When their daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, the whole Burt family gave up sugar. Just how hard was it? "For about a month it was like having a hangover and being so very groggy, lethargic, I couldn't concentrate," said Jason Burt, "and then gradually it was like a cloud lifting."
Jason Burt's daughter Lucy, who is 16, found out she had diabetes Type 1, also known as diabetes mellitus, in September 2011. It means the pancreas does not produce insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. If the amount of glucose in the blood is too high, the body's organs may be damaged.
The family, which includes two other children Jack, 12 and Emma, 18, has always lived what Jason calls a holistic life, with homeopathy and home schooling also a part of their lifestyle - so when Lucy was diagnosed it was a shock.Their doctor said that Lucy should check her blood levels regularly, inject insulin, but continue to eat a normal, balanced diet. However Jason and his wife Clare felt that they and their three children should all give up sugar. "It was a solidarity thing... it just made obvious sense that by giving up sugar, we're supporting her in a diet that we think is the best diet for her and her diabetes," Jason Burt told Radio 4's Food Programme.
They went against the doctor's advice, and have been following a low carbohydrate, no sugar, high protein, high fat diet, with lots of vegetables. They said it was very hard and uncomfortable to begin with, but now they all feel healthier, have higher levels of concentration, eat less overall, and their food bill has gone down too. Lucy Burt's diabetes is under control. She still takes a bit of insulin, but is mostly stable.
As a family they worked out they have lost 8.5 stone, with Jason and Clare losing three each.
"I suppose and you started to feel more awake, more aware and since then I haven't looked back because my energy levels have been constantly good," said Jason Burt.
Despite the family having given up sugar, Jason feels strongly that the government has got its policy the wrong way round on obesity by blaming fat not sugar. He also feels that big companies get away with misleading marketing when they advertise their products as low fat, when they might have very high sugar levels.
More on this story here.
Eddie
PS. Comment from reader added for clarification.
Anonymous said...Great story, Eddie, and we know they'll just keep on coming. "she had diabetes Type 1, also known as diabetes mellitus" Of course, all diabetes of whichever type is known as diabetes mellitus.
Just trying not to scare the horses : )
Geoff J
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