How to cook for MC and Diabetes

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 5:16 pm

I am in need of some real help from everyone here....

I have to cook for me and my MC and I just got word that my husband is being put on meds for diabetes so now all of a sudden I need help understanding just how different this is going to make it for us so that he eats properly moving forward.

He doesn't look sick....irony to this because I don't look sick either but here we are!

I don't have all his numbers back yet, he does a cholesterol and VitD check tomorrow (need to fast for that).

My head is just whirling right now....kind of like when I had to start making BIG changes for myself...I might know more than I realize, but helping his mom go from an A1C of 10.1 to a 7 in 4 months I might not be able to get him to do it....we'll see. His A1C is 10.1 today.

Where does eggs and dairy sit in this equation?

Thanks to you all :-)
E

Post by **tex** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:03 am

Hi Erica,

I'm not much of an authority on optimal diets for treating diabetes, so hopefully someone with actual experience will offer their experiences or insight. I recall reading articles by a doctor and others that pointed out that they were controlling their diabetes by following a low carb diet (rather than using meds), and they were seeing good control.

Here's doctor Michael Eades opinion on the issue:

https://proteinpower.com/drmike/2008/01 ... -diabetes/

Tex

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Thu Mar 28, 2019 5:33 pm

Thanks Tex,

I took that article and pushed ahead looking into the Keto diet since my husband doesn't have anything physically wrong with him except this sugar thing.....I am crossing my fingers he responds and we'll see what happens

I am still open to suggestions from others on things that have worked for their type 2 diagnosis.
Hugs
Erica

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:21 am

Erica,

I have been eating low carb for years. Meat and veggies are the mainstay of my diet, no grains, no sugar, no fruit.

Check out this website:

www.dietdoctor.com

Also check out:

https://www.virtahealth.com/

And:

https://healclinics.com/

Jean

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:26 am

Also listen to this Ted Talk by Dr Sarah Halberg of Virta Health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1vvigy5tQ

And this one by Dr Eric Westman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgMizC6sQ6w&t=80s

Jean

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:36 am

Finally, I want to add that contrary to what most doctors believe type 2 diabetes is a reversible disease. Medications can be eliminated, even in long standing type 2 diabetics on insulin, if they follow are very low carb diet. The dietdoctor.com website is a wealth of information on the topic as is the Virta Health website and the Heal Clinics website. Diabetes, like MC, can be controlled through diet and just like MC the official party line in medicine is wrong. Fortunately many doctors are beginning to see the light and recommend low carb diets to their diabetic patients. Low carb diets have many other additional benefits including benefits seen in the treatment of many neurodegenerative diseases and in the treatment of cancer. It is well worth exploring for everyone.

Jean

Post by **tex** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:12 am

Finally, I want to add that contrary to what most doctors believe type 2 diabetes is a reversible disease. Medications can be eliminated, even in long standing type 2 diabetics on insulin, if they follow are very low carb diet. The dietdoctor.com website is a wealth of information on the topic as is the Virta Health website and the Heal Clinics website. Diabetes, like MC, can be controlled through diet and just like MC the official party line in medicine is wrong.

Jean,

I totally agree. Thanks for the great info and links.

Erica,

Be sure that your husband is aware of the close association between magnesium deficiency and diabetes. Here's a quote from my magnesium book:

Magnesium deficiency is associated with the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Takaya, Higashino, and Kobayashi (2004) showed that both hypertension and type 2 diabetes involve low magnesium levels in the cells of the body.4 In that research article, Takaya, Higashino, and Kobayashi (2004) concluded that because magnesium is necessary in order for the body to be able to use glucose properly, and magnesium is also used for insulin signaling, a deficiency of magnesium in the cells may alter the availability of glucose and thereby contribute to the development of insulin resistance.

In other words, magnesium and insulin are co-dependent.
Not only is magnesium deficiency associated with hypertension, but if the availability or either one (magnesium or insulin) is less than adequate, there is a much grater risk of developing diabetes or a condition known as pre-diabetes. Insulin is responsible for transporting nutrients out of the bloodstream to locations in the cells of the body where they can either be used immediately or stored for future use. A magnesium deficiency can not only cause insulin resistance (in the cells of the body), but it can cause reduced insulin production by the pancreas. And this in turn has a reciprocal effect — when the availability and effectiveness of insulin is compromised, extra magnesium in the blood cannot be properly stored, so most of it may be wasted, instead (Sircus, 2009).5 Obviously, this can become a self-perpetuating process. Once it starts, it can rather quickly lead to a condition that predisposes to diabetes. And once someone is caught in this spiral, it becomes more and more difficult for that individual to absorb magnesium, which makes the situation progressively worse.

Even stronger evidence of the association between magnesium deficiency and diabetes has been found by other researchers. Research published by Hruby et al. (2014) showed that people who have higher magnesium intake levels have a significantly lower risk of developing insulin resistance or progressing from a prediabetic condition to diabetes.6 According to the study, people who had the highest magnesium intake had only about half the risk (53 %) of developing compromised metabolic function or diabetes when compared with those who had the lowest magnesium intake. Acting promptly on this information can be life-changing for those who have been told by their physicians that their blood test results indicate that they are at a stage known as prediabetes.

Consider the popular Mediterranean Diet.
Why do you suppose the Mediterranean diet has been shown to be so effective for reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other health-related problems? Its effectiveness is probably due to the fact that the Mediterranean diet contains a relatively high level of magnesium (dailymail.co.uk,. updated 2016, December 8).7 Likewise, there are various published studies that show that vegetarian or vegan diets in general typically provide similar health benefits. And of course, they too usually contain significantly higher levels of magnesium than the typical Western diet.

