WHAT WORKS?
Page 2
The logic and experience with the low carbohydrate/low insulin/moderate protein/appropriate fat approach to the management of diabetes.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1957 at the age of 6, and started on one insulin injection daily increasing to two each day in 1959. In 1984 this increased to 3 each day and since 1994 to four each day.
I started self-blood glucose testing in 1980, and of course
before that I was testing urine. I now test 4 times each day
(using a plasma calibrated meter) and I do moderate exercise
2-3 times per week, which I have been doing for many years.
I have had some background retinopathy and some neuropathy, including
delayed stomach emptying. This was worsening before I adopted
this new regime and it was concerning me greatly. I tried my
best to get really good blood glucose levels and applied the
current Diabetes Association and professional medical, diabetes
educators and dieticians' high carbohydrate, low glycemic advice.
But I could not achieve continuously near normal glucose levels, was having more and more severe hypos as a result, and my diabetes complications were worsening…..the current advice did not work for me.
In 1998, through the many contacts I had made, I became aware of another approach - the low carbohydrate, low glycemic index food plan together with much lower insulin dose and a moderate protein intake. I was also interested in this approach, as I had observed over many years that when my carbohydrate intake was less, my bloodsugars improved. This further encouraged me to try this very different food plan, while remaining sceptical and looking for results.
We want to achieve are normal blood glucose levels, and this came over to me as the best reason to examine the low carbohydrate approach. The generally advocated approach does not in my view produce normal or near normal glucose levels on a continuous, moment to moment basis.
The low carbohydrate diet continues to be discussed and there is increasing discussion in diabetes journals and at conferences.
I experimented a lot and, since July 1998, have reduced the total amount of daily carbohydrate from 200 grams then to 30-40 grams daily in 2000, which is all of a slowly absorbed type.
Here are some of the results…
My insulin dose has fallen by 50% to 20 units daily. My HbA1c has decreased from an average of 8.0% to 5.6%, an improvement of 30%. There is much less variation in daily blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia is much less severe. Hypos now require less glucose - now generally only 5 grams to ease the level back up. There are no longer major swings, and "time-out" is no longer needed for recovery. What a relief!
Weight has dropped from 84 kg to 75 kg with body-mass index in the normal range; retinopathy has stabilised (my ophthalmologist made particular note of this). Blood pressure remains normal. Lipids are in the normal/acceptable range and have been for most of the period since I started this regime-
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