A DIET A DAY – A CURE FOR DIABETES
– Anonymous
It was a regular event – an annual medical check-up for her in June 2019. 55 years old, she knew her cholesterol levels would be on the higher side, a concern for her. However, this year’s report shocked her – the HB1AC was a whopping 12.1(!), with Urine Glucose (+++), Urine Ketone bodies (++), Fasting 411 mg/dl , Post Prandial 570 mg/dl, Triglycrides 225 mg/dl.
She was shocked. The test felt out of this world. She slowly understood the reason for her excessive thirst the last 2 months. It could not be happening to her. There were absolutely no pre-disposing factors – genetically none in the family had diabetes. And her diet had always been on par. There was a part of her that was ashamed to share this report with the family.
After consulting a friend who was a doctor, she took an appointment with an endocrinologist. When he saw the report, he was worried – he said that she was nearly close to getting into a diabetic coma, if it was overlooked for more weeks. She kept brooding about this – why? How – did it miss her attention when she was so educated? Was it stress? Was it lifestyle and eating habits? Was it obesity?
She was put on medications by the doctor. And joined a gym as she was advised that might help her lose more weight and decrease her sugar levels.
The thought of being on medications lifelong was worrying. A search on the internet on Diabetes Mellitus (DM) led her to understand the long-term effects of DM on Kidney, heart etc. Medicines have their utility in temporarily reducing sugar levels, however they did not address the root cause most often in type 2 diabetes which is insulin resistance. At best, they improved the blood sugar readings. Over time, patients required higher and higher doses and stronger and stronger medicines, eventually they ending with insulin therapy. With time, high blood sugar levels would damage the internal organs.
She found a lot of information on how DM is reversible and that led her to the website of FFD – “Freedom From Diabetes”. Dr Pramod Tripathi who is a doctor, innovator, healer, motivational speaker, is the pioneer of Diabetes Reversal in India and the founder of the “FREEDOM FROM DIABETES” movement.
FFD has doctor guided online programs and also residential programs. Reading about them convinced her that this was a step to take next and she registered for their Intensive Reversible program – a Residential 7 day session at Pune.
This program was conducted in an estate (nothing less than a resort) surrounded by pristine nature and lush green forests. The ambience was breath-taking. Even the walking pathways were structured in such a way, to ensure that the smallest shrub wild or otherwise, is not trampled unknowingly. The belief and philosophy behind this are that plants have life and effuse positive energies around and thus to the universe. The program incorporated a daily schedule of rising early, checking the sugar levels, practicing different meditations, doing specialized exercises, and enjoying nourishing food & juices. Post-lunch, culinary demo sessions were conducted on a variety of recipes. There were also exclusive group and individual stress release sessions to further fast-track the reversal. Sugar levels were checked four times a day and attendant doctors adjusted doses then and there.
Multiple sessions were also held to educate the participants.
One of the important session was on the awareness on the causes of diabetes, which is as below:
- Excess fat interfering with the hormones
- Acidic and inflamed system
- Insulin like growth factor
- Stagnated Lymph
- Stressful emotions (isolation, grief, anxiety, anger)
Excess fat
She learned about the biochemistry in this approach – that when we eat food, there is an increase in insulin, which stores sugars in the liver and produces fat in the liver. Insulin inhibits burning of fat (lipolysis) – which means higher the insulin, lesser the fat burning. And high insulin causes various diseases like heart stroke, increased BP, abdominal obesity, PCOD, Gout etc.
A cell overfilled with glucose, spills it out of the cell, leading to increased glucose levels. So if we give more drugs or insulin to stimulate insulin secretion, temporarily more glucose will be pushed into cell. Once natural limit is reached, even extra insulin will not be able to move more glucose in.
Hence to reduce this toxic glucose overload, we need to first, stop putting excess glucose in our body. This can be done with a low carbohydrate diet. And secondly, body needs to burn off excess glucose, which can be done by fasting. Her knowledge was enlightened in the understanding of these mechanisms.
- When we fast, Sugar rises, Insulin rises. Insulin then moves glucose in cells and converts excess glucose to glycogen or fat.
- Post absorptive Phase (6 – 24 hours after beginning fasting) – Blood sugar and insulin falls. For energy, liver then breaks glycogen to release glucose. Glycogen stores last for 24 – 36 hours.
- Gluconeogenesis (24 hours – 2 days after beginning fasting) the amount of Glycogen is over. Liver makes new glucose from amino acids.
- Ketosis (2 -3 days after beginning fasting) – Low insulin stimulate breakdown of fat for energy. Glycerol is used. Fatty acids are used from all tissues except brain. Use of fatty acids creates ketone bodies which are used by brain…making you feel great.
- Protein Conservation Phase 5 days after beginning fasting) – High level of growth hormone (5 fold in 2 days) maintain muscle mass and lean tissues. Energy is supplied by ketones. Blood glucose maintained from glycerol. Increase in adrenaline prevents decrease of metabolic rate and makes one feel energized and revitalized during fasting. Proteins remain intact. They are not used for energy.
