Dairy Causes Mental Health Issues

Food Choices Can Impact All Levels Of Health

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Summary: Discovering a dairy intolerance at the age of 41 reshaped my understanding of its effects beyond digestion. After moving to the Middle East, reducing my dairy intake lowered my mood swings and energy dips, thus revealing a surprising link between dairy and emotional stability. Exploring casein’s role, I ponder its broader implications, including its possible influence on Type 1 Diabetes. Camel’s milk emerges as an alternative with unique benefits but watch for initial blood sugar spikes and potential weight gain.

I LOVE chocolate. And a nice french brie. And milk on my cereal. And… Well, dairy!!

However, the last couple of months have been a great learning curve for me. At 41 years of age, I have FINALLY discovered that I’m dairy intolerant! It would have been nice to discover I’m a secret millionaire but I guess I’ll have to settle for this insight instead!!

Unlike the majority of people who have issues with dairy, I have little to no digestive problems. I have no bloating, no diarrhoea, no nausea, no stomach cramps or pains. In fact, my digestive tract always appears to be sincerely contented. What was not contented, though, was my mood…

Dairy Impacts Mood Stability

Dairy affects my mood?! I never knew this!! When I moved to the Middle East six months ago, the amount of dairy in my diet dropped considerably. I just didn’t find it so readily available out here. I didn’t really notice how little of it I was eating until I moved into our new home and started reverting to my old way of eating. And, boy, did I get angry… And moody… And crabby… And exhausted… And tearful… And snarky… And, frankly, depressed.

But was this really a thing?? Having family members with debilitating IBS, which was always worse with dairy consumption, I thought I knew all there was to know about reactions to dairy. But it turns out that I didn’t know! So I did what all people lacking knowledge do… I hit Google!! And here is what I discovered…

Dairy’s Impacts On The Brain

The first thing I tripped across in my Google search was an article in the New York Post entitled “Your cheese addiction could be making you an emotional wreck“. It referenced a nutritional therapist Kay Ali, who stated that the protein ‘casein’, which is found in dairy, is associated with increased inflammation in the brain. This inflammation can then lead to depression.

I found this insight really interesting. The article did not reference any academic literature so I took to the academic journals to find out more. Unfortunately, I could not find anything to support this conclusion. Instead, I found an article suggesting that milk casein can improve stress in a mouse model of human behaviour. So the jury’s out on the association between dairy, inflammation and depression at the moment.

Whilst unsupported, this article did give me food for thought (pun intended!). My experience of mood swings as a result of eating dairy foodstuffs is not isolated. Anecdotal evidence of this link abounds with bloggers like ‘Danny + Mara‘ and Heather McGlees from ‘One Green Planet’ also highlighting the same issue.

I thought I had been suffering from unexplainable anxiety and depression for years. I would be feeling that I was making progress, feeling better and more optimistic about myself and life, then my mood would inexplicably crash down around my ankles again. It was hard, hard work. I attended therapy for years and worked on myself, both inside and outside the therapy room, for a long time. But this unpredictable oscillation in mood never abated and I ended up concluding that it must just be some randomness in me that I just needed to learn to live with. That is not the case for me anymore. I have done my therapeutic work and I have untied the knots in my psyche. Now that I have this final piece of the puzzle, I no longer consider myself to have mental health issues. I can now say (and truly believe myself when I say it!!) that I am ‘mentally healthy’ (even though I hate labels!!).

A1 Beta-Casein And Type 1 Diabetes

The nutritional therapist Kay Ali (referenced above) specifically mentioned that it is the protein ‘casein’ that is associated with increased inflammation, and therefore depression, in the brain. This is worth repeating for emphasis because I think it holds something highly valuable for me on my healing journey.

I first learnt about casein when I became pregnant with my daughter in 2013. At that time, I researched factors that may affect the potential development of Type 1 Diabetes in children. Type 1 Diabetes has a strong genetic inheritance in the female side of my family so I wanted to do what I could to prevent and/or delay any onset in my daughter. I found a series of articles that highlighted how the protein A1 beta-casein, found in cow’s milk, can be a triggering factor for T1D in individuals with genetic susceptibilities [see this article and this article as examples]. Therefore, for the first six months of my daughter’s life, I gave her no dairy, neither through my breast milk nor through top-up feeds of formula milk (I found a dairy-free version to give her instead).

Encountering casein in a different yet still T1D-relevant context now leaves me wondering about a potential, more general link between dairy intolerance (A1 beta-casein intolerance…?) and T1D. Is my body telling me to lay off the dairy because of a body-wide intolerance to it…? As of now, I just don’t know the answer to this. But I do know that dairy does not suit me, so the avoidance of it in my diet makes sense to me anyway.

BONUS: Camel Milk!

So what if you are thinking of giving up cow’s milk but you really, really like a cup of tea or coffee with milk? Or if you can’t do without that bowl of cereal and milk in the morning? I have an answer for you… Camel’s milk!

Camel milk lacks the beta-casein that cow’s milk contains. So this is a great substitute for avoiding the whole beta-casein issue. But, the superpowers of camel’s milk seem to also go beyond this…

Agrawal and colleagues have undertaken extensive research on the impact of camel’s milk on glycaemic control for patients with Type 1 Diabetes. They have found that camel’s milk is safe and can be used to improve long-term glycaemic control, as evidenced by improved HbA1c’s and reduced doses of insulin (see here, here, and here!). It appears that this may be attributable to the fact that camel’s milk contains protein that have a structure similar to insulin molecules and this similarity may be responsible for the significant impacts on blood sugar levels. Furthermore, for new Type 1 Diabetics, consumption of camel’s milk seemed to aid the maintenance of residual beta-cell function.

