Re: Reader's Digest Article - Switch off Your Hunger - July 2003

[Guest guest]

Hi, Debbie, please don't back off, we need to hear all points of view. It 's

true that a large number of us have had great success in improving our BGs by

lowering our carb intake. But as I mentioned in an earlier post, diabetes is

a very individual disease so what works for one person may not work for

another ( " YMMV " ). The best thing we can do is try different methods and find the

one

that works for us. This is determined by eating any single food after first

testing BG then testing one and two hours afterwards, the goal being under 120

two hours later.

Many have also found that eating a lower carb/higher fat diet also improves

our cholesterol levels.

We also need to be aware that what works today may not work tomorrow. Even

with excellent BG control, things change.

How long have you been diabetic? What was your last A1C?

Vicki

In a message dated 06/21/2003 8:29:50 PM US Mountain Standard Time,

debbiesg@... writes:

>

> I am on a low fat high carb diet and I am not overweight or ever have been.

> You all profess that you know there are more than one way to treat diabetes

> but so far I have heard only one.

[Guest guest]

Actually, there really is no " official " number that makes you a low carber.

However, since Dr. Bernstein recommends 30 a day and the average American diet

(so I've read) is about 300+ per day, I would assume that you could call 100

carbs a day moderate. Which, BTW, is about what I eat.

However, I do need to point out that I'm a type 1 (LADA) on insulin and am

not overweight.

Vicki

In a message dated 06/22/2003 8:02:09 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

GlassArtist@... writes:

>

> Hi Debbie...

> No you are not the minority. I agree with you, even though I have still cut

> down my carbs to about 100 grams a day.

>

>

[Guest guest]

30 years. Type 1. Last A1C 5.7.

If I may??? There was a study done on people who followed Atkins.

They had a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than those who

did not. I agree low carbing helps to loose weight. But the whole

picture should be looked at. Not just your blood sugar today but the

consequences down the road.

Yes I have a lot of complications. But not due to high blood sugars.

I followed ADA's diet until the many complications dictated a

different diet. Basically I follow the old fashioned diet of eat

right from all your food groups but in moderation and certain foods

are out. I am on low cholesterol, low fat, low sodium, low protein,

low potassium, and I am lactose intolerant. Lets see what does that

leave? Carbs. Why those restrictions? I have had a heart attack, have

cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure and impaired kidney

function (kidney disease). I have the opposite of hypertension. Very

low blood pressure. Dangerously so. Because of the heart and kidneys

my body retains fluid. So diuretics. All three of the above are

treated with some form of blood pressure medication. I also have

orthostatic blood pressure. That is when it drops alot when you

change elevation. So that was a major balancing act.

BUT.....I have lowered my creatine level. My heart is stable. Right I

said big deal too. But my doc informed me that my condition

deteriates so stable is an improvement. For 5 years after my heart

attack I was in a wheel chair. I could not exercise. I could do

mostly nothing. But then I didn't feel like it. All three coronary

arteries are 100% clogged. The cardiologist who did the heart cath

said he could do nothing for me. The next doc said he would give me a

3% chance of getting up off the operating table (bypass) and he

couldn't give me any odds on leaving the hospital. The next 2 docs I

seen said they couldn't do anything. So I assumed with 4 opinions I

would stop looking. I have microvasular disease. There was no vein

past the clog to bypass to. Opening up the vein would have been

unthinkable. At 44 I found out I had had a heart attack sometime

while I was 43. Life expectancy-probably not to 50. That is 6 months

away. I am now walking. Maybe after my next stress test I can start

the arobic exercising again. I plan on proving them all wrong.

That is the only time my A1C was high. Because that is the same time

my kidneys stopped working at 100%. I did not know when that happens

you gain weight. 60 pounds in 6 weeks. All water. I was literally the

pillsbury dough boy. My grandmother passed away. She was my best

friend and more like a mom than my mom. A personal problem at home. I

checked out for awhile. But I am back. Maybe I joined this group to

let it all out. Because on top of all that, I had just been through

the laser treatments for my eyes. I have all I can have. I have had a

victrecomy. I don't know how to spell that. It is where they go in

behind the eye and remove the jelly stuff and put a substitute in.

And I believed if I took care of myself the complications would be

postponed if not canceled. And I have very little support at home.

Hey will get off my soap box.

Debbie

> Hi, Debbie, please don't back off, we need to hear all points of

view. It 's

> true that a large number of us have had great success in improving

our BGs by

> lowering our carb intake. But as I mentioned in an earlier post,

diabetes is

> a very individual disease so what works for one person may not work

for

> another ( " YMMV " ). The best thing we can do is try different methods

and find the one

> that works for us. This is determined by eating any single food

after first

> testing BG then testing one and two hours afterwards, the goal

being under 120

> two hours later.

>

> Many have also found that eating a lower carb/higher fat diet also

improves

> our cholesterol levels.

