Diabetic Diets: 2014

Protein’s Affect on Blood Sugar Levels

Much the same as fiber, eating quality protein with your snacks and meals can have a
positive affect on your blood sugar levels. By combining protein and carbohydrates you
will slow the digestions of the carbohydrates in your body. This slowing down will
prevent your blood sugar from spiking as the result of too many carbohydrates in your
system.

This does not mean that you should eat more protein than is recommended in one meal.
Doing so can lead to other problems down the road.   But if you are a diabetic, skipping
protein in your diet is not a good idea. For diabetics who are vegetarians or that don’t eat
a lot of any protein it is important to find a source that can be consumed on a regular
basis.

There are many other sources of high-quality protein that does not include animal meats.
Other protein sources can include:

*    Tofu is a source of protein that can be prepared in a variety of ways including
dessert tofu
*    Nuts are an excellent source of protein but can be high in fat too. Read nutrition
labels and enjoy in moderation
*    Seeds such as flax, pumpkin, and sunflower can be eaten as a source of protein
*    Beans and other members of the legume family. There are many ways to prepare
beans from chili to cold salads
*    Protein powders are available to sprinkle on cereals or to make into shakes for
drinking
*    Fish sources – be aware that large fish contain high levels of mercury and should
only be eaten once or twice per week

When making protein choices, go for a lean cut whenever possible. Even though protein
has a positive affect on blood sugars excessive fat can cancel out the benefit and turn it
into a health risk. Enjoy high-fat meats or heavily processed meats on rare occasions and
eat a wide variety of proteins.

Meal Planning for an Active Diabetic

Physical activity is recommended for any person to stay healthy. But for a diabetic it
now only increases energy levels and can help maintain an ideal body weight it also helps
to control blood sugars. But an active diabetic needs to take extra care and precautions to
ensure they are getting enough fuel for their body so their blood sugars do not drop
dangerously low – known as hypoglycemia.

The amount you exercise is going to determine how much you are going to eat on your
diabetic meal plan. The more physically active you are the higher your nutritional
requirements and the higher your risk is for developing hypoglycemia. The best practice
when you are just starting out is to monitor your blood sugars before and after working
out and during if you feel it is necessary. It is important to listen to your body and stop if
you are feeling light-headed or are experiencing any of the other signs associated with
low blood sugar.

Before you work out, have a snack that is going to sustain you for a long period of time
without spiking your blood sugar levels. A granola bar eaten with a handful of nuts is a
good choice as it combines a carbohydrate that is high in fiber and a high-quality protein.
The food that you eat before working out should have a high-fiber content, this will slow
down the breaking down process of the carbohydrates in your system and you will be
sustained for a longer period of time.

Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) when you are working out to stay hydrated. In
case of an emergency, carry glucose tablets with you at all times or some hard candy that
will quickly raise your blood sugar. At other times of the day, eat balanced meals to
maintain your energy.

High-Fat Foods and the Affect on Blood Sugars

All diets should use fat in moderation as it can lead to an unhealthy body weight and
heart disease. For a diabetic, controlling fat intake is important for the previous reason in
addition to the negative affect it can have on blood sugars. Fats can be put into many
different categories – healthy, non-healthy, saturated, non-saturated, trans-fat, and more.
But the bottom line with any of kind of fat is to enjoy in moderation.

When you eat food that is high in fat (for instance a cheeseburger), your short-term blood
glucose reading may come back as fine. But since fat acts much like protein and it slows
down the digestion of carbohydrates you may notice a higher than normal blood sugar
many hours later. It is hard to plan for such a spike because it is quite delayed compared
to other foods that are eaten that raise blood sugar.

The best advice is to choose natural, healthy, unsaturated fats and oils whenever possible.
You can do this by reading your food labels carefully as the different kinds of fats are
listed on most food labels. Excessive fat intake will also cause you to gain weight and
that is another way blood sugars can spiral out of control. Extra body weight that you
carry around is taxing on your systems and will affect how your body uses and needs
insulin.

Healthy fat choices include:

*    Avocado – oil or the fruit itself
*    Sesame, olive, or canola oil
*    Black or green olives
*    Peanuts and peanut butter (this doubles as a protein choice)
*    Sesame seeds

Additional fat choices that should be used in moderation:

*    Butter or margarine
*    Walnuts
*    Salad dressings
*    Mayonnaise
*    Pumpkin and sunflower seeds

If there are any questions about a type of fat and what a serving size should be, contact
your doctor or dietician for more information.

