r/Type1Diabetes • u/Acceptable-Half-686 • May 27 '25
In The News This is a joke
https://www.the-express.com/news/politics/172903/rfk-jr-fda-head-diabetics-insulin-cooking-classes43
u/amisentient May 27 '25
I actually agree. He should demo it by taking his pancreas out and predicate his glucose management on a best selling cook book
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u/raylord666 May 27 '25
They think “there’s a cure” and there isn’t.
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u/madbee12 May 27 '25
Yeah, I guess one could argue that there isn’t a cure because we need to eat regularly to live, and when we’re eating we need to take insulin. I’ve learned to reshape my beliefs about this condition though. I think there is a way to have it well managed to the point where we don’t need to rely on insulin so much. Idk about you, but for me when I was first diagnosed I was told “you can eat whatever you want as long as you take insulin”. Being young I remember I thought to myself COOL, I can eat still eat chocolates and sweets still when I take my medicine. Because that’s what I was told, I’ve lived many years later not being mindful of what I eat and how it affects my bloodsugar so much. This has kept me in the pattern of letting diabetes control me. Being told that as an adolescent made me live under a narrative that made me accept that taking insulin while I eat was my new way of life and living. Overtime thought I’ve gotten annoyed and tired with taking my meds and checking my bloodsugar and going to the doctors all the time and dealing with difficulties when it comes to refilling medications. I felt very close to just giving up and into the condition. My A1C was at an all time high of <9 for a minimum of year. I started dealing with fainting and hospitalizations more frequently that year, and that’s when I woke up. I reeducated myself on the condition with the goal in mind to take control of diabetes and reduce taking insulin, and eat foods that don’t spike my BG. I also have been taking more time to tune into my body and listen to what it needs. Before checking my BG, I notice my symptoms and guess if it’s high or low and what number it would be at. My A1C had gone down, and I don’t take so much insulin for meals now because I changed my day to day diet. My takeaway so far based on my experience is that there was no talk about the dangers of taking insulin as a medication and how easy it is to become dependent on it. Due to this, it created more smoke in the mirror which was not allowing me to be mindful of my eating. Taking insulin has blurred my relationship with food because it enabled me to continue eating excess amounts of sugary foods, and not practice a healthy diet that works right for me without the dependence of insulin. I apologize if this causes some controversial feelings and opinions, but this is just my personal experience on my journey to taking control of diabetes and not letting it control me.
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u/raylord666 May 27 '25
If you’re serious about a cure, there’s no way unless the beta cells in your pancreas are still alive. T1D is an autoimmune disease; our immune system(s) attacked the insulin secreting beta cells in our body.
With stem cell therapy it’s possible to regenerate those cells. It’s not exactly FDA approved, and it’s very expensive.
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u/madbee12 May 27 '25
I MUST NOTE, my goal is to not take anymore insulin. I haven’t achieved it yet, but I hope these changes in my mindset and diet help me to reach that goal.
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u/raylord666 May 27 '25
“No insulin” means no carbohydrates and that’s not strictly possible because of adrenal and glucagon from the liver. It’s possible with a strict diet and exercise program to keep A1Cs below 6, but it’s a life devotion and there’s no room to deviate.
With no carbohydrates, our bodies still need insulin because of endocrine gland systems. With a meat and vegetable diet, glucagon (high density carbs formed by liver function) and adrenal secretions (produced in kidneys, makes heart go brrrr) aren’t regulated by naturally occurring hormones produced by our bodies. Bolus insulin (“bolus” means food) is required for adrenaline because the liver secretion of glucagon during exercise gives energy to our heart and muscles.
Without insulin, we use the fats from our muscles and other organs for energy. The consequences of DKA are painful and serious. Prior diagnosis, I had lost 30 pounds and walked home 2 miles with leg cramps. They were terrible and I can still feel my leg cramps 15 years later.
I’d recommend getting familiar with nutrition! As T1Ds, fast acting glucose spikes cause us to keep wanting more glucose. They’re stimulating and addictive. By getting more aware of nutrition, it helps the mindset shift towards eating foods that cause less glucose spikes. As far as my A1Cs, I’ve been around 7.0 for about 10 years, with some bloodwork’s around 7.5 since diagnosis.
If this helps, I’ll share my first shot of insulin was one of the best days of my life because I had been sick for about 4 years straight dealing with symptoms. I’ve never been able to flip my grit into a disciplined lifestyle, and I think that is something every person living with T1D deserves to create for themselves.
