Except for things like lentil, potatoes, corn, peas, etc., I find that the carb counts for a lot of the most common vegetables are fairly low if not LOW. I don’t know what a real “vegetarian diet” consisits of but I find that my handy dandy carb book shows the proof that a LOT of vegetables are NOT high in carbs. I would think that concentrating your diet on any one type of food can’t be too good for you either.
Your knowledge of the fancy chemicals I never heard of but have probably been eating is remarkable. I almost afraid of eating anything. As we are to blame!! Polluting our planet and food source is bound to come back and bite us on the butts!!
I didn’t exactly mean to say that eating CAUSED the diabetes but it certainly is a contributing factor to those who are predisposed to diabetes and, probably, being heavy. I LOOK at a picture of a piece of pie and gain!!
Like I said before, you can find an expert to testify to anything. Like that group that spouts Protein Power. Little did I know that that kind of diet is too high in protein for diabetics! Whatever the right answer is, I bet that MODERATION is part of it. Each body is different and responds to different things in different manners. Diversity!
I’ll check out that publication but you can be assured that I won’t use it as an excuse for overeating … I have enough excuses!!
When people with Diabetes Type II start to eat well–by well, I mean whole, natural foods and avoiding sugar, any form of corn syrup, white flour (which is one step away from sugar), trans fats, and too many saturated fats–their weight drops, their general health increases dramatically, and the problem with insulin diminishes. When you then add a stretching (e.g. yoga) and aeroblic exercise plan to these peoples lives, their diabetes practically disappears. WHY DO WE HAVE TO VIEW Diabetes Type II AS A DISEASE CORRECTABLE ONLY BY DRUGS??
I suggest you contact Life Extension Foundation. They compile medical, scientific, and nutritional research done all over the world; they are state of the art in their knowledge of degenerative diseases. Talk to one of their 25 health advisors–preferably a doctor or naturopath.
I was diagnosed with low kidney function 4 years ago and told by a nephrologist that I had “2 years to dialysis.” She handed me a many-times xeroxed copy of how many grams of protein I should have, but neglected to have me see a dietician or nutritionist. When I later went to a dietician, the woman told me I could get Vitamin B12 from potatoes (which is impossible!!). At that point I started supplementing with pharmaceutical grade vitamins and minerals, changed from diet from “standard American” to organic whole foods, started yoga and exercise and meditation.
Today my kidney function has not worsened. Kidneys don’t regenerate, but look what I did WITHOUT DOCTORS, WITHOUT MEDICATION, without having to go the tortuous route of dialysis. I feel and look 100 times better than prior to 4 years ago. Go to Oprah’s website; she and Dr. Oz are devoted to helping the American public get healthy this year.
There’s no need for much of the doctor’s advice and medications that we Americans have been hooked and scared into taking.
Thank you people, I realize that this site have greatly improve my knowledge about Diabetes. Honestly speaking, i thought i already know what it is all about it.
The problem with the vegetarian diet is not the vegetables. It is that it is almost impossible to get enough protein that isn’t soy-based to eat a lower carb diet safely. Overeating soy is very unhealthy. Read the book, “The Whole Soy Story” by Dr. Kaayla Daniel to learn the extent to which huge food processing companies have lied and skewed the data about soy to give the public the idea it is a health food. She also documents the damage soy does to our bodies, including making allergic reactions to other foods much more likely.
Also, most vegetable oils are high in Omega 6 and that turns out to slow the thyroid.
If a person will eat cheese and eggs, a healthy low carb vegetarian diet is possible. But I live in an area full of Vegans, and that diet is not a healthy one.
Your post sounds like it is more based on religion than knowledge. It is always easier to parrot the authorities, but you might want to look at who funds the organizations putting out most of the diet advice that “everyone knows” is right. The junk food companies are huge contributors to the American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society. They have influenced nutritional recommendations for generations.
I don’t, personally, care what you eat. I just want to make sure that other people with diabetes whose minds are open to what science has learned about metabolism have access to useful information. Doing so may make it possible for them to live for decades without ever developing diabetic complications. I’m at 10 years post diagnosis with no neuropathy, retinopathy or kidney changes. I’d like that to be true for all of us.
Renee, good for you for giving up the guilt. I remember when you were blaming yourself, so glad you know better now! And I look forward to your doc’s reply, if it ever comes. I agree with Jenny about that. Truthfully, I think people (and by people, I mean people like us who are really looking into it, not the ADA and most doctors, who are still back in the 60s) are just beginning to learn that the real core of the problem is insulin resistance, so that it would make sense to give metformin before diabetes hits.
I don’t see where relegion comes in anywhere if my eating. Accept maybe if I eat something I love, I’m in Heaven!
I’m just glad that I am allergic to soy protein. I don’t understand a lot about chemical things, all I know is what has been passed on down to me from dieticians and other smaller pamphlets that may have have been given to me. I try to avoid a lot of soy, but, as you can see from food labels, it is in SCORES of things in varying levels. It’s kind of hard to avoid that. And, like I said, I don’t really know about a vegetarian diet. I eat cheese and eggs in moderation, but I also have a reaction to too much of them by way of colon problems. If I’ve had too much, I KNOW it! For me, even a moderae vegetarian diet is impossible to follow.