Keeping on Track with your Diabetic Diet

Once you have taken the time to plan your meals for the week including snacks and have
gone grocery shopping you are all set for a week’s worth of healthy eating. Well, if you
can stick to your plan and only eat the foods that you bought you will be. This is easier
said than done though. Everyone needs a break from a strict eating plan, but you need to
know how to get back on track and stay motivated to follow your diabetic diet.

Different people with have varying reasons as to why it is hard for them to stay on track.
For some it may be they are not giving themselves enough variety in their diet from day
to day or even week to week. This is an easy dilemma, do some research by talking to
other diabetics and your dietician for suggestions on how to mix up your eating plan.

If you are feeling alone and a bit resentful that you can’t eat what you want and when you
want. You should consider joining a support group for diabetics. Not only can they help
you through the times you want to cheat on your diabetic diet they can also provide
emotional support. If you are the only person in you family with diabetes you may feel
quite alone and if they are not supportive (and eat things in front of you that you cannot
have) you also may feel angry. Talking to someone that has been through the same thing
will help and provide the motivation that is needed to stay on your meal plan.

Sometimes money can be a factor in not being able to stick with a meal plan. The higher
quality foods can be more expensive than the quick and easy convenience foods.
Whenever possible, try and make foods that have been processed as little as possible like
produce.

Good Carbohydrates and Bad Carbohydrates

A lot of diabetic diets and diabetic meal planning center around carbohydrate intake – the
amount you can have and when you should have them. This is because they play such a
crucial role in managing blood sugars. Too many carbohydrates or the wrong kind can
cause high blood sugars. Not enough carbohydrates can cause low blood sugars or
hypoglycemia.

It is recommended that carbohydrates make up about 40% of your daily calories, but not
all carbohydrates are created equal. You also need to pay attention to fat and sugar
content.

Here are some carbohydrate choices that should be made frequently:

*    Whole grain cereals
*    Whole wheat breads and rolls
*    Brown rice
*    Whole wheat crackers
*    Raw or lightly steamed fruits and vegetables
*    Whole wheat pita pockets or wraps

Carbohydrate choices that should be made less often:

*    Potato chips
*    White bread
*    White rice
*    Other foods that have been processed
*    Cookies
*    Easy to eat snacks

Carbohydrates are an essential part of every diet but make sure you are including the
right kinds in yours. Good carbohydrates will fill you up and not create a sudden spike in
your blood sugars. Bad carbohydrates are usually over-processed, create high blood
sugars, create obesity and are high in sodium.

As carbohydrates are going to make up almost half of your daily food choices it is
important to fill you body with high-quality choices. Choose ones that will give you
energy and not cause you to gain weight. The less processed or refined a carbohydrate is
the better it is going to be for you. Even when baking, choose unbleached whole grain
flour. It doesn’t make a big difference in taste but it does in the quality of carbohydrate it
creates. Try whole grain flour in pancakes, cookies and cakes.

Free Foods in a Diabetic Diet

Even though there are free foods on a diabetic diet it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to
pay for them. What it does mean is you can eat them freely without considering them an
exchange or counting them as carbohydrates. These are the kinds of foods that you are
going to want around the house in abundance for times when you are hungry and meal
time is still too far away to eat.

Free foods have little to no affect on blood sugars and that is why they can be eaten in
without counting them as part of a meal. Your diabetes educator or dietician will provide
you with a complete list but here are a few items that are normally considered free foods:

*    Water and other water-based drinks (such as coffee and tea) that are sugar free
*    Bouillon (beef or chicken broth)
*    Sugar-free gelatin (flavored or not)
*    Pickles
*    Cream Cheese
*    Unsweetened cocoa powder
*    Rhubarb
*    Cranberries
*    Salsa

Many condiments are considered free foods too. When you are planning a snack or a
meal add some of the free foods such as salsa or cream cheese for variety or extra flavor.

Depending on your dietician, he or she may consider most vegetables as part of the free
foods group too. Vegetables that do not qualify include potatoes, corn, peas, and carrots
as they are considered starchy and have higher carbohydrate content. If your dietician
does allow you to have vegetables in between meals, make sure to clarify the kinds you
can have and if there is a certain amount you should have.

A diabetic diet can feel restrictive at times. It is nice to have some items that you can
have whenever you want without having to account for them in one way or another.

Easy Meal Planning for Diabetics

Meal planning is essential to a successful diabetic diet. It will prevent times when you
don’t have anything ready for dinner and grab something that you probably shouldn’t be
eating. The planning of meals should begin before you head to the grocery store in the
form of a list and meals you are going to make for those ingredients.