What I found particularly interesting was, in this study, it was found that C-peptide levels (used by doctors as an indication of type 1 diabetes – a low level indicates a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis) were markedly higher in subjects who regularly consumed camel’s milk. In fact, those T1Ds that consumed camel milk had, by the end of 16 weeks, C-peptide levels that were equivalent to non-diabetics!!

And all this was achieved purely by drinking 500 ml of camel’s milk per day. Not bad, eh?!

Words Of Warning…

With such beneficial effects appearing achievable with camel’s milk, I thought I would give it a go. I have to say that, for the first few days, my blood sugars SOARED with the addition of camel’s milk in my diet. Whilst it may have good long-term consequences for diabetes management, in the short-term, it has been playing havoc with my blood sugar control. This has meant I have had to increase my insulin doses. I hope, as time goes on, I will start to witness the build-up of beneficial effects but these early days have no been without consequences! The studies appeared to be undertaken over periods of three months or longer so I wonder if this may be more of a long-term effect.

Furthermore, I noticed that a large number of these studies on camel’s milk showed a statistically significant increase in the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the study participants. Therefore, the extra calories consumed with the camel’s milk appear to cause weight gain. This has left me with two thoughts. Firstly, this is obviously not ideal when I want to decrease my insulin requirements since excess weight increases insulin resistance and therefore is unlikely to regress complete healing.

Secondly, these studies, whilst demonstrating weight gain in the participants, still showed a marked decrease in total insulin intake. Therefore, even with additional weight gain, camel’s milk (assuming all other variables, such as the Hawthorne Effect, were adequately controlled for) drastically improves insulin sensitivity. That suggests to me that it has a very robust and extremely powerful effect on blood sugars. Therefore, I am starting with smaller quantities of camel’s milk and will be working up to consuming the full 500 ml per day.

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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April 26, 2021

Read more about the article Dairy Causes Mental Health Issues

Emotional Wellbeing / Intuition / Nutrition / Physical Wellbeing / Taking Control of My Health

Healing Attention Deficit Disorder

Green Tea, Classical Music and Walks In Nature

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Summary: The author explores how dopamine fluctuations, resulting from swinging blood sugars, impacts her ADHD-like symptoms. She links insulin levels to dopamine regulation, noting sugar’s role in affecting mood and motivation. To heal her ADHD symptoms naturally, the author adopts green tea for dopamine, classical music for focus, and nature walks for exercise and emotional balance.

I’m having one of those diabetes days… As I’m sitting here trying to write this, my blood sugars keep dropping. Oh, but wait… They’re up, they’re in range! Oh nope, they’re not. Down again. Yep, yep, got them up… Oh no, I haven’t! Ah, made it! At last, I’m back on point…!! So, anyways… Back to Healing ADD!

As I discussed in my last blog post, I believe that I’ve got Inattentive ADD (although I’ve not been officially diagnosed with it). Dr. Amen discusses in his book ‘Healing ADD’ how ‘dopamine is generally considered the neurotransmitter involved in Inattentive ADD’ (Amen, 2013 p. 104).

What Is Dopamine?

The classic introduction to Dopamine usually includes a spiel about how it is a neurotransmitter, how it works in the brain to enable a person to focus and how it gives a person motivation, desire and drive to achieve a task. Even this preliminary information is still useful to me. Taking Dr Amen’s view that dopamine is involved in ADD, it is easy for me to understand why my motivation is erratic at best and completely absent at worst.

The Other Side Of Dopamine

Knowing that dopamine is impacting my motivation towards healing is all well and good but, for me, that isn’t the full picture. As I already discussed in my post on Candace Pert’s neuroscientific work, there is no clear distinction between the ‘neurotransmitters’ of the brain (which Dopamine is classed as) and the ‘hormones’ of the body. Instead, our body consists of peptides that link communication and action between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Indeed, researchers now seem to be garnering support for Candace Pert’s theory…

The Link Between Insulin And Dopamine

I was interested to find a preliminary study conducted in 2007 by a group of researchers at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center that identified insulin as having an important role in the dopamine pathways in the brain

This study showed that, when insulin levels are low in the brain (which occurs when a diabetic has high blood sugar levels), the dopamine pathways in the brain is unable to produce normal levels of dopamine. I would therefore anticipate that, when a diabetic has higher than non-diabetic blood sugar levels (which occurs for most diabetics after every carbohydrate-based meal), dopamine is suppressed and ADD symptoms are likely to be present.

So, as a diabetic with unnaturally oscillating blood sugars, it’s a double whammy. If my blood sugars are out of whack, my dopamine levels are too and my motivation goes down the plughole. So then trying to get motivated to get my sugars back in range is all that bit harder! So how do I square this circle??

Sugar And ADD

I believe that, the majority of time, my dopamine must be depleted. I spend more of my time lacking in enthusiasm and energy, rather than hyperactive and overzealous (although that does occasionally happen too!). Something I also contend with on a daily basis is my cravings for sugar. I crave sugar all the time! And now I understand how these two facts are related…

Sugar provides an exogenous method for increasing dopamine levels in my system. When I eat something sugary, my brain lights up with increased dopamine levels and I get back in my groove. So every time I reach for a piece of chocolate, a slice of cake or some other sugar-rich food, I am finding a way to increase my depleted dopamine levels. But each additional sugar feeding also leads to weight gain. Indeed, it has been found that obese people have a five to ten times increased rate of ADHD than the general population.

