I thought it was time that I spoke up and said why I don’t buy the extreme low carb theory…
I’ve been diabetic long enough that I was under the regime of you have to eat xxx amount of carbs at xxx set time, day in and day out, some one else looked at my log book and determined whether I could eat more or less carbs based on the information data I collected since last clinic… Days out, meals work schedule, parties, etc were all planed regimental style all to fit around my diabetes… so basically some-one else was in control over the fundamental basic human choices that ones has over there lives..
But when I look at the low carb theory, apart from the obvious that it’s a difficult regime to stick too, as the food that you can eat is very limited indeed I have nothing against mashed or grated cauliflower, but to pretend that it’s mash potato or rice well my taste buds will not be fooled… To munch on a concoction of manufactured proteins etc in the guise of low carb bread isn’t for me… I like real food, preferably cooked from scratch with fresh wholesome ingredients…
Then to return to the difficult awkward diabetic that my original regime produced, one where going out the front door means planning above remembering meter and jelly babies… One where friends and relatives dread inviting you to parties, meals BBQ’s etc because what the earths can you eat????
I have in the past looked very closely to whether or not a extreme low carb diet would benefit me in any way, either in improved control or just making life easier… Sadly my research did little to convince me of the benefits suggested…
Benefits suggested..
Better control… Less insulin, less long term complications, smaller numbers less risk of miscalculating…
Me
I have pretty good control, my BG stays mainly in the range of 4-7mmol/l yes sometimes it will go outside this range, but I am a diabetic, and in reality so does a non-diabetic so I’m not going to beat myself up about it…
Less insulin, well yes one can’t argue with that in general the less carbs one consumes the less insulin required… But I as I only average 20 units or under total daily insulin this isn’t a major consideration for me..
The small numbers, yes again one would agree that in general it is easier to work with small numbers… But when you as sensitive to insulin this poses all sorts of problems indeed… Causing hypo’s because you can’t get a small enough amount of insulin that’s required… And I’m not going to do what one site advised another diabetic to do under these circumstances that of diluting there insulin !!!!!!
As to long term complications, well I’ve survived 21 years as a diabetic so far, basically eating a healthy balanced diet of sorts… I have no eye problems, I only wear distance glasses for driving, I have very good hypo awareness which entitles me to legally hold my driving licence, without fibbing to my consultant when it’s time for renewal… My kidneys still doing the job they were designed to do… And the other major fear of ones feet, well mine are still at the end of my legs in perfect nick almost, but the almost isn’t diabetic related, just have a bone that grown where it shouldn’t have, but as it doesn’t interfere with walking or shoes that I may wear, I decided not to have it surgically removed…
Can it make my life easier, far from it…? I would still be testing my blood, monitoring to see if I need to tweak anything so no change there… As said above sourcing and planning takes a lot more time so nope that isn’t easier for me…
As yet there isn’t any definite proof one way or the other, whether by removing a whole food group doesn’t lead to long term health problems apart from the diabetes side of health…
But on my research I have found that one of the reasons behind some of those who choose this regime is the avoid or reduce there pharmaceutical medication… Some because well they don’t want to line the pockets of those that they fundamentally perceive are causing our illness to generate a need of more medication to line there pockets, along side is what we take harmful to us?
But a diet that is said to be what mankind is designed to eat, so it is truly the healthy diet to follow one has to ponder several things…
What is the difference between swallowing a pharmaceutical prepared medication, to that of swallowing a supplement pill or capsule, that has also been manufactured to contain different vitamins and nutrients that are found in what is generally considered to be a normal healthy diet? Which may I add hasn’t been through the same testing and proof that it works and is not harmful in the main as a pharmaceutical medication/drug!
This leads to the simple question, if as some say that low carb provides all the essential nutrients that we require, why the need of supplements? Or is it a case of hedging one bets, just in case there is truth in long term the extreme low carb diet is far from good for you?
I don’t take supplements, or cholesterol lowering tablets…any need to
