Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by elaine peterson on February 19, 2010 at 2:31pm

I am just curious, as I don't see myself ever living up to this, but how possible do we think "normal" blood sugars might be if we truly stuck to the low, low, low, almost no, carb diet Dr B recommends. Do all the other variables make it just too impossible? I think I still hold on to the (maybe eroneous) thought that it can be done with enough will power........

Permalink Reply by Shannon on February 19, 2010 at 2:39pm

Elaine, since I can't reply to your message, I'll reply here.

I HAVE done ultra low-carb diets before (including Atkins and South Beach). While they do help to keep blood sugars lower, there are still other factors that affect me including stress, random insulin resistance, hormones, and other medications. Each of these has nothing to do with the amount of carbs I eat. Even if I ate nothing for three days, my blood sugar would still rise.

Permalink Reply by Kelly Rawlings on February 19, 2010 at 3:55pm

Thanks for translating for me!

If Dr. B. has lows--even if they are very rare--he does not have "normal" blood sugars. He still goes up and down. Granted, he may go up and down in a much, much narrower range. But even protein turns partially to glucose and will cause some increase. If perfectly matched by insulin timing and dose, blood glucose level may barely increase. But that perfection is difficult to achieve day in, day out. Doesn't mean it's not worth striving for--it is, of course.

And he's never had to manage while pregnant or menstruating, right?!

I do applaud his personal efforts with diabetes and his obvious interest in helping others. But I just disagree that we have the means--whether that's knowledge, or research findings, or devices, or meds or understanding of how to encourage behavioral change--at this point in time. These tools help us get closer to "normal." But there is still blood glucose fluctuation, in a way that just doesn't happen in a person who lives without diabetes.

Permalink Reply by elaine peterson on February 19, 2010 at 6:16pm

Ah well...I guess as I try to be positive and don't really want to face that it sucks to be us, I like to think (pretend, perhaps?) we can achieve great #'s if we really want to. Good luck to all of us!

Permalink Reply by HFXNS on February 19, 2010 at 12:18pm

"Levels vary according to the laboratory, but in general up to 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered normal."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003482.htm

I think there is maybe some confusion between Canadian and American BG values (numbers, not morals). Maybe something about the numbers being so high in U.S. units makes them seem worse.

Or maybe it's that I've had type 1 diabetes since I was a teenager, and for me, a blood sugar of less than 5.5 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) means I'm on the road to lowbloodsugarville within a few hours.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on February 3, 2010 at 9:09am

I am copying part of a message I received from someone in regards to the show. I fully agree with it:
"Several people who were in the audience were not surprised to find the show geared towards uncontrolled type 2 (highlighting a group of African-American women all from the same church who are living an unhealthy lifestyle and struggling with when diabetes goes wrong). While realistic, it was also depressing and did not show a balanced view by showcasing anyone (T1 or T2) who made changes and was living well. With up to 40% of adults in the U.S. having prediabetes or diabetes, and the fact that there is a fourfold increase in the risk of major complications in patients who do not receive diabetes education versus those who do, it sounds like an incredible opportunity to reach the masses was missed.

Please watch the show, decide for yourselves. I have written the producer to voice concerns. We need to be at the table! Encourage comments be sent to: http://www.oprah.com/contact_us.html (see Oprah's mail - we hear you). Maybe if she hears from enough of us, they'd consider doing a follow-up show about diabetes health as an option, and of course by having a diabetes educator as part of the team to help provide the tools necessary to get there.

Several recent media events have focused on the effects of uncontrolled diabetes. Let's help turn the tide. If people don't even know we exist, let alone the benefit of our expertise, we will have less success with our legislative efforts."

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Permalink Reply by HFXNS on February 3, 2010 at 9:29am

I think the idea of a follow-up show that focuses on successful diabetics (preferably a number of type 1s!), and the various technological, behavioural and psychological aspects that are a part of excellent diabetes self-care. People should know that there are tools like CGMS and insulin pumps that can help us so much, but are very expensive and are not covered by many insurance plans. We could explain how it's cheaper for governments to fund insulin pumps now, rather than pay for advanced medical treatment of diabetes complications later. It would also be nice to have some discussion about the difficulty of living with chronic illness.

Plus, she could have Jay Cutler (go Bears!) as a guest. The Chicagoans would like that!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Rawlings on February 19, 2010 at 1:01pm

Unfortunately, depending on how you calculate, preventing complications from diabetes with early and frequent treatment actually shows up as more expensive in government calculations. Same is true for smoking. When people live longer, they tend to more frequently need advanced medical care, access it more often, and aren't paying payroll taxes.

Because I value preventative care and quality of life, I greatly dislike how the numbers are used to justify research and prevention dollars. But in big public health calculations, the "counted beans" are black and white, the quality of life calculations are fuzzy and gray.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on February 3, 2010 at 9:58am

Doom & gloom gets people's attention, unfortunately.. So, does scare tactics.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannene Herber on February 3, 2010 at 9:49am

What makes Dr. Oz an expert on any type of diabetes, type 1, 2, or LADA? I spend 14 years under the care of three different primary care doctors and an endocrinologist that diagnosed me incorrectly (and maintained that diagnosis) with type 2, and two of my brothers refuse to follow my advise and question their own doctors who are treating them for type 2.

I don't think Dr. Oz, like many in GP, has the correct 'tool kit' for presenting the facts about diabetes, type 1 or type 2. I agree we need to bombard the show with messages.

http://www.oprah.com/contact_us.html

OK, came back in and edited this post after msging Oprah's show. Suggested they skype in Manny for their live show on Friday.

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Permalink Reply by HFXNS on February 3, 2010 at 10:07am

Skyping in Manny--that's an excellent idea!

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Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on February 3, 2010 at 10:14am

Yeah, I already sent them a letter! Hope it got through, used 3 different browsers, and had a blank page afterward. Maybe this is their way of 'losing people's mail.' heh

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