Wendy Knapp Pogozelski is a Chemistry professor at State University of New York. After she was diagnosed with LADA (latent onset diabetes of adulthood), she researched the available diabetes diets and achieved good blood sugar control on a carbohydrate-restricted diet and just seven units of insulin a day.
Then she saw a dietitian who convinced her to follow conventional wisdom and increase carbs to at least 130 grams daily.
The result was that my HbA1c rose above 7 percent. My blood sugar levels were frequently in the 200 to 300 mg/dl range (far above the normal level of about 85 mg/dl), even when I supplemented with extra insulin. My former dose of seven units of insulin per day increased to 30 units per day.
I’m not sure what she did after that.
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 
Thanks so much for sharing this article, Steve. It’s great to hear about another low-carb success story from a biochem expert. Encouraged that one day (hopefully soon!) carb restriction will be considered the first line of defense for people with T2 DM and prediabetes, as well as a very helpful strategy for improving glycemic control in those with T1, including LADA.
Hi, Franziska. Thanks for the comment. At the online article, I asked in the comment space if she would share her ballpark carb intake with us. It never made it out of comment moderation, apparently . Left my query again today.
-Steve
Here we go agin. The super efficient hunter gatherer gene digestion system does not need a large load of grains and carbs to remian under control And if fact according to data here suggests cut back big time on that stuff.
Not a very good article. Yes, exactly what did she do after that? She doesn’t say at all. Made friends and learned much but we can’t tell if she is eating 130 Grams of carbs a day because she doesn’t say. Maybe she thinks we can read her mind.
She should stick to physics. We need an English major with LADA to write the next article.
Hey, Chuck. I wonder the same.
Thank you so much for another confirmation of Low Carb eating for prediabetics and diabetics. It grieves me to realize how many T1 and T2 diabetics are suffering needless physical problems and dying due to the horrible misinformation from the ADA. Every magzine on the newstands for Diabetics seems to have dessert photos all over the front covers with head lines that say Eat What You Love. For many people who just follow the ADA recomendations and do not do any research for themselves this is a road to the complications brought about by high blood sugar. I can only hope that more people receive the correct information. Thank you Dr. Parker.
Thank you for the interest. Perhaps it would help to understand that a)this article was for a print periodical with a word-count restriction and b) it was written to our biochemistry society as part of a series about how scientists deal with setbacks. It wasn’t meant to be a full treatise on carb restriction or diabetes. I’d love to be able to continue the story elsewhere. Thank you again for the interest. I would take to heart the admonition to stick to physics, except that I’ve never been a physicist. Wendy Pogozelski
Many thanks, Dr. P! I understand.
-Steve
Hi Dr. Parker. I was just notified of your comment two days ago. Nice to meet you. I really appreciate your blog and your excellent contributions. And thanks for posting the link to my article. After the disastrous results with the dietitians’ approach, I went back to 30-50 g glucose/day and at least one hour of solid, intense exercise and was successful again. For me the exercise is also crucial in preventing crazy dawn phenomenon. BUT I’ll be frank with you and your readers and tell you that the past three years I have been less successful in doing what I need to do to manage as well as I had before. (Although the docs tell me I’m still doing *far* better than most of their patients). I became a mom and kept this challenging job that I have. Cooking, eating well, and exercise have been hit or miss (with a lot of misses and I’ve got some extra pounds to show for it). WRONG priorities but there you have it. I’m developing new strategies and patterns but it requires my really standing up for myself in a job (well, two jobs) that have a lot of demands. So I don’t want to lift myself up as a great example. I can only tell you what I aspire to get back to. Sorry if TMI. Best wishes, Wendy
Many thanks for your comments, Wendy. Good luck!
-Steve
I agree fully. I would add that Dr. Parker’s searching out, critically looking at and reviewing articles from his expert eye, experience and solid grounding in science means we get an excellent fare of solid blogs and thoughts to assist us along the way.
This 30 year plus Type 2 diabetic sends his utmost thanks for all the excellent, informative blogs along with reviews of some of the studies out there and a view from the Doctor’s Professional viewpoint.
My pleasure, Jim!
-Steve