It is interesting to note in the December, 1988 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, that a section has been reserved for reports dealing with diet and diabetes. Among these current reports deal with dietary and activity patterns and their relationship to metabolic control in type II diabetes (adult onset). One of these reports, a 1988 review on atherosclerosis and diabetes discusses the role of management by stating that "the cornerstone of diabetic management, a combination of diet and exercise, perhaps gains added importance when viewed from the perspective of hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels). Weight loss and reduction in obesity decrease circulating insulin levels and improve glucose uptake the the peripheral (circulation). Exercise increases the number of insulin receptors, again allowing for a decrease in circulating endogenous insulin. A secondary advantage of this combination is that it allows the reduction of concomitant pharmacologic therapy, which in itself often exacerbates hyperinsulinemia". [Stolar, MW. Metabolism 37;2:S-1:1-9, 1988.] This article states information that was first in Prevention back in 1967, in an article entitled: Pills or Diet for Diabetics? [Dec. 1967, pg. 51]. The authors suggest that proper dietary intervention may be better able to aid in diabetes management without the side effects of some oral hyperglycemic medications.

Another report from the same journal [Stuart, CA et al. Metabolism 37:802, 1988] discusses the effects of inactivity (bed rest for one week) on insulin resistance. It seems that inactivity for this little of time can cause substantial resistance in the insulin cells within the muscles.

Two studies on the effects of dietary fiber on blood glucose control [Hanander, B, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - 47:852, 1988, and Simpson, RW et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48:104, 1988] show that improvements in triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose with high fiber diets. Again, in a 1970 article from Prevention [Diet can help a Diabetic. Aug. 1970, pg. 61], high fiber foods such as raw vegatables and nuts, along with oatmeal and lentils are included in a diet plan for persons with diabetes. These simple recipies recommended more than twenty years ago are now being touted by authorities as optimum diets to follow for diabetes patients [Tietyen, J: Oat Cuisine. Diabetes Forecast. 41;5:52, 1988, and ]. The trend for this repetition seems to stem from the fact that the one hand may not see what the other is doing. This phenomenon is perhaps due in part that the medical and scientific community has for many years disregarded work by holistic individuals as "non-scientific", and therefore not worthy of consideration for practical application to many sub-populations of patients who were in need of nutritional counseling and guidance.