Once a week you should sit down and plan what meals you are going to eat and make for
the next week. When you are making your meal plan, don’t forget to include all meals
and snacks too. If you are hungry and know what your next meal is going to be you are
going to be better prepared.

In the beginning, meal planning will take some time. Depending on what diet your are
following (the Exchange Diet, Counting Carbohydrates, or the TLC Diet) you are going
to have to get used to the foods you can have, the portion sizes and how they can be
cooked.

Plan each day out in its entirety. Make it realistic; don’t plan to make lasagna on a night
that you know you won’t be home until late. Save the meals with more preparation for
when you have time and make extra so you can have left-overs when time is tight.

When you are in the grocery store, do not go hungry. If you do, there is more chance that
you will buy food that you do not need. Another trick while you are pushing around the
cart is to only get what is on your list. If you are in line paying for your food and notice
something that snuck its way in – put it back. This will not only make sure you stick to
your meal plan but can save you money too.

Diabetic Diets – Consistency and Variety

It may sound like a hard thing to do – be consistent and have variety in your diet at the
same time. But it is possible and it is the best way to control your diabetes with your
diet. The consistency comes in at specific meal times and the same servings from the
different food groups. And the variety refers to trying as many different foods in the food
groups as you can.

It can be easy to find a few meals that work well with your blood sugars and are easy to
prepare and just stick with them. You are more than likely to get bored with this and you
probably aren’t getting all of the nutrients you need from a set amount of foods.

Whether you are on the carbohydrate counting diet or the exchange diet, you have a lot of
room for flexibility. You can combine different foods together for something new or try
foods you have never had before. You can meet with your dietician to get additional
ideas for recipes and other foods that you can eat to add more variety to your diet.

There will be times that you try a new food and your blood sugars are higher as a result.
Think back about anything else that you had done differently that day – less activity or
taking your insulin later than usual. If the new food is the only change you experienced
talk to your dietician. You may be able to prepare the food differently or eat it with
something else or you may have to avoid that food if it doesn’t work for your diabetic
diet.

Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean that you can’ be adventurous and try
something new, just do it at regular meal times and within the recommended portion
sizes.

Carbohydrate Counting Diet

Carbohydrates a very big impact on blood glucose levels as they are converted to sugar
by the body in the process of turning the food into energy. Too many carbohydrate
servings can increase blood sugar levels. It is important for a diabetic to control the
number of carbohydrates that are eaten at each meal and balance the carbohydrates with
protein while limiting fat intake.

In this type of meal plan foods are grouped into three different categories: carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats. The majority of foods that you eat contain carbohydrates and this will
be the largest food group. Foods in this group include:

*    Grains – breads, crackers, rice, cereal, pasta
*    Dairy – milk, yogurt
*    Vegetables that are considered starchy – corn, peas, and potatoes
*    The rest of the vegetable family
*    Fruit, including fruit juices
*    Desserts and other treats – chosen in limited amounts

This diet will require you to measure your foods for serving sizes and read food labels to
determine how many servings are carbohydrates it should be counted as. It is standard to
consider 15 grams of carbohydrates as one serving. For instance, if you are having
crackers as a snack and are allowed one serving of carbohydrates you would look at the
food label to figure out how many crackers you can have. If the serving size is 20
crackers and that equals 30 grams of carbohydrates, for a diabetic that would be
considered two servings. In this example, you would half the serving size and eat 10
crackers to equal 15 grams of carbohydrates.

After some time and experience you will become adept at counting carbohydrates and
knowing what foods work well with your blood glucose levels and what ones don’t. No
two diabetics respond the same way to every food, you will need to learn what your own
ideal diabetic diet is.

Benefits of the Exchange Diet

The exchange diet is one that allows you to pick and choose the foods you eat from each
of the six food groups based on portion sizes. When you begin eating with this diet, it
may seem like a lot of work but as you get used to the portions sizes and the common
substitutions that you make it will get easier.

One of the benefits of the exchange diet it the flexibility you have in your meal planning.
As long as you are eating the correct number of exchanges from each food group you will
maintain better control of your blood glucose levels.

If you get bored quite easily by eating the same food day in and day out, the exchange
diet might be for you. There are endless possibilities to combine different foods together
at meal times. You can have broccoli for dinner three nights in a row but make it a
completely different meal each time. One night you can have one small potato, ½ cup of
steamed broccoli and a one ounce pork chop; the second night have ½ cup of cooked
pasta tossed with ½ cup of broccoli and one ounce of cooked chicken; and the third night
try 1/3 cup of rice mixed with ½ cup of broccoli and one ounce of lean ground beef.

