I Tried 5 Popular Diets to Manage My Diabetes. Which One Worked?
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Two years ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes.
If you live with diabetes or prediabetes, you know how it feels and what it means.
Your day-to-day life is never the same. It’s hard, and you need to change a lot in your life.
The food was the hardest part for me.
I didn’t expect diabetes to be so stressful.
Honestly, in the beginning, I was completely in the dark about where to start
Grocery shopping after my diagnosis was a complete disaster that almost ended in a breakdown…
For several years, I searched for a solution that would work for me. And I have finally found it.
However, before that, I tried many different diets and approaches I’d like to share with you.
I wish someone in my life had shared such information at the time I was diagnosed.
So this is my review of the diets I tried to lose weight and manage my diabetes, and the one approach that really worked for me.
The effects of these diets could differ for other people, but this is my honest experience with each of them, which may help you decide if you want to try them.
#1 Keto
Generally, the keto diet works by cutting back on carbs and replacing them with mostly fat and protein.
While on this diet, my body was burning fat for fuel, so my weight was decreasing, and my blood sugar was at an all-time low.
However, I was experiencing dizziness and fatigue during this period. I read that it was normal, as the body needed to adapt to the new eating style.
I got almost all of my calories from fat. I could eat only about 20g of carbs per day.
I wasn’t prepared to eat like that forever. Only eggs and avocados started to bore me pretty quickly…
| My verdict: I found the keto diet too restrictive because I was only allowed to consume fats. For my body, the transition was simply too much. |
#2 Atkins
Another low-carb, moderate-protein, high-fat diet.
The main difference from keto is that Atkins is broken down into 4 stages.
As you go through these stages, your daily carb allowance increases.
And throughout these stages, I did lose weight – 14lbs in total. My blood sugar was getting lower, and it was pretty much stable.
The downside? This diet made me understand that, in the end, I do hate eating only fats. Two months in, and I couldn’t even look at cheese and beef.
Plus, I read that eating saturated fat can raise bad cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease. I didn’t want to risk that…
| My verdict: Atkins includes a lot of saturated fat, which is a risk factor for heart disease. It also made me realize that I can’t enjoy eating that much fat in a long term. |
#3 Mediterranean
This diet encourages a plant-based eating approach loaded with vegetables and healthy fats.
It also allowed one glass of wine with my dinner, so I really enjoyed that!
It wasn’t restrictive at all compared to keto or Atkins, so I was eating a variety of foods.
What made me get off this diet was actually the lack of specific guidelines.
There are a lot of grains, fruits, and vegetables in this diet, so the meals can be high in carbs.
I felt that because I had diabetes, I needed to exclude a lot of things from my diet, and I wasn’t even sure if I did it right.
| My verdict: This diet lacked clear guidance when it came to diabetes, and I didn’t really notice any difference in weight or blood sugar levels while on it. |
#4 Gluten-free
On the gluten-free diet, I ate only whole foods that didn’t contain gluten, like fruits, vegetables, meat, and eggs, as well as gluten-free bread and pasta.
The major advantage I noticed with this diet was how it improved my digestion. I didn’t feel so bloated anymore.
However, other than that, I have to say this diet was probably not the right choice to make with my type 2 diabetes.
It lacked the fiber and vitamins I needed.
It didn’t affect my weight. I may have even put on a few pounds, and the gluten-free alternatives still spiked my blood sugar levels.
| My verdict: This diet was really good for reducing my bloating, but that was the only benefit it brought me. It wasn’t really suitable for my type 2 diabetes. |
#5 Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting means that you don’t eat for a period of time each day or week.
It doesn’t specify which foods you should eat but rather when you should eat them.
There are several ways you can do it, but I chose the 16:8 method.
It meant I could only eat for 8 hours, e.g., 1–9 PM, then fast for 16 hours.
The clear benefit was that there was no calorie counting involved, and I didn’t have to restrict myself while eating.
After a few months, I noticed I had lost a few pounds.
However, my glucose levels weren’t that impressive with this diet. I still got spikes, depending on what I ate that day.
| My verdict: I couldn’t keep my blood sugar levels stable with this diet. Plus, it was really hard to adjust my social life to this type of eating. |
I realized that the generic diets I found online didn’t work for me
I needed to create a balanced and healthy eating pattern that fit my habits instead of following a diet that required changing my whole lifestyle and needs.
So, I decided to visit a dietitian and ask for more personalized help.
I could instantly tell that the plan I received would work differently.
It contained more of the meals that I could see myself making every day.
However, there was one downside to this – it was extremely expensive.
But I knew that I didn’t have a choice, really.
I had to lose weight, and I had to try to lower my blood sugar.
I had a personalized plan made for 3 months. And the results I got made me really happy.
