Did you all know that your brain is not functioning?

[Marvin]

So, in order to show my compliance to my doctor's treatment program, I went to my first diabetes class last night. At one point when we were discussing diet, one of the other participants asked the dietician, "How many carbs are we supposed to eat per day?" The dietician answered, "You need at least 130 grams of carb per day for your brain to function. The brain needs that energy."

I didn't say anything but later when she asked me about my plan, I told her what was doing (very sketchy) and that it was working for me. She did say that "everyone is different, and we all need to do whatever works for us."

Interesting that she'll preach the party line, but ultimately understands that it's more complex than that. Of course those that are in the class that are eating more carbs don't have their blood sugars under control. Hmmm......

[chiody]

Thanks, I guess I'm going to have to increase my carb intake by at least 100 grams/day.....NOT!!!!!

Gee, I wonder how I've been able to muster up the energy to bike 3-5 hours/day with so few carbs????

Oh yeah, that's right...I'm brain dead......

[Steve Parker, M.D.]

Dietitians and physicians are under pressure to toe the party line. I'm glad she gave another opinion to you in private conversation.

-Steve

[chiody]

Steven,

Having perused your site extensively, I can imagine you may not promote the "party line" with your diabetic patients and I commend that action if true specifically for Type 2 candidates.

You mentioned the ADA since 2008 has advocated a carb intake of less than 130 grams/day? That's news to me, are they now a non "party line" advocate too?

Bucking the trend and being a "Maverick" of sorts has it's risks, but you are passing on what can be the beginnings of a revolution. Frankly, I like your Mediterranean regimen and progressive outlook. We need more physicians in your camp!!! Thanks for your contribution on these forums!!

[CookinsForMe]

Marvin, considering these are the same people who tell us sandwiches and juice are good for us, meh! You know what I mean. If they want to see brain non-functioning they should see me when I consume 100 grams of carbs a day. I'm practically a zombie then!

Some people.....

A couple of years ago one of my sisters and I decided that we should hang out outside those kinds of meetings and hand out flyers with "the truth" printed on them. We never did it but now and then we do talk about it!

[chantyl03]

i was really shocked when a dietician came in to talk to my bf when he was in the hospital. The docs said he was considered pre-diabetic and asked her to come in and talk to him about changing his diet to avoid type 2 diabetes (he also has a fam history of diabetes).

The dietician suggested 60 carbs at breakfast and 75 carbs at lunch and dinner with no more than 4 oz of protein and as little fat as possible. He also could only have 3 eggs per week. Then she gave him a list of "free foods" which included things like margarine, diet soda, (low fat and fat free) mayo, coffee and AS.

it was all so strange to me... then i understood why my mom (also diabetic) is so adimant about her ability to eat everything (read sweets) in moderation (read at every meal).

[CookinsForMe]

Chantyl, yep that probably explains why your mom thinks she can eat as she does. It's not just irritating, it's malpractice in my opinion.

The nurse who was on duty yesterday morning noticed DH hadn't drank his OJ and asked him if he didn't like juice. He told her no, he loves it, but because of his diabetes he didn't drink it. She promptly told him he could have the 1/2 cup of OJ with his breakfast as long as he had it at the end of the meal or no later than one hour after the meal. DH told her he didn't think so and she told him she's a CDE and knows what she's talking about, insisting that he drink it so he did. An hour later his BG was 35 points higher and 2 hours later it was only 20 points higher but was still too high. He told her that and she commented that the reading, 155, 2 hours after eating, was just fine. He just shook his head and it took all I had to not smack that woman down. What they're teaching people should be illegal.

[chantyl03]

Originally Posted by CookinsForMe

What they're teaching people should be illegal.

i totally agree. when i go home and cook for my mom (i cook what i eat, so she's lowcarbing when i visit) her blood sugar always looks so good. But that means nothing to her since her dietician said she can have cake and juice. I dunno how she reconciles her bs readings, but i suppose as long as she has medication, she thinks its alright.

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by CookinsForMe

Marvin, considering these are the same people who tell us sandwiches and juice are good for us, meh! You know what I mean. If they want to see brain non-functioning they should see me when I consume 100 grams of carbs a day. I'm practically a zombie then!

Some people.....

A couple of years ago one of my sisters and I decided that we should hang out outside those kinds of meetings and hand out flyers with "the truth" printed on them. We never did it but now and then we do talk about it!

I know what you mean! There were a couple of people in the class that I really wanted to take aside and talk about LC and Dr Bernstein.

Last night we tested our blood sugar before, went to the cafeteria and picked our own meal and ate, then tested our blood sugar 2 hours later. Mine was 91 before and 93 after...and I had ribs with an unknown quantity of sugar in the sauce/ribs. Everyone else had much higher spikes after two hours....Of course everyone's numbers weren't announced or talked about, so there was no way to really talk about what I was doing.

Oh the other thing that the nurse educator talked about was ketones, and how if you are spilling ANY ketones it's a BAD thing. She went on to attack the Atkins diet and how we now know better. The sad part about this is that what they are doing is locking these people in to a life where they will never burn any fat...In fact we were advised to AVOID it....they are always burning carbs as their energy source.

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by Steve Parker, M.D.

Dietitians and physicians are under pressure to toe the party line. I'm glad she gave another opinion to you in private conversation.

-Steve

Steve,
I too thank you for coming and posting periodically on this site.

Can I ask you a question about your statement? Who is pressuring the dieticians and physicians? Insurance companies? Health care organizations? ADA? AHA?