I've been grinding along on this subject for the last 6-9 months. I don't have time to write much at this moment, but the name of the game is to eat small portions and include everything except the high GI (glycemic index) items and the other obvious stuff that tastes sweet. Now this can be tricky business because sugar often comes dressed like nutrition (remember the wolf in sheeps clothing) and you have to do your homework. You will never be fat and you can eat the odd thing that you don't think you can. Like I can still have the odd ice cream treat from Dairy Queen....just not the peanut buster partfait. You may fall on either the hypo or hyper side of the line,either way it will affect you and your PD big time!!! I have a ton of log journals to demonstrate it. I did my own fasting 5 hour glucose test with my trusty glucometer and as far as I can tell I'm still on the hypoglycemic side of the scale. That's where your blood sugar rises as happens when we eat , but unlike Carolyn described your blood sugar falls in a sudden and untimely fashion and drops below what is "normal" for you. This is like a roller coaster ride for your meds and your Neurologist (like mine) may say he's never heard that one before. So you have to show him the paper(s) written to get him off his arrogant throne. I will post more later...I'm out of time for now. I don't think PD causes Diabetes, but it's very possible (likely) that there is a link between how our meds work and what our blood sugar is doing.

Carolyn is talking abt hyper glycemia (diabetes....) I am refering to hypo- glycemia or low blood sugar. Did not mean to infer Carolyn had said anything that was not correct.

FYI - Don't want to confuse things. When I said the following:

• My biggest enemies are NOT what one would consider sugar items, such as candy, chocolate bars, ice cream, etc.
  
• My biggest enemies are concentrated juices (e.g. orange juice...I never drink anymore )

, rice, potatoes and BREAD!

I was referring to my diabetes and glucose maintenance. I have never seen a correlation between food intake and my PD.

1) the majority of PWP have glucose/insulin problems.
2) ldopa screws with blood sugar - muscle stretching corrects that
3) early morning fasting can run blood sugar UP as your body compensates
4) eating high glycemic foods in the morning can drive blood sugar DOWN as your body compensates (rebound hypoglycemia)
5) endocrinologists have extreme high rates of mental illness

ok - i made that one up

6) the protein problem is overblown. i think it was dr. lieberman who said that only twenty percent had the problem

finally- here's my own theory on one of PD's many causes
hypoglycemia kills brain cells fast. no problem for you? not so fast. ever think about the fact that glucose is carried across the BBB by transporter molecules. anything that interferes with that process can mean dead cells...

Bing, Bing!!

very cute post vicky

To back track a bit to some of Teresa's questions about what we can eat if we are Hypo. First I'd like to say that I belive the line between high and low is rather a grey area. The only way you'll know is if you go for a 3 hour fasting blood glucose test and even then it is a poor indicator as people regularly slip through the gaps in the results. As Rick said it is a very complex thing. Diabetes is a silent killer. The only reason I know I'm having gluscose problems is that it does affect how my meds work. Otherwise I would feel fine. (except of course for the fatigue, lack of sleep, depression etc etc etc that plagues everyone on the planet...or at least that part of the planet affluent enough to have too much food rather than too little)

