Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet to Prevent or Reverse Diabetes
I wish for all my readers a Happy New Year, and it is my prayer that we will re-focus on a number of issues as we continue the struggle to change our lifestyles in order to control and possibly reverse diabetes. To my readers who are not diabetic, please do all you possibly can in 2017 and beyond to ensure that you remain in good health.
It is rather simple to do – eat whole foods, and live a more active lifestyle. With that said, I would like to share with you the results of a research which concluded that a carbohydrate restricted diet is perfect to prevent or reverse diabetes.
Restricting Carbohydrate
This research was done at the University of Alabama (Birmingham) by Barbara Gower (Ph. D.). This professor of Nutrition looked at what made up our diet and the disease risks associated with this dietary composition. She came to the conclusion that diabetes can be prevented and also reversed if we stick to a carbohydrate-restricted diet.¹
It was interesting to see it said once again that diabetes does not need medication for a lot of the cases, as food alone was many times enough to prevent and treat diabetes. At the clinic at the above-mentioned university, a number of patients were able to stop taking medication for diabetes when they reduced the amount of carbohydrate they consumed.
According to the report made, patients were excited to be off insulin and to use diet alone to manage their diabetes. A complaint was made that they were not told this before and so they wondered why this information was withheld.
A Reservoir of Information
I would like to pause here to speak with my readers on this point. Please remember that we have a responsibility to ourselves to research and be more informed when we go to see our medical team.
The Internet is a reservoir of unfiltered information, but with careful research and sifting, we can be informed and make better choices. I am encouraging you to make this a habit for 2017 and beyond.
Relying on what one or two people say about your health can be a risky thing. Listen to your doctor, but, do the research with an open mind. Ask your doctor questions based on your research, then you make your informed decisions.
No Carbs, No Medication
Professor Gower went as far to say that “if the patient does not eat carbs, they do not have to use medication.” ¹ Professor Gower blames the sugar and processed starches for diabetes and she is of the view that we need to tell people to stop eating sugar and processed starches.
It was for me heart-warming when she mentioned that diabetes, like a number of other illnesses is a preventable, lifestyle illness. Read this statement she made, “Carbohydrates are not essential nutrients for the human body, and with proper instruction, patients can adjust their diets to minimize them.”¹
Ok, quite a mouthful here, but familiar news. Why then are we not getting it? I would like to take a more detailed look at what we should be eating in order to reverse and to prevent diabetes.
My Journey
I was fortunate to have improved blood glucose readings even though I still ate some bread, rice, crackers, and pasta. But, I noticed recently that it became more difficult for me to further lower my blood glucose and so I knew that a radical change was inevitable.
Yes, I do have a burning desire to eliminate diabetes and be free of this monster in my life and so I am aiming for a “perfect score.” Yes, I am expecting to have a fasting figure between 4 to 6 mmol/l (70 to 100 mg/dl). Two hours after a meal should be less than 7.8 mmol/l or less than 140 mg/dl, dependent on the glucometer machine you are using.
I have done the self-experiment and I know that I cannot achieve this if I continue to eat bread, brown rice, and the occasional pasta. This is not easy for me to say, but I do hate taking the medication and I will stop completely in this year.
Yes, I take less now, but I need to be free of Metformin and Reclide. Yes, I made the commitment to avoid bread, crackers, rice, and pasta in an attempt to be completely off my meds. I am still eating fruits, but, I consume more vegetable than fruits now.
And, the Foods Are
It is early time yet. This report was published on December 30th, 2016 and I only then started my self-experiment, but, I am excited! Please see below for what I am eating in the experiment:
- Vegetables
- Cabbage
- Pak Choy
- Callaloo
- Carrot (limited)
- Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cho Cho
- Meat (3 oz.)/Protein
- Chicken
- Chicken Breast
- Fish
- Turkey
- Beef
- Pork
- Lamb
- Bacon
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Hot Beverage (No sugar or sweetener)
- Coffee
- Green tea
- Mango leaf tea
- Soursop leaf tea
- Cinnamon and coffee
- Lime and ginger
- Fats
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado
- Nuts
- Fruits (limited amount for now)
- Apples
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Strawberries
Preliminary Results
I delayed publishing this article so that I could give some feedback. Three days into eating this way (restrictive carbohydrate) and my blood glucose is now back in the 7 to 7.4 (126 to 133.2). Remember I admitted that recently I had a slight rise (7.7 to 8.8/ 138.6 to 158.4) and I was finding it difficult to return to 6 to 7 (108 to 126) blood glucose range. Of course, I am now aiming for a perfect score.
Is it possible that my slight increase in blood glucose was as a result of my consuming carbohydrate from brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and crackers? Yes, I limited the amount of these, but, was it still too much? I also had the flu for over two weeks, was this contributing to the slight increase as well?
I am not a medical doctor, so I don’t have all the answers, but, I am determined to be diabetic-free. I am prepared to do whatever it takes to be healthy again. Hey, I am also convinced that even though our doctors are more knowledgeable in this area as well, they too do not have all the answers.
Effective health care will never be a one size fits all, and so I am totally convinced that the best way for me to achieve being diabetic-free is to read a lot about the varying research findings, self-experiment, talk with my doctor/s and most importantly, listen to my body.
Conclusion
In concluding, let me remind you that I made a decision to stay away from most forms of sugar and refined carbohydrates. I eat meat, poultry, fish, green leafy vegetables, non-starchy vegetables, cheese, eggs, nuts, and some seeds.
Thus far I am seeing a reduction in my blood glucose numbers and I have absolutely no issues “going” in the bathroom. Please return for future updates.
Continue reading here: Christmas Recipes-Controlling your Blood Sugar
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