Carb Scare Tactics

About Diabetes.com ^ | July 08, 2003 | Paula Ford-Martin

[Nov3]

Carb Scare Tactics

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July 08, 2003

Carb Scare Tactics
U.S. News and World Report has an article in their upcoming issue (7/14/03) entitled: "The Diabetes Diet Wars: The nutrition advice given to most diabetics might be killing them" that discusses the great carb debate - again. Headlines like this really rub me the wrong way, especially for those who are newly diagnosed and may read this piece. The article does touch on some interesting points in the ADA nutrition guidelines vs. low-carb debate, but unfortunately leaves out critical information. Begin rant here...

Here's the letter I wrote to the U.S. News editor in response to the piece:

To the Editor:

I found the headline "The nutrition advice given to most diabetics might be killing them" on your "Diabetes Diet Wars" piece to be irresponsible and alarmist. While I agree that the current dietary recommendations from the ADA deserve re-evaluation in light of the recent NEJM studies on low-carb diets and weight loss in type 2 diabetes (which were vaguely referenced in your article), the current guidelines are a far cry from killing anybody. Given that the consumers who are actively digging for diabetes information online and in their bookstores are often those who are newly diagnosed as type 2 and completely overwhelmed (I know, I get email from hundreds each month), this type of fear-mongering headline is uncalled for and designed not to inform but to cause panic.

Diabetes is very much an individual disease, and I believe the ADA emphatically recognizes that when they state in their technical review on the subject that a primary goal of medical nutritional therapy should be: "To address individual nutritional needs, taking into consideration personal and cultural preferences and lifestyle while respecting the individual’s wishes and willingness to change." In other words, while the ADA does issue evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for carbohydrate intake (and the key phrase is *evidence-based* - meaning based on the current body of knowledge from controlled scientific studies and subject to future change as knowledge evolves), these are only guidelines.

Your article also fails to address several critical points of the debate. You quote Frank Vinicor of the CDC speaking to how high protein intake (a feature of popular low-carb diets) cannot harm anyone with healthy kidneys. This is absolutely correct, but your reporter fails to mention that diabetes is the number one cause of chronic kidney failure in America. Many people with diabetes *do* have existing renal impairment, and forcing their kidneys to process extra protein makes the problem worse.

There's also the matter of carb quality versus carb quantity (otherwise known as the glycemic index, or GI), which should play a necessary role in this debate. A baked potato, for example, will raise blood glucose levels much higher and faster than a portion of fiber dense whole grain bread, even if the portions given have equal amounts of carbohydrates gram for gram. If anything, there should be a push towards including GI basics on smart carb choices in diabetes medical nutrition therapy. The ADA currently acknowledges the possible utility of the GI, but stops well short of endorsing it, citing a lack of current scientific evidence on long-term success, plus the supposed complexity of the method. In a world of exchange lists, carb counting, and blood glucose testing, however, the GI seems to be just a little more math for a much larger reward.

Finally, exercise is an absolutely essential component of any treatment plan for type 2 diabetes. Exercise lowers blood glucose levels, improves heart health (cardiovascular disease is a major complication of diabetes), and improves overall well being. Inactivity is sometimes, though not always, the cause for a seemingly ineffective diet plan.

Respectfully,
Paula Ford-Martin

*****************
About Diabetes
Editor and Content Producer
diabetes.guide@about.com
http://diabetes.about.com

[jacquej]

Well, this will make the non-hypothy. pple's eyes glaze over.. so skip past this thread, folks..

I am on Levoxyl (syntrhyoid sub or equal) at about 125 mcgs daily, and the endocrinologist added in 10 mcgs of (hang on, gotta go check)...of cytomel in addition to the Levoxyl.

I was on Synthroid earlier, but got switched by the HCP/drugstore, who knows...

All I can tell ya is that a failing thyroid is no fun, and I am not surpised she can't get outa bed... Taking thyriod replacement will keep her alive, but not feeling "GREAT" like Tony the Tiger said.

She needs to know that she can still think, still keep the vital organs functioning, and maybe knit great socks... but forget about running the Boston marathon...

