Is this diet book any good?

[Broseley]

I received an email from Amazon recommending this diet book for polymyalgia. I have read on this forum how members find a low carb diet to be beneficial, but this diet recommends low fat and meat and suggests it might even help to cure PMR and prevent GCA. I have copied the summary below. What do members think?

"Polymyalgia rheumatica might mean that you are suffering from chronic pain right now – but with the right medications and proper diet, it doesn’t have to stay that way. Many studies have shown that dietary changes, along with exercise and stress-reduction can actually be an effective way to treat the condition. This can lead to a reduction or even elimination of medications. Following a low-fat, low-meat diet reduces your risk of developing giant cell arteritis – a serious complication of PMR. Changing your diet is a process – it’s difficult to radically change your diet overnight. However, following the recipes included in this book will help you tailor your diet towards the polymyalgia rheumatica diet that’s recommended by medical professionals. This groundbreaking cookbook contains delicious recipes from all corners of the globe, sure to tickle your taste buds."

[piglette]

I think I would be worried about anyone who writes “Following a low-fat, low-meat diet reduces your risk of developing giant cell arteritis”. I wonder what research has told them that. Diet does make a difference to how good or bad your symptoms are, however how you feel is true of diet generally.

I don't know if you have read some of the comments on this book? The book has been mentioned on this discussion board a while back, there was nothing particularly positive about it, if I remember. It seems if you do not live in the US it is not much help.

[Broseley in reply to piglette]

Thanks. I was thinking low fat, low meat, low carb - there's not a lot left! Veganism or vegetarianism is not for me!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

That's the trouble - cut carbs and you have to eat good protein and fat. Low fat just leaves you hungry all the time and you "fail" - unsurprisingly

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Um - I'm far from sure there is a PMR diet recommended by medical professionals!! Never come across one at least.It is probably basically an antiinflammatory diet - but most foods discussions on the forums over the years tend to show that everyone is different in what foods tend to trigger symptoms. For example, there was a discussion about nightshades recently but for most of us it appears they don;t make much difference. Or someone might react badly to tomatoes but not anything else. But in general - sugar and carbs make the biggest difference, because of their role in weight gain in pred and the risk of steroid-induced diabetes,

Itls the sort of book I MIGHT buy on a Deal of the Day for 99p. I wouldn't pay full price.

[jinasc]

I have a article written by a Lead Dietican in the University Diabetic Centre. The lady wrote it after attending a support group meeting. A PM with email address, which will be deleted once sent.

Also in the FAQ's take a look at the Newcastle Diet, written by the leading research guy who has been working and researching for over 20 years. If you do buy it all proceeds go to the Diabetes Charity.

[Koalajane]

For my type 2 diabetes I eat low carb high fat so no good to me. Plus a lot of low fat food have additives in them so no thanks

[Theziggy in reply to Koalajane]

I try to eat low carb for my Type 2 but the doctors won't supply me with any means of monitoring my blood sugar levels so I don't have a clue as to what my blood sugar levels are. I am on steroids which raise the blood sugar levels.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Theziggy]

Are you under a diabetic clinic? They should be making sure you have a monitor -although you can buy them from any pharmacy or online - approx £25-30.

The testing strips should then be on prescription with GPs - although you can purchase them as well - but should need to.

See link for more info -,

diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-di...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Often you get the device free - because they each only use one make of test strips which is where the company makes its profit. Because THEY cost a small fortune!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes they do - but hubby used to get on script..but that was 9 years and longer ago … not sure about now!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I gather it is next to impossible to persuade a GP to provide the disposables if you aren't properly diabetic ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

I can understand that, but Theziggy says on profile he is Type 2, which is why I queried if under Diabetic clinic....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Awful lot of doctors don't test Type 2s - want to say lord knows why - I know why, cost ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

..bonkers, a couple of years ago (before you know what) diabetes was the big concern everyone was talking about...but of course things have changed. 😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

They'd rather hand out metformin and then assume that solves the problem ...

[Koalajane in reply to DorsetLady]

You only get strips on prescription if you are on a medication like gliclazide that can cause your sugars to drop too low

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Koalajane]

Ok thanks ..my hubby was on metformin then insulin - but as I said it was long time ago - he died 9 years ago. Rules change….

