The Age-Free Zone
Barry Sears

Many people with diabetes suffer from depression and more people with depression commit suicide. Hence the inclusion of this book review.

The book tells the true story of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Angie Fenimore who had a near-death experience in January 1991. It's a small short book, about 150 pages, and can be easily read in an evening. The book starts out by giving her family background with an overbearing father and eventually a broken home when her mother left. Angie suffered from severe depression and ended up on drugs and alcohol. She eventually married and had two sons. Her depression continued. About half the book gives her background leading up to her suicide attempt in January 1991. The rest of the book relates the details of her near-death experience.

Angie cut the viens in her wrists while in the tub and took an overdose of pills. She then relates experiencing significant events from her life starting with her birth. Angie had expected to be embraced with peace and a white light (as related by other people who had near-death experiences, such as Betty Eadie in Embraced by the Light). Instead she found herself in darkness. She became aware of others standing in-line in the darkness, mostly teenagers. She tried to communicate with them but was unable to.

Angie was then transferred to somewhere that she identified as purgatory. She became aware of other men and women, but no children, of all ages; all of whom emanated a visible darkness from within themselves that engulfed them. They all seemed completely self-absorbed, all caught up in their own misery, with the capacity to connect with each other but who did not because they were so incapacitated by their own darkness. She then became aware of a buzz of self-incriminating thoughts within each of the individualized clouds of darkness. She received the impression that all these people had committed suicide. And their ultimate state was one of endless suffering in a self-imposed prison of darkness.

Next came a voice asking "Is this really what you want?" and Angie became aware that these words were spoken by a being of light who she identified as God; she then also became aware of another being of light who had been with her all the time and who she identified as Jesus. She is told that one of her sons had been sent to her as a messenger of love to help her gain a reason for living and up to this point she did not deserve to be the mother of the children entrusted to her care.

Angie is guided to realize the significance of the events of her life and she gradually becomes aware that all the people, including herself, in purgatory were surrounded by beings of light who were striving to help them to allow light to enter within their self-imposed prisons of darkness; most were refusing to be helped. We are free to choose light or darkness. We are free to choose good or evil. We are free to choose our own destiny. We are free to ask for help from others and from God. She was told that most people who die today go to a place of darkness. Why? Largely because of their unbelief. Because when we die we are bound by what we think. We allow ourself to embrace darkness and hell while in this life and literally take it with us when we die.

Angie wanted to live. As soon as she has made this choice, she was suddenly transported from the prison of darkness and found herself back in her body.

This review was originally posted in response to misc.health.diabetes newsgroup request for a review, during a suicide discussion thread. Unfortunately this excellent book is currently unavailable in English from chapters.indigo.ca but used versions are available from amazon.com.

Provides a bibliography of Dr. Bounous and his discovery of the benefits of Whey protein for promoting cellular glutathione (GSH) leading to a greatly improved immune system. Low GSH levels and poor immune system responses are associated with all major diseases, including diabetes, and increased GSH levels help minimize the complications associated with them. His research led to the development of a specialized Whey protein concentrate called Immunocal/HMS90 which has been proven, by independent medical research, to be highly effective in promoting and sustaining GSH production within cells. Immunocal is expensive (about $50 for 300grams which is triple the cost of a good-quality commercially-available Whey protein isolate). Although it has been shown to be more effective than some commercially-available Whey proteins, I'm not convinced that it would achieve significally better results than all high-quality commercially-available Whey protein isolates; such as, for example, the SISU Body Elite Whey protein isolate. However, some medical plans cover the cost of Immunocal when it has been prescribed as part of a medical treatment protocol, which then eliminates the cost issue and assures you of the proven effectiveness of the Whey protein being used. Also see Glutathione: Your Body's Most Powerful Healing Agent

Carbohydrates in Human Nutrition, FAO/WHO Joint Report, April 1997

The first 50 pages contain the report and recommendations; the other 93 pages contain some very interesting data that form the basis of the report recommendations. The report recommends a minimum carbohydrate intake of 50g/day to avoid ketosis with the bulk coming from non-starch polysaccharides from a wide variety of appropriately processed and cooked cereals, vegetables, legumes, and fruits. The report also suggests that using 4 calories/gram of carbohydrate is too high and that a better number would be 2 calories/gram.

I find it interesting that the percentage of calories from carbohydrates in North America has been declining over the past 30 years from a high of about 59% to 47% now, with a total calorie increase of about 5%, a 5% decrease in cereals, and a 4% increase in suger intake; the FAO/WHO believes we should get between 55% to 75% of our daily calories from carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. I personally find this recommendation at odds with the experiences of many type 2 diabetics, including myself, who have discovered that limiting their carbohydrate intake to below 55% is necessary to keep their blood glucose levels within an acceptable range.

