You CAN Reverse Diabetes, Avoid Surgery and Get Off Medication
Two leaders in the medical weight loss field, Drs. Sara Hallberg and Osama Hamdy, wrote an Op-Ed in the September 10th New York Times entitled “Before You Spend $26,000 on Weight-Loss Surgery, Do This”. The article makes a strong case for adopting a low carb diet as a way to reverse diabetes, lose weight, get off medication and avoid going under the knife.
The article was written as bariatric surgery (stapling, binding or removing part of the stomach) is becoming a standard option for diabetes treatment. At this time, many insurance companies won’t pay for this procedure and, as many who have had or who know someone who has had this surgery can attest, it is fraught with potential complications.
The number of people in the US with type 2 diabetes is expected to rise from 11 million in 2000 to 29 million in 2050. Surgery and medication, as ways to manage diabetes, will help save lives and reduce the cost to society of treating the complications of diabetes such as kidney and heart disease, eye disease and nerve damage, among others. But isn’t a simple change in what we eat a better way?
You who are reading this know that I recommend that patients looking to lose weight or reverse/prevent diabetes eat between 40 and 100 grams of carbohydrates a day. I have seen people reverse diabetes in as few as three months eating this way. Patients are safely getting off prescription medications for diabetes, high blood pressure and even high cholesterol after adopting this way of eating. I recommend gradual, safe,and sane weight loss and lifestyle change.
Is this the solution for everyone with diabetes or who is overweight or obese? No. Many have come into my office looking to get the benefits of this way of eating but unable to make it stick. Changing habits is very difficult. If you have tried before and it hasn’t worked for you, consider giving it another try. If you have made it work, stick with it! And if you are or know someone who would benefit from this way of eating, consider it. What do you have to lose?
Supplement Spotlight: Relief for Allergies and Colds
Fall is here. Falling leaves means mold and ragweed is another culprit this time of year. The colder, dryer weather also means that colds are back in fashion. What to do?
Allergy prevention: Gather up your leaves and get rid of them if mold is a problem for you.
Cold prevention: Keep your rooms at a minimum of 35% relative humidity (weren’t we just suffering through high humidity days)? Use a cold or hot mist humidifier. Drink plenty of water, exercise, wash your hands and go easy on sugar, which weakens the immune system. To kick start your system every day, try contrast showers, a technique from classical naturopathy which really works. Here goes (best with a hand-held nozzle):NOTE: Do NOT do this if you have nerve damage, heart failure or if you are pregnant.
Start with water as hot as you can tolerate for 1 minute
Turn hot down as much as you can tolerate and keep cold for 30 seconds. Let the water run on your head, arms, anywhere you can tolerate.
Repeat this cycle up to three times.
You can do this every day if you wish. You will build up a tolerance for the cold.Supplements to help with allergies:
Dose: take 1-2 capsules up to 6 times a day.