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MY DOC THINKS I MIGHT BE AT RISK FOR HIGH BLOOD SUGAR

SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

Hi everyone,
I went to my family doctor last week to get the results for my blood test. Everything is at normal levels she says and I am sooo relieved to see that I’m not lacking the general stuff like iron or B12. Then I admitted to her that I am raw vegan. She asks me questions about what I eat and I tell her that I can eat (at minimum) 6 apples a day (plus other foods of course) and she nearly flipped off her chair! She said 2 apples are more than enough and that she thinks I am at risk for high blood sugar. She warned me not to drink fruit juices and I said I don’t. I asked her, wouldn’t the fiber from the apples reduce the accumulation of the glucose into my blood stream? And she went on and on giving me a lecture about my diet and then she asked me where I am getting my calcium from if I don’t eat any dairy. At this I am like, Oh. My. God. I can’t believe I’m calling my doctor dumb and brainwashed. Can you guys believe that? She’s asking me where I’m getting my calcium from if I don’t consume any dairy!!!!!!!

Anyway, after having a good laugh, she seemed really concerned about my blood sugar. And yes, I do eat tons of greens through green smoothies and such. She’s making me take regular blood tests every 6 months and she wants me to get a sugar blood test in 3 months. She really made me worried because of how seriously she’s taking this. Any thoughts? Is it possible to have high blood sugar by eating alot of fruits? I’ve always consumed fruits (and veggies) quite liberally. Is there any cautions I need to take???

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Comments

  • rawmamarawmama Raw Newbie

    FIRST, do your research on how inaccurate those blood sugar tests are and bad the drink is for your body…AND I wonder, when being a raw foodist, what type of reaction your body will have drinking that horrible sugary drink since your body is not used to junk?!

    Might be best to find a Naturopath Doctor before allowing this can of worms to be opened. BUT why did you go to have a blood test in the first place? Were you having problems?

    Do you consume nuts and seeds, which can help to balance the blood sugar level. Ground flax seed on salads and fruit helped greatly to keep the blood sugar level in the normal range for me, but I am not an expert, just know what worked for me. I don’t sit down and eat 5 apples at a time though…maybe you don’t either but that is what she thinks? If you are having a problem with blood sugar though, then yes, eating fruit alone can elevate your blood sugar level quickly, and you’d need something to balance it, like a handful of nuts or seeds. Then the next meal I’d make sure it would include greens, rotation is a good thing…I’m sure the fruitarians out there though might have more advice than I do on what eating a lot of fruits can do for you and what cautions to take. I guess it all goes back to, are you having some sort of problem that caused her to test your blood in the first place and would cause her to red-flag this situation when you told her about what you eat (like some sort of a deficiency causing a physical ailment)?

    By the way, unhulled sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium :)!

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    Yeah, thanks cannibalwarrior.
    My doctor “claims” to be openminded about the raw vegan choice I made, but she certainly doesn’t sound like she meant it. After all, I seem to be doing alright. I feel fine, I make sure I get enough greens and have small amounts of fats but…I guess she scared me a little bit about the ‘too much sugar from fruits’ aspect of what she said. Should I be worried? Or is she just following what they brainwashed her in med school? She was very serious about me getting a blood sugar test. I don’t know. Maybe her words got too deep in my head!

  • coconuttycoconutty Raw Newbie

    I don’t know, but I think if you had blood sugar issues to worry about you would be able to feel it. Like if I eat sweet fruits all day and don’t get much of anything else in then yeah I can actually feel my blood sugar get a little wacky. Everyone’s different though. To me it doesn’t sound like your doctor is being very opened minded at all. If your tests came back normal then there shouldn’t be anything at all to freak out about.

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    Hi rawmama,
    Sorry but I didn’t see your post before. That’s strange. But anyway, I should of mentioned it before, you guys are getting it wrong. I wanted to take the blood test myself just to check if I am generally doing fine, which I am. Secondly, I can also eat about 5-6 apples in one sitting (4 if its organic) and the only time I ever feel I get a sugar rush is if I eat 3 or more bananas at once (I think its great especially when I’m cold because it warms me right up!). I do add ground flaxseeds in my smoothies. I make sure I get adequate calcium through unhulled sesame seeds, celery, green, green, greens, I dunno, sprouts, nuts and seeds, etc. I’m pretty sure I’m doing everything right.
    I agree with you coconutty. I think I got a little freaked out by my doctor.
    So thank you guys for your considerations. And I apologize again rawmama but I didn’t see your post before and thanks for your cosiderations as well!

