anybody know anything about diabetes?

[Bennnyp]

My friend currently takes Lantus, Byetta, and Metformin for his diabetes. It's not working for him. Any help would be appreciated. I have been
following the blood sugar post.

[bwexler]

In my opinion he needs to clean up his diet and learn to understand the glycemic index and glycemic load.
100 calories from Cheetos is very different from 100 calories from spinach.
If he can avoid high glycemic food it will make a dramatic difference, assuming he is type two diabetic.
That men's avoiding anything made with WHITE sugar, flour, pasta, or potatoes. Avoid alchaholic beverages. All of these turn to surgery in the body. They will cause blood sugar to spike causing insulin release which will quickly reduce blood sugar and induce hunger. This creates a roller coaster that cause insulin resistance, weight gain and diabetes.

Until you learn to control the diet, the medications will only mask the symptoms, until they can't anymore. Then you develope heart disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, which can lead to blindness, amputation, and death.

Diabetes is a progressive disease that is now starting in childhood and developing over a period of many years.

[9forus]

Neither Lantus nor Byetta are good for bringing glucose levels down after a meal spike. They are "long acting" and aren't made for treating spikes. Is he seeing an endocrinologist? What about a nutritionist. Is he type 1 or type 2. While both are "diabetes", they are very different kinds of diabetes. What is his A1C? How often and when does he test?

[SpectreWriter]

Both of those posts are right, have valuable info and important questions.

How much metformin? What OTHER drugs?

Diet IS a factor in controlling T2 Diabetes. It isn't the only thing, by far.

Another thing to check: Testosterone levels (both of them) and Thyroid levels.

If he's eating lots of flour and sugar, sucking down Pepsi... He's doing some of it to himself. Tell him to drink Throwback if he likes Pepsi or Mountain Dew. Even in sweets, there is a difference in how the body processes it. Throwback is made with real sugar, which takes longer (and more energy) to break down than high fructose corn syrup (which is just about like taking glucose IV).

The guy needs to be actively and seriously controlling HIS condition. Internal Medicine and Endo docs can help a lot, but he's still in charge of what he puts in his mouth.

STRONGLY recommend going to a vegan diet consisting largely of green plants, but entirely of natural and organic foods. No, it's NOT boring. That's what spice and variation are for. I make a wicked stew that everyone, vegan or omnivore, chases after, for example.

Bottom line? He's got to be actively involved in his own health, and willing to give up the old ways of eating to feel good and be healthy again.

[JeffH]

Both of those posts are right, have valuable info and important questions.

How much metformin? What OTHER drugs?

Diet IS a factor in controlling T2 Diabetes. It isn't the only thing, by far.

Another thing to check: Testosterone levels (both of them) and Thyroid levels.

If he's eating lots of flour and sugar, sucking down Pepsi... He's doing some of it to himself. Tell him to drink Throwback if he likes Pepsi or Mountain Dew. Even in sweets, there is a difference in how the body processes it. Throwback is made with real sugar, which takes longer (and more energy) to break down than high fructose corn syrup (which is just about like taking glucose IV).

The guy needs to be actively and seriously controlling HIS condition. Internal Medicine and Endo docs can help a lot, but he's still in charge of what he puts in his mouth.

As a type 2 diabetic I strongly recommend NOT following the above advice. I don't drink anything but water, decaf tea, and coffee. No soft drinks of any kind. I have also lost 100lbs following a Paleo / Primal diet. My A1c is in the high 4's low to middle 5's. I eat plenty of animal protein and also lots of fresh veggies. Remember, diabetes is a screwed up metabolism disease and animal protein has no carbs so it won't screw with your blood sugar. I've been eating Paleo for beginning four years now and continue to amaze my doctor. I'm probably his only patient that is doing good.

JeffH

STRONGLY recommend going to a vegan diet consisting largely of green plants, but entirely of natural and organic foods. No, it's NOT boring. That's what spice and variation are for. I make a wicked stew that everyone, vegan or omnivore, chases after, for example.

Bottom line? He's got to be actively involved in his own health, and willing to give up the old ways of eating to feel good and be healthy again.

