Diabetes Solution

This is Dr Bernstein's revised and updated 1997 book on surviving diabetes systematically and comfortably.

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease with no known cure. The best anyone having diabetic problems can do is manage the disease. While some of the symptoms can be reversed (e.g., by the old lose weight and exercise regime) sometimes, the disease process does not go away. If you stop doing whatever keeps the disease process at bay, it comes to get you. Once you are into this, you are into it for life.
 

I found that out the hard way. I am an insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetic, after 10 years of taking this, that and the other (expensive) prescriptions. No matter what I did, wiggle and squirm, things worked for a while; but, inevitably, the disease went on to the next step.
 

Retrospectively, I realize I had unrecognized early symptoms of diabetes 30 years ago. But, neither the doctors nor the public nor I were aware of them 30 years ago. And, just 15 years ago, there was little that could be done about it. Since then, much has changed and now there's a lot that can be done. There are new drugs, new tests and a vastly improved awareness.
 

I bought Dr Bernstein's book after skimming it skeptically at the County Library, and then giving it closer attention. While I don't swear by everything in it, I recommend it highly to anyone having chronic diabetic problems.
 

Those of Dr Bernstein's recommendations that make sense to me are:
 

1. Frequent glucose tests. This is expensive, but worth it. You cannot follow Dr B's program without daily testing. (I use a BAYER DEX machine, because it can be connected to a computer, and the data downloaded into Bayer software.)

    

2. Your daily pattern of eating and taking medicine (drugs, insulin, etc) has to be adjusted to keep your glucose within guidelines as much of the time as possible. Bernstein believes that high glucose is responsible for diabetes' destructive effects, so the major goal is keeping glucose controlled at all times. It's not good enough to have low fasting glucose, or a not too bad "HbA1C" test. The adult target is usually 90-120 mg/dl at all times.

    

3. Dr B's dietary recommendations are similar to the Atkins' diet. It's the carbs: anything that can be turned into sugar fast is just plain no good, especially for diabetics. Dr B chucks sugar stuff, starchy stuff, fruits, canned things and a lot more. He recommends lots of fiber, veggies and high-protein foods. The main thing is these foods should NOT become sugar quickly. (Sorry, MickeyD, Fruit Loops and Campbells' soup, you're out of business.)

In following Dr B's diet, you become an obsessive sugar watcher. It's important to read the labels before buying anything canned or packaged. Food processors are notorious for adding sugar and salt to their foods, to get you to eat more of their product. It's the old MSG trick redux.
 

You are best off buying as much as possible FRESH. This can be expensive, and requires a lot of trips to the market. However, this gives you the opportunity to WALK (RUN?) to the store for exercise. Get out of your car! It also gives you the opportunity to become familiar with what food really looks like. (I live in an agricultural area, where we know this first hand.)
 

It is possible to reduce the costs of this diet quite a bit by becoming exquisitely sensitive to prices. A side benefit of the diet, unless you are a millionaire, is a much improved budgetary process and understanding. I strongly urge getting an ACCOUNTING program, and keeping track of ALL your expenses.
 

The diet doesn't have to be drab cardboard every day. In fact, cooking tasty and interesting meals is a challenge. Here's an opportunity to improve your cooking skills, and maybe becoming an Iron Chef or cookbook writer. (This can be lucrative.)
 

Food preparation and presentation is very important because the single greatest reason people go off diet is lack of satiety. The meal has to be filling. It must not leave you wanting more. People just don't do well fighting off hunger, especially when the full refrig is just steps away. Cooking tasty and satiating meals is crucial to success.
 

Because I am lazy, stupid and just plain perverse, I haven't done everything Bernstein recommends. Nonetheless, I found this book very helpful and, again, recommend it.

Update [2004-5-4 20:32:25 by WalterB]:

Later in the day, WSJ reported:

Abbott Labs Awaits Approval For Nonstop Glucose Monitor

Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

By LEILA ABBOUD

May 4, 2004; Page D2
 

Measuring the level of glucose in the blood is a daily chore for the estimated 13 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes, one that involves pricking the skin and drawing blood. It's also a good-sized business: Glucose monitors ring up more than $5 billion in sales world-wide annually, and the market is forecast to grow 10% to 12% annually.
 

The monitors now in use give patients a snapshot of blood-sugar levels at a given moment. But a device from Abbott Laboratories that is awaiting marketing approval would provide continuous readings, and not require multiple daily pinpricks. That kind of continuous monitoring could transform the way many diabetics manage their disease.
 

"Continuous monitors are the future of diabetes care," said Martin J. Abrahamson of the Joslin Clinic in Boston.
 

Such devices are a major step forward for health because they allow diabetics to more tightly control their glucose levels. Research shows that people who maintain steady blood-sugar levels are less likely to develop the most serious complications of diabetes, such as blindness, nerve damage, and early death.
 

Doctors recommend that diabetics test at least four times a day, but the majority don't test even twice. [emphasis mine]