I often find myself wondering how many diabetics would stick with low carbing if given the knowledge and the choice: low carb and possibly get off medications and reverse any complications that you may already have developed, increase your chances for a longer healthier life and decrease the possibility of more complications or developing any at all or continue to eat as you are and take more medication?
Low carbing does involve a certain amount of self-denial and self-discipline. How many would choose this WOL over not needing much self-discipline or self-denial and simply swallowing a pill a couple of times a day or injecting insulin and pretty much eating whatever you pleased even if it meant eventual insulin injections?
I read many posts all over the forum from people who are struggling with low carb and giving up their old favorite foods. Granted, diabetics have a bit more motivation to stick with it as the consequences of not sticking with it mean a return to more medication or insulin injections and the very real possibility of worsening health, but given that humans can be very short sighted by nature, how many would choose the medication over dietary changes and the trade off of better health in the future by excercising some self-discipline over eating what you want now?
Add to that the pervasive attitude in America today that pills "fix" everything and I have the sad feeling that many would choose the medication over the dietary changes.
While working for a doctor for a couple of years, I observed the difficulty that many seemed to have even sticking to the much higher carb ADA diet...it seemed that they either just didn't know what kind of damage that they were doing to their bodies or just didn't care when faced with the prospect of cutting back on eating pies, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, etc... Then the ADA comes out with the position that sugar is perfectly okay for diabetics...as long as they "cover" it with more medication. Is the ADA simply being pragmatic in their recommendation knowing that most people won't comply with cutting back on sugar (or cutting it out altogether) no matter how much they are told that it's going to hurt them and make them sicker and simply recommending that diabetics go ahead and eat it but increase their medications to compensate? I don't have the answer to that one.
I know for myself, I would rather low carb for life than go back to feeling like I did and taking several pills each day while the pounds piled on and my condition worsened.