Mastering Diabetes

So, not to get into the diet debate but it does seem like some of these promoted approaches to food with Type 1 with names like Mastering Diabetes do have some kernel of validity to them. Then again, some go to extremes and have questionable science behind them. Also, of course, there is the commercial aspect of diet books which should make anyone think twice.

I have a no-name diet which nobody, save my doctor and myself, has endorsed officially or unofficially but which works for me. Generally, the idea is to eat a balanced diet and not overdo anything. Too much red meat, too much saturated fat, too much salt et al? Your blood tests are signalling a problem? Cut down on some things. Moderation is usually your friend.

Marie 2 said:

BTW @Mbaker You do realize Paul Saladino that you mention to listen to, his latest "kick" is he is now promoting eating 150-200 carbs of fruit a day?

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Paul is athletic which has been put to him (Bart Kay) as to why he can cope with the glucose load, I could not eat that way and suspect closer to 100% of Type 2's in remission could not either. This does not detract from the quality of the debate Paul had with Cyrus and Robbie,

Digging deeper into your responses, it appears that your acceptable tolerances are more liberal than mine, which would explain why you are more comfortable with the mastering diabetes protocol - my ranges are 3.9 to < 6.0. When I have tried apple I go to 6.4, which I suspect you might say is fine, I had a hissy fit going over 6. Similarly I have an opposite view to the available accessible nutrient and health profile of the tabled proposition. The A1c's quoted are excellent, but I would caution that these are created with significant glucose variability spikes, based on your range and that of Cyrus.

I don't think there's any value in comparing the acceptable tolerances of someone who is LADA with someone who is T2 not on insulin. As a diet controlled T2 it's not a problem for me if my BG drops below 3.7. It's much harder to have consistent BGs if you have to inject insulin therefore the tolerances will be wider, as there's more variables.

ShelleyDubs said:

Specifically about increased numbers from higher carbs over time.

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Do you mean increased blood sugar numbers? Being a T1 on insulin means insulin doses are determined by what you eat and how this affects your blood glucose. So increased carbs doesn't necessarily mean higher numbers as long as you're able to adjust doses correctly.

@Mbaker Normal people constantly go over 6 all the time, even over 7.8 sometimes, depending what they eat. It's just the "spike" doesn't last long. There are many people that test that all the time. Even my normal very healthy endocrinologist did. She's also worn CGM's to see what they are like wearing them and also to see what a "normal" bodies reaction and patterns are. And normal includes what you are calling spikes. Just because you have decided to not go over 6, that is not what normal people's BG levels stays under 100% of the time.

Type 1 is different than type 2. There are circumstances out of our control. WE don't make insulin at all. Which means stress, tiredness, weather can all make our BG levels go up and since we don't make any insulin in response to even small things,we have to dose for it in response, and then wait for anywhere from 15 minutes to 60 minutes for it to start to decrease. Which also means you stay higher longer. It would be pretty impossible to be "perfect", since even the majority of normal people aren't "perfect".

It means you get to watch your BG level keep going up, even without food. We also have insulin pump site failures, which means you don't know something is wrong until you watch your numbers go up past what you think they should. And then you still wait to see half the time...............did you forget to take insulin for something? Did you guess wrong about the portion you ate? Many things run through your head trying to figure out why your BG level is climbing.

Again, you are on a type 1 thread, trying to compare your control to mine is not even pertinent. Nor is it pertinent whatever you have decided you wish to follow, which seems stricter than even a normal person's numbers hit.

I don't respect people like Paul Saladino, or even believe or listen to what they say when they avidly push their way of eating as being the right way, but switch the "right" way every year when they decide they want to change what they eat, what will it be next year? He goes from raw vegan to carnivore to carnivore with 200 carbs of fruit now being okay, because now he's decided he needs the quicker fuel that carbs supply.......maybe it will be Mastering Diabetes next year?

