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Question: I am 66 years old, 50 pounds overweight, and diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I was on insulin, but feel that I have become allergic to it, as I break out in hives and welts when I now take the shots. I am wondering if you have had any participants who are allergic to wheat, soy, and corn products that can CURE their diabetes with eating a plant based diet only?

Answer: Most people who follow a STRICT whole foods low fat plant based diet can CURE their type 2 diabetes in a matter of days to weeks! The reason being that, contrary to popular belief, fat and not sugar is the primary contributor to Diabetes. The typical American diet is laden with fat – from meat to dairy to processed foods and fast foods! Fat inhibits the action of insulin on the cells in the body, leaving glucose in the bloodstream rather than getting it into our cells as it is supposed to do, and thereby raising blood sugars. In addition to fat, dairy is also a contributor to Diabetes (especially Type 1). Dairy products have proteins that have been known to cause our body to attack the pancreas (an organ responsible for making insulin). As a result, our pancreas decreases or stops insulin production and again sugars cannot be moved into cells and therefore remain in our blood.

Following a whole foods low fat plant based diet has allowed many people to completely stop their Diabetes medications. (75% of adults stop their insulin and more than 95% stop taking all diabetic pills 1) And there are plenty of options beyond wheat, soy, and corn. Some examples include quinoa (including flour and pasta), rice (including pasta and flour), millet (including flour and bread), all fruits, and almost all vegetables. So, this is very doable even with your restrictions.

Having said that we want to make clear that YOU SHOULD NOT DISCONTINUE ANY MEDICATIONS WITHOUT YOUR PRIMARY DOCTOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUPERVISION. Make sure you are followed by your doctor, as your blood sugars will drop too low if you continue on your current dose of insulin while following such a diet. Your insulin will have to be decreased pretty quickly on this diet so please be careful and continue to monitor your sugars very closely, with your doctor's help, until you have gotten off most or all of your insulin.

Good luck. Let us know how you do.

1 Diabetes - drmcdougall.com

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