Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution: Achieving Natural Blood Sugars
Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution: Achieving Normal Blood Sugar Levels For Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes With Treatment of Diet, Exercise, Medication, Insulin.
Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution program and book are the subject of much controversy in the field of diabetes treatment. Dr. Bernstein’s treatment methods are not only in stark contrast to many recommendations made by the American Diabetes Association, but fly in the face of the current trend of managing or “curing” diabetes by eliminating foods such as meat, dairy, eggs, alcohol and other substances that new-age diabetes diets generally forbid.
In many ways his diabetes diet recommendations closely resemble that of Dr. Leo Sears and the modern high-protein, nearly zero carbohydrate “Zone” diets that have ruled the diet section of most book stores for more than a decade. Simple carbohydrates are definitely a no-no if you follow Dr. Bernstein’s recommendations.
Passing mention is given to the importance of eating fresh vegetables. Even less is mentioned about organics. There’s no talk of giving up dairy, gluten or other popular targets of most popular “diabetes reversal” diets. For those of you who want to keep eating bacon and eggs for breakfast, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
So, how does the treatment plan work? First of all, you won’t hear any claims from Dr. Bernstein about curing diabetes or reversing diabetes, especially if you are a Type 1 diabetic. In this regard, you are bound not to be disappointed by the results of sticking to his program. In a nutshell, the plan says you should stick to a diet rich in protein, fats and a small amount of complex carbohydrates. Exercise is recommended, but it is not the subject of major emphasis. Weight loss is stressed as an absolute necessity for those with diabetes who are overweight. It’s claimed that his recommended diet, multiple insulin injections and intense blood glucose monitoring throughout the day will eventually lead to “normal blood sugars” for the majority of diabetics.
Dr. Berstein himself is a Type 1 diabetic, and needs to take multiple insulin shots each day. He monitors his blood glucose levels meticulously. The idea behind his plan is that although you may not be able to cure diabetes, you can keep your blood sugar levels low enough through diet and close attention to one’s own blood glucose levels that the side effects of diabetes can be reduced or eliminated. Since most diabetics do not die from diabetes directly, but due to complications such as heart disease and kidney failure, the treatment program would seem to address the most important concerns that most diabetics have about the disease. Dr. Bernstein’s school of thought is that as long as you can keep your blood glucose at the levels of non-diabetics and avoid complications, there really isn’t a pressing need to cure the underlying disease.
Below is a list of basic guidelines we have compiled for Dr. Bernstein’s diabetes treatment program from reading his book Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution. Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list, but it should give you a basic idea of what to expect:
- Frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels throughout the day.
- Frequent injections of insulin for Type 1 diabetics with no beta cell activity.
- Moderate exercise.
- Consumption of food free of, or low in, simple carbohydrates.
- Diet that consists primarily of protein and fat, with minimal complex carbohydrates.
- Close monitoring by Dr. Bernstein himself, or a physician familiar with his system.
- Planning of meals days ahead of time, in order to assure diet compliance.
- Meals should be taken at the same time each day.
- Type 2 diabetics should first concentrate on weight loss, with use of weight loss pills being acceptable.
What Else To Expect
Dr. Bernstein is definitely not your average Doctor, in more ways than one. A major emphasis of his treatment is a strong relationship and frequent communication with one’s primary physician. The amount of time Dr. Bernstein spends with his own patients is quite extraordinary. On first appointments, you can expect to spend roughly an entire day with him at his office. You will also be expected to go through a battery of tests of blood, urine, etc. in order to rule out anything that may be complicating your diabetes. Most importantly, he works with his patients to design a unique, if rigid, personal meal plan.
Obviously, results from many of these tests will take time, and subsequent follow-up is a given. Based upon his own description of how much time he spends with his patients, I would have to gather that Dr. Bernstein can only see a very limited number of people each year in his own practice. Unfortunately, finding a physician that is trained in his specific treatment techniques and would be willing to put in the time and effort he does in treating their patients is likely to be near impossible (and most likely, unaffordable) for most of us. Thus, for the majority of people wishing to stick to this program, you will largely be on your own. The book goes into great detail regarding his theory of treatment, but the success rate of diabetics using a treatment plan based upon a book versus being intensely monitored and guided by a personal physician is bound to be lower.
Scientific Support For Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution
There are quite a number of studies that support different aspects of Dr. Bernstein’s diabetes treatment program, although there have not (to our knowledge) been any comprehensive clinical studies performed to test his methods directly. Dr. Bernstein is not affiliated with any major university, nor does he seem to have access to the type of funding required to have such clinical trials performed. Thus, the program’s scientific credibility must be extrapolated from a variety of different sources, not all of which are entirely within agreement.