Yes, its true. Minor changes in your diet with moderate exercise will bring your blood sugar levels down to normal in a very short time. This is not an exaggerated claim but reflects real results I see everyday in my practice. Even my husband received bloodwork that indicated that he was diabetic. He made the changes that I suggested and I am happy to report his levels came down to normal within weeks.
Close to 25 million Americans over 65 have Type 2 Diabetes (blood sugar over 140 mg/dL) while another 90 million 20 years or older have been diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes (blood sugar over 120 mg/dL). You should be aware of the fact that studies have shown us that this Diabetes epidemic is a great contributor to the scourges of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Your physician will confirm a Diabetes diagnosis by looking at results of an A1C which should not be greater than 6.5%. This test tells what your average glucose level has been over 3 months. I am glad to report that I am able to typically get my clients’ A1C down from 8.6 to 6.5 in 3 months where doctors often express amazement telling me they were about to put my clients on high doses of metformin.
The first reaction to a diagnosis of Diabetes Type 2 is shock, fear and even depression where most people will start taking 500-1000mg of metformin twice a day immediately. (Diabetes Type 1 does need medication.) Clients report that for a couple of months they have diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, and flu like symptoms until their body adjusts. I am adamant with my people that they do not have to live with these side affects if they work very closely with me and follow the dietary regimen I recommend.
A major problem with Diabetes is that blood sugar levels spike throughout the day and result in the constant need for insulin to breakdown the sugars which, in turn, causes a large strain on the pancreas. People with diabetes either don’t make insulin efficiently or their body’s cells no longer are able to recognize insulin, leading to high blood sugars.
5 MEAL A DAY PLAN
It is extremely important to eat 5 small meals a day that will prevent the blood sugar from spiking and cause the need for greater amounts of insulin. Favorite small meal times should be eaten every few hours and it is best to keep to the same times each day so your blood sugar will adapt. I not only recommend 5 meals but also suggest balancing the amount of proteins, carbs and fats at each meal. For the first four meals, I recommend large amounts of protein, a carb and some veggies. The evening meal should include a smaller amount of protein (harder to digest at night) to be enjoyed with at least a cup or more of whole grains and 2 cups of veggies. With few exceptions, I find my clients actually begin to enjoy spacing out their meals during the day where they are happy not to feel bloated from heavy meals. They enjoy the variety of smaller, tasty meals and large snacks. Clients easily lose weight and report higher levels of energy during the day.
DESSERTS
Yes, you can have desserts as long as it is eaten after a meal and not on an empty stomach. At first I recommend 200 calories of dessert such as fudgeisicles, fruit juice bars, puddings, cupcake or slice of cake with very little frosting.
EXERCISE
An hour of exercise for 5-6 days a week is recommended where I have found that breaking it up into two half hours of, for example, a brisk walk is quite effective. It is quite common to see a 50 point reduction of blood sugar after a walk, the best pill in town.
I know this all may sound too good to be true but it can be done if you do not want to rely on diabetic meds your whole life. The good news is that most insurance companies pay for nutritional counseling for Diabetes. Presently, I am working with clients from Alamo, Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, Lafayette, Pleasanton, Concord all other surrounding towns. If you live a distance away I am happy to work with you by phone, email or Skype.
I am glad to inform you that my services are covered by most insurances such as Aetna, Sutter Select, ABMG, Health Net, Hill Physicians. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or email me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com and tell me about your nutrition concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and nutrition tips in my blog section.