Controversail Article about ADA mentions Dr. Bernstein
 

I thought you guys might enjoy this article. They quote Dr Bernstein's life and philosophy well! :)

LINK (at bottom) not working: Here is the text!

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DIABETES DIET WAR

The nutrition advice given to most diabetics might be killing them

By Dara Mayers
The bible says "make starches the star." That's the Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible, published by the American Diabetes Association. "Grains, beans, and starchy vegetables form the foundation of the Diabetes Food Pyramid. The message is to eat more of these foods than of any of the other food groups." For 17 million Americans with diabetes, diet is a crucial part of treatment, And what the ADA bible preaches, many doctors, nutritionists, and patients believe.


But what if the ADA's high-starch diet--another way of saying high-carbohydrate--is not healthy for people with diabetes but harmful to them instead?

This possibility is now the source of heated debate in the diabetes community. It is "the most controversial aspect of diabetes treatment today," says Scott King, editor-in-chief of Diabetes Interview magazine. How controversial? "Malpractice!" is how physician and diabetes specialist Lois Jovanovic, chief scientific officer of the Sansum Medical Research Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif., describes conventional high-carb nutrition advice.

Carb consequences. These arguments are more intense than the nutrition wars over low-carb, Robert Atkins-like diets taking place in mainstream culture. For people with diabetes, the battle is about more than waistlines. As far as bodies are concerned, carbohydrates equal sugar. And complications from Type I and Type II diabetes, which are caused by high blood-sugar levels, include amputation, heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure. Often they are lethal. The illness is not necessarily a disaster, because people with diabetes who maintain close to normal blood sugar can effectively avoid these problems. A number of doctors and people with diabetes, however, believe the high-carb diet is a recipe for trouble.

"There are a number of myths surrounding diet and diabetes, and much of what is still considered sensible nutritional advice for diabetics can over the long run be fatal. I know, because it almost killed me," writes physician Richard Bernstein in his book Diabetes Solution. Bernstein, a Type I, or insulin-dependent, diabetic for the past 57 years, has been at war with the medical establishment since the 1970s. At that time, his failing health caused him to wonder why someone whose body couldn't process carbs--which are chains of sugar molecules--was repeatedly being told to eat a lot of them. Should people with diabetes be eating a diet that is, essentially, 50 percent to 60 percent sugar?

The reason, historically, has been fear of fat and the cardiovascular problems that plague diabetics. As the cholesterol-fat-heart-disease links moved doctors to recommend a low-fat diet, the amount of carbohydrates recommended for diabetics gradually increased to fill the void. In 1994, the ADA stated that people with diabetes could eat anything, including sugar itself. "There is no longer a diabetic diet. People with diabetes eat the exact same foods as anyone else," says Nathaniel Clark, national vice president for clinical affairs at the ADA. "We do not believe there is any harm in eating carbohydrates."

Bernstein does. He prescribes an extremely low carbohydrate diet--approximately 30 grams of carbs over three meals for diabetics to achieve normal blood-glucose readings round-the-clock. "In my experience," he says, "the ADA diet does not work for anyone."

He's not alone. "Diabetes is a disease of `carbohydrate intolerance.' Thus, meal plans should minimize carbohydrates because people with diabetes do not tolerate carbs," says Sansum's Jovanovic. She prescribes food considerably lower in carbohydrates than does the ADA.

Some patients are discovering low-carb benefits for themselves. Nancy Humeniuk, a 70-year-old retiree and Type II diabetic from Monterey, Tenn., was put on the ADA diet under the direction of a diabetes educator. "While I was following the diet, my blood-glucose levels were completely out of control," Humeniuk says. "They told me I was being noncompliant--but I was following the diet exactly. I was scared." After three months, Humeniuk switched to low carb. "Within three days of going low carb, my blood sugars were normal. And they have been for the past six years." Her cholesterol profile is also very good. "My doctor told me that whatever I was doing, I should keep it up," she says.