The exchange diet also takes the guess work out of meal planning for diabetics. It is laid
out in a very straight forward and easy to understand manner. If there are foods that you
cannot find on the exchange list given to you by your dietician, call and find out which
group it belongs too and what a proper portion size is.

At first you should weigh and measure your foods to ensure you are using the proper
amounts but as time passes you will be able to do this by sight.

Benefits of the Carbohydrate Counting Diet

The carbohydrate counting diet groups foods into three main groups: carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats. You dietician will provide you with the number of carbohydrates you
can have in a day and how that is divided up amongst your meals and snacks. Your
dietician will also educate you on how you can determine the numbers of carbohydrates
are in some of your favorite foods by reading food labels.

The biggest benefit of the carbohydrate counting diet is that it does not eliminate any
foods. A diabetic can choose any food they wish to eat as long as they only eat enough of
it to meet their carbohydrate needs. The trick to this is to choose wholesome foods that
will fill you up longer. The same amounts of carbohydrates that are in a small handful of
potato chips are not equal to the two slices of bread you can have instead. But it is nice
to know that if you really want to – once in awhile – you can treat yourself.

Another benefit is keeping a consistent amount of carbohydrates in your body. This can
help regulate your insulin needs and control. If your body has the same amount of
carbohydrates to process at the same times each day it will be beneficial to your health
and blood glucose readings.

When you choose a carbohydrate counting diet it is important to make sure you are doing
it correctly. If you don’t you can too much or too little and both situations can be
detrimental to your diabetes. Have a dietician teach you how to properly count
carbohydrates and closely monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure the diet it
working for you.

As with any new diet, give it time for you to adjust and learn how to plan your meals
properly.

Artificial Sweeteners for Diabetics

The food industry has come up with a solution for people on diets or with diabetes that
have a sweet tooth. They are known as artificial sweeteners and they are used in
everything from chewing gum, coffee sweeteners, and even baking. There is some
controversy over the use of them as some of them are totally synthetic and others are
derived from the actual sugar plant. But to a diabetic who doesn’t want to give up on
their favorite pop or chewing gum they can be a life-saver.

The four different kinds of artificial sweeteners are: saccharin, aspartame, sucralose,
acesulfame potassium. Each of these types can be found under various product names
and brands. Not all are made the same way and they have different uses. Some you can
buy in liquid or powdered form for baking needs and others like aspartame is only found
in foods that you purchase pre-made.

The use of these artificial sweeteners will not raise blood sugar and are safe for a
diabetic to use. Care and attention is still needed because the food items you put sugar in
or on most likely will have an affect on your blood sugar. Still follow your diabetic diet
but use some artificial sweeteners to make it a little sweeter.

Some diabetics may want to use honey as a substitute for sugar. You certainly can make
this substitution, however, honey is very similar to sugar in carbohydrate content and the
effects it will have on your blood glucose level. It is best to enjoy honey in small
moderations if at all.

Aspartame has been linked in some medical studies with Alzheimer’s disease. Speak to
your doctor about the benefits and risks of using any of the artificial sweeteners if you
have any concerns about the potential health risks.

Benefits of a Healthy Diabetic Diet

Benefits of eating a healthy diet are for everyone but for a diabetic there can be even
more reasons to follow a nutritious meal plan. Keeping a stable blood glucose level is the
biggest reason for a diabetic to follow a diabetic diet. It takes commitment and patience
to stick with the diet and plan out all meals each week. But the more that it is done the
easier it will become.

Another benefit of eating a healthy diabetic diet is reducing the amount of insulin that is
needed. By eating good carbohydrate choices and lean meats you will lower the insulin
requirements for your body. The foods you eat all affect on your blood sugars and when
you do not choose the best foods for your body it will need more insulin to process them.
In addition to extra insulin requirements, you will suffer from high blood sugars also
known as hyperglycemia. This condition can have serious long-term effects on your
body and its organs.

By continuing with a healthy diet and combining it with regular exercise you can lose
excess body weight. This too is good for your insulin requirements and blood glucose
levels. By incorporating exercising into your daily routine you can give your body’s
metabolism a boost and help it process the foods you are eating. When the foods you
take in are healthy choices your body is going to function better.

If you do not follow a healthy diet you can suffer from:

*    Low blood sugar from not eating enough – hyperglycemia
*    High blood sugar from eating too much or eating the wrong foods –
hypoglycemia
*    Gain weigh and in turn increase your daily insulin requirement
*    Lack the energy needed to exercise on a regular basis

Eating well can help control your diabetes and prolong your life expectancy.

