Very Sorry to hear about your friend.............I'm a Vet and the VA helps me with my Diabete's, but a friend of mine turned me onto the South Beach diet and not only have I lost 35 lbs but I feel GREAT. That has been a year ago, now I understand that it's hard to eat on that diet on the road. But if I can then anyone can, plus I do a sweatlodge everytime I'm back home............