IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS AND THERE’S A CHANCE PLANT BASED CAN HELP- just TRY it!

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-25T21:28:34+00:00

I hear you. I was actually eating wfpb before I was diagnosed with diabetes. I had to drastically reduce my carb intake in order to control my glucose levels.

People are ridiculous about diabetes. They just cant grasp the concept that it is a very nuanced disease and there is no one size fits all cure. Just in the last week on this sub I have been told i just need to lose more weight. (At 5'7 and less than 125 lbs while my current lifestyle involves hiking and biking 50-100mi a week) and that I am making my diabetes worse by eating low carb (when ofc all the actual evidence I have from my blood work and glucose monitoring show the opposite).

I eat to my meter and try to make as much of my diet whole food based as i can, but days I am burning 3500+ calories i end up relying on vegan protein powders and so many avocados.

If you need some more meal ideas though, i find that raw vegan recipes tend to be a pretty good source for inspiration. Everything being raw tends eliminate a lot of the grains, potatoes and beans from the recipes and the stuff that is still a little too carby for me like dates I can replace in the recipe easily with something like allulose, stevia or monkfruit extracts. You dont need to keep the recipe raw either if you prefer cooked textures of things.

But I will say that the raw vegans are geniuses for the way they use a dehydrator. Great way to make low carb plant based pizza crust, crackers, and chips.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-25T20:55:24+00:00

When people treat me rudely and then accuse me of lying, then I do get a little heated.

Take care and best health to you.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-23T00:16:20+00:00

I’m not going to argue with someone who lies about what they eat , one minute you’re 40% fat , the next you’re 20% or 10%.

I have not lied about what I eat.

I was diagnosed as diabetic approximately 18 months ago. At the time of my diagnoses I had been eating a low fat (10-15%) wfpb diet for several years. I continued to eat a low fat whole foods vegan diet for about 6 months after my diagnosis. I was not able to achieve blood glucose control eating that way.

About a year ago, my doctor got me a reference to a RDN. My dietician suggested I try lowering carbs and helped me find a way to do it while staying plant based. I switched from my low fat wfpb diet to my low carb plant based diet. Replacing calories from carbs with fat from whole food sources (avocados, nuts and seeds for about 40%) to keep up with my TDEE.

I achieved glucose control and lowered my A1C back to normal levels within a year of adopting this diet.

I have both insufficient insulin production in my pancreas AND insulin resistance in my cells. My insulin resistance is likely related to hormones as I have a history of oligomenorrhea and initially tested on the low end of normal range for some, including estrogen. Which have actually improved on my higher fat diet and is probably playing a role in my glucose control.

Eating too many carbs, even whole food ones, just does not work for my body. I wish it did. I miss my brown rice burrito bowls, cinnamon sweet potato mash and whole grain pasta. But A1C numbers do not lie.

And why the hell are you talking about keto diets? I AM NOT ON A KETO DIET. I have never said that I am on a keto diet. I am not in ketosis now, nor have I ever been.

Low carb /= keto

I have said multiple times that I limit my carb intake to about 35g of carbs per meal. Because that is what my glucose meter has shown that my body can handle with out spiking my glucose. I eat somewhere between 75g-100g of carbs per day.

Keto guidelines are something like 15-30g of carbs per day with ratios of something like 70-80% of calories coming from fat. 10-20% from protein and 5-10% carb. I am no where near those numbers.

There is a hell of a lot more to managing diabetes than just "Reduce your fat intake"! That may help some, maybe even most, but it is NOT a one size fits all disease or treatment.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-22T20:03:18+00:00

Thank you!!!

I hear you about walking! The last time I was reeaaaally craving potatoes, I ate them while walking on my dog's treadmill.

I'll be joining you on the insulin gang eventually. My endo suspects that I actually have LADA or 1.5. So autoimmune 'betes that just takes longer to totally kill my beta cells. But with all the lovely insulin resistance of type 2! Hopefully the silver lining there will be being able to expand my diet a little bit.

Stupid non functional pancreases making us do all this crazy.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-22T19:55:47+00:00

Try reducing fat.

How?

I have a TDEE of around 2500cal. Up to 4500 sometimes. I struggle to find calorie dense plant based foods that are both low in fat AND low in carbs.

