I'm very happy to share the article I recently wrote for Diabetes Self-Management magazine. Like many dietitians and CDEs, I read this publication regularly and think it's a great source of information for people with diabetes. However, I often don't agree with the nutrition articles written by the RDs, as they generally recommend using MyPlate as a foundation for meal planning. I contacted the editor to ask about writing a piece on carbohydrate restriction as an alternative to MyPlate, and somewhat to my surprise, she invited me to write this article. Even better, she made only a few minor changes prior to publishing it, so it's very similar to what I submitted. One thing that wasn't included, though, was a sidebar I created that had a list of resources for people with diabetes, including websites like Blood Sugar 101 and The Low Carb Diabetic and books like The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living and The Rosedale Diet. I think this was likely due to lack of space. But overall, I'm pleased with the way the article turned out, and I hope that many people with diabetes -- as well as dietitians, nurses, CDEs, and doctors -- get a chance to read it and discover that a low-carbohydrate diet can be very safe, effective, and sustainable. (The document below contains the cover of the March/April issue and my article. If you're interested in the other articles listed on the cover, you'll have to order the magazine from the publisher). Copyright (c) 2014 Madavor Media www.DiabetesSelfManagement.com
29 Comments
Great article Franziska. A very good overview of this very important issue.
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4/1/2014 08:00:17 am
Thanks so much for your kind words and comments, Axel! Indeed many people with Type 2 diabetes have been able to reduce and in some cases eliminate diabetes medication by following a very-low-carbohydrate diet. And there are many Type 1's who are doing very well on VLC, in some cases achieving optimal glycemic control for the first time since diagnosis. Agree that for people with Type 1 switching to low carb requires careful titration of insulin and monitoring of blood glucose levels.
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My child is type 1 and on a low carb high fat diet, due to my own research and not from the advice of his healthcare team. He is the ONLY kid in the clinic to have ever achieved normal blood glucose,blood lipids and HbA1c results. He uses half the amount of insulin other kids use. He is fit and healthy. He does rowing training and gym work 5 times a week. He competes in rowing competitions and wins gold medals. There is absolutely no way a diabetic can be healthy on a high carb diet. As soon as you start using large amounts of insulin, blood glucose instability and hypos occur. And I love low carb cooking! 4/1/2014 10:20:59 pm
Thanks so much for sharing your son's experience, Lisa. It's great that he's getting off to such a healthy start with your guidance and support. So inspiring!
Excellent article, nice work! I have been recommending extremely LCHF diets for ALL of my diabetics (insulin-resistant, insulin-deficient, or both) for over a decade now with amazing results. Unfortunately however the nutritionists I work with do not agree with me at all and the feeling is mutual! Can we clone you? ;)
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4/1/2014 10:46:11 am
Thanks so much, Ted! I'm always happy to hear from MD's who advocate VLCHF diets for their patients with diabetes. Unfortunately, none of you seem to live in my area, so cloning would need to work both ways :)
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4/1/2014 10:42:15 am
Great article it's about time.
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4/1/2014 10:51:46 am
Thanks so much for your kind word and continued support, Andre! It means a lot to me. I really wanted to interview Dr. Rosedale for the article, but he wasn't available when I was writing it. I wish the editors had included the sidebar I submitted because I think his book is excellent and very helpful for PWDs, as are his website and blog.
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Janknitz
4/1/2014 11:12:39 am
Great Job! I'm interested in what type of feedback you get from readers and professionals.
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4/1/2014 11:31:27 am
Thanks, Janknitz! So far it's all been good, but I wouldn't be surprised if I get negative comments as well. I have a feeling many RD's who read the article in print weren't too happy with it, but others seem to like it.
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Jenn
4/1/2014 12:05:23 pm
Great article! I'm happy you were able to reach the diabetic audience with information about low-carb. My grandfather was T2, followed the "standard' T2 diabetic nutrition advice and ended up with both legs amputated. I wish low-carb had been written about a decade ago, I'm sure it could have helped him.
