Is some medication ok?

[Starling in a cage]

Ok. I have metabolic syndrome and my doctor says I need Ramipril to control my blood pressure. I'm also pre-diabetic and, to avoid medication, I'd like to try a Vegan diet to control my health. I don't like taking medication and often forget to take it anyway so hope that I can control it through diet.

[Asleep on a sunbeam]

Ok. I have metabolic syndrome and my doctor says I need Ramipril to control my blood pressure. I'm also pre-diabetic and, to avoid medication, I'd like to try a Vegan diet to control my health. I don't like taking medication and often forget to take it anyway so hope that I can control it through diet.

It should be manageable, but if you're being told you need it, well, be bloody careful, in fact ignore the first part of my post, I have no medical expertise!

[JP]

just to make sure, because this thread is in new vegan section, not taking medication doesnt have anything to do with veganism as such.

if you have some other personal reasons why you dont want to take your prescribed medication, then fair enough, but avoiding medication is not necessary when being vegan.

Sorry if i just repeat obvious stuff

[Starling in a cage]

I just wanted to check because of the research going on pharmacy - there was an argument about drug companies on another thread.

The question was "is some medication ok" so it looks like it is. Thanks for that.

[Gelert]

Yup, absolutely no reason to stop medications.

If you're following a vegan diet for health reasons there is absolutely no reason why you should stop taking prescribed medications, certainly without talking with your doctor first. A vegan diet may help reduce various risk factors for blood pressure problems and diabetes, but don't view it as a solution in isolation.

There are some ethical vegans who may make a personal choice to avoid medications where possible, but if they're silly enough to avoid prescribed meds intended to manage serious conditions, it's on their own heads.

There are a few cases where people have been advised to stop taking medications by people running detox/fasting/super health through food type places and it's caused their death.

[flightlessbirds]

If you are just starting out on a vegan diet to to help your health issues you might want to listen to your doctor now and take the drugs. HEALTHY veganism has been show to help control high blood pressure and diabetes but it will probably take a little while (how long I have no idea!) for you to see the benefits. Maybe you could start taking the drugs, but you can tell your doctor that once you feel like you are feeling comfortable and healthy with your vegan diet you want to try to get off the drugs. If your doctor agrees (or if you can find a doctor who does) they can reduce your medication slowly and monitor you.

Play it safe! And enjoy veganism! There is so much delicious vegan food to eat.

[Starling in a cage]

I thank you for your support and comments, however, I may have mislead in the opening point.

I'm taking the Ramipril because I have to, although I sometimes forget to because there are no symptoms.

I have regular checks to detect diabetes type 2 and was given a diet sheet that "allows" lean meat, but as I've been a vegetarian for just over a year now, this is irrelevant to me.

I was also "allowed" a small amount of soft cheese, some milk and 2 eggs per week, which I find tasteless, so I now have a sheet that allows me alternatives to dairy food and I'd like to try those instead. I found this site looking for healthy food, and became aware that there are different levels of veganism, one of which bans medicine and was concerned that I may be on the wrong site for me.

Your comments are supportive so I look forward to asking more questions later.

[Cade]

Hi Sterling,

Continue with your meds, reduce your sodium intake, and make stevia and erythritol your new best friends as far as sweeteners go. You'll control your diabetes. Also, remember that veggies are your best friend. Each plate for lunch and dinner should have complex carbs from veggies. Avoid white flour products, potatoes, rice, and certain fruits, unless you're seriously need a pick me up because your in a danger zone.

Ask your doctor if Chromium Picolinate at 200mcg is allowed. It controls blood sugar and it's natural.

Let me know how it works out.

[BeanGirl]

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine website may help to answer some of your questions. Dr. Barnard has written a book on how a healthy vegan diet can reverse diabetes.

[LMM]

Dr. Barnard has written a book on how a healthy vegan diet can reverse diabetes.

Actually a careful reading of Neal Barnard's book shows that he doesn't claim diabetes can be reversed.

I didn't find the book useful myself - I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November. Barnard's book told me to a) follow a vegan diet - I'd been doing that for 13 years before diagnosis, b) eat a low fat diet - my GP had already told me to do that; and c) choose foods with a low GI index - my GP had already told me to do that too.

Sterling, please don't even consider giving up meds that have been prescribed for you. A vegan diet, however healthy, isn't a cure-all and being a vegan doesn't mean being a martyr.

Sorry, only just caught up with this thread - I know other people have said similar things.

[emm7]

LMM these are very wise words.
Sorry to hear you've become diabetic

On the subject of stevia, diabetes, and sugar:
Stevia has been banned in the UK because it's considered unsafe by our food standards agency.
I posted about this a while back, see:
http://www.veganfitness.net/forum/viewt ... 716#252716

[Gelert]

Ask your doctor if Chromium Picolinate at 200mcg is allowed. It controls blood sugar and it's natural.

