Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
Over 37 million Americans have diabetes and another 96 million are prediabetic. According to the medical community, we’ve reached epidemic proportions. Thankfully there are steps we can take to help reverse diabetes for a stronger, healthier body.
Conquering diabetes is more than just trying to avoid insulin injections though. This disease causes a lot of different health problems. But first, what exactly is diabetes?
What is Diabetes?
Medical experts define diabetes as having fasting blood glucose levels of 126 mg/dL or higher. Ranges between 100-125 mg/dL are pre-diabetic, while 99 mg/dL or lower is normal. Fasting blood glucose levels above 95 triple the risk of developing diabetes compared to levels under 90.
Fasting blood glucose below 83 mg/dL may be a better benchmark. Men’s heart disease risk increases at 85 mg/dL compared to those with 81 mg/dL or lower.
Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes
When we talk about reversing diabetes it’s important to know there are two different kinds.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. Type 2 diabetes is diet and lifestyle-related. This article refers to the medical condition Type 2 diabetes. The good news is we can reverse type 2 diabetes. With lifestyle changes, like healthy eating and physical activity, diabetes remission is possible. Healthy eating means choosing a lower carbohydrate diet and avoiding sugar. These sugary foods raise blood sugar levels and wreak havoc on the body.
How to Test for Diabetes
Some medical professionals use an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to determine diabetes. If you’ve been pregnant, you may have drank a sugary cocktail before having your blood drawn. If so, you’re familiar with this one.
For an OGTT, a patient gets 50-75 grams of glucose. Then a medical professional measures their blood sugar response. No one should be drinking that much glucose! The test isn’t accurate, either.
And if you’re a fan of big gulp drinks and lots of soda, you’re testing your body in a similar way. Eventually, your body will give in. It will respond with something like, “Fine, if you want diabetes, I’ll show you diabetes!
All that sugar increases the risk of all kinds of health problems. These include vision problems, kidney disease, nerve damage, cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. These can occur even without an official diabetes diagnosis.
Diabetes Symptoms
Some common diabetes symptoms of both types, according to the Mayo Clinic include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Extreme hunger
- Unexplained weight loss
- Ketones in the urine
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
- Frequent infections
Doctors used to call type 2 diabetes adult-onset diabetes, but children now get it too. The pancreas makes enough insulin, but the body starts ignoring it. When that happens, you have insulin resistance. This looks like increased blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and waist size.
Prevalence of Diabetes in America
The American Diabetes Association reports that as of 2019:
- 37.3 million Americans have diabetes (and 8.5 million didn’t even know they had it)
- Nearly 1.9 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, and 244,000 are children and adolescents.
- It’s estimated about 35% of Americans under 20 have diabetes.
- 96 million Americans age 18 and up are pre-diabetic.
- 1.4 million new cases of diabetes occur each year.
- Nearly 30% of people older than 65 have diabetes
- Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death and costs $327 billion a year.
Diabetes is a big problem, but what causes it? Some say it’s genetic, while others claim a lifestyle or dietary cause… What is it? Let’s go back to biology.
Biology 101: Sugar, Carbs, Insulin, and Fat
Our body breaks down and metabolizes any food we eat into the different building blocks it needs. What it doesn’t process the liver removes.
We need protein and fats for muscle and tissue regeneration and other bodily processes. We typically use carbohydrates as a fast energy source, but when we eat more than we need, our body stores it as fat. So that whole wheat muffin can be just as bad as eating a donut with sprinkles!
I explain the process more in this post. While it may seem simple, there are a few confounding factors.
Grains, Sugars, and Omega-6 Oils
These three are the axis of evil in the nutrition world. They’re all new to the human diet, especially in the most common forms. These include processed flour, table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and vegetable oils.
Grains (especially the highly processed form) not only raise insulin levels but can damage the gut lining. This can happen even without celiac disease. Even whole grains also cause inflammation and can create an immune response.
Healthy and Unhealthy Sugar
Sugar raises insulin and over time this damages beta cells in the pancreas. This leads to insulin resistance, a precursor for diabetes. Fructose is the top offender in the sugar world. It goes directly to the liver and might be a big factor in fatty liver disease.
