Carbohydrates, Calories or Medication

Q: Dear Ginny,

I have a Brother-in-law who is at least 300 pounds that he's Diabetic. His Doctor told him to have 75 carbs per meal, and because of that he's gained 15 pounds in a short time.'

I also have a brother who also is Diabetic and although he wasn't that heavy, his Doctor told him to have 35 carbs per meal, he's lost about 40 pounds and is doing well.

I believe my Son-in-law is eating too many Carbs. Am I right or do you think this is correct?

Thank you

L.

A: L., It is so very hard to give specific advice when I have not seen your son-in-law.

If he has gained 15 pounds in a very short time, he wants to be sure and check in with his physician and make sure that the weight gain is not a side effect of any medication he is taking. If the weight gain is not caused by medication, overall calorie intake may be the cause. He may be eating more food than his body needs.

Blood sugar levels are most often affected by carbohydrate intake. If blood sugars are high, we usually ask patients to look very closely at the number and kinds of carbohydrates they are eating. When patients begin to decrease very processed carbohydrates in favor of whole grains, they decrease fat and salt intake as well. This often begins to make a difference with their weight.

I will ask a friend of the Ask Ginny site, Lisa Loertscher, a dietician, to look at your letter and see if she has additional information to add.

-ginny

D-Tips: Who Do You Know That Is Resilient?

Dr. Terri Flint has volunteered to join "Ask Ginny & Friends" to help answer your questions about diabetes.

Terri is the Director of Intermountain Employee Health Services, including Employee Health and the Employee Assistance Program. She has worked in this role for over 10 years and has worked for Intermountain Healthcare for 19 years. Dr. Flint has a PhD in Social Work and has been a clinical Social Worker for 29 years. Her areas of expertise are change management, communication and building resilience.

Terri also writes "D-Tips for Healthy Living," sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. D-Tips are periodic emails to help individuals cope with the psychological issues created by having diabetes. I know you will find D-Tips interesting, informative and that your family will benefit in your quest for better physical and mental health!

D-Tip: Who Do You Know That Is Resilient?

There are great examples of resilient people around us. Corrie Ten Boom was a survivor of Jewish war camps and her book The Hiding Place is a remarkable story of how her faith, forgiveness and sense of humor helped her survive. Michael J. Fox, the actor struck with Parkinson's Disease, has continued to make people laugh and inspire others to increase funding for the study of this disease. In his book Always Looking Up, Michael writes that for everything this disease has taken, something with greater value has been given. Take a look around. Who do you know that is resilient? What do they do differently?

The American Diabetes Association would like to hear from you. Contact Dr. Terri Flint at d-tips@diabetes.org to have your questions addressed in one of the upcoming D-Tips. Come hear Dr. Terri Flint talk about Coping with Diabetes at the 2010 American Diabetes Association Expo on February 27, at South Towne Expo Center. Visit http://diabetes.org/saltlakecityexpo regularly for Expo updates.