Dr Bearnstein diet

[AnnieC]

Agree Annie, food is one of life's little pleasures and it shouldn't be a daily grind.

The Bernstein diet is far too strict for most people and totally unnecessary and that is why very few stick with it in the long term, but like most diets I suppose you could adapt it in some ways to suit your own tastes.

I do agree with you on that it would be impossible for me to stick to it I do low fat and I don't eat much meat mostly only chicken and the diet seems to be based mainly on eating a lot of meat and as most of the vitamins and minerals our bodies needs are in fruit and vegetables which are banned I would prefer to get them the natural way rather than in supplements This is just my way and I do not promote it as being the best or right way..no such thing... we each have our own way of managing our diets and that is all that matters it is whatever works for us as individuals

 

[Ian DP]

Having just read Dr Bernstein's 'diabetic solution' book (what an amazing man, a fascinating story) I have decided to try it. I am already LcHf, and not far off his dietary recommendations.

However I do not see his 'solution' as a diet. I see His solution being all about keeping BG levels at the same levels as non diabetics, achieved through eating to you meter. He, I believe, would be quite happy if you were to eat something on the no-no list but achieve his BG levels.

I have decided that I want 'normal' BG levels for 3 reasons

1). To retain my few remaining insulin making beta cells (high BG kills beta cells)
2). To stop frequent visits to the toilet (I find anything over 5.5 means frequent urination)
3). Minimise long term associated diabetes complications.

My initial target I am setting myself is simply to keep my pre breakfast fasting below 5 and 2hr after eating below 6, not quite to Bernstein's solution (4.6 and 5.6).

I saw my DSN yesterday, She actually agreed and understood my reasons for trying.

If I can get to my target BG levels within 2 months I will try to get down to Bernstein's levels.

Bernstein's solution is a lifetime commitment, but he himself says there will be blips, days that you do not make it... The commitment is to get back on track ASAP.

For info, Dr Bernstein was diagnosed T1 nearly 70 years ago, purchased a BG m/c some 40 years ago, studied to be a Dr and opened his practice specialising in diabetes. He actually states that he owes his good health to his diabetes condition, which has forced him to eat foods that have kept his BG low (LcHf).

Ps. Most veggies are not banned. He has not eaten fruit for 40 years. I like fruit !!!!

Diagnosed T2 in sept 2013, BS levels 20+. BMI 22, age 58. Requested a GAD test in November, came back very high 2,000+, doc said I would be T1 within weeks, but presently still LADA. On a LcHf diet taking no insulin or medication, and striving to keep my BS readings as low as possible in order to keep as many insulin making pancreas beta cells as possible for as long as I can.
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[smidge]

Go for it Ian! Glad you have a DSN who is it supportive - that's a rare thing and worth hanging on to! I think the evidence is absolutely there that achieving non-diabetic BGs is the most effective thing you can do to minimise your risks of complications - just so difficult to achieve.

Smidge

 

[kesun]

I do agree with you on that it would be impossible for me to stick to it I do low fat and I don't eat much meat mostly only chicken and the diet seems to be based mainly on eating a lot of meat and as most of the vitamins and minerals our bodies needs are in fruit and vegetables which are banned I would prefer to get them the natural way rather than in supplements This is just my way and I do not promote it as being the best or right way..no such thing... we each have our own way of managing our diets and that is all that matters it is whatever works for us as individuals

You keep saying that vegetables are banned, but honestly they're not. My diet consists largely of vegetables from my garden, which I eat raw with olive oil or cooked with butter, together with some form of protein (cheese, meat or beancurd). I'm not in any way questioning your own choice of higher carb and low fat, I just don't want anyone to get the impression that Bernstein bans vegetables. When I first started it I substituted a green salad for my usual helping of rice with everything: this doubled my vegetable intake while leaving my protein intake unchanged.

Yes, Bernstein does ban fruit and a few vegetables, but you can freely eat the vast majority of veg.

Kate

 

[phoenix]

He says, 1 cup of raw veg or 2/3 of a cup cooked veg or 1/2 cup of pureed veg for an approximate serving of 6g (total) carb This works out at less than 100g . (a cup of cooked veg is supposed to be 4oz or 113g)
If you eat all your 12g of allowed carb as veg for lunch and dinner that is only about 300g and then as far as I see it there is nothing left for anything else
(actually 100g of many veg isn't as much as 6g carb but Dr Bernstein says that his lists 'exaggerate the carbohydrate content of salad and cooked vegetables, but because of their bulk and the Chinese Restaurant Effect, the net effect upon blood sugar is approximately equivalent to the amounts of carbohydrate shown.')

Five portions a day is 5 portions of 80g.(400g) This is supposed to be minimum, many countries suggest higher amounts and evidence seems to show that those who eat more are healthier http://www.bbc.com/news/health-26818377
I certainly eat a lot more .
http://www.diabetes-book.com/cms/ar...s/3847-richard-k-bernstein-md-face-facn-fccws-
http://www.diabetes-book.com/cms/ar...l/3392-richard-k-bernstein-md-face-facn-fccws-
edit to correct link