Am I the only one?

[PhilB]

Am I the only one on the Dr Bernstein plan? (its not just for diabetes)

[Natrushka]

Phil, are you referring to Dr. B's Diabetic Solution? or to the Dr. B Weight Loss Clinic? There are two Dr. B's and their plans are quite different.

Nat

[Psyche]

There are more of us :) We just keep low-profile :)

Psyche :)

[doreen T]

The Dr. Stanley Bernstein Clinic weight loss program, as far as I understand it .. is very low calorie program, 800 to 900 per day. It's not exactly low-carb, but by virtue of being so low in calories, the carb level is low -- 100g per day, or approx. 50% of the total calories. It is NOT a diabetic program.

We have a member's basic review of the program here (http://forum.lowcarber.org/t24419.html) and a link to the website here (http://www.drbdiet.com). There's not a lot of info about the program on the website, but there is a bit about the required B-vitamin injections. There are no appetite suppressants or diet pills used, only vitamin supplements, and real food. although you are encouraged to purchase special protein supplement powders. Took a bit of digging, but I was able to find in a back issue of one of the posted newsletters that the vitamin injections are required on Maintenance for ONE YEAR beyond the weight loss portion of the diet as it continues to be very low in calories and fat. Carbs will be maintained at the 40-50% level, similar to The Zone, but below the 60% recommended by the Food Pyramid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Richard K. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution is specifically low carbohydrate diet and blood sugar control program for Type 1 and 2 diabetics requiring insulin and/or oral hypoglycemics to control their blood sugar. The whole program is geared to tight blood sugar control and keeping the numbers down. It is not specifically about weight loss ... since many Type 1 diabetics are often children and teens, who have been ill for some time due to lack of insulin. Dr. R. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution is NOT low-calorie, and doesn't restrict fat intake since fat has no direct effect on blood sugar. More information can be found at his website here (http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/).

Hope this clears up any confusion for our readers about either program. :)

Doreen

[retagail]

Hi!

I found excerpts of the book on the net over the holidays, and bought myself a copy.

I've been following the plan since Jan 4th, and have lost 12 pounds - with a few high carb days here and there.

When I'm keeping my carbs to the recommended 30 grams a day, my blood sugars are lower and I feel clear headed and in control. The best is, I'm not hungry!!!

The worst is, when I eat carbs, I want more.... and more. I guess it's the insulin response that's making me hungry for more carbs after I eat some.

Gail :heart:

[Lisa N]

I do Dr. Berstein's plan because I AM a diabetic and boy what a difference it has made. After almost 9 months, I'm 65 pounds lighter and off ALL my medications with an average blood sugar of 100 (average was 250 when I started!). My doctor can't believe the results I've gotten with this and is still convinced that I'm going to kill myself with it. I just laugh and ask how being 65 pounds lighter and off my meds with the blood pressure of a healthy 20 year old is going to kill me. LOL I also make sure I point out how much better my blood work looks and he has to reluctantly agree that this seems to be working for me, but still won't recommend it to his other patients. Sigh....old ideas truly die hard even in the face of sound evidence. Don't let doctors intimidate you into quitting something that you know is working for you...just because they have a medical degree doesn't mean that they know everything or make them God (although you might have a hard time convincing a lot of them of that!). If your doctor won't work with you on this, find one who will.

[almosthere]

Just to let you all know that I have lost about 46 pds approx on Dr. B's diet plan. I have diabetics within family and I had to lose this weight. I had fast results which I was happy with and I plan to follow his maitenance as I have never looked or felt better in a very long time.

Its not so hard as some make it out to be. You need to become creative and substitute things to make your meals more interesting. His recipe book has been a great help and I have made tons from it and there such easy recipes.

Good luck to all on his diet.
almostthere, toronto ontario

[Dandi]

I am on Dr. Bernstein's way of eating to steady blood sugar levels. I'm hypoglycemic and post-polio. The polio damaged muscles can get very, very weak if my blood sugar level is off. And the older I get the most critical it has become for me to maintain steady blood sugars.

I don't think this is an uncommon problem for post-polio people. Some time ago I read of a study which showed that post-polio people are hypoglycemic. And a couple of much earlier writers maintained that people who got polio were hypoglycemic. I've known for years that the hypoglycemia is my big problem. If I can control it, I actually am in pretty good health for a 64 year.

