How to reverse type 2 diabetes

June 2 2013 by in Diabetes, Weight loss

Is it possible to reverse type 2 diabetes? Doctor Jay Wortman, MD, knows more about it than most people. He developed type 2 diabetes himself ten years ago. After a simple dietary change he is still completely symptom free, with no medication.

Wortman also did a spectacular study on native Canadians. When they started eating the same food that their ancestors ate their Western diseases disappeared.

Here’s a 25 minute interview I did with dr Wortman during the recent Low-Carb Cruise. Links to things mentioned in the interview:

Links

Dr. Wortman’s blog

My Big Fat Diet documentary on YouTube

Books:

73 comments

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Reply to comment #3 by Rainer
Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt, MD Team Diet Doctor
June 2 2013 4
IMO that is semantics. Do you really still have a disease if you are completely symptom free, possibly forever?

Mary Vernon shares an interesting argument. A type 2 diabetic that starts a LCHF diet and normalizes his/her blood sugar may still be "carb sensitive", just like someone with light skin is sun-sensitive. Having light skin can be a problem if exposed to too much sunlight, but it's not a disease. Being carb sensitive is a similar thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaquSijXJkQ

Read more →

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51
Scott
November 12 2013
Hi,
I am so glad I have found this site! (actually my brother recommended it to me). I am 39 and was diagnosed T2 about 8ish years ago. I was given advice from a dietitian to eat a "low GI" diet and gave me a booklet with a long list of the glycemic index of many foods. This helped but it wasn't until I saw a Chinese traditional medicine doctor who put me on an alkaline diet that everything fell into place and normalized and I felt great! He told me at the start he could get me off the metformin (500mg daily) I had been on for several months and he was right, my GP took me off it..
Anyway, I've had depression all my life and "comfort eat" and so I fell back into old habits and basically ignored the diabetes and went crazy with the sugary foods (ice cream addict). Now 7 years later I went for a general checkup after feeling lousy for so long with frequent urination and very recently blurred vision. My blood test results were bad, BS- 23.3, fasting BS-10.8, cholesterol- 6.2, triglycerides- 2.9.
My GP immediately put me back on metformin at 500mg, another blood test after 2 weeks and I am not responding to the metformin like I did 7 years ago, so now I am on 1g twice a day.

I am a little overwhelmed with all the information here, where do I begin? is low GI eating old thinking? low carb I understand but high fat? will that help my LDL cholesterol? I have so much to learn...

Reply: #52
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Reply to comment #51 by Scott
Zepp
November 12 2013
Low GI is more for them eating a lot of carbs.. and GI is just a part of GL (Glycemic Load).. GL is LCHF/ATKINS!

Your LDL mess is becuse of your diabetes/hyperinsulinemia!

Here you can read more about low carb high fat and diabetes!

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/prediabetesanddiabetes/a/diabeteslow...

And here a book frome a diabetic to other diabetics!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diabetes-No-Thanks-Scandinavian-Diet/dp/19080...
53
Scott
November 20 2013
Thanks for the reply and info!
I am starting to realize I have been misinformed (like most of us I think?) about fat vs sugar and cardiovascular health.
For many years I have always been more concerned about fat and couldn't care less about sugar! Now I have learned the hard way what a mistake that was :-(

Reply: #54
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Reply to comment #53 by Scott
Zepp
November 20 2013
Its better late then never!

Do read more and learn.. but you should manage your medication in the meantime.

With less carbs.. often less medication.. but Metformine never causes low blood sugar!
55
John
November 20 2013
Here's a link to an interesting book that talks about the disconnect between cholesterol and heart disease also -

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ESMDGE8/ref=oh_d__o01_details_o01...

It's been 10 months since I started leaving out the fast-acting carbs. My blood glucose is still in control at an FBG of 95 and blood pressure of 107/65 and pulse of 55. No Metformin, no Lipitor.
1 comment removed
57
joey
March 2 2014
people who are diabetic should watch what they eat, with good advice from licensed dieticien, a diabetic diet meal plan becomes easier to manage, through this diet plan the diabetic could plan or mix and match the daily meals he or she would take, this is without compromising the carbohydrate intake he or she needs to limit.
we can use this example:

http://yourbestwayto.blogspot.com/2014/02/diabetic-diet-menu.html
58
Andre
March 15 2014
Has anyone ever experimented with increasing carb intake once they have resolved their insulin resistance(IR)?

If IR is the reason blood glucose goes up and IR is reversible with LCHF over time, then it stands to reason that at some point once IR has resolved, those individuals who's pancreas still secretes a significant amount of insulin should be able to consume carbs without having their blood glucose shout up. I am not suggesting going back to the diet which caused them to become IR in the first place but something a bit less restrictive than a ketogenic diet.

Seems to me that we should be hearing from some type 2 diabetics who can now consume a more balanced diet and still post good A1c numbers.

Reply: #59
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Reply to comment #58 by Andre
Zepp
March 17 2014
Yes there is, but then it shouldnt gone to long.. becuse one other thing one get of hyperinsulinemia is steatosis in internal organs.. like fatty liver and fatty pancreas.. then it dont excret the right amount anymore!

But like fatty liver.. one can revers the condition.. by cuting carbs.. and it is the same in pancreas!

If one dont cut out the carbs and take for example insulin.. it gonna be worse.. going to chirrosis.. ie.. ones nesecery cells in internal organs are replaced with scar tissuie!

And that tissuie dont excret insulin!
60
Andre
March 19 2014
Thanks for the reply Zepp. As someone relatively new to T2 and now using a LCHF diet, I hope I caught mine in time to prevent steatosis. As I strive to learn more about the illness, I just find it odd to see so many testimonials from T2s saying they can maintain good control of blood sugar using LCHF but have yet to come across one who says that s/he has returned to a more balanced diet and continues to do well.