Excess sugar in the bloodstream also increases cortisol and adrenaline release. It slows the immune response, decreases necessary leptin levels, and promotes fat storage. While we should limit all sweeteners, some are worse than others:
- Glucose – Found in almost all carbohydrates, glucose is a precursor to glycogen. We need glycogen for energy so it’s ok in moderation.
- Fructose – A toxic substance with no health benefits. If you decide to eat it, get it from whole fruits, not High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).
- Sucrose – AKA table sugar. It has a 1:1 ratio of glucose to fructose and creates an insulin response. Limit or avoid it.
- High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) – This is super concentrated (and dangerous) fructose. Be strict about avoiding this substance.
- Honey, Maple Syrup, Agave, Molasses – These natural sweeteners still contain high levels of fructose. Healthy people with good insulin sensitivity can eat these in moderation.
- Fruit sugar – Fruit contains lots of natural sugar. While most fruits are okay in moderation, avoid their juices. These are concentrated sugar sources that raise blood glucose and insulin. The best fruit sources are low sugar and high antioxidant, like berries.
Vegetable Oils
Omega 6 oils are a relatively new addition to the diet, making their appearance in the early 1900s. Oils in this category include vegetable oils, which aren’t from vegetables at all. These include canola, cottonseed, soybean, corn, safflower, sunflower, and more.
Since the 1950s vegetable oil intake has increased thanks to health “experts.” Research now shows they increase obesity risk and harm the thyroid. They contribute to insulin resistance and inflammation, further aggravating the poor pancreas.
Ideally, we should consume omega-6 fats in a 1:1 ratio with Omega-3 fats. Most Americans consume a ratio closer to 20 or 25:1, increasing their risk of diabetes and obesity.
Stress, Toxins, and the Adrenals
The body functions as a sum of many parts. So, it’s logical that when one hormone or part of the endocrine system is suffering, the other would suffer. This is why recent research links high stress to diabetes and other health problems. Most people think of stress only in the mental context. But stress can be physical, psychological, emotional, or mental. Many things can trigger it, including:
- Lack of sleep
- Poor diet
- Exposure to toxins
- Infection
- Disease
- Overexercising
- Outside stress
Cortisol and Hormones
When we’re stressed the adrenals release cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are life-saving in true “fight or flight” situations, like running away from a bear. But too many of these hormones can cause problems.
Excess cortisol contributes to hormone imbalance. That’s because the body uses other hormones like progesterone to manufacture it. Too much cortisol can also interfere with other metabolic processes. It can mess with blood sugar, reduce fat-burning, and raise insulin. It can also suppress the thyroid, and contribute to belly fat.
Sleep deprivation can elevate cortisol, decrease insulin sensitivity, and increase blood sugar. Most moms have felt the hangover-like effects of this during the first weeks of caring for a newborn.
Genetic Factors
Genetics do play a role in any disease, but I put this factor last for a reason. Genetic risk factors for a disease will increase your chances of getting the disease. But not in a vacuum.
Some with a family history of heart disease remain heart-attack free. Studies of identical twins show that twins often get the same diseases.
We now know that environmental factors or a potent toxin can alter genes in a single generation. Factors like toxins, stress, pesticides, and diet can turn certain genes on or off, leading to disease. While our genes can increase disease odds, it won’t necessarily happen without other factors.
If you know you have a genetic predisposition to a condition, take steps to maintain your health. At the same time, work to prevent illness.
Those with a genetic predisposition to liver or autoimmune disease often get diabetes. This is likely because the pancreas and liver handle proper insulin regulation. So, problems here could affect the body’s normal response. Studies have linked autoimmune disease and leaky gut with higher instances of diabetes.
How Do We Fix It?
None of the above contributing factors usually happen by themselves. Since the body functions as a whole, a problem in one area will usually correlate to problems in others. A combination of the factors above can trigger a full-blown case of diabetes. It can also lead to many other diseases.
Researchers often look at a single variable when searching for a cure for a disease. But the best approach is to address the body as a whole. The best remedy is prevention but some measures can help reverse disease once it’s happened.
Freshly diagnosed diabetics usually start working with a dietitian or nutritionist. Diabetes care usually involves avoiding sugar (a good step, not the solution). They may need drugs like Metformin or insulin.
