Richard K.

Bernstein
1
Richard K. Bernstein
For other people named Richard Bernstein, see Richard Bernstein (disambiguation).
Richard K. Bernstein (born June 17, 1934) is a physician and an advocate for a low-carbohydrate diabetes diet to
help achieve normal blood sugars for diabetics. Bernstein has type 1 diabetes. His private medical practice in
Mamaroneck, New York is devoted solely to treating diabetes and prediabetes. He is a fellow of the American
College of Nutrition, the American College of Endocrinology and The College of Certified Wound Specialists. He is
the author of six books on diabetes and normalizing blood sugars.
Biography
Early life
He was born in New York City in 1934. In 1946, at the age of twelve, Bernstein developed type 1 diabetes. For more
than two decades, Bernstein was what he calls, "an ordinary diabetic"one who dutifully followed doctor's orders.
Despite his diligence coping with the condition, the complications from his diabetes worsened over the years, by the
time Bernstein reached his thirties, many of his body's systems began to deteriorate.
[1]
Learning of the blood sugar meter
In October 1969, Bernstein came across an advertisement in the trade journal Lab World. It was for a new blood
glucose meter that would give a reading in 1 minute, using a single drop of blood. The device was intended for
emergency staff at hospitals to distinguish unconscious diabetics from unconscious drunks. The instrument weighed
three pounds, cost $650, and was only available to certified physicians and hospitals. Determined to take control of
his situation, Bernstein asked his wife, a doctor, to order the instrument for him.
Bernstein began to measure his blood sugar about 5 times each day and soon realized that the levels fluctuated
significantly throughout the day. To even out his blood sugars, he adjusted his insulin regimen from one injection per
day to two and experimented with his diet, notably by reducing his consumption of carbohydrates. Three years after
Bernstein began monitoring his own blood sugar levels, his complications were still progressing and he began
researching scientific articles about the disease. He discovered several studies on animals suggesting that
complications from diabetes could be prevented, and even reversed, by normalizing blood sugars. This is in contrast
to the then extant treatment of diabetes which focused on low-fat, high carbohydrate diets and on preventing
hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis.
Bernstein set out to achieve normal blood sugars; within a year he had refined his insulin and diet to the point that
they were relatively normal throughout the day. After years of chronic fatigue and complications, Bernstein felt
healthy and energized. His serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were now in the normal ranges, and friends
commented that his complexion was no longer gray. He was an early and vocal advocate for self-monitoring of
blood sugar by diabetics.
Medical school
Bernstein believed that the same technique could be used to assist diabetics whose quality of life could vastly
improve if they followed a similar lifestyle. Despite his effectiveness in treating his own condition, as a layperson he
had difficulty gaining the necessary attention of the medical field to change the standard treatment of diabetics.
Bernstein wrote a paper describing his technique and attempted to get it published in many major medical journals,
but none would accept it, in part because he was not an MD. In 1977, he decided to give up his job and become a
physician"I couldn't beat 'em, so I had to join 'em."
Richard K. Bernstein
2
At 45 years old, Bernstein entered the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1983 he opened his own medical
practice near his home in Mamaroneck, New York.
As of 2006, Bernstein had an HDL cholesterol of 118, LDL of 53, Triglycerides of 45, and average blood sugar of
83mg/dl. By 2008, at 74 years of age, Bernstein had surpassed the life expectancy of type 1 diabetics. He attributed
his longevity to the low-carbohydrate dietary approach and lifestyle changes he had developed for diabetics.
Low-carbohydrate diabetes diet and treatment plan
Bernstein's program for treating diabetes is highly regarded amongst his patients and achieves great blood sugar
control, which reduces some or all of the complications associated with diabetes. The tradeoff is compliance with a
very restricted diet and in many cases, frequent testing and insulin shots. Bernstein strongly opposes the dietary
guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. His dietary
recommendations are in contradiction to most other diets.
Some of the highlights of his treatment program include:
A very low carbohydrate diet to allow much tighter blood sugar control.
The allowed carbohydrate amounts are a maximum of 6 grams for breakfast, 12 grams for lunch, 12 grams for
dinner.
Avoiding all foods with added sugar or honey such as desserts, candies and pastries; all foods made from grains
and grain flours such as breads, cereals, pasta and rice; all starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, carrots, peas,
tomatoes and beans; all fresh or preserved fruits and fruit juices; all dairy products except for butter, cream and
fermented cheeses.
The patient takes responsibility for blood sugar control including blood glucose testing up to 8 times per day.
Target blood glucose levels that are nearly constant for the entire day.
Weight loss for obese people with type 2 diabetes.
Exercise for all those with type 2 diabetes.
Basal and bolus dosing for insulin users.
Professional
He is director emeritus of the Peripheral Vascular Disease Clinic of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at the
Bronx Municipal Hospital Center.
Other Works
He developed the acid perfusion test, also called the Bernstein Test, for ZES and GERD.
Notes
[1] [1] , selected chapters available on-line
References
Bernstein, Richard K. (November 1, 2011), Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving
Normal Blood Sugars (Hardcover 4th ed.), Little, Brown & Company, ISBN978-0-316-18269-0
Bernstein, Richard K. (January 3, 2005), The Diabetes Diet: Dr. Bernstein's Low-Carbohydrate Solution, Little,
Brown & Company, ISBN978-0-316-73784-5
Bernstein, Richard K. (November 1990), Diabetes Type II: Living a Long, Healthy Life Through Blood Sugar
Normalization (1st ed.), Prentice Hall Trade
Bernstein, Richard K. (February 1, 1981), Diabetes: The GlucograF Method for Normalizing Blood Sugar, Crown
Richard K. Bernstein
3
External links
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars. Official Web Site (http:/
/ www. diabetes-book. com/ ), retrieved 2010-06-27
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Richard K. Bernstein Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=605304503 Contributors: Accotink2, Aimhier, Ash, Closedmouth, Comish80, Connormah, Davide101, Epbr123, Eric
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