Brief Intro
I am in an almost constant state of experimentation … or so it seems. Here is a post on some of my experiments. :)
Someone said that we are all living experiments and I agree. For most of my life, I was an experiment to see how much punishment a body could take…. poor diet, lack of sleep, no exercise… but that’s all changed now, as I like to say…
“I spent the first 48 years of my life damaging my mind and body…. I’m going to spend the next 48 years healing it. “
I have Type 2 Diabetes, am drug and insulin free and I have ‘normal blood sugar’. You can read more than you want to know about me by clicking here.
Dairy, Diabetes and Me
In July 2010, almost a year after ‘going primal’ I finally decided to test to see if I was Dairy Intolerant, you can read more about my original dairy test, by clicking here, “Dairy Fast”. But in summary, two dairy fasts seemed to confirm that I was indeed dairy intolerant. So except for cheese, which did not seem to be inflammatory, I avoided all dairy products.
As a result, my blood sugar readings declined, form the 80’s & 90’s to the 70’s & 80’s. While one can assume it was at least partly due to the reduced dairy …
There are MANY FACTORS that affect blood sugar, inflammation has a major influence and there are many reasons why inflammation can rise. Carbohydrate consumption is the main contributor but there are many, including stress, lack of sleep etc.
For a short course on Inflammation with links to other sources, Click Here for “Inflammation Causes and Detection”.
THEREFORE, I can’t say for sure that ceasing most dairy caused the reduced blood glucose readings.
My glucose readings remained well within normal ranges during the fall and all was going well. I like to experiment so I decided to re-test my dairy assumptions to see how it affected my blood sugar and inflammation overall.
Summary
End of December ’10 began to add back butter. I was pleasantly surprised there was no ‘gut’ related inflammation. That was a good sign. No change in blood sugar was noted. I believe (I do not KNOW) the lack of gut reaction to the butter introduction was due in part to my supplementing with probiotics. Would this affect my blood sugar response as well??? I read this 77 on December 31, 210.
First of January ’11 – I began adding Heavy Whipping Cream (HWC) back into my meal plan. I only used HWC as a coffee creamer…. and consume on average 6-8 oz per day. For those counting carbs, that’s less than 6-8g per day of additional carbs.
* Because there are many factors that affect blood sugar /blood glucose I did not become concerned over a single reading. By the way, I typically read once a week unless I have a blood sugar reading greater than 100 mg /dl.
** There was definitely an ‘uptrend’… I had readings culminating with a 98 … on 1/13/11 ….. I did not like where this was going. :(
After receiving the fasting reading of 98 mg/dl … I decided to stop all dairy …. two days later I had a 77 mg/dl reading on 1/15/11 …
BUT my wife went grocery shopping, she did not know that I had ceased dairy. She noticed that I did not have any heavy cream so she bought me another carton. I can NOT waste cream … so I resumed drinking the Heavy Cream with my coffee.
ONCE AGAIN … my fasting overnight blood glucose began to climb.
On January 19th I had a reading of 92 mg/dl … I had higher readings than this but I did not save them, none were higher than a 98 however. The 19th was my last day of heavy cream and by the way… my Overnight Fasting Blood Glucose levels began decreasing again. Here are pics of my 1/22 and 1/23 readings….
Coincidence???
I’ve essentially tested Heavy Cream four (4) times now…. and while elevated Blood Glucose levels can be caused by a myriad of factors… I feel confident in saying that Heavy Cream elevates my Overnight Fasting Blood Glucose readings.
I have read that dairy intolerance affects most humans… (in varying levels).
Take Home Message?
IF your overnight fasting blood glucose readings are elevated… as in above 100 mg/dl … you may want to try a dairy fast. Again, here is a link to my original dairy fast post, click here.
Mark Sisson posted another article about dairy recently… “Dairy and It’s Affect on Insulin Resistance” , citing information that points to dairy being a cause for insulin resistance… my personal n=1 experiment would agree.
Here is my Diabetes Warrior Info:
My Diabetes Nutritional Chart
My Diabetes Meal Plan ( a true diabetes diet, not like most of those promoted by American Diabetes Association)
This is very interesting Steve. Interesting indeed. I never considered myself as a big dairy comsumer but I will definitely look into that experiment.
Thanks Mary. :)
Very interesting – I am insulin and drug for Diabetes free for 6 weeks now – I do eat a lot of cheese and a little butter when I cook eggs but that is it – my fasting BS runs between 94 and 116 most of the time I have had one reading of 126 but that is the only one above 116 today was 99 – I eat almost no carbs 20g or less a day and I am continually trying to reduce them – I have never felt better – I am an endurance athlete and have done 13.1 mile runs lasting about 4 hours(I am slow) eating on one cheese stick during the run – there is not such thing as an essential carbohydrate! At least for me.
Very interesting – I am insulin and drug for Diabetes free for 6 weeks now – I do eat a lot of cheese and a little butter when I cook eggs but that is it – my fasting BS runs between 94 and 116 most of the time I have had one reading of 126 but that is the only one above 116 today was 99 – I eat almost no carbs 20g or less a day and I am continually trying to reduce them – I have never felt better – I am an endurance athlete and have done 13.1 mile runs lasting about 4 hours(I am slow) eating on one cheese stick during the run – there is not such thing as an essential carbohydrate! At least for me.
Thanks for the comment Ashby! I know your story well…and just know that YOU inspire me sir! You are to be commended for all that you have accomplished in your own fitness journey.
I’d love to tell your story here …when you are ready. :)