I have a T1 friend - not a close one - who eats a ton of carbage & uses 2 kinds of insulin to "control" her diabetes. Yesterday we were at a retreat together & she (along with a couple of other diabetics) ate a huge plate of spaghetti and a bunch of cookies. She was complaining how hard it is to stay awake when she drives - this is something she's mentioned before.

She's not stupid - surely she knows that it's the carbs & her high BG putting her to sleep? I'm worried about her on the roads - both for herself & anyone she might meet.

She's my age - early 60s - & knows I eat LCHF & am doing so much better than I used to. Since we aren't close, I don't know if I should talk to her more bluntly, or just keep my mouth shut.

I feel for you. Your friend eats like she has a death wish. Being a type 1, she should know better. It must be very frustrating for you to see it.

This is an area that she needs to get counseled on by a professional. If you say anything, you'll probably be scoffed at. Her doctor is failing to educate her and just pushes drugs and tells her to eat what she wants. I know others like this.

One man I know is type 1 and for years ate whatever he wanted....and pushed a ton of insulin. He is now dying of a couple different kinds of cancer, has lost several toes and his kidneys are shot and he has to go for dialysis.

That is dangerous, especially for a type 1

I was talking to a type 2 diabetic the other day whose on insulin. He said his A1c said he averaged 340 BG even with the insulin. I asked him if he can alter his diet and he said "Oh I could never give up potatoes."

Another type 2 (aged 73) who walks by my house a lot said his brother (also type 2) was in complete denial for years and ate pancakes with full sugar syrup every morning. he lost most of his intestines before he died and when they took him to the hospital the final time his BG was 1600.

Heretic Stan at http://stan-heretic.blogspot.ca/
posted a link on July 17th showing how a T1 diabetic got off insulin with a ketogenic paleo diet.

Not that she should decrease insulin without a doctor's supervision, but it really shows the shocking effect of too many carbs and too much insulin!

OMG--she's in WA state! Could you please tell me the roads she drives so I can avoid them!

Seriously, I would not be able to keep my mouth shut watching that. Do you know of a good book that you could give to her? Might be a little easier than giving her a "lecture".

I keep recommending Dr. B's book to people - so I think I'm just going to have to buy her a copy. I don't want to mention this site to her since I've now talked about her! There's a reason most people use aliases.

People just will not listen unless they are ready. My friend's husband was an out-of-control diabetic for years and years. Even on high insulin he never had a BG reading under 200 in over 10 years, and usually over 300. I suggested LC to her rather gently a few times but she always bristled,said they ate a very "healthy" diet -all homemade, no processed foods, etc.

And THEN he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and told he needed surgery. However the surgeon refused to operate because friend's husband's BG was consistently over 300 and surgeon said the risk of infection and complications would be too high. My friend was hysterical, and once again I suggested LC and said what did they have to lose to just give it a try?

This time she was willing to listen, and within *one week* his FBG had dropped to 110. Within the second week they had to drastically cut back on his insulin as he was getting serious hypos. By the third week the surgeon was willing to operate and the surgery went well and prognosis was excellent. That was about 5-6 years ago and he is still fine, and still on a LC diet. Also lost 50 pounds which he (and his wife with her cooking) had been trying to get off for years as well. She is now an LC evangelist.

Their son worked with a 50-year-old woman who was wheelchair bound because she had already had BOTH FEET amputated due to diabetic complications. He told her about his dad and how miraculous the LC diet had been for him. Her answer? "Oh, but I could never give up my BREAD!" Yeah, she was not in a frame to listen.

Deirdre, thanks for posting about Stan's new blog post! I hadn't checked there in a while. What a good one.

I have tried to explain LC to several Type IIs, but so far, none has been willing to give up the carb addiction. To those nearest and dearest, I will sometimes recall what happened to their relatives who had diabetes and didn't take proper care. Not even telling them about dialysis and amputations, or greater risk of dementia, -- nothing has made a difference.

And all of these Type IIs know I follow Dr. B's plan, and how much it has helped me.

It does seem to be true that we each have our level of "hitting bottom" and seeing the truth of our situation/avoidance/etc.

Dr. B's telling of how he behaved, and car accidents, when his blood sugars were not under control, really got my attention.

Thanks for the reminders to be diligent.

Her answer? "Oh, but I could never give up my BREAD!" [/QUOTE]



It really amazes me how often I'v heard that. Boy Davis must be onto something in Wheatbelly. Diabetics say that and everyone who asks about weight loss that I've talked to says that.

I tried a bite of my sons hamburger bun the other day to see what it tasted like after 8 months of not having any and it had a very strange texture to me -- kind of dense. Doesn't mean I couldn't jump right off the wagon if not careful.

The guy I talked to had over 300 BG consitantly but didn't seem worried at all. I was freaking at a FBG of 171.

That's where mine was at, too. Husband talked with a diabetic once & mentioned that I was upset with a reading of 170 - this was before I had good control. The man said he often had readings of over 300! Was he worried? Nope.