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Channel 4

I too was disappointed in the programme, but I have 2 points in its favour - firstly, that it was on at all! Secondly, that it did not push the NHS-recommended diet.

True, it went for sensationalism, and sadly went for the "cured" falsehood in the final part. As we all know - go back to your previous diet and you'll be back with the Type 2 in no time.

I think at one point someone did mention that excess blood sugar gets stored as fat, but not enough emphasis was put on that and other scientific aspects.

Maybe we should all now lobby Channel 4 and ask them to do a "proper" programme about diabetes, swopping science for sensationalism. I've been trying the Beeb for months now with little response - let's have a go at C4 :D .

Viv 8)
 
The programme used the terms 'remission' and 'reversal' interchangeably, without defining them at all. I think at the end the doctor said to one of the subjects, "you no longer have diabetes". Was this guy a real doctor? One wonders. The theme throughout the programme was that if you lose enough weight you will reverse/cure diabetes - a contentious idea at best and certainly not one to be bandied about as mainstream. The Newcastle Diet principle may be gaining ground but there is a lot of work to be done before anyone could call it proper science. The experimental group was only 11 people, after all, not the hundreds required by real science.

I too, like others on this forum, would be very interested to know how people have got on after the eight week diet, and it is strange that no one has stepped forward to explain. Also, as Dr Taylor is now stating, it is better to take longer to lose the weight rather than doing it as a crash diet, which I believe was done that way firstly to mimic the gastric surgery outcome and secondly to ensure that everyone was eating exactly the same thing. Why milkshakes from Optifast? Why not real food of similar nutritional value? Possibly because there would then be huge variation between subjects and their results would not then be comparable.

I have only recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with fasting bg 9.5. I started a low carb low fat diet immediately, with kcals around 1000. Starting from 15stone 3lbs I have lost 17lbs in two months. FBG is now 5.8. Has the diabetes 'reversed'? If I start eating burgers again perhaps I'll find out.
 
So, loosing weight will reverse my type 2.
Excellent; I'm six foot tall and weigh 11 stone 10!
Christ! I'll not have energy to lift my eyelids:-)
 
vertical188 said:
The programme used the terms 'remission' and 'reversal' interchangeably, without defining them at all. I think at the end the doctor said to one of the subjects, "you no longer have diabetes". Was this guy a real doctor? One wonders. The theme throughout the programme was that if you lose enough weight you will reverse/cure diabetes - a contentious idea at best and certainly not one to be bandied about as mainstream. The Newcastle Diet principle may be gaining ground but there is a lot of work to be done before anyone could call it proper science. The experimental group was only 11 people, after all, not the hundreds required by real science.

I too, like others on this forum, would be very interested to know how people have got on after the eight week diet, and it is strange that no one has stepped forward to explain. Also, as Dr Taylor is now stating, it is better to take longer to lose the weight rather than doing it as a crash diet, which I believe was done that way firstly to mimic the gastric surgery outcome and secondly to ensure that everyone was eating exactly the same thing. Why milkshakes from Optifast? Why not real food of similar nutritional value? Possibly because there would then be huge variation between subjects and their results would not then be comparable.

I have only recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with fasting bg 9.5. I started a low carb low fat diet immediately, with kcals around 1000. Starting from 15stone 3lbs I have lost 17lbs in two months. FBG is now 5.8. Has the diabetes 'reversed'? If I start eating burgers again perhaps I'll find out.
Click to expand...

Here are the details of all the presenters ... some vested interests there.

http://foodhospital.channel4.com/presenters/
 
I didn't watch the programme but someone said there was a mention of excess blood sugar being stored as fat? - I find it encouraging that this was even mentioned. Maybe it's a step towards seeing obesity as a symptom of diabetes, rather than THE cause it has become in the eyes of the media and general public.

I don't like these TV programmes that focus on bashing people down for public "enjoyment". But then I hate reality TV full stop. In the case of the diet based ones, all that time, effort and money could be, in my opinion, better spent helping people. - medical tests, a programme of cognitive behavioural therapy maybe, support etc. not degrading public spectacle. - how low, how desperate must people be feeling to agree to take part in these things in the first place???


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
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