Adjusting your Diabetic Diet for Special Occasions

Birthday parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more are holidays and special
occasions that are centered on food. For most people these are times to anticipate the
celebration and the eating. For a diabetic it can be a stressful time, you want to partake in
all of the good food too but most times it is not made with a diabetic in mind. If the
frequency of these events is not too often, you can adjust your diet for special occasions
so you too can have some of the treats available.

The hardest part about preparing for a special occasion is if you do not know what is
going to be served. If this is the case, a quick call to your host or hostess can be made.
Most people will not mind you asking especially if you have dietary needs that need to be
taken into consideration. Once you do know what is being served, plan your meals for
that day accordingly. You may want to have fewer carbohydrates with your breakfast
and snack to make up for the extra ones you will have at a birthday party where pizza is
being served.

Another option for special occasions is to offer to bring a dish for everyone to share.
Make it something that you enjoy as a treat but still follows the guidelines for your
diabetic diet.

For family favorites and traditions, be creative and look for ways to make the same dishes
with less fat or sugar. You can do this by substituting regular sugar for sugar substitutes
or choose whole wheat flour instead of white for the extra fiber content.

During the holidays and other occasions, closely monitor your blood sugars. Even with
extra care, the change in your diet can still result in a blood sugar that is too high or low.

A Diabetic Diet for Vegetarians

If you are a vegetarian who has been diagnosed with diabetes, you can still maintain your
diabetic diet. In some cases a vegetarian diet may be a healthy way to keep your blood
glucose levels stable - that is if you are eating lean high-quality proteins and are
following other rules for eating as a diabetic.

As a lot of vegans and vegetarians eat a larger amount of fruits and vegetables in a day
than a non-vegetarian and their fiber intake is much higher too. An increased amount of
fiber in a diabetic’s diet can help blood sugars because it slows down the process of the
body digesting carbohydrates. A vegetarian’s diet is usually lower in cholesterol as well
and it can help ward off cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes.

If you are diabetic and are considering a switch to a diabetic diet some of the benefits you
might derive include a higher rate of weight loss and better blood sugar readings. This is
dependant on the types of vegetarian meals you choose as some meatless meals can be
just as fattening as ones that contain meat.

Speak to your doctor and dietician before making the switch. You will need information
on how to transition yourself to your new diet. You will also get a list of meat
alternatives you should eat in order to get enough protein in a day. These can include
tofu, nuts, eggs, and seeds.

As with any change, once your switch to a vegetarian diet give yourself and your body
time to adjust. There are many recipes and ideas for vegetarian dishes and you will find a
lot of variety and flexibility in the meals that you prepare. Check your blood sugars
frequently to make sure your blood glucose levels remain stable during the change.

Calling anyone with a diabetic child.

Check out the blog and story in the link below, it is a stunning success story for what can be achieved in the control of diabetes. Skill, dedication and a lot of love. No more words from me required.

Eddie

http://diabeticalien.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/how-to-obtain-perfect-blood-work-with.html

Association Between Plasma Triglycerides and HDL-Cholesterol and Microvascular Kidney Disease and Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Global Case-Control Study in 13 Countries

Abstract

Background—Microvascular renal and retinal diseases are common major complications of type 2 diabetes. The relation between plasma lipids and microvascular disease is not well established.

Methods and Results—The cases were 2535 patients with type 2 diabetes with average duration 14 years, 1891 having kidney disease and 1218 retinopathy. The cases were matched for diabetes duration, age, sex, and LDL-cholesterol to 3683 controls with type 2 diabetes who did not have kidney disease or retinopathy. The study was conducted in 24 sites in 13 countries. The primary analysis included kidney disease and retinopathy cases. Matched analysis was performed using site-specific conditional logistic regression in multivariable models that adjusted for hemoglobinA1C, hypertension, and statin treatment. Mean LDL-cholesterol concentration was 2.3mmol/L. The microvascular disease odds ratio (OR) increased by a factor of 1.16 (95% CI: 1.11,1.22) for every 0.5mmol/L (approximately 1 quintile) increase in triglycerides; or decreased by a factor of 0.92 (0.88, 0.96) for every 0.2mmol/L (approximately 1 quintile) increase in HDL-cholesterol. For kidney disease, the OR increased by 1.23 (1.16,1.31) with triglycerides and decreased by 0.86 (0.82, 0.91) with HDL-cholesterol. Retinopathy was associated with triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol in matched analysis but not significantly after additional adjustment.

