Amy Davis - Diabetes Detox!

[webmaster]

Diabetes is running rampant in our country. If you are one of the several million who have this condition, then this article is for you. It will teach you how to manage your food and therefore manage your blood sugar.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/diabetesdetox.htm

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As a 25 year old medical student with Diabetes I can say without doubt that this article is not only incorrect and misleading, but horrendously irresponsible.

I can't give a more detailed critique because the article was so inaccurate I wouldn't know where to start.

I have come to expect better from Bodybuilding.com!

Diabetics and non-diabetics alike; for the sake of your own health, please DO NOT follow any advice listed in this article.

Signed
Disappointed of UK

[Dia-Tribe]

Carbohydrates: These are the enemy!

Avoid These Foods At All Costs

Yep a little theatrical...but so is this...

but horrendously irresponsible.

I'm also a little surprised the article did not mention that you should consult your Dr/Dietician in regards to secondary complications. Obviously diets higher in protein for diabetics with liver or kidney problems can be equally damaging.

The "Eat Carbs at only one meal a day" is a little misleading..
Obviously vegetables have carbohydrates in them as do nuts etc Clearly distinguishing between Carbs and Veggies is interesting. To my understanding when talking of macro-nutrients a Carb is a Carb. But I guess this helps with the whole GI load issue etc.
Still a little too strict for me on this, especially in relation to pre and post workout nutrition.

On the whole, I find the article generally helpful.

[str8flexed]

yea having a diabetic each large amount of dietary fat isn't a great idea as high blood lipid levels will probably exacerbate the problem.
-Layne

I am a non-diabetic who follows an eating plan like this for my overall health. Since changing my eating habits and not consuming sugars, refined carbohydrates, and bad fats, I have not only lost 15 pounds while maintaining my muscle weight , I have more energy, I sleep better, and my complexion is healthier. I agree, this plan is lifelong for me in my overall goals in health, fitness, and longevity!
I encourage anyone to consider following this plan or something similar! How can eating the right kinds of sugars, fats, and proteins be bad for anyone?

Thanks for writing this article and sharing this information!

[Harland]

I think the name should be changed
from: DIEabetes
to: LIVEabetes

[Atavis]

Not bad. Not too bad at all.

Definately better than the usual "don't eat fat, eat more carbs instead" drivel.

Great article with sound advice!

I also am a non-diabetic who follows this eating plan. I too agree I feel better, have more energy and have lost 20 lbs and 10% body fat since I started following the plan 5 months ago.

This plan makes perfect sense for diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

Like the previous poster said "How can eating the right kinds of sugars, fats, and proteins be bad for anyone?"

[dookie1481]

Originally posted by Unregistered
As a 25 year old medical student with Diabetes I can say without doubt that this article is not only incorrect and misleading, but horrendously irresponsible.

I can't give a more detailed critique because the article was so inaccurate I wouldn't know where to start.

I have come to expect better from Bodybuilding.com!

Diabetics and non-diabetics alike; for the sake of your own health, please DO NOT follow any advice listed in this article.

Signed
Disappointed of UK

Could someone please take the time to expound on this a little? I would search for info, but if this article is so bad, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as to what advice to heed. It didn't seem so bad to me, althought I'm not a med student (no sarcasm intended). The author recommended limting trans-fatty acids and any hydrogenated fats (good, from what I understand) as well as high-glycemic carbs (the only problem I see w/ this is using GI as opposed to glycemic load), while advocating consumtion of protein, low-GI carbs (in moderation) and poly- and mono-unsaturated fats. I mean, christ, am I that far behind on my nutrition knowledge? My father is borderline diabetic (I don't know the medical term), and I try to encourage him to eat protein instead of crackers, and **** like that, if he is compelled to eat off-schedule. If I'm THAT out of whack, I would appreciate some help. Preferably backed up w/ references. I know Layne is pretty knowledgable, but I don't like anecdotal evidence, especially on issues like this.

[Atavis]

The author recommended limting trans-fatty acids and any hydrogenated fats (good, from what I understand) as well as high-glycemic carbs (the only problem I see w/ this is using GI as opposed to glycemic load), while advocating consumtion of protein, low-GI carbs (in moderation) and poly- and mono-unsaturated fats.

And what is wrong with that advice?

NOTHING AT ALL.

Originally Posted by Atavis

And what is wrong with that advice?

NOTHING AT ALL.

Taking parts of the article and quoting them out of context can be dangerous. E.g. "Carbohydrates: These are the enemy!", "Avoid These Foods At All Costs:

White flour
White potatoes
Pasta
White rice
Sweets
Processed cereal
Grapes
Raisins
Juice of any kind
Citrus fruit
Bananas
Sugary peanut butters"

(See what I did there)

I am Type 1 diabetic and if I hadn't received top quality nutritional advice from my diabetic clinic, I'd be killing myself with worry over what I can eat, having read the "avoid" list. Of that list, the only thing that plays no part in my diet (except when I have a 'low') is sweets. My current diabetic diet is no different to the healthy balanced diet I ate before becoming diabetic. A balanced meal containing 50% complex carbs, some vegetables or fruit and a protein source has kept my blood sugar readings consistently around ideal levels.

Gorging yourself on "unlimited amounts of proteins" will inevitably have detrimental long-term effects, due to what is included in those foods. Everything should be consumed in moderation.

Give me a healthy whole-wheat pasta dish over a steak any time.