What I glean from the report is that within North America our average total calorie intake is at least 30% too high and we need to decrease our suger intake by at least 58% and increase our consumption of non-starch polysaccharides by about 37%, especially within the pulse food group; soybeans, chickpeas, green lentils, and dry beans (for example, kidney, navy, and pinto beans) have the highest levels and they are also high in dietary fibre (which we also need to increase in our diets by about 40%). Soybeans would appear to be the best choice to add to our diets because they have a low starch and carbohydrate content. Barley and Rye in the cereals food group have the highest levels of non-starch polysaccharides and dietary fibre.

Also see Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients)

Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber
Lisa Brown, Bernard Rosner, Walter W. Willett and Frank M. Sacks. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 69, No. 1, pages 30-42, January 1999

This article summarizes an analysis of 67 controlled trials, on the effects of dietary fibre, in an attempt to quantify the cholesterol-lowering effects of major dietary fibres. The overall results are that soluble fibre, 2-10 grams/day, are associated with small but significant decreases in total cholesterol (0.045mmol/L or 1.740mg/dl per gram) and LDL cholesterol (0.057mmol/L or 2.204mg/dl per gram) and the effect of different sources (oat, psyllium, or pectin) of soluble fibre on blood glucose levels were not significantly different.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Diabetes in Canada Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), October 20, 1998

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This CMAJ article provides very useful and detailed information, with references, used to derive recommendations to be used by doctors in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. If you don't understand the guidelines, discuss them with your doctor. Clinical practice guidelines are updated on a regular basis and your doctor should be aware of any updates. Also see the CDA position statement on these guidelines and the CDA 2001 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Hypoglycemia in Diabetes

This is one volume in a series of reports that presents dietary reference values for the intake of nutrients by Americans and Canadians. The report provides Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for energy and the macronutients, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids.

This report, along with the WHO Carbohydrates in Human Nutrition report, provides an excellent overview on the purpose, role, importance, and their impact on chronic diseases (including type 2 diabetes) of the dietary macronutrients carbohydrate, fat, and protein.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
Goethe

Dr. Bernstein developed Type 1 Diabetes over 55 years ago and learned by trial-and-error on himself how to control his blood sugers. He even changed careers from being an engineer and successful business executive to become an MD in order to share what he had learned and to treat other diabetics. Now he brings those 55 years of experience together in a book that offers a set of practical and experience-based guidelines that have been proven to work on both himself and his patients.

This book is worth buying just because of the many interesting pieces of information about diabetes and its treatment that it contains. Dr. Bernstein's treatment plan emphasizes the importance of a low-carbohydrate and high-protein diet and which foods to avoid and why; losing weight; and exercise. Dr. Bernstein stresses the importance of maintaining a constant blood suger level of about 90mg/dl (5mmol/L) and the avoidance of blood suger swings. In other words, he maintains that a proper diet will not affect after-eating blood suger levels. He includes an excellent overview of the basic food groups (fats, protein, and carbohydrates) and how they affect blood sugers. I find his No-No list excessively restrictive (for example, no milk, fruit, juices, breakfast cereals, bread, rice, or pasta). However, I'm also unable to keep my blood suger constant at 5mmol/L and it does swing!

I think that his recommended total amount of carbohydrates per day for main meals (30g: 6g breakfast, 12g lunch, 12g dinner) may result in eating fewer carbohydrates than the minimum of 50g/day recommended by the FAO/WHO to avoid ketosis. In addition, the meal plans listed in the book indicate that the diet severely restricts the amount of calories eaten and this may be the key to why his solution is successful. However, I also find it impossible to estimate the total calorie value of each meal plan because dietary fat weights are not included! Also see diabetes-normalsugers.com and diabetesincontrol.com

According to the authors, watching carbohydrate consumption is the key to a healthy diet. The glycemic index ranks carbs based on how quickly they're broken down during digestion and their effect on blood glucose levels, the index is based on 15 years of studies involving hundreds of people. Carbohydrates with a high glycemic index, such as bread and potatoes, are quickly digested and released into the bloodstream as glucose. They provide an immediate energy boost, but it doesn't last until your next meal. Carbs with a low glycemic index, such as rolled oats and pasta, slowly release glucose into the bloodstream, are more satisfying, and help control hunger. Also see The Glucose Revolution Pocket Guides to: Diabetes, Sugar and Energy, Top 100 Low Glycemic Foods, Losing Weight, Healthy Kids, and Your Heart

Guidelines for the Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the New Mellennium, Position Statement, Canadian Diabetes Association

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This position statement presents nutritional guidelines for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics. It discusses carbohydrates (including sugers and fibre), protein, fats, sweetners, micronutrients, lifestyle, and many other nutritional considerations. Excellent information and extremely valuable for all diabetics. The only position statement I have a problem with is the 50-60% carbohydrate intake recommendation; as many diabetics are aware, this level of carbohydrate intake would make their blood glucose levels very difficult to keep within an optimal range. I think that a 40% carbohydrate intake, advocated by the ZONE diet, is a better guideline.