These are a band-aid solution though and can cause side effects. The problem is that diabetes is a problem with insulin regulation. The body becomes resistant to insulin hormone and then the pancreas overproduces it.
The goal is to remove toxic amounts of glucose from the bloodstream. Insulin is also dangerous if left circulating in the blood. Treating excess circulating glucose and insulin by adding more insulin doesn’t make sense.
We have to fix the actual problem causing diabetes, like diet, toxins, stress, and gut problems. Just managing blood sugar levels can lead to insulin-dependent diabetes and pancreas shut down.
Ditch the Typical Diet
Mainstream US health experts often follow the current USDA My Plate guidelines. This recommends 6-9 ounces of grains a day for fiber. For perspective that’s 9 slices of bread or 4 plus cups of rice. While this is poor medical advice for anyone, it’s fuel on the fire for those with insulin issues.
All those grains and carbs increase body weight and fat.
7 Steps to Help Your Body Recover from Diabetes
The good news (about time!) is that most people with Type 2 diabetes can reverse it or dramatically improve it with the right steps.
1. Control Insulin
Insulin resistance triggers diabetes. Regaining proper insulin sensitivity can help reverse the process. Limit sugar, grains, and processed carbs. Instead focus on healthy proteins, fats, and green veggies.
2. Balance Fats
Too many omega-6 fats in the diet contribute to diabetes. A 1:1 ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats is best. Avoid Omega-6 rich seed and vegetable oils (almost every restaurant uses these). Fatty fish like salmon and sardines are good Omega 3 sources.
3. Fix your Gut
No, I’m not talking about the beer gut. Grains and toxins cause damage to the intestinal lining and can cause leaky gut. Not enough good bacteria in our gut makes the problem worse. Poor diet, antibiotics, and being bottle-fed as a baby all deplete the microbiome.
Remove grains, avoid toxins and take probiotics to help heal. Grains, especially gluten, can harm gut health for some people. Even if it’s eaten occasionally.
4. Exercise
Even mainstream medicine recognizes the advantages of exercise for diabetes. It increases the muscles’ ability to use insulin. Over time, it can help fix insulin resistance.
All exercise isn’t created equal, though. Daily high-intensity exercise improves insulin balance better than an hour of moderate cardio. It also works better for weight loss. I recommend high-intensity exercise anyway for its various health advantages.
5. Lose Excess Weight
Obesity and Diabetes often go hand in hand. There’s still a debate on which one causes the other. But studies show that lowering your BMI can help mitigate diabetes. It also lowers your risk of getting it in the first place. Certain dietary and lifestyle improvements can help you lose weight and are beneficial for diabetes reversal as well.
6. Reduce Stress
Stress raises cortisol, potentially leading to hormone imbalance and insulin issues. It also increases your risk for certain types of diseases.
To lower your stress, get plenty of sleep, avoid toxins, and improve your diet. Getting quality sleep every night can help reduce stress hormone levels and is excellent for blood sugar. Also, do what you can to address mental and emotional sources of stress. I’ve found tapping very helpful.
7. Supplement
Supplements can help you heal from diabetes. They’re especially helpful while your body normalizes its insulin responses. Consider cinnamon, omega-3s, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, and garlic. Magnesium and chromium are also helpful.
Monitoring the Problem As It Improves
Anyone with diabetes should consult their primary care provider before making any changes. Especially before changing diabetes medication. That said, focusing on healthy foods is always a good idea.
Nearly 74% of Americans are overweight and many are in a pre-diabetic state. Even if you don’t have symptoms, a glucose monitor can show you your insulin levels.
I also monitored my glucose when pregnant instead of doing the glucose test. Testing at home will tell you how your body responds to certain foods and what works best for you.
What You Need
A Levels glucose monitor is my preferred way to check my sugar levels as it is easy and pain-free. You can also track your numbers as often as you like. The company sends a tracker that you attach to your arm and it gets replaced every 14 days. But finger pricks also work!
If you want to manually check, most drugstores sell glucometer and test strip kits. Be sure to check the cost of replacement strips though. Those can get pricey!
Testing Blood Sugar Levels
Take blood sugar readings at the following times each day for a week:
- First thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything
- Before your normal lunch
- One hour after lunch
- Two hours after lunch
- Three hours after lunch
Do not eat or drink anything else during the three hours of testing.