Here are references 4–7 from that quote:

4. Takaya, J., Higashino, H., & Kobayashi, Y. (2004). Intracellular magnesium and insulin resistance. Magnesium Research, 17(2), 126-136. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15319146

5. Sircus, M. (2009, December 8). The Insulin Magnesium Story [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://drsircus.com/medicine/magnesium/ ... um-story-2

6. Hruby, A., Meigs, J. B., O’Donnell, C. J., Jacques, P. F., & McKeown, N. M. (2014). Higher Magnesium Intake Reduces Risk of Impaired Glucose and Insulin Metabolism and Progression From Prediabetes to Diabetes in Middle-Aged Americans. Diabetes Care, 37(2), 419-427. Retrieved from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/2/419

7. The chemical secrets of the Mediterranean diet: High levels of magnesium help to reduce risk of strokes, diabetes and heart disease. (Updated 2016, December 8). Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... sease.html

Tex

dolson · Post by **dolson** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:20 am

Hi Erica, It's not easy, but things get better. I've always been a health nut, so this is doable. Carbs have always been a NO NO! Plus I eat red meat in moderation. I eat lots of turkey, ham, chicken, seafood and healty meats. The only thing I've changed is making my veggies mushy soft. Take off the skin of chicken drumsticks. Think healthy eating, period! Sugar of course is a NO NO, but diabetics can have sugar in moderation. Carbs is the big NO NO. Once it hits your tongue, carbs transfer into sugar and it will Jacks Up you blood sugar quickly. You husband needs to eat healthy for his heart, and his body. We are prone to circulation problems, heart and stroke problems, foot problems, amputation of limbs, etc. Eating healthy will benefit you too!

My problem is low blood sugar and it will take you out! I don't know how many times I've called EMS for unresponsive lows. My body does not tell me I have a dangerous low. I wear a Dexcom and it helps. When I have a low, and it can be several times a week, I have to drink or eat something super sweet to bring my blood sugar up to normal limits.

Being a diabetic is not easy but I am neurotic about it. I saw what it did to my father. He looked like a Nazi Era Concentation Camp survior. He died from a stroke at age 49. So take control and you be in charge and like I said, it's doable.

If you have any questions, please ask me. Dorothy

dolson · Post by **dolson** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:46 am

Invest in diabetic recipe magazines and books. You'll find a multitude of great recipes and they're delicious. Dorothy

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:12 pm

Thank you Jean, Tex and Dorothy so much!

I will get to reading and listening as soon as I can, this is great information! I have only touched on a couple links at the moment.....

It all makes perfect sense too...

I appreciate everything more than you can imagine

It's such a punch in the stomach at first....I will be sure to share this with my husband

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 7:49 pm

I gave my husband the information and he immediately went and took an evening magnesium ;-)

He knows how much it has helped me...I think he will do a better job of taking one morning and night now

So far the mind game has hit him...and I told him I've been thru the depression rodeo and I want to feel bad for him, but I know it can get better...so I persevere and maintain the positive outcome

He will get there as well....I know it takes time for this adjustment.

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:52 pm

Erica,

I just want to stress how important it is to eat a diet very low in carbohydrates in order to treat type 2 diabetes. I certainly don't dispute the importance of magnesium but by itself magnesium will not reverse type 2 diabetes. I hope your husband listens to the talks I recommended and explores the websites.

Jean

Post by **tex** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:59 am

Once diabetes or "prediabetes" has become established, magnesium is not a solution. It's only part of the equation. It's main value is as a preventive aid, not a cure. As Jean says, diet is the cure. Magnesium is merely a vital part of that diet (to help restore insulin production and reduce insulin resistance).

Tex

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:00 pm

Another question about the Keto diet....I've read some previous posts and Jean you were the main player in the one I read....

My husband said he was told not to stay on Keto for too long because it can hinder his liver...so now I'm confused.

It sounds like you have been on Keto quit a while Jean....what is the magic recipe to maintaining this way of life but sensibly knowing he needs to maintain low carb intake probably for the rest of his life. What about this diet is harmful to our organs?

Also....is there too much fiber and fat in this diet for me to be on it with him? I'm going thru a bit of a flare and wonder if I'm just too new into healing and my body isn't quite up for it yet.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts!
Erica

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Wed May 01, 2019 5:56 am

I have no idea why anyone would say that a keto diet is harmful to the liver. It is a very reliable way to reverse fatty liver, for one thing. There are all sorts of nay sayers when it comes to the keto diet. You need to be sure of your sources for the information. Dietdoctor.com is always a good place to start. I have been eating keto for the better part of 15 years. I take no prescription medications. I am 70 years old and I walk at least 4 miles a day. My blood glucose levels are normal, averaging under 90 all the time, almost never going above 100. My blood pressure is normal. I have reversed all sorts of other conditions. You can read my success story. That is all due to a ketogenic diet and the information I got here on this forum.

Of course, in terms of MC, we have special requirements. Keto allows all sort of food that I cannot eat like eggs and chicken to name just two. And for several years I ate very few vegetable to keep fiber low. Keto is really about not eating too many carbs so that you become a fat burner not a sugar burner. You then adjust it to your own particular requirements. As long as you keep carbs low enough your diet will be ketogenic. Remember that the body has no requirement for carbohydrates. Only fat and protein. People eating a carnivore diet, all meat, are also eating a ketogenic diet because they are eating virtually no carbohydrates.

This is a healthy way to eat for everyone, Erica, as long as you make the adjustments for your particular situation. At least that's my opinion.

Jean