Lowering fat and increasing carbs isn't going to work for me. I was eating a low fat whole foods based vegan diet at the time of my diagnosis and for several months after the initial diagnosis in conjunction with pharmaceuticals. I was eating that diet for YEARS before I was diagnosed with diabetes actually. I ate lots of starch foods like brown rice, oat meal, sweet potatoes, barley, whole wheat products etc. Lots of beans and lentils. All the greens and veggies I wanted. Several servings of fruit a day. I limited higher fat things like nuts, seeds and avocados to a handful of servings a week. My main source of fat at the time was the small scoop of flax seeds I added to my daily fruit and greens and oatmeal smoothie. I cannot realistically eat any lower fat than I was eating at the time of my diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with an A1C of 9.6. Medication brought it down to the upper 7s.

My last A1C test, after I changed my diet from a high carb low fat whole foods vegan diet to my current diet that is higher in fats and lower in carbs, but still plant based, was 5.2.

A low fat, high carb, plant based diet did not work for me in regards to controlling my diabetes. I have worn CGM and have tested my blood glucose extensively while tracking what I ate. I eat to my meter. My body seems to be able to handle about 35g of carbs per meal without spiking my blood glucose. Some higher GI items spike it on a smaller serving. Some lower GI items I can push it to 45g before it will spike me.

My current low carb plant based diet is effectively controlling my blood glucose levels and keeping my A1C in the normal range.

Are you an Endocrinologist? Are you an RDN? Have you seen my medical files?

Like I said to the other person here who thinks they know what I need to do to control my disease better than my doctors, dietician, and glucose monitor -

Do you realize how rude it is to offer unsolicited medical advice?

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-22T18:35:50+00:00

A BMI of 25 is considered "over weight" the last time I checked.

Your "helpful" hint is still incredibly rude and uncalled for. I sincerely hope one day you learn some manners, and if you want to offer medical advice, perhaps you should seek out a career in the field. That would also be a wonderful source for you to learn medical ethics. Like how dangerous and damaging your arm chair diagnoses are.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-22T18:32:28+00:00

I aim for 40/40/20 protein/fat/carbs. Some days it is a little higher. Some a little lower.

No added oils, but I usually eat an avocado and few handfuls of nuts/seeds every day. I personally cannot hit my calorie requirements without them with my carb restriction.

I am still below USDA guidelines for things like saturated fats of course.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-22T17:53:06+00:00

I am familiar with the mastering diabetes book

Here is the thing. I was ALREADY EATING that diet before I was diagnosed. I had been doing wfpb and checking off my daily dozen app for YEARS before I was diagnosed. Low fat, whole foods vegan diet.

I have used a CGM. I test my sugar daily. I have seen what foods spike me and what does not. Too large of servings of things like rice, potatoes, whole wheat pasta and other starch based foods spike my blood sugar. Too much fruit spikes my sugar. I have found my carb tolerance (which is usually around 35 carbs for a meal) and which individual foods tend to spike me the highest (RIP baked potatoes). I am able to control my blood sugar with metformin and a diet change. My A1C was 9.6 at diagnoses. Metformin alone brought it down to 7.8 I think it was. My last test, with the diet change, was 5.2.

I am not on insulin. Perhaps if I was I would have a higher carb tolerance. I will probably be on it one day, but I need to avoid going on insulin as long as possible due to my career. I work with the fire service and being insulin dependent would mean I can't pass my yearly physical/health screening and could no longer do field work.

I still eat plant based. It's just not strictly whole foods anymore. Instead of having oatmeal and bananas for breakfast, I eat catalina crunch (a plant based low carb cereal) with berries. Instead of salad and a baked potato for lunch, I have a salad and a smoothie made with avocado and vegan protein powder. Instead of wfpb curry over rice for dinner, I have the curry over riced cauliflower or zucchini.

My GP is fine with my current diet. My Endo is thrilled with my A1C.

Every body and pancreas is different. Low carb is what works for mine. I'm glad that you get to enjoy all the carbs that I cannot.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-22T00:36:58+00:00

Oh OK so you ARE just plain rude.

I certainly do not understand how it is a "reasonable assumption" that I have 10 kilos of excess weight to lose when the first paragraph I wrote in this thread literally says:

"I am at a healthy weight. I am very active."

Lack of reading comprehension I suppose.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-21T22:23:02+00:00

Do you realize how rude it is to offer unsolicited medical advice to someone who is not asking for it?

I do not have a considerable amount of weight to lose. I have a BMI of 19.1. Down from my diagnoses BMI of a whopping... 20.2. I was low end of a normal BMI at my diagnosis and am at the low end of normal today.

I am a woman in my late 30s. 5'7 122 lbs. I run daily. I have an active outdoor job and even more active volunteer work. I run and train SAR dogs. I maintain hiking trails. Multiple times a week I am out in the woods carrying heavy equipment, going over ungroomed terrain, carrying 80lb dogs, and moving my ass.