>

> We also need to be aware that what works today may not work

tomorrow. Even

> with excellent BG control, things change.

>

> How long have you been diabetic? What was your last A1C?

> Vicki

>

> In a message dated 06/21/2003 8:29:50 PM US Mountain Standard Time,

> debbiesg@k... writes:

>

>

> >

> > I am on a low fat high carb diet and I am not overweight or ever

have been.

> > You all profess that you know there are more than one way to

treat diabetes

> > but so far I have heard only one.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know that Atkins and I guess Bernstein's methods provide for weight loss

by eating very low carbs. However in the many years before I was diabetic

whenever I wanted to drop some weight I did weight watchers and lost weight

with no problem by eating mainly low calorie and low fat. Weight watchers

is anything but low carb. If it's just a matter of weight loss, you don't

have to eat low carb. Unfortunately, I have to do both... lower the BG's

and lose weight and so far I'm doing it. I'm sticking with what works (at

least for now). :-)

D.

Re: Reader's Digest Article - Switch off Your

Hunger - July 2003

> Actually, there really is no " official " number that makes you a low

carber.

> However, since Dr. Bernstein recommends 30 a day and the average American

diet

> (so I've read) is about 300+ per day, I would assume that you could call

100

> carbs a day moderate. Which, BTW, is about what I eat.

>

> However, I do need to point out that I'm a type 1 (LADA) on insulin and

am

> not overweight.

> Vicki

>

> In a message dated 06/22/2003 8:02:09 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

> GlassArtist@... writes:

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/22/2003 9:58:16 PM Central Standard Time,

GlassArtist@... writes:

> Weight watchers

> is anything but low carb. If it's just a matter of weight loss, you don't

> have to eat low carb.

Weight Watchers and Craig both now offer a low carb program and if a

long period goes by without weight loss they recommend lowering the carbs to

keep losing weight.

Ressy

[Guest guest]

People on the Atkins diet who develop cardiovascular problems are using

too many free radical producing oils, such as corn, canola, and soy.

These oils are also thyroid-suppressing and fattening; the ranchers use

them on the feedlot to make livestock fat and slow. On the other hand,

saturated fats can not oxidize themselves or your cholesterol so can not

cause the disease. When ranchers tried fattening their animals on thyroid-

enhancing coconut oil, the animals became lean, active and hungry.

For more information, please see " The Oiling Of America " by Enig.

Her work and others is linked from my webpage at:

http://members.shaw.ca/duncancrow/tropical_traditions_coconut.html

You'll find the references to be very enlightening.

Also, because diabetes complications are related to oxidation or AKA free

radical damage, it makes sense to take a spectrum of antioxidants just to

cover all your bases. It's part of the anti-aging protocols anyway.

On low carbing, there's still a large degree of confusion between easy

carbs and indigestible fiber, which is also a carb. The indigestible

fiber is digested not by us, but by the bowel bacteria. When they do that

you get the energy/molecular benefit of the carbs but without the insulin

and blood sugar increase. So down the road you will be healthier if you

take in more of these indigestible fibers, more like the human diet was

before farming easy carbs began.

I'm on a few diabetes lists and I see more attempts to cheat on the low-

carb diet than to follow it. Even healthy people go on the " Fat Wars "

diet which is quite similar to the Atkins diet but uses less oil, and

almost eliminates the damaging oils. The diet is about metabolic control

and keeping the HGH levels elevated as much as possible so you heal and

build quality tissue as much as possible. To do that, master nutritionist

Brad King recommends that you reduce the easy carbs and starches and

usually increase protein intake.

Duncan Crow

>

> If I may??? There was a study done on people who followed Atkins.

> They had a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than those who did

> not. I agree low carbing helps to loose weight. But the whole picture

> should be looked at. Not just your blood sugar today but the consequences

> down the road.

[Guest guest]

People on the Atkins diet who develop cardiovascular problems are using

too many free radical producing oils, such as corn, canola, and soy.

These oils are also thyroid-suppressing and fattening; the ranchers use

them on the feedlot to make livestock fat and slow. On the other hand,

saturated fats can not oxidize themselves or your cholesterol so can not

cause the disease. When ranchers tried fattening their animals on thyroid-

enhancing coconut oil, the animals became lean, active and hungry.

For more information, please see " The Oiling Of America " by Enig.

Her work and others is linked from my webpage at:

http://members.shaw.ca/duncancrow/tropical_traditions_coconut.html

You'll find the references to be very enlightening.

Also, because diabetes complications are related to oxidation or AKA free

radical damage, it makes sense to take a spectrum of antioxidants just to

cover all your bases. It's part of the anti-aging protocols anyway.