I saw actual changes in my body and health while eating the foods I liked. I lost about 10lbs.
However, when the time came to repurchase the plan for another 3 months… I just couldn’t allow it financially.
I already spent quite a good amount of money buying all the products in my plan, which were kind of expensive.
So I had no other choice but to cancel.
After a month, I already felt that I was going backward.
I was skipping meals and eating double afterward. My eating schedule was a mess.
But I knew I couldn’t afford the dietitian’s plan again.
That was when I found Klinio
A second best, or an even better alternative to a dietitian’s plan, if you ask me.
It’s an app that creates a fully personalized meal plan only from the foods you like.
It’s all based on a short quiz you take about your personal preferences, eating habits, health conditions, age, activity level, and habits.
It’s basically a pocket-sized dietitian that gives you daily educational tips.
It plans out the whole week’s meal schedule and gives you the grocery list to help you shop for the right products.
The best part is that you don’t have to follow the plan exactly as it is if you don’t like something.
You can just change the meals in the day’s plan until you find something you like or have ingredients for.
There are over 45,000+ recipes to choose from, so most likely, you will find something that fits your cravings.
When I started using it, I once again felt a sense of clarity and consistency that was missing.
The massive advantage of Klinio – the price
It costs me $11 per month. That’s like two cups of coffee.
If you ask me, it’s damn worth it.
And not to mention, the products I needed for my meals weren’t as expensive as in the dietitian meal plan, so I saved even more money.
Fast forward to today, I have lost over 35lbs, and my A1c is down to 5.7.
This program has proved that there is a solution to both controlling my diabetes and enjoying my favorite foods.
I would recommend this app to anyone with type 2 diabetes, like myself.
So, if you are still searching for what may work for you and your health, try Klinio.
You may be pleasantly surprised by how simple it all is!
Comments (79)
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I got the app, but where do I find the meals and grocery list.
I was just diagnosed, I need a hip replacement but they won't do it now because my sugar is to high, I'm so depressed and don't know what to do, I know nothing about diabetes
I agree, need to find what works for me
Do you have any data on how well this works for Types 1 and 1.5?
My husband and myself are both diabetics, He has it worse than me. How easy would it be for the both of us to follow this?
I have Type 2 but also recently been diagnosed with Stage 3b Kidney Disease. I need to lose wait but cooking has been become a problem plus I have tried other diets ! It is either fats, sodium, or sugars!!!!!!
My problem with any diet is that I have just been diagnosed with CKD and on top of the diabetes 2. So I’m trying to figure out but I can have obviously with a CKD I can’t have anything out of again and it eliminated the vinegar type things that I love
I just lost a leg and diabetes was a huge factor. I’m going to talk to my husband about trying this program.
Will this work for just weight loss? I’m not diabetic or pre diabetic, I just want to loose about 40 pounds.
I started the fasting and was very impressed with the results - at first. Then my body seemed to begin to get used to the regime and stopped losing weight, plus if I went out or had friends over and it was necessary to eat with them, the next morning my weight would have gained weight. I actually like that on most days I...
I started the fasting and was very impressed with the results - at first. Then my body seemed to begin to get used to the regime and stopped losing weight, plus if I went out or had friends over and it was necessary to eat with them, the next morning my weight would have gained weight. I actually like that on most days I do not eat late because I get a better night sleep, however, I still need and wish to lose weight.
I would like the recipe that you had on Facebook and if you could send me some more recipe on how you lost your wait I am a diabetic
Like you I have tried all the usual diets, some I lost a bit of weight but sugar was sky high. Others I was sick of fats etc. I couldn’t stomach so many eggs, don’t like eggs never have. Avocado’s never want to look at another one. Not a lover of cheese but miss yoghurt. So I would like to try Klinio to see...
Like you I have tried all the usual diets, some I lost a bit of weight but sugar was sky high. Others I was sick of fats etc. I couldn’t stomach so many eggs, don’t like eggs never have. Avocado’s never want to look at another one. Not a lover of cheese but miss yoghurt. So I would like to try Klinio to see how the weight and blood sugar react.
I’m Type 2
My Dr just told me that am a diabetic.
This was a great article. I appreciate so much your specific comments and actual experience with the Klinio. I will read and think about trying.
Need to study up on klineo
Very informative article and I will look into the ap! That being said it is very difficult to plan meals and eat healthy for weight loss when I have a adult son who is UNDERWEIGHT and won’t prepare his own meals…if I don’t put a meal on the table or offer him fast food he doesn’t eat! How do I cook for us both....
Very informative article and I will look into the ap! That being said it is very difficult to plan meals and eat healthy for weight loss when I have a adult son who is UNDERWEIGHT and won’t prepare his own meals…if I don’t put a meal on the table or offer him fast food he doesn’t eat! How do I cook for us both. Also have a spouse who one day eats healthier than either of us…and next eats terrible!!