But the last two years I tried eating more carbohydrates. And gained weight. So I turned back to Dr. Bernstein's plan to help me get the weight back down and the energy back up. And it is working fine for me.

Dr. Bernstein's work makes sense. To eat only the slower acting carbs and to hold carbohydrate intake steady each time one eats throughout the day certainly helps keep blood sugars level. I also like the fact that I can include significant amounts of the low-carb vegetables into my eating -- which I think makes for better health.

[Claudia9]

I am a post-polio person, and all my life struggled with hypoglycemia issue...I had polio at four, and was one of the miracle kids that survived and was not crippled...I did not walk well for a while, but in time with physiotherapy I had no aftermath...I became the walker I am because of the way I feel thankful to be walking. For years I would fall asleep not to sure if I would wake up paralized again...I finally got rid of the fear...

Enough about me...where is this study to be found?

[jannewday]

which Dr Bernsteins is this section for ??? :spin:

[Lisa N]

Hi Jan!

This thread is for Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. HTH

[amika]

Wow you sure have had your share of health challenges! You certainly are a great survivor!

I made a search with www.google.com (my favorite engine :spin: ) for post-polio hypoglycemia and here are the results:

http://www.google.ca/search?q=post-polio+hypoglycemia&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

The study Dandi might have been referring to could be at the bottom of the first page under the title: Low Blood Sugar.

Take care !

Denyse

[Claudia9]

I'll let a friend of mine know about this book too...he was a victim of Polio also at the same time I was...

[puma_power]

Hey,
Any Insulin-Dependant Diabetics out there on this plan? I have yet to find any T1's on this or any other support forum who do Dr. B...I have recently started and I feel all alone sometimes, as I have no nutritionist or doctor who specifically works with me on it. The first couple days it worked so well, and then I got my period and suddenly my BG levels doubled, doing exactly the same thing! It's so frustrating...
Anyway, I'd really love to hear from some people in a similar situation to me, even though it is very inspiring to hear from all of y'all! :thup: :)

[a.j]

Hey Puma, I am too am insulin dependant, trying to follow Dr. B's plan. I can only go by his website but the book should be at my door very soon. I too have the hormonal/sugar stuff happen to me too. The same with stress. I haven't found any answers to these problems so far but sure am hoping someone else out there has some.

My doc. dieticians, and endo are all the on the same page. They do not support the low carb thing. And have no answers or clues as to how to handle the hormone thing. I have fired 3 doctors in 3 years. I am really counting on the book to help.

Cheers, AJ

[puma_power]

Hey A.J.,
Dr. B.'s book should help alot--though it doesn't really have any answers about women's hormones and insulin adjustments. Unfortunately, I don't think there is any specific answer. I think that we just have to keep really close tabs on what happens to our readings at that time of the month (for me, it is a dramatic difference), and treat our bodies as a different body for several days/week or so...it affects everyone differently, but I'm hoping that, after doing the Bernstein plan for awhile, a dependable pattern will emerge and I'll have another sliding scale for insulin based on just that time period.
You definitely aren't alone in your monthly frustration, though! Same with stress, a much less predictable factor but very real in its affect on blood sugar nonetheless...I've never heard of any way to deal with this, other than: try to cut down on stress. I actually think it is impossible to cut down on stress, as you can't control the world around you all the time--what you can control is how you cope with stress and this may have a positive effect on your BG's...can't say for sure, though. It's one of those things that sounds "spiritually correct," but may not play out so well in reality!! ;)
It would definitely help to have doctors/nutritionists who at least support the lifestyle we have chosen--even if they have no more info to add, positive attitude is nice--I don't have any endo I really like either right now. My plan is to get to the point with this diet where my A1c number is really good, and then they can't really argue with the method. I've never acheived a good A1c since my dx 4 years ago!

I notice in your profile that you say "lots of exercise." Do you find that exercise makes your BG's more difficult to control? It drives me crazy, because exercise is so good for you, and I don't feel well not exercising (I have always been very active and athletic)--but when I do, often it makes my BG's roller-coaster...any thoughts?

[a.j]

Hey Puma, sorry for the delay in response. Life is just nuts sometimes. You asked about excercise and the effects. These days I only notice a big drop in bs. if I am weight lifting and really push myself. I used to experience lots of lows no matter what the exercise and the intensity. Now it almost seems as if I am immune. Even after 30-45min. of fencing the sugars don't drop much. Very weird.