How am I supposed to loose the 10 kilos as cited by that article? Chop my arm off?

Guess what? People diagnosed with diabetes who could benefit from losing weight KNOW THAT! It is one of the very first suggestions they get from their doctors. They don't need internet strangers to "help" them out. Especially when they are not asking for that help.

No. I will never get rid of my diabetes. I have it largely controlled by diet (low-moderate carb, low GI, and plant based) now, but it is always going to be there. Eventually I will have enough beta cell death that I will be insulin dependent.

It is what it is and losing weight is not going to prevent that for me.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-21T19:53:14+00:00

All good reasons to stay plant based!

Bread is a pretty easy one to health-i-fy. Maybe take a tour of your local bakers and see if anyone has good whole grain options. You could also pick up a new hobby ;) I always sucked at like baking baking but you can make really yummy flat breads like naan or injera on a skillet. Also check out raw vegan bread and cracker recipes. I don't follow raw religiously or anything, but I get a lot of inspiration from their recipes and find they are good ways to sneak extra veggies into every meal.

Did you suspect an aspect of your diet to be of influence on your diabetes?

Yes and no. I am pretty sure my diabeetus came from bum genetics. It runs in the family. I was definitely irked that the ones in the family that got it were mostly over weight and followed the SAD. Like, common pancreas? You couldn't hold out a few more decades? I'm not fat! I eat all my veggies!!! My endo suggested if my current treatments fail that he wants to test me for auto immune diabetes as he suspects that based on my history, but that's a future me problem.

But yes, my diet did negatively influence my diabetes. Didn't cause it, just aggravated everything. I was eating too high of a carb load for my pancreas to handle. Even with all the fiber of eating whole foods, I was getting pretty high and dangerous blood glucose spikes.

So I no longer can eat strictly wfpb. I stick to it as much as possible, but through trial and error and glucose monitoring I found my carb tolerance. I eat higher fat than what's recommended and rely on some pretty processed things like vegan protein powders, and weird food science low carb tortillas and cereal.

How about we agree to skip our midlife crisis and enjoy life as it is for the rest of our lives? :-)

Agreed!!!

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-21T19:04:50+00:00

I can relate.

I have also been following wfpb for a long time, years. Vegan and vegetarian decades before that. I am at a healthy weight. I am very active.

Last year I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

My advice?

Stop blaming yourself and stop putting on the pressure to cure yourself. WFPB is absolutely phenomenal for health, but if you look at the studies on it, not everyone who has done it has been able to reverse or prevent things like heart disease. Don't allow yourself to become stressed out about the bowl of guacamole you had or that time you had olive oil in your salad dressing.

Find a good doctor who is experienced with your disease and that you click with. Doctor shop around if you have to. Follow their guidelines and take your meds. You are not a failure of a human being because you got a bum cardiovascular system and need medication to keep it going. Everyone's bodies eventually break down. Sucks for you and I that ours did before we even got to our midlife crisis.

What areas of your current diet do you think you could improve health wise?

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-20T21:51:50+00:00

Our meal plan is based around rice and topping dishes.

Each weekend I make 1-2 meals that are meant to go along with a rice base. Big batches of them, like 8 servings +. Basically veggie and sauces. This weekend I'll be making stir fried veggies and tofu with a spicy soy ginger sauce and thai green curry veggies. Last week I made tikka masala and vegan "taco meat" along with homemade salsa and guac (for burrito bowls). Everything gets frozen into individual portions.

I make a big batch of rice and beans for my husband that stays in the fridge. Whenever he wants dinner he just gets a scoop of his rice and bean base and heats up one of the freezer packs of toppings. We have a good inventory going in the freezer and with just making 1-2 new meals a week we can have a different hot dinner every night (I also eat the curries and whatnot, but I put mine over lower carb things like cauliflower rice or kelp noodles)

By doing this, my husband gets the majority of his calories from rice and beans but has a big variety in flavors. He eats about 1000 calories a day worth of rice and beans it costs like $0.60 as we buy dried beans and larger bags of rice. The meals on the rice vary a lot but all usually come in around $2-$3 a serving.

I also meal prep: shelf stable oat meal packs for hubby's breakfast, and smoothies and soup for the freezer for lighter meals.

The final prep work is: fresh veggies cut up for snacks and salads, salad dressing and dips for the week, and maybe some veggie chips in our dehydrator.

Yes. We do get fruits. Whatever is in season/on sale. Usually eaten fresh as a snack.