[Koalajane in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes being on insulin would entitle him

[Louisa1840]

Hmm sounds like a hard book sell to me but admittedly I am becoming more cynical as I grow older. I think if there was a sure fire diet to help our PMR symptoms someone would have found it by now and we would all be on it. However, there is an interestng account in Kate Gilbert's book, PMR and GCA a Survival Guide on page 130. Bascially this person went on a very severe restrictive diet, ate only plant based foods and cut out all sugar, caffeine, wheat, dairy and alcohol and she is now in control of her PMR. I would like to think I could find the discipline to do it.........

[Broseley in reply to Louisa1840]

To me, an inveterate meat eater, that would be very difficult. Thanks, I'll have a look as I bought the book.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Louisa1840]

There was actually a small scale study of the effect of a strictly vegan diet done in RA patients - some years ago so being vegan then was a bit difficult and the subjects had their food delivered to them. During the 1 year it lasted half of the RA patients had almost total relief from joint pain - but as soon as they had even the smallest amount of animal protein reintroduced the RA pain was back. Despite this immense relief, once they had to fend for themselves and seek purely vegan food they lapsed - all saying it was too strict and expensive to keep to long term. Of course, it is much simpler now - unless like me you have a wheat allergy! Non-wheat vegan is a very difficult restriction! And PMR isn't RA ...

[Louisa1840 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Pro that is interesting. A vegan diet does seem to have a lot of backing but surely meat would have been primitive man's sole diet? Perhaps we have evolved so much we should now all be only on plants? I think if my motivation were high enough I could do it but I am managing well enough and now on 3 and a half mgs and enjoying y occasional steaks!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Louisa1840]

Original diet certainly included meat, but not sure how often, doubtful every day, or even every week!Probably more fruit and plants foraged.

Plus of course, no sitting on the couch watching tv or playing games on PC console…,,,😊

[Louisa1840 in reply to DorsetLady]

And there you have it DL. We are so sedentary.....!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Louisa1840]

Doesn’t help, that’s for sure…

[Theziggy in reply to Louisa1840]

I'm a veggie so it should be easier for me to do

[agingfeminist]

stick with the right medications...eat a healthy diet because that's a good idea for overall well being....they are making false claims about low-fat diet etc. and GCA. really dangerous.

[Sharitone]

I do not like people who say 'giant cell arteritis – a serious complication of PMR'! They're just trying to frighten us. We're not dead yet!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Sharitone]

"I do not like people who say 'giant cell arteritis – a serious complication of PMR'! They're just trying to frighten us. We're not dead yet!"

No, they are not trying to frighten you, they are warning you of the serious implications of GCA - if it isn't treated...

would you rather they didn't tell you, and you lost your sight.. better to be forewarned.

[Sharitone in reply to DorsetLady]

But it's an advert!Guess I'm in denial. Don't want to believe I have anything serious.

🥴

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Sharitone]

Sorry you might not want to believe it….but it’s a fact. GCA is serious - you only have to look at my profile and posts - but it doesn’t mean you stop living or enjoying yourself.

But being aware is no bad thing surely…perhaps not in an advert though .., but if it gets the message across.

[Sharitone in reply to DorsetLady]

Oh sorry, I didn't mean to cause to offence. I just can't seem to make any progress with this stinking disease!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Sharitone]

I’m not offended in any way…just saying both are serious illnesses… but GCA can be even more so which is why you need to be aware of it.

It is difficult to get your head around both of them, and yes Pred has some very nasty side effects- but one thing to hang on to is that for the majority of patients both do go into remission. That can’t be said of all autoimmune illnesses.

[Broseley]

Agreed. I was shocked when I applied for a quote with Staysure travel insurance recently when I put in PMR, all fine, but when I then entered GCA, it said I already had it as part of PMR! So they're assuming that everyone with PMR also has GCA!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Broseley]

Not necessarily, they are assuming they are linked... and whilst most companies have PMR listed, they don't always have GCA as I discovered when I took out revised travel insurance a few years ago.