It would be interesting to know if Dr. Wortman ever experimented with increasing carbs in his diet once he had the illness under control. As I understand it, he never took any medication for the illness and apparently diagnosed it fairly early.

Perhaps we need a thread somewhere on the Net where T2s could rate the level of success they have achieved in curing their illness. As the numbers grew, it would certainly be motivational to people new to the illness such as myself.

Reply: #61
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Reply to comment #60 by Andre
Zepp
March 19 2014
I think you have steatosis.. at least some.. becuse it take 10-30 years to develope diabetes!

But as you says.. it hopfully dont gone to chirrosis.

And then.. one get steatosis in the heart altso.. thats not good.. if its going to scar tissue!

And in the future.. after 1-2 years.. then you know how much you tolerate.

And I and you know.. one dont need to bulk on sodas, sugar, pasta or bread to thrive!

I dont have diabetes.. (HBA1C 32).. I got other conditions.. like high blood lipids.. its got lower, not perfect.. but nearly healty!

The rest is probaly heredatary.. somthing one cant do anything about!

And its probably the same for you.. you got the heredaty fore being a diabetic.. but now you know how to cope with that.. and thrive anyhow.
1 comment removed
63
Zepp
June 22 2014
I couldnt stand that long time of nonsen to see what its the cure!

But I did Goggle about Matt Traverso.. how claims to cure almoste anything.. you only need is too give him some money!

http://brodiesnotes.blogspot.se/2013/06/even-more-surprised-to-see-ma...

Things that looks like a scam is often a scam!
2 comments removed
66
ironshirt
January 18 2015
A Plant based diet is by far the most effective way of treating and managing almost any ailments including and especially diabetes...

Reply: #67
67
Reply to comment #66 by ironshirt
erdoke
January 18 2015
Definitely, as all diets are plant based. I will go even further, all diets are Sun based! Sunlight has been feeding us all.
2 comments removed
70
Kass
March 18 2015
How accurate is it that hypoglycemics are actually "pre-diabetic"?

Reply: #71
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Reply to comment #70 by Kass
Zepp
March 18 2015
If one is healty one dont get any hypoglycemia!

A healty person can have low glucose levels, and feel tired, but its seldome reel hypoglycemia.. (lower then 2,5/50)!

There are other conditions that can cause this to.

But almoste every is about a damagede glucose handling.

For prediabetics there is Reactiv hypoglycemia for instance.

And for 99% is about a bad heredity.. its often ofspring to diabetic parents.
72
Zepp
March 18 2015
And at least.. for diabetics that read this articel.. two good Youtubes!

The Two Big Lies of Type 2 Diabetes

By Dr Jason Fung.. about the etology of T2 and how to revers it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcLoaVNQ3rc

"LCHF to manage Diabetes"

Frome Dr Troy Stapleton, him self a T1!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epsSVosmtUc
73
Pat
March 25 2015
Diabetes is on a rampage. More and more people are developing diabetes in astronomical proportions (directly related to obesity). Manage your diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.

Diabetes in a nutshell:
http://www.diabetestech.info
5 comments removed
79
Stephen
June 10 2015
This topic seems to have brought out the scam artists.

Reply: #80
80
Reply to comment #79 by Stephen
Zepp
June 10 2015
I wish they sort out the flimsiest ones at least!
81
Dee
September 3 2015
Why are so many comments removed?

Reply: #82
82
Reply to comment #81 by Dee
Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt, MD Team Diet Doctor
September 4 2015
Either personal attacks or spam.
83
Jacqueline
February 3 2016
I have PCOS tumors and I lost weight quickly by cutting out carbs years ago however my doctors told me losing 80 pounds in 7 months was not healthy. They told me not to consume less than 1800 calories per day and to eat lots of fruits and veggies. But the main food they told me to consume was whole grains.

Thus began my weight gain and poor health. I kept telling them I don't like bread, pasta or oatmeal. I get so sleepy after I eat slow cooking organic oatmeal! Not one of them believed me.

So now I am trying to get back to eating low carb which I call lean and green. I love lean proteins like salmon with lots of green herbs and green vegetables or any healthy low carb vegetables. I hope to become a success story again and I will never let a diabetes doctor tell me to consume grains such as oatmeal or whole grain pasta as a healthy choice ever again. Maybe someone can consume it two or three times per month or year and tolerate it but not me. I just feel awful.

I am mad at myself for not stopping their medical experiments on me and my tumor and just eat the way basically my grandparents ate. My great grandfather lived to be over a hundred. My aunt late 90's. While she didn't consume a great deal of meat on a daily basis she did eat butter, nuts, natural nut butters, fish, berries and grew her own vegetables. I have an aunt who ate lard! She lived to be almost 90. They didn't run or exercise they just walked and moved in their life in natural ways such as gardening etc. Their quality of life to the end was better than those who ate low protein high carb diets.

Glad I discovered your site look forward to reading more. There is just one thing I don't agree with. I don't like the evolution photo you use. Other than that love your site! I didn't evolve I was created by God (I'm a Christian) not being critical just my beliefs like you are entitled to yours. ;)

Keep on telling people it is o.k. to eat real food! Nothing better than grass fed butter, wild caught salmon with nuts and green vegetables. I hope more people with diabetes and other illnesses realize they don't have to suffer eating crappy faux foods or gmo grains.
1 comment removed
85
kim
September 16 2018
funnily enough, the majority of people i know who have diabetes type 1 and 2 are slim and fit people

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