The attached article (in pdf format) references new research that sheds light on links between weight gain and insulin levels. It also indicates that advice about eating frequently throughout the day is fallacy.
2278-article.pdf (105 KB)Confused? As per published (1989) laboratory results in "Total Available Glucose" (TAG) different amount of foods can be converted to carbohydrates. Carbohydrates = 100% converted to glucose (except some fiber?); Protein = 59% converted to glucose over 4-6 hours; and fat = 10% converted to glucose over 8+ hours. As we all know: insulin is required to digest glucose in the bloodstream.
Therefore my conclusion: A high fat diet requires lower level of insulin production from all the mice. It may easily be at a level that the mice with 50% less insulin production can keep up with. I suspect that there is something else besides insulin production at play here? I wonder if the urine of these mice is statistically the same? Please someone let me know if I am missing something here?
The results of this study are consistent with my recent personal experience. A radical change in my diet led to significant weight loss and better BG control with much less insulin.
I adopted a high fat, medium protein, low carbohydrate diet this year. The high fat part of my diet satiates me between meals. Since I don't feel hungry between meals I often don't eat anything for 4-5 hours at a stretch. Prior to this diet change I probably ate something every two hours or so,
Thus study supports a belief that the body needs some down time between meals (and snacks!) for the metabolism to balance and take care of other important business besides digestion.
I've noticed some major changes in what we might call 'accepted food truths' in the 14 years that have passed since I took my first diabetes education course,
At the time the three major tenants were:
1. All carbs are equal. It doesn't matter if you eat pure sugar, white rice or beans, a carb is a carb is a carb.
WRONG: Research has resulted in the widespread acceptance of the Glycemic Index, which rates carbs based on how quickly they are absorbed and converted to blood glucose. Good carbs include beans, barley and Uncle Bens Converted Rice, which all have a GI rating below 40. At the top of the bad carb list are table sugar with a rating of 100, and Kellogs Corn Flakes at a whopping 120.
2. You should follow the American food pyramid, which tells you to get well over half your calories from grains including bread and potatoes.
WRONG: This has since been debunked as not scientific facts in the interest of public health but misleading propoganda in support of the agriculture industry.
3. Eat frequent meals, and never skip a main meal or snack.
WRONG: Well, with the newer research referenced in this thread, it looks like this is another myth that may be on its way out.
For professional dieticians tasked with providing advice to the public these must be challenging but interesting times.
Vancouversailer - I am a reluctant consumer of dietary information. Deteriorating BG control starting about five years ago coupled with a more recent diabetes complications diagnosis motivated me to start learning more about the role of food in diabetes BG control.
Your summary of accepted mainstream nutrition "truths" echos my experience too. My skepticism with regard to these "truths" has served me well.
Thanks for raising this issue.
Terry,
I've found that being a contrarian who questions convential 'truths' doesn't help to win any popularity contests. But at the end of the day there is, to say it with Frank Sinatra, the satisfaction that I did it my way.
That said I feel very fortunate to live in an age where we have access to online resources like Tudiabetes, the Joslin website and other places for the free exchange of information and personal health experiences. That way, unlike previous generations, we are not completely at the mercy of individual doctors or health care providers.