Hi guys,

So, pulling this particular topic back on track. (I’m sure you know where the PM function is if you wish further sideways debate.)

The featured diet. “Personal experience.” Who’s actually tried it?
Please be mindful our OP friend also uses insulin..

Cheers.!

Marie 2 said:

BTW @Mbaker
But I already know the results work of Mastering Diabetes for type 1's because I know type 1's that do it. I have also watched some of their videos, I have read up on their reasoning and find it very pertinent for either diabetic types. Their logic falls in line with the majority of people in the Health Food industry which I was involved with for many years. But I also understand there are many ways that can work for different people to control their Diabetes. We can all be very different and some people are just more willing to follow certain WOE. I would not follow Mastering Diabetes myself as I love my avocados and nuts too much, and I have no reason to change what I do.

For me being a vegan, I have an A1c of 30 with a TIR right now of 96% between 3.7 to 8.9. I take no other medication other than insulin and am considered in good health. My blood work is fantastic. I do have a bad back because of a car accident and then a fall on stairs. I have no reason to pursue any other diet as I firmly believe being a vegan is healthier. The proof to me is my family, my grandparents, my parents and my brother all died from heart issues, my sisters have heart issues and I don't have any signs of any of it. I do assume it's probably in my future at some point, but I can hope it's not. The difference is I have been a vegetarian for 54 years and a vegan for 37 years.

And yes, as in the case I pointed out with my type 1 friend and I just clarified with her, following the Bernstein Diet she went from under 30 carbs a day and 20 units of insulin to on the Mastering Diabetes Program, 280 carbs a day and she only needs 22 units of insulin. She switched from a meat low carb diet because she ended up needing heart stents and she blamed it on her low carb diet. She loves bananas and potatoes. So yes the bananas and the potatoes obviously ended up needing less insulin for more carbs than the steak and Greek yogurt and everything that went with the low carb diet for her. She has an A1c of 29 and has a TIR of 93%.

So yes I think the Mastering Diabetes program works.

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it does work, I’ve been doing it on and off for a while and seriously (I’ve signed up for the coaching programme) for the last 2-3 months. Just got my A1C of 5.4%. Appreciate the approach may not suit everyone. I’ve been vegan for almost 20 years anyway and the MD diet is closely aligned with how I’d like to eat. Apart from the low fat diet under 15% The coaching just goes back to basics, very strict monitoring of carbs and insulin ratios. Honestly this is nothing different to what I’ve been taught by the NHS, but I had strayed over time from this very intensive monitoring and adjusting of ratios and it’s got me refocused and back ok track. Also it’s been great to have someone (qualified diabetes nurse and dietitian) to speak to on a daily basis to review what’s happened in a day, troubleshoot issues and get tips. I’ll probably stop the coaching soon as I’ve got what I need from it and it’s very expensive. But for me it’s been worth it.

curly said:

it does work, I’ve been doing it on and off for a while and seriously (I’ve signed up for the coaching programme) for the last 2-3 months. Just got my A1C of 5.4%. Appreciate the approach may not suit everyone. I’ve been vegan for almost 20 years anyway and the MD diet is closely aligned with how I’d like to eat. Apart from the low fat diet under 15% The coaching just goes back to basics, very strict monitoring of carbs and insulin ratios. Honestly this is nothing different to what I’ve been taught by the NHS, but I had strayed over time from this very intensive monitoring and adjusting of ratios and it’s got me refocused and back ok track. Also it’s been great to have someone (qualified diabetes nurse and dietitian) to speak to on a daily basis to review what’s happened in a day, troubleshoot issues and get tips. I’ll probably stop the coaching soon as I’ve got what I need from it and it’s very expensive. But for me it’s been worth it.

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The 15% fat...is that 15% of total grams or 15% of total calories in diet? Just wondering as no-one has ever told me a definitive figure of what low fat means before now. This may ( or may not) be very useful to me in the future.