For all you Old Timers
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:59 pm
Now that I have you guys together, I'd like to round this thread out with a question that has been buggin me ever since I joined this forum.
What about Dr. Richard Bernstein? Nobody ever mentions him! A diabetic 1 since the age of 12...wasn't expected to live very long, went through agony for years trying many different diets. If nothing else, his description in the introduction to his book is a fascinating account of what a diabetic had to go through in those days: http://www.diabetes-book.com/book/mylife.shtml
"Back in the 1940s, which were very much still the “dark ages” of diabetes treatment, I had to sterilize my needles and glass syringes by boiling them every day, and sharpen my needles with an abrasive stone. I used a test tube and an alcohol lamp (flame) to test my urine for sugar. Many of the tools the diabetic can take for granted today
were scarcely dreamed of back then — there was no such thing as a rapid, finger-stick blood sugar–measuring device, nor disposable insulin syringes....." Makes you thankful to have that modern little gadget (glucose meter) doesn't it?
When I was looking around for a way to reduce my IR, I did read about Dr. Bernstein's approach. It sounded very pursuasive - except I was never big on eating lots of meat and bacon etc. I was more attracted to the lighter side like McDougall's. But I too had my doubts about such a high carb intake.
I was also impressed to find out that Dr. Bernstein was an engineer who after much suffering and searching happened to discover a way to treat his own diabetes. And when he did and noone listened to him or was willing to publish his papers HE WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECAME AN ENDOCRONOLIGIST - an MD at the age of 45!!!
I believe he is now 73 and has been successfully treating other diabetics both 1 and 2 in his own practice for many years.
My question has always been why is he still alive on years of low-carb high fat diet? Is he just one of the exceptions? Just lucky? Or is he exceptionally adept at monitoring his condition and making necessary/timely adjustments? It's something that has been bothering me as his diet goes totally against what we learn here and elsewhere. Do any of you have an answer?
r-marie
What about Dr. Richard Bernstein? Nobody ever mentions him! A diabetic 1 since the age of 12...wasn't expected to live very long, went through agony for years trying many different diets. If nothing else, his description in the introduction to his book is a fascinating account of what a diabetic had to go through in those days: http://www.diabetes-book.com/book/mylife.shtml
"Back in the 1940s, which were very much still the “dark ages” of diabetes treatment, I had to sterilize my needles and glass syringes by boiling them every day, and sharpen my needles with an abrasive stone. I used a test tube and an alcohol lamp (flame) to test my urine for sugar. Many of the tools the diabetic can take for granted today
were scarcely dreamed of back then — there was no such thing as a rapid, finger-stick blood sugar–measuring device, nor disposable insulin syringes....." Makes you thankful to have that modern little gadget (glucose meter) doesn't it?
When I was looking around for a way to reduce my IR, I did read about Dr. Bernstein's approach. It sounded very pursuasive - except I was never big on eating lots of meat and bacon etc. I was more attracted to the lighter side like McDougall's. But I too had my doubts about such a high carb intake.
I was also impressed to find out that Dr. Bernstein was an engineer who after much suffering and searching happened to discover a way to treat his own diabetes. And when he did and noone listened to him or was willing to publish his papers HE WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECAME AN ENDOCRONOLIGIST - an MD at the age of 45!!!
I believe he is now 73 and has been successfully treating other diabetics both 1 and 2 in his own practice for many years.
My question has always been why is he still alive on years of low-carb high fat diet? Is he just one of the exceptions? Just lucky? Or is he exceptionally adept at monitoring his condition and making necessary/timely adjustments? It's something that has been bothering me as his diet goes totally against what we learn here and elsewhere. Do any of you have an answer?
r-marie