Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Shine Me Up and I am Almost Presentable!

Diabetic Living Fall 2016


Last November my friend Kate shared my name with one of the editors of Diabetic Living.  Kate was highlighted in their magazine and on-line.  I made contact with the editor at Diabetic Living later in the month and then entered into discussions with them.  All through January I talked with them, initially they were going to have a page that highlighted me and they asked me for recipes (more on that later).  In the end I had a very abbreviated writeup and they didn't even list my blog, which is unfortunate.  Kinda strange to highlight a blogger and not list their blog, but it is what it is.

I think this whole process was interesting, both from my perspective and to the editors of Diabetic Living.  I am not sure they had run into someone like me and I probably threw them for a loop.  In the end what is written is a few "shined up" things about me and it avoids the most controversial things, like my criticism of high carb diets and my story about starting insulin on my own.
Initially I was interviewed over the phone, and then they asked for some recipes.  I sent them a link to four of my recipes on TuDiabetes.  Those recipes included my “Low Carb Cheese Latkes,” “Mediterranean Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad,” “Real Ice Cream” and my “Beef, Cheese and Onion Enchiladas.”  They selected my Mediterranean Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad and sent it off to their "dietician."  Here is the original recipe:

Mediterranean Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad

1 Large English hothouse cucumbers peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 yellow or red onion sliced thinly
1 large tomato cut into ½ inch cubes
1/2 cup assorted olives (or olives du jour, I like Kalamata)
3-4 ounces package feta crumbled or ¼ inch cubes
3 tbs white balsamic vinegar (or cider vinegar)
3 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbs parseley cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
2 tbs lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Slice cucumber and onion (I use a food processor with the thin blade). Combine all ingredients together and chill in refrigerator for ½ to 1 hour before serving. Salt to taste when placing on the table.
This is a great summer salad but also can be a refreshing side dish for a meal that has a heavy or spicy entree.

Nutrition for four servings is 18.6g fat, 8.4g carb, 2g fiber, and 5.3g protein
The "dietician" cam back recommended reducing the serving size by half, decrease the Tbsp of olive oil, use 3 oz. of reduced fat feta cheese, use less olives and no salt added.

I have to give the editor at Diabetic Living credit, because I kind of lit into her.  Here is what I said:

This is really kind of laughable.  This is really why people with T2 think that dieticians are totally useless and probably why Diabetic Living recipes are not really relevant to many people with T2.  I understand that you have to operate in this environment.  It your dieticians wish to make the dish totally devoid of dietary fat I won't disagree (although the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics disagrees).  What I would ask you is to not put ingredients that I would absolutely never purchase or use on my own in the dish.  In this case, please do not use "nonfat" feta cheese.  That is not a real food and I would ask that you not associate me with such a food.  I would recommend that you delete it from the dish.  Otherwise I understand the situation you have to operate under and would be happy with simply deleting the feta cheese.

Later I cooled off and sent her another note:

I'm sorry I snapped at you, it is just one of my "buttons."  My food philosophy for health and good life is to eat a low carb high fat diet (as recommended by my medical team) personally made from real whole foods.  I pretty much won't buy nonfat, low fat or reduced fat products as I consider them processed foods (perhaps even "frankenfoods").  So if you must modify the use of feta, please either reduce the amount or delete it from the recipe.

 My greatest hope is that dieticians and nutritionists would catch up and stop rejecting low carb and that Diabetic Living could reach the millions of potential readers who are undeserved by not having tasty recipes that reflect healthy low carb high fat meals.
...brian

ps. I also don't restrict salt.
 

ps. A good view of the leading thinking on nutrition is from the AND comments on the DGAC Scientific Report (see http://www.eatrightpro.org/resource/news-center/on-the-pulse-of-public-policy/regulatory-comments/dgac-scientific-report)

My Answers
The editor then sent me a series of questions which I answered.  You can see the questions and my answers to the left.  Those questions were:

