Becat wrote:
If it helps I'm trying to get a speaking position with the local training hospitals in the area, 3-4 I think. I want the new docs going into this world to know about RLS and recognize us when they see us. It's not right to have to self diagnosis and then have to teach our docs how to treat us. How many people have to do that? insane!
How rite you are Becat! I admire your intestinal fortitude. And it is not only RLS. The same was in ophthalmology, in psychiatry, and now in diabetes!
MY gatekeeper denies it but an endocrinologist, and a good one at that diagnosed me with diabetes Type II.
I was sent to a 5 week long training so I learn how to control my diabetes with diet (my preference). I started their diet in January 24 and stuck with it for several weeks. I was told to check my blood sugar level first thing in the morning and if I want to, 2 hours after meal.
Much to my surprise my "diet" consisted of 220 grams of carbohydrate, a modest amount of protein and 30 grams of fat.
Here are the RESULTS:
my fasting glucose went down to values lower than150 mg/dL. That was progress. I neither gained not lost a pound (better than gaining). But I observed occasional upsooted in the values but the 2 hour after data did not show the true picture (by that time it was much lower.
I decided to make a study on my carbohydrate tolerance by measuring my blood glucose level (BGL) at 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hrs, 3 hours, 4 hours and five hours after breakfast.
First I measured the effect of sugar (allowed by my diet). The peak value was reached at 1 hour and it was sky high (over 300).
Then I measured the effect of complex carbohydrate on BGL. The peak was 250 at one hour. (much lower at 2 hours which is the time one supposed to check BGL if at all). That was after eating 60 gms of carbohydrate.
20 gms of carbohydrate produced peak 209 (one small tortilla)-
20 gm of carbohydrate incl one whole wheat toast was only a bit lower.
5 gm carbohydrate (0.5 cup of broccoli) + a good portion of meat and cheese) raised the BGL only about 30 points, less than would have been for a normal.
After this experiment I was convinced that eating 220 grams of carbohydrate a day will not control my blood sugar, I will need to take drugs (which can produce hypoglycemia among other things, then eventually they will put me on insulin...
On the other hand, by minimizing carbohydrate intake I have a complete control on my blood sugar level.
This was a safe road to take because among the main food groups only carbohydrate is not essential to life and health. Both proteins and lipids are.
So I eliminated all bread, dough, pasta, potatoes of my diet. I immediately started to lose weight. Not counting the water I also lost, my weight loss amounts to 6 pounds in a week to 10 days. I was no longer hungry, and my BGL is steadily decreasing. Now it is under 110 most of the time.
I do not understand this love affair about the carbohydrate. I know they taste good, but to me they are a metabolic poison immediately pumping up the insulin level which then increases too much (hyperinsulinism) making the glucose level drop too fast and to far down resulting in hypoglycemia!
Dieticians and the teaching nurses begged me not to do it. My own endocrinologist actually revised my diet to have a bit less bread but 120 grams a day is still too much. If I measure the BGL at 2 hours after meal occasionally, I will never know how far up it has been. They will be able to tell after 3 months by measuring the relative glycolisation of hemoglobin (Hg A1c). And they will blame it on me.
They can then bawl me out to follow their diet more rigorously.
I am now convinced that the food pyramid (even the revised one) can be fatal for Type II diabetic people in the long run.
The controversy rages on but the governing medical opinion supported by the AMA, and many offical organizations (and by the government) do not budge. I will surprise them in six months when they remeasure me for the value of Hg A1c.
How this all affects my RLS/PLMD? Well I am still taking Mirapex up to 3 mg a day in 3-4 doses. It is under semi-control.
I have a sneaky suspicion that when I lose weight and have BGL under control, my secondary RLS will disappear or at least diminish.
Will let you all know when (or if) it happens!
Dan you had a tough fight, but keep fighting and you are doing as well as you can.
I did not like gabapentin. Cuased me to have vertigo.Tried several things and ended of with Mirapex (dopamine agonist, you also had its twin sister requip 2 years ago.
My iron is up in the seventies to nineties. My wife's is about 5, but she does not have RLS.
Man, my mouth (fingers) would not stop. Guess what my name is on the locarb Discussion Board? Yeah, it is Diabowl!
Love to all the old friends!