As if that isn’t bad enough, each time I eat sugar, I am increasing dopamine levels in my system artificially, by outside means. Therefore, my brain is learning that it needs to make less dopamine endogenously because the sugar will be along soon to increase dopamine again. And so the vicious cycle begins… Dopamine levels are low in my brain, my system waits for the sugar, I eat the sugar, my brain learns it doesn’t need to manufacture its own and therefore makes even less!

How Can I Heal My ADD Naturally?

If I can find a way to naturally increase my dopamine levels, then my ADD is (or at least its symptoms are) likely to reduce or disappear. Having just discussed the benefits of removing sugar (something I did successfully during my Whole30 challenge), eliminating sugar in my diet seems like an obvious first step. But my intuition is saying no to this.

I have eaten a low-carbohydrate diet for periods of my life with success but the longest I have ever achieved was seven months. Then, Christmas came along and the deprivation I felt at not being able to eat the foods I loved was too great. Every time I have tried to eat low-carb since then, the same thing always happens.

In order to achieve great healing, both physically and emotionally, I personally need to do something that does not feel so punitive or restrictive to me. Please don’t misunderstand me… I know of several diabetics that are hugely successful long-term with low-carbohydrate eating and it brings great quality to their lives. I have great respect for their way of life. But I also believe that healing is a very individual journey and you have to respond to what feels right for you as an individual. I know that I need an alternative to low-carbing.

Initial Steps To Healing My ADD

I have a tonne of ideas about where to start with healing my ADD. But, if I’ve picked anything at all up from my reading in this area, I really think, for now (and ever after!), I need to start small. My usual plan is to go in with everything at the same time and then give up or stop with exhaustion within a month.

And most importantly…

What can I commit to now that I will be able to continue to do in the future?

To work out what to do to heal my ADD, I want to tap into my intuition, my inner wisdom. I am sure that my path to healing is already known within me, I just have to listen to it. For now, I am going to focus on only three simple things. These are my first three steps on a road of a thousand miles…

1. Green Tea

My gut instinct is still telling me that Kelly Turner’s research (see my post here) has tapped into the inherent mechanism by which the body heals from any health issue, not just cancer. So I wish to try to use her strategies where possible. Therefore, a first easy step for me is to take follow her protocol to take some herbs and/or supplements. But which ones?

I want to start small yet consistent and I feel that a cup of green tea each morning, before I have breakfast, fulfils those requirements. Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine not only has a direct effect on your mental alertness, enabling your to relax, but L-theanine is also a building block for dopamine in the brain. All from a good old cup of tea!

2. Listen To Classical Music

I found a piece of neuroscientific research that found that classical music increases dopamine production in the brain.

I am not an expert on classical music, let alone its effects on my brain(!), so I was unsure which pieces of classical music should be on my playlist. Thankfully, the experts over at the ADDitude blog have already put together a list of suitable music!

I have uploaded it onto Spotify as a playlist and called it ‘Classical Music for ADHD’. I am going to hit the play button for 30 minutes every weekday morning as I get ready for my day and hopefully my dopamine levels will rise beautifully!

3. Get Out In Nature

I love nature and really don’t need any excuse to get out in it! Life is always busy and I guess I don’t prioritise doing this as much as I would like to. This one is on my list of action items for multiple reasons.

Firstly, I feel good in nature. Kelly Turner emphasises the need to increase positive emotions and reduce negative emotions as part of your healing journey. Nature does this for me.

Secondly, multiple studies highlight the direct link between exercise and increased dopamine levels. So walking in nature also ticks this box.

Thirdly, this one feels so intuitively right (although, at the moment, it’s a sweltering 30-degrees plus out my window and a part of me just wants to run and hide in a deep freezer rather than go out and walk!!). Therefore, I am going to commit to walking for at least 15 minutes in nature five days each week. Ideally, I would like to do 30 minutes but I want to make sure it is achievable rather than setting myself up to fail.

A Helping Hand…

I discussed above about the vicious cycle that is set up in ADHD where a depletion of dopamine causes you to lack the motivation necessary to make the changes that will lead to you increasing your dopamine. For example, lacking motivation means that you won’t go for that great twenty-minute run that will naturally increase your dopamine. I really struggle with this lack of motivation and therefore I am desperate to find a way to solve this Gordian Knot. And I think I may have found the answer…

Accountability Buddies!

Until I have been doing my dopamine-focussed tasks and activities long enough to have built up a more-naturally-occurring dopamine supply in my system, my motivation is likely to be sporadic or non-existent. So I am going to have to rely on the dopamine, and resulting motivation, of others!! My husband is going to be my main buddy in this but I will also be recruiting my friends into this (unbeknownst to them!). This will particularly be required for getting out in nature.

Drinking my green tea should be fairly straightforward. I have linked it to my first meal of the day. I have put my teacup on top of the plate I usually have for breakfast so hopefully that will work!

Listening to classical music for thirty minutes should be the easiest. I have asked my Amazon Alexa to play my ‘Classical Music for ADHD’ playlist at 8am each morning. So there are no excuses for that one!

Let’s see how this goes!

