Caution
This program is very effective at reducing your weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar level. Please consult with your treating doctor
before changing your diet and do not start, stop, or change medication without professional medical advice. This website is not
intended to take the place of personalised medical care or treatment and must not be taken as medical advice.
Evidence/Medical Support
I have Type 1 Diabetes (insulin dependent). Is the Lifestyle Medicine Program of any benefit to me?
High levels of insulin, even with normal blood sugar levels, are very harmful long term, causing cardiovascular disease amongst many others. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, strongly linked to dietary risk factors, including dairy protein consumption and it will always require insulin therapy. Type 1.5 is similar but onsets in late adulthood and more slowly.
*The results achieved require a customised plan based on the health of each participant and will depend entirely on program compliance and completion.
Do I have to become vegan or vegetarian to do this program?
We understand some people have eaten animal foods their whole life and giving them up totally would feel like deprivation and just seem unrealistic. The evidence is that the more the diet is based on a variety of whole, plant-based foods, the faster type 2 diabetes will reverse. However, it's not an all or nothing approach here. If you are happy with steady progress in the right direction and are willing to slowly change your diet, we can work with that and can include some animal foods in your program. Just keep in mind, the reversal will be faster and longer lasting the more the food is plant based. You may be surprised how hard it is to tell some plant based dishes apart from their animal based versions, when our food coaches show you how.
What diet is this program based on?
These are all diets that focus on eating whole foods that are minimally processed, contain no harmful additives, are high in fibre and are nutrient dense. That means they are predominantly plant based foods, contain few animal foods and do not contain added oils. They vary in fat and complex carbohydrate content but are generally only moderate in protein. We don’t believe any one diet is the best for everyone.
By drawing from these various diets we can create personalised eating plans that will suit just about anyone's preferences. We can also create low Glycemic Index (GI) meals that prevent blood sugar spikes in the early stages of the program when insulin resistance is still high and a client is very sensitive to carbohydrates and sugars. However, complex carbohydrates are the long-term mainstay of a program that reverses type 2 diabetes and keeps it from returning.
Is this program based on using low carb/high fat or ketogenic (keto) diets?
They are the exact opposite of what people living with diabetes should be eating long term. The problem is that in the short term their effects can be deceptive and they appear to work. People often lose weight, reduce blood glucose levels and may even reduce medications.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition caused by excess carbohydrates, as is commonly believed. The false logic is that because carbohydrates break down into sugars in the blood and because diabetes is a condition of high blood sugars, avoiding carbs, reduces sugars and fixes diabetes. It appears logical at first glance. The only problem is, that although it is not immediately obvious, diabetes is mainly caused by excess fat, not sugar. Excess fat harms in 2 ways.
Excess fat accumulates in the muscle and liver cells and causes insulin resistance, which means the insulin receptors become de-sensitised to insulin and when that happens, blood glucose can't get into the cells where it is needed for energy. It stays in the bloodstream, giving high sugar readings-one of a set of metabolic markers for diabetes.
Excess fat also causes the pancreas' insulin producing cells to fail over time. As excess fat accrues in the pancreas, it releases inflammatory chemicals that damage the insulin producing cells, causing them to fail over time, leading to insufficient insulin production. This is very briefly why a high fat diet is the last thing needed to treat type 2 diabetes.
So why does a high fat /keto diet appear to work?
If you drastically reduce carbs and replace them with fat, which does not convert into blood sugars like carbohydrates do, very little insulin is needed and the diabetes condition seems improved. However, in the background, the high fat diet is worsening insulin resistance and harming pancreatic function and eventually diabetes will return and be much more difficult to manage due to the damage done. A glucose tolerance test (GTT) will soon show that the high fat or keto diet is not working.
This briefly explains why low carb or keto type diets may seem to work work in the short term but are very harmful long term to a diabetic’s health.
For a fully referenced, in-depth explanation of why keto diets are not the answer to diabetes, read a 6 part series of articles by our program partner, Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, Robyn Chuter. Robyn’s articles show why the keto diet is nothing but extremely dangerous to one’s health.
Does this program entail counting calories, portion control or counting carbs (dieting)?
What exactly does it mean when you use the term ‘diabetes reversal’? Will this approach work?
Sometimes, this is just not possible, as in cases of type 1 and 1.5 diabetes, or in rare type 2 situations where the pancreas’ beta cells are permanently damaged and secrete insufficient amounts of insulin to control blood glucose levels without some exogenous insulin therapy.
The goal is to restore insulin sensitivity and reverse insulin resistance which is a realistic goal for most people with type 2 diabetes. The evidence is simply overwhelming that the more the long term way of eating moves towards whole foods with a substantial part being plant based, the better the outcomes. However, please remember that this is a permanent lifestyle change to ensure symptoms don’t return.
