On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 17:26:08 -0700, "doyle" > wrote:
>I am not here to be ridiculed, nor am I a doctor. I have two friends that
>developed
>diabetes within a year of going on the diet. My wife became borderline while
>on the
> same diet. I am by no means an expert on nutrition because I have never
>been
>overweight. But if you really want insight, try this link.
>http://www.atkinsdietalert.org/
Diabetes is not only a result of being obese, or even overweight.
Heredity plays a large part.
My wife's family (including herself) has a very high incidence of
diabetes, as does mine.
On her side, her mother, herself,and one of two brothers are diabetic,
and only her brother could be considered fat, but not obese.
In my faminy, both my parents, myself, and two sisters are/were
diabetic; the only one of my immediate family who isn't is my brother,
and he's borderline.
The site referrenced warns often of high protein diets, but they are
talking about a diet that's *very* high in protein, not one in which
the protein only makes up a larger percentage of the diet than a
'normal' diet. For example:
"Over time, individuals who consume very large amounts of protein..."
In this, they are very right; diets very high in protein can cause
problems.
However, a diet like Atkins (or the South Beach Diet, which
specifically addressed the problem with different types of fat),
despite *some* increased problems from the higher percentage of
protein that makes up the diet, has an overall benefit by reducing the
problems that obesity brings on.
Which, I note, they don't address at all.
I am happy to discover that this site doesn't seem to be promoting
their own product, a refreshing discovery.
I've been onthe South Beach Diet for a few months, and have lost over
30 pounds. I have a good doctor (and a good HMO), and I have access to
several specialists, including an endocrinologist.
I do monthly blood/urine tests, specifically because of the danger of
*any* unbalanced diet (which the Atkins type certainly is).
Those who want/need to lose a substantial amount of weight should
definitely not do this alone; they need the help of professionals, and
I don't mean Ted at the gym! Access to medical pros who actually have
some idea of nutrition is essential, which, unfortunately, many don't
have, either becauise they can't, or won't.
As for the Atkins diet causing diabetes, the site you referred to
doesn't say that. Instead, it says that a high-protein diet can
complicate diabetes.
"While high-protein diets may carry potential health risks for anyone
if maintained for more than a few weeks, they are especially risky for
people with recurrent kidney stones, kidney disease, diabetes,
osteoporosis, colon cancer, or heart disease."
What they fail to mention is the much more serious problems the
failure to lose weight *will* cause.
While that site does give some good info, they don't seem to offer
much as an alternative except to say, "eat more veggies." While not a
bad idea, they also point out that the more extreme a diet is, the
less likely the person is to stay on it, which means the extra weight
stays, with dangers that far outweigh the problems of an Atkins-type
diet.
In my own case (which I'm not attempting to present as typical), my
protein intake from meat is about 5-6 ounces a day, which does not
qualify as 'high protein'.
I have a lot of pulled pork lettuce wraps (which I've written about
here before), with a lot of veggies. I'm seldom hungry.
I've cut my insulin dose in half, which is a definite sign of good
things going on. My blood tests are showing continuing improvement in
bodily functions.
The Atkins-type diet certainly can work to reduce weight and the
serious problems that that extra weight produces. If it's abused, it
can (like any abuse problem) cause problems.
Will the Atkins diet cause diabetes? I haven't seen any evidence of
it. Not even on the site you showed us.
Those who use such a diet are doing so because they are overweight, a
condition that itself can cause diabetes.
--
Bill
Replace "g" with "a"
Experience is what you get when you expected something else.