Week 1 Review
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Summary: This article shares the author’s experience of implementing the Whole30 program with Type 1 Diabetes. The effects on blood sugar profiles, insulin levels and general wellbeing are discussed.
I feel maybe my opening line is making me sound miserable about this week. It has been a bit of a mixed bag but I’m still very positive about Whole30!
The First Seven Days
Day 1:
Ready, steady, let’s go! So today went pretty well… I had a satisfying breakfast of eggs and bacon. I struggled to find something for lunch. I had made some butternut squash soup but I didn’t like the texture or taste. So I ended up just snacking on some cooked chicken and veggies. By mid-afternoon, I was absolutely staaaaaarrrving! Gotta sort my lunches out! But, thankfully, for such a major food overhaul, my blood sugars were stable all day, ranging from 6 mmol/l to 9 mmol/l. I did have a slightly hungover feeling in the morning and I was pretty thirsty all day… I drank a lot of water!
Day 2:
A better day food-wise. I ate ‘clean’… Just stuck to the basics. Meat, veg, salad, eggs. I bulked up on quantities so I was definitely more satisfied. But my blood sugars were a bit more erratic. The sweet potato I had for dinner (something I haven’t eaten before) had more carbohydrates than I had anticipated so my blood sugars spiked up to 12 mmol/l. I then overcorrected so had to deal with a blood sugar reading of 3.8 mmol/l. Because I have less Lantus at night and smaller Novorapid doses for each meal now, I didn’t need much to correct the hypo… One banana and I was back to normal.
Day 3:
So, I hypo’d overnight. Not fun. Yesterday evening, my blood sugars were a bit unstable and I thought that perhaps my insulin sensitivity had changed. So I dropped my night-time Lantus injection from 18 units down to 16 units but it wasn’t enough. I think 10 units might have been more like it! I woke up in the night with a blood sugar reading of 3.9 mmol/l. I munched on cubes of pineapple until I felt better. (Whilst I am aware that it is not technically permitted to eat fruit on its own, I am also aware that Whole30 says medical needs trump the Whole30 protocol every time.) I’ll try dropping my Lantus down to 10 units tonight and maybe also wake up to check during the night. Other than that, today I am feeling just generally tired, jaded and a bit irritable.
Day 4:
I feel better today! Not so tired. Feeling pretty optimistic! My blood sugars have been playing along with readings between 6 mmol/l and 9.5 mmol/l for most of the day. Again, I had no dawn phenomenon this morning, which I still don’t understand… I thought it was a physiological thing that was guaranteed each day?! My insulin levels are now at 10 units of Lantus at nighttime and between 1 and 4 units of Novorapid for meals. For dinner, my lovely husband cooked me a jacket potato with a great chili (recipe below) that I loved more than life itself! A good day.
Day 5:
This article by the celebrity nutritionist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author Kimberly Snyder says that my swinging emotions are to be expected… And are, in fact, good news! It is a great indication that my body is discharging toxins. Since the mind and body are so interconnected (see my articles here, here and here for information on this), it’s no wonder I am having an emotional reaction! So, for now, I will just keep telling myself… DO NOT KILL ANYTHING!!!
Despite all the anger, though, I had a stellar blood sugar day….
Day 6:
I’m starting to feel like I’ve hit my stride with the Whole30 programme. I am really surprised to see that I am not missing any of the things that I thought I loved (okay, okay… the one thing – chocolate!!). Although I don’t know for sure, as I’m not weighing myself, I think I might have slimmed a bit this week. I’m still feeling tired and less energised than I used to but feeling patient and optimistic about this passing.
Day 7:
I have officially made it through the first week! I have had a few hypo’s, which are to be expected with completely transforming my diet. However, each one has been easy to correct with just a bit of fruit. I had my first outing today, meeting up with a friend for coffee. We had originally planned breakfast but I couldn’t be sure that I would still be Whole30-compliant so we switched for a hot drink (I had green tea!) in a gorgeous cafe. Job done! My blood sugars were a bit bouncy today, going up to 10 mmol/l after lunch and then needing a correction dose to come down to 5 mmol/l but it was nothing scary. Overall this week, my insulin levels have reduced from 10 to 18 units of Novorapid each meal and 18 units of Lantus at night to 1 to 3 units of Novorapid per meal and 10 units of Lantus at night. I also now have NO dawn phenomenon… I used to have to religiously inject 2 units of Novorapid two things but now… Nothing! All-in-all, my reduced insulin doses are another good step towards healing! Onto week 2…!
BONUS RECIPE…
Having told you about the highs and lows (pun intended!) of my first week on Whole30, all that’s left to do now is leave you with my hubbie’s gorgeously satisfying chilli recipe, as promised. With this, I dare you to try feeling deprived!!
Chilli Con Carne
Serves 6
- 1.2kg of beef mince (5% fat)
- 1 large or 2 medium onions, roughly chopped
- Approx 1 tablespoon of beef dripping
- 2 fat cloves of garlic, crushed
- 2 tablespoons of tomato purée
- 500 ml of beef stock or broth (make sure this has no non-compliant ingredients. If possible, it’s always best to make it yourself)
- 1 or 2 tsp of dried chilli powder (depending on how hot you want it!)
- 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
- 1 large green pepper, de-seeded and chopped.
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Heat the beef dripping in a large deep-sided pan. Once hot, gently cook the onions and garlic for about 6 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Turn up the heat and add the beef and brown it well for 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Next combine the tomato purée with the stock/broth and add it gradually to the meat and onions.
- Add the chilli and tinned tomatoes then season with salt & pepper.
- When it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the chopped green pepper and cook for a further 30 minutes. Serve with a jacket potato or cauliflower rice.
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Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