[BlackSpinner]

STRONGLY recommend going to a vegan diet consisting largely of green plants, but entirely of natural and organic foods. No, it's NOT boring. That's what spice and variation are for. I make a wicked stew that everyone, vegan or omnivore, chases after, for example.

And a far better diet for most people is the Low carb hi fat with lots of meat. Along with lots of walking and working out.

[old dude]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here is all your friend will ever need to know: http://www.diabetes-book.com

I'm not kidding; PLEASE make sure your friend gets this book and adopts what it teaches. Dr. Richard K. Bernstein is truly a diabetes sherpa. But he has been largely ignored by the mainstream medical and pharma community, I suspect because his teachings don't help line their pockets.

[Woody]

I beg to differ Byetta handles my after meals glucose levels very well. But if your friend is taking
metformin, lantis and byetta and still not doing good could he be developing type 1 diabetes it
does happen.

[Captain_Midnight]

BlackSpinner writes...And a far better diet for most people is the Low carb hi fat with lots of meat. Along with lots of walking and working out.

And, I concur, wholeheartedly.

I just had my annual Drs' visit, and all is A-OK. And, I want everyone reading this to have the same happy visit.

For your reading pleasure, please consider two current titles...Wheat Belly and Grain Brain.

Both are written by physicians with actual clinical experience of what they profess. Diabetes is covered, in detail, in both books.

(And other topics as well, including weight loss and Alzheimer's prevention.)

.

.

[Janknitz]

Plus one on the Diabetes Book. The book is actually The Diabetes Solution by Dr Richard Bernstein. He has the most important stuff on the website if your friend can't purchase or borrow the book. And this website http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php is based on Bernstein but breaks it down into smaller, manageable bites.

I like Wheat Belly and Grain Brain, concepts, too except the books tend to be hyperbolic. The message is clear--avoid grains, limit carbs, eat plenty of natural fats and non-starchy vegetables, and moderate amounts of animal fat.

The easiest, simplest, least hyped guide is here: http://www.dietdoctor.com/LCHF

If your friend is not well controlled with all of those meds, chances are she either has a terrible diet, or she's religiously following ADA's eat up and shoot up diet. ADA is all about multiple servings of "healthy" whole grains and low fat. A dietary disaster for diabetes.

But if she's not open to reading, learning, and trying something new you'll be really frustrated trying to help her. Don't beat your head against the wall too hard!

[SpectreWriter]

Some of you will do pretty much anything to keep on eating fat and flesh, won't you? Because that has worked SO WELL for SO MANY of you so far, right?

No, it is NOT "better". It's not even good. Truth. Medical reality. Fact.

Spout all that nonsense if you like. There is far too much scientific, medical FACT supporting eating vegetarian and vegan diets to even have to argue such dull-witted tripe.

Flesh has many problems, not the least of which are hormones and other unnatural influences. 7 year old girls are going into puberty because of the growth hormones, for chrissakes, but you lot will keep on buying into that line of nonsense. Ever bother to think, to ponder on why the cattle and dairy industries spend so much money telling us it's good for us and we NEED it? When we NEED something, nobody has to advertise the product itself. You may see ads for PRICES of a needed commodity, but nobody's going to be spending money telling you you NEED gasoline.

Spew whatever you like, but be able to back it up with solid science, not just an opinion stated as fact.

(And now I'm reminded of why I took a break from this group. The ignorance is remarkable.)

[SleepWrangler]

Some of you will do pretty much anything to keep on eating fat and flesh, won't you? Because that has worked SO WELL for SO MANY of you so far, right?

Well, we can compare results if you like. I have 16 months of meticulous records that record every gram and every kcal of every morsel of food I consumed during my mostly raw VHC vegan diet. I loved that diet. It got me consuming organic whole foods. I struggled and eventually had to quit because to sustain a VHC vegan diet required an 800 kcal daily deficit and a 1200 kcal daily exercise regime. I typically burn about 600 kcal per hour of exercise. Do the math. Reducing the deficit would not necessarily reduce the daily exercise regime because simple scaling of calories-in and calories-out does not equate to well managed weight and glucose. There are complex processes in-between. I also kept above the daily kcal requirements for healthy base metabolic rate. My blood sugars never achieved the lows I had wanted and spiked after every meal. Therapeutic, yes when the exercise regime was achievable; well below therapeutic values, no.