Conclusions—Diabetic kidney disease is associated worldwide with higher levels of plasma triglycerides and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol among patients with good control of LDL-cholesterol. Retinopathy was less robustly associated with these lipids. These results strengthen the rationale for studying dyslipidemia treatment to prevent diabetic microvascular disease.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/

Low Trigs high HDL, just more of the many benefits of a LC/HF diet.

Graham

Sian Burton BDA Chairman says "Trust a Dietitian"

BDA Honourary Chairman Siân Burton explains why she’s chosen Trust a Dietitian as her Chairman’s theme.

Siân Burton, BDA Chairman 2013

In response, I would like to introduce my new theme: Trust a Dietitian

This campaign aims to encouraging you our members to ‘Know Your Worth’ and be proud of your qualified status as a registered dietitian. This campaign will equip you, our members with information, case studies and toolkits to effectively promote yourselves and the profession.

All BDA members will be asked to participate in the campaign, take part in various local, regional and even national events and get involved in the first ever Dietitian’s Week taking place from 9-13 June 2014.”

Last year I attended the annual BDA conference, not one of my better decisions. As you can see, they damn near wasted me, can't think why. I had attended the meeting in what I thought was a passable disguise, unfortunately the ex diabetes.co.uk resident dietitian recognised me. Instantly all hell broke loose, I awoke four days later, heavily sedated, and barely alive, in The West Smethwick Infirmary. I won't be attending the 'Dietitians week' bash.

Eddie

The British Dietetic Association a complete unprofessional shambles ?

From the British Dietetic Association website re a recent meeting of members.

"Carbohydrate Advice in Type 2 Diabetes – The ‘Hot Potato’ of ! ! Dietetics?"

"The latest UK nutrition guidelines for diabetes suggest an individualised approach to carbohydrate in Type 2 diabetes, and focus on calorie reduction and weight management in those who need to lose weight. But where does that leave more detailed or speciﬁc advice about carbohydrate for individual patients? What should Dietitians be advising their patients? Preliminary research into the current practice of UK Dietitians in this topical ﬁeld will be reported, together with the current evidence-base. Participants in this session will have the opportunity to review their own practice in this area and contribute to the ongoing debate."

As you may have noticed dietitians have featured heavily in my posts so far this year. Diabetes care in the UK is abysmal for the majority of diabetics. The NHS audited annual statistics are grim, and they are grim year after year, no progress is being made, in fact the situation is getting worse. One of the keystones of good diabetes control is diet. And the experts on diet in the UK are the dietitians who are members of the British Dietetic Association. Recently they held a meeting and produced a survey conducted on some of their members opinions, some of the results you see below. As you can see their methods seem to be very unsound, in fact I don't see any method at all. Clearly UK dietitians have no general guidelines or policy agreement to work to whatsoever. To the question How frequently do you advise carbohydrate restriction with type two diabetes on oral medication, sometimes was the answer for the most. The question what would be a realistic carbohydrate restriction in type two diabetes 30 to 50% of energy was the overwhelming reply.

The $64000 question is, how could any successful organisation operate with absolutely no overhaul common policy ? no corporate structure or method of operation whatsoever. Remember we are not talking about flogging nuts and bolts here, we are talking about the health of millions of people. Is it any wonder the UK diabetes statistics are so grim, when the very organisation that should be leading the way to better health for so many, could not run a whelk stall. Until the BDA at the very least, issue some basic guidelines to their members and have some sort of common policy, regarding carbohydrate control or restriction, the carnage will go on. It is my opinion, the BDA is at the very least partly responsible for the early death of countless diabetics. Will it be ever thus ?

Click on graphs to enlarge

Source of information and more here

Eddie

Who can be contacted on this blog and at this email address lowcarbdiabetic@aol.com

“The Miracle is this - the more we share, the more we have.”

Apparently so said Leonard Nimoy (better known as Spock). I found this on Julie’s great blog ‘Happiness is a dish best savoured hot‘, which you can link to from our side bar.

The inter-net can be a great place and for those of us who regularly use it, it’s a great boon. However, it comes with a price. It may take up a lot of what would have been your free time. Many a time friends have said to me I thought I’d just check my emails, or I’ll just have a look at the blog and something that should have taken minutes results in you still being on the inter-net/web an hour or so later and in some cases all morning - but surely not all day!

This of course is fine if you have nothing better to do but for most of us isn’t there something we ought to be doing instead? How about a walk, how about sorting the garage out, how about getting that bag of things you no longer use down the charity shop. Recycle and re-use, it helps so many people out.

Do you remember the great ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica’. I used to love reading through them and finding out new things. Now of course it’s a click of the mouse or the touch on your phone.

