Many diabetics attempt to diet to lose weight.  Most of the types of diets that diabetics attempt are calorie restrictive diets, usually between 800-1200 calories.  Most diabetics fail at these calorie restrictive diets, complaining they are too hungry to continue to diet. 

Diabetes is a disease of inefficient metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.  This means that a diabetic on a low calorie diet is getting less nutrition and food value than a person with normal metabolism.  Therefore a calorie restrictive diet is giving a lot less to a diabetic than a non-diabetic.  This kind of calorie restrictive diet is usually too tough on a diabetic.  A calorie restrictive diet will likely not provide adequate nutrition due to the limit on food intake and the stress of diabetes on getting adequate nutrition. 

Therefore in dieting, a method other than calorie restriction may be necessary for a diabetic, in order to lose weight.  Dr. Bob is mentioned on this web site many times.  He was a M.D. of internal medicine, orthomolecular doctor, M.D. psychiatrist, chiropractor, and healer 65 years.  He was a diabetic who lived to 108 years with only 1 side effect 2 years before he passed away. He treated diabetics over 50 years. He felt there was a method that could be used that could result in weight loss for diabetics.  

Diabetes creates several problems that make weight loss difficult.  One problem is blood sugar spikes lead to excess insulin production.  A second problem, diabetics need to eat more, due to inefficient metabolism.  A third problem, diabetics cannot process high glycemic foods efficiently.  A fourth problem, diabetics usually eat too many carbohydrates.  

1.      Blood sugar spikes lead to excess insulin production – Excess insulin is sent to the liver where the liver converts it into triglycerides.  These triglycerides can become fat on the body.

2.      Diabetics need to eat more – Diabetics do not have proper metabolism, so their nutrients are often not properly processed and handled.  Thus, they often do not gain optimal nutrition from what they eat.

3.      Diabetics often do not process high glycemic foods efficiently – High glycemic foods enter the bloodstream rapidly and release sugar into the bloodstream.  This rapid release of sugar must be handled immediately.  The body responds with excess insulin to handle the blood sugar.  Also, the body responds to rapid rises in blood sugar, secreting the stress hormone cortisol.  Cortisol is secreted, along with excess insulin, the cortisol an alternative pathway to help maintain blood sugar.  In normal individuals excess insulin will produce lowered blood sugar.  Blood sugar produced, due to cortisol, is a backup energy supply. 

“The glucocorticoids are 21-carbon steroids, with many actions; the most important of which is to promote gluconeogenesis.  Cortisol is the predominant glucocorticoid in humans.  (Ref. Robert K. Murray, MD, Ph.D., Daryl K. Granmer, MD, Peter A. Mayes, Ph.D., D.Sc., Victor W. Fodwell, Ph.D., Harper’s Biochemistry, 25^th Edition, Appleton & Lance, Stanford, Connecticut, 2000, Page 575.)”   Also, “gluconeogenesis, the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, such as fat and protein. (Oxford Dictionary of Biology.)” The excess insulin already produced drives blood sugar levels down.  Excess cortisol releases additional blood sugar to replace the blood sugar that excess insulin is attempting to drive down.  More insulin will be produced, due to gluconeogenesis.  This is a vicious cycle.   

4.      Diabetics usually eat too many carbohydrates.  Eating excess carbohydrates can eventually lead to excess insulin converted to fat. 

