Daily Mirror today

Magisham

Well-Known Member
Messages
152
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
By Miriam Stoppard
W hen I read that a low-carb diet was being hailed as a revolutionary approach to treat Type 2 diabetes, I got a surprise. Every medical student knows the first piece of advice you give a patient with diabetes is restriction of carbohydrates.

Why? Because carbs put a strain on the insulin system that’s designed to keep blood sugar levels in the normal range. And yet official government guidelines don’t recommend low carbs for diabetics.

But the biggest pilot study of a low-carbohydrate diet to treat Type 2 diabetes has just shown it can successfully control the condition.

A review of more than 80,000 diabetics who ditched the low-fat, high carb diet, currently recommended by Public Health England found that their blood-glucose levels dropped after 10 weeks.

The study came about as a consequence of an online revolt by patients in which 120,000 people signed up to the ‘low-carb’ diet plan launched by the forum diabetes.co.uk in a backlash against official advice.

By rejecting guidelines and eating a diet low in starchy foods but high in protein and ‘good’ saturated fats, such as olive oil and nuts, more than 80% of the patients said that they had lost weight, with 10% shedding 9kg (20lb) or more.

More than 70% of participants had improvements to blood sugar levels, and a fifth said at the end of the 10-week plan that they no longer needed drugs to regulate them.

About 2.7 million people in Britain have Type 2 diabetes, a condition that goes hand in hand with obesity.

A further 750,000 people are thought to have undiagnosed symptoms, costing more than £8.8billion directly and indirectly each year. “The results from the low-carb plan have been impressive and this is a solution that is clearly working for people with Type 2 diabetes,” said Arjun Panesar, chief executive officer of diabetes.co.uk.

“Many diabetics know not to put sugar in their tea but very few are aware that the toast they have at breakfast or rice at dinner may be wreaking havoc with their blood glucose. This is because when starchy carbohydrates like potato or pasta are broken down in the body by digestion, the starch turns to sugar.”

Some experts believe that excessive weight drives the development of diabetes and raises blood sugar levels out of control, and that losing weight brings levels down.

So, replace carbohydrates with green vegetables and pulses. Eat at least five portions a day and have a small portion of protein with most meals. Eat dairy in moderation. Olive oil, nuts and other healthy saturated fats are welcome. You’ll lose weight anyway.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Magisham

Well-Known Member
Messages
152
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Glad it's in the papers now because I've been going around like some manic preacher for ages telling people about this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people

Gezzabelle

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,280
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
HALLELUJAH!!!!!! Finally they're getting the message :D
 

Phoenix55

Well-Known Member
Messages
577
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Every diabetic may know that the sensible thing to do is avoid carbs but clearly the medical profession are obsessed with the idea that all T2s have sugar in everything. My DN did not believe me when I told her that I had never had sugar in tea or coffee, except for the handful of mistakes that occur over a lifetime. I did not eat sweets or cakes on a regular basis, had about 4 litres of carbonated drink a year and the ready meals I had eaten were all traffic light green for fats, starch and sugars. For 3 months I followed the advice I was given, (wholemeal bread, brown rice and oatmeal breakfast) and my HbA1c went up! It is only since taking back responsibility for my health that I have lost weight and the HbA1c has dropped. The pity is that my trust in my local medics has also dropped.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people

plantagenet

Well-Known Member
Messages
318
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Glad it's in the papers now because I've been going around like some manic preacher for ages telling people about this.
It was covered in the Times a few weeks ago and covered by the Daily Mail two days later. But the more publicity, the better and good to have a gap in the reporting so it stays fresh.
 

plantagenet

Well-Known Member
Messages
318
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Every diabetic may know that the sensible thing to do is avoid carbs but clearly the medical profession are obsessed with the idea that all T2s have sugar in everything. My DN did not believe me when I told her that I had never had sugar in tea or coffee, except for the handful of mistakes that occur over a lifetime. I did not eat sweets or cakes on a regular basis, had about 4 litres of carbonated drink a year and the ready meals I had eaten were all traffic light green for fats, starch and sugars. For 3 months I followed the advice I was given, (wholemeal bread, brown rice and oatmeal breakfast) and my HbA1c went up! It is only since taking back responsibility for my health that I have lost weight and the HbA1c has dropped. The pity is that my trust in my local medics has also dropped.
Not ALL the medical profession, it is getting more support at GP and clinic level, both my GP, who is sadly retiring, and DN have been extremely supportive of me following the LCP and are highly pleased with my results - as per my sig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people