The Diabetes Code Notebook

Type 2 diabetes is a systemic disease that affects every organ in the body over time. It can lead to serious consequences such as blindness, kidney failure, heart problems, and Alzheimer's disease. Cutting fat in the diet has led to increased consumption of refined carbohydrates, which can result in high insulin levels and insulin resistance. Fructose intake from processed foods and sugary drinks has also increased, contributing to the insulin-glucose toxicity cycle. Conventional treatments for type 2 diabetes often focus on lowering blood sugar without addressing the root cause of insulin resistance. Promising alternatives include low-carb, high-healthy fat diets and intermittent fasting, which help tackle insulin resistance. Welcome back, everyone. We're diving deep today into something I'm sure you've been hearing a lot about lately. Oh, absolutely. Type 2 diabetes. We've got these really interesting excerpts from the Diabetes Code and Code Diabetes to kind of guide our conversation. It's so easy, you know, with all the headlines and articles out there, to just get lost in all the noise and conflicting advice. Yeah, I agree. So we're cutting through all of that to get to the core of what really matters when it comes to understanding this thing, type 2 diabetes. Yeah. And you're right. It really is everywhere you look these days, isn't it? But here's the thing that people might not realize. Okay. Type 2 diabetes. It's not just about, you know, having a little bit of high blood sugar. Right. What we're really talking about here is a systemic disease. Oh, wow. That affects every single organ. Every organ. In your body over time. Okay, now that definitely got my attention. Every organ. One of the sources uses this really powerful image. It says, with untreated type 2 diabetes, every cell in the body starts to rot. Wow. That's a pretty intense way to put it. Yeah, it is. And it's not just some, you know, abstract medical concept we're talking about here. This is damage at the cellular level. It can lead to some very real, very serious consequences down the line for you. You know, we're talking about things like increased risk of blindness, kidney failure, heart problems, even Alzheimer's disease. I think it's crucial to understand the severity of this disease. Absolutely. So this is serious stuff, folks. We're not just talking about numbers on a blood test here. It's about your long-term health and well-being. That's right. So where do we even begin to try to understand all of this? It seems so complex. Well, I think a good place to start is to take a little trip back in time. Okay. To see how our understanding of diabetes and how we treat it has evolved over the years. Oh. It's actually surprisingly interesting when you look at the history. Okay. I'm always up for a good history lesson. Take us back. What did they used to do? All right. So picture this. You're a doctor in the 1700s. Okay. And you think your patient might have diabetes. How do you confirm your diagnosis? You taste their urine. Wait. They tasted urine? Really? Why? Yeah. I know, right? Sounds crazy now. And when they were diagnosed, that was a sure sign of excess sugar in the body, which was, of course, a hallmark of diabetes. Wow. I can't believe that was the go-to method. It's amazing how far we've come in terms of medical understanding. For sure. So let's fast forward a bit to 1797. Okay. We meet this Scottish military surgeon, John Rollo. Okay. He observed a diabetic patient who improved significantly just by switching to a meat-only diet. Interesting. And this actually became the first effective treatment for diabetes, an extremely low-carb diet. But using a low-carb diet to manage diabetes isn't a new idea at all. Nope. Not at all. It's been around for centuries. But if we knew this back then, why did everyone start pushing low-fat diets? It seems like that kind of sent us in the wrong direction. You've hit on a key point. In the 1980s, we saw this huge rise in the low-fat craze. Everyone was worried about heart disease. Right. And there were unintended consequences. Yeah. Well, they might have actually fueled the rise of both obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is where things start to get really interesting, right? Both of the sources we're looking at today, they kind of suggest that by cutting fat, we accidentally made room for more carbohydrates, especially the refined kind that you find in processed foods and sugary drinks. Right. And all that leads to- A surge in blood sugar and insulin levels. And the problem is this constant exposure to high levels of insulin. It's not good for your body. So it's not fat that's the villain here. Right. It's this thing called hyperinsulinemia. Exactly. This constant state of high insulin levels. Right. And our sources say this is a key driver of type 2 diabetes. It is. It's what we call insulin resistance. Your cells basically become desensitized to insulin, so glucose. It can't enter the cells as efficiently as it should. And that leads to, you guessed it, elevated blood sugar. Okay. That's a big aha moment for me. For years, we were told fat was the enemy. Yeah. And now we're seeing all these health problems tied to high insulin levels instead. It makes you wonder what else we might have gotten wrong. It really makes you think, doesn't it? It does. So we've got this hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance happening, but what's actually