Sunday, October 16, 2011

My Critique of Sugar Nation By Jeff O'connell

I mentioned Sugar Nation in my last post when I was about half way through the book. Now that I've finished it, I have some thoughts. My first thought is that I want to give the book to everyone I know because it is eye opening and perhaps life changing. My second thought is that if you don't want to reverse your diabetes and you don't want to get well, don't read this book, because it will compel you to change your life. You can't possibly read this "Sugar Nation" and not be shocked by the reality of our western dietary habits and how those habits are making all of us sick. You will understand that diabetes begins years, even decades before diagnosis. You will question why the tests that could save us from this fate are not ordered years before so that we'd have a fighting chance.

So far, every diabetes study done has shown without any dispute that changing diet and exercise ALWAYS lowers blood sugar and insulin resistance more than diabetes drugs for type 2 patients. A study in Finland showed that regular exercise reduced diabetes in subjects by nearly 70%. A follow up study three years later showed that 36% of the study members remained healthy due to continuing the diet and exercise program. The main reason for the decline from 70% down to 36%? Participants not sticking with the diet and exercise program over time.

The author points out that even when patients are able to reverse their blood sugar and insulin spikes by low carb diet and exercise, their doctors are still hesitant to take their patients off of medication. Even though the medication may not have been all that helpful to begin with the doctors seem to consider it kind of as an insurance policy just in case the patient stops their healthy ways. Another study mentioned in the book, done by the University of MA, showed that regular exercise was less effective in controlling blood sugar and insulin for those taking metformin. No one seems to know exactly why metformin makes exercise less effective but they are studying this further.

For me some of the most disturbing portions of the book was where Mr. O'Connell wrote about how the drug companies, the hospitals, the ADA, the entire medical community benefits from Diabetes and the eventual complications of it down the road. Doctors have no training in educating patients and there is virtually no focus on prevention or reversal in the early stages.

There is so much more in this book that it is impossible to discuss it all here. I urge everyone, including non-diabetics to read Sugar Nation. Not only do I urge you. I challenge you! In my opinion, not reading this book would be similar to sticking your head in the sand or covering your ears while you scream "Nany, nany nany" to block out the sound of something you do not wish to hear!

I am not telling you to go out and purchase this book if you can't afford to do so. I always suggest your local library as an alternative. I read this book by getting it from the library myself. I now intend to purchase it so that I can let my friends, family and co-workers read it as well.

1 comment:

  1. "The author points out that even when patients are able to reverse their blood sugar and insulin spikes by low carb diet and exercise, their doctors are still hesitant to take their patients off of medication."

    That's really sad. I try to avoid doctors as much as possible, because many of them seem to have a knack for doing exactly the wrong thing.

    ReplyDelete