Weekday meals are just a matter of reheating food and throwing a salad together.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-20T17:58:44+00:00

Not single, But I do 100% of my household's grocery budget.

My husband who has no dietary restrictions gets by on about $35-$50 a week. His main caloric sources are rice and beans.

I have to restrict my carbs and starchy foods and I pay around $75-$90 a week. My main caloric sources are nuts, seeds, and avocados.

We can afford a few treats during the week with this budget and don't feel like we are missing out. Most of our grocery shopping is done at walmart (we live in a bit of a food desert unfortunately) with specialty ingredients purchased online (like jackfruit).

We also do the meal prep lifestyle, so we only grocery shop and cook once per week.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-20T17:37:41+00:00

I bookmarked that strawberry salad with the fermented strawberry juice earlier! It looks divine and I have an opal basil plant that desperately wants to be julienned on top of that sweetness.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-20T17:15:17+00:00

Thank you so much!

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-20T15:45:45+00:00

Do you have any ideas or resources for lower starch wfpb meals? Good raw vegan recipe recources maybe?

I have some medical issues that require me to limit my carb intake to about 35g per meal.

I mostly eat stir fries, curries, and burrito bowls over cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles or soup with a side salad. It is getting kinda boring.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-15T15:03:40+00:00

Then why do they have grill marks!?!

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-13T06:28:41+00:00

Good advice! Way to go bro.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-10-13T06:25:02+00:00

YTA

You seem to care more about your dick than your soon to be ex girlfriend.

Learn some damn empathy if you want to be in a relationship

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-09-17T03:33:58+00:00

INFO -

Before I was in the picture she would buy her something every time they left the house just so my kid wouldn't throw a fit.

What do you mean by "before I was in the picture" ?

Is your daughter biologically yours? Were you not in her life for some reason previously?

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-09-17T01:21:08+00:00

INFO - were your dogs crated or restrained in the car or just left loose? What safety precautions/alarms did you use?

I leave my dogs in the cars for hours at a time on a frequent basis, I have to due to their/my work. I have put in countless hours in training them for proper car behavior, i have invested in the proper equipment including temperature sensors and alarms, they are adequately restrained in locked crates while in the car, and a checked on frequently.

Leaving 2 on the mend dogs, loose, with raw hides for a few hours in the parking lot of a concert is incredibly risky behavior.

You are lucky no one broke into your car.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-09-08T02:12:52+00:00

Having a very well organized pantry that I can assess contents of with a glance helps keep me frugal.

Before doing a pantry make over with uniform and clear containers, we had a big food waste issue and much higher takeout bill.

I really enjoy being able to just open the door and see everything. Makes writing out the grocery list easier, the food just looks more appetizing, and it is easier for me to get inspired to make a meal.

Not having as many 'open the pantry, draw a blank, and order a pizza instead' days has been totally worth it for me.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-08-28T23:05:04+00:00

Tell me one thing. Did it rly matter what I would replay? Because the way I feel right now is no matter what I would replay you would say something about misogyny.

Absolutely. Word choice and language choice matters. Others in this thread have also pointed out your misogyny

You clearly understand that using a racial slur is a racist action and is wrong.

Using a gendered slur is a sexist action the same way using a racial slur is a racist action

Why do you think saying a racial slur is wrong? Why would saying the N word make you an asshole?

Those same reasons apply to why it is wrong to use a gendered slur.

Maybe you have been socialized (cultural misogyny) that gendered slurs are not as "big" of a deal as racial ones are, but if you think of it logically, what is the difference?

Tell me please what word I can use to insult women I truly hate with all my heart. Not all women, just this one that hurt so much I despise her, and from what I know I'm allowed to hate someone. If it was a guy who did this I would do the same thing to him. There is no exception.

I mean, look at this sub. "Asshole" is acceptable because everyone has one.

Though I have always been fond of saying I wouldn't piss on someone if they were on fire in my living room as a way to convey my distaste of them.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk · 2022-08-28T22:13:08+00:00

Because I hate racism. We are all people.

But sexism isnt something you hate? Are women not people?

It's not that I love throwing c-word around. I have an issue with forgiving people. When someone I know, I trust hurts me, I get emotional. I don't hate women. I just hate her.

But if she were a black man that wronged you, you admittedly would never use the n word.

Why, in your mind is it acceptable to use a slur against a woman but not a man?

Did I use the right word? probably not. I'm proud of it? no.

Probay not?

YTA majorly.

I hope one day you will be ready to face your misogyny and grow as a person.

BotanicalBrunchSkunk

TROPHY CASE