There's some debate about the safety of chromium picolinate, just so you know. It's currently at a sort-of no score draw, but you may want to investigate it for yourself . Here's the summary of it from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium_picolinate but the relevant studies are available.

There is concern that chromium picolinate is more likely to cause DNA damage and mutation than other forms of trivalent chromium,[11] but these results are also debated.[12] Other studies indicate that chromium picolinate is safe even at very high doses.[13] In mice, chromium(III) picolinate supplementation results in skeletal defects in their offspring.[14] In fruit flies, chromium(III) picolinate supplementation generates chromosomal aberrations, impedes progeny development,[15] and causes sterility and lethal mutations.[16]


[edit] Regulation
In 2003, the UK Food Standards Agency advised consumers to use other forms of trivalent chromium in preference to chromium picolinate until specialist advice was received from the Committee on Mutagenicity. This was due to concerns about if chromium picolinate might cause cancer (its genotoxicity) raised by the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals: the committee also noted two case reports of renal failure that might have been caused by this supplement and called for further research into its safety.[17][18] In December 2004, the Committee on Mutagenicity published its findings, which concluded that "overall it can be concluded that the balance of the data suggest that chromium picolinate should be regarded as not being mutagenic in vitro" and that "the available in-vivo tests in mammals with chromium picolinate are negative.".[19] Following these findings, the UK Food Standards Agency withdrew its advice to avoid chromium picolinate, however it plans to keep its advice about chromium supplements under review. [20]

Nevertheless, natural does not neccessarily mean safe.

[BeanGirl]

Dr. Barnard has written a book on how a healthy vegan diet can reverse diabetes.

Actually a careful reading of Neal Barnard's book shows that he doesn't claim diabetes can be reversed.

I didn't find the book useful myself - I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November. Barnard's book told me to a) follow a vegan diet - I'd been doing that for 13 years before diagnosis, b) eat a low fat diet - my GP had already told me to do that; and c) choose foods with a low GI index - my GP had already told me to do that too.

Well, that's a bit disturbing since the link on the website actually states that diabetes can be reversed! I haven't read the book and was under the impression that diabetes can be treated but not reversed. Next time, I won't take claims so literally. I wish they would change the wording in that link.

[LMM]

Dr. Barnard has written a book on how a healthy vegan diet can reverse diabetes.

Actually a careful reading of Neal Barnard's book shows that he doesn't claim diabetes can be reversed.

I didn't find the book useful myself - I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November. Barnard's book told me to a) follow a vegan diet - I'd been doing that for 13 years before diagnosis, b) eat a low fat diet - my GP had already told me to do that; and c) choose foods with a low GI index - my GP had already told me to do that too.

Well, that's a bit disturbing since the link on the website actually states that diabetes can be reversed! I haven't read the book and was under the impression that diabetes can be treated but not reversed. Next time, I won't take claims so literally. I wish they would change the wording in that link.

The book I have by Neal Barnard is called The Reverse Diabetes Diet.

The blurb on the back describes it as a 'scientifically provenn programme for reversing - yes reversing - diabetes', and claims blood sugar mters needn't be 'an inevitable part of your future'.

But reading the book I kept thinking 'you're not talking about reversing it, you're talking about controlling it, like every other book'. And Barnard certainly doesn't advocate that followers of his programme ditch their blood sugar meters.

You're right, diabetes isn't reversible. I bought the book even though I knew that - just in case...

[Cade]

Dr. Barnard has written a book on how a healthy vegan diet can reverse diabetes.

Actually a careful reading of Neal Barnard's book shows that he doesn't claim diabetes can be reversed.

I didn't find the book useful myself - I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November. Barnard's book told me to a) follow a vegan diet - I'd been doing that for 13 years before diagnosis, b) eat a low fat diet - my GP had already told me to do that; and c) choose foods with a low GI index - my GP had already told me to do that too.

Well, that's a bit disturbing since the link on the website actually states that diabetes can be reversed! I haven't read the book and was under the impression that diabetes can be treated but not reversed. Next time, I won't take claims so literally. I wish they would change the wording in that link.

The book I have by Neal Barnard is called The Reverse Diabetes Diet.

The blurb on the back describes it as a 'scientifically provenn programme for reversing - yes reversing - diabetes', and claims blood sugar mters needn't be 'an inevitable part of your future'.

But reading the book I kept thinking 'you're not talking about reversing it, you're talking about controlling it, like every other book'. And Barnard certainly doesn't advocate that followers of his programme ditch their blood sugar meters.

You're right, diabetes isn't reversible. I bought the book even though I knew that - just in case...

If you guys want the facts, all you have to do is send an e-mail to PCRM and they will send you additional literature on the subject. I should know since I'm a member.

They're very helpful. Just let them know you're a diabetic and what you goals are and what kind of advice you want from them.

Give it a shot.