I've been following this newsgroup for years and can't recall anyone
ever claiming that any LC diet ever made insulin resistance worse.
In fact, it helps make it better, just like Atkins said.

The key phrase here is the  "as extreme as an Atkins type diet."
That immediately suggests that your Dr. doesn't even understand what
Atkins is all about.   Your carbs are limited to 20g during induction,
which typically lasts 2 weeks, though you can stay on that level
longer.   After induction, you add back carbs, 5g/day additional each
week and monitor how your body responds.    So, it' not long before
you'll be at higher levels of carbs, leading all the way to a
maintenance level when you are at your target weight.  Unfortunately,
your Dr, like so many others, probably thinks the Atkins diet means
close to zero carbs forever.

I'd also be wary of diet advice from a Dr that says to do LC, then
recommends including rice as an example food.   Even if you want a
higher level of carbs, something more like South Beach, I sure
wouldn't rattle off rice as a good example of how to spend your carb
budget.

WOW, I haven't ever heard anyone say they felt BETTER in ketosis, my
first thought is that you must have felt totally awful before?  I eat
a healthy diet with plenty of carbs in dairy/fruits/vegs, lots of
protein because I teach aerobics, I and feel great.  Have you tried
that?  Sometimes I wonder if doctors know what they are talking about
too...   Get more than one opinion, don't be led down the wrong track,
you will just waste time and it will make getting to your goal a lot
slower.
Our personal training students work out 5 times a week, eat no more
than 3 servings of starches per day, eat all the fruits/vegs they can
possibly stuff into their body (more vegs than fruits, preferably
twice as many), and 60-120 grams of protein a day (and keep fat
between 15-40 grams/day).  They lose weight like crazy and look
wonderful.  It is so easy and it works.
Maybe my videos will motivate you!  www.videofitnesscoach.com
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
ANITA

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bernsteins-Diabetes-Solution-Achieving/dp/0316167169

This is the bible on diabetes written by a type 1 diabetic who almost
died from it and became a doctor as a result.

I recommend it to anyone even slightly interested in their health.
Your local library should have it and if they don't they should get it.

He's kind of on the right track, except for the rice and the no Atkins
levels of ketosis.  Atkins style induction was presented at the Endo 99
conference as being the most effective diet for reversing lipids,
insulin and bg levels even with very high saturated fat content, which
is probably what your misguided doc is worried about.

I'd skip the rice and eat extra veggies.

It's not typical to start that high a dose of metformin at once.  Also,
if you find yourself getting crampy, muscle fatigue, brain fog, etc.,
reduce or skip the metformin, it's screws with adrenal function, messed
me up big time.

Susan