The Truth About Diabetes
Diabetes takes two forms:
Type 1, which is also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes
Type 2, which is also known as adult-onset diabetes.
It was believed that only adults could get Type 2 diabetes. This is no longer the case. Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in children at a faster rate than ever before. Worse yet, more and more adults are becoming insulin-dependent. In other words, many adults can no longer manage their diabetes with pills alone.
Type 1, which is also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes
Type 2, which is also known as adult-onset diabetes.
It was believed that only adults could get Type 2 diabetes. This is no longer the case. Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in children at a faster rate than ever before. Worse yet, more and more adults are becoming insulin-dependent. In other words, many adults can no longer manage their diabetes with pills alone.
Carbohydrates Are Not The Enemy
The common misconception about Type 2 diabetes is that the consumption of sugar is the main culprit. While it is true that once you have diabetes, blood sugar management becomes the focus (to avoid high and low levels), sugar consumption has nothing to do with treating diabetes.
The sugar you consume travels in your blood and is taken up by the cells in your brain, your muscles, and other organs. When the sugar cannot get into the cells, it stays in the blood stream This causes a higher blood sugar count when you check your sugar levels using your glucometer. This is also the number that your doctor focuses on.
The obvious question is: Why can't the sugar (AKA glucose) get into the cell? The is that fat consumption over years builds up around the cells in your brain, muscles, and other organs. The insulin you make is not going to be able to do its job of handling the glucose (it only works in the cells, not in the bloodstream). This is called insulin resistance.
The good news is that the damage done by years of eating fatty food is reversible. The great news is that you can reverse it in days. The difference will be noticeable in a few short weeks. If done right, you can potentially come you off your diabetes medications! Sounds impossible? It’s not, you can do this!
The sugar you consume travels in your blood and is taken up by the cells in your brain, your muscles, and other organs. When the sugar cannot get into the cells, it stays in the blood stream This causes a higher blood sugar count when you check your sugar levels using your glucometer. This is also the number that your doctor focuses on.
The obvious question is: Why can't the sugar (AKA glucose) get into the cell? The is that fat consumption over years builds up around the cells in your brain, muscles, and other organs. The insulin you make is not going to be able to do its job of handling the glucose (it only works in the cells, not in the bloodstream). This is called insulin resistance.
The good news is that the damage done by years of eating fatty food is reversible. The great news is that you can reverse it in days. The difference will be noticeable in a few short weeks. If done right, you can potentially come you off your diabetes medications! Sounds impossible? It’s not, you can do this!
How To Reverse Diabetes
When fat covers cells for a long period of time, the organ that makes insulin (AKA the pancreas) will burn out and stop producing the insulin the body needs. Patients will then have an even harder time lowering their blood sugars. When this happens, prescription medications are needed.
Metformin is the most common medicine in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It works by improving insulin sensitivity. In other words, it makes it easier for insulin to work on the cells in your brain, muscles, and other organs. While metformin is inexpensive, it is effective. Unfortunately, it has short-term and long-term side effects.
As a physician, I have prescribed this medication many times. It is rewarding to see how well it works. It is even more rewarding when patients are able to stop taking metformin as their diabetes goes into remission.
Your body needs glucose (the breakdown of the sugars we eat) for both energy in the near future (for example, if you are about to go for a walk) as well as stored sugar (for example, during a long period of fasting or while we are asleep).
Too much sugar for too long can lead to many complications of diabetes, such as blindness, kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks.
Here's a dinner with minimal oil (fat) and plenty of flavor.
Metformin is the most common medicine in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It works by improving insulin sensitivity. In other words, it makes it easier for insulin to work on the cells in your brain, muscles, and other organs. While metformin is inexpensive, it is effective. Unfortunately, it has short-term and long-term side effects.
As a physician, I have prescribed this medication many times. It is rewarding to see how well it works. It is even more rewarding when patients are able to stop taking metformin as their diabetes goes into remission.
Your body needs glucose (the breakdown of the sugars we eat) for both energy in the near future (for example, if you are about to go for a walk) as well as stored sugar (for example, during a long period of fasting or while we are asleep).
Too much sugar for too long can lead to many complications of diabetes, such as blindness, kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks.
