Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 > About Dr. Weil: > Ya, I know Dr. Weil doesn't have much in the way > of diabetic info, but I appreciate the fact that > he readily admits that he doesn't know. On his site, > pertaining to diabetes he says, " It is beyond the > scope of this database to go into detail about way > to manage diabetes without relying exclusively on > pharmaceutical drugs. ... He also says, " perhaps > lifestyle and environment can be manipulated in > ways that encourage the disease to recede. ... > I have no alternative program to suggest, except > to encourage diabetic patients to experiment > actively with diet, and the frequency and size of > meals, and with all aspects of lifestyle to see if > they can lower the amount of insulin they require To be fair to Dr. Weil, B.J., I would like to quote the text that precedes that statement because it puts the matter in a slightly different light: ------------------------------- " There is a surprising amount of diabetes in the world, surprising for a genetically controlled disorder that can make people so ill and shorten life considerably. One way to account for the persistence of the responsible genes is to consider how they might have been advantageous in the past. In fact, in populations living near starvation or living through cycles of feast and famine, which would probably include many of our ancestors, diabetics might be better off than nondiabetics. They have a different sort of metabolism, one that becomes a disadvantage only when food is present in abundance all of the time. If this view is correct, as I believe it to be, then diabetes is not a disease or curse in itself but rather an alternative genetic constitution that becomes a disease only in relationship to lifestyle and environment. One suggestion that follows from this line of thinking is that perhaps lifestyle and environment can be manipulated in ways that encourage the disease to recede. .... " ------------------------------- To me it is quite clear here that he is talking only about Type 2. I find it impossible to think of any circumstances in which Type 1 " diabetics might be better off than nondiabetics " . And when he talks about " manipulating lifestyle and environment " he must surely be referring to the theme that runs all through his stuff - namely that the mind and soul play an important part, too. And that it is up to the patient to experiment with breathing, relaxation, stress reduction, massage, meditation, biofeedback and hypnotherapy, etc. When he says that he has " no alternative program to suggest " I believe he means that there is never going to be a " wonder pill " - we just have to accept that the way we have been living up to now has not been the healthiest and that we ought to question, and consider changing, every single aspect of our behaviour pattern if we are looking for long-term lasting improvement. I am sure he doesn't mean that we diabetics Type 2 would be better off as part of " populations living near starvation or living through cycles of feast and famine " . Those kind of populations usually don't get to live long enough to have diabetes Type 2 as one of their big problems. I believe he means that we have to live with the metabolism that, for whatever reason, we already have and the only real chance left to us is to try to live as close as possible to the kind of lifestyle that matches that metabolism. And that must surely include making energy expenditure (physical work, exercise) the centerpoint of our lives instead of energy intake (food, drink and candy). Dr. Weil has enough suggestions on his site to keep Type 2 diabetics busy for a while - it is a pity that he doesn't have much for Type 1's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.