  • Hi Everyone:)
    I just wanted to give you a bit of perspective about diabetes. I’m type2 diabetic and slowly going raw.
    Alot of people cannot tell when their bloodsugar is high or low. Most will say that they feel shaky,nervous etc.. if it is low. If it is high the feeling is more a tendency to want to eat more,sleep, pass out like a person has drunk too much.
    If you get a glucometer and test.. 70 to 120 is considered normal. Any higher; or lower… you are diabetic.
    One thing I have learned so far. Eating mainly green, lots of berries, granny apples that are green will help keep your numbers normalized.
    I followed the “Eat To Live” book by Dr Joel Furhman for a little more than 6 months. My numbers totally normalized.
    My own idiocy??? I gave in to stress and started eating SAD.:( Now, I’m paying the price.
    I need to get back to Raw and Eating To Live! sigh… just need the encouragement along the way.
    If your Dr is talking like that; in “my opninion, I”d be finding another Dr.”
    As for me:) I do have a good Dr and he is encouraging me to continue to eat my greens and live longer.
    Hang in there and know that eating raw is really the best thing going. After all… you can look at Victoria Boutenko and her family. Read their story. Her son was diagnosed diabetic.. she changed their eating,lifestyle and got rid of diabetes and lots more.
    Be encouraged!
    MeadowLark

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    Is the test just to check your blood sugar, or is it the glucose tolerance test where you have to drink the sugary drink and see how your blood sugar changes from it? If it is a simple blood sugar check, no big deal. But if it means you have to drink that sweet syrup drink, it might affect you negatively. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. When I eat high raw, my blood sugar stays balanced with very little insulin, and that includes days and weeks when I eat a ton of fresh fruit! Not everyone is the same, as they say, but listen to your body. I have learned to listen to my body & conscience and balance what my doctor says against that. There is a lot that has been done & progress that has been made in medical science, & I don’t want to discredit that; I just have learned to be careful, and sometimes my doctor tells me things I didn’t know. Then I am grateful. Good luck, let us know if/when you have the test :)

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    Also, almonds, sunflower seeds & carob are all good sources of calcium.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    Meadowlark (& anyone else interested) – Dr. Gabriel Cousens has written a book called “There is a Cure for Diabetes” which is about his 21 day reversing diabetes program at the Tree of Life rejuvenation center in Arizona. He cures people from type 2 diabetes all the time and has even had 3 or 4 people successful at beating type 1. I ordered the book, & I should be getting it next week!

    Samilicious – I also just thought of something: a piece of white bread has a higher glycemic index (raises blood sugar higher/faster) than an apple – would your doctor be showing the same concern about someone eating toast with jelly for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and garlic bread with their dinner (5 or more slices of white bread in a day)? Just wondering :)

  • coconuttycoconutty Raw Newbie

    LOL @ angie’s comment… so true about the white bread having a higher glycemic index than an apple!!! Good point! Go tell that to your doctor!

  • greeniegreenie Raw Newbie

    Two of my friends who went raw about a month ago both had (have?) diabetes and within a day or two of going raw their blood sugar was normal. They had type 2 diabetes for 5 and 7 years, were both on meds, and their blood sugar was still very very high. So the meds weren’t working. Raw diet worked – and fast. By the way, they ate a liberal raw diet, including plenty of fruit.

    IMHO your doctor doesn’t know what she’s talking about. MDs think a sugar is a sugar is a sugar – in other words, an apple is about the same as a brownie. (She said, shaking her head in disbelief).

    Have some tests to make her/you feel ok.

    Sesame seeds and green leafies are good sources of calcium.

  • SarahJSarahJ Raw Newbie

    I’m sure your doctor has your best interests at heart and I’m sure he/she is giving you their best advice based on the knowledge they have. Traditional doctors just aren’t trained in this. I would look for a naturopathic or homeopathic doctor that will have the information and advice that you are looking for. It sounds like your current doctor just doesn’t have knowledge in this area. Good luck.

  • TomsMomTomsMom Raw Newbie

    Your doctor is frightening. His behavior and reactions are quite bizarra even for a conventional physician.

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    lolol. Thanks so much you guys.
    Angie, thats funny. I will definately be asking my doctor about the toasted white bread. I gotta hear her response on that one! And in 3 months (hopefully if I remember) I’ll post my results for the blood sugar test. By the way, if its the test where I have to drink the syrup (eww) I will ABSOLUTELY refuse to do so.

    Alix1962, I agree. I also told her I ate two bananas that morning (with my green smoothie but I didn’t tell her I eat green smoothies because I can tell she thought I was out of my mind for being raw already!). And she shook her head and scribbled something down. And I’m thinking, come on! Its just two bananas lady! I’m a raw vegan where else am I supposed to get sufficient calories from!

