by txjack » Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:35 pm 
Hi -- My name is Dale, I use Txjack as I am from Tx and it is part of my last name.
I started the McDougall program last Thursday (4/2). I am overweight and have been dealing (or more like not dealing) with diabetes for a number of years. I have gone the spectrum of doctors with varying opinions from one saying "eat vegan" to the next doctor saying, "are you crazy, eat only Atkins" to the next saying, "Atkins is terrible, we are putting you on a 1400 calorie diet". I threw up my hands said these guys are all nuts.
I was familiar with Dr. McDougall and always wanted to start his program (as far back as the 80's), but got so much resistance from my family, I just gave up. I am remarried, a little over two years, and my wife put up quite a bit of resistance. She is an awesome cook and can't imagine a life without mounds of cheese and oil. She is a little overweight but doesn't obsess over food like me.
Fast-forward to 2009, my weight has steadily climbed along with my diabetes trouble. I have read pretty much everything that Dr. McDougall has written. It flies in the face of every single thing my current doctor thinks. He recently modified my lantus insulin/metformin XR(2-- 500 mg twice daily) to Novilin 70/30 and trying to cut back the metformin to 1 (am/pm). My sugars started to rise and so would the adjustment. After 3 weeks, my sugars were nuts, staying well above 275, 300 to just under 500 post meals.
On 4/1, I sat in my doctor's office, and he just shook his head, not sure what to do. He told me to increase the insulin (quadrupled at this point) and add back the extra metformin pill (am/pm) and "don't eat carbs". I asked about my cholesterol (which was I think 285 about 4 weeks ago). He said we will deal with that later.
I came home, told my wife I was at my wits end and that everything else had failed and that I was tired of being tired, I was feeling numb spots on a finger and was going on Dr. McDougall's program effective immediately. I reminded her of an uncle who litterally "dropped dead" while on a low carb diet and said I don't want that to happen. Fortunately, she didn't seem to want that to happen to me and said OK, she supported me.
24 hours later, I felt really good. In fact, great. 48 hours later. I start crashing with sugars at 107. A good problem but unusual at that high of a reading. Next morning, 89 and while shaky, not feeling so bad. I cut back on insulin. Next day 215 AM, crashing big time at 70. Felt pretty horrible, got it up and cut back insulin again. While watching a McDougall dvd, realized the Dr. mentioned cutting back insulin by half normally because of the drop. I did, and the sugars have not crashed.
So, I've cut insulin back by about 45% to keep me not too low and actually had to cut back the one metformin again to keep from crashing. I keep track of the numbers closely and realized, I haven't weighed yet. My clothes feel looser so look forward to that.
I'm planning on losing the weight, so I can continue to cut back that insulin and look forward to being able to cut all my meds which would free up an incredible amount of money each month. I still keep in touch with my doctor with my numbers so although running loose, I haven't left the range.
Lastly, my wife has been ok with all this. She isn't crazy about the oil part, but has really been supportive.
