kenscircus

Hi Karen and a big welcome to DrCarney.com!

Yes, I was on the McDougall forum a while back, but tapered off due to time constraints. I then found Dr. Carney and moved to DrCarney.com, especially since she became my primary care physician. Also, I do not agree with Dr. McDougall regarding type-1 diabetes management.

As far as a good doctor who agrees with a starch-based diet, I would recommend Dr. Carney. True, she is not local to you, but she is worth the travel. I see it as a value thing. I think one's health is worth the travel. By the way, she does have patients in the Dallas area (and some even farther) that travels to see her.

As far as a good doctor to control you blood-sugar's, I do not believe any doctor can do that regardless of their knowledge or skill, or at least to the level that I believe in. I believe that T1D control is personal - more personal than can be controlled by any doctor's orders. It would be like another person telling you how to walk a tight rope. Regardless how skilled the person, real-time commands just cannot keep you balanced on that rope. Only you can do that.

I call my method the SPP method or Synchronous Push-Pull method. Synchronous means the insulin, food and metabolic system is in sync. Push-Pull means that blood-sugar control is exerted on both ends; Pushed down and Pulled up. Nothing is left to "free-run" or "hope for the best."

The SPP method is a control method that I developed out of fear of diabetic complications (I did and do not want to be diabetic). The method maintains blood-sugar between 70 mg/dl to 100 mg/dl at ALL times. The SPP method is not yet published, but I am currently working on finishing a book - I'm still suffering from time constraints. Once finished, I intend to publish it as a PDF format for free distribution. In the meantime I will try to answer any questions here. The book title is: Synchronous Push-Pull Type-1 Diabetes Control: The Non-Diabetic Diabetic Method.

The primary benefit to a low-fat plant-based high glycemic diet for T1D is the predictable, syncable blood-sugar spikes. The predictability of the spike levels and duration makes it conducive to matching the insulin dose and timing. It also means that a continuous insulin supply is not necessary, thus a pump is not necessary. Instead of pumps and doctor prescribed management, the SPP methods primary control element is a detailed running log of foods, activity, insulin and blood-sugars. The log is a requirement because I can't imagine anyone who could remember all the details over the days and weeks needed for tracking to manage the control. Low-Fat (10% or less calories from fat) is also required because fat increases insulin resistance. Insulin resistance raises the blood-sugar baseline and slides control out of sync.

Here is an excerpt from my book to help give an idea of the method:

The best way to avoid diabetic complications is to not be diabetic. The condition of diabetes is defined as chronic high blood-sugar or hyperglycemia. The purpose of the Synchronous Push-Pull method is to control blood-sugar to non-diabetic normal levels, specifically to maintain blood-sugars between 70 to 100 mg/dl at all times - non-diabetic normal. This level of control makes a Type-1 diabetic a non-diabetic diabetic.

How is the SPP method different from traditional T1D control methods?
* The SPP method is log driven, pattern tracking.
* The SPP controls both rising and falling blood-sugar (Push-Pull) - eliminating concerns about hypoglycemia (low blood-sugar).
* The SPP control is predictive and preemptive instead of corrective (Synchronous with your biology - your life).
* Mealtime insulin dose is set for the absolute blood-sugar peak instead of any predetermined post prandial time. The insulin dose injection timing is aligned to match the insulin action peak with the food blood-sugar peak to cancel out at 85 mg/dl. Yes, this results in a post prandial blood-sugar dip (hypoglycemia), which is preempted by strategic snacks.
* Strategic snack food time and dose is derived from the log to synchronously fill blood-sugar dips.

Yes, the SPP method means you are eating something almost all day, about every 1.5 to 2 hours or more - but, I kinda like that!