Monday 22 April 2013

Dr. Richard K Bernstein on insulin for type 2 diabetics, and some definitions.

Dr. Richard K Bernstein:-


Dr. Richard Bernstein, the world's leading low-carb diabetologist, says in Diabetes: The Basics:-
"Many people (including the parents of diabetic children) view having to use insulin as a last straw, a final admission that they are (or their child is) a diabetic and seriously ill. Therefore they will try anything else - including things that will burn out their remaining beta cells - before using insulin. Many people in our culture have the notion that you cannot be well if you are using medication. This is nonsense, but some patients are so convinced that they must do things the “natural” way that I practically have to beg them to use insulin, which is as “natural” as one can go. In reality, nothing could be more natural. Diabetics who still have beta cell function left may well be carrying their own cure around with them - provided they don’t burn it out with high blood sugars and the refusal to use insulin."

Some definitions:-

From Low-carbohydrate diet:-
"The term "low-carbohydrate diet" is generally applied to diets that restrict carbohydrates to less than 20% of caloric intake, but can also refer to diets that simply restrict or limit carbohydrates."
A typical woman consumes ~2000kcals/day. A typical man consumes ~2,500kcals/day. Therefore...

Very-low-carb diet = <10% energy from carbs ≡ <~50 or ~62.5g carbs/day.
Low-carb diet = <20% energy from carbs ≡ <~100 or ~125g carbs/day.
"Healthy eating" = >55% energy from carbs ≡ >~275 or ~344g carbs/day.

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