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Im type2 diabetic and calorie intake is 4856 calorie per day, should I reduce to 1600 cal per day?

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Hi I am a 57 year old male, my weight is 470 lbs I'm 6 foot tall,I'm as active as I can be but that's not as much as. I would like. Anyyways I did the calculation for calorie intake for my body size and it was 4856 per day. I cut back to 3350 per day and have been loosening 3 lbs a week fatherly and I feel good, not hungry. My family Dr put me on a 1600 calorie diet. Could you please tell me if I should keep doing what I'm doing or go on the 1600 cal diet? I'm afraid my body will go into starvation mode. I am type 2 diabetic and my blood sugar has been going down. Please tell me what I should do? Thanks

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Category: Family Physician-GP
 31 Doctors Online

Hello, Thank you for asking your query at DoctorSpring.

As you are type 2 diabetic, the first plan of treatment is to reduce weight. As fat or adipose tissue increases the insulin resistance, in simple words, you have increased amount of insulin in your blood but your pancreas are resistant to this insulin mainly because of increased fat in your body. If your blood sugar is less than 100-120 mg/dl its fin, you have nothing to worry but if less than 100 mg/ dl this could lead to hypoglycemia.

I suggest you don't have to reduce to 1600 cal suddenly, it can cause hypoglycemia and worse can take you to hyperglycemic coma. Therefore, take it slow, maintain a diary about your calorie intake everyday and your weight measure once every two weeks. Start with exercising, a brisk walk everyday for half an hour should do. Start with cutting on your fatty diet first, you can have protein and fibre like apple, pear etc.

Try bringing down your weight slowly over a month or two. This should work. I also suggest you check your fasting blood sugar and two hour 75 mg blood sugar level after a month after you have followed this diet and exercise. Maybe you will have to reduce on your dosages if you improve.

Complications due to type 2 diabetes mellitus are umpty in number, starting from peripheral neuritis to liver disorders. You want to avoid the complications, you need to start working on your weight sincerely.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask follow-up questions


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
Dr. John Monheit and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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