The hormone thing makes me crazy too. It is never predictable and there doesn't seem to be much info out there.

I did finally get Dr. B's book and have been reading it. Wow, he sure advocates bs testing alot. That is hard for me because I have no health insurance. At approx. 1$ per test it really can add up which is too bad because it seems to be the best way to control this *#%! disease. Anyway enough grousing.

I just checked the carbs/coffee thing and found I was consuming an extra 3-4 carbs at breakfast just in coffee alone. It must be contibuting to the fact that the weight is not coming off. Also having 2 or 3 8oz glasses of wine each night is apparently bad. This really sucks !!! I can give up the bready type stuff but the coffee/wine thing is something I really truly enjoy.

What sort(s) of insulin are you on? How much do you take? If you don't mind my asking. I am on Humalin N, 14 units in a.m. and same at bedtime. I take 1 unit per 15 grams of carb whenever I eat and also 2-3 unit of Humalog in the morning just to keep the dawn phenomonon at bay. I thought I would be using less insulin on a low carb thing. Oddly enough now I use more for day control. Up from 6-8 units now to 14units.

Well, I could write on forever. Thanks for listening. I don't know anyone who is type 1 and the few type 2s I know are strictly old school when it comes to diet.

THANK-YOU FOR BEING THERE !!

Cheers, AJ

[Cyprinodon]

I am not diabetic but my 10-year-old son is. I am very interested in keeping up with what the two of you learn about controlling your blood sugars better as you progress with Dr. Bernstein's plan. Obviously, my son won't have female hormones to deal with but we will be fighting all kinds of hormones through the teen years. I guess you two have already gone through that nightmare.

Have you read up on the 24-hour insulin, glargine (Trade name Lantus)? It creates a peak soon after injection but then that peak is maintained across an approximate 24-hour period. It doesn't rise and fall in concentration across the hours as the NPH does . I've read an article that suggested Lantus be attempted before putting anyone on an insulin pump if the goal is better control. My son's endo asked him if he wanted to go on the pump but he nixed that. I asked her about Lantus but she doesn't want to try it yet since it hasn't been around long. Also, at a parent session at diabetes camp, two people from the ADA told us that the insulin patch has entered clinical trials already. They think that the patch will be available by 2005 and will be as good as the pump is for helping with control.

As usual, our endo won't agree to the low carb of Bernstein but we've managed to get him down to 30-35 gram meals, 10-15 gram snacks in the morning and afternoon, and no bedtime snack unless he is below 120 mg/dl before bed. We subtract out fiber grams from the carb count. He is currently on 26 units of NPH in the morning, 5 units of NPH at bedtime, and 1 unit Humalog per 20 grams carbs at breakfast and dinner. We have seen some improved control during the day, but the night time change has been awesome. He has remained steady around 90 mg/l through the night and come in with good numbers before breakfast for four weeks now. Monday, we will start counting and controlling protein as well as carbohydrates since protein does use some of the insulin. For Halloween, we are going to get him some Atkins Endulge candy (or other brands with the same type of carbohydrates). We will subtract out the fiber, count the "countable carbs" as carbs, and count the remainder of the carbs as protein. The remaining carbs won't really have the nutritional value of protein obviously but we are assuming that the insulin usage for these carbs will be similar.

a.j. - The test strips are expensive. Our insurance doesn't cover much when it comes to supplies; therefore, we end up spending $200 to $250 per month on testing, depending on how many extra tests we do for activity or for times when he feels low.

I've heard that there are Type 1 college and professional athletes who work at maintaining tight control via frequent testing, carbing for exercise, reducing NPH or other long-acting insulin in anticipation of exercise, etc. I know there are written articles available about how these people do it; just haven't read any yet.

I know a female adult diabetic with serious stress affects on her blood sugar levels. They finally put her on an insulin pump. Her control improved but it still isn't good because she is eating a lot of carbs and won't go against doctors orders. That "spirtual stress management" does probably work for those guru type people who meditate etc. I wonder if any of the yogis, buddhist monks, etc. are insulin dependent.

