Among the critics of the Bernstein diabetic diet are
the American Diabetes Association, American Dietary
Association, American Medical Association, American
Heart Association, United States Department of Agri-
culture, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine. They say that high-fat, low-carbohydrate
diets are generally unhealthy because they are low in
fiber,calcium, fruits, and vegetables, and high in cho-
lesterol, fat, and saturated fat. On the surface, it would
seem that a diet that is the opposite of what the world’s
leading diabetes organization recommends would not
be acceptable for diabetics. However, since 2002, a
number of scientific studies that compared high- and
low-carbohydrate diets concluded that a low-carbohy-
drate diet reduces blood sugars and risk factors for
heart disease. That is why many practicing endocrinol-
ogists endorse the Bernstein diet and other low-carbo-
hydrate diets for their patients. They point out that the
American Diabetes Association (ADA) has always
been very slow in reacting and adjusting to new devel-
opmentindiabetesmonitoringandtreatment.For
example, the ADA did not endorse patient blood glu-
cose monitors until 1983, about 10 years after they were
developed. What is lacking in the low-carb versus high-
carb diet controversy is major long-term studies that
track patients for longer than a year.
People with Type II diabetes may be able to
improve control of their blood sugar levels, lose
weight, and lower cholesterol levels significantly with
a low-carbohydrate diet, such as the Bernstein diet,
that with diets that restrict calorie intake, according to
two studies presented in 2006 at the American Diabe-
tes Association annual scientific sessions. One of the
studies, conducted by Duke University researchers,
was funded by the Robert C. Atkins Foundation.
Atkins authored a number of popular books on the
Atkins low-carbohydrate diet.Resources
BOOKS
Bernstein, Richard K.Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution: The
Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars
(New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007.
Bernstein, Richard K.The Diabetes Diet: Dr. Bernstein’s
Low-Carbohydrate SolutionNew York: Little, Brown
and Company, 2005.
D’Adamo, Peter J.Diabetes: Fight It With the Blood Type
DietNew York: Putnam Adult, 2004.
Elliot, Ross.The Vegetarian Low-Carb Diet: The Fast, No-
Hunger Weightloss Diet for VegetariansLondon: Piat-
kus Books, 2006.
Gallop, Rick.The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to
Permanent Weight LossNew York: Workman Pub-
lishing Company, 2003.Scales, Mary Josephine.Diets in a NutshellClifton, VA:
Apex Publishers, 2005.
Sears, Barry, and Deborah Kotz.A Week in the Zone: A
Quick Course in the Healthiest Diet for YouNew York:
Regan Books, 2004.
PERIODICALS
American Diabetes Association. ‘‘Nutrition Principles and
Recommendations in Diabetes.’’Diabetes Care(January
2004): S36–S46.
Bernstein, Richard K. ‘‘Low-Carb Guru Weighs In On
Controversy.’’Diabetes Interview(March 2004): 28–29.
Clark, Charles. ‘‘PulseClinical: Effective Diet in Diabetes.’’
Pulse(November 23, 2006): 36.
Evans, Jeff. ‘‘Low-Carb Diet Trumps Caloric Restriction in
Type 2 Diabetes.’’Family Practice News(October 15,
2006): 21.
Govindji, Azmina. ‘‘The Role of Carbohydrates in a Healthy
Diet.’’Nursing Standard(September 27, 2006): 56–64.
Kendrick, Malcolm. ‘‘Kendrick On Atkins Over Complex
Carbs for Diabetes.’’Pulse(September 10, 2005): 64.
Mangels, Reed. ‘‘Lowfat Vegan Diet for Type 2 Diabetes.’’
Vegetarian Journal(January-March 2007): 12.
Vaughan, Lisa. ‘‘Dietary Guidelines for the Management of
Diabetes.’’Nursing Standard(July 13, 2005): 56–64.
ORGANIZATIONS
American College of Nutrition. 300 South Duncan Ave.,
Suite 225, Clearwater, FL 33755. Telephone: (727) 446-- Website: http://www.amcollnutr.org.
American Diabetes Association. 1701 N. Beauregard St.,
Alexandria, VA 22311. Telephone: (800) 342-2383.
Website: http://www.diabetes.org.
American Dietetic Association. 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. Telephone: (800)
877-1600. Website: http://www.eatright.org.
American Society for Nutrition. 9650 Rockville Pike,
Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone: (301) 634-7050.
Website: http://www.nutrition.org.
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. 3101 Park
Center Drive, 10th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594.
Telephone: (703) 305-7600. Website: http://www.cnpp
.usda.gov.
Ken R. WellsBeverly Hills diet
Definition
The Beverly Hills diet is a diet created by Judy
Mazel. She believes that weight loss can be achieved by
eating foods in the proper combinations and in the
correct order.Beverly Hills diet