I've gone from being a marginally controlled diabetic to having normal blood sugar levels and an HbA1c that is entirely normal. If I can do it, so can you.
Should I return to my non-ketogenic diet, I am positive my diabetes will again be out of control.
First, let's start with why. As you'll read below, the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes are severe and often a case of death by inches with extended periods of pain and suffering. You'll also see what I witnessed firsthand in medical centers worldwide before I became diabetic; (see My Backstory).
Then it became personal. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2002 and put on medication. I had frequent hypoglycemia attacks to the point where I had the shakes and could not think straight. My wife once called and asked me to look up an address in the phone book. I was in the middle of a hypoglycemic episode and could not figure out how to use the phone book. I told her she was on her own as I hung up the phone and scrambled to find my dextrose tablets to raise my blood sugar fast.
I knew I had to control my blood sugar, but the medication made life miserable and dangerous. High blood sugar will kill you over time, but very low blood sugar can kill you immediately.
So, I stopped taking the medication and tried managing my diabetes with diet and exercise. My wife and I started walking 3 times a day after each meal for 30 to 40 minutes, and I avoided sugar and carbs. It helped, but I still had an HbA1c that was far too high, and my fasting blood sugar levels were also consistently too high.
I switched physicians and was put back on medication. This time, it was better… no hypoglycemia, and it did lower my fasting blood glucose and HbA1c. The drug was Metformin dosed at 500 Mg. twice a day. Things were better, but I started having major gastrointestinal issues after a year or two. Gas and bloating and recurring episodes of diverticulitis.
There had to be a better way. That's when I stumbled onto a reference to the ketogenic diet.
How did I first learn about the ketogenic diet? I listened to a Tim Ferris podcast in the summer of 2016 with Dominic D' Agostino titled from November 2015. Dom D'Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer (#117). It's a very long podcast but incredibly interesting.
Dr. Dominic D'Agostino is an assistant professor at the University of South Florida in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. I am amazed at the depth of knowledge Dr. D'Agostino has about human metabolic processes. Here is a link to Dr. D'Agostino's website.
After hearing about the ketogenic diet on the podcast, I researched more online. I started following the diet in earnest in late 2016. It worked wonders with my blood sugar levels, and as a side benefit, I lost over 30 pounds, which I have kept off for 7 years.
I am not a physician. This is my firsthand experience that has had profoundly positive effects on my ability to control my diabetes.
Why is controlling your blood sugar so important? Mainly to preserve your overall health, prevent complications, and enhance your quality of life.
Please talk to your physician, and if, for some reason, you aren't able to, or they are not open to an open two-sided dialog about your health care plan, then find a physician that you can talk to and be quite frank with them. It’s your life, your health.
Do not attempt to make any changes to your diet or medications without first consulting with your medical professional.