My doctor is sceptical and unsupportive of lifestyle medicine programs. Can you help me in this situation?
Many doctors have a medication centred approach to diabetes management and most have minimal nutrition education but if they examine the evidence we provide with your coaching plan, it should be obvious which approach works best long term.
Please note that if you are on medications, it is essential that you have a qualified doctor supervising and adjusting your medications. This program is very effective and medications will need reduction as your health improves.
Why don’t doctors suggest the Lifestyle Medicine approach?
There are 2 main reasons why they don’t in Australia:
Firstly, most doctors have no training or knowledge of therapeutic nutrition. In Australia, they typically receive just two hours of nutrition education in their six years of medical school.
The 2nd challenge that doctors face in Australia is that they are poorly reimbursed by Medicare for providing Lifestyle Medicine-oriented services. These services take a substantial amount of time to deliver. Unfortunately, Medicare and private insurers currently offer very little incentive to time poor doctors to provide their patients with the support and education that is needed in the early stages of diabetes. We are filling that gap while working with doctors and other health professionals.
So, don’t be surprised that your doctor is not offering anything other than very general advice on lifestyle measures and medications.
For a comparison of the conventional diabetes treatment with the lifestyle medicine approach, read the article by our program partner, Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner Robyn Chuter BHSc ND.
My doctor says that I will avoid diabetes complications like blindness and kidney failure, by tightly controlling my blood sugar numbers with medications. Why worry about all this healthy lifestyle stuff?
Worryingly, medications previously thought to reduce the risk of heart attacks, are now appearing to actually cause them in the long term. Statin drugs are a commonly prescribed medication to reduce that risk. Some statins are now being blamed for increasing heart attack risk.
Read this 2017 newsletter article by Dr John McDougall MD, a board-certified doctor in California, with about 40 years’ experience, analysing six major studies investigating the results of intensive or aggressive treatment of diabetes with medications. His summary? “Aggressive treatment kills”
This lifestyle medicine approach is radically different from advice from my doctor and other diabetes support organisations. Are there are there any similar, evidence based programs like it anywhere else?
Follow up studies with program participants (34% of whom had type 2 diabetes) showed amazing results for people with diabetes. Participants’ Hemoglobin A1C dropped below 7.0 and stayed there on a follow-up visit a year later. This was the case even when participants dramatically reduced their diabetes medications.
Participants continued to see a decrease in weight, medication usage and blood sugar. Many decrease their insulin in a few weeks and many come off their insulin in a matter of a few months. They even had some dramatic cases of peoples’ insulin needs dropping by 80% in 4 days.
What evidence can you provide to support the claim that a person with type 2 diabetes can be free of all medications, including insulin, if he or she follows this lifestyle medicine based program?
For just a taste of the evidence, read this recent newsletter article written by Dr Ben Brown MD, Medical Director, Ornish Lifestyle Medicine. It references credible studies showing dramatic reductions in insulin requirements, achieved following a high complex carb diet (yes, the one people living with diabetes are told to avoid).
Our coaching plans are evidence based. Every plan will include references to the supporting evidence, ranging from peer reviewed journal articles to inspiring case studies of people who have succeeded on this type of program.
Getting Started
Is there any certainty this program will work for me?
I don’t live in Sydney, Australia. Can you still work with me?
I’m interested but would like to discuss my situation before starting the program to see if it really is for me. What options are there?
Costs and Conditions
Does Reverse Diabetes make a commission or fee or receive any remuneration from the external program partners?
Do Health Insurers or Medicare (Australia) pay for any of this diabetes reversal program?
Are the coaching fees performance based like some other programs are now offering?
In order to be eligible for that protection, clients will be required to show evidence of compliance with the agreed plan, which will entail things like submitting meal plans as requested, providing blood sugar readings and generally complying with the mutually agreed plan. The eligibility terms and conditions will be clearly stated as part of the agreement. If you choose to pay via Paypal, you have the added security of PayPal refunding your payment in this unlikely situation.
Do I have to sign up for a long-term contract?
Can you provide a guide on what this diabetes reversal program may cost?
The base level plan cost is $495 and will be sufficient for most clients. It includes a very comprehensive review of your situation followed by supplying you with a personalised, written plan. The plan will contain all the resources you need to reverse your diabetes. It will include references to the supporting evidence that underpins the plan. If you require ongoing or more intensive support, we can quote on these services once we see what your needs are.
Other Questions
Can I expect any other health benefits from following this Lifestyle Medicine program?
Read more about the science underpinning Lifestyle Medicine, HERE.
I have not heard much about EFT. Is there any science behind it and could it really help me with my binge eating? I feel like I’m addicted to some foods.
