I know this doesn’t have a thing to do with woodcarving, but diabetes is something I have been dealing with for the past 12 or so years. I hope this will help others who are in the same battle. I should make a disclaimer that this is NOT for everyone. Please take caution if you are on any medication or insulin.
Here is a little history on what I have been dealing with. I have refused to be on insulin, or any medication since they diagnosed me 12 years ago – much to the frustration of my doctors – and some have been very blunt and told me I’m stupid to be so stubborn. I understand the dangers of high blood sugar, and I thank God that to this day, I have not had any health issues related to it. I do understand that as time goes by, and blood sugar is not under control, serious health issues WILL be the result.
I have been on a quest of discovery to figure out how to control my sugar levels myself, but usually the diet changes requires extreme discipline and routine – which I am not very good a either – for long periods of time – probably for the rest of my life.
How I have been able to lower blood sugar to this date (but not completely normalize it) is through diet and exercise. I know this is all common knowledge, but 15 minutes of treadmill or elliptical will bring my sugar down 50 to 60 points. So if my blood sugar was 250 (which it often is after eating), if I exercise for 1/2 hour, it is down to a much better 150. Still not ideal, but better. And food – a lot of salads & veg and some protein, and no potatoes, starchy foods like rice, no grain or bread. Easier said than done. I would say that I am about 70% on the right track of eating the right food & exercising, but that 30% is where I am too tired to exercise, or too lazy to cut the veg to make the salad and has caused my sugars to still be too out of control.
I have to be honest, this Christmas I indulged with all the cookies sitting around. Not good (and not fair). So, I made a commitment Dec. 29 (not quite a new years resolution, but close to it) that I was going to try a particular very strict diet that I had attempted about 6 months ago, but was not real disciplined in keeping it. The little bit that I tried before, I was very successful in keeping my blood sugar normal, not just lower than my normal.
There is a book called “There is a Cure for Diabetes” by Gabriel Cousens, MD. It basically talks about what they call a juice “feast”, not a juice fast. It is strictly green type veggies – a lot of them – made into a juice – celery, cucumbers, any green leafy veg such as spinach, collards (very bitter), kale, lettuce, parsley, swiss chard, etc. No carrots, beets, or fruit. I make about 1/2 gallon in the morning and then throughout the day, I drink this. The book recommends 4 quarts/day, but I just can’t do that. It was a bit much at first, but after I put a little salt, and tried to eliminate the mostly bitter veg, I actually enjoy it. My husband makes very strange faces when I have him taste it – I watch him just for the entertainment – “here try this one!”!
The first time I tried this, I began to lose weight within 10 days of doing this diet (which I do not want to do since I am 5’10” and 135 lbs – considered a “thin” diabetic). So that is the main reason why I stopped this the first attempt. Well, this time I have adjusted the diet to make sure I get about a spoonful of good oils (I use Udo’s oils – lots of omega 3 & 6 oils) with each glass of juice I drink during the day. Also, I have included (which I am not supposed to do if I stay strictly to the juice “feast”) eating things like pecans, almonds, and I do have at least one cooked meal of veg in the evening – just to feel like I am not completely depriving myself.
So far, I have been on it just over a week and my blood sugar in the mornings have gone from 140 on the first day down to 98 this morning. Each morning going down some. I have also been checking it during the day and it has not gone over 170 anytime, and has been normally around 145 to 150.
I am monitoring my weight, and have not lost any, so I will continue on this as long as I have the discipline. The book says to stay on this for 21 days, and then start to introduce other solid “alkaline” foods. That is the whole theory behind this book – to de-acidify the body. The veggies are very alkaline, and most diseases thrive in an acid environment, not alkaline.
I really feel that the Lord answered a prayer – “Eat only the things that are closest to how I created them”. Well, that is pretty much what this diet is.
One thing people get concerned about with this diet is the lack of protein. The book claims that green leafy veg are 30% protein – I did not realize that. I am also eating the pecans and almonds, so that adds to the protein.
I will post results. Hopefully this will re-adjust my body and give it what it needs so that I don’t have to be so strict in the future (so I can have those Christmas cookies without going on the treadmill for an hour). This may end up being a life-time change, but if it is, probably not a bad one to do.
I have really felt good since I started – good energy, color in my face, sleeping well, not feeling uncomfortable in any way.
I am stubborn enough to stick with this, and if I see results, that is all the more encouraging!
It just goes to show you never know what problems people have. I would never have pegged you with diabetes. I will say however, there is most definitely something to your diet plan. My wife and I made a very similar switch about six months ago and the results have been similarly impressive. My wife was taking the meds and was NOT well controlled, despite being very cautious with her diet. We stumbled on a DVD titled “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” and were about to take the juicing plunge for the weight loss benefits but made a slight detour. Instead of juicing, we wound up with a Vit-A-Mix and do pretty much the same thing but consume all the pulp, (think smoothie), deriving whatever benefit there may be. The result is that we both lost weight and, though we regressed a bit over the holidays, we’re back on track, gained nothing back over Thanksgiving/Christmas, and continue to lose weight. The best thing of all though, for my wife, is that her blood sugar level, like yourself, has dropped to well within normal without the meds. Certainly, this is something many people would benefit from, provided they heed the caveat of having their doctor monitor them. I’d also point out that most people’s requests to discontinue meds will be met with much resistance from the medical profession, probably with good reason. The thing is, given my understanding of the disease, is that while an altered diet like this can certainly help to lower the effects of diabetes, the disease/condition is still there; meaning, at this time, once the cells that produce insulin and regulate your blood sugar are damaged/destroyed, you can’t get them back (stem cell therapy anyone?), and committing to this sort of diet has to be permanent, or at least until they figure out a way to regenerate the damaged cells. Don’t take this as medical advice. It’s just one layman’s opinion and understanding. Still, I think it’s a great way to delay the potential effects of diabetes and may, if you’re good about sticking with your diet, allow you to lower your dosage of meds or in some cases, allow your doctor to discontinue some of them. Best of luck with this Mary. You’ve got the right idea in fighting this in the way that seems best to you. You’re far too talented to let this disease slow you down.
Mark,
Thanks for your input. I also am doing a little bit with the vita-mix, to keep the fiber in – sort of gezpacho type soups. It’s amazing how yummy some of these can be (and surprising). I will start to introduce more of this over the next few weeks.
You are very correct about making sure your doctor is aware of any changes to your diet. I should have emphasized that more. Don’t be subborn like me.
My blood sugar was at a historical low (since I began recording my sugar) at 78 about an hour after eating. That was amazing! And I’m not hungry.
The trick seems to be not thinking about this change in diet as a “burden”, but to get excited about the health benefits, and even get excited about some of the new foods to experiment with. I’m working on this…