You may get an accurate baseline of your insulin response after only a few days. But a week provides more data. If you’re diabetic, you likely have some ideas about these numbers. Take readings at the suggested times anyway to figure out your baseline.
Keep a Food Log
Write down everything you eat and drink and track the times you test your blood sugar. This shows how you react to specific foods. Don’t make a special effort to diet or eat healthy foods during this time as you’ll want to know your normal reactions.
Carbohydrate Spike Test
Choose a day of your blood sugar readings to eat a food high in simple carbs. It should be after at least 2-3 days of testing.
For your test meal, eat potato, rice, etc. You can also include any vegetables, but don’t add any fats or proteins. This will test your basic reaction to high levels of glucose not mitigated by fat. Record these numbers as usual.
Important note: If you usually eat a low-carb diet, this number might seem higher than it should be. This is because of a decreased carbohydrate tolerance and is not a cause for concern.
Determine Results
Based on your food log and glucose results, note which foods cause higher readings. Use a website like fitday to input your food log. That will help you get an accurate analysis of your total carb, protein, and fat consumption. Then you’ll see which days were the best and worst for your blood glucose.
How Should Your Numbers Look?
You want your numbers to be as follows:
- Fasting blood glucose below 83 mg/dL
- A pre-meal reading below 90 mg/dL or your fasting level
- 1 hour reading under 140 mg/dL
- 2 hour reading under 120 mg/dL (preferably under 100)
- 3-hour reading back to pre-meal level
- No readings above 140 mg/dL
If your numbers are higher, your body isn’t processing glucose well. You likely have some level of insulin resistance. Limit carbs and processed foods and opt for more good fats and proteins.
Start the “Seven Steps” above then take a look at your readings. If they’re in the diabetic or high prediabetic range, consider consulting a specialist.
Even if you don’t have glucose issues, occasional blood sugar testing is a good idea. It can help pinpoint which carbs your body does and doesn’t like. And it’s a more accurate alternative to the pregnancy glucose test. You may have to explain your reasons to your doctor though!
Final Thoughts on Reversing Diabetes
Diabetes research is constantly evolving. I compiled the best of my research above, but do your own, too! At the very least, please consider making some positive changes. A good diet and lifestyle go a long way to help fight and prevent disease.
Do you struggle with diabetes? Have you overcome it?
10 years ago, I was having extreme trouble sleeping, falling asleep at work every afternoon, and generally feeling awful. I talked to my doctor, who had me do fasting labs, and he said I was diabetic based on the then-new revised standards. We discussed alternatives to medicine, and I resolved to beat diabetes rather than fall prey to it.
I’m 5’11” and at the time weighed 283 lbs. That’s not as alarming as it sounds, I have a very stocky build and was a weightlifter as a young man, in peak condition I have 29″ diameter thighs; I weighed 205 lean lbs when I started college at 18. Still, I was at least 70 pounds overweight, and could not comfortably walk more than 100 yards without sending my back into spasm.
At the time, I lived in apartment that had a pool. I dug out my bicycle, pumped up the tires and lubed the chain, and started riding. Initially it was a struggle to ride around my (large, 1-mile) block, but I kept it up. I alternated bicycling and swimming 6 days a week. Initially I wasn’t getting very far on either one, but over the course of the first 8 weeks, I got strong and more capable. Then a small miracle occurred.
I rode around the block without stopping, and I didn’t have to push my bicycle up the final hill. I swam 20 laps in the pool (a small one) without stopping. I added ‘water walking’ to my regimen; jump in the pool just deep enough you don’t float off the bottom and walk as fast as you can against the resistance of the water. It’s fabulous exercise, low impact and your muscles shed heat into the water, it is a really good way to burn a lot of calories very quickly, and a good cool-down from a fast-paced bicycle ride.
I started trail riding with friends, and grew quickly in endurance and skills. I also learned how to fall off a bike pretty well, which can be dangerous at 43.
In 11 months, I was down to 213 lbs, and could ride 22 miles on dirt trails in the mountains and survive the trip. Not only was I not falling asleep at work, I felt invigorated after a lunch-time ride, had much more energy at work and after, I completely changed my life.