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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August 3, 2020

Read more about the article Healing Attention Deficit Disorder

Emotional Wellbeing / Taking Control of My Health

The Relationship between ADHD and Type 1 Diabetes

Losing Keys, Forgetting Appointments And Being Easily Overwhelmed

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Summary: the author reflects on personal challenges, admitting to a struggle with consistency in projects and health habits, exacerbated by a recent decline in blog activity and overall commitment. Exploring a potential diagnosis of ADHD, there’s recognition of symptoms like inattention and impulsivity affecting daily life and health goals. Future focus aims at addressing these challenges for personal growth and healing.

I am failing and need to re-group.

There, I said it. That’s not an easy one to type and admit to myself, let alone publish to the world! I don’t like failing. It doesn’t come easily to me. But I seem to do it fairly often. I start projects but I don’t finish them.

All. The. Time.

My blog posts have fallen in regularity. My commitment to the cause has waned a bit. My behaviours are certainly not reflecting my aspirations for my blog. My sleep routine isn’t good. I am not eating clean, now that I’m no longer on Whole30. I have still been reading and thinking and plotting my healing escapades but, whilst I’ve been doing this, another part of me has been feeling that there’s just not much point to even trying. Because I never follow through. Not long-term, anyway.

I think I may have stumbled upon an answer that is the next step in my healing journey.

The Blessing Of A Friend

Quite by chance (or what I would call synchronicity), I met up with a friend for a socially-distanced walk in our local park. As we got to chatting, he described to me his relief at finally being diagnosed with ADHD. He then listed out the behaviours that had been identified as being part of his ADHD symptomology and I became quite stunned… He was describing me!

I know that DIY diagnoses are not exactly a robust way of diagnosing anything… Like those moments when you’ve been waiting for some test results at the doctor and take to Googling your symptoms only to conclude that you must, at the very least, have a life-threatening condition in immediate need of multiple surgeries!!

However, I am not without knowledge in this field. I have a psychology degree and training in psychotherapy behind me, so I have an idea of what I’m looking at when I traipse into the diagnostic field.

I Think I Have AD(H)D

I think I have ADHD. Well, ADD… The hyperactivity bit isn’t (usually) apparent (okay, maybe sometimes at 11.30pm at night when I really should be going to bed and not starting my to-do list because I’m bursting with energy and feel I could accomplish it all in the next fifteen minutes!!

Or

… when I insist that that job (whatever that job may be at any moment in my mind) MUST be done right now! Like, RIGHT NOW! I’VE BEEN DOING IT THREE MINUTES, WHY ISN’T IT DONE ALREADY?????

Or

… when I get into bed at night and suddenly decide it’s the best moment to insist on having a deep and meaningful heart-to-heart or philosophical debate or discussion of some theoretical construct I’ve just read about with my desperately tired husband. Or a tickle fight.

Or

… a pillow fight.

Or…!!

Okay, so maybe I do have some hyperactivity symptoms too!!

Diagnosing AD(H)D

I dug further and consulted the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (known fondly by ‘those-in-the-know’ as the DSM-V). It is one of the two main manuals that psychiatrists and psychologists use to diagnose a whole host of mental disorders, including ADHD.

The full list of criteria that are used to diagnose ADHD is pretty extensive and is divided into two main criteria: those for inattention and those for hyperactivity and impulsivity. In order to be diagnosed, you have to have six or more of the symptoms in one of these two groups. Whilst I do have some obvious hyperactivity and/or impulsivity challenges, I believe the majority of my symptoms fall under the ‘inattention’ sub-heading:

I have markedly reduced processing speed (a clinical psychologist I once worked with undertook a WAIS intelligence test on me and found that I had a verbal comprehension score on the 99.6th percentile, perceptual organisation of 95.3%, working memory of 93.7% but a processing speed of only 63.1%)
I often have trouble holding attention on the tasks I do. I get a bit of a way through a task and then divert off to something else. At the end of a day in my house, I can easily find ten to twenty unfinished jobs that I started!
I often don’t seem to listen when spoken to directly (I’m often too busy listening to my own thoughts and responses!)
I often don’t finish my chores (like, ever!)
I often have trouble organising tasks and activities… Turning up to anything on-time is a challenge. Being given a big task, which has multiple sub-tasks to complete it, leaves me lost and confused about where to start.
I can get easily overwhelmed by normal life circumstances… Three simple things to do in my day can cause me to collapse on the floor in a heap.
I am often forgetful in daily activities – appointments, things I promised to give to friends, evening meet-ups, items for my daughter for school and so on. I’m pretty much guaranteed to forget these, despite me trying everything to remember them.
I often lose my keys (at least twice a week, despite trying to only ever put them in my handbag!!)
It takes me so, so, so much effort to finish reading a book. Mostly I give up. And that’s for something I’m actually interested in. There’s absolutely no chance when I’m not interested!
But, on the flip of that, when I am super-interested in something (hello, Twilight saga books!!), I become hyper-focused on it to the detriment of the rest of my life. This happened to me with the Twilight saga books…. When I found those, my husband described himself as a widower for the ten days it took me to read them!!
I struggle to go to social events with more than two other people. Not because I don’t enjoy them but because I struggle to focus on the conversation in front of me, rather than all of the distracting background noise, movement etc.
I often forget the most basic of information. Send me to a supermarket with three things to buy and, at best, I’ll remember only two of them.

Dr Amen’s 7 Types Of ADD

It would appear that the DSM V’s neat delineation between either having ADHD (with a substantial amount of hyperactivity) or ADD (with little to no hyperactivity) is not that clear-cut.