Evidence/Medical Support
I have Type 1 Diabetes (insulin dependent). Is the Lifestyle Medicine Program of any benefit to me?
High levels of insulin, even with normal blood sugar levels, are very harmful long term, causing cardiovascular disease amongst many others. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, strongly linked to dietary risk factors, including dairy protein consumption and it will always require insulin therapy. Type 1.5 is similar but onsets in late adulthood and more slowly.
*The results achieved require a customised plan based on the health of each participant and will depend entirely on program compliance and completion.
Do I have to become vegan or vegetarian to do this program?
We understand some people have eaten animal foods their whole life and giving them up totally would feel like deprivation and just seem unrealistic. The evidence is that the more the diet is based on a variety of whole, plant-based foods, the faster type 2 diabetes will reverse. However, it's not an all or nothing approach here. If you are happy with steady progress in the right direction and are willing to slowly change your diet, we can work with that and can include some animal foods in your program. Just keep in mind, the reversal will be faster and longer lasting the more the food is plant based. You may be surprised how hard it is to tell some plant based dishes apart from their animal based versions, when our food coaches show you how.
What diet is this program based on?
These are all diets that focus on eating whole foods that are minimally processed, contain no harmful additives, are high in fibre and are nutrient dense. That means they are predominantly plant based foods, contain few animal foods and do not contain added oils. They vary in fat and complex carbohydrate content but are generally only moderate in protein. We don’t believe any one diet is the best for everyone.
By drawing from these various diets we can create personalised eating plans that will suit just about anyone's preferences. We can also create low Glycemic Index (GI) meals that prevent blood sugar spikes in the early stages of the program when insulin resistance is still high and a client is very sensitive to carbohydrates and sugars. However, complex carbohydrates are the long-term mainstay of a program that reverses type 2 diabetes and keeps it from returning.
Is this program based on using low carb/high fat or ketogenic (keto) diets?
They are the exact opposite of what people living with diabetes should be eating long term. The problem is that in the short term their effects can be deceptive and they appear to work. People often lose weight, reduce blood glucose levels and may even reduce medications.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition caused by excess carbohydrates, as is commonly believed. The false logic is that because carbohydrates break down into sugars in the blood and because diabetes is a condition of high blood sugars, avoiding carbs, reduces sugars and fixes diabetes. It appears logical at first glance. The only problem is, that although it is not immediately obvious, diabetes is mainly caused by excess fat, not sugar. Excess fat harms in 2 ways.
Excess fat accumulates in the muscle and liver cells and causes insulin resistance, which means the insulin receptors become de-sensitised to insulin and when that happens, blood glucose can't get into the cells where it is needed for energy. It stays in the bloodstream, giving high sugar readings-one of a set of metabolic markers for diabetes.
Excess fat also causes the pancreas' insulin producing cells to fail over time. As excess fat accrues in the pancreas, it releases inflammatory chemicals that damage the insulin producing cells, causing them to fail over time, leading to insufficient insulin production. This is very briefly why a high fat diet is the last thing needed to treat type 2 diabetes.
So why does a high fat /keto diet appear to work?
If you drastically reduce carbs and replace them with fat, which does not convert into blood sugars like carbohydrates do, very little insulin is needed and the diabetes condition seems improved. However, in the background, the high fat diet is worsening insulin resistance and harming pancreatic function and eventually diabetes will return and be much more difficult to manage due to the damage done. A glucose tolerance test (GTT) will soon show that the high fat or keto diet is not working.
This briefly explains why low carb or keto type diets may seem to work work in the short term but are very harmful long term to a diabetic’s health.
For a fully referenced, in-depth explanation of why keto diets are not the answer to diabetes, read a 6 part series of articles by our program partner, Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, Robyn Chuter. Robyn’s articles show why the keto diet is nothing but extremely dangerous to one’s health.
Does this program entail counting calories, portion control or counting carbs (dieting)?
What exactly does it mean when you use the term ‘diabetes reversal’? Will this approach work?
Sometimes, this is just not possible, as in cases of type 1 and 1.5 diabetes, or in rare type 2 situations where the pancreas’ beta cells are permanently damaged and secrete insufficient amounts of insulin to control blood glucose levels without some exogenous insulin therapy.
The goal is to restore insulin sensitivity and reverse insulin resistance which is a realistic goal for most people with type 2 diabetes. The evidence is simply overwhelming that the more the long term way of eating moves towards whole foods with a substantial part being plant based, the better the outcomes. However, please remember that this is a permanent lifestyle change to ensure symptoms don’t return.
My doctor is sceptical and unsupportive of lifestyle medicine programs. Can you help me in this situation?
Many doctors have a medication centred approach to diabetes management and most have minimal nutrition education but if they examine the evidence we provide with your coaching plan, it should be obvious which approach works best long term.
