Big Pharma Sells Risky Meds We Don’t Need for Disorders It Made Up That We Don’t Have

[Ms. Toad]

71. The ADA may not be actively interested in furthering damage,

BUT its recommendations DO lead to further damage.

If sulfonylureas or insulin are necessary, then the recommendations for relatively high, steady levels of carbs are necessary to prevent hypos. The ADA's problem begins with ceding the inevitability or necessity of these medications at a time when dietary control is far more appropriate. (Even at later stages - and for individuals with Type 1 diabetes - the need for medication can be dramatically reduced by recommending significant limitation of carbohydrate intake - rather than continuing the relatively high carbohydrate diet the ADA recommends.)

I suspect the ADA's continued recommendation of a relatively high carbohydrate diet is a consequence of the reality that their recommended dietary restrictions (25% whole grains/45-60 grams of carbs per meal) aren't followed by most people with diabetes - and that they don't halt the progress of the disease even when they are followed. I expect it seems quite futile to consider making even more stringent recommendations, when the very lax current ones aren't generally followed. The reality is, that with regular screening, nearly all diabetics would be diagnosed early enough that they could completely control their blood glucose levels by limiting carbohydrate intake. Even without regular screening to catch diabetes early, limiting carbohydrates significantly enough that blood glucose remains below 140 at all times permits even most people with longstanding or insulin dependent diabetes to significantly reduce their dependence on medications. (Yes, I am aware that they "permit" low carb, but it should be the primary dietary recommendation - something you have to discover on your own and then confirm that they no longer vehemently oppose.)

FWIW, it is not just anecdotal stories. I don't stake my health on anecdotal stories. Here is a summary of much of the relevant research:

http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S0899-9007(14)00332-3/abstract

There's plenty more supporting research, if you care to search for it.