I received a letter today from Richard Feinman, founder of the the Nutrition and Metabolism Society. He’s asking for everyone to sign a petition to make NIH take notice of existing science supporting carbohydrate restriction in treating diabetes and that they should fund more research with experts who have experience in this type of treatment. Here’s the letter:

The Metabolism Society requests your assistance.
Biomedical science needs your help. The public needs your help.

Please ask your readers to sign this petition.

The NIH must acknowledge the existing science and fund more research by the experts who have experience with carbohydrate restriction as a means of treatment for diabetes.

June 12, 2008

New England Journal of Medicine published the ACCORD study results. “We investigated whether intensive therapy to target normal glycated hemoglobin levels would reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes” (intensive therapy meant intensive drug therapy).

Conclusion:
“As compared with standard therapy, the use of intensive therapy to target normal glycated hemoglobin levels for 3.5 years increased mortality and did not significantly reduce major cardiovascular events. These findings identify a previously unrecognized harm of intensive glucose lowering in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes.”

An elementary understanding of science lets one recognize that it is likely the treatment (intensive drug therapy) that has the (unrecognized?) harm. A substantial background of studies shows that not reducing glycated hemoglobin is a health risk.
It is the absence of any consideration of dietary carbohydrate restriction, the most safe and effective method of improving glycemic control that is so objectionable.

Scientists are stymied. Fighting with the NIH is not simple, generally not a career builder, and the number of people involved in this trial is in the hundreds. Only the public can help. We need your help in reaching them.

Please ask your readers to contribute by signing this petition.

Thank you.

Richard Feinman
Professor of Biochemistry
Founder, Metabolism Society
www.nmsociety.org

When you sign the petition, you have the opportunity to add your own personal message for impact. Here’s what I wrote:

Carbohydrate restriction has been utilized by many diabetics and has proven itself to be a fantastic method of treatment. As someone who has blood sugar issues, I want to know the TRUTH! I can’t risk my health on speculation or junk science. Please give restricted carbohydrate regimens the consideration it deserves. Lives count on it!

It’s very important that we make our voices heard! Please sign the petition, and pass it on to your friends so they can sign it. Together we can make a difference for so many who suffer needlessly.

It seems like lately time has just been flying by! I’m sure it’s because I’ve had such a busy schedule. OK, where to start?

Weight Loss:

Nothing much to report. I’ve struggled with my eating somewhat and it’s not all been low-carb. :0( But I’m back on track so things should start moving again. I’ve been stuck at 2.4 lbs above my ticker weight. I lost the .4 today. Hopefully tomorrow will show more loss.

Photography:

The voting part of the photo contest is now over. Thanks so much to those of you who took the time to vote! It means the world to me! I’ll let you know how things turned out as soon as I hear something. The last I looked, which was a day before the voted ended, I was still in the running with all 3 pictures. They are supposed to notify the finalists soon.

I photographed my first wedding this weekend. Wow is that a lot of work! I was on my feet about 7 hours. My mom and I worked this wedding together and I think between the two of us we got some really good shots. I plan on putting my best shots on my website, so I’ll let you know when those are up.

I’m excited to announce that a few of my photos are going to be auctioned off in a charity silent auction to benefit the down and out here in St. Louis. (we haven’t worked out all the details yet, but should have know more soon) I’ll be sure to post more information when it is available.

Health:

Sometimes I tend to forget I have fibromyalgia (Thank you low-carb!!!). Then I have a very busy and stressful weekend and I am quickly reminded. This weekend was very full – a church picnic, the wedding, Revival at our church, and a few other exhausting things all added up to my being fatigued beyond belief. Thankfully I have no pain and pray it stays that way. My fatigue should disappear soon, but it will take a lot of rest to make that happen.

Homeschooling:

This year has started out very well and the children and I are both very optimistic about it. The kids seem to really be enjoying themselves, and I’ll admit I am too! We have a lot to figure out still, but we are learning together and having fun. Learning should be fun! Don’t you agree?

OK.. gotta run. I’m gonna leave you with another wise saying:

Everything your mother ever warned you about it true.

Weight loss

First a quick update: I’m down another lb, which leaves only a lb to go before I’m back at 161.4. Curse those chips!

We had dinner with friends last night and they started asking me about my diet. I explained how low-carb works, etc. They didn’t look sold when I was finished, but I know the results I’m having speak for themselves. About 9:30 last night they called me from a Wal-Mart Super Center asking me what they should buy to start the diet. :0)

I gave them a quick rundown and told them I’d bring them my copy of DANDR (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution) and some copies of my favorite recipes. Keep your fingers crossed that they can get through the induction phase, which is the hardest part.

Links

Today will be another busy day, so I thought I’d just share a few articles of interest. I don’t have time to give my detailed thoughts on them as I’d like to, so just read and enjoy. And feel free to leave any thoughts you have on these articles in the comment box!

“Good Carbs” Yield New Found Benefits
Again, nothing new under the sun…

More Evidence Favors Low-Carb Diets
My favorite quote from the above article:

Taken as a whole, the evidence suggests that carb-control offers considerable potential as a weapon in the battle of the bulge.

Amen Dr. Briffa!

After reading this article I decided to look at his blog: Dr. Briffa – A good look at health

I don’t the time today to read in detail, but I’ll definitely be going back to see what he has to say. It does look promising! I’ll let you know my thoughts on this blog in a future post.

“Healthy” Foods May Not Be
I think I’ve posted this before, but the warning bears repeating. Do more than look at the nutrition labels… read the ingredients labels as well! (No that can’t “fix” this problem, but it will help you spot those things that just don’t seem to add up. You can also use the hidden carb calculator on my site to check things out.)

Words of Wisdom

A photographic memory is of no use if it’s never developed.

OK.. I need to get busy. Have a great day