    You know what? Its time for me to go switch to a naturopathic doctor. Do you think I need to go see one now or should I make an appointment after the blood sugar test in 3 months? Because honestly, I feel great at the moment and don’t think I need to see one (yet?).

    SarahJ, yeah I know, I’ve known this doctor since I was nearly a baby but I guess she doesn’t have much knowledge in this area either. She said that I was young and I’m at the age where my body stores bone mass….at least I know I’m getting good quality calcium rather than the acidic and inefficient, not to mention the hormone and steriod injected calcium from conventional milk.

    I’m so glad for all your support. Thanks again!

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    ashtangi, you made me realize that maybe I exaggerated a little bit. I do feel ‘energetic’ after eating alot of fruits (more or less with apples though) but with bananas I REALLY feel it. Sometimes I get paranoid about the glycemic index so I may add cinnamin and/or ground flax to my, e.g, banana icecreams. Don’t all raw fooders feel this way? Is it a bad thing?
    Anyway, no I am not overweight. Neither am I underweight (in terms of appearance). I do excercise 3 times a week (I know it should be everyday) through fitness yoga classes and palates. Before I attended these classes my muscles were…flaby and jelly and my stomach was veeery untoned. Now, I am more firmer and stronger and WAY more flexible (but I still need to improve my tummy strength).

    My point is that I think I’m taking the best care I can for my body and I know many people who have complemented my skin saying that it glows. I have WAAAAAAAAY more energy than my nonraw friends, so in conclusion, you guys are right. My doc doesn’t have great nutritional training.

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    Oooooh, I didn’t know that rawmama and it seems like she already put up the red flag!

  • shgadwashgadwa Raw Newbie

    See, your family doctor is one that most likely gets sick and is low on energy. Doctors are trained to generate fear. They say, “you will never live longer than 20 years old”...”your child will die if you do not have the surgery”...”you might be lacking in vitamins”...etc. That is their Job. So that when things go better, they look like they did a good job. Also, note that before you said you were a raw vegan, she seemed to think you were very healthy. Then after you said you were a raw vegan, she said you could be at risk. Also, note raw foods (yes fruits) is the cure for diabetes.

  • shgadwashgadwa Raw Newbie

    See, your family doctor is one that most likely gets sick and is low on energy. Doctors are trained to generate fear. They say, “you will never live longer than 20 years old”...”your child will die if you do not have the surgery”...”you might be lacking in vitamins”...etc. That is their Job. So that when things go better, they look like they did a good job. Also, note that before you said you were a raw vegan, she seemed to think you were very healthy. Then after you said you were a raw vegan, she said you could be at risk. Also, note raw foods (yes fruits) is the cure for diabetes.

  • Since your doctor had your blood work, why did you she tell you your current blood glucose? She is so worried, but it sounds like she did not tell you what it is. From your post,she told you that everything was in the normal range, well isn’t that what she wants to see, normal range?

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    shgadwa, you are so very right!
    And ashtangi, you just reminded me of another thing my doctor said that goes along with what shgadwa said about doctors generating fear. My doc said about how I should create a diet that I can “stick with for the rest of your life”. The way she lectured about that totally freaked me out. The rest of my life. Wow. Thats such a long time. Can I do that? Will I be healthy? I’m stupid for not realizing that being raw wasn’t going to be temporary. I think I can do it. My dads side of the family has a history of heart burn that passed on to me pretty young. When I went vegan a couple summers ago, I realized that I’ve been intolerant to dairy and I didn’t get stomache bloating and pain anymore! I felt great! Being raw, I noticed that I don’t get severe, HARSH, heart-burns anymore. I feel even greater! With so much more other benefits! I feel like I see things from another perspective now. An outside perspective. I see everyone around me being so sick and I know its mostly because of their diety choices. My body has literally guided me towards this diet, in a way. So I know this is the right diet for me.

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    velocycling,
    Yes, my doctor said everthing was in normal range BEFORE I told her I was raw. Funny, isn’t it?

  • I think your doctor is very wrong! I eat more than 6 apples a day, but I don’t feel any sugar highs and lows anymore, as I did before. It is incredible and sad how little doctors know about nutrition!
    Thats why I don’t go to doctors generally, only if I have a very serious problem.
    Regarding the calcium the thing which really matters is the calcium-phosphorus ratio in your diet. In plant food and especially raw food, this ratio is ideal, the calcium is more than the phophorus, but in animal products especially dairy, there are much more phosphorus, thats why the body can’t utilise the calcium from the dairy!

    Great calcium sources are poppy seeds, sesame seed, buckwheat, figs, carrots, kale, cabbage and other green veggies.

