Updated September 7, 2020
Can you reverse Type 2 Diabetes? The answer could be subjective to many out there. However, in my case, the answer is: yes, I reversed my Type 2 Diabetes. Now I live happily without any diabetes medication.
I wrote a complete story of my struggle with Type 2 Diabetes, including how I naturally reversed diabetes (without medication) in this book: Reversing Diabetes (Kindle and Paperback on Amazon).
Let me share with you the central ideas behind reversing diabetes, naturally, and staying without diabetes medication for the rest of your life.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes, a chronic health condition, is characterized by abnormally high blood sugar/glucose level.
When you eat food, the carb contents (excluding dietary fibers) are converted into glucose. The glucose enters your blood stream. Hormone insulin helps lower the blood glucose/sugar level. When your body has trouble producing or utilizing insulin, you develop diabetes.
There are two diabetes types: Type 1, and Type 2.
In Type 1 Diabetes, your pancreas produces virtually no, or a very low amount of insulin.
In Type 2 Diabetes, your pancreas produces insulin, however, your body is not able to utilize insulin efficiently (termed as insulin resistance).
In either diabetes type, the blood glucose level goes abnormally very high (hyperglycemia). If you don’t treat hyperglycemia and diabetes on time, you risk multiple health conditions, including stroke, amputation, hair loss, erectile dysfunction, and blindness. 🙁
How To Test If You Have Diabetes?
If your two consecutive (one week apart) fasting blood sugar level readings are 7 mmol/l, or higher, you have diabetes. Prediabetes (higher risk of developing diabetes) range is from 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/l. You are fine if your fasting blood sugar level is between 4 and 6 mmol/l. However, Hypoglycemia, characterized by abnormally low blood sugar level (< 3.9 mmol/l), is dangerous too.
Diabetes Statistics
According to International Diabetes Federation, in 2019:
- 463mn adults (age: 20-79) had diabetes; the number is expected to rise to 700mn in next 25 years. It’ll happen in our lifetime.
- As many as 50% diabetics don’t know that they have sugar disease.
- 4.2mn deaths globally.
What Does Reversing Diabetes Mean?
Well, reversing diabetes does NOT mean you can eat as much sugary food as you want, and still keep your blood sugar in normal range.
In fact, reversing diabetes, broadly implies that if you control your food and sugar intakes (such as going on a healthy meal plan) and do regular workouts, then without any medication you’ll be able to maintain fasting blood glucose in the normal range (between 4 and 6 mmol/l).
How To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes, Naturally?
The treatment and reversal of diabetes include three main parts:
- Medication,
- Healthy meal plans, and
- Physical workouts.
#1 Diabetes Medications?
Well, I lived in China during my 2019 diabetes crisis (I’m still in China in Sep 2020). The medicines had Chinese names. I added names, dosage, screenshots, and other details (in English) of the medicines in the books I just linked: Reversing Diabetes (Kindle and Paperback on Amazon).
In order to reverse your diabetes, first you should consult your doctor. Take medicines and bring your sugar in normal range. Going forward, make sure the sugar level never goes out of control. This can be achieved by opting a healthy meal plan.
#2 Diabetes Meal Options
What’s a healthy meal plan for a diabetic?
Whether it’s Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, your body is struggling with an abnormally high glucose level. The glucose in blood comes from the food you eat.
Simply, don’t eat too much of carbs.
How much is the safe limit of carbs per day? About 50g/day (excluding fibers).
What are the best foods for a diabetic?
You should eat food with a lower Glycemic index (GI <10)/Glycemic Load (GL <10), such as:
- Almond flour (you can make pizza crust of almond flour)
- Green vegetables (spinach, cauliflower)
- Meat (beef, pork)
- Poultry (chicken, duck)
- Butter, cheese
- Oil
What not to eat?
What are the worst foods for a diabetic? Anything with high GL/GI.
In particular, in order to reverse diabetes, you should not eat:
- Rice, noodles
- Bakery products (cakes, muffins)
- Bread
- Potato, French fries
- Burger
- Pizza (made wheat flour)
- Chicken nuggets
- Fruits
#3 Physical Workouts
You’ll need to work out on a daily basis.
Obesity is one of the root causes of diabetes. Lose weight if required. I wrote a detailed post about losing weight naturally:
Ensure your BMI stays close to 25.
I am not a big fan of going to the gym. Rather, I prefer to go for walks, at least 5km/day.
Final thoughts?
So, how did I reverse diabetes?
I took medications and brought my blood sugar to normal. Then started controlling my carbs intakes, and did regular workout. It’s over 1.5 years, my blood sugar is very much in control. I don’t take medicines; however, I don’t eat junk food either.
So, yes, I reversed diabetes, naturally. No more drugs!
Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? Don’t worry! You too can control your diabetes.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, the old cliché still make sense.
Let me know if you have any questions about reversing diabetes. Happy to extend helping hands. 🙂