Dr. Daniel Amen is a neuropsychiatrist with a vast experience in treating those with ADD. He uses a particular kind of brain imaging, called Brain SPECT Imaging, which creates three-dimensional models of the brain and demonstrates the level of functioning in different brain regions. By studying more than 1700,000 people with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders, Dr. Amen discusses in his book ‘Healing ADD‘ that there are in fact seven different types of ADD:

Type 1: Classic ADD
Type 2: Inattentive ADD
Type 3: Overfocused ADD
Type 4: Temporal Lobe ADD
Type 5: Limbic ADD
Type 6: Ring of Fire ADD
Type 7: Anxious ADD

Dr Amen’s Seven Types of ADD

Is There A Link Between Type 1 Diabetes and AD(H)D?

Now, this was the bit that really got me. I found an article by the diabetes-focused psychotherapist Eliot LeBow saying that ‘Many people with type 1 diabetes also live with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder…’ and ‘those who were diagnosed before age 17 years have some level of ADHD with predominantly inattentive presentation’. (This ‘inattentive presentation’ referring to Dr. Amen’s ‘type 2’ form of ADD above.)

Wow!! This really resonated with my experience (and self-diagnosis!)! I dug in further and explored the three references that Eliot cited at the bottom of his article in the journal ‘Endocrine today’… But then I fell short. The three articles he cited all referred to the impact of type 1 diabetes on brain development but none of the three articles specifically cited ADHD. Therefore, the subjects in these studies had not been diagnosed with ADHD per se, even if they exhibited similar cognitive issues.

As it turns out, the research into the relationship between ADHD and type 1 diabetes is pretty sparse. This study set about trying to rectify this and found that, in their study cohort at least, ADHD is associated with Type 2 diabetes but not Type 1. a large population-based study in Sweden found that the rate of ADHD, along with a whole host of other psychiatric disorders, was significantly increased in children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the five years prior.

An Alternative View Of The Relationship Between ADD And Type 1 Diabetes

When I’m reading published studies in the field of diabetes, I am struck by how often the blood sugar levels of the diabetic participants are not taken into account. Yes, sometimes a measure of the average blood sugar level is taken by means of the HbA1c but I don’t believe that that is a particularly good indicator of anything. I have spent years going in for diabetic check-ups to be told that my HbA1c is ‘great’. However, if you were to ask me about my day-to-day blood sugar levels, it’s often more choppy waters than calm seas! As a result, my mood, my energy and my motivation fluctuate accordingly. After all, who wants to work when they don’t feel well?!

Therefore, I wonder whether the inconclusive findings about any potential correlation between ADD and Type 1 Diabetes might be due to an assumed static position on blood sugar levels. Perhaps, on the days when your blood sugars just aren’t playing ball and they’re bouncing like they’re on a trampoline, maybe your brain is also likely to not be optimal in its functioning. However, on the days that you are winning the good fight with your blood sugar levels, maybe your brain functioning is also pretty good. And no longitudinal or population-based study will pick up that fine detail. They’re only looking for averages and not the lived experience that the statistics denote.

To Diagnose Or To Not Diagnose, That Is The Question!

Whilst the picture feels a bit murky to me, wondering whether I might or might not have ADD and whether diabetics have a high or normal likelihood of having it, one thing has become apparent to me. I could just pop down to see my local psychologist or psychiatrist to get a diagnosis but I’m left feeling that that probably won’t give me very much. I know that putting myself on medications to increase my level of functioning is a route I wish to take. I know that, for some, that choice is most definitely worthwhile and fits with their goals in life. But, for me, I always worry that medicating myself will just mask the underlying condition that needs resolving and leave me stagnated in a place where the possibility of my body, mind and soul to heal themselves disappears. I want to try to reach for more than that.

What I am now seeing in myself are the areas of my functioning that are not particularly strong and need some work or need some support. At the moment, my sporadic or completely absent motivation is getting in the way of what I need to do on my path to healing. It’s causing me issues in being able to stay on-track with the nutritional and other changes that I wish to make. And therefore this is going to be where I will be focusing my energies now. This is the next bit I need to heal. And that will be the focus for my next blog post!

GET HEALINGT1D’S FUTURE ARTICLES IN YOUR INBOX!

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Recent Comments:

latestModapks on Daniel Darkes
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July 20, 2020

Read more about the article The Relationship between ADHD and Type 1 Diabetes

Diet / Emotional Wellbeing / Exercise / Hydration / Nutrition / Physical Wellbeing / Taking Control of My Health

Daniel Darkes

Miraculously Cured From Type 1 Diabetes

Enjoyed this post? Check out my post on ‘MORE Spontaneous Remissions From Type 1 Diabetes!’ too.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Summary: This article discusses the ‘miraculous’ healing of the Type 1 Diabetes veteran Daniel Darkes, who healed after having T1D for multiple years. His diet, exercise and vitamins regime are outlined, along with thoughts about how this information can help more to heal.

Who Is Daniel Darkes?

Daniel Darkes is the first man (in the Western World, at least) to be cured of Type 1 Diabetes. He has become the talk of the town in diabetes communities as people try to understand how this incurable, lifelong condition is no longer incurable or lifelong!

Daniel Darkes was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2010, aged 23. He has left the British Army Grenadier Guard just four weeks before his diagnosis. He has stated that he was discharged from the army on medical grounds but it is not clear what medical issue this was.

