Need Help

[ashgor]

:help: Has anyone read Dr Bernstein's book - The Diabetes Diet?? Is it any good?
Thanks Ashley

[rzrbks]

ashgor

:help: Has anyone read Dr Bernstein's book - The Diabetes Diet?? Is it any good?
Thanks Ashley

Some of us have read and it and swear by it; others have read it and swear at it.

Another one of those, it's your version of the disease and you have to find what works for you.

Sorry:o

I fall on the side of swearing at it. I know many here will disagree but in my Humble opinion, it's nothing more than another version of Adkins.

For some people high protein/low carb is "Jest Fine", for others that's exactly the WRONG path.

That's why Medicine is an Art not a Science


Really though, you ought to read it and decide for yourself if it's something you would believe and follow.



If it is, Wonderful.

If it ain't, Wonderful.

[mark-TN]

I’m one that swears by it. With you being Type 1, I would suggest reading Dr Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution rather than just the Diabetes Diet Book. The Diabetes Solution contains everything that the Diet book does plus a whole lot more. As Rzr states it is definitely a personal choice and all you can do is expose yourself to it and then decide if it is for you or not.

Mark

[kgm0612]

I have read and re-read the Diabetes Solution book and would highly recommend it. It's sorta like my "bible".

Karen

[ashgor]

cool, thanks guys

[Cyborg]

There are some issues with Bernstein's book. The medical community does not support his findings. There is also no evidence that a low/no carb, high protein diet is safe for the human body over the long term. With the potential diabetics have for kidney and heart disease, common sense tells me that eating mostly fat and protein may not be safe over an extended period of time.

[jrcskb]

I agree with Cyborg. Avoiding carbs (which can be covered by your insulin) to instead eat more cholesterol/fat seems a bit strange. Moderation still seems like the most reasonable diet.

[MagsRM23]

This is a question to those of you who agree with Dr. Bernstein's approach/diet: How do you stop craving carbohydrates? I read the book recently, and I'm so fed up with my "bouncing ball" numbers and "bad" A1Cs, I'm really willing to try anything. I don't eat many carbs to begin with (I've pretty much already given up pasta and bread, but I still eat a lot of fruit, dairy, some tortillas, and the occasional high-carb snack food or dessert), but each new day, I tell myself it's going to be the day that I try the low-carb approach, and I just never stick to it. What did you do to help yourself stay motivated on the diet? What do you do when you eat out? How did you start? I guess it's all a question of willpower, and clearly I don't have much, but if anyone has any tips, I would love to hear them. You can either reply to this or send me a PM. Thanks!

-Maggie:)

[Cyborg]

I still low carb occasionally and I've done so for longer periods in the past. It helps to have a lot of snacks around that are low carb to fight the urge for carbs. Once you get past the first week or so, it becomes easier. It also helps if you like meats, fish and low carb veggies because that will probably make up the bulk of your diet. If you are watching your weight, be aware that the increased fat intake from increasing meat consumption will bring extra calories into your diet. There are alot of low carb foods available, even tortillas...

[MagsRM23]

I do actually prefer meats, fish, veggies, salads, etc., to heavy-carb foods. I find it easy to stick to at mealtimes, but when I want to snack on something, I never want veggies! It is most hard in social situations. I work at a summerstock theatre, and people are always going out to eat, getting fast food, eating high-carb snack foods, etc. I guess I just want to fit in, so it's hard for me to say "no" to pizza, Chinese, and things like that. They all know I'm diabetic, but I haven't made a big deal about it (I've been working for two weeks now, and will be for another ten), and I want to have fun with everyone when we go out. Any tips on how to broach the subject of pretty much not eating carbs anymore? I just don't want people to worry about me......

[Leesa]

If you are watching your weight, be aware that the increased fat intake from increasing meat consumption will bring extra calories into your diet. There are alot of low carb foods available, even tortillas...

Well, this may just be me (YMMV), but when I went low carb (initially because nobody would up my meds and my numbers were horrid) I lost weight, even though I increased my meat/fat intake. My weight has stabilized, but if I didn't eat a snack at bedtime I suspect that I'd have a hard time keeping weight on.

And as far as craving carbs goes, for me personally, it's a lot easier to eliminate certain foods altogether than to try to limit the amount of them that I would eat. I really don't crave carbs anymore, honest!

Leesa

[RickLV]

I use the Bernstein method and have my weight and T-2 diabetes under control w/o meds other than Insulow/EPO.

