Tina's Story

As a busy elementary school teacher, my schedule didn’t include time for cooking – there were papers to grade, lessons to plan, and the thousand other details that go into creating a positive classroom experience. When I came home exhausted at the end of the day, I invariably reached for fast food, chips, cookies and candy, and the weight just kept piling on. I was up to 206 pounds. While I wasn’t surprised when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I was shocked to learn that my HbA1c number was 11 – that was totally out-of-control diabetes. I was determined to take massive action. I did not want a lifetime of medication and the problems that diabetes brings; my dad had diabetes and my brother currently has it, and I did not want to go down that road myself.

I was determined to learn what I could do to get well, so I read Dr. Fuhrman’s book, The End of Diabetes, and immediately started following a Nutritarian diet. I told my doctor that I wanted to follow this nutritional plan rather than start taking medication. I asked him to give me 12 weeks to change my numbers.  He was very reluctant, but agreed to give me 6 weeks to get my HbAIC to below 7 percent. It came in at 6.9 percent, so he said if I kept doing what I was doing, then he wouldn't put me on diabetes medication. I learned from Dr. Fuhrman that 6 weeks was not enough time to record the benefits because HbA1c registers 3 months of glucose readings.  He was right, my next reading in 6 months was 5.1 – totally normal. I had lost 70 pounds and was no longer diabetic.

What I learned in Dr. Fuhrman’s book saved my life. Before that, I honestly did not know that you could reverse diabetes. I thought once you were diagnosed, you had to go on medication and change the way you ate and just live with this disease. When I read The End of Diabetes and realized that there was something, I could do to change my situation, I knew I had to do it. It was easier than I thought, and it gave me amazing energy. 

I now enjoy cooking, and love what I eat. I was delighted to discover I lost my cravings and desire for junk food. I don’t miss any of it. I love my new eating style, with all of the greens, beans, veggies, and fruit. I have lost 70 pounds and I feel so good! Within 12 months, I dropped from a size 22 to a size 8. I have tons of energy now, more confidence and feel good about my appearance. When I was overweight, I always felt very self-conscious, I hated going out to eat because I could feel people staring at me.  And in the summer, I wouldn't go to the beach because I was too fat. And now I enjoy shopping again and everything else. 

The first two to three weeks were quite hard for me, but when I saw my weight dropping and my glucose dropping, I thought either I can continue what I'm doing or I can give up and face a lifetime of medications and health problems. I chose not to give up and boy, was it worth it.  I love eating this way now and I can only encourage other people to do the same.  This lifestyle will help you to take back your life and enjoy life to the fullest!

Results may vary.