Michael Mosley blood sugar webchat Thurs 10 March 1-2pm

Jingl I'm sure I read somewhere that it is actually healthier to be just a couple of lbs overweight as we age. Perhaps MM can comment on this?

Re my weight, as you seem interested, I am just on the border between normal and over-weight. So I do have to be careful.

Wilma I know we shouldn't really be chatting on this thread as it is web-chat, but you are right. I don't like tv celeb type of health advice in the main. I prefer NHS guidance.

I am sorry to hear you have MS and I sincerely hope you are getting good care from your doctors.

Yes those who store fat around their middle are more at risk. I think over eating is a complex issue. Anya is right we do have ample amounts of food available to us all the time. Supermarkets lay their stores out to tempt us to buy and sugar is added to a lot of things to make them taste better.

For years we were told to eat low fat, so many products are low fat but high in sugar/carbs. Now we're told it's sugar/carbs we should reduce. We were warned against eggs because of high cholesterol, yet now it's fine to eat them often.

Many people struggle with their eating and put on weight. Information about exactly how you should eat is confusing. Some advocate three or four meals a day, with a good breakfast to start with. Other advice is to fast, skip breakfast or do the two days fasting diet.

Emotional eating is common, as after all eating is a huge pleasure, it's not just fuel. So some people reach for the comfort food when they feel low.

There is no doubt that some people can handle sugars/carbs better than others so some people are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes than others.
I think that's why Wilma asked.
That said, we all have access to eating anything we fancy and some simply allow themselves to overindulge.

jings yes, I am fat and I have been overweight all my adult life. I was diagnosed with MS last year and have been trying to change my diet as part of some changes to my lifestyle. My FiL is an insulin dependent diabetic and I've been accompanying him to his medical appointments and that started my interest in the effects of sugar on the human body. I am trying to eliminate sugar from my diet, so I am interested in Michael's book.

I asked my question to you because I wondered what your interest in Michael's book is, as your posts give the impression you don't believe in what he is saying.

Thanks JaneA. It was Edith Summerskill. As you say, not a recent concept - rather like the wheel. At least at the advent of the wheel, sugar was not the problem it is today!

Why? Are you fat?

jings do you have a weight problem or been advised that you are at risk of developing diabetes?

Moderation is the key.

I will never believe that the odd chunky kit Kat is ever going to hurt me. Hasn't done so far. What's the point in robbing our later life years of all simple pleasures?

I wonder if it was Edith Summerskill, Marmight.

I read 'Pure, White and Deadly
How Sugar is Killing Us and What We Can Do to Stop it' by John Yudkin in 1972 when I was a final year student.
So it's certainly not a new message but one that the food industry has somehow managed to ensure hasn't been heard, until very recently.

When I was about 14, (some few years ago!)I went with my Mum to a talk given by a Doctor who was also an MP - can't remember her name - entitled 'Sugar - the 20th Century Killer'. The title has stuck in my brain since then and over the years, as I get stuck into a KitKat or a piece of cake, something in my head repeats '20th C Killer'. I have found that as I have aged, my tastes have changed and I don't crave chocolate and sweet things so much, in fact, I can take them or leave them. The 5:2 diet has certainly helped with this, so perhaps the next step is to give the Sugar Diet a go!

Grannyisland info here about how to get one.

Thank you Jane, I didn't know that you can request a health check. I am 70, so should qualify!

I read the book straight through and can see the sense of it, especially given the huge difficulty in getting away from carbs - sugars and starches - pushed at us from all directions.

I got very cross to find nearly all the recipes are for meat or fish. ALL the supper recipes are meat-based. Q: What about the 10% of the population that is totally or mostly vegetarian? Yes there are veggy recipes, but to me this shows a lack of consciousness by the esteemed doctor of the need to rethink our diets for both health and save-the-planet reasons.

Also the index is a bit crap. Needs several searches to get to most of the recipes.
.

Im pre diabetic but I just cant diet, if I don't eat every two or three hours I get lightheaded and bad tempered. I don't have diabetes as my regular blood tests show but I just cant stop craving sweet things despite buying low sugar items.

For anyone thinking this is all just poppycock and a new craze, the advice is evidence based. This is quite close to home as recently I had early symptoms of raised blood sugars which I immediately recognised. I bought a glucose meter from Amazon and was horrified at the results. I immediately implemented a new way of eating. I initially tested both fasting and post prandial blood sugars to see exactly what spiked my levels up. I have gone from full diabetic, to pre-diabetic, to having completely normal blood sugar ranges. 28 pounds down in weight. Normal hbANC1 so feeling smug!!

I am also running over 8k twice a week and cycling when I can. Not bad at 65. I was advised to walk but hate it. So I don't. Sometimes it takes a shock to change things.

I would like Dr Mosley to know his literature helped me to fine tune what was originally a highly personal and self informed approach due to my previous career and professional training.

You're right grandmattie, syrup, honey etc are sugar just like the white granulated stuff and fructose is just as bad.
I get cross when these celebrities make out in their cookery books that 'natural' sugars are harmless - they just don't understand the chemistry.

I'm confused by all this war against "sugar" but using maple syrup, honey, palm sugar and various other substitutes. Surely, sugar is sugar? It is just whether it is refined or reduced to fructose and glucose [like honey]. I also understand fructose is a big No-no... is that right?

Surely just eating fewer processed foods, more vegetables and keeping a properly balanced diet would be the right way to go. "Diets" only make one feel miserable. I try to keep to the epigram - "Eat well, less food, mostly vegetables".

Grannyisland if you're over 40 you can request an NHS health check.
I've just had one, invited by my GP practice.
They work out your BMI and the blood tests cover blood sugar levels, cholesterol and other lipid levels, liver, kidney and thyroid function.

My question for the Doctor, How do I know if my blood sugar level is ok? I can't just go and ask my GP without symptoms of some kind. By the same token, how do you find out what ones cholesterol levels are?

I have a sweet tooth. Bad news. Try reading Davina Mcall's book. It makes sense. Together with a sensible approach to all other food could do the trick

Hello Michael
Husband and I have been following the LCHF way of eating for over two years now. We both lost significant amounts of weight slowly over the first year and have maintained the lower weight in the second year with BMI of 24 and 21 respectively. Husband is completely out of pre-diabetes and has been taken off statins as his cholesterol level has dropped too. I have been taken off BP tablets as they are no longer necessary. We have no problems maintaining this way of eating long-term and find it a very healthy diet of masses of vegetables, some fruit, meat and fish with healthy fats, olive oil, some butter and cheese (and a glass of dry wine or two).
We are in France and our GP has been delighted, but somewhat astonished by the sustained results of LCHF.
My question is really about the reaction of some health professionals and health organisations to LCHF as it seems that there is still a lot of resistance out there. Why do think this is and do you see a shift in advice now there is real evidence emerging to support the positive impact of low-carbing on
people with raised blood-sugar levels?

I'm following Michael Mosley's FastLife diet and it is working quite well. I fast on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and my DH is my diet buddy. The first time in his life he has dieted. Neither of us are massively overweight - if we can lose a stone apiece we'll be happy - and much healthier. I have to say, this is a diet I can live with.