I'm 45 years old, male, 5' 5" tall, currently 150 lbs. For the last ten years I suffered from acute gout. Every three months or so I would get so crippled up I could hardly move for a week at a time. I religiously followed all the doctors diet limitations with no success.
Then eight months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and all my research (even though I was otherwise active and healthy)pointed to the weight ( I was 15 lbs overweight) and exercise. In desperation ( I didn't want to stay on meds for the rest of my life) I risked the prospect of further aggravating my situation with the gout and went on the Atkins diet. Today I'm 15 lbs lighter, lowered my already lower than avarage cholestorol, off all the meds and haven't had even a twinge of the gout (knock on wood)the entire time. A very important sidenote is that I also took up tennis to add to the cardiovascular aspect of the normal exercise I get from work and other normal activities.
Oh yeah...my only cheating comes in the form enjoying a good quantity of low carb BEER!
I'm sure my doctor wouldn't approve of any of the actions I have taken (with the exception of the tennis), however he IS amazed how losing only 15 lbs could cure both medical conditions. As long as things remain the same, I'm swearing off the processed sugars, and keeping the carbs down.