Agree with you. I’ve a family member who developed diabetes at age 45 and is now insulin dependent. He was eating over 5,000 calories a day and losing weight dropped to 119 pounds and ended up in ICU. Had a glucose level of 650 and until the event never realized the symptoms he had were for diabetes. We thought he had cancer.
It took him almost two years to find the right balance between diet and activity to keep his HA1c within safe ranges, i.e. he keeps his under 7.0. He uses the prefilled insulin pins, not a pump, and is back to his normal 145 lbs, with excellent cholesterol, blood pressure et al....
He has developed a dietary plan, to compliment his daily scheduled activities, that he keeps with very few deviations. From talking with him the Atkins Diet would be a no go. He not only measures his carb intake but the fat, caloric and fiber content of what he eats. He evens knows the “quality” of the fat in certain products and how it effects his glucose level. Fatty foods can keep one’s insulin level elevated because it slows digestion of the food.
He never eats out unless the restaurant has a menu on line so he can make his choice before he arrives. Avoids meats, dairy products or anything that does not tell him the carb and fat content per serving.
He rolls his eyes when he hears all the “chattering noise” about what helps diabetics because from his experience lifestyle changes for diabetics differ depending on the indivual, i.e. one size does not fit all, and all the blogs/chats/medical “news” one hears revolve around Type II diabetes and obesity, not insulin dependent diabetics, nor the fact that more than diet is necessary to control diabetes and prevent its potential destruction of the body, i.e. nerve, eye, kidney damage.
The other day he and I were discussing diabetes and
he mentioned what he thought were the biggest detriments to diabetics’ health 1) the unwillingness to make a total lifestyle change in order to keep glucose levels in check and 2) some insulin dependent diabetics instead of making such changes rationalize their choices by saying “I’ll just take more insulin”.
Charles, this article is discussing ADOLESCENTS, not adults who should be wise enough to follow a strict diet. Do you know any adolescents that ALWAYS do everything that is good for them? Do you think that those kids should be put at risk to cut health insurance costs?
Apparently, you don’t care.