Extreme low carbing is the only way to get the A1c numbers down. When they come down, the cholestral problem goes away. the high blood pressure problem is partially solved.

I do not think anyone can ever get totally away from having to take some antidiabetic drugs forever. That is not how the thing works. Weight control works for a while, as does low carb lifestyle.

Replacing sugar and starch with fats works very well to keep the brain functioning.

Non diabetic medical personel do not have the incentive to stay with the extreme low carb lifestyle. Therefore they say it is too hard for people to stick with it.

I test my glucose numbers fasting, before and after all food intake, and before bed. My diabetes has progressed to taking MDI (multiple daily injections) and oral meds, inspite of eating extreme low carb, increasing my activity level and every other thing I was advised to do.

BTW: did you know doctors all flip out if one gets their A1c down in the vicinity of 5??? anything below 5.5 is considered too low for a diabetic person.

Sigh. Amy, Amy… Where’s the evidence for this statement? Can I see ONE study confirming this? Or perhaps some clinical evidence? There is NONE! These so-called “severe” low-carb “restrictions” actually prevent binge eating, and willpower is something that is not really necessary. At least less willpower than on high-carb, portion control starvation diets. The only thing that might be beneficial is perhaps a thick skin against this kind of “wisdom”.

I’m under no illusion that my diabetes will “go away.” I may be able to get off my meds and keep my blood sugar at normal, non-diabetic levels through my new lifestyle. However, if I go back to my previous way of eating, my blood sugar will skyrocket. I have accepted that my body can’t process carbs like it used to and I’ve made the necessary lifestyle changes.

I agree with you that “limit fat and eat up to 60% carbs” is “dietary advice.” Funny, that’s what I did before I became diabetic. By their logic, I should never have become diabetic. Also, what blood sugar “numbers” do they espouse? I’ll bet it’s the dangerously high targets from the ADA or American Association of Clinical Endrocrinologists. Don’t they know that high blood sugar, even in the “normal” range, kills over 3 million people a year? See: http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot.com/2006/11/when-normal-isnt-optimal-for-health.html#links
The medical establishment is more concerned with getting LDL cholesterol under 100 mg/dL than with getting blood sugar under 100 mg/dL. Of course, they have it all bassackwards.

It will be interesting to see what Dr. Jackson has to say. Please let them know that you can not only cite studies, but also personal experience. Only 15% of diabetics acheive an A1C < 6%.(What does that say about the state of diabetes care???) Mine is and I can forsee the day I get off diabetes meds. Many people would kill to have my lipid profile, yet I’m not on cholesterol medication and I break most of the “rules” for lowering cholesterol. My blood pressure is normal and I will eventually ask about getting off my blood pressure meds. Getting off refined cabs & fake fats, cutting way back on starches, and yes, even increasing fat consumption worked wonders for me.

Jimmy,

Even though all of the new studies are proving everything us medical people have had drummed into our heads for years is wrong, it is difficult sometimes (even for Moi) to wrap our heads around this.

I have been a low carb proponent for several years now and constantly combat this with my Mother who is a Type II diabetic.

Her Dr tells her the exact opposite of what I talk to her about. Guess who wins???? LOL Certainly not a know it all nurse daughter you can be your boots on that.

She certainly thinks that the way I eat is crazy! Even when I try to define it as just I will eat some meat and some veggies Mom. That will be good enough. She becomes offended that I am not eating the cake she made me specially. She can also have some because Dr Ron said it was okay once or twice a week to have something sweet!!

I certainly fight this at work we have plenty of obese diabetic residents who are all on No Concentrated sweets diets. They get fruit sometimes but other times a smaller portion of cake or pie, maybe reduced sugar whatever.

However even with the reduced sugar most of these things are still high carb. This only goes for the dessert too, they still get all of the pasta and breading on their food everyone else does.

I don’t fault them for the low-fat bias. The low-fat message for diabetics is everywhere. The medical establishment is more interested in limiting fat (especially that root-of-all-evil, saturated fat) than in eliminating sugar & refined carbs. Their philosophy is eat your 50% – 60% carbs, because that’s what you need to be healthy, and cover it with medication if necessary. My experience tells me they have it all bassackwards. I now eat more fat (even, gasp, saturated fat) and fewer carbs than I did before I became diabetic and I have seen significant improvements in glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure, with minimal medication. Their approach is good for the drug companies, but is killing diabetics.

I was recently pondering the notion I hear that whole grains prevent diabetes. It dawned on me that they are comparing a diet with whole grains to the standard american diet, which is high in refined grains. Well duh, if you go from refined grains to whole grains, you will see less risk of diabetes. The question is, what risk reduction will you see from eating little to no grains? To the best of my knowledge, there are no studies testing that. I’ll bet anything that you will see a greater risk reduction. I used to eat a lot of whole grains, but they didn’t help me lose weight or prevent diabetes.

Suzique at Waisted in the Wasteland had a good post on the low-fat, diabetes thing. One of the commenters insisted that diabetics should eat complex carbs. It’s hard to tell if this person was being facetious, but I had to add my point of view.
http://waistedinthewasteland.blogspot.com/2007/03/diabetes-low-fat-diets-heart-disease.html#links