“Reversing” Diabetes

Got an email recently from a woman involved with the “raw food movement.” I’m all for anything to make someone happier and healthier, so if the raw food deal makes you happy and healthier go ahead. But this email told me that I could “reverse” my diabetes. Now, while you can improve your blood sugar to the point that you’re in great control, you can’t reverse diabetes to the point of not having it. There is no cure for diabetes. Even patients that have gastric bypass and are “virtually” diabetes free can still show an abnormally high sugar reading after a carb-laden meal.

All this being said, diabetes is a treatable, livable disease. You can eat healthy and exercise and take care of yourself. You can be in control of the disease instead of the other way around. But as I say in my book, there are also more things involved with blood sugar control than eating and working out (although those are the biggest.) Stress and illness can also mess up your sugars.

When most people talk about “reversing diabetes” they are referring to Type 2 diabetics. Most people in the world are Type 2. They have the ability to still make insulin but have insulin resistance for various reasons. Some of these folks can lower their blood sugar with exercise and diet. Others take medication and some even take insulin. Treatment depends on the individual. However, this woman was so silly (or uneducated on the subject) that when I told her I was a Type 1 diabetic, she said I could still reverse my diabetes if I entered the raw food movement!

There are so many misconceptions about diabetes, and many of them stem from the believe that if you don’t have it that means you must be “healthier” than someone else. That’s not true in all cases. I got diabetes when I was young, fit, and training for a biathlon. If you don’t have it today, be thankful. Continue to eat well and exercise and perhaps you won’t get it. But do not become arrogant about it. Do not look down your nose at the people that have it and assume you know the story behind each and every one. And whatever you do, understand that the term “reversing diabetes” is something used to sell books. Do some research in order to fully grasp what the term means.