Do you remember writing to pen pals or a favourite Aunt. I used to do this to, but now of course it’s emails or text. Twitter, face book, the modern media - is this progress? Well yes I suppose it is but I loved receiving letters through the post and the art of letter writing unfortunately is becoming a thing of the past.

One great thing I like about the inter-net is my new found friends on blogs and forums. Of course you may find some you dislike, you do not agree with them, their thoughts are way outside your comfort zone. Well two choices, either join in or not. The on/off switch is in our hands or should I say fingers.

I believe it’s true the more we share, the more we have. Knowledge and friendship forms bonds, a bit like shaking hands across the world, and couldn‘t the world and it‘s people do with a little bit more understanding.

With 2013 now behind us, is it time for us to bring about new beginnings? We all have to decide, will we continue as last year or will we do something different that could make a change for the better. I certainly hope to continue blogging. By doing this I can enjoy sharing and learning things about health and lifestyle that interest me. I will also continue to love, support and enjoy my family and friends. We are stronger together.

Many of you reading this may have made your New Year Resolutions, they can work out if you do the groundwork and keep at it. With this in mind you may enjoy this short piece which I found on Julie's blog - I found it interesting hope you do to.

Have a good 2014 and make each day count.

All the best Jan

Hitler is in denial about the benefits of low carb high fat !

Eddie

A blast from the past first posted thursday, 18 July 2013

Unilever launch new Black Ops outfit !

Those wonderful people that make Flora margarine have set up a new Black Ops outfit to convince us junk Frankenstein fats are better for our health. This is a new addition to the numerous propaganda outfits set up to keep the profits coming in. If you think they have your health and best interests at heart, please think again. Follow the money every time, and it usually leads back to big pharma or multinational junk food outfits. Check out Doctor John Briffa’s take on this latest scam set up.

Eddie

Words of Dr. Briffa

"In support of her claim that “risk of developing heart disease is reduced when saturated fats are replaced with unsaturated fats” Dr Ruxton cites a study that shows no such thing. I’ve contacted Dr Ruxton and she tells me she’s consulting people internally at the Fat Information Service responsible for doing ‘background research’ and putting text on the website. Let’s see what comes out of this. However, it seems to me that Dr Ruxton has grossly misrepresented the findings of the review.

My feeling is this is not good enough from a person working for an organisation that purports to provide accurate advice about dietary fats. Is the endgame here for us to be better informed about how to eat to improve our health? I honestly doubt it. My sense is the Fat Information Service is a kind of dietary propaganda machine that exists to convince people of the nutritional virtues of margarine over butter. My advice: don’t swallow it."

Full John Briffa post here.

More Black Ops outfits and pay masters.

DUK The diabetes charity.

Abbott Bayer Boehringer Ingelheim Bristol Myers Squibb Bupa Bunzl Everyclick First Capital Connect Flora pro.activ Kodak Lilly Lloyds Pharmacy Menarini Merck Serono Morphy Richards Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited Novartis Novo Nordisk Nursing Times PAL Technologies Ltd Pfizer Rowlands Pharmacies Sanofi-aventis SplendaTakeda Tesco Diets

HEART UK -The Nation’s Cholesterol Charity

Abbott Healthcare Alpro UK AstraZeneca BHR Pharma Cambridge Weight Plan Cereal Partners UK (Sh Wheat) Food & Drink Federation Fresenius Medical Care (UK) Limited Genzyme Therapeutics Hovis Kellogg’s (Optivita) Kowa Pharmaceutical Europe Co Limited L.IN.C Medical Systems Limited Merck Sharpe & Dhome PlanMyFood Pfizer Premier Foods Progenika Biopharma s.a. Roche Products Limited Unilever (Flora) Welch’s (Purple Grape Juice)

The British Nutrition Foundation

However, the organisation's 39 members, which contribute to its funding, include – beside the Government, the EU – Cadbury, Kellogg's, Northern Foods, McDonald's, PizzaExpress, the main supermarket chains except Tesco, and producer bodies such as the Potato Council. The chairman of its board of trustees, Paul Hebblethwaite, is also chairman of the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Trade Association.

The European Food Information Council

Current EUFIC members are: AB Sugar, Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe, Bunge, Cargill, Cereal Partners, Coca-Cola, Danone, DSM Nutritional Products Europe Ltd., Ferrero, Kraft Foods, Mars, McDonald's, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Pfizer Animal Health, Südzucker, and Unilever.

The British Heart Foundation

Unilever Flora margarine.

Welcome to Dietitians for Professional Integrity !

