What if we're wrong about Type 2 Diabetes

That is very interesting, thanks jane. My son is type one, but we are always looking for answers.

Thank you jane for sharing this. Thankfully I don't have diabetes but I do know quite a few dialysis patients who do.

I haven't seen the link yet but am curious. My brother has Type 2 and struggles to control it with lots of medication etc.

I am convinced that obese people don't get that way from over-eating. I feel sure there must be factors beyond their control involved.

There is a lot of unfairness in the world.

Sorry for the really bad sentence there!

j08 What he is saying is that he thinks that the current thinking, ie that obesity causes metabolic syndome and insulin resistance (when insulin no longer has the desired effect of converting glucose to energy), which leads to Type 2 diabetes, is wrong.
He thinks that the insulin resistance comes first. Then, because the insulin doesn't work properly, the sugar is converted to fat and the person becomes obese.
The question is what causes the insulin resistance - he thinks it is refined carbohydrates, as opposed to simply too many calories.
He thinks that medics should stop blaming and condemning patients with metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes, because for years they have been given the wrong advice.
But the video is quite moving in the way that he expresses humility and remorse for having been wrong, and judging patients in the past.

MrBags has been talking about insulin resistance for some time. He thinks that diets too high in carbohydrates cause insulin resistance to develop in some people. As I understand it, this then causes people to feel hungry even though they've eaten enough calories, and so they end up eating more than they need as well as the wrong kind of food. He reckons the so-called paleo diet is good. If you google paleo diet or primal diet you'll find lots about it.

Yes I know what he's saying! I'm just saying my bit!

Which is quite similar to what he is saying. In less words.

Was this thread only meant for bluebell btw?

I've been reading about the paleo diet and it really makes a lot of sense. I don't know if obesity causes type 2 diabetes or vice versa but I'm sure the type of food were eat must be considered as contributory.

The doctor who writes a regular column in the Telegraph has been saying for ages that the government policy of making GPs give everybody statins is causing an increase in Type 2 diabetes. I'll try to find a link. He also says that aggressively treating elderly patients for high blood pressure causes lots of falls.

Personally, I don't think statins are the wonder drug the GPs think they are. My mum was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and almost crippled, barely able to walk and in huge pain. She has stopped taking statins and is back to her old self and the pain has gone. Annoyingly, she has recently had serious gall stone and bladder problems needing two ops and guess what? The warning of her particular statins said 'can cause gall stones'...

I would n't trust a scientist who gets that emotional when talking about his subject. American crap. Like TED.com

"If obesity is no more than a proxy for metabolic Illness, what good will it do blaming the patient".

I agree with that.

Suit yourself j08

That was in reply to your 'American crap' comment

I have never agreed with indiscriminate use of statins and since I am now controlling my own bp medication rather than being dictated to by the 'white coat syndrome' results, I am not falling nearly so much.

Thank you Janea- on the train so can't access the video. From
what you have posted about it, the idea that its the other way round is an interesting one and the idea that its refined carbs that are the villains would go towards explaining why there is such an epidemic of Type 2. However, it is still really important to always distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 as they are completely different diseases with different treatment regimes ( I know you know that but it's worth saying again).I'll access the video when I can. Lily - I'd like the link if you can find it.

Obesity is caused by eating or drinking different foods to what people ate in the first half of the 20th century. I was watching a film on TV yesterday about scientists in the thirties working in South America. They were all wonderfully slim. What are these foods? We will never know because that kind of research cost money and nobody can market anything.

Just managed to download the BMJ issue which came while I was away.
It's main topic was statins and diabetes.
From the précis it seems there is a link.
But, the benefits of statins are said to outway the risks.
What the article does say, is that if there is not a rapid response to a drug, don't continue it.
It seems to be the more potent statins and high dosage that causes the problems!
I would link it if I could, but I've never managed to do so!

That's interesting Galen. My brother has type 2 diabetes, has lost about 4 stone in weight and is still fighting to control his levels despite high doses of medication. He also takes statins so I'm now wondering if they are contributing to his struggle.

I think the jury is still out! I hope he is under a consultant rather than a gp or diabetic nurse?

Well if he is, he's lucky!!

Both of the latter I believe. They want him to have insulin but as a HGV driver he'd lose his licence and his job so is resistant. He's never had any problems so far, just very high levels.

As an aside, he recently had no drugs for 5 days and said he felt much better without them than with them. Makes you wonder what all these drugs do to you doesn't it...