Here's a dinner with minimal oil (fat) and plenty of flavor.
A Sample Recipe
This Immunity-Booster Stir Fry recipe is full of healthy options for diabetics that can help lower your blood sugars
Ingredients:
https://ohsheglows.com/2009/08/27/get-your-glo-back-immunity-booster-stir-fry/
Ingredients:
- 3 tomatoes, chopped
- Red, orange, and yellow peppers, chopped
- Spinach
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1/2 Tablespoon of lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons of EVOO
- 1 clove of fresh garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon of fresh ginger, minced
- Splash of red wine vinegar
- Very small pinch of cayenne pepper (only if you like spice!)
- Fresh or dried parsley (to taste)
- Grain: Noodles, lentils, rice, etc (I use Soba noodes)
https://ohsheglows.com/2009/08/27/get-your-glo-back-immunity-booster-stir-fry/
The Right Ingredients
- Oil is fat. We only use very small amounts of oil in our suggested recipes. We do not recommend moderation for oils; we recommend the bare minimum, or leave it out all together.
- Vegetables have protein (plenty of it). Removing meat, cheese and eggs from your eating habits means a reduction in fat and cholesterol. These are the factors that cause inflammation in your cells. You will not become deficient in protein. Most people eat nearly twice the amount of protein they need in a day. Our kidneys have to filter that out. Years of damage and fat build-up on the kidneys is what leads to high blood pressure. Many people don't know that your kidneys manage 20% of your blood pressure. Long-term kidney damage can result in kidney failure and the need for dialysis.
- Carbohydrates (AKA sugar) are needed for energy. Not all sugars are bad. Whole wheat pasta, brown rice or bulgur wheat are forms of healthy sugar. Fruit and oatmeal are other examples of good sugars. A smoothie that contains fresh or frozen strawberries with a little oatmeal sprinkled in will keep you full longer.
- Insulin and oral medications for treatment of diabetes are important. They maintain your sugar levels. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you have insulin resistance. If you eat healthier, the insulin resistance will start to drop. Eventually, you will need less medicine to control your diabetes. If done correctly, you can even reverse your diabetes, come off all of your medicines, feel better and save money.
- This is you taking control of your health and your life. Be careful. If you follow our recommendations, your blood sugars could become so well controlled that you may develop low sugar levels. Make sure you talk to your doctor as you go through this journey. If they are not supportive of you taking control of your health, please find one that will empower and support you.
A Smoothie Recipe
- Use a high speed blender when possible
- Solids go in the blender first
- A piece of green will change the color, but not the flavor. Add a piece of lettuce, kale, Swiss chard or whatever you have available.
- Water has no fat and does not alter the taste. Use water instead of non-dairy milk.
- If you make it ahead of time (for example, the night before), the protein from the fruit (or chia/hemp/flax seeds) will become more noticeable. The protein will separate and create a thick layer at the top. Simply blend for a few seconds to get it back to its original form
What I put in my smoothie depends on what I bought during my grocery shopping. I keep frozen fruit in the freezer at all times (typically strawberries, pineapple, mango or a bag of of assorted fruit). I often add fruit that is a day or two from going bad and add it to the frozen fruits in my smoothie. Blending fresh and frozen fruit with ice and water creates a delicious texture.
For example,
- 1-2 tablespoons of oatmeal (steel cut or whole)
- 1-2 fresh bananas (or one apple) cut in pieces
- I cup of frozen pineapple
- A small sprinkle of cinnamon
- 5 ounces water (add a cube or two of ice if you want a cold smoothie)
- 1 piece of lettuce or kale (they are very easy to grow)
Blend until smooth. Drink until you are full or save the rest for later.
Diabetes Can Be Reversed
- Don't try to starve yourself. Do the opposite. Eat more high quality food. Replace meats with beans. This fiber-rich food is high in protein, low in calories and, over time, will improve your cholesterol, reduce your body fat and lower your weight.
- Just as fiber fills you up, so does water. While fruits and vegetables have fiber, protein and glucose, they are made up of 90% water. So eat as much as you want.
- Remember, eat whole foods, not store-bought V-8 juice or orange juice. Supermarket juices are often high in sugar and salt.