Not all dietitians are clueless or on the payroll of junk food or big pharma. Check out the outfit shown below. I can appreciate their situation. Dietitians are receiving so much bad press (check out the average diabetes forum) and so often caught with their hand in the tills of food companies that produce complete junk, they realise the gig is up. These professionals want to distance themselves from the brown envelope brigade. Who can blame them. Dietitians with more than nine functioning brain cells better take note, the days of pushing carbs, carbs and more carbs and dump that saturated fat are over. These old dogma dietary dinosaurs will soon go the way of the dodo and not before time in my opinion.

From the website in link 1.

Welcome to Dietitians for Professional Integrity

We are a group of concerned dietetics professionals advocating for greater financial transparency, as well as ethical, socially responsible, and relevant corporate sponsorships within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

This website was created to let you know more about who we are and why we do not think Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kellogg's, and other Big Food giants should sponsor the country's largest nutrition organization.

Our efforts are guided by professional integrity. We believe the American public deserves nutrition information that is not tainted by food industry interests. Those of us who co-founded Dietitians for Professional Integrity are nutrition experts first and foremost; we went to school to help people achieve better health through food, not to help multinational food companies sell more unhealthy products.

We thank you for your interest and support, and hope you enjoy learning more about our efforts.

Link 1 to website here

Link 2 to facebook page here

Eddie

Carrie Ruxton Dietitian said "You know nothing at all about me”

Carrie Ruxton said...

“Eddie, my comments in the Daily Mail were not exactly as I'd said them to Fiona McRae. Instead of sounding off in this bitchy way, why don't you ask me what I think about this topic? You know nothing at all about me”

I do know something about you Carrie, you're a registered Dietitian and you are all over the internet. Ex employee of the The Sugar Bureau, working for the The Fat Information Service, a Unilever shill flogging margarine, recently flogging tea to children via the The Tea Advisory Panel, working with The Proprietary Association of Great Britain (membership most of the worlds big pharma companies) flogging supplements. Not so long ago Dr. John Briffa shredded you for misleading information, posted but now removed from The Fat Information Service website. Let’s face it Carrie you flog, promote or endorse stuff for money. That’s cool with me, but sugar and marg is junk in my opinion, and big pharma’s reputation is abysmal, hence the $billions in fines for illegal activities. I have a very keen sense of smell and I'm smelling four pound of condemned veal. Junk food big pharma oh dear.

Anyway let’s cut to the chase, did you or did you not say “carbs are the body’s main source of energy – and the brain’s only source” as quoted in the Daily Mail ? Most interested in any comment you have to make, especially on your views for the control of type two diabetes using a low carb high fat diet.

BTW check out margarine production, good grief it’s a failed science experiment if ever I saw one. It’s no wonder butter sales are going up and marg sales are plummeting.

The 12 stages of margarine production.

1, Soy beans, corn sunflower or rapeseeds

2, Oils extracted by high temperature and pressure.

3 Remaining fraction of oils removed with hexane and other solvents.

4 Oils, now rancid, steam cleaned to remove all vitamins and anti oxidants(but pesticides and solvents remain)

5 Oils mixed with nickel catalyst.

6 Oils with catalyst subjected to hydrogen gas in a high pressure high temperature reactor.

7 Soap like emulsifiers mixed in.

8 Oil steam cleaned again to remove horrible odour.

9 Grey colour removed by bleaching!

10 Artificial flavours, synthetic vitamins and natural colour added.

11 mixture is packaged in blocks or tubs.

12 Advertising promotes margarine as a health food.!!

(Source… Premier Training International Ltd.)

Eddie

Carrie comments.

"I said glucose is the brain's only source of energy under normal conditions and carbs are the body's preferred fuel. I have no experience of using high fat diets to control diabetes so I can't comment. The Daily Mail article was about low carb diets for weight control. My view on this is that you can get the same benefit from low GI/GL high fibre diets and, so, it is not necessary to restrict carbs."
Carrie

xyzzy said...

Well said Eddie

Carrie you are a professional dietitian so I am shocked by your appalling admission that you have no knowledge of lchf regimes for use in either weight loss or diabetes control. Dont you have a responsibility to keep your self up to date with 21st century thinking. Its not as if any of this is particularly new for example the Swedish Health service and government actively promote lchf regimes both for weight loss and diabetes control since 2011 based on ample research carried out in the previous 10 years. Perhaps noting the fact that Sweden is only 2nd to Iceland in having the smallest incidence of T2 diabetes in the industrialised nations should be giving you and others in your profession a bit of a clue.