As part of the Meal Planning Rules: "Eat carbs at only one meal per day" - very dangerous indeed. If I did this, I'd have a hypoglycemic attack after the two meals where I didn't consume carbs! I.e. I'd experience very low blood sugar, followed by a spike, due to the glucose taken to correct the low.

[dookie1481]

Originally posted by Atavis
And what is wrong with that advice?

NOTHING AT ALL.

Thank you.

I agree with the first poster, it is difficult to decide where to start with this article as so many facts are inacurate. The descriptions of diabetes are not totally correct and other statements such as lack of insulin makes you store fat are totally wrong. The author has a very poor understanding of diabetes and shouldn't be writing about it.

Let's start with the descriptions:
Once the two types of diabetes are better explained you might start to see the gross inacuracies in the rest of the article.
Type one diabetics do not produce insulin at all. The article says they either produce a little or no insulin. In truth, they produce NONE.
That is why it is called Insulin Dependent Diabetes, because they are completely dependent on injections for life. A type one diabetic can survive 3-7 days without an insulin injection once their pancreas has reached ground zero or total beta cell loss of its insulin producing cells.

This happens very fast to a type one diabetic. Usually in a matter of WEEKS, type one diabetes will set in destroying up to 80 percent of the insulin producing cells in a pancreas. For the next few weeks, but almost always, within 6 months to a year at max, the body will kill off the rest of the insulin producing cells. This is why type one diabetics do not produce any insulin, their bodies have killed off this ability. Sure, they might produce insulin for a few weeks, but that seems like a strange way to summerize a disease as a whole.

And it's really strange to say something in the article like, "insulin is released in response to the increased blood sugar." Really, that's a strange fact because type one diabetics don't produce insulin, they have to inject it.

What the author is trying to do is talk about type two diabetes. But, Amy Davis, doesn't make any distinction between the two types of diabetes. Even though, both types of diabetics respond to sugar in totally differnt ways.
She just says, "diabetes." And since type one and type two diabetes are two totally different disease, that affect the body in two completely different ways, you can't really summarize "diabetes" and do it factually.

Perhaps one of the worst inacuracies in the article is this,
"But since your body can't use it's insulin to convert sugars into fuel, these sugars are now stored as fat, or they float around your blood stream."

This is actually pretty funny its so far off from the truth. One of the principal symptoms of diabetes next to thirst is sudden and severe weight loss. Yes, it's true insulin makes you store fat.
But, insulin isn't working properly in type two diabetes, and it isn't working at all in type one diabetes. Which explains the well known diabetic phenomenon: The more sugar in your blood, the more fat a diabetic will burn.
In fact some diabetics abuse this, and will eat sugar on purpose to lose weight. A type two diabetic whose had diabetes for years and not known it, may gain weight when they first get their blood sugar in control. This is because their body is finally working properly and able to actually store energy. Which isn't the case with excess blood sugar as the author implied. THe basic thing to remember is high blood sugar equals high and dangerous fat loss.

When you read about overweight people being "insulin resistant" and gaining fat because of it you're not reading about diabetes. Granted, obesity can lead in to type two diabetes but being fat is a risk factor, NOT a cause. If it were a cause all overweight people would be diabetic and no thin people would have the disease. Halley Berry is a type two diabetic. Does she look fat, to you? If your truly a diabetic you burn fat when your blood sugar is high.

On to more problems:
The author says a diabetic can eat unlimited amounts of protein.
First diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease.
And diabetics with kidney diseas (over a quarter of the population) need to eat special diets, because their kidney's aren't working properly. Foods like salt, and excess protein can't be processed well by a damaged kidney. Especially if a patient is on diaylsis. (most diaylsis paitents are diabetics) So if your writing for a population, with a high incidence of kidney disease, you really should point out that unlimited protein is not the best nutirtional choice for a patient with kidney disease.

Also, if a diabetic were to eat an all protein breakfast (eggs bacon) they might end up with a high blood sugar afterwards. THis is because, when you start your day your body searches for carbs to help fuel it. Don't give it carbs, at all and it will release some glucose to help you start your day. In a diabetic, that little release can really screw them up. That's why many nutritionists advise diabetics to balance some carbs in any meal. That way they are controlling the amount of sugar released in their blood and can adjust for it, not the other way around. Remeber type one diabetics don't produce insulin, but their livers still produce glucose (sugar.)

There are more problems with this article. But, i have a life and have spent to long on this. Amy Davis, don't give health advice. Your not good at it.

Hear Hear.

Good post Unregistered 03-15-2006, 07:48 PM.

Well said post #14, I am a type one diabetic and I was offended by this article.

Good post Unregistered 03-15-2006, 07:48 PM.

I have had Type 2 Diabetes for over 10 years and no way would I ever eat all my carbs in one meal. First after eating all those carbs my BSL would go extremely high and I become very groggy I can fall asleep anywhere.(standing, in the middle of a phone call, !!driving!!) The two meals without carbs would force my BSL to extreme lows causing awful headaches and an internal shaking buzz throughout my body.

Moderation and evenly spreading carbs, proteins & fats throughout your day is the sane, healthy diet...

[tntpop]

Great Article even if rough on the edges it is correct. The replies are interesting but outdated.

[JFSalvatore]

The worst piece of dribble I have read to date, concerning diabetes and weight training and it's diet. Wow. I truely am speechless; and offended, as a type 1 diabetic. Please, don't take this advice if you are a diabetic, please!