Hi M. Cawdrey.

I just wanted to point out that fructose isn’t converted to fat via de-novo-lipogenesis in the way as is commonly believed and which you suggest. This myth seems to stem from animal studies where indeed it appears that in Mice about 50% of it will be converted to TAG. However, in humans the science seems pretty conclusive – under 5% of fructose will undergo DNL. However, even if it was converted to fat, you need to ask yourself a question – what would be the issue? I say this because when you eat fat (which doesn’t need to be converted to TAG!) this doesn’t automatically mean that you will increase adiposity so even if fructose was converted to fat at a rate of 50% (which it certainly isn’t) we can see that within the context of energy balance this isn’t going to matter.

When I argued this point recently I was told that what I had said is too simplistic and that when fructose is consumed we would be in a fed state, meaning we will be awash with insulin meaning that lipogenesis is underway which will result in that fructose becoming storage lipid whilst fat itself does not cause insulin release. I am sure you are aware that we do not eat diets that are so compartmentalised and that the meals we eat are mixed and so we will always have an insulin response when food is consumed. Regardless, I personally do not hold to this idea that the insulin response itself causes adiposity as is argued by the like of Gary Taubes – although the idea is interesting I feel there are too many holes which haven’t been explained.

Regards

You are correct. I accompanied my friend to her GP for the results of her blood tests, she was told the GP wanted to see her. As prophesied by me, she was told that her cholesterol was elevated (to 5.7 – wow) and her GP told her she was also a bit overweight. She proceeded to print out a diet sheet from the internet for her. This turned out to be a low fat diet, printed from the NICE website and was a diet devised by a Doctor in 2006 which was peer reviewed by ……. his wife, also a GP!

The diet was compromised of advice I thought went out years ago, only 3 egg yolks a week, skimmed milk, low fat spreads. I was outraged on her behalf. Fortunately over the years she has actually listened to me and the diet sheet went into the bin. I suggested she wrote to the practice to remonstrate with them but that’s a step to far for her so I have to be content with knowing that she will ignore the advice. Just how long is it going to take for whoever authorises such “wisdom” to update to proper, sane, diet recommendations? Who is actually in charge of dispensing guidelines for GPs?

I was diagnosed with T2 last November with a H1ac of 8.3. I adopted VLC, mostly paleo approach and 7 months later my a1c is 4.2 and I am closing in on 100 lbs weight loss.

My success was so dramatic that I converted my doctor to low carb and she is now recommending it to her patients.

And the T2D diagnosis has been removed from my medical record. 🙂

There was a study but it’s gone quiet. Low carb, severely so, and monitored. “Cure” perhaps, but I don’t recall it being restricted to new cases. Anybody know?

correction: not an unrestricted calorie diet, but 1600 cals a day.

A Ch 4 programme was made testing the Newcastle 800 cal diet against an unrestricted calorie low carbohydrate diet, which won hands down. The people on the 800 cal diet became miserable, couldn’t keep to it and the outcomes were worse. Nevertheless, the Newcastle researchers still keep banging on about the wonders of 800 cals a day and this event has almost been airbrushed from history, except for here

http://www.fitness4london.com/reviews/

Scroll down to Extreme Diet Ward, August 2013. From what I recall, this is an accurate account.

Also the long term diet was unrestricted in total calories. Only the 7 day educational stay in hospital diet was restricted to 1300 cals.

Antje, the group given the LCD were told to aim for a maximum daily intake of 120 g a day during the long period of the study. They underwent a 7 day educational stay in hospital to help them stick to the diet long term. It was during this stay they were given the 30:45:25 diet which,as you say, works out at 97.5 g of carbohydrate.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-discover-potential-way-fight-144354430.html

Diagnosed Type 2 two years ago but it seems to have left me since I ….. er, stopped drinking. It took about a year but it slowly left me. If I were tested for the first time today, I would be “normal, no action” and I’m not taking any diabetes drugs but now I am stuck with this horrible diagnosis.

But it is worth a go, all you T2s out there. Just think of all the money you’ll save. And you will still be able to eat cakes.

I wish we could always prevent diabetes, but we are affected by how our parents and grandparents and on down ate, as well as gene mutations, hormones, antibiotic use, stress, chemicals in the environment, and so on. If you waited until menopause, you were likely doing things to delay it, thus preventing some damage.

M. Cawdery

Yes, I agree it’s nonsensical that a low-fat diet would be the best diet for those with IGT, but you know there are many health professionals who still advise this very diet (complete with ‘starchy carbs at every meal’) to those with type 2 diabetes or its precursor. As you know, I don’t favour this sort of diet at all.