  • We asked you for an original recipe and discovered that they way you eat and the guidelines we use for recipes in this magazine differ. For example, we use fat-free products, and you believe in full-fat products. Tell us about your initial reaction.
  • What’s your diet look like? Why does it work for you?
  • How did you discover the high fat, low carb diet?
  • Many traditional nutritionists, docs, and diabetes educators wouldn’t condone eating that way (ours included). What can readers do if their prescribed diet isn’t working? (You know, instead of lying to their doctor.)
  • Your medical team does approve of your diet. How’d you and your doc come to an agreement?
  • In your blog, you try to back up statements with evidence and research. How do you use those principles when making your own health decisions?   
Well, so after that in the end we had a compromise.  They wrote up a very short description of me and my diet.  They surprisingly left in a reference to Bernstein and included none of the controversial stuff.  I do have a prescription to Diabetic Living and generally find the magazing interesting, but if you are a reader you know that while there is an occasional low carb dish the nutrition advisors to the magazine are way out of date (although Manny Hernandez is also an advisor I think they asked him).  Those interested in low carb high fat diets won't find most of the recipes very satisfying. I have never understood why people think those of us with diabetes need low fat desert recipes or mac and cheese recipes "healthified" with broccoli.

In the end, it was a learning experience, hopefully on both sides.



21 comments:

  1. Different strokes. But yes a magazine needs to understand that as well.

    I referred your blog to the TUDiabetes.org blog page for the week of August 1, 2016.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had much the same experience when they interviewed me and asked me for recipes. I'm not a food blogger, so most of what I make is someone else's recipe that I've tweaked - which doesn't work for republication. I did have a salad dressing recipe, but as with you, the dietitians rejected it due to fat content and salt. In the end they decided they could omit an recipes from the write up. Sorry you had such a tough time, but maybe we're both showing them how healthy people with diabetes really eat!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Brian! I was wondering if you might be able to shoot me an email. I want to talk to you about diabetes meals. My email is Caitlin.hendee@gmail.com.

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Diabetes is a demanding disease, so it can change your life in many ways . it is stressful to manage diabetes, you just thought your blood sugar level are low or high . It is no doubt that many people think or feel that diabetes affects their quality or way of life.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have type 2 diabetes for two years, have tested my sugar numbers two hours after eating, sometimes less. For me, I have found that the fat does not affect my numbers. I thought fried chicken was a no no for me, but found that the numbers stayed around 125. I learned that any time I ate carbs, my numbers rose. I used to eat flour tortillas, which made my numbers go up. I have switched to white corn tortillas and am able to eat chicken enchilidas with numbers staying around 145. Low carbs for me are key. I don't understand how coffee makes my numbers go high, no sugar, no cream. I do miss my coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Dr Williams for everything he have done in my life. I have been in tears for so many years now, having found that my husband is suffering from diabetes, lesion after some years of being under extreme stress., . I spent 24 hours freaking out and finally calmed down after reading some testimony on here about Dr Williams herbal medicine to diabetes . The moment came and I mumbled out to my husband about Dr Williams product (with a few tears) and he was AMAZE – . He was just worried about his health, been free from this illness, that was how will order for Dr Williams product on line , after my husband finish taking Dr Williams medicine for just within a period of one month. Will went to the doc together who confirmed that he was diabetes free.
    Thank you again for being upfront, truthful and taking this pain away from my family for more information about his product you can email him on drwilliams098675@gmail.com i hope you can also help other terrified people in a similar situation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I recently have some difficult conversations and I did what a lot of people do when they want to know how to do something. I googled it. I came across Dr Williams herbal medicine on YouTube so many people thanking him about his good work. I also have diabetes. I wasn’t running all over God’s creation with every man I could find but here I am. I have felt bad about myself for so many years now because of my diabetes status. I obviously still have some self-accepting to do but I want to thank Dr Williams for everything he have done for my family ,after taking Dr Williams medicine i was completely free from diabetes within one month of usage, I think what you are doing is so admirable. you have helped me a lot! I want to definitely reach out to you and thank you for your amazing work. You are a good person, and an extremely talented man. You have helped millions with your herbs, and have really inspired me,and i pray you still continue doing the good work.you can also email him on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for help

