ray" > wrote in message
news : On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:48:11 -0600, L. Conrad wrote:
:
: > 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?
:
: I would refer you to Dr. Richard Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution". He has
: been a type 1 diabetic for nearly 60 years and is in excellent health. His
: answer to your queries would be 'yes'. He advocates a diet of 30 grams of
: cabohydrates daily for insulin users. Please note I am not affiliated with
: Dr. B. - I have a copy of his book which I reread from time to time. I
: credit his basic approach to helping me gain control.
:
: One point he makes - there are certainly essential proteins; there are
: also certain essential fats; there are no essential carbohydrates.
:
: Good luck.
:

Well here goes Ray again in his cheer for bernsquack!!! The OP should be
adviced that Ray doesn't have any personal FIRST hand experience with
Insulin only what he has read from someone that MANY T1's find to be a Quack
with a personal agenda of ONLY selling his book.

Find me a crowd of 100, T1's and I'll show you maybe IF you're lucky to find
1 that follows the Quacks advice. Any T1 eating 30gms a day is looking for
problems being a diabetic. This isnt' advocated by any other reputable Endo
(which the quack isn't)

The OP should tell his friend to seek qualified medical help.

"rk" > wrote in message
news:u_OdnW71qOa4oSXYnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...

<respectful brevity snips>
>
> Well here goes Ray again in his cheer for bernsquack!!! The OP should be
> adviced that Ray doesn't have any personal FIRST hand experience with
> Insulin only what he has read from someone that MANY T1's find to be a
> Quack
> with a personal agenda of ONLY selling his book.
>
> Find me a crowd of 100, T1's and I'll show you maybe IF you're lucky to
> find
> 1 that follows the Quacks advice. Any T1 eating 30gms a day is looking
> for
> problems being a diabetic. This isnt' advocated by any other reputable
> Endo
> (which the quack isn't)
>
> The OP should tell his friend to seek qualified medical help.
>

They all do see their Drs but from what I can see do not follow the diets
they were given. I am hoping to convince them of the importance of diet as
one friend has already passed away from complications of diabetes. She had
adult onset. I don't want to lose another friend to this disease. I gasp
when we go out to eat and I see one of them eat a large portion of macaroni
with bread on the side. I also know one who may eat a normal meal but then
have a sugar laden slice of pie or a donut for dessert. One friend has no
idea what foods contain carbs and how many. She appears to have no interest
in learning either. It's frustrating for those of us who care for people
with this condition to see these things knowing they're surely harming
themselves.

"L. Conrad" > wrote in message
...
:
: "rk" > wrote in message
: news:u_OdnW71qOa4oSXYnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
:
: <respectful brevity snips>
: >
: > Well here goes Ray again in his cheer for bernsquack!!! The OP should be
: > adviced that Ray doesn't have any personal FIRST hand experience with
: > Insulin only what he has read from someone that MANY T1's find to be a
: > Quack
: > with a personal agenda of ONLY selling his book.
: >
: > Find me a crowd of 100, T1's and I'll show you maybe IF you're lucky to
: > find
: > 1 that follows the Quacks advice. Any T1 eating 30gms a day is looking
: > for
: > problems being a diabetic. This isnt' advocated by any other reputable
: > Endo
: > (which the quack isn't)
: >
: > The OP should tell his friend to seek qualified medical help.
: >
:
: They all do see their Drs but from what I can see do not follow the diets
: they were given. I am hoping to convince them of the importance of diet as
: one friend has already passed away from complications of diabetes. She
had
: adult onset. I don't want to lose another friend to this disease. I gasp
: when we go out to eat and I see one of them eat a large portion of
macaroni
: with bread on the side. I also know one who may eat a normal meal but
then
: have a sugar laden slice of pie or a donut for dessert. One friend has no
: idea what foods contain carbs and how many. She appears to have no
interest
: in learning either. It's frustrating for those of us who care for people
: with this condition to see these things knowing they're surely harming
: themselves.
:

I'm sure it is hard to sit back and watch... but unfortunately, you can't
make
them change or learn unless they want. Depression is a very real possibly
when dealing with someone with diabetes. Not to say they need medication
but talking to other diabetics locally might be one trick.

Best of luck.