Is this recommended for an insulin dependent Type 1 diabetic??
I have been diabetic for about 12 years now, and I still don't know how to eat properly. The doctor in Las Vegas told me I was pre-diabetic.. I knew he was absolutely wrong, and never took heed to his warnings... I weighed 267 pounds. Now fast forward.. A1C was 13.2 My new doctor told me that I either lowered it, or I would...
I have been diabetic for about 12 years now, and I still don't know how to eat properly. The doctor in Las Vegas told me I was pre-diabetic.. I knew he was absolutely wrong, and never took heed to his warnings... I weighed 267 pounds. Now fast forward.. A1C was 13.2 My new doctor told me that I either lowered it, or I would be going onto insulin, which is something I refused. So I just didn't eat a much.. Gave up my beloved potato chips and Cokes, Next time I saw my doctor 2 months later, my A1C was down to 6.1 which he was very proud of me, and my weight.. was 180 pounds.. I had lost 87 pounds, Doctor wasn't happy about that, but he said I need to level it out, lose 20 lbs a month. Eat healthy.. so on my search to do just that.. I found your website... Very impressive, and I thank you for being honest. I am definitely going to check out this site, and see if I can now lose weight and be healthy, and maybe even exercise.. to tighten all my sickening loose skin.
My husband won’t do anything to help himself and he was diagnosed with diabetes 2 years ago I was just diagnosed with pre diabetes what should I do?
My problem is that I am underweight and cant get my A1C below 7
Thank you for the information I don’t have diabetes. But I have been reading up on all the diet’s you mentioned because I need to lose 50 pounds. I believe I will try they one you mentioned it’s cheaper than weight watchers and noom and some of those programs. Thank you
How much cooking and meal preparation is involved? Are recipes readily available? Shopping lists?
Hello can you use this plan without having to have a data phone? Can you use it on a regular computer? I am interested but have no way to use an app because no data phone.
I live in an Independent Senior Living complex. The lease includes 2 meals per day. I can make some choices from the menus. I am also diabetic. How do I work around this with your diet?
Awesome
I am interested
Will this app work for just losing weight? I don’t need the blood sugar part yet.
Is there any way to see a sample meal plan to help me determine if this is the program for me?
I do not have a smart phone or cell phone period. Can I access this plan on my MacBook?
Is Klinio only for people with diabetes?
I may have to try this one. Will let you know.
I am liiking into "diets" was planning on WW-and now I am adding Klinio as a possibility-Having a hard time deciding- but plan to keep you posted!!
I am prediabetic and trying to lose weight and bring down my A1C to get off of Metformin
Need to lose about 120 Lbs and I am now for the last 9 months on Metformin, Jardiance and a couple other meds. Never had trouble losing weight before but now since I have turned 65 its impossible. Thank you for any help. I have tried everything!!
I am a 77 year old with Type 1.5 diabetes. Is there a plan for me because I have a lot of health issues and am not able to control my bad eating habits and A1C is close to 9.
Sounds great!
Not diabetic , but interested in healthy eating and to lose a few lbs
I do not have diabetes; my A1C is 5.2. But I definitely need to lose weight. Would this diet, way of eating, help me?
Does it work for vegetarians
I don’t like eggs, I don’t like chicken, I don’t like cauliflower, but I love veggies. I’m overweight and I have to lose some weight. Please advise
Would this be a good plan for a person with high cholesterol and high triglycerides. I am not diabetic
I am trying to loose weight
Thank you for all the helpful information. I am looking into this for sure. It was nice to read actual reviews and their results. Thanks again!
Reading this explanation of various diet plans makes it is very clear there is another plan I have never heard of. Being diabetic I knew Atkinson diet seems mor protein based, less carbs,however, I have serious kidney problem which doesn’t want proteins, but more carbs as the kidney has a harder time breaking down proteins, so it is hard to balance between them to...
Reading this explanation of various diet plans makes it is very clear there is another plan I have never heard of. Being diabetic I knew Atkinson diet seems mor protein based, less carbs,however, I have serious kidney problem which doesn’t want proteins, but more carbs as the kidney has a harder time breaking down proteins, so it is hard to balance between them to keep each organ satisfied. I am currently what will be an 8or9 day hospital stay that will be defined when on the 4 or 5 of Jan I am having kidney surgery to see if my one remaining kidney has failed enough to go on dialysis. This is scary , I already know my life will change dramatically. I feel maybe the Klinio can be a viable way to go. I will be back to see whatever happens.
Good read--thanks for the break down. Going to take the Klinio quiz. Praying this will be the one that helps me lose weight and maintain my Type II Diabetes long term.
