Diabetes mellitus type 2 is caused by a psychological disorder or misinformation in the case of performance athletes. Medications slow down the progression of diabetes mellitus type 2, but do not treat the cause. Medications alter the handling of sugar that is present. Carbohydrates have psychoactive effects. Abstinence of less than 30 g of carbohydrates per day is preferred and even required in order to have remission. Carbohydrates are not necessary for survival. Gluconeogenesis and glucagon help you to maintain an appropriate blood glucose level. Carbohydrates are endorphin-releasing drugs not hunger satisfying food. Carbohydrate consumption then, is an emotional consumption, not triggered by hunger or thirst. Misinformation in athletes also can result in insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2. Carbohydrate intake and loading has been a tenet of feeling athletes for many years. Athletes that switch to low-carb eating are now able to fuel their body with fat consumption.
In Dr. Cywes’s practice he has noticed that patient with diabetes mellitus type 2 often consume 75 to 90% of their total daily calories in the form of carbohydrates. He states that diabetics could have 15-20 consumptive events per day usually in the form of carbohydrate snacks or drinks. This will match up with daily endorphin activation requirements. When people use carbohydrates as an endorphin activator the unfortunate thing is it does not allow for emotional processing and provide therapy. Patients need to replace carbohydrate endorphin stimulation with other endorphin stimulation habits such as exercise, art, music. Unfortunately, relapse like any addiction does occur and needs to be planned for.
Tenets of treatment:
- Complete abstinence from carbohydrates
- No calories in drinks
- Vegetables are okay, except: Potatoes
- Avoid rice and grains
- Fruit not okay, except: Avocado, olive, tomato, nuts, and seeds
- Sequential eating allows leptin to work to prevent overeating
- Fast if not hungry
- No calorie counting, your body will know what you need
- Your body may take 60 to 90 days to become fat adapted. Your body may improve insulin sensitivity during this time, even if you are on insulin and have DMI
- To prevent side effects such as rash, kidney stones, gout, and joint inflammation, gradual reduction in carbohydrates over 1 to 3 months. Start with elimination of sugary drinks, then snacks, then grains, then fruits. Increase fat content to protect protein.
Credit for this piece goes to Dr. Robert Cywes, bariatric surgeon, also, “the carbohydrate addiction doc”