Before Daniel’s body started to heal, he was originally taking 5-6 units of Novorapid for meals and 8 units of Lantus at night-time for a period of 7 years.

Daniel Stops Taking Insulin

In November 2016, Daniel started having episodes of recurrent hypoglycaemia at night. Before this point, night-time hypo’s had been extremely rare for him. Under the medical guidance of Northampton General Hospital, Daniel gradually reduced his insulin doses to try to prevent further hypoglycaemic episodes. However, no matter how little he gave, he continued to hypo. Eventually, it got to the point that Daniel’s consultant made the decision to stop insulin altogether.

The Impossible Becomes Possible

When I think about Miracle Dan (as Daniel Darkes has been named by his friends), I am reminded of the story of the four-minute mile. On May 6th 1954, Roger Bannister was the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. Athletes had tried since 1886 to break this barrier and none had succeeded. It was therefore assumed that this was a feat beyond human capability, something that the human body just could not do. However, once Bannister broke this barrier, many others followed. The impossible had become possible. Once they saw it could be done, many others did it too.

For me, Daniel Darkes is the Roger Bannister of Type 1 Diabetes. He has broken the barrier and shown that this ‘incurable’ condition is curable. We now know the impossible is possible.

Reactions To Daniel Darkes’ Cure

The medical and diabetic communities have not been wholly receptive to the news of Daniel Darkes’ cure. For example, Live Science wrote a piece highlighting what they believed to be inconsistencies in Daniel Darkes’ story. Firstly, they questioned the validity of his original Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. They also used Daniel Darkes’ refusal to provide his medical records (actually, it was his NHS trust that refused due to patient confidently laws in the UK), plus the absence of a published medical case study, to infer that this may be some kind of hoax.

As I ponder this reaction, I am reminded of quote by Arthur Schopenhaueur:

It appears to me that, unfortunately, Daniel Darkes’ healing is encountering the first two stages of truth – ridicule and violent opposition. Change in the medical world takes time.

Daniel Darkes has stumbled across the way to heal Type 1 Diabetes. So, whilst the medical community is adjusting its lens to the new reality, I’d like to get on with actually learning as much as I can about how he achieved it!

What Do We Know About Daniel Darkes’ Miracle Cure?

Daniel’s Diet

Daniel appears to have a very healthy diet. He runs a lot (see below) and therefore takes care of his nutrition for this. When not running, his diet tends to consist of a lot of fish, chicken and vegetables, basically pretty low-carb. He might eat fruits, nuts and crackers for lunch. He doesn’t eat sweet stuff, chocolate or have sugar in his tea. But, before I panic about such a restrictive diet, he does admit to also having the occasional beer or sweet treat or takeaway at weekends!!

On days when Daniel is running a long run, he will increase his carbohydrate intake by adding in a serving of rice, pasta or sweet potato for dinner and/or porridge for lunch. He will also have gels or sweets on the runs to top up his blood sugars, if needed.

Foodstuffs Found In Daniel Darkes’ Diet

Daniel’s Vitamins and Supplements

Daniel has said that he takes the following vitamins and supplements on a daily basis:

Daniel’s Exercise Routine

Daniel is a long-distance runner. He regularly runs marathons and ultra-marathons. He is dedicated to his fitness. He tends to run 15-30 miles a couple of times a week and then does a longer run at the weekend.

Enjoyed this post? Check out my post on ‘MORE Spontaneous Remissions From Type 1 Diabetes!’ too.

What The Experts Think

Daniel Darkes says that the experts on his case have identified a rare gene that he possesses that is acting as a back-up immune system by recharging the pancreatic cells to produce insulin.

What I Think

Issues With The Experts’ Explanation

Hang on a minute! The old-school way of looking at diabetes said that the beta cells in the pancreas – the ones that produce the insulin – have been obliterated by our misfiring immune systems. And now they can recharge?! This fits in with what I have so far argued on my blog – that this theory of ‘burnt out beta cells’ has little scientific support and has actually been replaced with the finding that beta cells do still exist in the pancreas and can, under the right environmental conditions, start producing insulin again.

I also have an issue with this ‘rare gene’ hypothesis… My issue sits in the findings of epigenetics. Epigenetics argues that individuals are not necessarily destined to suffer (or enjoy!) the blueprints of their inherited DNA sequences. In other words, you may receive programming, via your DNA, from one or other parent but that does not mean that you are destined to have that gene expressed and acted out in your life. Instead, genes have been found to be affected throughout a person’s lifespan by a range of factors, including diet, exposure to pollutants and even emotions. it is the epigenetics, influenced by this diverse range of factors, that determine whether genes are turned on or off. Why this is relevant to Daniel Darkes is because this ‘rare gene’ may have in fact been created during his healing process, as a result of epigenetics. Equally, this may be a gene that we all possess, but as yet Daniel is the only one who has found a way to get this gene turned on and working.

Western Medicine Has Not Undertaken A Holistic Investigation

I struggle with the findings, and lack of findings, that I have so far heard about Daniel’s case. So far, all investigations seem to have proceeded down only the expected avenues… Inquiries into diet, exercise, supplements, blood sugar readings and so on. In other words, all focus has been on medical questions, which treat the body as a machine with a broken component (see my post on Descartes for more information). As such, I believe the lens of inquiry is too narrow.

We Also Need To Be Asking Daniel About…

Nobody is asking Daniel about the wider healing that he may have undertaken. As I highlighted in my post on neuropeptides, the brain is highly interrelated with the body via emotions. Has anybody asked Daniel what his emotional journey has been like over the time his healing took place? Were there any shifts in his emotional outlook, for example? Candace Pert would argue that emotional healing is as likely to improve health as much as any medical intervention.

