I highly recommend this book for anyone that has diabetes or has a family member with it. The book advocates a low carbohydrate diet similar to Dr. Atkins or the Protein Power plan to keep bloodsugar levels in check and reduce or eliminate (for Type II) the need for insulin. You can read online reviews of the book at Amazon.com to get an idea of what others think about it. Alan S.

I agree!! I have just started reading Dr. B's book and it is great. I just got done reading the Protein Power LifePlan and it is VERY informative, especially about insulin and the effect of the metabolization of carbohydrates. I started on a low-to-no-carb diet about 4 days after I found out I had diabetes (this last November) when I realized through my BS (blood sugar) monitorings that every time I ate any carbs, my BS raised dramatically. I think that the ADA's standard diabetic diet is a waste of health and should be banned. Anyone who is diabetic that goes on a low-carb diet would definitely see dramatic drops in their blood sugar. I have been able to drastically decrease the amount of medication I am on, and have hopes of being able to completely quit taking it soon. I digress... I just wanted to reiterate your feelings about Dr. Bernsteins book, it is really good!!

I couldn't find Dr. Bernstein's book on either Amazon or Books a Million. If you know, could you be more specific about where to find it on the site. Thanks

Originally posted by Cissy1:
I couldn't find Dr. Bernstein's book on either Amazon or Books a Million. If you know, could you be more specific about where to find it on the site. Thanks

Go to amazon, click on "Books" then type in "Dr. Bernstein's" in the search box and hit "GO" and it takes you right to it.



[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 04-01-2001).]

I agree that lo carb is the way to go. Anybody with a glucometer can see that carbs ruin your blood sugar. I take drugs for insulin resistance and follow a lo carb diet. My BS is usually in the normal range and this is after years of high readings. I'm doing better than I ever have. I have even lost a few pounds. I eat well and don't feel deprived. I found that being on lo carb is a matter of forming new habits. Instead of reaching for high carbohydrate foods, I reach for a snack of cheese or some other protein that I keep on hand. Now instead of my BS being in the 200-300 range, my readings are 95,88, 102, etc. I go to the dr. every 3 or 4 months and my HA1C is in the 6 range. My liver and kidneys work just fine and the opthamologist said that my eyes look normal. I take a vitamin pill every day. I will be living like this for the rest of my life. It's working for me.

Way to go hootie, you are on the right track.

I don't have diabetes, but have been doing the low carb diet for about 2.5 years to lose weight. Lost about 40 pounds and have been maintaining around 180# (6'0" tall) for over the past year and a half or so. Never felt better than when I was sticking with the low carb diet. What works for the diabetic also works for the overweight since both conditions are due to poor bloodsugar and insulin regulation, and in my opinion is brought on by a continous diet high in carbohydrates, especially sugars and other refined carbs (bread, pasta, grains, etc.).

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Alan S.
"I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian."

Hi, new here,I find this very interesting. I'm 42, in my 2end pregnancy had gestational diabetes but didn't need insulin, had to control my diet which was a real rude awakening, so I know what you are all going through.There I was 195 lbs 8 months pregnant and had to watch what I ate!!! and check my blood sugar 3 times a day. Well, that was 6 years ago, had my sugar checked yearly by pcp, not a fast, he says I'm ok. My point though is this.. Since I know I may be predestined to getting diabetes in the future, I have finally woken up and almost a year ago I began exercising 3 times a week, strenghth training and cardio, and I have lost 20 lbs, have 10 more to go to reach 140, I'm 5'7. When I had GD, the doctor emphasized that NONE of us should be pigging out, we should all eat small amounts 5-6 times a day. That is what I'm trying to do, It is so hard, I know what you all are going through, see I'm trying to prevent this disease if possible. Just curious why nobody had mentioned exercise and weight loss as cure or aid in diabetes as my doctor said this can really be where it all stems from . I have been pigging out for years, I used to weigh 118 in my 20's, then so on... When I had GD, pizza sent my sugar way up as well as a few M&Ms. This disease is really horrible, my friends mom just passed after suffering, amputation etc. hope they find a cure soon. Best to all Wendy

Losing weight and exercise has always been recommended to help diabetes and to slow its development. The only problem with that recommendation is that when you are predisposed to type II diabetes you usually have problems with losing weight. People with a potential for type II diabetes seem to put on weight regardless of how much they eat or exercise. The only way that I found that I could lose weight was to follow a lo carb diet. Also, the oral drugs that are prescribed for type II cause weight gain. When I started taking Rezulin, my weight went up a lot almost overnight. I quit taking it and told my dr. that I could not tolerate the side effect of that rapid and large a weight gain. It had nothing to do with the amount of food eaten. It had a mind of its own. Now I take other drugs for insulin resistance and stay on lo carb. I have managed to keep the weight gain from occurring by using this diet and have lost a few pounds. If I go off lo carb, I put on weight rapidly. I am not a big eater nor that interested in food. My dr. can see that I stay on my diet and meds because my tests show it. Nevertheless. I am still fat. If diet and exercise were all it took, I would be very thin. I'm sure others have similar stories and struggles.

