Re: A word about Low carb diets

[Guest guest]

> As for Cassie...you could put her on a diabetic diet of sorts,

maybe not as strict, but it's a healthy way to eat. Mostly we cut

out carbs, eat a little heavier in the veggie, protein and fat

areas...

> then as Heidi and I told the diabetes list we're on...fats and

high protein won't work for our pancreatitis ! It is definitely a

challenge, but I feel so much better than I did in Dec and Jan and

have lost 15 pounds in the last 10 weeks just giving up the

" white " foods...sugar, flour, pasta, rice, bread, potatoes...sakes !

Hugs, Jeannine

> Dr Bernstein has a book called " Diabetic Solutions " you might

wish to check out of the library...I was hooked on it before I

finished the first chapter. He explians everything in easy to read

fashion but never talks down to us. He's been a lifelong diabetic

so he knows what he's talking about...

> Would the doctors send Cassie to a dietician for her

pancreatiits and then when you get in there you could talk to this

individual and get a meal plan for both conditions...?

Hi y'all,

Having just returned yesterday from a lengthly and thoroughly

informative session with my diabetic nurse educator (DNE), I do

have a word of caution for anyone with CP about adopting

Bernstein's strict low carb diet regimen. My DNE was openly

OPPOSED to his type of diet restrictions (no more than 30 grams

of carbs per day) for a Type 1 brittle diabetic. It relies heavily

upon fats and proteins to supplement and prohibits fruits and

juices entirely. I realize that as a diabetic, fruits need to be eaten

sparingly, but for someone like me who loves them, saying NO

to all of them was pure torture!

While she admitted that this program may be suitable for an

overweight Type 2 diabetic, it was not suitable, in fact it could be

downright unhealthy and harmful for someone like me! Since all

my beta cells have been destroyed and am totally dependent

upon insulin for survival, she said I needed a more balanced

diet. There are no fat reserves left to tap into during low BG

periods. The only way I can " control " my blood glucose levels is

by insulin injection based on the carb/protein/fat content of each

meal.

The DNE said that the protocol for a brittle Type 1 was totally

different than that which a Type 2 can follow, and for me to never

forget this by trying suggestions that worked for Type 2's.

Hopefully, if any of you develop diabetes, your condition will be

caught early, monitored closely, and less severe than mine.

More than likely, you would be a Type 2, able to maintain better

control and would have the option of low-carbing. But I caution

anyone against initiating a diet like this until you have fully

discussed it with an experienced endocrinologist, not a

gastroenterologist, or even a nutritionist. My young nutritionist

was not knowledgeable enough to blend the diet needs of a

person with chronic pancreatitis AND diabetes-----because their

dietary restrictions are on opposite ends of the scale. It is truly a

challenge to find the middle road.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

Southeastern Representative

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion, and should

never be substituted for professional medical consultation.

[Guest guest]

This all makes a lot of sense Heidi...thanks for sharing it. I am

type 2 and at the time of diagnosis (10 weeks ago) needed to lose

about 35 pounds...I have lost 15 of them so far.

My " low carb " diet is about 100-130 a day...considering it was

nothing for me to eat hundreds and hundreds of carbs a day (or at one

sitting !)...and that I was a sugar/carb addict...what I am doing is

very healthy for me...small amounts of meat, small amounts of carbs

and heavy on the vegetables.

I have given up nearly all junk food: candy, cakes, pies, cookies...

no waffles, no pancakes, no blueberry muffins...no potatoes, no rice

and very limited amounts of pasta....no ice cream <sigh>...no sweet

rolls or danishes...no potato chips...you get the idea.

I have been mostly successful in bringing my sugar under control...

and I think you will have better luck when you can get your routine

established....

Hugs, Jeannine