  • TomsMomTomsMom Raw Newbie

    I don’t think this doctor is taking care of the OP the best they know how. Physicians, much as they love themselves, are not in the position to cause harm. It’s not their right. I’m seeing a huge increase in physicians over just the last several years telling patients that fresh fruits and vegetables are harmful, that fruit “energy” is the “wrong energy” for their bodies, that they must eat meat and MILK to maintain health. Im even now hearing them tell patients that carrots are “full of sugar”. This is not a matter of veganism versus meat. This is worse than ignorance, as almost any kid in junior high and highschool knows better. There is no excuse for this bullchit.

  • shawnieshawnie Raw Newbie

    Dairy? Doesn’t your body make Calcium out of Magnesium anyways? There are plenty of ways to get calcium besides Dairy.

    How old is your doctor? It seems there’s too much Old Science stuck in everyone’s head these days. They just stick with what the government says is right: Meat, Dairy, Bread and Vegetables…

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    Incidentally, I did a research last semester on how the food guide pyramids were developed. The goals of the pyramid were to get recommended amounts of certain nutrients (all those which have an established RDA) within recommended calorie allowances (based on age, height, gender, etc.) USING THE FOOD CHOICES AMERICANS WERE TYPICALLY EATING!!!! That is why the government says to eat meat and milk, because people were already eating those things, and so the pyramid uses them to get certain nutrients from. The pyramid fell short on vitamin E in every calorie level; the group developing the new pyramid said they didn’t want to recommend higher amounts of greens, nuts, & seeds, because it didn’t fit with the guiding principle of the pyramid of being realistic. They didn’t want to recommend things that people don’t typically eat. The problem I realized with this is that the food pyramid is not promoted as a way to get the right amounts of nutrients from the things we are already eating, it is promoted as “the basis for nutritional education” and we are told that we need this much meat, this much dairy, etc. to get a good nutritional balance.

    Valeria – The body does not turn magnesium into calcium, but magnesium helps the body metabolize calcium.

    Boron is a mineral which guards against calcium loss & bone demineralization, and boron is found in leafy greens, parsnips, beets, tomatoes, nuts,fruits, summer squash, and whole grains.

    It amazes me more & more as I study (although maybe I already should have known it!) how much eating a variety of raw plant foods gives our bodies what they need!

    Wow, you are only 17! Awesome!

  • TomsMomTomsMom Raw Newbie

    Humans did not evolve to require consuming milk as older children and adults. The medical profession needs to keep their nose out of nutrition, since they’re obviously so open to manipulation from food and drug companies. And parents need to wisen up. I feel sorry for babies and kids today, I really do. They rely completely on us adults to care for them and keep them healthy. We’ve failed them.

  • TomsMomTomsMom Raw Newbie

    Sorry, angie, I didn’t see your post. I wasn’t disputing yours:-)

  • TomsMomTomsMom Raw Newbie

    One thing: actually I believe the food pyramid is largely influenced by consumerism and capitalist desires. Milk? That is the dead give-away.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    No worries, Alix1962, I’m with you on that, too. I read another article by the American Dietetic Association, in which they stated that people who are lactose intolerant should be educated that they can usually tolerate small amounts of dairy in their diets. What?! I thought it would say they should be educated on alternative sources of calcium. That, and I hear commercials on the radio that talk about the benefits of consuming dairy products, and then at the end it says the commercial was paid for by the dairy association. HELLOOOOO!!!!! ;)

  • TomsMomTomsMom Raw Newbie

    lol, angie! When I hear that, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry:-D Did you hear about the Diabetic Assoc guy and the grant from Schweppes? I need to do some reading on that actually, to make sure I read right. But I almost puked with rage.

    Edit: sorry for the crude joke. I changed the name back. Oh, tacky me:-D

  • SamiliciousSamilicious Raw Newbie

    Oh, I just remembered something else my doctor said so quickly that I hardly heard her (I think she didn’t want me to think about it). As she was telling me about how I should follow a diet that I can stick with for the rest of my life, she said at the end, about how in the long run, I’m going to get fat! She said that so quickly that I nearly missed it. As I walked out of the room, she asked if I lost weight and I told her, not really, but I think my body is in better shape becuase of exercise. So do you guys think my doctor thinks I am going to get anerexic? Trust me, I am not stick skinny or super thin. People consider me as normal. But what did she mean by getting fat later on in my life? Any thoughts?

    Valerie- my doctor looks about 45 years old, I would say.

    One more thing, I’m going to print this forum later on to show my family about all the great information you guys have posted. They never believe a word I say and they rather believe it on paper. Keep it up!

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