I am an acupuncturist and practicing alternative medicine. of This is an article that I wrote and teach, after I succeeded in beating type2 diabetes. The reaction of some of my patients is exactly what inspired me to create this story. I hope you enjoy it!
There is a great possibility that many of you reading this article are afflicted with diabetes. If not, it could surface in near future. I am simply a healthcare professional and self-improvement trainer who has used his personal experience to escape from the claws of diabetes.
Ten year ago I took a blood test and my fasting glucose was 140 mg/dl which was far beyond the norm of 100 mg/dl. My PP glucose level had rocketed to 196 mg/dl, which was a clear indication of diabetes. As I am not the kind of person to panic easily, I got into my car and on my way back home, had a loud discussion between me and myself.
The initial reason for taking the blood glucose test was related to symptoms like feeling tired all the time. After analyzing the blood results, I was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and medicine was prescribed. I got my glucometer, diabetes test strips and my medication but was unwilling to surrender before the situation.
I looked at the medicine strip and asked myself whether I wanted medicine to dictate my life. I asked myself if I was mentally weak to allow the pharmaceutical industry to solve my issue. The answer to both questions was a blunt “No”. It was then I decided to regain control of my life.
I started by envisioning all the consequences of diabetes and what my life would look like in a few years. Believe me, the consequences in my mind’s eye were devastating. I pictured the high blood sugar causing damage to my blood vessels, causing kidney disorder that might lead to dialysis, eye problems resulting in blindness, foot ulcers, fungal infection, heart disease, stroke, and dementia. I saw myself getting bigger around the waistline. I created these pictures in my mind’s eye and could literally feel the pain that they aroused.
Afterwards, I envisioned myself taking action, overpowering my diabetes and regaining control of my physical and mental well-being. And that was the beginning of a new era for me. As I always mention in my training, you need to link extreme pain to the things that you do not want. So, if you want to cure yourself from a disease, then link as much pain as possible to the impact of the disease. In my case, it was diabetes. In your case, it could be obesity, excessive usage of alcohol, smoking. After that, simply link as much pleasure to having overcome that bad situation, and this will provide the driving force to move forward and conquer the obstacles.
The good news is that the process leading to type2 diabetes does not take place overnight. The phase when the pancreas tries to counterbalance high levels of glucose by producing more insulin may last many years. However, eventually, the liver cells become saturated with glucose and fat. After that, it’s just a matter of time before the pancreas becomes clogged with fat and its beta cells start to malfunction.
As I understood the mechanism of diabetes, I realized that if I decrease carbohydrate intake, then it would be impossible for my blood glucose to rise above the norm. Furthermore, if I exercised more often, then I would be burning glycogen and then fat to acquire energy. I looked at the issue at hand in a very simplistic way. With this in mind, I began intermittent fasting. This intermittent fasting is on even today. Fasting is a great tool to get better health in Ayurveda as well as Chinese medicine.
It is basically the process of not eating for a longer period of time than usual. Intermittent fasting means that my stomach, liver, pancreas and other organs went on a 16-hour vacation every day. Of course, my last meal of the day contained fats and proteins, but less carbohydrates. Not only was I having limited carbohydrates, but I was giving my body ample time to take care of things and heal itself. In addition, the fat was also slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates, which made things easier.
During the morning hours when I was still in the fasting process, I would drink black coffee, green tea or fresh fruit juice and water. Actually, it became my habit to drink green tea and plenty of water during the day. When I broke my fast, I would simply have coconut water because I knew that I shouldn’t bombard my organs right away with too much food, especially refined carbohydrates. I would then have my real breakfast one hour after having consumed the coconut water. During the day, I would make sure that my intake of calories was sufficient for my weight, but would restrict the amount of carbohydrates. In fact, I consumed food and drinks that had a low glycemic index and stayed away from those with a high glycemic index.
In addition to fasting, I also began exercising regularly, so whatever I ate was converted into energy.
In due time, the fat around my waist retreated and eventually disappeared, releasing the burden on my shirt buttons. I have also had my ups and downs during my battle with diabetes and my glucose level would rise when the intake of carbohydrates was inappropriate. In such situations, I would simply discipline myself and do Yoga and Pranayam for 30 to 40 minutes.
I consciously made my subconscious mind understand that if I fast for 16 hours, consumed less carbs, did frequent workout, then I would regain my health. It became a habit. Once an action turns into a habit, success is inevitable.
There is one specific thing about fasting that I really love and it’s the fact that I actually do not feel hungry in the morning and there is no feeling of discomfort. I have so much time for myself. I can relax and savor my green tea. Fasting is not only convenient but also extremely effective.
After using the above mentioned technique, my fasting glucose decreased within a few weeks. At first, it fluctuated between 115 and 100 mg/dl, depending on how much carbohydrate I had eaten the night before. Eventually, it went below 100 and fluctuated between 90 and 95 mg/dl, depending on how disciplined I was the previous day. During the day, it never exceeded the 130 mg/dl limit (measured two hours after meals). In fact, it sometimes went below 110 mg/dl after meals, especially after a good workout. The explanation for the drop in blood sugar level is simple. I diligently controlled my intake of carbohydrates and burned my fat through exercise. As a result, the fat on my liver started to shrink and my liver cells became more sensitive to insulin. My fatty pancreas is functioning more effectively at the moment by secreting enough insulin to manage the blood glucose. I can therefore deduce that it is not as clogged up with fat as it used to be in the past. I was able to reverse the vicious circle and bring back my healthy condition.
Does it mean that I will not be haunted by diabetes?
One wrong step is enough to take me back on that path towards self-destruction. This is why I will continue with my fasting, workouts and low-carb diet. There is one last thing that I need to add. I have not only defeated diabetes but have sculptured a fairly good looking physique also. I have lost around 15 % of my body weight and during the process I have replaced irrelevant fat with muscle mass. The heartburn has disappeared. I feel more relaxed and my power of concentration has markedly increased. I believe this could be connected to the better diet I have been on, as well as my good physical shape and stamina. I truly believe that my encounter with type2 diabetes was a blessing in disguise.
Remember, life is too short to be wasted. If I could do it, then you can do it.
The typical patient with type 2 diabetes is overweight, with fat distributed around the waistline. They lead a sedentary life style, eat a lot and have a sweet tooth. After a hectic day with refined carbohydrates, they would seek comfort and clean their conscience by reaching for their medication. They do not stop to think of the toxicity caused by medication because the consumption of refined carbohydrates is too irresistible.
What is the moral? Make it your duty to shape your future by properly managing your health today. You are the only one who spends 24/7 in your own company, so make it worthwhile.
Superb and very informative, will adopt the changes suggested