly. There is no reason not to take metformin if you are planning to get pregnant.

edited to add - My RE also gave me the SBD info and told me for best results, take the met while following south beach.

Welcome, Kim! Glad that you're joining us! This is a great plan. I was a total carboholic before I did SBD. It's amazing how the cravings go away if you do a clean Phase 1. No cheating, okay? So take the time to plan it out...get good food in the house, get rid of the bad food, and get snacks ready. You can do it!