I've been LCHF for about six weeks and only seriously controlling carbs for 15 days. Here is my log from this morning:
► Resting blood pressure 119/68 @ 6:18am
► Resting heart rate 52 @ 6:18am
► NO headache upon waking.
► 5:36am Waking glucose 107 mg/dl (5.9 mmol/l)
► 7:10am Breakfast (13%C / 20%P / 67%F)
► 7:30am Glucose 107 mg/dl (5.9 mmol/l)
► 8:00am Glucose 98 mg/dl (5.4 mmol/l)

Look at the breakfast postprandial. In particular look at the postprandial time. Notice the postprandial glucose spike? No? Because there isn't one. Think about that a little bit. BTW, this is now typical for me. Also, I've never experienced glucose lower than 108 mg/dl (6.0 mmol/l) in my previous 20 years of diabetes including three years VHC mostly raw vegan. Going without meat does not equate to healthy diabetic existence even with an extreme exercise regime.

Can I achieve this as a LCHF vegan? Very possibly. I'm still researching but there are health benefits to consuming wild and organic meat. Your ranting does nothing but make me think you are unhinged. No real knowledge but just a lot of passion. Doesn't help me in the least.

[old dude]

Some of you will do pretty much anything to keep on eating fat and flesh, won't you? Because that has worked SO WELL for SO MANY of you so far, right?

No, it is NOT "better". It's not even good. Truth. Medical reality. Fact.

Spout all that nonsense if you like. There is far too much scientific, medical FACT supporting eating vegetarian and vegan diets to even have to argue such dull-witted tripe.

Flesh has many problems, not the least of which are hormones and other unnatural influences. 7 year old girls are going into puberty because of the growth hormones, for chrissakes, but you lot will keep on buying into that line of nonsense. Ever bother to think, to ponder on why the cattle and dairy industries spend so much money telling us it's good for us and we NEED it? When we NEED something, nobody has to advertise the product itself. You may see ads for PRICES of a needed commodity, but nobody's going to be spending money telling you you NEED gasoline.

Spew whatever you like, but be able to back it up with solid science, not just an opinion stated as fact.

(And now I'm reminded of why I took a break from this group. The ignorance is remarkable.)

How patently silly.

We're talking about diabetes and blood sugar here, not hormones and other unspecified "unnatural influences". The evidence is irrefutable and is now even starting to be accepted by the mainstream medical establishment. Try this recent article from the WSJ:

http://online.wsj.com/news/article_emai ... NDExNDQyWj

Your vitriol seems typical to me for a person whose mythical belief system has been threatened by reality.

If ignorance is bliss, congratulations on the level of happiness to which you've risen.

[BlackSpinner]

Some of you will do pretty much anything to keep on eating fat and flesh, won't you? Because that has worked SO WELL for SO MANY of you so far, right?

No, it is NOT "better". It's not even good. Truth. Medical reality. Fact.

Spout all that nonsense if you like. There is far too much scientific, medical FACT supporting eating vegetarian and vegan diets to even have to argue such dull-witted tripe.

Flesh has many problems, not the least of which are hormones and other unnatural influences. 7 year old girls are going into puberty because of the growth hormones, for chrissakes, but you lot will keep on buying into that line of nonsense. Ever bother to think, to ponder on why the cattle and dairy industries spend so much money telling us it's good for us and we NEED it? When we NEED something, nobody has to advertise the product itself. You may see ads for PRICES of a needed commodity, but nobody's going to be spending money telling you you NEED gasoline.

Spew whatever you like, but be able to back it up with solid science, not just an opinion stated as fact.

(And now I'm reminded of why I took a break from this group. The ignorance is remarkable.)

You are out of date. Even the ADA admits that its diet is wrong but believe the public is too stupid to deal with a low carb high fat diet. Growth hormones are another topic all together.

[chunkyfrog]

The ADA guidelines are useless to many T2 diabetics.
The carbohydrates recommended in the brochure given me by the doctor are outrageous!
This much carb in my diet would put me on a pump!
Small wonder the pamphlet was printed courtesy of a DRUG COMPANY!