lack of evidence

[firecat]

This post in JunkFoodScience examines whether there is good evidence to support the widespread belief that people with type 2 diabetes should attempt to lose weight and/or eat according to a particular food plan (low-carb or modified fat or what have you). It concludes that there is no good evidence to support weight loss or any particular food plan as a treatment for type 2 diabetes—not many studies have been done, and the studies that have been done are flawed.

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/08/evidence-behind-dietary-and-lifestyle.html

Comments

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

What you eat, I suspect, is less important than how well you monitor and maintain your insulin levels. Based on my understanding of Type 2 diabetes, which isn't as clear as it should be.

Note that I'm not advocating going out and gorging on anything, mind, unless you know how to keep your insulin levels balanced while doing so.

[firecat]

My anecdotal evidence is that you eat doesn't have nearly as much to do with your insulin levels as most people believe -- especially for people who have had T2 for a while. So yeah, paying attention to your insulin levels is more important. And the majority of T2s need to go on medications at some point...which I take to mean that it's a progressive disease, but some healthcare providers and laypeople will have you believe it means you have "failed" at controlling your T2 the "right" way.

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

Hooray! I was right about something today!

(It's been a bad day for the old self-esteem. I keep having teh dumb.)

[firecat]

You are right about many things. I'm sorry your day is trying to convince you otherwise. :(

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

The thing is, diet IS very important. I take medication for diabetes, high cholesterol, and blood pressure, but diet has a much bigger effect on my measurements than the medication alone does.

[firecat]

I said "my anecdotal evidence," and you should have too, IMO, since you're talking about yourself.

The way it looks to me, the interaction between food and the conditions you mention varies a lot. (Which is probably part of the reason there's little evidence for a particular diet being good for T2s.)

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

You're right, of course. I am only speaking for me. I do think it's a Big Personal Experiment.