Re: Beta cell recovery tests - Part 2

September 9, 1999

Okay - this is the findings of Paice's insulin-injecting experiment:

**********************

Effects of adding 9 units/day of Ultralente over a 38 day period.

FRUCTOSAMINE RESULTS

At start of test = 256 micromole/liter

after 13 days = 212

after 19 days = 208

after 36 days = 201

FASTING BG RESULTS

Average fasting BG before using insulin = 100 mg/dL (plasma)

Average fasting BG while using insulin = 93.8 mg/dL (plasma)

AUC FROM MINI GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST

Before using insulin = 4,225 mg/dL minutes (avg of 2 tests)

After using insulin = 3,862

CONCLUSIONS

My results support the findings of Dr Bernstein and others that resting the

beta cells will improve their performance. In my case it was not a big

change, but I was pleased with the result. I was apprehensive that my beta

cells might not improve because they should not be too badly stressed now

that I use a LoSS (low sugar score) diet.

The use of such a small amount of Ultralente insulin (9 units per day) is a

near-zero hypoglycemia risk for me. Initially I found the insulin gave me a

3 pound weight gain, but that weight went away after 3 weeks.

The hardest part of the test was to resist the temptation to eat more carbs

at dinner time. When you know that you have some extra insulin available in

your system those carbs appear to be less threatening, but that's an

illusion. Discretion won out and I stuck to my diet!

A big advantage of testing with insulin is that it gives you confidence to

handle the practical issues associated with its use. Also it gives you an

appreciation of the things that people have to contend with, when they must

use insulin.

In my case it was simple to use a small amount of insulin and I considered

adding insulin as a routine part of my control means. However, for now I've

decided to reserve the use of insulin only for special situations, for

example, if I get sick.

(Type 2 control by diet only)

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