I do not follow the AMA, AHA, ADA doctrine as I believe they are responsible for the epidemic rise in obesity/diabetes/CHD. I eat like my grandparents did; they never heard of obesity/diabetes/CHD. They ate pork, beef, butter, buttermilk and on rare occations my Grandpa would go to town and bring back bananas for the kids.

I am not hungry and do not crave carbs.

Recommended reading: The Oiling of America (http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/oilingamerica.1.html).

[Cyborg]

I use the Bernstein method and have my weight and T-2 diabetes under control w/o meds other than Insulow/EPO.

I do not follow the AMA, AHA, ADA doctrine as I believe they are responsible for the epidemic rise in obesity/diabetes/CHD. I eat like my grandparents did; they never heard of obesity/diabetes/CHD. They ate pork, beef, butter, buttermilk and on rare occations my Grandpa would go to town and bring back bananas for the kids.

I am not hungry and do not crave carbs.

Recommended reading: The Oiling of America (http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/oilingamerica.1.html).

That is some article... I skimmed through it and at the end, found essentially the summary:

Kritchevsky and his co-authors concluded that physicians and nutritionists should "...focus on a further decrease in total fat intake and especially the intake of saturated fat... A reduction in total fat intake simplifies the problem, because all fats in the diet decrease and choices are unnecessary." However, even senior scientists find that fence-straddling is necessary. "We may conclude," wrote Kritchevsky and his colleagues, "that consumption of liquid vegetable oils is preferable to solid fats."

Which, to me, indicates that some fats are worse than others and we should decrease our total fat intake. So, if you are low carbing and low fatting, I guess the only thing left is protein. Watch out kidneys?

[RickLV]

Which, to me, indicates that some fats are worse than others and we should decrease our total fat intake. So, if you are low carbing and low fatting, I guess the only thing left is protein. Watch out kidneys?
Obviously you have an agenda. I would recommend reading the entire article.

[HelenM]

I quickly read the 2 articles in their entireity. I felt most of the evidence presented (albeit anecdotally)seemed to me to be directed towards trans fatty acids as being a major culprit in arteriosclerosis and little demonstrating that the high consumption of saturated fats is benign . I think that the case against trans fats seems to have been accepted in Europe, certainly all my 'diabetic' books counsel against their use and I 've read somewhere that new labelling laws will have to show the presence of such fats. (meanwhile I search for the word hydrogenated)

The article also seems to demonstrate the power of the large food manufacturing multinationals in defining the agenda. It does sadden me that they have so much power over peoples food choices.

Personally the article does not sway me towards a low carb, high fat diet it merely confirms my own food choices which have not really altered a great deal since becoming diabetic.(I've just become less likely to be tempted my something that I 'know' is not good for me) In terms of BS management and plaque deposition on my arteries it seems to be working so far. (admitedly not very long as a diabetic )

I try to eat a balanced diet. I see no benefit in over reducing carbs especially since that would mean a reduction in fruit and veg. I also feel that it is no coincidence that starches such as bread and potatoes have in most societies been the staple part of a diet.( I do realise that I am lucky enough (in diabetic terms)to be able to use insulin to cover them.)

To favour consumption of meat and dairy products lower in saturated fats but not to completely avoid red meats.Funnily enough I've never eaten margerine/spreads because I don't like them but use real butter sparingly

Where possible not to use manufactured products-it really needn't take that long to use fresh ingredients eg. I read this morning a short thread about salad dressing, well its easy enough just to combine oil, vinegar and flavourings, if necessary (to make it less calorific), use a little water or use yoghurt based dressings.

For most purposes where cooking fat is required to use olive oil (and not to heat it too high).

To be honest my diets not really different to the diet advocated by diabetics books and dieticians here..... is the ADA so different ?

[HelenM]

can't edit:

Just done a bit more research. Apparently the oil manufacturers want labelling here because fully hydrogenated fats don't contain transfats - only partially hydrogenated ones do. In the US there is recent labelling of transfats but not in restaurant foods (v high in fast foods) and in Denmark they have banned the use of more than 2% in any product but that they're replacing them with palm oil ..... which starts a whole new set of problems :rolleyes:

[Cyborg]

Obviously you have an agenda. I would recommend reading the entire article.

And by quoting the summary paragraph, I have an agenda?

My only agenda was to go to bed... If you don't like what the summary paragraph said, why even reference the article?