The ADA, however, remains firm in its stance. "A diet that is very low in carbohydrates is significantly higher in protein and in fat, and there are specific risks to people with diabetes from high-protein diets in regard to kidney disease and from high-fat diets in regard to cardiovascular disease," Clark says. The ADA is far from alone in its position. "We recommend that 45 to 60 percent of calories come from carbs," says Karen Chalmers, director of nutrition services at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

"Healthy fats." Scientific evidence supporting the low-carb approach has been thin. But some recent studies have refuted the idea that an Atkins-like diet increases cholesterol, or lipid, problems. "Our data would suggest that you don't get a negative lipid pattern with the Atkins diet," says James Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado, where a recent study compared the Atkins diet with a standard low-fat, high-carb diet. Cholesterol levels in the Atkins dieters were actually better after a year. Frank Hu, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, also believes that lower-carb diets are beneficial to some people with diabetes. He is careful to point out, however, that carbohydrates should be replaced with "healthy fats," such as the mono- and polyunsaturated fats found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados.

The kidney-disease claim is also disputed. "There is no evidence that in an otherwise healthy person with diabetes eating protein causes kidney disease," says Frank Vinicor, director of diabetes research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some people hope that the new data will have an impact. "The ADA is responsive to new scientific data and is likely to incorporate this information into new dietary guidelines with a lower proportion of carbohydrates," says ADA board member Barbara Kahn, a physician and diabetes expert at Harvard Medical School. Kahn has seen how difficult it is for people with diabetes to gain control while following current recommendations, so she is pushing for changes. Still, the ADA Web site and all of its literature continue to tell people with diabetes and the thousands of medical professionals who treat them to make starches "the centerpiece of the meal." Revising a bible is never easy, so it may be quite some time before this bit of medical gospel sees real change.


Meal plans
Dinner duel

Low-carb Diabetes Solution fare really differs from the standard advice for diabetics.

"DIABETES SOLUTION" DINNER

Steak 4-6 oz.
Cooked broccoli 2/3 cup
Salad w/dressing 1 cup


AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION DINNER

Pasta w/vinaigrette dressing 1 cup
Fish 3.5 oz.
Granola bar
Banana




http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biz/ad...62003_flash.htm

ADA ... what a joke!

Wow
 

This article goes very nicely with my Sister-in-Law also getting recommended a low-carb diet from her endocrinologist. Makes perfect sense to me...

Later,
wsgts

Excellent article
 

What an excellent article!

When I was diagnosed, I was given the standard ADA diet to follow. I would eat a lean meat, starchy vegetables (such as peas and sweet potatoes), and bread. The diet was very hard to stick to because I was hungry a few hours after a meal, and I had a constant feeling that I needed to snack.

It would take a long time for my BG to come down even after what I thought was a healthy meal. My BG usually didn't go over 160mg/dl, but it would stay elevated many hours after eating.

Now I never see my BG rise over 120 (usually never over 110) even after a meal. I have reversed the insulin resistance and I can handle even the junk carbs. Even though I can eat pretty much what I want, I prefer the LC lifestyle much more. To me, LC just makes sense. It is easy to follow and I just feel great. I like simplicity.

It is also great to hear about the endocrinologist that recommends LC. The best thing you can do is recommend him to anyone that has a metabolic problem. I think I changed the attitude of my nurse practitioner when she saw me a few weeks ago. Some physicians will see the light, but we have to guide them. They have been hoodwinked by the traditional diet dogma just like the rest of us. Some refuse to change their ways, so then I refuse to use their services. Vote with your feet and wallet! :)

Wayne

great article.it,s just what we,ve been saying all along.i to followed the standard diet for 7 years and it took 2 insulin injections took keep bg,s in normal range.this way is much better.i think it will be a slow change for the med profession to come around to this W.O.E.and i do wonder if part of the reason is they are frightened to admit they were wrong,is because the law suits might start over giving out the wrong advice.also, think how many people come stop meds, the drug companys wouldn,t be very happy!

I'm not so sure it's the profession that needs to come around as much as the drug companies and the big institutions whom they patronize (ADA, AMA, AHA and probably to some extent the NIDDK). I'm sure that when most doctors see the dramatic results they will respond positively. It's up to us to show them.

I'm also certain that drug companies will never "come around", as you put it. There are just too many billions in medications at stake. Insulin, OHAs, statins, beta blockers, ace inhibitors, diuretics yada yada yada....can you imagine the devastation to that industry should every diabetic in the US be treated properly?