I also wonder about his running. The experts have said that his long-distance running has somehow ‘shocked’ his immune system, via this rare gene, to start working again. How do they know that it wasn’t some other factor to do with running that would have helped? For example, Daniel is likely to have maintained good hydration to be able to run. He is also likely to have spent a lot of time outdoors in nature, which in itself can be very healing. The added benefit of sunshine on the body, and the resultant levels of vitamin D, are also worth questioning. Perhaps it was any one of these factors, or the combination of all of them, rather than the running itself, that led to his healing.

I have also heard about the great benefits of fasting and its ability to regenerate the immune system (although fasting can come with great risks for diabetics). Did Daniel have any intentional or unintentional periods of fasting, perhaps due to long runs or periods of illness, which may have instead been responsible for kickstarting his immune system?

I have seen no evidence that the medical teams are asking these kinds of questions. If they are not, they are not controlling for extraneous variables in their research design and, as such, according to the rules of scientific research, their method and findings are confounded. No firm conclusions can be drawn.

Dr Kelly Turner

As this post comes to an end, I am thinking back to Dr Kelly Turner’s work on spontaneous remissions of cancer. Kelly outlined how healing is based on a range of factors, only two of which were body-based (those of ‘radically changing your diet’ and ‘herbs and supplements’). By asking Daniel only about the body-based activities and treatments he had, we are missing out on finding out about the majority of his healing journey.

Dr Kelly Turner also discussed how valuable information about healing can be gained from asking the patient themselves what they believe healed them. Daniel Darkes thinks his healing resulted from the combination of his running and his diet, which is high in zinc, nuts, oily fish and vegetables.

I intend to use Daniel Darkes’ route to health as a roadmap for my own healing. However, I am hoping that I won’t need to achieve the fitness of an ultra-marathon runner to heal my Type 1 Diabetes… I dearly hope that my unique path to healing may not require such a high level of physical exertion for the same results!! Let’s wait and see.

Enjoyed this post? Check out my post on ‘MORE Spontaneous Remissions From Type 1 Diabetes!’ too.

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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February 17, 2020

Read more about the article Daniel Darkes

Emotional Wellbeing / Favourites / Increasing Positive Emotions / Releasing Suppressed Emotions / Spirituality

The Neuroscience of Diabetes

Showing How Neuroscience Highlights The Fundamental Connection Between Emotions and Physical Health

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Summary: Candace Pert’s ‘Molecules of Emotion’ profoundly shifted the author’s perspective on Type 1 Diabetes, revealing its mental and physical connections through neuropeptides. Pert’s research on peptides bridging emotions and bodily functions challenges conventional views, suggesting holistic treatment integrating mental health and physical care is crucial for natural healing.

Candace Pert’s book ‘Molecules of Emotion’ [1] has revolutionised my understanding of my Type 1 Diabetes. I first read this book whilst I was at university (as a mature student!!) and was blown away by the concepts in it. This book truly inspired me to start thinking that healing Type 1 Diabetes is possible.

Who Was Candace Pert?

Candace Pert was an American neuroscientist who was most famous for having discovered the opiate receptor in the brain. This receptor is the place where endorphin – a type of neuropeptide responsible for feelings of euphoria, pain cessation and analgesia, amongst others – binds in the human body in order to become effective. Through her discovery in the 1970s, the field of neuroscience was transformed. Until then, it was assumed that peptides and their receptors were only found in the body – in the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid. For many years, Candace Pert held highly esteemed research positions with the National Institute of Health. Here, she further explored and developed the scientific knowledge of the peptide system and how emotions work in the human brain and body.

The Psychosomatic Network

Candace Pert’s research focused on a particular kind of molecule in the body called ‘peptides’. Peptides are small molecules that are made up of a string of amino acids.

Peptides were originally thought to exist only in the body and were responsible for communicating messages from one part of the body to another, potentially far-reaching, part. However, Pert and her team have identified that these molecules in fact exist in both the brain and body and can even be produced in the brain itself [1].

Indeed, this is the case for insulin. Insulin, as I discussed in my article here, was originally thought of as a hormone that was produced solely in the pancreas and solely for use in the digestive system to break down food into glucose to be used or stored. However, insulin and insulin receptors have now also been found in the brain, although the source of the insulin (whether from the brain or the body) remains unclear [2, 3].

The idea of the brain running on neurons and the body running on peptides is now defunct. In its place, Pert and colleagues [4] outlined the concept of a psychosomatic network, which is powered by peptides. In this network, peptides are the messengers that take information from one part of the body to another, where they are received onto receptors on cells that adapt their output in response to the information received.

Emotions In The Psychosomatic Network

Pert has conducted a large amount of research on the role of neuropeptides in the brain, particularly in the limbic system. The limbic system is responsible for attachment, affect regulation and aspects of emotional processing.

Two of the main components of the limbic system are the amygdala and the hypothalamus. These two brain regions have been found to have neuropeptide receptors that exist in a density forty times higher than that in other areas of the brain [5].

Pert [6] therefore hypothesises that neuropeptides are the ‘obvious candidates for the biochemical mediation of emotion’. She further suggests that, since these neuropeptides are found distributed throughout the body and in all of the major organs, body and emotions are highly interlinked via these neuropeptides. Pert [1] therefore believed that the mind and body could not be understood as distinct entities but were, instead, part of one system that she named the ‘bodymind’.

