Diabetic Diets

Dietitians and other weapons of mass destruction !

My extremely jaundiced view of most dietitians probably stems from my first encounter with the species. Not only was the woman a registered dietitian she was also a Director of the BDA. In my opinion she was a health hazard, especially to diabetics. Out of the saturated fat will kill you, and carbs with everything, or it’s scurvy for you lad camp, we did not hit it off. She provided much mirth, but next to nil useful information. So that was my introduction to dietitians. Over the years I have lost count of the dietitians I have encountered, many giving expert advice on third rate diet and health programs on TV. Usually they have the brains of a rocking horse and carrying more blubber than Moby Dick and they are spouting complete jibber.

Now, I don’t expect every dietitian to have the physique and powers of Usain Bolt, but Jeez give me a break, they could make some effort. So many are walking examples of an extremely poor diet, or lifestyle, or both. Check out this horror story at diabetes.co.uk posted today. The terrible thing is I have read countless reports like this post on forums. A taster from the post.

“Okay so I saw the dietician for the first time this morning since being diagnosed. What a complete and utter waste of my time!! And the woman clearly had issues!

I'm also working out 4-5 times a week. As I say I've lost 3 stone since June and so far, touch wood, since I've been using a monitor, my levels haven't been outside the "normal" range even once

She kept pointing to her little picture of the "plate" with the carbs and chocolate etc.

"I've lost 3 stone in under 3 months, I have a delicious, nutritious diet that I ENJOY, I've got more energy than ever before, I can work out more than ever before, my skin is better than ever, I feel fantastic, and my blood glucose levels are normal - what EXACTLY is controversial?". She wasn't impressed!

When I told her my goal weight (well she asked!) she looked at me like she wanted to stab me, and I got the distinct impression that she struggles with diet/weight herself”

So there you have it folks, another dietitian that thinks a lowcarb lifestyle is the work of Beelzebub and a one way trip to the knackers yard. Thank god for Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE

Eddie

Link to the usual suspect here.

Quote of the day at DCUK.

Some advice given to a confused member.

“I have learnt the best way to lose weight as a type 1 is firstly to get your basal/bolus injections absolutely spot on, so avoiding highs and lows, to eat a sensible diet and exercise. Also a low carb diet so you take less insulin and therefore less margin for error with going high or low. It probably sounds like good old fashioned advice but it's spot on, it also means that keeping good control means less complications and a longer healthier life - something I think everyone with type 1 would be very happy with.

Please don’t ever consider not taking your insulin, it is highly dangerous and the side effects are too unpleasant to think about”

Oh that all advice to diabetics was that good.

Eddie

Wholegrain Breakfast cereals and why they are not an ideal choice for Diabetics.

Many of us upon diagnosis may have been advised by a health care professional to avoid refined sugar in our daily diets and of course this is good advice and quite obvious to many, however, many including myself, were advised that Low GI cereals were a healthy choice for breakfast and Weetabix, Bran flakes and Shredded Wheat were suggested as a suitable choice.

Now consider that 2 Weetabix with 100mls of skimmed milk contains 30.5 grams of carbohydrate, Bran flakes contain 26 grams for a 30 gram bowl plus 125 mls of milk and Shredded Wheat contains 37 grams of carbohydrate for a portion size of 2 biscuits with 250 mls of milk so an average figure for all three brands equates to around 31.5 grams per serving if you were eating a combination of all 3 brands and alternating them.

SO what’s the problem in all this you may ask ? Well, when you consider that the total carbohydrate of these cereals per portion are around the same as a regular Snickers bar, or a Mars bar and all carbohydrates ultimately are converted into glucose in the body, then you have to ask yourself. Why are cereals so fiercely advocated as a healthy option, when from a blood glucose point of view they are no kinder on levels than a chocolate bar from the local shop ?

Paul