In my previous post about Lizard Spit, I give the general history of my diabetes and a look at the latest treatment I am using. Months later, I was finding my blood sugar manageable and under control. Even so, in November my eye was drawn to the book at the left as I perused the aisles of my Whole Foods Market. People in the Vegan world usually recognize Neal Barnard. He’s been on the “pro-vegan” scene for more than twenty years, and he’s written a bunch of books on why eating vegan is healthy.
I bought it out of curiosity and on a whim, buffered a little by hope. Frankly, as much as I am relieved that the Lizard Spit and Metformin combo I’m taken seem to be doing their job, I’d be more than happy to not have to carry the medicine around in a cooled packet or inject myself twice a day. In fact, if I could, by diet and exercise alone, actually maintain decent blood sugars, I would.
While reading Barnard’s Reversing Diabetes, almost everything I had been taught about how to eat with diabetes was turned on its head. I was completely and totally skeptical, even in the face of clinical studies that clearly show patients with reduced Ha1Cs after following a vegan diet. Add to it that he’s someone that Oprah has given a thumbs up to and my skeptometer was beeping wildly.
Teriyaki Tofu on Toast with Goddess Dressing and Arugula...Mmmmmm...
Still. He’s done three studies with a statistically significant number of patients. And, the numbers are impressive. Can you hear my longing sigh? The one that says, “I wish I could just ignore all of this and continue to just…the things I like!”
I had to see what would happen if I actually started eating the kind of diet that Dr. Barnard recommends. So I started with going Vegan…sort of. Here’s what I mean by that. I’ve gotten it 2/3 of the way there–my breakfasts and lunches have been vegan since the end of November. I’d say fully a half of my dinners have been as well. The youngest is less than thrilled with this arrangement, but everyone else seems to be okay with it so far. Almost everything I’ve tried has been really, really good.
Oh…and my blood sugars have plummeted. Like. A. Rock.
There’s a lot left unasked about Americans, health and diet, and fully rounded answers may not arrive in our lifetime — especially the way we are eating now. Undeniably, the elephant in the room is the rampant diabetes & obesity statistics. And the fact is that — like a drug addiction — many (if not most) people would rather die of their current diet than eat different & be healthy. It’s a tough change, so congrats on the tremendous progress. There was a time we went completely vegan and we may again … especially if someone can just invent a decent fake cheese …
We’ve tried this stuff from Whole Foods that comes in a tub that is REALLY good mixed with refried beans. It’s made from an oatmeal base and has lots of cumin in it, so it’s got a nice Mexican taste. As for vegan Brie or something, I’m betting that isn’t going to happen. I have to say that dairy is the hardest in so many ways for me to give up. Thank goodness I discovered “Bliss” coconut ice cream a while ago!
Wooho Laurie! I’m with you on your whole post. I love the taste of meat. But, going low fat vegan has me off of all meds for the intensive migraines unused to endure. I was on anticonvulsants for them they were so bad.
David kept his gallblader. I think you’ve heard of his story.
Did you read about Bill Clinton’s? He has adopted that food choice as well. As Dr McDougall would say I’m not a vegan. I eat a vegan diet.
Dr Bernard is part of The group “Physicians for responsible medicine.”.