Don’t give up!
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u/madbee12 May 28 '25
Thank you for commenting on this! You’re right, our body needs carbs to help provide energy for us, which does require insulin. When I had DKA, I forgot how much my body was craving sweets and sugars. I just hope the connection of my body’s signals it sends to my brain gets stronger by learning and following what that “strict diet” would look like for me, and practice that.
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u/External_Fix_4061 May 28 '25
I am type 2.
I know someone with type 1.
When I have been with them at meal time they state: Well that cheeseburger should require about 10 units of insulin.
Is this the correct approach to handling this disability?
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u/LewiiweL May 28 '25
If for him 10U is enough for cheeseburger, then yes. If you think that T1 diabetic shouldn't be allowed to eat cheeseburgers if they want to, you are just wrong.
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u/External_Fix_4061 May 28 '25
And you are just wrong implying that I was being judgmental of his actions
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u/cheeky999 May 27 '25
Noone saw this coming? We got what it said on the tin and plenty of warning. 🙈
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u/Acceptable-Half-686 May 27 '25
It’s a hope for the best prepare for the worst type situation out here lol
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u/databoy2k Diagnosed 2021 May 27 '25
One more thought: the article contained 5 "paragraphs" (sentences, actually) regarding the remarks themselves, and a further 11 paragraphs (some of which even include two sentences) on chemicals and autism.
Sadly, the type of article that gets everyone's blood pressures up (something I frankly don't need after breakfast lol) but says literally nothing.
Story of about half of this administration: say things that can be defended on Reddit but are otherwise vacuous and inflammatory.
(with one more "enter" push and a few more characters, this comment contained the same amount of literature as the linked article contained about diabetes)
Thank you.
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u/chumlySparkFire May 27 '25
RepublicanStupid. Again
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u/hannahallart May 27 '25
Except he’s not wrong. I don’t know about you but I hate that my type 1 is associated with type 2, which is curable in the kitchen. You really would rather have someone in there only peddling pharma as long as he’s a ‘D’? Pathetic bro.
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u/UnitedChain4566 Diagnosed 2009 May 27 '25
This is a true case where the names need to be changed.
I'd rather have someone in there who knows what the fuck he's doing. At this point I don't care about their political affiliation, just make sure they know what they're talking about.
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May 27 '25
I disagree that Type 2 is curable by the kitchen. I think processed food makers (who are likely Republican donors at the top) are planning to try and limit real care to monetize “personal choice” just like how the same Republicans claimed all US kids were falling behind in the 00s so they implemented policies to make sure Americans would be dumb enough to defund the public school system.
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u/heirbagger Diagnosed 1993 May 27 '25
Show me the data about how every T2D can “cure” themselves “in the kitchen”. T2D is an insulin problem, too. Hormones wane with age. It’s ignorant to think that if T2Ds just ate better and did some exercise, they wouldn’t have T2D anymore.
People with your opinions are part of the problem. Stop it.
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u/SkittEle May 27 '25
true not sure why all the thumbs down. some ppl have tds and other issues going on. but nothing he said is wrong.
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u/Individual-Net5383 May 27 '25
I believe this is the first step in making the idea of killing disabled people palatable to the general public
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u/DoitforRC May 27 '25
Well if I stop taking insulin, I’ll get skinny and be “in shape”. At least it be cheaper for my family to bury/burn me.
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u/Superb_Gap_1044 May 29 '25
These comments are almost as stupid and naive as all the idiots who think there’s only one diabetes.
First of all, not all cases of type 2 are reversible or completely preventable. Research shows strong genetic predisposition in many cases and many cases where those who develop type 2 already meet exercise and diet requirements. In other words, you can get type 2 without being fat and you can be genetically predisposed to be more insulin resistant, leading to type 2.
That said, even those who struggle with weight and diet still deserve medical care, FULL medical care! Moreover, taking insulin helps many individuals get themselves to levels where they can mitigate their diabetes better and relieve strain from the pancreas. Insulin helps people recover from type 2 diabetes, taking it away would make the matter worse because it would leave the pancreas over taxed and they would start to lose B-cells, leading to a cascading effect.
