Here ' s how to interpret the results: If the second insulin level is 10 or more points higher than the first, it means your pancreas is working and that you probably can get off in sulin if you are willing to follow the Atkins Nutritional Approach. If it is 20 or more points higher, it is almost a certainty that you can do so.
The Induction phase of Atkins is essential to accomplish this feat, as is a program for gradually reducing your dosage level of insulin( and sulfonylurea drugs), as I discuss in Chapter 24. My staff and I have taken hundreds of diabetics off insulin and thousands off oral medications, all without any ill effects. Do not discontinue medication, however, except under the care of a doctor.
In Chapter 24, you will also learn that the only drug useful for overweight, insulin-resistant, but not insulindependent, diabetics is metformin. And that chromium, vanadium, alpha lipoic acid, zinc, biotin and Co-enzyme Q10 can also help individuals who are insulin resistant.
ANTI-ARTHRITIS MEDICATIONS
If you cannot lose weight and are taking powerful arthritis medications known as NSAIDs( non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs), it ' s time for you to consider getting off the drugs. The story is simple. Virtually all drugs known to be effective in controlling the pain and discomfort of arthritis may lead to weight gain. Some do so more than others, but no one has ever funded a study to find out which drugs had the most impact on weight gain. The best solution is for you to try to recall whether any of your weight gain coincided with the use of one or more arthritis drugs.
The good news is the truly impressive number of vitanutrients documented in scientific journals that can relieve arthritic symptoms. When arthritis has an inflammatory basis( the painful joints get red and swollen and a blood test shows your sed rate is high), the most effective natural therapies are MSM( methylsulfonylmethane), cetyl myristoleate, copper, bromelain, ginger, turmeric and pantethine( vitamin B5). For the non-inflammatory type( osteoarthritis), natural therapies include glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin, sea cucumber, fish oil, niacinamide and the B complex group of vitamins.
Using vitanutrients to substitute for drugs in the case of arthritis is somewhat more direct than the previous examples. For dosages of natural therapies for arthritis symptoms, refer to Dr. Atkins ' Vita-Nutrient Solution. Since reducing the quantity of pharmaceuticals is the objective, the dose of alternatives should be on the liberal side. Since most pharmaceutical drugs do afford pain relief, I tell my patients to determine what is the lowest dosage they feel comfortable with and settle for that. Any significant dose-lowering will probably allow for weight loss to resume.
Steroids such as prednisone are powerful medications that can be lifesaving but have a definite metabolic downside, especially if used for long periods of time. They are often prescribed for arthritis as well as for autoimmune disorders, inflammation of the bowel and any other inflammatory condition. These drugs actually cause water retention and weight gain. They can also damage the kidneys and pancreas and cause diabetes. The same nutritional supplements that can relieve arthritis are safer alternatives that will not hinder weight loss.
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