Low-carb diets work. Why does American Diabetes Assoc. push insulin? (2024)(theguardian.com)
theguardian.com
Low-carb diets work. Why does American Diabetes Assoc. push insulin? (2024)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/17/ada-american-diabetes-association-big-pharma
9 comments
> Most of them got there for lack of interest in dietary change, so pushing a cure they have repeatedly rejected is not likely to be successful.
That's not true for everyone - at least not for me. For years I happily drank "green smoothies" that were undoing much of the benefit of running marathons.
Most people grew up thinking that our diet should be based on a foundation of carbs, because that's what we were told. And that is false.
I agree with you that many people cannot or will not change, but it makes no sense to say "don't even give people the information that can change their lives, but instead continue to lie to them."
That's not true for everyone - at least not for me. For years I happily drank "green smoothies" that were undoing much of the benefit of running marathons.
Most people grew up thinking that our diet should be based on a foundation of carbs, because that's what we were told. And that is false.
I agree with you that many people cannot or will not change, but it makes no sense to say "don't even give people the information that can change their lives, but instead continue to lie to them."
I agree that something is wrong if someone gets to the point of diabetes without encountering the idea of cutting carbs from their diet.
Once you get there, it is a tougher decision than that. Then you have to decide to prescribe insulin or advocate for a low carb treatment that very few patients succeed at.
That said, I'm for presenting the options, and their tradeoffs, even if it means worse outcomes for patients on average. Medicine should not take away agency or informed consent, even if it produces better outcomes.
Once you get there, it is a tougher decision than that. Then you have to decide to prescribe insulin or advocate for a low carb treatment that very few patients succeed at.
That said, I'm for presenting the options, and their tradeoffs, even if it means worse outcomes for patients on average. Medicine should not take away agency or informed consent, even if it produces better outcomes.
Well, we now have ozempic/etc which means compliance might be ok.
"low-carb" here is relative. The typical diet, and also the majority of items at the average supermarket are full of carbs. A "low carb" diet is probably a normal level of carb intake compared to the diets of our ancestors before there was mass production of food in packages. Once you start looking for carbs, they're everywhere in the modern American diet at least. Everything has flour and/or sugar.
> Everything has flour and/or sugar.
Unfortunately, you are mostly correct about packaged food in the US.
But there is no law that says we can only eat packaged food!
Unfortunately, you are mostly correct about packaged food in the US.
But there is no law that says we can only eat packaged food!
Definitely true, and for those who are aware it should be fine. It just has effects at scale on the larger population, not to mention kids and younger people who may not be as informed.
the keto diets work
studies on 'low carb' diets are varying in the amount of carbs, some go up to like 30% carbs (Daily intake) which is crazy, but 'low' compared to the overall dietary guidelines.
There's some good keto studies though.
i've tried it myself.
keto diet, mainly dairy and meat, ate 2 meals per day. one at 2 PM and another at 7ish PM, and 0 carb energy drinks, not much exercise except a walk to the local supermarket every couple of days. lost 16 kg over 3 months. I was unemployed at the time, and mostly played video games.
studies on 'low carb' diets are varying in the amount of carbs, some go up to like 30% carbs (Daily intake) which is crazy, but 'low' compared to the overall dietary guidelines.
There's some good keto studies though.
i've tried it myself.
keto diet, mainly dairy and meat, ate 2 meals per day. one at 2 PM and another at 7ish PM, and 0 carb energy drinks, not much exercise except a walk to the local supermarket every couple of days. lost 16 kg over 3 months. I was unemployed at the time, and mostly played video games.
pharma profits
We see this with obesity. "Diet and exercise" has been the standard offering for decades. On a population level, it is worthless. You could say the same about Ozempic, but Ozempic is the only thing that has led to any meaningful weight loss on a population level besides famine.
American hospitals are frankly full of people who can't even use their insulin.