Back to what you can eat. If you want to track down a copy of "Hypoglycemia: A Better Approach" by Paavo Airola written in the mid 70's it is a goldmine to anyone withy Hypoglycemia. I suspect it is out of print and the author died in the 90's. I've come across two copies at used book stores and snapped them both up. My copy is dogearred and marked up and is next only to my Bible in it's position in my bookcase. I refer to it contantly. Just recently I bought a copy of the latest edition of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by Phyllis Balch and she has a really good informative section on Hypoglycemia and refers to Airola's work. I made a list of the most important nutrients (supplements) and am now trying to stick to a program that she recommends. The difference in my tremor is quite remarkable. Also I am sleeping better at night and my off time is much shorter. The top two nutrients she recommends as did Airola are: Brewers Yeast (no live yeast in it) and Chromium picolinate. I take 4500 mg of Brewers yeast spread out over three doses, and 200-400 mcg of Chromium picolinate daily. I got off track for a few days and what a difference! Brewers Yeast is full of B vitamins , so I top them up with the really important ones B1/B3/B5/B12. Or at least the important ones for me. Eat a diet high in fiber including large amts of vegetables. For protien eat low fat cheeses, raw nuts, natural yogurt (add your own flavorings) -my favorite it stevia and vanilla extract. I love to dip apple slices in it. Eat starch foods like corn, noodles, pasta, yams etc in moderation. Stay away from fats and fatty foods. Grains and Pulses are good, but easy on the portions. I slice of whole grain bread is sufficient for your needs (open faced sandwhiches) My favorite anytime food is popcorn. A big bowl of popcorn with a little butter (or try flavored cooking oil spray) will keep me happy for hours. I keep whole wheat crackers in the car, in my tote bag and almonds in my pockets all the time. My cracker of choice is Triscuit as it is 100% whole wheat and nice and salty. I stuff the whole inner liner of the box of crackers into a large plastic peanut butter jar for the ones I leave in the car. That keeps them from getting stale. (that tough waxy paper that cereal and crackers come pkged in actually acts as a perservative to keep them fresh.) Anyway ...just some ideas to get you going if you want to pursue the program. Hypoglycemia sometimes does not even show itself on a glucose test. These are sly and devious beasties that plague us in many cases. Yes Albert Einstein was quite right when he said the universe is a place even stranger than we can imagine. (are these a string of molecules?)

I don't mean just skipping lunch, but serious caloric restriction while maintaining vitamin and mineral intake? It has been well established that it is powerful against long term PD degeneration but I haven't seen where anyone had reported how it affects symptoms.

I am probably going to say more than you care to know...can't help it...diabetes is a dangerous disease...both highs and lows! No joking matter.

If you see an Internist or a Family Practice doctor, they should have supplies of meters and can give you one for free...just ask for one from the doc. I he/she doesn't have them on the office shelf, he/she can get one the next time the pharmaceutical rep is in the office.

You can also go to a website...e.g. Ascensia, and print out a coupon for a free one from your local pharmacy. The companies don't make money off the meters. They make the money off the 1,800 or so test strips I use each year, along with my syringes and pen needles, and insulin...whether vial or pen (I use both)...that, to date, has never been offered in generic form...go figure

If you diabetic and on Medicare...good news (with or without RX insurance of any kind), and the doctor will prescribe the strips, your co-payment should be no more than 20%. Ask your pharmacist how to obtain testing supplies through Medicare. I get 150 strips a month at a cost is $154, but I only pay $12.00. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/diab...-from-medicare

The level quoted in post #9...if you are having glucose number fluctuations...see your medical doctor.

Fluctuations are a diabetics hourly chore to control. When I do real exercise at the gym, I have to check my glucose at 30 min and 60 min...especially before I walk out to get in my car and drive away...no passing out allowed If I am walking long distances...mall...or traveling...I have to check it often due to the level of activity I am doing.

Then there's that stress thing...you know, that thing we are all suppose to avoid. Stress also effects you glucose level. The more stress the higher you glucose may rise. I can only imagine that being off, with dystonia, etc., is a stresser in an of itself.

Please don't consider glucose highs and lows to be a PD problem.

There could be other reasons for what you are feeling...like diabetes

Diabetes is a dangerous disease!

The fear to crashing...for me under 75...is as bad as the highs...for me, I consider a high to be over 120.

If you have a question as to whether you have a glucose problem, please ask your medical doctor...not your neurologist. You don't have to see a endocrinologist, just see your regular medical doctor.

Get a copy of your fasting glucose test and check the numbers for yourself. In addition to your glucose number..."Know your A1C number! This lab test, also known as the glycosilated hemoglobin test, is a weighted average of your blood glucose levels during the past two to three months.

")We know that keeping A1C values below 7 percent helps to prevent complications from diabetes. What most people don't know is that you can have an A1C of 7 percent and still be in danger." Posted by Christine McKinney, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.)

Thanks for letting me "preach to the choir."

bumpity bump