[The_Sword_of_Groo]

And you have to realize that diabetes doesn't occur in a vacuum. This diet may have improved glycemic control for the 9 patients in the study, but at what cost long term? "Im sorry ma'am, your husband went into afib and dropped dead of a stroke from hypokalemia, but his glucose level was great" is not a trade off. I'm sorry, but cherry-picking 9 patients with functioning beta cells and then starving them while you dose them with statins does not a cure for diabetes make.
In short, yes, this diet can hurt.

[Marie]

And you have to realize that diabetes doesn't occur in a vacuum. This diet may have improved glycemic control for the 9 patients in the study, but at what cost long term? "Im sorry ma'am, your husband went into afib and dropped dead of a stroke from hypokalemia, but his glucose level was great" is not a trade off. I'm sorry, but cherry-picking 9 patients with functioning beta cells and then starving them while you dose them with statins does not a cure for diabetes make.

1. Why on earth would they have developed hypokalemia just by being on a low calorie diet? Just be sure to get enough potassium and you're fine. (My intake of potassium is 1200mcg/day - even when I'm on 500 calories a day)

2. Statins aren't necessary or helpful and I don't advocate their use.

3. Periodic caloric restriction is more and more being linked with *longevity* - not death.

I think that the important thing to realize is that this is caloric restriction with protein, vitamin and mineral supplements. All of the needs for micro-nutrients are being met. We can go for quite awhile on our reserves.

Our society is terrified of missing a meal and we forget that G-d designed us to do exactly that (and keep functioning) for long stretches without ill effect.