Ma¢k wrote:
> [Default] On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:48:11 -0600, "L. Conrad"
> > Giggled into the madness of usenet:
>
>>I'm asking this because I have several friends and a
brother in law
>>with diabetes. My BIL doesn't need insulin as he controls
his
>>diabetes with diet alone. He's on a really low carb diet
and is doing
>>great. He also lost his excess weight. No, his
cholesterol levels
>>are not out of sight, staying under 200. He is in his
mid 70s now.
>>But my friends, ages from 50 to 75 will not eat a low carb
diet, one
>>doesn't even seem to realize what foods are high in carbs
or sugars.
>>One says carbs are necessary for health. The research
I've done so
>>far says that is not true since humans can make their own
carbs from
>>protein by splitting off one atom or some such (think
Eskimos and far
>>north peoples). I learned no one ever suffered a carb
deficiency.
>>They are unwilling to give up the foods they love such as
potatoes,
>>peas, bagels, cereals, corn etc.
>>
>>The questions a
>>
>>Can a diabetic, already on insulin control their
blood-sugar better by
>>adopting a very low carb, or near no carb diet?
>>Can a diabetic who adopts a low carb diet improve their
blood values
>>and need LESS insulin?
>>Would the need for less insulin be better for their
general health?
>>Can a diabetic slowly lower their carb levels to see if
less insulin
>>is needed?
>>
>>Your replies will be printed and given to them this coming
weekend.
>>
>>Thank you for your time.......
>
>
> type 1 diabetes is due to a lack of insulin production.
Every human
> needs a certain amount of insulin in their system. This
background or
> basal insulin maintains BG levels between meals and
prevents DKA a
> potentially fatal condition.
>
> A type 1 does not need to go low carb. and in some cases
due to
> individual characteristics in that one person, it could be
very
> dangerous. and make them more prone to severe hypos.
Frequent hypos
> leads to increased hypo unawareness. This is a very
dangerous problem
> for those prone to hypos (low blood sugars). They can
frequently not
> notice an oncoming hypo until they pass out and wake up,
if they are
> lucky, in the ER.
>
>
> there are simply too many variables involved to give
suggestions
> through a third party.
>
> Bring the individual here.

The line of questioning from the OP is suggestive of his
friends being type 2. I hope he will clarify this.