Re: Anyone use Byetta?
Hi Nabser,
The problem is that a diet that contains a high proportion of carbs is, in most cases, bad for a diabetic. This is because all carbs are converted into glucose, which then becomes blood sugar. Most type 2 diabetics are not able to metabolise the volume of sugar resulting from high amounts of carbs , so their only answer is to reduce the carbs in order to bring their BS down to a level that a combination of their own insulin and their medication is able to cope with.
For many years the medical profession has believed, based on what has now been discovered to be very flawed research, that a high carb diet is good for us. This is now believed by scientists (but not yet by the medical profession) to be the cause of the high levels of obesity that we see in the western world. Along with obesity often comes insulin resistance and thus diabetes. Unfortunately, until the medical profession starts to take a logical view of the effect that carbs have, particularly on diabetics, we are stuck with the dogma that a "healthy diet" must include lots of carbs.
If you read around the various forums here you will see a common theme emerge. People were diagnosed and recommended to follow a high carb diet. After months, sometimes years, of ever increasing blood sugars and increased medication, they have found for themselves that a simple reduction in the amount of carbs they eat reduces their blood sugar. It doesn't surprise me when many GPs and dietitians don't understand this, because their training in diabetes is negligible (something like 3 hours out of 5 years study is devoted to diabetes!), but I am staggered to hear of an endocrinologist who would advocate high carbs for a type 2. I am even more surprised at setting such a low target for cholesterol, considering that as recently as Feb 2008 a report was issued implicating low cholesterol levels with increased risk of stroke and cancer.
I am sure that this is not what you wanted to hear and must emphasise that I am expressing my opinion, but please do your own research on this.