Let's don't forget how much they make if we keep BG under control. I am finding that to do the kind of regular testing that I see discussed in this forum and which I adopted to learn to "eat to my meter" my test strips alone are costing me almost $150.00 per month and that comes straight out of my pocket - no medical reimbursement. My point is they still make tremendous amounts from diabetics before the meds get factored in. No business is going to voluntarily give up the profits from the meds. (Forgive me if this comes across as "ranting".)

If the ADA had any sense, they would jump on the bandwagon and come out with their own line of expensive LC products...endorsed by the ADA!

I called ahead to the Endo's office I will be going to. The woman who answered the phone said EVERYONE in the office...6 doctors, nurses...etc..are all on LC plans. I feel much better now! :)

This thread is the greatest on diabetes that I've ever read!

Bravo!

Take care.....stay safe....

TexasGingerSnap

The new improved model, with low, low carbs and hope once again on the horizon!

I am so glad that you are here for support. My husband is vascillatinmg back and forth about the diet and I keep telling him to read your info. He had 7 way bypass several years ago and I think he is scared to do much changing. Diabetics get almost scared to death by the reigning guru's on diabetes. Aleka

Aleka, are you able to get your husband to read any of these posts? I think if he were to read some of these from other diabetics he would find it reassuring. When I came to these forums, I thought I was only coming to a site about low carb eating. I never expected to find a series of threads about diabetes. It has been a godsend to me even though my readings had dropped to the low 80's by the time I learned of this site. Just to know that I am reading and writing to others who share a real hands on experience with diabetes is of help. I'm a lot like your husband and don't really trust the "gurus" whether self-made or wearing a white lab coat with MD behind the name. When I read the results others are obtaining it reaffirmed the wisdom of my decision to low carb. I'd almost bet it would reassure him too.

Ladylaw: Thanks for the comeback. Believe it or not I got him to read this thread last night. He hasn't had much to say about it yet except he learned a lot. I encouraged him to use my (Aleka) to start asking questions. He can sign Bill if he wants or not--The important thing is for him to start learning from others who have diabetes. Info seems to come better from those who have the same problem. He attends a support group at the hospital but again it is the same old crap they preach everywhere else. Anyway--he finally did read some--maybe it will stimulate him to get really interested enough to do something for himself. Thanks Aleka

Aleka, there is something else I stumbled across when I was doing lots of reading about diabetes and general health when I was first diagnosed. I don't remember where I stumbled across it (just remember sitting and reading in Barnes & Noble one afternoon). Apparently a switch to the use of distilled water for all drinking and cooking/eating has been able to reduce or eliminate plaque build up in the veins and thus improve cardiac help. We had just bought a water softener when I stumbled across that info so I haven't been able to convince my husband to buy one of the small countertop distillers. But I keep working on it. He went on Atkins with me and has lost 26 lbs and is delighted by the results. When he first started losing, he said he would like to drop 20 but when he reached it he started talking about another 5-10 and kept going. I think, in his case, he likes the result, never being hungry and keeping me in the kitchen. (He's a chauvinist at heart.) Sorry for rambling.

One argument that you can use is that drinking softened water can be a health concern. The softening process removes calcium and magnesium ions from the water and replaces them with sodium ions. Calcium and magnesium in hard water are not a health treat. Sodium ions, however, may have negative consequences on cardiac health. Hopefully, your water system has a bypass that allows tap drinking water that doesn't come from the water softener. Or you're concerned about the quality of your tap water, perhaps you should drink bottled spring water.

But, perhaps more importantly, do you really want to drink primarily distilled water? Is it healthy? In my opinion, the answer is no. Magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals in undistilled water are good for you. These minerals are removed by distillation. Plaque in veins does not come from these minerals. Plaque in pipes is from insoluble inorganic salt deposits made from calcium and maganesium. However, plaque in veins is something entirely different; it is organic and does not come from metal ions. Here's a link from Mercola's website which makes the argument that drinking distilled water is NOT good for you:

Why I Say No to Distilled Water Only

Interesting reading.

Distilled water is good for you only if you are a steam iron. :lol: Just could not resist.
Seriously, good water is loaded with minerals that we need. We have a wonderful well and have folk coming here to fill bottles to take back to the city. Yes, we have a water softening system but the drinking water comes straight from the well which is 180' deep and pure and cold!