Acidic and inflamed system
Our blood pH factor 7.356 and is alkaline in nature. However, most of the food we eat is acidic and hence causes body to be inflamed. So we must increase the alkalinity of our food and reduce the acidic food. Some sample food comparisons were explained as in the pH chart below:
Insulin like growth factor :
IGF (Insulin like Growth Factor) found in milk and milk products confuses the cell and stimulates insulin secretion which means more glucose will be pushed into cell. Milk and its products have commercial production hazards too (Hormones, Pesticides, Pus, Antibiotics, Urea, etc). Hence it was recommended to stop the current milk / milk products and move to plant based options (almond, coconut etc). She learned about the diet recommendations.
Comparisons of Calcium and protein content with milk and other dry fruits and vegetables were shared in the sessions: (a) Calcium content of foods (per 100-gram portion)
- Cow’s milk 125 mg
- Almonds 269 mg
- Pistachio nuts 105 mg
- Walnuts 98 mg
- Figs (dried) 126 mg
- Sesame Seeds 955 mg
- Flax seeds 255 mg
- Sunflower seeds 120 mg
- Greens & Vegetables Spinach (raw) 99 mg
- Lettuce (dark green) 68 mg
- Bhindi (Okhra) 82 mg
- Beans (kidney, black) 143 mg
- Chickpeas (garbanzos) 150 mg
(b) Protein content of foods (grams per 100 cal portion)
- Milk 3.4 g
- Cheese 25 g
- Peanuts 26 g
- Almonds 21 g
- Walnuts 15 g
- Sesame Seeds 18 g
- Beans Black Daal (Urad) 25 g
- Kidney Beans 24 g
- Green Gram (Moong) 24 g
- Chana 19 g
- Spinach 2.9 g
Stagnated Lymph:
To improve the circulation, there was a session on the explanation of how lymph percolates in the body. Nitric oxide is a molecule that’s produced naturally by the body. It’s most important function is vasodilation, meaning it relaxes the inner muscles of the blood vessels, causing them to widen and increase circulation. Nitric oxide production is essential for overall health because it allows blood, nutrients and oxygen to travel to every part of your body effectively and efficiently.
Stimulating our lymphatic systems at periodic frequencies boosts our cardio vascular health and also moderates sugar levels.
Training was given on the Mercola’s Nitric Oxide Dump exercise (4 exercises, 3 times). This is a very simple and quick exercise that works on stimulating the lymphatic system, boosts cardio vascular health and moderate blood sugar levels.
Stressful emotions
She was taught on how to modulate stress and energy levels. Multiple sessions were conducted to bring in Inner Transformation in the participants through stress release processes. They were explained the connections between a thought / judgement/ perception Emotions Behaviours; How to increase Welfare hormones (Endorphins etc) and how to reduce Emergency hormones (Cortisol, Adrenaline); how to release of negative emotions / energy through the process of deep meditations and relaxations techniques. Various life scenarios were taken as examples for reducing stressful emotions.
Fun activities like dancing, trekking were also conducted which enabled participants to unwind and let go of their stress / negative emotions.
Details of the daily schedule were as below:
5.30 AM – wakeup call at 5.30 AM. Just before getting off the bed, FBS to be checked and recorded.
6.00 AM – A glass of water (ionised to increase the Ph factor), followed by –
Guided Yoga / Medication for an hour (various types – Dynamic Meditation, Surya namaskar etc
7.30 AM – Green Smoothie
8.30 to 9.30 AM – Pulses based Breakfast (25% Sprouts + 25% Raw / steamed veggies+ 50% Cooked Daal/ Legume based breakfast)
1.45 hrs post breakfast, exercises like anti-gravity (climbing the steps for 15 min) or Dr Mercola’s Nitric Oxide Dump exercise were recommended for the participants.
1:00 – 2:00 pm Lunch – one grain per meal (25% Grain+ 25% Proteins in the form of Daal etc + 25% Cooked vegetables + 25% Raw veggies (Salads)
4:30 – 5:30 pm Repeat Green Smoothie and Soaked Almonds & Walnuts
8:00 – 9:00 pm Dinner – similar to lunch.
Two of the days were Juice Feasting days where the participants were provided with various vegetables juices through the day (without any grains / cereals or proteins). This helped via: 1. Cleanse 2. Rebuild 3. Rehydrate 4. Alkalize the entire system.
On the last day of the residential program, health checks for everyone were conducted again. By then many had moved to reduced medications, many were off insulin injections and moved to tablets and few of them had the medications completely stopped. Each of the participant was allocated a doctor who would monitor their health for the next 3 months. This ensured that the changes in life style and diet were strictly followed through and adapted at their homes.
It’s been 3 years, since that fateful blood test and the journey of FFD. She is off the medications completely and that is her biggest satisfaction; while she remains grateful to FFD, their doctors, mentors and staff who helped her and many others from reversing diabetes.
She would like to share the Green Smoothie recipe as below –
Any 1 major green (spinach/ radish greens/beet greens/ lettuce etc) 2 Minor greens (Betel leaf, Mint, Curry leaves, Tulsi, coriander) 1 fruit (Apple, Pear if FBS >100) (Banana, Chiku if FBS < 100). Pinch of Cinnamom and Black Pepper, Half tsp Rock Salt, Half Lemon 1 glass water BLEND for 3 minutes and drink without straining.
As per FFD – recommended grains for diabetics – in the order of the lowest glycaemic index:
- Minor Millets (Foxtail, Little, Barnyard, Kodo)
- Barley
- Bajra
- Brown Rice
- Emmer Wheat
- Jowar
- Normal Wheat
