The blind leading the blind: New study proves how dismal diabetic nutrition counseling is

Dear Reader, According to a new study, people who know they have diabetes tend to eat healthier than people who have yet to be diagnosed. The researchers evaluated 3725 adults with diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes, who were a part of the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found that men who knew they had diabetes consumed an average of 87 grams of sugar per day, whereas undiagnosed men ate an average of 117 grams. Likewise, diagnosed men consumed fewer carbohydrates and more protein than undiagnosed men. Women showed similar trends: Those with diagnosed diabetes consumed less sugar--an average of 79 grams per day, vs 95 grams for their undiagnosed counterparts. They also ate more protein--67 grams vs 57 grams in undiagnosed patients. I think it's great that diabetics are making an effort--I really do. But let's not break out the balloons and party hats just yet... If I ate 235 grams of carbohydrates a day, I, as my mother liked to say, would be as big as a house (and probably the lot next door too). And 87 grams of sugar?! I haven't eaten 87 grams of sugar in the past six months... let alone in one day. Honestly, if this is a good thing, Lord help us! Which leads me to the next study I want to tell you about... It looked at the importance of nutritional counseling and healthy diets for prediabetics. While I consider this a normal--and essential--part of every office visit, most doctors don't. In fact, most patients with pre-diabetes never get a single word of advice from their doctors about what they should--and shouldn't--be eating. But guess what this study showed? That's right--people who were counseled to eat right and exercise were able to lower their blood sugar levels. And they did it following some pretty dismal dietary advice: a calorie-restricted diet, in which 60 to 70 percent of the energy came from carbohydrates and monounsaturated fat, 15 to 20 percent from protein, and less than 7 percent from saturated fat. Wrong, wrong and wrong again! Eat like that and you might improve your blood sugar by a hair...temporarily. But eventually you will get fatter--and you WILL wind up with diabetes. If you truly want to take control over your blood sugar, you have to eliminate sugar. "Reducing" your intake to 87 grams per day isn't going to cut it. And the simple, refined carbs have to go too. But you don't have to spend every waking minute tracking your calories and denying yourself all the foods you love. Juicy steaks, gooey cheese omelets, rich dark chocolate--all of these decadent "treats" are perfectly OK. In fact, they're good for you! Combine them with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits--and that daily walk I'm always encouraging you to take--and you'll balance your blood sugar without even thinking about it. It really can be that simple--if you have the right tools and information. Stick with me and I'll make sure you do.