You're correct that Type I and Type II diabetes are not at all the same thing, and require different treatments. It's scary how many doctors recommend insulin to Type IIs. And yes, any meal and treatment plan that spikes BG to 250-300 is killing people, and everyone responsible for recommending or enforcing it should immediately have their professional licenses revoked.

Seriously: we are in the Dark Ages of blood sugar management. These are the same sorts of people that drove Ignaz Semmelweiss into the insane asylum for suggesting that doctors should wash their hands between doing autopsies and delivering babies.

That's a great point about the breakfast studies...I'll bet you that children whose parents feed them breakfast at home are better off financially, more likely to be a two-parent family, and have other qualities that we know are associated with doing better in school. Meanwhile, you might enjoy my articles on "The Breakfast Myth: Part I, Part II.

JS

It is true that fructose overload causes its own set of problems -- most notably fatty liver, which is a symptom of many other problems.

Unfortunately, trying to explain every contingency of the glycemic index often obscures the main point!  This is an issue I continually struggle with. 

It's also difficult to balance the desire to explain everything with the desire to write only one article, instead of a 5+ article series.

JS

Thank you for the correction! I must have had too many windows open...

JS

One egg is a big improvement over zero eggs, to be sure.  

I agree with you.  Institutional diets are a crime -- and that goes for schools as well as hospitals and nursing homes.  We've turned the helpless and dependent into grain disposal units.  

As Dr. Anastasia quotes: "Mrs Carmody’s sugar is 33mmols. Of course she had toast and margarine, and marmalade, and cornflakes, and skim milk, and apple juice for breakfast. It’s a standard diabetic diet."

JS

Who eats one egg for breakfast? My friend who had a stoke and is confined to a nursing home. One egg, oatmeal and toast and (bad) coffee.

I'm glad he gets the egg though; I woulda thunk that was against government rules.

There's a *real* problem for people confined to institutions, and hence diets are confined by government guidelines.

Paleo is a template, not a religion - it is a simple template of eating nutritiously, avoiding toxins and playing as hard as you sleep. That's a big one for kids.

Tell the doctors and nurses that since so much breakfast cereal is sugar-frosted junk marketed directly to kids (a fact they can't dispute), you've decided it's safer not to give her a taste for cereal — even "healthy" cereal — as a familiar comfort food.  It's a very short step from "healthy" Corn Flakes to Sugar Frosted Flakes, and subsequently to temper tantrums.

For the daycare provider, try to spin it positively instead of negatively.  Tell them that your child is much healthier, sleeps better, and behaves better at home when she always eats food containing complete protein (instead of the bread, cake, cookies, and other carb-heavy, no-protein snacks typically served to kids).  I'm not a fan of claiming gluten intolerance, because then they'll just serve Rice Chex and Corn Pops.

If they absolutely won't let you give your daughter snacks to take with her, then give them an ultimatum.  If they still won't budge, find another daycare.  They're not the friggin' Food Police.

Most importantly, be calm yet firm.  You'll be told over and over that you're ENDANGERING THE HEALTH OF YOUR CHILD!!1!!1! by not feeding her sugary pablum and gluten-based junk.  

First, you have the right to raise your child as you see fit.  Period.  End of discussion.

Second, if they persist in trying to make the "logical" nutrition argument, ask them "So what essential nutrients are in cereal that aren't found in far greater quantities in natural, whole, unprocessed foods (these are great words to use) like eggs, vegetables, and meat?"  "We're all supposed to avoid the center of the grocery store and eat more vegetables, right?  I'm starting her out with good eating habits, so her 'comfort foods' later in life are healthy — not candy, cake, cookies, or McDonalds."

You can make the same argument for "hearthealthywholegrains": what nutrients aren't found in far greater quantities in natural, whole, unprocessed foods?

But remember, it's not about logic.  You won't convince anyone that you're correct.  The best you can hope for is acceptance — convincing them that you're not insane – and that you're doing this for good reasons that don't involve being part of a weird religious cult.

JS

Random question though: my daughter is just 6 months old and I've already had to deal with doctors and nurses questioning why I haven't started my daughter on cereal. At the daycare (which she hasn't yet attended) they said that they give all the kids snacks based on government recommendations. When I mentioned that she only just started eating avocado/veggies/and some fruits (she's been exclusively breastded), again I get the evil eye. What's a parent to do?

Good question.  Anyone know any old mortuary workers?

Of course, the additional fat mass is a second uncontrolled variable.

JS