On 3/1/99 Barry Adamski wrote (regarding benefits of paleo):

>On the positive side I no longer require blood pressure medication, insulin
>injections and I sleep through the night most days.  I have enough energy
to....

     This brings up a subject that's been on my mind for some time.  My
father is a type 1 (IDDM) diabetic in his late fifties who eats large
amaunts of carbohydrate in the form of pasta, bread, potatoes etc.,
excercises eratically and at high intensity, and is required to take insulin
acording to the quantity of carbs and exercise levels.  As he gets older,
his condition has begun to take a toll on his body in the form of frequent
insulin reactions, circulation problems, creeping blindness etc.  I am
curious as to how a low carb, paleo-diet would affect the type 1 diabetic.

     One would think that replaceing some of the dietary carbohydrate with
fat would allow the IDDM paleo-dieter to reduce the quantity of insulin
given, thus reduceing the frequency and/or severity of insulin reactions and
the health problems asocciated with large amounts of insulin in the
bloodstreem.  By lowering quantities of both carbs and insulin, it seems
that the potential for insulin overdose would be reduced due to the over-all
reduction of its use (less room for error), even if the ratio of carbs to
insulin remains the same.

     I was supprised to hear you (Barry) mention quitting your insulin
injections, and am assuming that you are a type II diabetic (I'am not
familiar with the treatment of type II).   Also, I am aware of the fact that
IDDM (type 1) patients will always require some amount of insulin to prevent
keto-acidosis.  However, I still wonder if and how a low-carb, paleolithic
diet would be of benefit to IDDM patients.  My family members have all been
stumped by this question.  Are there any type one diabetics on the list, or
anyone who's familiar with IDDM?

Curiously,

Bernard Lischer