On low carbing, there's still a large degree of confusion between easy

carbs and indigestible fiber, which is also a carb. The indigestible

fiber is digested not by us, but by the bowel bacteria. When they do that

you get the energy/molecular benefit of the carbs but without the insulin

and blood sugar increase. So down the road you will be healthier if you

take in more of these indigestible fibers, more like the human diet was

before farming easy carbs began.

I'm on a few diabetes lists and I see more attempts to cheat on the low-

carb diet than to follow it. Even healthy people go on the " Fat Wars "

diet which is quite similar to the Atkins diet but uses less oil, and

almost eliminates the damaging oils. The diet is about metabolic control

and keeping the HGH levels elevated as much as possible so you heal and

build quality tissue as much as possible. To do that, master nutritionist

Brad King recommends that you reduce the easy carbs and starches and

usually increase protein intake.

Duncan Crow

>

> If I may??? There was a study done on people who followed Atkins.

> They had a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than those who did

> not. I agree low carbing helps to loose weight. But the whole picture

> should be looked at. Not just your blood sugar today but the consequences

> down the road.

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie -

I am also on a moderate carb diet and I probably should have said so. I

keep my fat intake at a moderate level also, and only from healthy

sources such as olive oil used on salad.

I'm a bit more inclined myself to believe that the " supersizing " of

everything at fast food places and the tendency of Americans to eat out

more often, combined with the high likelihood that most children drink

soda far more often than milk or water, is what has led to the sharp

rise in obesity. I think that collectively many Americans eat a diet

high in everything while getting very little exercise.

I'll count myself among that group for many years and I am overweight,

though since diagnosis I've lost 33 lbs. and I now exercise regularly.

I've got quite a ways to go before I reach a normal weight for my

height, and eating lower GI carbs for the carbs I do consume definitely

helps. There is a certain measure of common sense in this in that they

do not raise the BG level as much and do not produce the same kind of

carb cravings in me that the " white " stuff does.

I tried low carbing and found that I couldn't do it. I eventually had

major gastro-intestinal problems. I feel a lot healthier when eating a

balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables. My doctor

agrees and my HbA1c still remains solid at 4.7 as it has at every 3

month checkup for the past year.

Anne

> Re: Reader's Digest Article - Switch off

Your

> Hunger - July 2003

>

> I am on a low fat high carb diet and I am not overweight or ever

have

> been. You all profess that you know there are more than one way to

> treat diabetes but so far I have heard only one. You are less

likely

> to have cardiovasular disease and heart attack if you eat a low

fat

> diet. Diabetics are more prone to cardiovasular disease than the

> average person. Low fat and high carb diet has not led to obesity

and

> more diabetes. Overeating and no exercise have caused these

things.

> From my point of view the GI has been mainstream for a number of

> years. Anyway I shall back off as I seem to me in the minority.

> Debbie

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie -

I am also on a moderate carb diet and I probably should have said so. I

keep my fat intake at a moderate level also, and only from healthy

sources such as olive oil used on salad.

I'm a bit more inclined myself to believe that the " supersizing " of

everything at fast food places and the tendency of Americans to eat out

more often, combined with the high likelihood that most children drink

soda far more often than milk or water, is what has led to the sharp

rise in obesity. I think that collectively many Americans eat a diet

high in everything while getting very little exercise.

I'll count myself among that group for many years and I am overweight,

though since diagnosis I've lost 33 lbs. and I now exercise regularly.

I've got quite a ways to go before I reach a normal weight for my

height, and eating lower GI carbs for the carbs I do consume definitely

helps. There is a certain measure of common sense in this in that they

do not raise the BG level as much and do not produce the same kind of

carb cravings in me that the " white " stuff does.

I tried low carbing and found that I couldn't do it. I eventually had

major gastro-intestinal problems. I feel a lot healthier when eating a

balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables. My doctor

agrees and my HbA1c still remains solid at 4.7 as it has at every 3

month checkup for the past year.

Anne

> Re: Reader's Digest Article - Switch off

Your

> Hunger - July 2003

>

> I am on a low fat high carb diet and I am not overweight or ever

have

> been. You all profess that you know there are more than one way to

> treat diabetes but so far I have heard only one. You are less

likely

> to have cardiovasular disease and heart attack if you eat a low

fat

> diet. Diabetics are more prone to cardiovasular disease than the

> average person. Low fat and high carb diet has not led to obesity

and

> more diabetes. Overeating and no exercise have caused these

things.

> From my point of view the GI has been mainstream for a number of

> years. Anyway I shall back off as I seem to me in the minority.

> Debbie

[Guest guest]

That's really great that they have low carb programs now, especially

for people like me who have to lose weight and limit carbs. But

millions of people can and have lost weight without having to do

that. I think, as with everything, it depends on the person. We're

all different. :-)

D.

> Weight Watchers and Craig both now offer a low carb program

and if a

> long period goes by without weight loss they recommend lowering the

carbs to

> keep losing weight.

>

> Ressy