https://nutritionfacts.org/audio/the-oatmeal-cure/
Today, we discover the mighty power of oatmeal. Did you know that before there was insulin – there was the “oatmeal cure”?
July 20, 2023
The Oatmeal Cure
Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, founder of NutritionFacts.org
- The surprising power of a very unassuming food. This episode features audio from Is Oatmeal Good for People with Diabetes?, How Does Oatmeal Help with Blood Sugars?, and Oatmeal Diet Put to the Test for Diabetes Treatment. Visit the video pages for all sources and doctor’s notes related to this podcast.
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The life of many diabetics was saved or prolonged by Carl von Noorden’s oatmeal diet, which he apparently stumbled upon accidentally. Some of his diabetic patients had gastrointestinal issues; so, he put them on oatmeal, and instead of the sugars spilling over into their urine getting worse, they started getting better. He published his findings in 1903, which was received with a great deal of skepticism. But the skeptics were overcome, however, in the following years by the weight of the evidence.
A turning point came when a doctor as notable as James B. Herrick gave it a try. Dr. Herrick is acclaimed for his description of sickle cell anemia, which was originally known as Herrick’s syndrome. When Dr. Herrick began to try out the oatmeal diet on his patients, he was very skeptical, but was astonished by the results. Intense skepticism was how Herrick put it. His first experience in prescribing it was far from encouraging. After taking one or two meals, the patient said, “Doctor, I will die before I taste another spoonful of that oatmeal mush.” And indeed, tragically, she did. Other doctors echoed patient reticence to tolerate so monotonous an equine diet. But in general, Herrick said, he went on to experience little difficulty in putting patients on the oatmeal diet and in keeping them there for a few weeks. And nothing, he reported, was more surprising or more gratifying than the salutary effects he witnessed of the oatmeal diet in diabetes of the young, leading to the 1909 proclamation that no case of juvenile or adolescent diabetes should be deprived of the benefits of the oatmeal cure.
The great Elliott Joslin, founder of the oldest and largest diabetes clinic in the world, described the effects of the oatmeal as sometimes magical, describing the oatmeal cure as an unsolved mystery, referred to back then as one of the greatest puzzles in diabetes. They did have some clues though. They found that animal protein had to be strictly excluded, as it annihilates the favorable action of oatmeal-type diets. They used to use eggs with the oatmeal diet, but they got better results without them.
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Why was this never mentioned in the 40 years she suffered with juvenile diabetes?
When I heard this episode, I almost drove off the road … … figuratively.
She suffered with the disease for more than 40 years, as did her older brother, and I NEVER EVER heard of read about this. And, I talked to a lot of “expert endocrinologists” and did tons of reading.
Argh!
Pardon my French, but WTF!
She even like oatmeal and had is occasionally, She was told moderation because it was “bad” and would elevate her blood sugar.
I wish I could get my hands on ALL the “diabetes docs” that treated her. Maybe I shouldn’t wish that because I’m sure I’d charged with assault and maybe homicide.
Argh!
After Covid, I had little respect for “medical experts”. They were a bunch of dupes and quacks. Now, if possible, my trust level has dropped even further.
I’d have been better off with a Shaman, witch doctor, or a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine! At least, they were honestly trying what they knew best and didn’t pretend.
Argh!
Both she and her brother spent time in the care of the Joslin clinic, and never heard about oatmeal!
Argh!
I am so upset and there’s not a thing I can do about it.
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Posted by reinkefj 
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