[torrent-of-ions]

As I understand it, there's no way around type 1 diabetes, you just can't produce insulin, or at least can't produce enough, and therefore need to supplement it.

But if you eat no carbohydrates, would you really need much insulin?

I don't understand what the fuss is about type 2. The resistance is developed because there is too much insulin in the blood all the time, and the solution is to take even more insulin?! It seems a no brainer that the solution should be to cut sugar out of the blood stream at all costs and reverse the insulin resistance...

[sghodas]

That's not how type 2 works. The resistance is developed for unknown reasons and it continues to build over time. For a while, your body can compensate by producing more insulin to overcome the insulin resistance of your cells. You don't become symptomatic until your cells are almost completely insulin resistant. Your pancreas will continue to make insulin at crazy high rates, but eventually the cells that make insulin will die off (presumably from hyperactivity). This is the point at which type 2 diabetics need insulin.

As far as cutting sugar out of your blood - you can't. Your body tries to maintain 80-110 mg/dL of sugar in your blood. You NEED sugar. It's energy. In fact, sugar is the ONLY energy source your brain can use. The problem is when you're a diabetic, your body's cells can't take that sugar out of the blood to use it for energy. That's when you try to minimize your sugar intake, because if you don't, you can do irreversible damage to your nerves and vasculature.

[garyclarke27]

Not so, you certainly don't need to eat sugar, too much sugar is poisonous and if usage is prolonged, causes insulin resistance and Type 2 diabeties. Starches are not much better, since they are so easily converted to sugars.

Most high energy usage organs inc the brain are quite happy burning ketone bodies - made from fat, in fact the heart prefers them. A few brain and organ functions do require some glucose, but these can be made from protein, better though to eat some healthy carbs such as spinach, for this. Most Type 2 diabetes sufferers can be cured by a strict low carb high fat diet. Healthiest fats are saturated grass fed cow's butter and lard, coconut oil or mono saturated olive oil - contrary to most people's belief. Unsaturated vegetable oils are very dangerous they are unstable and easily become poisonous, margarine is evil.