Please note that if you are on medications, it is essential that you have a qualified doctor supervising and adjusting your medications. This program is very effective and medications will need reduction as your health improves.
Why don’t doctors suggest the Lifestyle Medicine approach?
There are 2 main reasons why they don’t in Australia:
Firstly, most doctors have no training or knowledge of therapeutic nutrition. In Australia, they typically receive just two hours of nutrition education in their six years of medical school.
The 2nd challenge that doctors face in Australia is that they are poorly reimbursed by Medicare for providing Lifestyle Medicine-oriented services. These services take a substantial amount of time to deliver. Unfortunately, Medicare and private insurers currently offer very little incentive to time poor doctors to provide their patients with the support and education that is needed in the early stages of diabetes. We are filling that gap while working with doctors and other health professionals.
So, don’t be surprised that your doctor is not offering anything other than very general advice on lifestyle measures and medications.
For a comparison of the conventional diabetes treatment with the lifestyle medicine approach, read the article by our program partner, Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner Robyn Chuter BHSc ND.
My doctor says that I will avoid diabetes complications like blindness and kidney failure, by tightly controlling my blood sugar numbers with medications. Why worry about all this healthy lifestyle stuff?
Worryingly, medications previously thought to reduce the risk of heart attacks, are now appearing to actually cause them in the long term. Statin drugs are a commonly prescribed medication to reduce that risk. Some statins are now being blamed for increasing heart attack risk.
Read this 2017 newsletter article by Dr John McDougall MD, a board-certified doctor in California, with about 40 years’ experience, analysing six major studies investigating the results of intensive or aggressive treatment of diabetes with medications. His summary? “Aggressive treatment kills”
This lifestyle medicine approach is radically different from advice from my doctor and other diabetes support organisations. Are there are there any similar, evidence based programs like it anywhere else?
Follow up studies with program participants (34% of whom had type 2 diabetes) showed amazing results for people with diabetes. Participants’ Hemoglobin A1C dropped below 7.0 and stayed there on a follow-up visit a year later. This was the case even when participants dramatically reduced their diabetes medications.
Participants continued to see a decrease in weight, medication usage and blood sugar. Many decrease their insulin in a few weeks and many come off their insulin in a matter of a few months. They even had some dramatic cases of peoples’ insulin needs dropping by 80% in 4 days.
What evidence can you provide to support the claim that a person with type 2 diabetes can be free of all medications, including insulin, if he or she follows this lifestyle medicine based program?
For just a taste of the evidence, read this recent newsletter article written by Dr Ben Brown MD, Medical Director, Ornish Lifestyle Medicine. It references credible studies showing dramatic reductions in insulin requirements, achieved following a high complex carb diet (yes, the one people living with diabetes are told to avoid).
Our coaching plans are evidence based. Every plan will include references to the supporting evidence, ranging from peer reviewed journal articles to inspiring case studies of people who have succeeded on this type of program.
Getting Started
Is there any certainty this program will work for me?
I don’t live in Sydney, Australia. Can you still work with me?
I’m interested but would like to discuss my situation before starting the program to see if it really is for me. What options are there?
Costs and Conditions
Does Reverse Diabetes make a commission or fee or receive any remuneration from the external program partners?
Do Health Insurers or Medicare (Australia) pay for any of this diabetes reversal program?
Are the coaching fees performance based like some other programs are now offering?
In order to be eligible for that protection, clients will be required to show evidence of compliance with the agreed plan, which will entail things like submitting meal plans as requested, providing blood sugar readings and generally complying with the mutually agreed plan. The eligibility terms and conditions will be clearly stated as part of the agreement. If you choose to pay via Paypal, you have the added security of PayPal refunding your payment in this unlikely situation.
Do I have to sign up for a long-term contract?
Can you provide a guide on what this diabetes reversal program may cost?
The base level plan cost is $495 and will be sufficient for most clients. It includes a very comprehensive review of your situation followed by supplying you with a personalised, written plan. The plan will contain all the resources you need to reverse your diabetes. It will include references to the supporting evidence that underpins the plan. If you require ongoing or more intensive support, we can quote on these services once we see what your needs are.
Other Questions
Can I expect any other health benefits from following this Lifestyle Medicine program?
Read more about the science underpinning Lifestyle Medicine, HERE.
I have not heard much about EFT. Is there any science behind it and could it really help me with my binge eating? I feel like I’m addicted to some foods.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Caution
This program is very effective at reducing your
weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar level.
Please consult with your treating doctor before
changing your diet and do not start, stop, or
change medication without professional medical
advice. This website is not intended to take the
place of personalised medical care or treatment
and must not be taken as medical advice.
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