Am inquiring for my husband
I’m looking for an eating plan NOT requiring cooking w recipies. I’d like to know which simple unprocessed foods I can eat to lose weight and lower my A1C. Would this diet include this info?
I have found sticking to low glycemic index foods works for me.
I would have thought that I wrote that article! It's everything I've been going through. Thank you!
What's the Klinio program?
I’m interested but want to try a couple of other things first. Please keep me on your mailing list so I remember you’re there when I’m ready
I am requiring for myself, I am 48 requesting for myself
Interesting comments, but, in my case, a grocery store is more than 80 miles away; so any diet that relies on "fresh" fruits and vegetables, isn't cost effective for me. If it can't be dried, frozen or canned, it's not possible.
I am a type 2 ,insulin diabetic. interesting information needed.
So for me, I need to gain weight! February 13, 2022 I was rushed to the hospital, and so began my journey which to this day I am struggling to adhere to. Before that day I was just normal, a bit over weight, but still feeling healthy. I am 73 yr.s old, 5’3”, last February I weighted 168lbs…..today, after a year of hospitals, procedures...
So for me, I need to gain weight! February 13, 2022 I was rushed to the hospital, and so began my journey which to this day I am struggling to adhere to. Before that day I was just normal, a bit over weight, but still feeling healthy. I am 73 yr.s old, 5’3”, last February I weighted 168lbs…..today, after a year of hospitals, procedures and the addition of daily insulin injections….I weigh 124 lb.s! I am trying to balance all the parts of this puzzle, but every thing seems to start with “losing weight”! Well what about me and my case…I need to gain weight! Is there anyone else out there to offer help to me to get healthy and gain some weight back? I still have more surgery to come, removal of my kidney, ureter, CA in my bladder….and then a second surgery to remove my gall bladder and partial pancreas….. I would appreciate any help you can offer . Thank you
Does this plan also work for Type 1 diabetes? I’m asking for my 12 year old granddaughter.
I have Been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes and want to lower my ALC. thanks
I've determined that I can eat grass(non-fertilized) and drink water. This is not the way I plan to live the remaining years I have. I try to be careful and gave myself a lot of leeway over Christmas. Now it's back to grass and water.
We eat out several times a week and I don’t cook at home nearly as much as I used to. Can Klinio help even with restaurant meals? Being retired, its a day to day thing on what we eat and where.
Don't have diabetes, but I am pre-diabetic. Will this work?
I need to gain at least 15 pounds - I lost too much weight while going through different diet experiences. Would I be able to do that with the app and still keep my A1C under control?
I signed up! I’m ready to be healed and lose 20 pounds
I am pescatarian; I eat only fish and shellfish. I took the quiz and there were very few options for me. The meal choices were wonderful if I ate meat and chicken. I sent them an email and the response came very quickly. Although this diet wouldn’t do for me, the customer service was superb and if they develop a better list of menus...
I am pescatarian; I eat only fish and shellfish. I took the quiz and there were very few options for me. The meal choices were wonderful if I ate meat and chicken. I sent them an email and the response came very quickly. Although this diet wouldn’t do for me, the customer service was superb and if they develop a better list of menus that meet my needs, I wouldn’t hesitate to start.
Thanks for this comparison. Very good!
It may be worth the try. I'm way off from what I need to be doing for my T2D
Type 2
Well now I know I am not the only one going through this rollercoaster. I have tried several diets also that did not work for me. My husband and I are retired and it is so hard to cook foods that we both can eat. I am going to try the Klinio and hopefully it will work for me as it has for you....
Well now I know I am not the only one going through this rollercoaster. I have tried several diets also that did not work for me. My husband and I are retired and it is so hard to cook foods that we both can eat. I am going to try the Klinio and hopefully it will work for me as it has for you. Thank you for sharing your story.
I am inquiring for my husband. He was just diagnosed.
Trying intermittent fasting and acv?
I had the same issues with Keto and Atkins. I felt like I was only eating fat. Still can’t really look at avocados. I tried Klinio, and I do love the variety of meals & subsequent grocery list. It really helps to avoid eating on the fly & maybe making choices that are not blood sugar friendly.
Been struggling to find the right diet for me for so long.
Want information
Thanks for a good read, thought of starting fasting myself. You pointed out my biggest fears here. I heard that it can be great for weight loss, but there is no specific plan, so everything is still up to you. I think a detailed plan would help. Klinio does sound interesting.
Excited to get started.
I would like information on your menu ideas. Can't afford fancy overpriced food. Thanks
Is this diet good for someone with diabetes and stage 3 kidney diseas?
Your story is so similar to mine. Thank you for sharing.
I would like to see the diet