What I am *REALLY* doing

(Ethan) #1

I have a my physical scheduled soon, and my doctor refused to prescribe fasting-insulin labs. He has always been very flexible and approving these kinds of things, so I figure it is something he just wants to discuss. It got me thinking about what @richard and @carl have talked about on podcasts–how do we explain what we are doing? I think I have a good answer now that works for medical personnel or casual contacts (amendable as situationally needed):

I have insulin resistance, as measured by hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels), which has many symptoms, such as weight gain and obesity, poor cholesterol levels, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes. I am treating the insulin resistance by reducing my body’s insulin requirement and production through a ketogenic diet and periods of intermittent and extended fasting.

I actually ordered my own fasting insulin tests, which I will bring to my doctor to use to educate him about how the real issue is insulin; that is, while a1c is a great measure of glucose control, the better measure for diabetes (IR) control is fasting insulin. I plan to explain nicely how the a1c can be kept steady at reasonable levels, but I could still suffer from many complications due to the high insulin levels. In my previous move to a ketogenic diet 4 years ago, the doctor approved of that and my Newcastle-based temporary diet. I expect he will accept what I say and look into it more closely. I anticipate some caution about extended fasting, but I plan to use the argument that this is all to treat the real illness–insulin resistance.

(Damon Chance) #2

What was your fasting Insulin result? Or did you post it in the health section?

(Ethan) #3

I haven’t had it yet! I couldn’t schedule it sooner than oct 30, so I expect to get the result sometime in November.

(Damon Chance) #4

I paid to have mine done at a local lab ($35 for both fasting insulin and glucose) and they had the results to me in like 24ish hours. So hopefully you will get them back that same week. I’m planning on getting mine done again in a couple of weeks to see if a month of OMAD and sporadic EFs has helped.

(Doug) #5

Damon, I certainly hope so - and I bet you do see improvement. Fewer meals and some fasting = better insulin sensitivity (so the theory goes) and lower overall levels; the tests should confirm that.

(Duncan Kerridge) #6

I’m in the UK and I don’t understand - why do you have to explain to the doctor how you are eating?

(Ethan) #7

You should always discuss measures you take to better your health with the doctor. My doctor will have no issue with the diet itself, but I am sure that he will have at least some concerns with me not eating anything for up to five days twice a month

(Duncan Kerridge) #8

Ok different culture maybe, the only time we see doctors generally is when something’s gone wrong and we want to be fixed. Is it usual to see doctors on a regular basis in the US?

(Sophie) #9

I think I’d just omit that little factoid, because once he hears that it will probably be full hearing shut down on everything else. If you feel the need to mention it, just say that sometimes you don’t eat breakfast because you simply aren’t hungry. :woman_shrugging:

#10

I am in the US and I agree with Duncan

If you are on a medication that can be affected by a change in diet or are medically fragile in some way (elderly, in remission from a disease) then I understand why you need to mention it, if you are not on medication and do not have some other condition that may require medication, I would not hide it but I would not feel the need to justify it either. It is your body not his and you are the customer not the other way

Many years ago one of the pediatricians for my kids commented negatively on something I was doing to get my toddler back to sleep. While I do not remember what it was and I still use the group, I remember thinking, ok, when you come to my house at 4AM and get him back to sleep, then you can comment in that sanctimonious manner, in the meantime I will do what works

(Ethan) #11

I’m always open with my doctors. I have other conditions as well. I need to be honest. If the doctor doesn’t like what I do, he or she needs to tell me why not and with real facts and science—not fake stuff. If I hear fake stuff, I ignore the advice and do what I know is right and seek another doctor. Usually, that won’t happen once I have found a good, open doctor. If there is a reason for concern, the doctor can tell me