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July 11, 2005
Diabetes not Linked to Sugar? WHAT?
I don't consider myself a real health nut - although many other would put me in that category since I mill my own flour to bake real bread with all the nutrients that God intended for it to have, we only eat brown free-range eggs, a lot of our meat is organic, etc. etc. BUT when I read articles that the American Diabetic Associations chief scientific and medical office, Dr. Richard Kahn, make statements like
"There is no evidence that sugar has anything to do with diabetes"it nearly make me want to SCREAM!!
This was probably said to make him feel better about accepting a multimillion dollar deal with Cadbury Schweppes. Yeah the CANDY maker!!
It's organizations with leaders like this that will continue to harm the health of this country. Imagine how many people will put a simultanious translation on this to mean sugar is good for you and indulge all the more to their own death. I agree that the American Diabetes Association should rename itself the American Junk Food Association!!
To read more about how SUGAR is worse for your health than SMOKING see the Many Ways Sugar Harms Your Health.
Posted by Vanessa at July 11, 2005 11:23 PM
Comments
Um, actually, type I diabetes is NOT linked to sugar consumption. While type II can be caused by obesity (or too much sugar), type I (juvenile onset) is a genetic thing, not a diet thing.
Even though my evidence is purely anecdotal, I probably had one of the lowest sugar consumptions of any 8 year old EVER, but it didn't do me much good. On the plus side, once I was diagnosed, I didn't miss the Kool Aid and Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs because my mom never let me have them in the first place.
Posted by: Pat at July 12, 2005 08:49 AM
Thanks for the further info, Pat, I do appreciate it!! What is the status of your diabetes now? And if you still have it, what do you do to control it?
I guess I'm just really miffed that a supposed HEALTH organization would accept money from a candy company thereby giving the appearance that the items it sells are "good" for you.
Posted by: Vanessa at July 12, 2005 11:45 AM
My dad was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago but has a belief problem. He doesn't believe it and has continuted to act as if he doesn't have a health problem.
Over the 4th weekend, I noticed he has begun to lose weight over the past few months - I would say probably 25-30 lbs. We have been unable to convice him to do anything about it so we are expecting him to begin to have some very serious health problems soon. Is weight loss the beginning of it???
Posted by: wendy sue at July 12, 2005 12:07 PM
Vanessa - I have Type I diabetes, for which there is currently no cure. I treat it through insulin injections and watching my diet more than an average 25 year old. In reading the interview that you linked to, I thought the guy from the ADA answered the questions pretty well (i.e. yes sugar is bad for your health if you consume large quantities, but so is anything).
Wendy - your dad's weight loss is because his body is no longer able to break down and use the food that he eats, which means, of course, that there are more problems on the horizion. The news is not all bad, though. I'll email you.
Posted by: Pat at July 12, 2005 02:24 PM
So, Pat I'm curious then about your diet. Do you just have to be careful not to eat high carbs and food that turns to "sugar" (like pasta) without having a protein with it?
With Wendy's dad, is he experiencing some of the side effects of insulin resistance? Or will he eventually sort of starve because he can't process and use what he's eating?
Posted by: Vanessa at July 12, 2005 02:38 PM