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great write up!!!. I was diagnosed of diabetes 2 some three years ago, ever since then i have tried out so many systems and met so many doctors, all to no avail, ever since i took the herbal mixture from www.natonatureheals.com my blood sugar level got down drastically. I'm still monitoring it, though they assured me i can never be diabetic anymore but i still follow up topics on diabetes. Thanks to the herbal medicine group from india, they saved my life. You can contact them on nato@natonatureheals.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great write up!!!. I was diagnosed of diabetes 2 some three years ago, ever since then i have tried out so many systems and met so many doctors, all to no avail, ever since i took the herbal mixture from www.natonatureheals.com my blood sugar level got down drastically. I'm still monitoring it, though they assured me i can never be diabetic anymore but i still follow up topics on diabetes. Thanks to the herbal medicine group from india, they saved my life. You can contact them on nato@natonatureheals.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks to Dr Williams I am so happy today, I have been suffering from diabetes for the past 8 years now, and i have spent a lot on western drugs which has all proved abortive, i have tried all means in life to become diabetes free , but there was no answer until i decided to try herbal solution and i found Dr Williams online and i contacted him and after I took his medication as instructed, i am now completely free from diabtes within those week of usage, i am so much happy, thanks to Dr Williams for helping me get my life back again without any form of crisis, i promise to tell your name and good deeds to the whole world,if you have diabetes you can email him on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for more information

    ReplyDelete
  11. ALL THANKS TO DR WILLIAMS WITH HIS HERB MY WIFE WAS COMPLETELY CURED FROM DIABETES .
    Is my pleasure to comment on this site and i thank the admin of this site for his/her great work so far.one of the happiest moment in my life was when the doctor confirm that my wife is been free from this illness. this awesome moments makes me the happiest man on earth, I really don't know how to thank DR WILLIAMS for helping my wife get cured for over how many year of suffering from diabetes. i came across DR Williams contact through a headline news on internet about how DR Williams help a woman to get cured of her diabetes. and so many other with similar body problem ,i contacted him and he told me how to get his herb,few day later he sent me the herbal portion which my wife take every morning for 28 days, and his medicine was able to cure her completely from diabetes. and now she very mush okay without any side effects whatsoever, If you have any form of diabetes., you can always contact him on his email address drwilliams098675@gmail.com for advice and for his product.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks to Dr Williams I am so happy today, I have been suffering from diabetes for the past 8 years now, and i have spent a lot on western drugs which has all proved abortive, i have tried all means in life to become diabetes free , but there was no answer until i decided to try herbal solution and i found Dr Williams online and i contacted him and after I took his medication as instructed, i am now completely free from diabtes within those week of usage, i am so much happy, thanks to Dr Williams for helping me get my life back again without any form of crisis, i promise to tell your name and good deeds to the whole world,if you have diabetes you can email him on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for more information

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am Karen from Canada, I once suffered from diabetes,for more than 23 years , the doctor told me there was no permanent cure i was given medications to slow down its progress, i constantly felt my health was deteriorating as i constantly had Tingling, pain and Urinating often,this ailment was really terrible especially when am going out with my friends, i have this constant disorder for about 23 years, this was really a terrible ailment ,on thin one day that i was going through the internet,and i came across a post of Mrs Kate on how her daughter was been cured from diabetes through the help of Dr Williams herbal product, I contacted this herbal doctor via his email and explain everything to him and make purchase of his product,few days later he sent me the herbal medicine through courier service, when i received the herbal medicine, i used it for 1 months as prescribed by Dr Williams and i was totally cured within those week of usage,on thin now i have not experience any sign or characteristics again . for more information you can email him on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for help

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am Karen from Canada, I once suffered from diabetes,for more than 23 years , the doctor told me there was no permanent cure i was given medications to slow down its progress, i constantly felt my health was deteriorating as i constantly had Tingling, pain and Urinating often,this ailment was really terrible especially when am going out with my friends, i have this constant disorder for about 23 years, this was really a terrible ailment ,on thin one day that i was going through the internet,and i came across a post of Mrs Kate on how her daughter was been cured from diabetes through the help of Dr Williams herbal product, I contacted this herbal doctor via his email and explain everything to him and make purchase of his product,few days later he sent me the herbal medicine through courier service, when i received the herbal medicine, i used it for 1 months as prescribed by Dr Williams and i was totally cured within those week of usage,on thin now i have not experience any sign or characteristics again . for more information you can email him on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for help

