diabetes and veganism
I recently discovered a blog called Vegan Hope, which details the journey of a diabetic (Type 2) towards health via veganism.
Here are a few posts that give her history and her rather sound (IMO) advice. Given that she topped 400lbs and was on 8 different medications related to her diabetes and has since, in a year, lost nearly 100 lbs, is no longer on insulin or any of her medication, I gotta say, it made me want to pay attention. ;)
Looking Back
Vegan Hope
Changes
Being Fat Is Not All That It's Cracked up to Be
My Big Fat Life -- Addictions Part 1
As for myself, I've had chronic hypoglycemia, which, as far as I am able to discern, is among the first serious problems with blood sugar. It seems intuitive that insulin resistance would come next and then diabetes.
I was on a high protein, low carb diet and I HATED IT. Mostly because I'm not a great omnivore. I'm a pretty darn good vegetarian, having never really liked meat to begin with (with the notable exceptions of canned tuna and the salty, smokey food crack known as bacon). And after reading The China Study, which also fueled the blog author on her journey towards her current level of health, and also realizing that my body didn't process dairy well anymore (nor did my son's body), I quit dairy. Easy enough for me because I was never addicted to it in the first place. Not like I was addicted to wheat. Wheat addictions and Dairy addictions are quite similar in function, so I understand the blog author when she talks about dairy.
Also, in reading The China Study (TCS), I learned that it would likely be helpful to stop the animal protein and focus primarily on plant nutrients. There are plenty of studies that support plant-based diets and blood sugar health (if you want them, check out TCS or look them up yourself).
I wish I could say that veganism helped rid me of hypoglycemia, but I have pregnancy to thank for that. However, after reading TCS, post-pregnancy, I was upset that no one had told me about it beforehand. It could have saved me a lot of grief and clogged arteries, learning that I didn't HAVE to be on a high protein, low carb diet. In fact, that I SHOULDN'T be on that sort of diet.
Oh well. The least I can do is pass along the info I've gathered, with my own added life experience, in the hopes that someone somewhere might benefit.
Currently, I am doing well at maintaining an odd, not-quite-vegan diet, which includes fish oil supplements and some organic eggs (preferably from pastured chickens). We go through about a dozen and a half eggs a month between the three of us, and I'm ok with that for the time being. Just keep the meat and dairy away from me. ;)
May your lifestyle bring you peace, health, and happiness. Enjoy the journey. :)
Here are a few posts that give her history and her rather sound (IMO) advice. Given that she topped 400lbs and was on 8 different medications related to her diabetes and has since, in a year, lost nearly 100 lbs, is no longer on insulin or any of her medication, I gotta say, it made me want to pay attention. ;)
Looking Back
Vegan Hope
Changes
Being Fat Is Not All That It's Cracked up to Be
My Big Fat Life -- Addictions Part 1
As for myself, I've had chronic hypoglycemia, which, as far as I am able to discern, is among the first serious problems with blood sugar. It seems intuitive that insulin resistance would come next and then diabetes.
I was on a high protein, low carb diet and I HATED IT. Mostly because I'm not a great omnivore. I'm a pretty darn good vegetarian, having never really liked meat to begin with (with the notable exceptions of canned tuna and the salty, smokey food crack known as bacon). And after reading The China Study, which also fueled the blog author on her journey towards her current level of health, and also realizing that my body didn't process dairy well anymore (nor did my son's body), I quit dairy. Easy enough for me because I was never addicted to it in the first place. Not like I was addicted to wheat. Wheat addictions and Dairy addictions are quite similar in function, so I understand the blog author when she talks about dairy.
Also, in reading The China Study (TCS), I learned that it would likely be helpful to stop the animal protein and focus primarily on plant nutrients. There are plenty of studies that support plant-based diets and blood sugar health (if you want them, check out TCS or look them up yourself).
I wish I could say that veganism helped rid me of hypoglycemia, but I have pregnancy to thank for that. However, after reading TCS, post-pregnancy, I was upset that no one had told me about it beforehand. It could have saved me a lot of grief and clogged arteries, learning that I didn't HAVE to be on a high protein, low carb diet. In fact, that I SHOULDN'T be on that sort of diet.
Oh well. The least I can do is pass along the info I've gathered, with my own added life experience, in the hopes that someone somewhere might benefit.
Currently, I am doing well at maintaining an odd, not-quite-vegan diet, which includes fish oil supplements and some organic eggs (preferably from pastured chickens). We go through about a dozen and a half eggs a month between the three of us, and I'm ok with that for the time being. Just keep the meat and dairy away from me. ;)
May your lifestyle bring you peace, health, and happiness. Enjoy the journey. :)