Could how you feel about diabetes affect how well you deal with it? Dr Pearsall would say yes and I find myself in agreement. Dr Pearsall outlines the theory, science, observations, and personal experiences of how cellular memory and subtle energy of the heart can help us to heal ourselves. A fundamental assertion is that there is a connection between our physical and spiritual bodies around the area of our heart. Healing ourselves involves focusing attention around the area of our heart and directing subtle energy between the non-local domain of the spirit and the local physical domain of our bodies. An implication within the book that I feel uncomfortable with is the idea that being in touch with our spirit and being able to direct subtle energy automatically leads to a healthy physical body.

I was surprised at how many of the ideas of seminal thinkers that I already highly respect, and feel an affinity towards, are brought together in a new and constructive way within this book; I'm thinking especially of the ideas of David Bohm, Nick Herbert, Larry Dossey, Lyall Watson, Robert Ornstein, Rupert Sheldrake, John Eccles, and Howard Gardner. The book is worth buying simply to see how the ideas of these many authors are brought together in a unified way. Also see The Pleasure Prescription, Miracle in Maui: Make Miracles Happen in Your Life, and Wishing Well: Making Your Every Wish Come True

In 1970 Dr Kilmer McCully was praised for his research on homocysteine and arteriosclerois. His research clearly showed that high levels of plasma homocysteine were the root cause, and not cholesterol, of heart disease; in addition, he also demonstrated that these high homocysteine levels were caused by dietary deficiencies that could be easily corrected by simply increasing the levels of B6, B12, and folic acid in our diet. For almost 30 years his research was ignored by the medical establishment and many people may have died that didn't need to! Why? Largely because of vested interests in treating cholesterol to lower the risk of heart disease.

This book documents Dr McCully's work and what we can personally do to minimize the risk of dying from the major cause of death of diabetics. The first thing to do is to have your doctor order a test to check the level of homocysteine in your blood. The second thing is to supplement your diet each day, at least until you get your blood test back, with 100mg B6, 1mg B12, 1mg folic acid, 10,000 IUs of vitamin A, 800 IUs of vitamin E, 500mg of vitamin C, 60mg coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and balanced bulk and trace minerals. The third thing is to change your diet to minimize the use of refined foods and to add more fresh foods, prepared correctly, to your diet. Also note that coffee raises the homocysteine levels.

Provides the latest American Diabetes Association (ADA) position statement on the importance of nutrition in the treatment of diabetes. The ADA recommendations are summarized below along with my comments on them.

Protein: 10 to 20% of calories, with even lower levels (0.6 to 0.8g/kg/day) if there are overt signs of nephropathy. I find it very confusing that it is also noted that there are no clear benefits to restricting protein in the diet. The only benefit to restricting dietary protein that I'm currently aware of is to those already on dialysis (they don't need as many treatments).

Fat: 30 to 35% of calories.

• Saturated 7-10% and dietary cholesterol less than 300mg/day. Restricted to 7% with less than 200mg/day of dietary cholesterol if LDL is high. I'm not aware of any evidence that restricting cholesterol intake is of any benefit because most cholesterol is made by the body itself and dietary cholesterol is passed straight through the system.
• Polyunsaturated 5-10%.
• Monounsaturated 10-15%, with the higher level suggested if you have to lower your carbohydrate level because of high triglycerides, presumably while keeping your protein level between 10-20%.

Carbohydrates: 50 to 60% of calories; with a "more moderate level" suggested if you are concerned about your triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. I believe that this level of carbohydrate is only appropriate for diabetics who are injecting insulin (the immediate and predictable glycemic response of carbohydrates makes it easier to control glucose levels and swings using insulin that it would be with the responses due to fat and protein). Other recommended levels: fiber 20-35g/day; sodium 2000-2400mg/day.

Micronutrients: supplemental vitamins and minerals are not recommended, but it is noted that there are theoretical reasons to supplement with antioxidants but there is little supporting evidence.

I believe that most Type 2 Diabetes, who are not injecting insulin, are likely to find the 50% to 60% carbohydrate level too high. The fat level looks fine. Which means that to get the required calories, and achieve and maintain good glucose, lipid, and blood pressure goals, most Type 2 Diabetics will probably need to increase the amount of calories obtained from protein.

Prozac Backlash
Joseph Glenmullen, MD

Take Charge of Your Diabetes, 2nd edition, US Dept of Health & Human Studies

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• What problems diabetes can cause
• How to work with a health care team to prevent problems
• Why it is important to get your blood glucose closer to normal
• How to find out about resources in your community to help you prevent problem