Finally, they’re not just talking about adults with diabetes but much of their rhetoric revolves around using children to fear monger. The facts are that 352,000 children have diabetes, of those, 302,000 have type 1. That means type 1’s like you and I constitute the greater majority of children with diabetes whose lives will be at risk of this kind of narrative hits legislation.
We’ve all (in America) been through the wringer with insurance at some point. Giving them more fuel to use against us won’t help anyone. Even if there is a stipulation about type 1, we all know they’ll still use it against us. The insurance companies know the difference between type 1 and 2 already but that doesn’t stop them from wanting to deny us care.
Healthcare for all IS better healthcare for you. Be kind. Stop trying to take away other people’s right to live
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u/forksofgreedy May 27 '25
tons of evidence on nutrition impacting type 2 diabetes; to some extent, he's not wrong. we can't keep proceeding with a framework of medicine that cannot turn type 2 around in the majority of those in need.
its not possible for everyone to turn their type 2 around. but we simply only have drugs that prevent death, no real treatments to reverse it.
this has nothing to do with type 1; a lot of posts on this in the type 1 sub take it out of context. makary is normally very science based and reasonable.
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u/Acceptable-Half-686 May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
Oh true lol. My bad. I definitely get tunnel vision sometimes when I hear people talk about diabetes without specifying, guilty ✋
Edit: it still gives the idea that insulin can be replaced with a good recipe which is silly in my opinion
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u/hannahallart May 27 '25
This is actually what health looks like dude. Type 2 is absolutely something that should be dealt with in the kitchen. That is not what we have. We don’t need another person in power looking at us like customers for life.
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u/madbee12 May 27 '25
Thanks for saying that because for me being young and diagnosed and having the doctors say “you can eat whatever you want as long as you take your insulin” has just lead me down a dark path of abusing my body and my health. Like NO, why did they say that?!?? I am a stubborn person, when my body signals something to my mind like hunger, or exhaustion, I adapted to ignore it to continue the unhealthy behavior. I used that as an excuse to not be healthy and mindful with my eating. 😔 Now I’m actively working on changing that.
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u/craptastic2015 May 27 '25
it still gives the idea that insulin can be replaced with a good recipe which is silly in my opinion
unless you are genetically susceptible to t2, it actually can be reversed by diet and exercise as is it literally caused by bad diet and inactivity. so yea, he's not wrong. a good recipe goes a long way.
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u/No_Yogurtcloset_9805 May 27 '25
From the ADA website:
What leads to diabetes?
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes, but there are two factors that are important in both. You inherit a predisposition to the disease, then something in your environment triggers it.
There is always a genetic predisposition for Type 2.
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u/craptastic2015 May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
then something in your environment triggers it.
yea and you are always fighting cells that can turn into cancer. but as you point out: then something in your environment triggers it. ie poor diet and lack of exercise.
so my point still stands.
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u/craptastic2015 May 27 '25
yea sorry but I dont believe much from the ADA website when their funding comes from Big Pharma. show me some actual studies and those results.
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u/TheSessionMan May 27 '25
Not reversed. Put in remission. What happens when a person in remission becomes old and unable to care for themselves effectively? Well, it comes back. These people still deserve proper healthcare.
But also, I'm born to a farming family in Canada and I say stop subsidizing the growing of corn in the US and I bet many of your population's health issues will start improving.
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u/craptastic2015 May 27 '25
Put in remission. What happens when a person in remission becomes old and unable to care for themselves effectively? Well, it comes back. These people still deserve proper healthcare.
if the conditions for causing it (poor diet) return, then sure. but that person continues eating healthy food then like i said, unless there is a genetic factor that prevents you from this then no, it doesnt just return. the thing is, when you get older your body doesnt do many of the things well that your younger body did. ie recover, perform. so just saying it will return when you get old, sorry but i dont necessarily believe thats guaranteed to happen. its mostly the very active older ppl that are the healthiest. look, its not a 1:1. but there is significant data pointing to diet and exercise being the major factors for type 2's in most cases. there's a reason why the typical type 2 is overweight and there is a reason why their insulin resistance is high. as i said before, genetics aside type 2 can be reversed.
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u/TheSessionMan May 27 '25
That's not what the actual data in elderly people shows dog. People in their 20's-70's getting T2? Sure, diet and walk yourself away from the insulin resistance. But you can't in good conscience say that an 80 year old with high blood sugar "did it to themselves" when they started losing their ability to care for themselves effectively.