Life has had its ups and downs, and for various reasons I wasn’t able to maintain my fitness levels, and am now struggling again. Your recommendations here are spot on, with the exception of recommending a small number of short, intense workouts. Your life will be far better if you find some way to exercise every day, preferably at least twice a day. If you can work a few intense aerobic workouts into that, you will find yourself even healthier, but find a way to work a couple of ‘non-smoke’ breaks into your day and go walk around the block, or your building or a parking lot. Pump that blood up out of your legs, get your heart beating just a little faster, and move the air in your lungs.
Thank you for all your research. Someone I love will benefit from this. You can’t imagine how much I appreciate this.
I understand eating protein, veggies and fats but somedays after eating high carb I wake up extremely dizzy and trembling, I feel like my sugar dropped, instead of sugar and grains how would I make it better?
I have been pre-diabetic since the age of 32 i am now 48. Until now i
have managed my weight and diet well enough to keep my blood sugar
levels below 126mg. This year I slipped into depression, it snuck up on
me and i didn’t even realize it was happening to me. I run a business
and I was over-worked and stressed. I ignored my health and the signs of
my body(headaches, diarhea, nausea, bloating cramps, emotional upset).
This all happened in the last 3 -4 months. My weight ballooned up to 200
pounds. I usually am around 180-185 at 5′ 4″. I work hard physically on
my horse ranch and I ride alot which is the only healthy thing I have
done right. But i noticed even that is becoming increasingly difficult. I
suffer from joint and muscle pain as well as nerve pain in my neck
arms, hips and legs. My ankles are swollen at night when i got to bed.
So I started checking my blood sugar levels this week. I am terrified to
report that every single time i check my levels they have been above
126mg! I had one that was 121. This scares me. i have been able to stave
off going on medication for over 16 years. I know that i have let my
life style choices and stress take over and lead me to this scary place I
am now. My question is, can I get back on track? Can I go back to my
healthy habits and reverse the problem or stop it in its tracks? My
sugar has been testing 121-160 before meals with my morning one being
highest.
You are the most important member of your health care team.
You are the one who manages your diabetes day by day. Talk to your doctor about how you can best care for your diabetes to stay healthy.
I am 24 weeks pregnant and started testing my own sugar levels today. My fasting level was 75 upon waking. At 8:52am I proceeded to eat some boiled white potatoes, which I never ever eat. My 1 hour level was 159 @ 9:52am. You mentioned that if you primarily eat a low carb diet (I eat Paleo/Traditional foods) then it will be higher. My 2 hour level was back down to 71 @ 10:52am. Considering my normal diet, and the fact that I ate something very high in carbs as my testing meal when I never eat carbs, do you think I am okay? I plan on testing again after I eat my (normal) lunch and then testing once every 3 hours like you recommend.
Sounds like normal levels to me…. check out the article I linked to above though for more specifics on the numbers…
Thank you! Will do.
I proceeded to test my levels after eating a normal paleo meal and they were all well below 100, except for 117 when I had a snack with some dried mango. So I guess all is well! Thank you for the quick response! I was testing my own levels so I would feel more confident turning down the 1 hours glucose test at my next prenatal visit.
hello, I am the opposite I suffer with hypoglacemia, Im fine in the morning before I eat after food at times my glucose drops to 40 sometimes even 30. I’ve never had high levels only my fasting insulin is around 30 which I believe im producing too much insulin. I eat healthy sometimes if I do no carbs it drops… sometimes if I do just a half a cup of hot oatmeal it drops mostly when im real hungry but only after I eat… I cant figure this out Im a health coach myself so this is frustrating. I am menopausal and do have hasimtos thyroditis. any suggestions?
Thank you for writing this. It is the most detailed valuable piece I have read on the web. Thank you!!!
What I am about to say is in regards to Type 1 Diabetes. All of the information can be found in the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever conducted called The China Study by T. Colin Campbell PHD.
Did you know that when an infant is fed formula too soon or throughout pregnancy can cause Type 1 Diabetes.
The cows milk from the formula reaches the small intestine and it is broken down into its amino acid parts. Some infants cannot digest it all so some amino acid chains or original protein fragments hangout in the intestines.It
My spelling better would be great as well lol
You say to use the suppolements like alph lipoic acid but you do not give reccommended amounts. That would be great.