Bernstein's book - good to read if you don't have diabetes yet, too.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 12:28AM Click here for Dr. Bernstein's Book
Bernstein's book is great reading for anyone interested in the benefits of low carb eating. Looking at the pathologic state of diabetes as an epiphenomenon to the primary metabolic abnormality of abnormal insulin metabolism can help you understand the benefits of low insulin levels even if you are a "normal" glucose-eater.
It is ironic that someone like Dr. Bernstein, who has no islet cells to produce insulin (Type I DM) by avoiding most carbohydrates can have lower average glucose levels and lower insulin levels than, say, an avid runner with a healthy pancreas who is thin but eats a lot of carbohydrates.
Think of what can be achieved if you have a normal pancreas.
1) Low carbs > low glucose levels > less glycosylation of proteins, oxidation of fatty acids, atherosclerosis, etc. etc...
2) Low insulin levels > less fat storage > higher muscle mass > less inflammation, less tumor promotion, fewer signals to "mature and die"
Bernstein, insulin in Book Reviews
Reader Comments (3)
A friend turned me on to your blog; excellent! I do have a question that has plagued me. I have seen a number of folks, mainly on Zero Carb, that seem to get slightly elevated BG numbers, a rough average of 100 or so, some slightly higher. Now, you wouldn't think someone with such an absence of carbs would face that, and that's what confuses me. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance, and again, love your blog!
Daryl
Daryl
I can see I'll have to do my own post on physiologic insulin resistance. Search my blog and Peter's at hyperlipid for the term for now
Thanks for this information. As a type II diabetic, I have been able to get completely off of all diabetes medications by following Dr. Bernstein's advice. We're talking about dropping my fasting glucose from above 300 WITH insulin injections (Lantus at night) and oral meds, to around 100 with NO insulin injections or oral meds.
I kept asking doctors why I needed more insulin if my insulin was already abnormally high (insulin resistance), but until I found Dr. Bernstein, nothing they told me made sense. Of course I didn't need to inject insulin long-term, I needed to cut way back on the carbs (especially the refined "whites") and start exercising. My need for injected insulin dropped like a rock as soon as I focused my diet around protein, healthy fats and low-carb vegetables -- excluding grains and high-carb veggies/fruits (e.g. potatoes and watermelon.)
Whenever I fall off the wagon, my blood glucose goes right back up again. I'm convinced now that my body simply cannot handle refined sugars, refined grains or high-sugar fruits. When I avoid them, my blood glucose normalizes within a week or so and I have no need for medication. Whew. What a relief.