Cyberbay- I am not an endocrinologist, AND PLEASE DON’T TAKE THIS AS SPECIFIC MEDICAL ADVICE:TALK A LOT WITH YOUR OWN DOCTOR AND DIETICIAN IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. if you want to read the research you can defend whatever position you want, but this is my interpretation:
reactive hypoglycemia, for some people, is a genetically determined reaction to fast carb sources. As you say, our modern diet is packed with fast carbs and so people with the predisposition will suffer RH ( as I did as a child and young person). However all this up/down/massive release of insulin all day long leads to overeating which leads to overweight and insulin resistance, also part of the same genetic predisposition. And eventually the pancreatic insulin response and the cell’s response to the insulin, wears both of them out, so that’s what becomes, first pre-daibetes or insulins resistance or metabolic syndrome, and eventually one form of type 2 diabetes.
I don’t think there is ANY research out there that tells us with the familial predisposition, that if we watch our diet carefully from the beginning, we won’t get the diabetes, but I am betting on it. I am hoping we’re not simply doomed by our genes despite what good things we do for ourselves.
The large amounts of carbs that are included in the modern diet were not present in as great a quantity when humans evolved. An ancient “Paleo” diet, was very low on carbs- there simply wasn’t that much wild grain about and it took a long time to gather and to prepare as wild grains are mostly bran and need to be boiled or pounded to be digestible. Cavemen probably ate a fair amount of animal flesh, leafy greens, some roots, some nuts and berries and few dairy products, if any (fresh-not cultured- dairy products are often high in carbs too!)The ability to mount a good insulin response is probably an advantage for evolutionary survival, as it makes us able to eat those fast carbs and cope without getting sick. So as we became farmers and were able to produce large amounts of grain products- that store well out of the growing season- those who could eat the grains survived better. At least long enough to reproduce. Since ancient humans only lived about 35 years, the gene survived, but its later consequences in older age are what we are seeing now.
Our modern diet sux rox. Most of the advice I see given to diabetics to cope with the modern diet also sux- recommendations for all those artifical sweeteners, using hypoglycemic drugs, and increasing amounts of insulin so that they can continue to consume fast carbs, especially treats and alcohol- I don’t think it does any one any favours. I have substantially altered my diet as a result of my reading. I eat a lot of salads, a lot of cooked greens, a few pulses such as peas and beans , a fair bit of lean animal protein like meat and eggs and some cultured dairy products like cheeses. I might have one piece of bread or similar carb a day, and even though I love rice, I confine it to once a week or so, rarely eat potatoes or pasta and deserts are usually fresh fruit or dark cocolate when I ahve them. I minimize my alcohol intake. I am certainly not perfect, but rarely get RH anymore. My diet is also fairly low calorie, so I take several supplements to ensure I am getting enough vitamins and minerals.
It is very difficult to keep to the guidelines, not to mention expensive and time consuming, as one has to avoid any sort of pre-packaged or processed foods which are all high in sugars and sweeteners and carb thickening agents.