contributing to all of this? Well, one of the biggest contributors might surprise you, fructose. Fructose. Wait. Isn't that just a natural sugar found in fruits? Yeah. I thought fruit was good for you. It is. But the problem isn't fruit itself. It's how much fructose we're consuming these days, and it's not coming from fruit. Oh, of course. It's coming from all those processed foods and sugary drinks. You wouldn't believe this, but our sources say fructose intake has increased fivefold in just the last century. Seriously? I had no idea it was that bad. It's a massive amount of extra sugar just flooding our systems. Wow. It really makes you think twice about all those processed foods we eat. Yeah. All those sodas, fruit juices, processed snacks, they're packed with fructose, and it's silently wreaking havoc on our metabolism. And to make matters worse, our sources describe this thing called the insulin-glucose toxicity cycle. Right. Sounds a bit terrifying. It can be basically high glucose. It leads to high insulin, which then worsens insulin resistance. Oh, no. And the cycle just keeps repeating itself. Ultimately, it paves the way for full-blown diabetes. That's a great way to put it, actually. It's like this runaway train, and it's headed straight for Diabetesville. Diabetesville. Yeah, that's what Code Diabetes calls it. Okay, tell me more about this Diabetesville. I'm intrigued. Okay, so imagine a town where insulin acts like a delivery truck, bringing glucose, which is the town's energy source, to all the residents' homes. In the beginning, everything runs smoothly. Insulin delivers the glucose. The residents happily use it for energy. No problem. Makes sense. Yeah. So how does this happy little town become Diabetesville? Well, as the residents start to become more and more resistant to insulin, it takes more and more insulin to deliver the same amount of glucose. So the delivery trucks, they get bigger. Deliveries become more frequent. And eventually, the residents are overwhelmed with all this glucose they can't even use. So they've got this surplus of glucose with nowhere to put it. Yeah. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Exactly. The glucose builds up, starts causing all sorts of problems, just like a town overflowing with unwanted goods. Oh, wow. It's really a powerful visual, when you think about it that way. Yeah, it is. It helps you understand how insulin resistance and those chronically high glucose levels just wreak havoc on your body. That's a really helpful way to picture it. Yeah. So let's talk about how we actually deal with this. What about all the conventional treatments for type 2 diabetes? Yeah. If we find ourselves spiraling down into Diabetesville, how do we get off that runaway train? That is the million dollar question, isn't it? And that's what we're going to be talking about a lot today. Okay. Unfortunately, conventional treatments don't always address the core issue. They often focus on lowering blood sugar without tackling the root cause. So it's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. You're addressing the symptom, but not the actual problem. Exactly. And sometimes the consequences of that approach can be pretty significant. Some studies even suggest that intensive glucose control using insulin can actually make things worse in the long run. Whoa, hold on. That seems counterintuitive. If insulin is naturally produced by the body, how can it be a problem? That's a great question, and it's one we're going to unpack in more detail as we continue our deep dive today. The key thing to remember here is that with type 2 diabetes, we're not dealing with a lack of insulin. It's more about how the body is responding to it, or rather, not responding to it. It's this insulin resistance that throws everything off balance. Okay. So we've got this insulin resistance issue, but what are the alternatives if insulin isn't always the answer? What else can we do? There has to be hope. Absolutely. There's definitely hope. And that's what we're going to explore next as we delve into some promising alternatives, approaches that really focus on tackling that root cause, insulin resistance. Okay. So let's talk about those alternatives. What are they, and how do they work? Stay tuned, folks. We'll be right back after a quick break. Sounds good. Okay. So we've talked about how conventional treatments don't always get to the root of the problem. What are some of these alternatives you mentioned, and how do they work? Well, two of the most powerful tools we have are low-carb, high-healthy fat diets, often called LCHF, and intermittent fasting. And you know what? These aren't just trendy fads or anything. There's a growing body of scientific evidence to back them up, especially when it comes to tackling insulin resistance. That's good to hear. I've definitely heard a lot about both of those approaches. But honestly, I'm still a little fuzzy on the details. Let's start with LCHF. Is it really as simple as it sounds? Just cut out the carbs and eat more fat. It's a bit more nuanced than that. It's not about eliminating all carbs. It's about being smart about the types of carbs you're eating. Think whole, unprocessed foods, like vegetables, nuts, seeds, and then healthy fats, like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish. So it's about quality over quantity when it comes to carbs. Makes sense. But I've got to say, that high-fat part still kind of throws me off. We've