Emotions Influencing The Immune System

What is particularly interesting for me is when Pert [5] discusses how she can no longer differentiate between not only the mind (emotions) and the body, but also between this combined psychosomatic (brain/body) network and the immune system. Neuropeptides have been found to penetrate the immune system, as much as the endocrine and nervous systems, existing in mutual close physical and communicative contact [7].

Specifically, emotion-affecting neuropeptides, like insulin, have been found to directly control the routing and migration of monocytes, which are pivotal in the immune system. One of the roles of monocytes is to communicate with beta cells, which are responsible for making insulin in the pancreas.

Indeed, Pert [1] discusses how the cells of the immune system also possess receptors for neuropeptides and also make the neuropeptides themselves. In other words, the cells of the immune system are also producing and receiving the chemicals that are responsible for emotion.

Insulin As A Peptide

As I discussed in my post here, insulin has now been re-identified as a neuropeptide [8]. Pert [1] outlines two reasons for this:

Insulin works in the body via the pancreas and this is a location where neuropeptide receptors have been found.
In the brain, insulin has been found to be received by insulin receptors in the limbic system, namely the amygdala and hypothalamus.

Thus, insulin can, like other peptides, now be seen to directly link emotions and the body in a bi-directional relationship.

Peptides Link The Mind And The Body

Neuroscience has proven that the mind and body are not disconnected entities but are, in fact, intrinsically related via the peptide network. This network brings emotions and the body into a direct relationship with each other.

Emotional strain, stress and trauma will have an impact on the body. Similarly, disequilibrium in the body (due to toxicity or illness, for example) will impact the emotions. Peptides are the units that carry this emotional information between the body and the mind. Insulin, being a peptide, therefore carries this emotional information bi-directionally between the body and mind.

Candace Pert in fact hypothesises that each separate emotion could in fact be linked to a particular peptide. Science has yet to prove this but, if it turns out to be true, the search would need to start to find out what emotion insulin is associated with. For example, does insulin production stop (or start) depending on the amount of happiness, sadness, anger or fear a person has? And is there a lack or excess of a particular emotion that causes or contributes to the development of Type 1 Diabetes?

The link between the physical body and the emotions is actually not a new idea. In the 1960s, Solomon & Moos [8] challenged the prevalent Cartesian dichotomy by highlighting how emotional states can significantly alter the course and outcome of biological illnesses previously considered to be purely somatic. However, whilst other autoimmune conditions were considered, diabetes was not under the microscope in that piece of research.

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes Anew

Candace Pert’s [1] neuroscientific work highlights how Type 1 Diabetes can no longer be understood as a purely physical condition. The body and mind are interrelated and therefore diabetes, like every condition that involves peptides, has both physical and mental components. This is really no surprise to the majority of diabetics. I myself know how the amount of insulin (and therefore the amount of glucose in my bloodstream) directly impacts my emotions. When I have high blood sugars, I am often angry. When I have low blood sugars, I can become tearful and feel unlovable.

Candace Pert’s work and my own personal experience strongly suggest to me that, in order to heal Type 1 Diabetes naturally, a combined mental and physical treatment plan must be implemented. Therefore, my approach to healing my Type 1 Diabetes will be multifaceted. Alongside the physical processes that I will be implementing over the next year or so, I also take care of my mental health via psychotherapy. I originally undertook it when I started suffering from anxiety and depression in my teenage years. I am now mainly free of anxiety and depression. However, I now use the therapeutic space to explore ways to heal my Type 1 Diabetes. I will talk about that more in a later post.

References:

Pert, C. B. (1997). Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel. London & Sydney: Simon & Schuster. [LINK]
Brüning, J. C., Gautam, D., Burks, D. J., et al. (2000). Role of brain insulin receptor in control of body weight and reproduction. Science, 289, 2122–2125. [LINK]
Pert, C. B., Ruff, M. R., Weber, R. J., & Herkenham, M. (1985). Neuropeptides and their Receptors: A Psychosomatic Network. Journal of Immunology, 135(2), 820s-826s. [LINK]
Pert, C. B. (2002). The Wisdom of the Receptors: Neuropeptides, the Emotions, and Bodymind. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, 18(1), 30-35. [LINK]
Pert, C. B. (1997). Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel. London & Sydney: Simon & Schuster, p. 33. [LINK]
Blalock, J. E., Harbour-McMenamin, D., & Smith, E. M. (1985). Peptide hormones shared by the neuroendocrine and immunologic systems. Journal of Immunology, 135(2), 858-861. [LINK]
Hendricks, S. A., Roth, J., Rishi, S., & Becker, K. L. (1983). Insulin in the Nervous System. In: D. T. Krieger, J. B. Martin, & M. J. Brownstein (Eds.), Brain Peptides. New York: John Wiley & Sons. [LINK]
Solomon, G.F., & Moos, R.H. (1964). Emotions, immunity, and disease: A speculative theoretical integration. Archives of General Psychiatry, 11, 657-674. [LINK]

GET HEALINGT1D’S FUTURE ARTICLES IN YOUR INBOX!

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only. It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime. HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

Recent Comments:

latestModapks on Daniel Darkes
Natalie Leader on Daniel Darkes
Senna on Daniel Darkes
Sandra on High Blood Pressure
Natalie Leader on What Is Type 1 Diabetes REALLY?

2 Comments

September 16, 2019