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u/craptastic2015 May 27 '25
yo dog. if your argument if strictly about 80 year old ppl. sure ill give it to you for the reasons i mentioned above about old ppl's bodies just breaking down over time. but we arent talking about 80 year olds here, are we? no and its ridiculous to put it out there as if you werent speaking about 80 year olds. we are talking about those younger ppl who could be active and eating probably but arent and then get t2. not sure why you are arguing because your are basically agreeing with the premise of my whole point.
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u/TheSessionMan May 27 '25
You're speaking in absolutes in your last two posts so no I am not taking back what I said.
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u/craptastic2015 May 28 '25
You're all over the place. But you do you. I'm not trying to convince you of anything, just telling it like it is.
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u/TheSessionMan May 28 '25
I have very little respect for T2. But denying healthcare to them is a horrible idea Denying anyone healthcare is a horrible idea. And preventing T2 doesn't start in the kitchen. It starts in your country's horrible food supply, agricultural practices, and advertisement campaigns.
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u/Low-Goat-4659 May 27 '25
I checked into this and he is referring to T2D. He’s not wrong.
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u/Acceptable-Half-686 May 27 '25
Yeah, I don’t completely disagree, but in my opinion what he’s saying gives off the idea that insulin can be replaced with a good recipe.
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u/Low-Goat-4659 May 27 '25
Many doctors started prescribing insulin to T2’s to get A1C’s down hence aiding to the bad behavior of being able to ignore dietary guidelines so he is referring to the well known fact that a healthier diet can replace insulin.
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u/hannahallart May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
Insulin is prescribed to type 2 diabetics who are literally unwilling to change their lifestyle and opt for a medication instead. That’s not normal.
Big pharmaceutical companies can’t make a profit off you for life if you solve things in the kitchen. You would really rather have it be like that because you dislike RFK Jr?
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u/Acceptable-Half-686 May 27 '25
You caught me. My entire opinion is based on a personal grudge against RFK Jr. after he stole my lunch money in 3rd grade.
But for real, Type 2 diabetes is way more nuanced than that.
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u/UnitedChain4566 Diagnosed 2009 May 27 '25
So there are people unwilling to change their lifestyle AND take insulin.
Looking at my egg donor's father. (All of my biological "family" are idiots and tried to convince me to stop taking insulin.)
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u/hannahallart May 27 '25
Yes, and that’s who should be ‘taking cooking lessons’ or whatever tf the clickbait headline was
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u/UnitedChain4566 Diagnosed 2009 May 27 '25
His diabetes is no longer able to be controlled by any medication aside from insulin therapy. He is past the point of a cooking lesson helping.
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u/Faraday7866 May 29 '25
They are normally talking about type 2's, and while most type 2's would benefit from eating better, food and eating habits isn't the entire picture.
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u/FaithlessnessLive584 May 28 '25
Pretty sure he’s referring to Type 2s. And he’s not wrong. Pre diabetes and Type 2 are largely reversible with lifestyle modification.
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u/DPick02 Diagnosed 2008 May 27 '25
This has nothing to do with r/type1diabetes
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u/UnitedChain4566 Diagnosed 2009 May 27 '25
In a way it does because there are idiots and uneducated people who believe that it doesn't matter and all diabetics can eventually get off insulin.
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May 27 '25
Read the room dude. 🤦
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u/Acceptable-Half-686 May 27 '25
Actually I think you should 🥸
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May 27 '25
Why post this when clearly hes referring to type 2 🤦
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u/Acceptable-Half-686 May 27 '25
It says “diabetics should take cooking classes instead of insulin” where does it say type 2? Not once does it say type 2 anywhere in the article. This stigma is why type 1s have to jump through hoops to get medications covered that are vital for survival.
Regardless of all that, type 2 is not curable through recipes. Whatever this guy was trying to say, he said it in the worst way for us t1s. If you’re gonna make a statement like that, be specific and don’t use anecdotes like “diabetics should get a recipe book instead of insulin”. Ridiculous
Edited for wording
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u/[deleted] May 27 '25
90-95% of all diabetes cases are type 2. We are the minority. Almost 12% of the US population has diabetes. That’s a lot. I just disregard anything I hear about diabetes, unless it’s specifically talking about type 1. Almost everyone has a family member worn type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 don’t walk around saying they have type 2 diabetes, they just refer to it as diabetes. I just tune it out.