Glucose Goddess on Channel 4

Sue29

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I have just watched the first programme in this series. There was a Type 2 Diabetic , on medication, who after 6 weeks was pre diabetic.
Did anyone else watch this programme and your thoughts? Has anyone tried this method of avoiding glucose spikes?
 

Rachox

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I watched too, it would have been good to hear his actual HbA1c results rather than just looking at a random 24hours graph from the CGM. I reserve judgement on her methods til I see more of the series, however I’ll still stick to what I know works for me ;)
 

Lamont D

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Reactive hypoglycemia
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I do not have diabetes
Reducing the spikes is a logical approach. Mainly him T2s and other metabolic conditions, the abnormal spikes are not particularly healthy over time.
With T2, there is usually insulin resistance, which would also cause high circulating insulin levels in your blood (hyperinsulinaemia) which along with the spikes is causing continuous hyperglycaemia, which is higher than normal BG levels. Or T2.
From prediabetes to T2 this is what happens in a lot of people, who have abnormal high spikes and the rollercoaster ride of BG levels continually up and down.
Avoiding spikes, with a low carb approach, that is tailored to you, by you. Is a much more appropriate treatment.
And exercise is also included, with some modicum of good lifestyle choices.
I know through experience, that being in normal or just above normal levels, continually, is so much better for control of your BG fasting levels, your hba1c, and your normal state of homeostasis, which is your body's natural state during sleep, fitness and health.
But as @Rachox says, I trust my own experience, with how I do it.
Not by so called..........!
 

MrsA2

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I watched it, and I follow some of her stuff on line. She has recently introduced supplements for sale, which is always a "red flag" to me. But some of her "hacks" do follow low carb, low sugar, keep moving etc.

Like most TV programmes they gloss over the detail and only present success stories

The lady with the acne, I was incensed to see her rises from 5 to 6 being described as "spikes". That is so alarmist and plain wrong, in a non-diabetic.

However, I suppose anything that promotes, in the main stream, the low carb ideas and a way of eating that helps some, has to be welcomed.

Each participant was given a cgm. In general snacking is discouraged, or made savoury, processed food is out, veggies, protein and fibre are in. Carbs in moderation and never alone.

She's a clever presenter, never actually said Eatwell is wrong but did highlight none had been given "its what your eating that's wrong" advice.
They never explained what type of "scientist" she is. I have gcses in physics, chemistry and biology, does that make me a scientist too?
However, most of us on here are self taught, so maybe I shouldn't criticise someone who has found away to make a lot of money from that knowledge.
 

Tirianne

Well-Known Member
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137
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have just watched the first programme in this series. There was a Type 2 Diabetic , on medication, who after 6 weeks was pre diabetic.
Did anyone else watch this programme and your thoughts? Has anyone tried this method of avoiding glucose spikes?
Yes, I've watched the programmes, bought the book, "Glucose Revolution' and it does make sense to me and seems to be working. I've made small changes - salad before the main meal and limitting carbs to after a meal and the quantity I eat. I haven't explored all the recipes in the book - but it's well set out and easy to read. I reversed my T2 in 2015 after following a very low carb diet for 6 months with the help of a book called 'Cals and Carbs'. I also lost 4 stone over 2 years. Last year my HbA1C started to rise - but that was due to me eating more carbs and sweet treats - especailly over Christmas. I find that sugar, in whatever from you eat it, is adddictive and I've certainly had withdrawl symptoms for a week simce cutting back on all forms of carbs again. Hope that helps.
 
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ianf0ster

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She appears more concerned about flattening out glucose rises rather than reducing glucose load and also (as Mrs A2 has said,) describes perfectly normal post prandial rises as 'spikes'.

To gain and then maintain my 'in remission' status I focused on reducing total glucose load as much as on glucose spikes. So I feel that (for T2 diabetes management) some of her 'hacks' are just gimmicks rather than being useful. Since they may push the higher glucose periods out further so they risk rising the pre-prandial levels upon which meal builds, thus creating higher more serious post prandial levels.

Having said that, I can see that some of those 'hacks' may make more sense for reducing inflammation e.g. for treating the people suffering from acne
 

KennyA

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I sometimes wonder if some of these "hacks" are the diabetes equivalent of putting a bit of masking tape over the dashboard warning lights.

Rises after food and higher rises after a carby meal are perfectly normal in non-diabetic people but there may be money to be made from the worried well who are alamed by the use of the word "spike" to describe any BG rise.

Non-diabetic friends who get a bit alarmed get given this useful paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2769652/ which is unfortunately in mg/dl, but does go some way to describing what normal looks like.

It's titled Continuous Glucose Profiles in Healthy Subjects under Everyday Life Conditions and after Different Meals, and delivers what it says. Unfortunately not nearly sensationalist enough for TV, though.
 

Chris24Main

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I reversed my Type 2
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It's a tricky one, because so much of the conversation and terms are new and unusual for many people.

To be fair to Jesse Inchaupé (I think I spelled that right but probably not) - her personal story is all about a physical accident that effectively left her brain damaged, and then by observation realised that glucose spiking exacerbated her condition - she has never claimed to be associated with diabetic treatment, and while I've read her book and recommended it to a few people - I would definitely support the masking tape analogy.

But - a better one might be, that hangovers are perfectly normal in non-alcoholic people, and that a few simple "hacks" like not drinking on an empty stomach, and not mixing grape and grain.. will reduce the effect of a hangover .. .all true, but not nearly as effective as not having any alcohol.

We've all been taught these hacks all our lives, so we take them for granted, we just don't have the same terminology for dealing with glucose.

Personally - I really dislike the term "hacks" - it's silly and the meaning should imply getting past a legal barrier, so it's just always gotten my hackles up - though I realise that it's also a way of disarming - better than "use this scientific understanding of digestion" - she is very active on Instagram, and I'm definitely not part of the insta crowd - but I guess that's marketing.

Her central premise is (in my opinion anyway) about the aging effect of glucose spiking - she says plainly that "the more you have, the quicker you will die" - and there is a lot to be said for that, diabetic or not - even if it sounds alarming, there is a truth in there about the constant battle with oxidative stress, and the flood of ROS that will inevitably result in the most healthy person seeing their glucose spike. It's a natural response, but that doesn't make it desirable.
 
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