Can You Reverse Type II Diabetes?
Diabetes was virtually unheard of before the advent of our modern western diet. Today, the number of people with diabetes is reaching world epidemic proportions: in 2001, 366 million people were officially diagnosed with the disease; by 2050, this is predicted to be over 550 million. This figure is likely to include many people you know.
Type II is by far the more common type of diabetes, and it predominantly affects middle-aged, overweight people. In these people, their body struggles to handle all the sugar in the blood. It produces ever more insulin to get rid of the extra sugar into the body cells, but the cells no longer respond to the insulin. Their insulin level is up to ten times higher than normal which has some unfortunate side effects: it promotes fat storage, weight gain & creates a feeling of constant hunger.
So, what is driving this diabetes plague? In short, SUGAR. Not just the white granules we add to our coffee, but any rapidly-digested carbohydrate that quickly converts to sugar, such as pasta, potato chips& bread.
Treating type II Diabetes
The simplest & most important thing to do is to avoid all sugars & starchy foods i.e. soft drink, juice, pasta, bread, baked goods (flour), cereals, rice, potato chips, beer, etc. This will bring down your insulin levels, and finally allow you to start losing some weight. It will also raise your energy levels & reduce those hunger pangs.
You can eat freely from the following list:
Meat: any sort, fat & skin on
Fish & seafood: especially the oily ones like salmon, herring & sardines
Eggs
Natural fats: butter, avocado, coconut oil, olive oil
Vegetables: plenty of greens, moderate amounts of the starchier vegetables (beetroot, sweet potato, carrot). Avoid white potato & corn
Nuts & seeds: especially brazils, macadamias & pepitas
Dairy: full fat Greek yoghurts, cream, cheese. Avoid skim & low fat products.
Fruit: berries, lemons & lime are fine. All other fruit contains natural fruit sugars which will only spike those insulin levels again.
This style of diet will lower your blood sugar levels relatively quickly. Avoiding high blood sugars means that, over time, you’ll need less of the medication you may be taking to lower it, so make sure you monitor your levels regularly.