Diabetes medication or lifestyle changes?

teddysmum

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Those that say there isn't a cure - there was an experiment that was filmed called simply raw; reversing diabetes. All the type two diabetics that followed the program got off their medication. People have been able to do so since on this program. They always recommend doctors involvement throughout to make sure it's done safely.

It is a diet disorder (type two) so it isn't illogical to see the right diet reverse it completely.

Sorry but the official line is that type 2 diabetes cannot be cured. You still have diabetes, because your system can't cope with a bad diet, though blood sugar levels can be controlled to within the 'normal' range (but not in all cases).


It's like being alcoholic, who gives up alcohol. If they start drinking again, their problems return, so they are always alcoholic.


Also, diabetes isn't a diet disorder, though it can be caused by bad diet. It is the inability of the body to produce either enough insulin or insulin capable of functioning correctly and can also be genetic.


I suspect that mine is (I've never had a terrible diet or been obese), as my father had type 2, but, at the time, we assumed his was due to his medication for Parkinson's Disease.

pogofish

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Those that say there isn't a cure - there was an experiment that was filmed called simply raw; reversing diabetes. All the type two diabetics that followed the program got off their medication. People have been able to do so since on this program. They always recommend doctors involvement throughout to make sure it's done safely.

It is a diet disorder (type two) so it isn't illogical to see the right diet reverse it completely.

You also need to be aware that there are a lot of false-hope/quick fix, woo-laden, extreme diets and ideologies promising "cures" out there. Some do produce results in the short/medium term but prove unsustainable or utterly impractical for long term maintenance in real life. Simply Raw is one of these - Based on "Tree of Life Raw Vegan Diet" - Which is rank quackery at best and possibly quite dangerous in other ways.

And Type-2 is most certainly not a diet-disorder - those claims only demonstrate ignorance/prejudice. There are a whole range of factors that contribute to developing Type-2, of which diet is only one (albeit a quite important one). In my case it was major surgery following a sporting injury in my teens that led to my eventually/slowly becoming Type-2 some 20-odd non diabetic years later.

Making the effort over the next few months/year or-so to educate himself and find a healthy dietary mix/activity balance that suits his work, personal preferences and overall lifestyle whilst learning to monitor and manage his condition is the way to-go long term.

elljay

It seems as if there are as many differing views on this as there are types and causes of type2 diabetes.

Overall I get the feel that medication plus lifestyle is the way to go, and that relying on medication alone is likely to mean that more and more med is needed until he goes onto insulin.

I don't think he's the type to self-educate, he would just go by what the doctor has said, still thinks doctors are gods, even in this day and age. However his wife will read up on things and try at least to improve his diet if she can. I'm seeing her this afternoon

Thanks everyone, a really interesting discussion.

Magnolia

Sorry to hear your friends husband has been diagnosed with this chronic condition. It's a pain in the 'arris but can be controlled very easily.

For current DVLA regs regarding diabetics have a look here.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Driving/

The website is a mine of information with a forum run by lifelong diabetics both type 1 and type 2 who will help and guide anyone through the minefield of information available.

It is my experience that the diabetic nurse at the surgery is someone who has done a day at best but probably a half day of training so might not be up to date with everything.

Hope you manage to convince him to take his condition seriously. I do as I quite like my eyesight and have just painted my tootsies!

pogofish

elljay wrote: »

I don't think he's the type to self-educate, he would just go by what the doctor has said, still thinks doctors are gods, even in this day and age. However his wife will read up on things and try at least to improve his diet if she can. I'm seeing her this afternoon

I cannot stress the importance of how getting themselves informed about his condition is going to be for his long term management.

Maybe try looking into the host of highly unpleasant potential long term side effects and secondary conditions associated with poorly managed diabetes. Nearly all of which are entirely avoidable with a bit of foresight and changes in diet/lifestyle.

That should make him sit-up and take note!

pogofish

If he likes his mash, maybe get his wife to try this variation on the basic Hummus recipe as a surprisingly cheap, useful and easy on the blood-sugar alternative.

250g tin of chickpeas, drained.

Juice of half a lemon or lime.

Tablespoon and a half of olive oil.

One to one and a half cloves of garlic, chopped (or you can ise paste/pre-prepped garlic from a jar)
Eighth to quarter of a teaspoon of Cumin powder - important as this helps control the fart-tastic properties of the chickpea/garlic combo. His passengers will thank her!

Liquid to regulate texture - one to and a half tablespoons of the chickpea liquid from the tin. or you can use a desert spoon or two of Tahini (sesame paste) for a much creamier texture.

Whizz this-up in a tall container with a hand blender, again the time/amount of whizzing affects texture/smoothness and replace the mash for a few meals a week.

The impact on his blood sugar will be far less.

teddysmum

Potatoes are better whole than mashed because the mashing helps break down the cellulose, thus making digestion faster, so releasing the sugar sooner.


I think the variation in opinions on type 2 is because some go by hearsay and 'educational' news items, whereas others have experience so need to check on the facts.


Sadly, as I found while attending meetings at our local Diabetes UK volunteer group, the knowledge of/ help from GPs (and hospital staff in departments not diabetes related) varies from excellent to very little ('Take these tablets' then no more information); some practices even failing to produce the very basic rights of someone with diabetes. ie at least annual monitoring and an annual eye test for retinopathy. The latter photography is not the same as that now given with routine sight tests.


There is lots of information here, including health advice and recipes.


https://www.diabetes.org.uk/? gclid=CJfj34DL7s4CFYEcGwodW1cGHg

pogofish

teddysmum wrote: »

ie at least annual monitoring and an annual eye test for retinopathy. The latter photography is not the same as that now given with routine sight tests

Although once informed about diabetes or its potential, any optician worth their salt should examine the patient much more thoroughly than a standard eye test normally requires.

And its also worth remembering that as well as diabetic retinopathy, a number of other diabetic complications/side conditions are often first manifested at a detectable level in the eyes. Usually at the stage where they are easily treatable or when steps can be taken to avoid them getting worse.

System

septemberblues wrote: »

I don't think you have to contact dvla if your diabetes is well controlled on diet alone or tablets, I'm diabetic type 2 and have checked before, also you don't have to inform your car insurance company either. Correct me if I'm wrong.......

You are correct although if you are put on some meds then you do have to notify them. My hubby has to have a medical every 3 yrs.

Janey3

Another reasonable substitute for mashed potatoes is mashed boiled cauliflower, if he likes cauliflower - it is a good filler. I sprinkle mine with cheese sometimes.