Thanks for the response – but wouldn’t you think fasting blood sugar of 102 – 110 is high? My normal doctor was a bit concerned that I may be borderline diabetic. I’ve been thin all my life and have been avoiding sugar and simple carbs since I was 15 (I’m now 47). I’ve been doing low carb constantly since 2002. Whaddaya think? (also – don’t some type II diabetics have a problem with abnormally high fasting blood sugar from gluconeogenesis – I thought that’s one of the things Metformin was supposed to help?)

Thanks,

Peter

But are you a type II diabetic? I wouldn’t just look at fasting blood sugar levels by themselves. You need to consider HgbA1c levels as well. HgbA1c levels represent an average of blog sugars over a couple of month period, and are a more accurate measure of what’s going on overall blood sugar-wise than is a single fasting blood sugar.

I am a 6′ 175 lb male in good shape – I strength train in the Arthur Jones / high intensity style. I eat low carb all the time (sometimes I use the ‘Anabolic Diet’ which consists of carb consumption one day per week while eating <30 grms / day all other days). My fasting blood sugar is ALWAYS above 100. sometimes it’s 102, sometimes it’s 110, etc. I am convinced that my liver must be churning out blood sugar via gluconeogenesis. My HbA1c is around 5.2, which isn’t bad, but I’d like it to be lower. I’m a bit confused about a couple of things –

1 – wouldn’t being in the glucagon dominant phase create glucagon insensitivity in the same way that Insulin dominance produces insulin insensitivity? also, wouldn’t the cells that produce glucagon get worn out the same way that the beta cells get worn out churning out insulin?

2 – if I eat virtually no carbohydrate and am in glucagon dominance, how does blood sugar ever get lowered? If gluconeogenesis is rampant, how will I ever lower my blood sugar, since I have very little insulin circulating due to the low carbohydrate diet?

Sometimes I think I need to eat something that stimulates a lot of insulin just to get my blood sugar down. I’m sure I’m confused about these things, so maybe you could help enlighten me.

Thanks Doc,

Peter

The short answer is: Don’t worry about it.

Excess blood sugar – whether it originates from the diet or from gluconeogenesis – stimulates the production and release of insulin, which then decreases the blood sugar. If you have normally functioning beta cells, i.e., you’re not a type I diabetic, you won’t run your sugar too high by gluconeogenesis.

Many doctors prescribe glycomet (the generic of Metformin) for weight loss. Give it a whirl. It should affect your blood sugar levels much, if at all, if they are normal.

I was wondering if you knew of any studies done on type 1 diabetics and carb restricted diets. I remember reading one a few years back but can’t find it anywhere now. I think it was a Swedish study.

Clint

Although the low-carbohydrate diet was the mainstay of treatment for type I DM before the discovery of insulin, there haven’t been a lot of studies in modern times. Here is a link to one. You can find others by going to PubMed and putting ‘low carbohydrate diet AND type 1 diabetes mellitus’ in the search function. You can also find out more info by reading Dr. Richard Bernstein’s book.

thanks

Same recommendations.

i have been overweight most of my life and have recently been undergoing blood work for a couple of months. my doctor says that i may have the pre signs of type 2 diabetes. I was told that if i lose weight there is a chance that i could save myself from actually having type 2 diabetes. i was wondering if you knew any good diets that i could try to help me in the process.

please and thank you
Jess

Hi Jess–

MRE

The radical vegan diet hardly reversed diabetes. In fact, the minimal reduction in HbA1c over 22 weeks isn’t particularly remarkable.

Take a look at this study that lasted for 22 months. These subjects were on a low-carb diet and had much greater reduction of HbA1c. If any diet ‘reversed’ diabetes it would certainly be the low-carb diet, not the vegan one.

I am from India (Bangalore) and am at the threshold! of type2 diabetes (fasting blood sugar
in the range of 110 – 150 mg/dl from last 4 years). Struggled hard to reduce weight and blood sugar levels with high complex carb.+low fat regime with little success. Recently started Glycomet 250 mg twice daily on Doctor’s advice. Now, I have discovered your wonderful book ‘Protein Power’, and as expected, a couple of doctors with whom I discussed it did not
show any enthusiasm (FAT IS BAD!). Since I am so convinced with your book, I ignored that advice and started on your diet plan last week. It is working like a charm on my weight problem and energy levels. Will check the sugar level may be after a couple of weeks. I would like to thank you for such a great job. Request you to keep up the good work.

Just need a piece of advise. Should I stop Glycomet right away or wait for a while
for the blood sugar to stabilize?

Regards,
Subbu

44 years old male, 10% overweight, Ovolactoveg., strong family history of Type 2 diabetes.
Fasting blood sugar before starting PP = 150 mg/dl

Hi Subbu–

MRE

I’ve never compared them, so I can’t say. Maybe others can.