been told for so long that fat is the enemy. I know, right? It's hard to shake that message. It is. But that's where the healthy part is important. We're not talking about loading up on those bad fats. Saturated and trans fat. Right. We're talking about the healthy fats, like those found in avocados, olive oil, nuts, fatty fish. These fats are good for your heart. And they actually help you feel full and satisfied, which is a big plus when you're trying to manage your weight. Oh, that's helpful. So it's not about fearing fat. It's about embracing those healthy fats and making them a part of a balanced diet. So this whole LCHF thing, how does it actually help with type 2 diabetes? What's the mechanism there? So by cutting back on those refined carbs and sugars, you're basically stabilizing your blood sugar levels, which in turn means your body doesn't need to pump out as much insulin. Makes sense. And that's a good thing. Because remember, that's how you break that vicious cycle of insulin resistance we talked about earlier. That's right. So it's not just about losing weight. It's about getting to the root of the problem, right? Those hormonal imbalances that are driving the type 2 diabetes in the first place. Exactly. It's about retraining our bodies to use energy more efficiently. Love it. Now, what about intermittent fasting? I've heard of different methods, but honestly, I'm not sure how it all works. Yeah. It can seem a little counterintuitive. It does. But it's all about timing your meals strategically to give your body a break from digestion. And when you do that, it allows your insulin levels to drop and your insulin sensitivity to improve. So really, it's not so much about what you eat. It's about when you eat. So you're basically giving your insulin system a chance to reset by taking breaks from constant food intake. That's a great way to put it. And during those fasting periods, your body starts tapping into stored fat for energy. Exactly. So two birds, one stone. Improved insulin sensitivity and fat burning. That's pretty cool. Are there different ways to do this intermittent fasting thing? There are. And they all have their pros and cons. Some popular ones include time-restricted feeding, where you limit your eating to a certain window of hours each day. So only eating between 10 a.m. and 6 a.m. and then fasting for the other 16 hours. Exactly. And then there's alternate-day fasting, where you switch between eating normally one day and fasting or drastically reducing your calories the next. Okay, so there's some flexibility there in terms of finding what works for your life. But with all this talk of fasting, I have to ask, are there any risks or downsides? Anything people should be aware of? It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you make any big changes to your diet, especially something like intermittent fasting. Right. It's not for everyone, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. Okay, so safety first. Always best to get personalized advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Absolutely. And that goes for the LCHF diet, too. Right. These are powerful tools, but you want to use them wisely with guidance from someone who understands your individual needs. That makes sense. So say someone's listening to this and thinking, okay, I want to try this. What's the best way to get started with either of these approaches? I'd say the first step is education. Really dive deep into these sources we've been discussing. They're packed with information and insights. Good advice. It's empowering to be able to take charge of our health and make decisions based on solid research, not just following blindly. I completely agree. It's about taking ownership. Yeah. And remember, there's a whole community of people out there who are exploring these approaches and finding success. Oh, wow. Don't be afraid to reach out, ask questions, connect with others who are on a similar journey. I love that. That sense of community can be so powerful, especially when you're trying something new and kind of going against the grain of what you've always been told. It really can make all the difference. You know, it's funny when you think about it, we talk about these approaches as being like new or alternative, but they're actually rooted in ancient wisdom, traditional ways of eating. It's almost like we've come full circle, rediscovering what worked for generations past. That's a fascinating way to look at it, reclaiming our health by tapping into that ancient wisdom. But speaking of reclaiming our health, we've been talking about these alternative approaches, but our sources also brought up some pretty serious concerns about conventional diabetes treatments, particularly the use of insulin. They even use the term insulin toxicity. It seems like there's a lot more to that story than we might realize. You're right. And it's definitely an area where I think conventional thinking is starting to evolve. For decades, insulin has been the go-to treatment for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. But now, new research suggests that, especially for type 2, it might not always be the best course of action. That's a bold statement. I mean, insulin is a natural hormone, right? Our bodies produce it. So how could it be a problem? It is natural. But remember, the core issue in type 2 diabetes isn't a lack of insulin, it's insulin resistance. The body's making plenty of insulin, the cells just