Ending it all - Diabetes, that is.

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Added: Mon. Jul 18, 2011 10:02am
Posted in: Conditions & Diseases

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I started considering bariatric surgery - lap band, stomach stapling, gastric bypass, whatever - about a year ago when it looked like nothing would ever change. I was diagnosed with diabetes about 10 years ago and while I drastically changed my diet, it has only gotten worse over the years until now it's incredibly hard to control. Several doctors have suggested surgery as my best option, but is it? Some new research from Newcastle University in England suggests maybe not.

One thing struck me when I read about bariatric surgery. It took me back to an episode of the very first season of Biggest Loser. My mind started connecting some random threads at that point, and the U.K. research confirmed what I was thinking and added some insight. (Don't worry, I'll get to it). Let me start at the beginning, just a soundbyte from a season one Biggest Loser contestant that stuck with me. This contestant was a guy about my age who had some health issues, including diabetes. I'm going to go out on a limb and say his name was Gary, although I'm not sure. About halfway through the season, his wife came to visit, and after the usual oohs and aaahs, she asked about his diabetes and he said "It's gone. Completely gone." I though diabetes was forever. Conventional wisdom says diabetes is forever. So...how could it be gone? But it was. Now, I can't exercise three hours a day and can't afford the army of doctors and personal trainers to keep me alive while I do, so realistically, I can't do the Biggest Loser thing. But it gave me hope that I would not have to live with this --and the future complications-- forever.

Years later, when I started researching bariatric surgery, something jumped out. A week after the surgery, ONE WEEK after, diabetes disappeared. Doctors first theorized that it was due to weight loss, and that was the prevailing theory for a long time, but incredibly, it was never explored. It evidently occurred to no one that little weight loss occurs in the first week. A couple of years ago, doctors caught on to how rapidly diabetes disappears and the first theories to emerge had to do with stimulation of some chemical or hormone inherent in the restructuring of the bowel. Which led researchers in the direction that perhaps the same result could be realized with a less destructive surgery. I read about that a few months ago.

Which brings me, finally, to Newcastle University. Researchers there wondered if the post-surgery diet was responsible for the reversal of diabetes. This theory hit the jackpot (read the BBC news story here). In a very small study, they found that patients on a very low calorie liquid diet similar to that followed by post-bariatric-surgery patients were diabetes free in a matter of weeks, and three months after the diet, when the subjects were back on a healthy diet, diabetes had not returned for 7 out of 10 tested. The study followed 11 patients, presumably one did not return for the followup. Here's what's most interesting: the researchers performed MRIs on the pancreas (where insulin is produced) and found that in each case, fat levels in the organs had reduced from 8% or higher to around 6%. By cleaning the pancreas of excess fat restored the normal function of insulin production.

Could it be that simple? Why not? Here's my plan, and why I think it will work. In addition to diabetes, I also have a thyroid disorder. I track every bite I eat and exercise almost every day, but I do not lose weight. I eat a lot of fish, chicken, beans and vegetables....very little saturated fat. My current diet falls between 1100 calories and 1400 calories per day, and I don't have any hidden surprises. I count everything from the splash of 1% milk in my coffee to the occasional cookie I can't resist. I don't cheat, I don't lie, and I don't lose weight. 

There is a comprehensive post-surgery diet posted online. I theorize that if I can live on it post-surgery, I can live on it pre-surgery. Since I have no trouble maintaining a 1200 calorie diet (I only go above that when I have something like guacamole that I can't walk away from), I should be able to pare it down to 800 without losing control. I don't know if 800 will clean the fat from my pancreas, but lower than that is a real health risk. I'll stock up on Ensure protein drinks, fat-free broth, low-sodium vegetable juices and veggies that weigh in at 10 calories a cup, like collard greens. I'll plan a 1-week experiment at first and see what happens. If my blood sugar improves and I can still function, I'll wait a few weeks and continue to monitor my blood sugar. If it continues to fluctuate, I'll try the low-cal mostly liquid diet again for 2 weeks. I want to make it clear that my goal is not to lose weight on a crazy low-cal diet. My goal is to normalize my blood sugar. I plan to diet off the weight with a 1200 calorie diet and exercise every day for as long as it takes. But if I can do that without diabetes, my life will be so much simpler.

I'll be putting up a (free) website with videos, recipes, a blog, and detailed information about how I did it - if it works and I wind up thinner and diabetes free. I don't plan to use (or sell) any special products...just stuff anyone can find at the grocery and anyone can afford. I'll post here while I build the website. Wish me luck. Wish us all luck. According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Curing diabetes could potentially fix the burden on healthcare in one fell swoop. Not that I'm claiming credit or expecting to change the world. I'm just offering to be a guinea pig