    ReplyDelete
  15. ALL THANKS TO DR WILLIAMS WITH HIS HERB MY WIFE WAS COMPLETELY CURED FROM DIABETES .
    Is my pleasure to comment on this site and i thank the admin of this site for his/her great work so far.one of the happiest moment in my life was when the doctor confirm that my wife is been free from this illness. this awesome moments makes me the happiest man on earth, I really don't know how to thank DR WILLIAMS for helping my wife get cured for over how many year of suffering from diabetes. i came across DR Williams contact through a headline news on internet about how DR Williams help a woman to get cured of her diabetes. and so many other with similar body problem ,i contacted him and he told me how to get his herb,few day later he sent me the herbal portion which my wife take every morning for 28 days, and his medicine was able to cure her completely from diabetes. and now she very mush okay without any side effects whatsoever, If you have any form of diabetes., you can always contact him on his email address drwilliams098675@gmail.com for advice and for his product.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am Shelley from Los Angeles,California, I want to testify on how i got cured from diabetes, I have suffered from diabetes since the year 2011 with so mush pain,that i have to spend so mush money getting pain relief in the hospital, and I have visited several doctor ,but all to no avail, my world was gradually coming to an end because of the frequent urination and pain , until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbal Dr Williams who use herbal portion in curing people from different kind of diseases including diabetes, at first i doubted if it we be able to cure me, but i decided to give it a try, when i contacted this herbal doctor via his email, he prepared a herbal portion and sent it to me via courier service, when i received this herbal medicine, he gave me step by step instructions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed, i was completely free from diabetes just for 1 months of usage,i we recommend this to all my friend family in the world today who still suffering from diabetes you can contact him through his email on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for help.

    ReplyDelete
  17. As a sign of gratitude for how my husband was saved from diabetes type 2 , i decided to reach out to those still suffering from this.
    My husband was diagnosed of diabetes and it was really tough and heartbreaking for me because he was my all and the symptoms were terrible, he had difficulty eating, and he always complain of stomach pain and he always have frequent urination . we tried various therapies prescribed by our neurologist but none could cure him. I searched for a cure and i saw a testimony by someone who was cured and so many other with similar body problem, and he left the contact of the doctor who had the cure to diabetes . I never imagine diabetes has a cure not until i contacted him and he assured me my husband will be fine. I got the herbal medication he recommended and my husband used it and in one months he was fully okay even up till this moment he is so full of life. diabetes has a cure and it is a herbal cure contact the doctor for more info on drwilliams098675@gmail.com on how to get the medication. Thanks for reading my testimony

    ReplyDelete
  18. ALL THANKS TO DR WILLIAMS WITH HIS HERB MY WIFE WAS COMPLETELY CURED FROM DIABETES .
    Is my pleasure to comment on this site and i thank the admin of this site for his/her great work so far.one of the happiest moment in my life was when the doctor confirm that my wife is been free from this illness. this awesome moments makes me the happiest man on earth, I really don't know how to thank DR WILLIAMS for helping my wife get cured of over how many year of suffering from diabetes. i came across DR Williams contact through a headline news on internet about how DR Williams help a woman to get cured of her diabetes,and so many other with similar body problem ,i contacted him and he told me how to get his herb,few day later he sent me the herbal portion which my wife take every morning for 28 days, and his medicine was able to cure her completely from diabetes. and now she very mush okay without any side effects whatsoever, If you have any form of diabetes., you can always contact him on his email address drwilliams098675@gmail.com for advice and for his product.

    ReplyDelete
  19. As a sign of gratitude for how my husband was saved from diabetes type 2 , i decided to reach out to those still suffering from this.
    My husband was diagnosed of diabetes and it was really tough and heartbreaking for me because he was my all and the symptoms were terrible, he had difficulty eating, and he always complain of stomach pain and he always have frequent urination . we tried various therapies prescribed by our neurologist but none could cure him. I searched for a cure and i saw a testimony by someone who was cured and so many other with similar body problem, and he left the contact of the doctor who had the cure to diabetes . I never imagine diabetes has a cure not until i contacted him and he assured me my husband will be fine. I got the herbal medication he recommended and my husband used it and in one months he was fully okay even up till this moment he is so full of life. diabetes has a cure and it is a herbal cure contact the doctor for more info on drwilliams098675@gmail.com on how to get the medication. Thanks for reading my testimony

    ReplyDelete

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