Thanks a bunch. I just ordered the book today. Just to let some of you know, I went to MSN homepage and entered discount books. Clicked on the first one and entered Dr. Bernstein's name under author. I found the book for $18.16 plus s/h. Total $20.24. I cannot wait to get it. Again, thank you. Renee'

Hi!

I agree, Dr. Bernstein's book is great for a clear explanation of things, especially the insulin response.

Reading these posts though, I'm thinking. It is my understanding that people who do not have a problem with insulin/blood sugar can handle carbohyrates. Not everyone gets increased blood sugar from eating them. (they do, but their insulin response is adequate) But there are some people who eat carbs, even junky carbs, and never have a problem. Something needs to go wrong and I guess the problem is you don't know if you have this tendency or not until it happens.

You can also have insulin resistance and not be overweight. The "thin type II's" are in this group. 80% of type II diabetics are overweight, that leaves 20% who are not. You can have "visceral obesity" (excess weight in the abdomen) and not be overweight. This is demonstrated by a poor waist to hip ratio (In females, the waist measurement should be less than 80% of the hip measurement) But its true, insulin resistance is worse in people who are overweight.

In those who are not overweight, what causes insulin resistance? What makes a person's body ignore the insulin being produced and how does it decide at a certain point to start paying attention (or if it doesn't you become diabetic)?

Chris

Chris, we did not all come from the same gene pool. We are all different. Those with ancestors that had been exposed to agriculture and hence grains the longest are better able to tolerate the higher quantities of carbohydrate in their diet. Those whose ancestors that shifted from the hunter-gatherer mode (hence lower carbohydrate diet) to agriculture the most recent have a harder time dealing with with the high carbohydrate diets today (primarily those of Northern European and African descent). Basically, the longer a culture has been exposed to a certain diet, the better they have adapted at dealing with it. The problem today is that we have only had one generation before us that has been exposed to the quantity of carbohydrates that most consume today. There is a book out that discusses this in some detail. The book is called "Eat Right for Your Type". I don't necessarily agree with all of his diet recommendations, but his theories do have some plausibility. Not much science to support his theories, but still something to think about. I think this is why some people are more successful on the low carb diet and some are more successful on the low fat diet for losing weight. As far as diabetes and insulin resistance goes, there is no doubt in my mind that most will benefit from eating fewer non-fiberous carbohydrates.

I dated a girl some time back that could eat anything and not gain an ounce. She was thin, about 5'6" and 115#. All of her family was thin also, including here 50 year old mother and father. It was just in her genes to be thin. She has Type A+ blood for those familiar with the book I mentioned above. But, her family also has a history of stroke and cancer at an early age. She has one aunt that died of stroke in her 30's and one that is dying right now of cancer in her 40's. While her family might not put on fat from eating a high carb diet, and believe me they do, they do show the signs of high levels of insulin circulating in their bloodstream - arterial damage/disease and cancer.

Alan

Hi Alan:

Do you know the author of that book? I have heard of that, eating according to your type. Interesting. I should check it out.

Chris S.

Chris, sorry it took me so long to reply to your question about the book Eat Right 4 Your Type. I guess I overlooked it. You may have already found the answer by now. Anyway, the author is Dr. D'Adamo and he has a website I think is dadamo.com or something to that effect.

Alan

Hi Alan:

Thanks for the info. I'll have to check it out-sounds interesting.

I saw my doctor yesterday and he was not impressed with my research. He looked at my testing results and said "as long as your bs is under 200 you are okay". Then when I showed him a printout from the Joslin (Diabetes experts) website that stated that a nondiabetic bs at 1 hour post meal should not go over 140 he said "yes, that is an ideal level" What I want to know is why an ideal level is not a goal with bs, but they do everything to get those lipids down to "ideal" levels. He's doing another Hemoglobin A1C in 2 months but I doubt that will show anything. The Hemoglobin A1C can be deceptively normal when there are wide swings in glucose, which is not normal. It is a monitoring test for diabetics. He thinks 6.3 is normal anway.

So I am frustrated not having the support of my doctor. I don't feel I can cut carbs anymore than I am. He had no interest in what I was eating either. He was nice about all of this, just no interest. I'm going to keep my eye open for any research going on either here or in Boston

Chris

Received my book, almost done with it. I have many things in this book that explain so much to me about certain symptoms I have that the doc says are not related to type 1 diabetes. Like my "frozen shoulder". Not sure what it means, but I have it, and it is very painful. That, and my unexplainable blood sugar swings. High, low, high, low, for no reason. Gastroparesis. I now have my health insurance back and have two doc appts scheduled. One with my endo and one with md. Supposed to have had my second liver biopsy done in March, but had to delay it due to the insurance lapse. Anyway, this book is great. I really love it. Thanks, All My Love, Renee'

I ordered Dr. Bernstein's book after reading others comments about it and also the reviews at Amazon. All I can say is WOW!!! it is fantastic.

Both my husband (the diabetic) and I are reading it. My husband is agreeable to following his diet recommendations to the letter to see if it will prevent all the highs and lows in his bg.

So now I am cooking with my scale, measuring cups and spoons, carbohydrate gram book and calculator in hand. A lot of work, but if it helps it will be well worth the effort.



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Susie