As we grow older, there are many things to consider about aging and health. And if you have a family history of medical conditions, there’s much more to consider. Julia Hoyle, a 50-year-old financial analyst with Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, was worried about contracting diabetes.
She was middle-aged and overweight with a family history of diabetes. To prevent getting diabetes, she started a diet promoted by Dr. Eric Westman, a co-author of the book New Atkins for a New You: The
Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great.
The Atkins diet promotes eating protein, such as cheese, meat and eggs, and also veggies. But it prohibits breads, pastas, rice, cereals and sweets. She was unsure she’d survive on a diet lacking bagels and ice cream, but her physician prodded her along, helping her hang in there two weeks to see what a difference it could make. And see a difference she did. Julia now keeps her carb levels below 20 grams per day.
In the morning, she’ll have eggs, or an omelet, usually paried with sausage or bacon.
She’ll have a mid-morning snack consisting of yogurt; lunch is a salad containing a protein, such as tuna, chicken, steak or cheese. Dinners include meat, chicken or fish and vegetables and sometimes nuts, berries and a little alcohol. To curb sugar cravings, she may have a piece of low-fat cheesecake.
Her efforts paid off. In seven months, she lost 40 pounds and dropped 4 dress sizes, from an 18 to a 12. By far the biggest reward? Seeing the numbers improve, showing her type 2 diabetes risk was dropping. When she started her diet, she had extreme signs of insulin resistance with a 42-inch waist.After losing the weight, levels evened out — and her waist was whittled down to 32 inches.
For more diabetes information, visit Lifescript.com.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).