The method Dr. Bob used to help diabetics lose weight was to use a low glycemic diet, eating 5 or more small meals a day, and eating some protein with every carbohydrate meal.  There is an article on this web site describing glycemic foods, but eating low glycemic foods results in sugar entering the bloodstream slower than high glycemic foods.  This reduces the problem of blood sugar spikes.  Eating 5 or smaller meals a day results in more steady levels of insulin in the bloodstream.  Smaller meals mean smaller amounts of carbohydrates eaten at any one time, which can reduce insulin requirements.  When you eat a lot of carbohydrates at a meal, then you need a lot of insulin, often resulting in insulin spikes.  Also the smaller meals are easier on digestion and this results in better digested food, thereby improving metabolism.  Furthermore, when you eat a lot of small meals you may not feel hungry, and this is a way to reduce calories but not feel hungry.  Finally protein is needed with carbohydrates in order for efficient metabolism.  The reason is there is a feast-famine cycle in the body. This describes the cycle that digestion goes through between insulin and growth hormone.  Growth hormone is not activated unless protein is present with the meal.  Growth hormone is the counterpart to insulin in the digestion process. If growth hormone is not present there may not be balance between insulin and growth hormone.  The result may be excess insulin.  Thus it may be a good idea for diabetics to eat a little protein at every meal, to help balance carbohydrates and insulin with growth hormone.   

So eating small meals, low glycemic foods, and having a little protein at every meal can help a diabetic's metabolism work better and possibly help a diabetic reduce calories without feeling hungry.  This can reduce blood sugar spikes, reduce excess insulin, reduce the amount of food diabetics will need, cut down on the amount of carbohydrates at any one meal, reduce excess cortisol, and have many other positive benefits.  Dr. Bob said eating in this way made it easier for a diabetic to maintain their weight and often could lead to weight loss. 

Note – the interval time between eating small meals is important.  A diabetic should consider eating every 2 ½ - 4 hours apart.  The interval time is when the feast-famine cycle is operating.  If you eat within 2 ½ hours of your previous meal, you may disrupt the feast-famine cycle, leading to more insulin secreted for the additional food.  This is not giving the body time for proper digestion. 

1.      Eat every 2 ½ - 4 hours, either a meal or snack.

2.      Do not skip meals or snacks.

3.      If you eat before the 2 ½ hour interval is reached, start a new 2 ½ hour interval from the time you cheated and ate too soon.

4.      Eat a little protein with every meal.

5.      Limit high glycemic foods.

6.      Consider fats are fattening. 

The key point is the “interval.”  Eat on schedule.  You are not being asked to “not eat”, instead you are only being asked to “wait”. 

Rules for eating small meals: 

Dr. Bob advised 2 grams of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) total, in divided doses each day.  ALC is necessary for fat transport, so fat can be sent to cells where it will be burned as fuel. Dr. Bob recommended supplementing ALC in case it was depleted by the stress of diabetes.  If your carnitine level is deficient, you may not be able to burn fat and lose weight.  You can check carnitine levels by laboratory testing.  See your doctor and consider checking carnitine levels to determine if they are deficient. 

In conclusion, many diabetics attempt to diet, but they do not realize calorie restrictive diets are often doomed to fail due to the nature of diabetes.  They do not know there is another method that can result in weight loss, as well as many other benefits for diabetics.  We have described the method Dr. Bob developed over 50 years of treating diabetes.  He used this method on himself and when he passed away, after 50 years of diabetes, almost no person knew he had diabetes except a close circle of friends.  He was able to maintain his weight and prevent side effects, using the method described in this article.  Dr. Bob often said, "good luck and may heaven's blessings be yours." 

Dr. Bob had an expression he liked to use.  He often said, "you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make the horse drink.  However, be sure you know where the waterhole is before you attempt to lead anyone or any horse to water."   

Note – In order for these nutritional ideas to be successful, you must use supplements of the highest quality. Dr. Bob often said, “almost all supplement companies produce poor quality.”  You can consider the product page of this web site. Almost all the products met Dr. Bob’s approval.  Since he passed away we have attempted to keep the same high standards.   

WARNING: DO NOT STOP ANY TREATMENT OR MEDICATION YOU CURRENTLY USE.  CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTS.  

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The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluate any of the statements contained on this web site.  The information contained in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Remember each person’s body is different and will react differently to various herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements.  Therefore, any supplementation must be administered on an individual basis.  Use the information found on this web site as precisely that: Information.  You and your doctor must make any final decisions.  This information is not meant to replace any doctor and patient consultation.  This information should in no way replace your personal physician’s advice.