[puma_power]

Dear a.j. and Cyprinodon,
I just wrote you this whole humongous response to your great postings--and then when I tried to send it, somehow I had gotten timed out from the forum, and I lost the whole thing!!! That never used to happen to me before.
Now I have to get back to work, so I'll have to reconstruct it later...sorry!
If you want to contact me you can always feel free to do so on my e-mail, rachel_anna1~hotmail.com

[CarolynC]

a.j. and Cyprinodon,

Testing supplies can often be obtained over eBay for much less than you'd pay at a pharmacy. That's where I usually get them at.

Carolyn

[stranraer]

Hello,
I read Dr. Bernstein's Glucograf Method years ago (his first book.) I gave it to my doctor to read and he was quite impressed also. I have had Type I diabetes for 20 years and have been on an insulin pump for 5 years. When I went on the pump I started counting carbs - before that I was on the standard exchange diet. I have always been a carbohydrate addict so I never tried the Bernstein diet . Anyway this last week I decided to work on tight control. I have been miserable, with blood sugars ranging from 64 to 458, for no apparent reason. So I am going to try low carbs and see how I do.

[kjturner]

Go for it! Check back and let us know how you do. It's kinda tough at first, but I found it a lot easier to just go 'cold turkey' (no pun intended) on the carbs. I ate NONE to start. The first two weeks were absolutely the hardest, then it got easier. For me, it's been a year and a half. I pretty much don't miss carbs any more. For the odd moment when I just gotta have a sandwich, I eat low carb bread. You can order pre-made low carb bread from Atkins, or see if you have Capt.John Derst's Lite bread. It has 6 gms per slice. (The Atkins has 4 gms/slice). There is also low-carb pasta out there, with varying degrees of taste. I have to be pretty desperate to eat it. I try to keep my carbs about 30 gms per day, and I test my BG a LOT! I do what Dr.B recommends and test before I eat, then every 15 mins until I reach my peak and see that it's on it's way down. I do that for every food that I'm trying to test to determine reaction. For example, I've found that strawberries have virtually no effect on my BG, but other fruits definitely do. I've found that mushrooms and beef either have no effect, or will actually lower my BG. Since I've been doing this for over a year now, I pretty much know how different foods and situations affect me, so I don't need to test as much, but I still test 2-6 times per day.

[puma_power]

Hey guys,
I've been sort of out of it for the last week/ week & 1/2
My Grandfather died, and I went to be with the family and etc...I was very close with him, and my Grandma, so it's been really hard, and I haven't been sticking to the LC thing for the past several days...also, I was getting so discouraged on that, anyway, because I had been doing it quite strictly for a month and still not stabilized and still feeling tired all the time...
Pep talks, anyone?

[stranraer]

kjturner and puma_power,

kj, thanks for the encouragement.

puma_power, you should know that grief sabotages blood sugar control something awful. It doesn't matter what you eat or how often you test. I even lost 20 pounds in six weeks and had one of the worst A1C results in years.

After so many years with diabetes, I don't even worry about consistent sugars. I am just thankful when I am not on the blood sugar roller coaster. Right now, my sugars are more stable with the low-carb diet and averaging much lower than usual. So I am happy - I think the control will improve gradually.

[puma_power]

Thanks for your words of advice. I am trying to get back on the trolley now...I want to wish you good luck as well. I empathise with the carb addict thing--I think I have that as well. Cutting out starchy carbs does help with cravings, I've found.

[kjturner]

I know *exactly* what you're going thru. My Dad died Sept. 9th after a long hard battle with cancer. As if that wasn't bad enough, I also found I was the executor of his estate, which is it's own nightmare frought with emotion. I was getting BG readings in the 270's!!! Stress will do that to you. Now that things have settled down a bit (thanks to my Dad's brothers/sisters/neices helping me out) my BG looks much more normal. My last a1c was 6.2, God only knows what it's going to be the next time! Maybe I'll wait 3 months from now (which will be 5 months from last reading) before I get my a1c again. I know it'll be high and I don't need more depression, plus fending off my 'drug-happy' doc trying to change things again.

[a.j]

Hey Puma, I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather. You sound like you were very close. It is always so painful to lose someone. Even if they were getting up there in years it makes no difference. How are you doing now? It does get easier.. honest. My brother in law died 6 years ago and for a long time it felt as though the pain would never go away. We were very close, I worshiped him. But, now I can say his name and think of him without losing it big time.

You are more than welcome to contact me at my home email address. a.j.s~sympatico.ca

I don't know any t1's to talk to and it has been and still is a long hard battle to control this ~*%&# disease!

You take care ok?

AJ