Re: Why Do Scientists Refuse to Recommend Lower-Carb Diets for Diabetes?


"BlueBrooke" <.@.> wrote in message
news:m9uip39nju8h18hhu6o1hs5pjt0solks20@xxxxxxxxxx
On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:50:55 -0600, BlueBrooke <.@.> wrote:

Why Do Scientists Refuse to Recommend Lower-Carb Diets for Diabetes?
By Dr. John Briffa

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-1-24/64666.html

...

"As I have pointed out before, official recommendations regarding what
diabetics should eat have generally focused on the need to eat a
low-fat diet, and to include starchy foods (like bread, potatoes,
pasta, rice, and breakfast cereal) with every meal."

...

"So for quite some time now, at least some practitioners and
individuals with diabetes have been eschewing the low-fat, high-carb
diets traditionally recommended to them. Instead, they've been opting
for lower-carb regimens.

"I am one of those practitioners, and my experience with
carb-restricted diets is that they are generally effective for
controlling blood sugar and reducing the need for medication.
Sometimes, such diets eliminate the need altogether."

...

"But those in the medical and scientific community are, I've found,
not so interested in common sense and people's personal experience:
What they want is science. I have noticed generally that for an
approach that appears to be counter to conventional wisdom, doctors
and scientists generally demand science that validates it. On the
other hand, for approaches that are accepted as beneficial, no such
demands are made."

I hit "go" too soon -- here's the best part:

"Nevertheless, the results speak for themselves. The authors of this
study conclude that there is insufficient evidence for
carbohydrate-restricted diets to be recommended. They also call for
further research into the long-term safety of such diets. If the
results had been different, and the study had found that higher-carb
diets were superior, I wonder whether there'd be a call for further
research. I think we know the answer.

"When it comes to changing a paradigm in medicine, it seems that not
only will common sense not suffice, good science won't do either."

My son-in-law was told by his endo that a balanced diet and portion control
were much more important in his combating diabetes than counting carbs.

He is doing so well he is to be taken off most of his insulin next week. He
will have to take some oral medicine, but his doctor said in six month or so
he should be able to stop taking insulin and the pills and just eat a
balanced diet paying close attention to portion control and of course keep
exercising.

Don



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