This type of diabetes (diabetes mellitus type 2) is the most common, in which the body is resistant to the signaling of insulin as it reaches the cells, leading to dysfunction of energy storage in the cells and rising glucose levels in the blood stream as a result.
Type 2 diabetes has become so prevalent in developed and developing countries that it has quickly become an epidemic in many areas of the world, including in the U.S., where approximately 8-10% of the population has diabetes1 and another 36% are thought to have pre-diabetes.2 The following signs and symptoms are common in someone who has developed type 2 diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes can lead to many health complications such as:
Type 2 diabetes is primarily a dietary-caused disease related to eating processed foods highly prevalent in the Standard American Diet (SAD) and across the modern world today. Excess fat on the body increases insulin resistance leading to diabetes, but other factors that place a biochemical stress on the beta cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, such as repeated glycemic stress and chemicals, can play a contributory role. Even though the risk of developing type 2 diabetes may be higher if you have others in your family with the disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will develop it. Being overweight and eating too many animal products and refined foods is so common today that diabetes is exploding world wide. Lifestyle changes, which include regular vigorous exercise and a Nutritarian diet-style, are not only preventative but in most cases, they enable patients with this condition to make a complete recovery.
Evidence from studies, especially those from the last two decades, has shown us that the quality of our food intake matters a lot when it comes to diabetes risk. Diets rich in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fruits, and nuts, as well as low in alcohol, refined grains, refined sugars, and animal products dramatically reduce the risk of developing diabetes,1 and a Nutritarian eating style, with attention to reducing glycemic load at meals, is an excellent strategy for managing and even reversing type 2 diabetes. For 25 years, I have been caring for hundreds of patients with Type 2 diabetes and making most of them non-diabetic. I even published a study that showed that 90% of diabetics who followed a Nutritarian diet were able to come off of all of their diabetes medications and still achieve non-diabetic glucose readings.2
Meal plan: Diabetes Reversal
For supplement recommendations personalized to you, your health condition and goals, visit the Personalized Vitamin Advisor and answer a few questions.
Exercise daily, even multiple times a day as a strategy to lower blood glucose, such as after meals.
Transformation 20 – Diabetes Edition.
Reduce or eliminate type 2 diabetes medication and lose weight in 20 days.
This e-book supplies the menu plans, shopping list and recipes for 20 days, for you to reverse your type 2 diabetes quickly.
Most people will lose at least 10 pounds during this time and a majority will not need diabetic medication after this initial period.
ONLINE: All members of DrFuhrman.com can search the Ask the Doctor archives for discussions on this topic. Platinum and Diamond members can connect with Dr. Fuhrman by posting questions in the forum. Not a member? Join now.
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The following are sample questions from the Ask the Doctor Community Platinum and higher members can post their health questions directly to Dr. Fuhrman. (All members can browse questions and answers.)
I have been told that by the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed a person has probably lost 75-80% of his beta cells in the pancreas and that those that remain can probably handle the glucose if the patient follows a strict exercise program and diet. I have also been told that these dead beta cells cannot come back and will never again produce insulin – that that’s the very definition of diabetes. So the disease is controllable but not curable. Is this correct?
It depends on your definition of cured. Even though they have lost the function of some beta cells, most Type II diabetics can still secrete enough insulin to handle the needs of a normal weight body eating healthfully. Therefore, they can have normal (non-diabetic) blood glucose readings without medications. Should they eat unhealthful or gain back the weight their diabetes would come back. It is a semantical argument, but I consider it reversed. The tendency to develop diabetes is still there, though, if they do not take excellent care of their health. I strongly recommend all those with diabetes read my book on this subject, The End of Diabetes.
My brother takes insulin for type 2 diabetes. I’ve convinced him to try the 6 week challenge. He’s agreed to do so but doesn’t want to give up meat and he doesn’t eat fish.
Is there anything he should be doing differently because of the diabetes? He would really like to get off of the
This should be done with caution and under close supervision by his diabetes doctor in order to decrease the dosage of insulin right at the start, most likely to prevent a low blood sugar. Discuss this with him so that he doesn’t create risk by trying to help himself. Generally, one has to decrease the insulin dose by 25-30% or so depending on how compliant the patient is on the diet. The emphasis for diabetes is to eat winter squashes and legumes (beans, lentils, peas) as the primary starchy food and eat unlimited non-starchy vegetables, mushrooms, etc. Also, eat primarily low or moderately low glycemic index fruits such as berries. Have him join and check in on my website or schedule an appointment with one of us to help him more closely if he needs it, but he should at least communicate with his doctor often. Remember, my book, The End of Diabetes, gives specific advice to those with diabetes and their physicians, so they can reverse their disease effectively and safely. It is imperative he reads that.
Do you maintain that a type 2 diabetic who is on a high nutrient diet such as yours will have their body change to normal and become non-diabetic?
Yes. You are correct. Type 2 diabetes occurs largely because:
Maintaining a nutrient-dense, Nutritarian diet unclogs the insulin receptors and melts away excessive abdominal body fat. As a result, Type 2 diabetes predictably fades away in a relatively short time, depending on how faithfully one adheres to the dietary program and if one is exercising regularly. So, it is a reasonable expectation to become diabetes-free from maintaining a Nutritarian diet and lifestyle. I strongly suggest you read my book, The End of Diabetes.
I’m trying to use Dr. Fuhrman’s program to deal with type 2 diabetes. My proposal is to eat 1/2 cup of oatmeal with almond milk and 1 cup blueberries for breakfast; a large salad at noon; juiced kale, apples, lemon, and ginger as a snack; and a cup of anti-cancer soup with an apple or orange for dinner. Will this work? Actually, it seems like a ton of food. I was thinking of having some Stevia with my oatmeal (original instant oatmeal without sugar) also, with a little plain yogurt in the morning. What do you think? I’m not a cook but can manage the above food. More than that is difficult.
I am taking 10 units of Lantis at night, 1000 mg Metformin twice a day, and 10 mg of Glipizide before breakfast. I’m 6 feet tall, 247 pounds. I walk 30 minutes twice a week. The Lantis and Metformin make me itch even when taken with food, so I assume I’m allergic. What should I do?
Use steel cut oatmeal and not the instant. Add cinnamon to the oatmeal instead of stevia and soy or almond milk instead of yogurt. Make sure you’re adding 1 oz. seeds/walnuts a day. Even though you’re not a cook, with some planning, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to prepare healthy food for the week.
Your doctor should adjust your insulin now and likely eliminate it within a few days. You also need to slowly discontinue the Glipizide, as that medication can prevent weight loss and accelerate the progression of diabetes. As you follow this dietary approach and come off the Glipizide and insulin, the itching will likely stop.
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