Canadian Diet for Diabetics

Upon discovering he was diabetic in 2002, Dr. Jay Wortman's first thought was a change in diet. Knowing the effect of carbohydrates on the elevation of blood sugar levels, he designed an eating program for himself that was to become known as the controversial Canadian Diet for Diabetics or The Big Fat Diet.

Dr. Wortman's Big Fat Diet

• In her article entitled, "Dr. Jay Wortman," Alive, #298, August 2007, Lucretia Schanfarber states for six months Dr. Wortman's diet consisted of protein, fat, and leafy green vegetables. He did not include any starches, sugars or whole grain carbohydrates in his eating plan. The lack of whole grains and the consumption of unlimited fats is the primary difference between Dr. Wortman's diet and the diabetic diet recommended by the American Diabetes Association. The main focus of their diet is carbohydrates---fruits, vegetables, whole grains, non-fat dairy, and two portions per day of meat, fish or chicken. Dr. Wortman's diet more closely resembled the Atkins Diet because of its high protein and fat content. It also mirrored the traditional eating habits of the aborigines, whose diet included fish, moose, elk, deer, plants, and berries. The current diet of the aboriginal people in Canada is high in refined carbohydrates placing them at an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes.

The Results

• Within six months of eating his new diet, Dr. Wortman's blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure readings all registered as normal, plus he had the added benefit of having lost 25 pounds.

The Canadian Diet and You

• If you were to design your own personal food pyramid using a less controversial version of Dr. Wortman's diet with healthier fats, it is more likely to meet with your doctor's approval. Working your way up from the base, it would look like this:

  Protein: Beef---cuts containing the lowest fat are top round, eye of round, round tip or bottom round; pork---tenderloin is lowest in fat; veal---leg cutlet is the leanest; lamb---leg of lamb with the fat well trimmed; fish---a low fat protein; poultry---with the skin removed; eggs are also a good source of protein.

  Healthy Fats: Fats control your appetite, lower your insulin response, and some fats, like omega 3 fatty acids, help you to burn fat by improving your body's response to leptin---the hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism. As per the World's Healthiest Foods, the highest sources of omega 3 fats are flaxseeds, walnuts, salmon, soybeans and halibut. According to the Mayo Clinic, other sources of good fats include olive oil, avocados, walnuts and flaxseeds.

  Carbohydrates: Spinach, salad greens, broccoli and cauliflower are low glycemic carbohydrates that will not have a significant affect on blood sugar levels. They are also among the vegetables included in the American Diabetes Association's Diabetic Diet.

Omitted From Your Personal Food Pyramid

• Using Dr. Wortman's diet as an example would require that your omit milk, pasta, rice, potatoes, bread and sugar because of they can elevate blood sugar levels and interfere with the goal of his diet which is stabilization or remission of diabetes. Portion sizes are not indicated because they will have to be determined by your healthcare provider on an individual basis according to your current health status.

Warning

• If you have diabetes or other health issues, dietary changes are not recommended unless approved by your physician.