Dr. Swarzbein was the Director of the diabetes center at the Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara several years ago (one of the oldest and at the time, most prestigious diabetes programs in the country.) She found a direct correlation between heart patients that were put on low fat diets, that then developed type II diabetes within 6 months--1 year. Having them journal everything they ate and their blood sugar responses, made certain patterns very clear... She switched their diets, and the diabetes went away, along with their need for insulin.

What's almost amusing, is that I can pinpoint exactly when I began to experience issues with my bloodsugar--when my father was diagnosed with type II diabetes, and diet Coke became a staple in our home. I got up to a 6 pack a day and was like a junkie with the stuff. I'd get headaches and get the shakes if I didn't have access to them every few hours. Although I haven't touched the toxic stuff in over 20 years, my blood sugar sensitivities continued. Until this past year, I always assumed it was just a matter of time before I developed type II diabetes.

It was common for me to sleep 18 hours a day. Yes, my meds were a factor. But, I've been on the same dosages for many years. I stopped eating processed carbs regularly and I'm no longer Rip Van Winkle! My swelling has decreased, my pain levels have decreased slightly, my severe stomach pain is
gone, etc.

Traditional diets will tell you to eat several small meals a day. The standard American diet is comprised of roughly 300g of carbs per day. We are as a nation fatter and sicker since it became the standard belief that low fat was healthier...

I would never suggest anyone switch their diet without discussing it with their doc, especially if you have diabetes. But, if you do the research, it might give you some better choices to work with. I certainly kept my doc in the loop when I began my diet change and it was with his full support.