[670] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
PCRM - diabetes and diet
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (elsiedee@MIT.EDU)
Sun Oct 1 08:16:45 1995
From: elsiedee@MIT.EDU
To: vsg@MIT.EDU
Date: Sun, 01 Oct 1995 08:16:04 EDT
Here's the next installment of health info, provided as a
service to VSG list members.
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Diet And Diabetes
*****************
In diabetes, the cells of the body cannot get the sugar they need.
Glucose, a simple sugar, is the body's main fuel. It is present in the
blood, but in diabetics it cannot get into the cells where it is
needed. When diabetes starts in childhood (insulin-dependent
diabetes), it is due to an inadequate supply of insulin, the hormone
which ushers sugar into the cells of the body. Without insulin, the
cell membranes keep sugar out. This form of diabetes is also called
Type I or childhood-onset diabetes. When diabetes begins in adulthood
(non-insulin-dependent diabetes), it is not due to an inadequate
supply of insulin. There is plenty of insulin in the blood stream, but
the cells do not respond readily to it. Sugar cannot easily get into
the cells, and it backs up in the blood stream. This form is also
called Type II or adult-onset diabetes. In the short run, diabetics
may experience episodes of labored breathing, vomiting, and
dehydration. In the long run, diabetics are at risk for heart disease,
kidney problems, disorders of vision, and other difficulties.
The old approach to diabetes was to focus on eliminating refined
sugars and foods that turned into sugars -- starches, breads, fruits,
etc. -- from the diet. The rationale was based on the fact that
diabetics' urine contains sugar. Unfortunately, with all of the
complex carbohydrates eliminated, fat and protein are the only things
left in the diet.
The new approach focuses more attention on fat. Fat is a problem for
diabetics. The more fat there is in the diet, the harder time insulin
has in getting sugar into the cell. Exactly why this occurs is not
clear. But what is clear is that minimizing fat intake and reducing
body fat help insulin do its job much better. Modern diabetic
treatment programs drastically reduce meats, high-fat dairy products,
and oils. At the same time, they increase grains, legumes, and
vegetables. One study found that 21 of 23 patients on oral medications
and 13 of 17 patients on insulin were able to get off of their
medications after 26 days on a near-vegetarian diet and exercise
program.1 During two- and three-year follow-ups, most diabetics
treated with this regimen have retained their gains.2 The dietary
changes are simple, but profound, and they work. Low-fat, vegetarian
diets are ideal for diabetics.
There is a second essential component to managing diabetes. Through
regular exercise, the need for insulin injections can often be
reduced, and oral medications often become unnecessary. This holds
true not only for people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, but also
to some extent for those with insulin-dependent diabetes. Exercising
muscles have a voracious appetite for fuel. When an individual is
engaged in regular aerobic exercise, the sugar is able to enter the
cells without the need for as much, or perhaps any, insulin.
While people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes can often eliminate
medications when their weight is reduced and foods and exercise are
better controlled, those with insulin-dependent diabetes will always
need a source of insulin. The causes of insulin-dependent diabetes
remain elusive. A recent study implicated cow's milk consumption as a
possible contributor.3 When milk consumption patterns were examined
across various nations, there was a very strong correlation with the
incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes. It may be that milk proteins
cause an autoimmune reaction in which the body mistakenly attacks its
own insulin-producing cells. Even so, a good diet and regular exercise
can minimize the amount of insulin these diabetics require. This is
especially important given their tendency toward complications. Heart
disease and other blood vessel problems are much more common in
diabetics. So it is doubly important to keep fit and to keep fats in
the diet to a minimum.
Diabetics are short-changed by the diet most doctors give them. The
typical American Diabetes Association diet is still high in fat. The
ADA diet limits the amount of butter, eggs, and so forth, but it
contains about 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day and about 30
percent fat.
This fact sheet is not intended as a comprehensive program for
diabetes. If you have diabetes, consult your doctor and tailor a
program for your needs. But it is important to recognize that, for
many, diabetes is a disease that need never occur. Most who have it
can manage it much better with a food plan that gets most of its
calories from complex carbohydrates which minimizing fats. At the same
time, regular, vigorous exercise helps insulin to work optimally.
References:
+++++++++++
1. Barnard RJ, et al. Plasma glucose and insulin responses to
traditional Pima Indian meals. Am J Clin Nutr 1990;51:416-20.
2. Barnard RJ, et al. Long-term use of a high-complex-carbohydrate,
high- fiber, low-fat diet and exercise in the treatment of NIDDM
patients. Diabetes Care 1983;6(3):268-73.
3. Scott FW. Cow milk and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: is
there a relationship? Am J Clin Nutr 1990;51:489-91.
For more information, contact:
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Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
P.O. Box 6322
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 686-2210