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4/1/2014 12:31:25 pm
Thank you very much, Jenn. I'm so sorry to hear about your poor grandfather losing his legs because of uncontrolled diabetes. My Type 2 grandfather died of diabetes-related complications as well. Low-carb has been around for many years, but unfortunately many diabetes specialists haven't been recommending it to their patients. On a positive note, support for carb restriction is growing among doctors and other healthcare providers, and I'm very optimistic that it will soon be viewed as a legitimate option for people with diabetes.
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Eric Westman
4/2/2014 04:21:09 am
Thanks for this informative and up-to-date article. I'm sending referrals your way!
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4/2/2014 07:38:09 am
Thank you so much, Dr. Westman! And thanks for all of your research on carbohydrate restriction, the support you provide to your patients who adopt this way of eating, and your continued advocacy of
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4/2/2014 06:07:18 am
Hi Franziska
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4/2/2014 07:44:03 am
Thanks very much for your insight and honesty in sharing your experience, Eddie. Your story is inspirational and a powerful testament to the benefits of following a very-low-carb diet. Keep up the great work over in the UK.
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4/2/2014 11:18:01 am
Thank you so much for your very kind words and support, Lily! So appreciative of RDN, CDE's like you.
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Rick
4/3/2014 03:10:16 am
Excellent article Franziska!
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4/3/2014 05:36:42 am
Welcome, Rick! Thanks so much for the nice feedback and sharing your story and experiences. I'm so glad you and your wife have seen improvement in your health after adopting a low-carb, whole foods diet.
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Tim
4/4/2014 06:08:03 am
Great article, well written and informative as always. I am heartened by the number of medical professionals who are reading and commenting favorably on your blog as well as using carb restriction in the treatment of their patients. The tide is turning!
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4/4/2014 06:20:09 am
Thanks so much for your kind words and continued support, Tim. Agree that it's an exciting time for low carb :)
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charles grashow
4/6/2014 01:01:42 am
What are your thoughts on these studies on the effects of a high carbohydrate diet on type 2 diabetes?
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4/6/2014 01:21:53 am
Hi Charles,
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4/6/2014 01:56:55 am
The final study just opened up (had a computer glitch), and I see that it was conducted on children with Type 1, who did see improvement on a macrobiotic diet. However, the control diet was very high in refined carbs, including soda and jam.
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4/28/2014 11:14:40 pm
I find this article the best simple, targeted, easy going, less enemy creating, kind of article I have ever read about the low carb issue, I gave it to a friend who hates even hear about LC diets and I was amazed that he completed all and said to me if you talk to me simply like that I was gonna listen to you but you are aggressive (he meant me). great work, thank you and again I am honoured to know you Franziska
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5/2/2014 10:22:52 pm
Wow, thank you so much for your very kind words, Ahmed. I'm so happy to hear about your friend. Going against mainstream recommendations is difficult, but reading messages like yours makes speaking out in favor of carb restriction worth with the risk. Thanks again, and all the best to you and your friend.
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11/3/2016 05:25:55 am
I agree wholeheartedly with the LCHF approach to diabetes management! THANK you for taking a stand. Where I work, we have RDs teaching the OLD ADA recommendations, and I have pretty much been told to refer all diet teaching to our diabetes RD, who STARTS with 45-60g per meal for women and 60-75 for men. Talk about sending people down a road of medications and side effects! State staff have told me that LCHF is not evidence based and they have to follow EBP in their curriculum. I asked where the evidence for HCLF can be found and that was met with some anger and resentment.
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11/3/2016 06:45:49 am
Thank you so much for your supportive words and for share your own story, Joan. Congratulations on the dramatic improvement in your A1c! I understand your frustration and am glad to hear that you're doing everything you can to change minds at your facility. I'm so sorry that you're experiencing diabetes complications and wish you the very best going forward.
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