Vegan and hypoglycemic?!
Vegan and hypoglycemic?
Hey there... I'm hypoglycemic and seriously considering shifting over to a vegan diet... But I'm sort of in limbo because from one source I hear that hypoglycemics need as much meat and dairy as possible, and to avoid things such as bread and fruit because they have too much sugar. Then from another source I hear that meat and dairy are worse on blood sugar than pure sugar itself. I'm not overweight and do not have diabetes.. Just noticed that if I eat dairy or meat, I get bad stomach pains and feel very weak and lethargic.
I want to back up my beleifs with actions, but my blood sugar might get in the way! What can I do?
Answers:
balance is the key. You likely feel lethargic when you eat meat due to the strain it puts on the body. First of all, meat is protein similar to our own muscle. By trying to digest it, the body has a hard time sorting out what to digest-eliminate the meat in the gut, but not interfere with our own muscle. I don't think we are meant to eat meat. Second, meat is full of nasty stuff-growth hormones, steroids, antibiotics, pesticides from the grains fed to the meat, etc. After butchering, it is injected with antimicrobials containing bleach, peroxide, and other nasty stuff. The body simply is not prepared to assimilate those things. You might want to look into allergy testing-hypoglycemia is often a symptom of undiagnosed food allergies, and can be resolved when the allergen is eliminated If you maintain a well balanced diet of healthy fats, carbs, vitamins and minerals, you should thrive
I like to recommend the vegan diet to everyone! I'm not a doctor though, so maybe you should talk a few (if possible). I know that a vegan diet can improve many health problems. I feel a lot better now that I've cut out dairy and eggs (I gave up meat a long time ago). Good luck. I hope you find out what helps you feel your best!
Eating a low-fat vegan diet may be better at managing type 2 diabetes than traditional diets, according to a new study.
Researchers found 43 percent of people with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-fat vegan diet for 22 weeks reduced their need to take medications to manage their disease compared with 26 percent of those who followed the diet recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Diabetes and Basic Healthy Diet Guidelines
In addition, participants who followed the vegan diet experienced greater reductions in cholesterol levels and weight loss than those on the other diet.
A vegan diet is plant-based and consists of vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes and avoids animal products, such as meat and dairy. People who are on a vegan diet are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, and so B12 vitamins were given to the participants on that diet.
“The diet appears remarkably effective, and all the side effects are good ones ― especially weight loss and lower cholesterol,” says researcher Dr. Neal D. Barnard, adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University, in a news release. “I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs.”
Barnard is also president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit health organization that opposes animal research and advocates a vegan diet.
Vegan vs. ADA Diet for Diabetes
In the study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers compared the effects of following a low-fat vegan diet and the ADA diet on reducing the need for drugs to manage diabetes, kidney function, cholesterol levels, and weight loss in 99 adults with type 2 diabetes. Meals were not provided, but participants met a dietitian to come up with a diet plan and then met regularly each week for nutrition and cooking instruction.
Do Low-Carb Diets Help Diabetes?
Forty-nine of the participants followed a low-fat vegan diet consisting of about 10 percent of daily calories from fat, 15 percent protein and 75 percent carbohydrates. They were asked to avoid animal products and added fats and instead favor foods like beans and green vegetables, but portion sizes and total daily calories or food intake were unrestricted.
The other 50 participants followed the dietary guidelines recommended by the ADA, including 15 percent-20 percent protein, 60 percent-70 percent carbohydrates and monosaturated fats (such as olive oil), and less than 7 percent saturated fats (such as animal fats and butter). Total cholesterol was also limited to 200 milligrams or less per day.
Diabetes Diagnosis Is Traumatic for Parents
Overweight participants in the ADA diet group were also advised to reduce daily calorie intake by 500-1,000 calories per day.
The results showed that both diets improved diabetes management and reduced unhealthy cholesterol levels, but some improvements were greater with the low-fat vegan diet.
For example:
― Some 43 percent of those on the vegan diet reduced their need to take drugs to manage their diabetes compared with 26 percent of the ADA diet group.
― Weight loss averaged more than 14 pounds in the vegan diet group vs. less than 7 pounds in the other group.
― LDL “bad” cholesterol dropped by an average of 21 percent in the vegan group compared with 11 percent in the ADA diet group who did not change their cholesterol drug use.
― Measures of blood sugar control also improved more significantly among those who followed the low-fat vegan diet than among those who followed the ADA diet and who did not change their diabetes drug use.
Visit WebMD's Diabetes Health Center
Researchers say the vegan diet represents a major change from current diabetes diets because there are no limits on calories, carbohydrates, and portions, which may make it easier for some people to follow. Talk to your doctor about what diet changes you might consider to help with diabetes or other medical conditions.
By Jennifer Warner, reviewed by Dr. Louise Chang
You should avoid white bread, but you should include whole grain bread. Milk is horrible for blood sugar..look at the label. Avoid foods that cause your blood sugar to skyrocket and then drop.
Dr. Neal Barnard just released a book on this very topic. Go over to http://www.pcrm.org to find it. I'm sure this will help you out.