In other words, I GIVE UP!! I’m througn arging dietary things that I know nothing about except in a religious sense. I can only take so much bashing about and them it’s all over for me.
My Lord people,Now you all have me confused again!,Am I to blame for me having diabetes,Is being overweight the cause,cause I sure didnt mean to do that,I worked long hard hours in the medical profession up till my botched knee surgery 2 years ago,I never sat down for more than 30 mins in a 13 to 16 hour day,I ran halls and stairs to codes,deliveries, etc,(Respiratory Therapist) and did that for 20 years straight not to mention the on call etc…the pounds kept packing on,a little at a time,then when the thirst,the peeing,and blurred vision hit,I asked a doc friend if it could be,oh no,the dreaded,he sent me for all the tests and bingo,of course strong family background on mothers side,if you read my help help help dicussion then you can catch up on me,all these years i proably didnt eat more than i ate,i find that lots on here especially type 1’s think we t2’s are to blame,excuse me now as i go crawl back into my hole with shame once again!
I’ve always had allergies problems, but they worsened substantially 2 years ago. At this time I was having vegetarian friends over for supper on a weekly basis. I cooked soy for them, and ended up eating the leftovers at least once a week in addition. Because of these allergies, I was given cortisone which gave me diabetes. I think I’ll avoid soy like the plague from now on!
Debbie - a friend of mine who is a chain smoker always told me that he always read in the newspaper about the bad effect of smoking but he can’t quit smoking.So what he did is he stop-reading the newspaper. My friend is a funny guy. Maybe you could also follow his style. No, I am only making you smile. Life must go on.No matter how hard it is,let us live our life to the fullest.
I have developed hypochondria since my diagnosis, and every time something hurts, I automatically think it is because of the diabetes. I need to get over it and live my life as I want to live it, not how the diabetes wants me to live it. I’ve read so many posts here about people, even with the harshest of situations, who live long, happy, healthy lives with diabetes. Like you, I felt my world crumble beneath me, but, with the support I get here, I am making myself think positive and trying not to worry so much. I guess since it is so new to me (October 2008), I am still learning and coping.
Not a chance the good sources are wrong. I lost 85 lb and kept it off and exercised 1 hour every day. Not only did I not get cured the BG never got down to normal and started to creep up after a few years.
Do you recommend a book or website with a meal plan or diet that follows your beliefs in diet? (Maybe you’ve answered this a million times) I am new to the site and I am reading all I can while waiting to see an Endo in April.
I’m not sure if i was able to save my comments previously, anyway I’m highly recommending you have a consultation and follow dr. tam’s protocol for 1 month. have a before and after lab examination for you to have an objective comparison. I know there are lots of diabetic, liver, cancer patients there. If just in case, you are trying it, please follow his protocol strictly for us to see the results. I think it would be nice if you post your lab exam, particularly something that’s related to blood sugar? before and come back to us after… My mom’s not diabetic, but Dr. Tam was able to provide the treatment / comfort she never got from her 7 year consultation with MDs .
Thanks Jojo, I think my problem in following Dr. Tam Mateo’s protocol is in eating his prescribe recipe. I’m always on a field working so my food intake would pose a problem. Hope I could adjust my time and try his formula.
Maybe “losing the weight” works for some people, but it’s not a cure. You’re still diabetic. Non-diabetics have good blood glucose control regardless of how much they weigh. A diabetic may be able to help by losing weight, but that’s not “cured.”
And it doesn’t work for everyone. The most I have ever been overweight in my life is 20 pounds. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I was not overweight at all. I cook for a hobby, and have always eaten relatively healthy - fresh vegetables, lean meats, don’t drink non-diet soda, don’t eat fast food except very occasionally, etc. I’d also bought a new bicycle and had been biking 5-10 hours a week all summer.
I thought I was in the best shape of my life when I went for a routine physical that came back with a blood glucose of 316.
If everyone was able to “cure” Type 2 diabetes through diet & exercise, I’d have never been diagnosed in the first place. The CDE looked at what I’d been eating & exercising and told me I didn’t need to change anything.
I sure wish I could control it by losing some weight or changing my lifestyle, but I can’t. I can’t eat fewer carbs than the 20 or 30/day I tried right after diagnosis. I can’t exercise more than an hour a day for the rest of my life.
What I can do is take advantage of modern medicine and get my blood glucose in control. I didn’t bring this disease on myself, and I’m not going to think for one minute that for some reason I shouldn’t take Metformin and Insulin and anything else that can help. It sucks to be diabetic, but it sucked a lot worse even 30 years ago, before we had all these options.
Diabetes may be controlled...even VERY well controlled...but you STILL and always have diabetes. The minute you revert to the "old ways"....your numbers will continue to rise. Controlling your blood sugars does not equate a cure. As well, balancing your bg via dietary intake necessitates more than carbs!
There is NO cure for diabetes...bringing your blood sugars down does not mean you are cured!!! It is a VERY serious and inaccurate assumption.
I realize this is a very old post, and that Jenny, who I respect enormously, hasn't been active on TuD for quite awhile, but since this popped back up to view I just want to say that yes, traditional vegetarian diets are very high in carbs, but it is possible to be a vegetarian and eat diabetes friendly foods. So to say "vegetarian diets are the worst possible diet for people with diabetes" is a definite over-generalization. I'm a vegetarian and eat a very healthy. varied and delicious diet!