Give her my best, and tell her to get to the best endocrinologist she can find, and maybe Cytomel will get her back to feeling sorta human...

[EggsAckley]

Ah, misread your post. You were talking about Atkins, I think.
But what I said still stands.
~/;o)

[Leo Carpathian]

The bad part is that the only beer I can have is Michelob Ultra. I think my views on this near-beer have been amply covered on FR.

Try Corona Light, add some lime and it is nice, refreshing and not much different from the "regular" beer. It has around 5g of carbos.

Another TV advice "to stay out of the sun, or use heavy screens" is pure garbage.

RIP Dr. Atkins and may you occupy that well deserved space up there, which "medical establishment" denied you here. You saved my life, thank you again!

[jacquej]

Atkins saved so many of us. We need to hold him in out thoughts every night when we go to sleep.

Thanks to you, Dr. Atkins!

I raise my glass in toast to you for holding your ground. I know it wasn't easy, and it took me many years to come around to your point of view on carbs.

Thanks for hanging in there to the end, for you finally convinced me to give it a serious try, and you probably have prolonged, if not "saved" my life!

Thanks again...

[Nachum]

How is it on the caffein?

[Nachum]

I gave up the diet Coke because it works just like coffee for me. I could drink 6 or more cups of coffee per day. I would get headaches when I could not have it and run to get a cup the first thing in the morning. If I had not had some in a day, I would actually drink a cup at night to make my headache go away.

When I gave up the coffee, I transferred to the diet coke. I was a large an addiction as the coffee. The caffein in the coke is as powerful as coffee. I would drink at least two 16 ounce bottles a day and it would affect me like the coffee. It would speed up my heart rate, keep me up at night and I found that I caught more colds.

I personally do much better on green tea. I enjoy the taste without sugar and have no more than two cups a day. No headaches, fewer colds. I am sooooooooooo glad to not be drinking coffee or cola.

-But to each his own.

[Nachum]

Good luck with your program.

Giving up the Diet coke is a tough one. Organic Japanese green tea worked as a good substitute for me. It is a very sweet tasting tea and has some very healthful properties. After a week of "withdrawals", I finally was able to go with out the diet Coke.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

After a week of "withdrawals", I finally was able to go with out the diet Coke.

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions, and the the time may be approaching on it's own. I find I'm opening a Diet Coke and only drinking about half...recently it's just not been tasting right.

[AAABEST]

Just the meat and the cheese, or anything else?

Also some cucumbers with blue cheese dressing and added chunks of blue cheese. YUM!

[upchuck]

Thanks for all the info.

Have you checked to see if you're alergic to Aspartame? My ex-wife and several other friends can't eat/drink anything with Aspartame as it gives them monster headaches.

You might take a look at Dite-Rite. It has sucrulose instead of Aspartame, no sodium, no caffine, no calories, no carbs. AFAIK, it's carbonated water, sucrulose and flavor.

[Xenalyte]

Oh, she's back on the Synthroid. She only did the experiment for a few days (when I was a teenager), and the three of us kids kicked up so much racket that she decided she HAD to take it to chase us.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Diet-Rite has no caffeine, either.

[CathyRyan]

When the government went on their anti obesity rant I bet they thought they could channel the sheeple to low cal/low fat. I am just sure they never thought the herd would stampede to low carb. LOL

Started Atkins 5-24-03

~24 pounds lost~

[EggsAckley]

LOL! I hadn't thought of it that way. You're so right!

[CathyRyan]

BUMP

[Katie_Colic]

I remember when you talked about starting Atkins. I'm so proud of you : ).

[CathyRyan]

Thanks! I still have a very long way to go but at least I have finally found the right road.

[Nachum]

I don't think I am allergic to aspertame. It was when I went with out the diet Coke that I got the headache. One never knows though. I definately have some food allergies/sensitivities.

Thanks for the info on Diet Rite. Sounds interesting. So far I have been pretty happy with my green tea though. It satisfies me so far. I seem to get sick less often with it as it has some good anti oxidents.