aren't responding to it properly. So if you keep flooding your system with more and more insulin, you're actually making the problem worse. That makes sense. It's almost counterintuitive though, right? Yeah. If you're producing enough of something, the natural inclination is to just add more. Exactly. But in this case, it's not about quantity, it's about how the body is using what it already has. Okay. So that explains why just adding more insulin might not be the answer. But what about this insulin toxicity you mentioned? What are the risks of that? Well, high insulin levels over a long period of time, they've been linked to a whole range of issues, like weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, even an increased risk of some types of cancer. It's a very complex issue. And the sources we're looking at today really get into the potential downsides of too much insulin exposure. Wow. That's a lot to think about. So if using insulin isn't always the best long-term solution, what are the alternatives, especially for people who are already on insulin? Well, as we've discussed, those lifestyle interventions, like the LCHF diet and intermittent fasting, can be really effective at addressing that underlying insulin resistance, and potentially reducing the need for medication. But if you're already on insulin, it's really important to talk to your doctor about maybe reducing your dosage, or transitioning to other options, if it's not something you want to do on your own. Safety first, always. Right. Always work with a qualified healthcare professional, don't go rogue. But it's good to know that there are options beyond just relying on medication to manage this. Exactly. And I think that's what's so exciting about all of this research. We're moving away from this model of just managing symptoms, and toward this idea of really taking control, and being proactive about our health. I love that. It's about recognizing that we have more power than we might realize, and that there are actual pathways to reversing this condition and reclaiming our health. And that brings us to another important aspect, the power of mindset. Our thoughts and beliefs can have a real impact on our physical health. Okay, we touched on mindset briefly earlier, but I'm really interested to hear more about this. How does our mindset actually play into this whole thing, managing and reversing type 2 diabetes? Well, think about it. Managing any chronic illness, it's not just about making physical changes, like what you eat, or how much you exercise. It's also about your mental and emotional state, your attitude, your outlook. It really can. And, you know, when you're dealing with something like type 2 diabetes, it can be easy to fall into this mindset of, well, this is just my life now. I have to learn to live with it. Yeah, I can see that. It can feel pretty overwhelming. It can. But the sources we're looking at, they really challenge that assumption. They offer a much more hopeful, empowering perspective. That's good to hear. So how do we shift our mindset? Where do we even begin? I mean, it's one thing to say, think positive, but it's a whole other thing to actually put that into practice, right? You're absolutely right. It's not about just slapping on a happy face and pretending everything's fine. It's about really examining those deep-seated beliefs we have about ourselves and our health. And sometimes those beliefs, they can be holding us back without us even realizing it. Okay, so what do we do? How do we identify those beliefs? And more importantly, how do we change them? Well, the first step is awareness. Just start paying attention to those thoughts that pop up when you think about your health. Things like, oh, I could never give up sugar, or diabetes just runs in my family, so I'm doomed. Those kinds of thoughts. We all have them. We do, but the key is to not let them run the show. Once you start recognizing those thoughts, you can start to question them. Oh, okay. So it's like, hold on a minute, brain. Is that thought actually true? Exactly. Put those thoughts on trial. Ask yourself, what evidence do I have to support this belief? Is this belief really serving me well, or is it just keeping me stuck? That's a great way to look at it. So we're not just blindly accepting those negative thoughts, we're actually putting them to the test. Right. And as you start to question those old limiting beliefs, you can start to replace them with more empowering ones. Things like, I have the power to make choices that support my health, or my body is capable of healing. I love that. So it's not just about getting rid of the negative, it's about replacing it with something positive and empowering. Exactly. It's like weeding a garden. You pull out the weeds, but then you plant something beautiful in their place. That's a great analogy. I think it's important to remember that this whole mindset shift, it's a process, right? It's not like you flip a switch and suddenly you're a completely different person. Definitely. It takes time, and effort, and a lot of self-compassion. Don't beat yourself up if you have a setback, or if those old thoughts creep back in. Just acknowledge them, challenge them, and keep moving forward. It's about progress, not perfection. One of the things that really resonated with me from our sources was the importance of community. They talk about how connecting with others who are on a similar journey can be so powerful. It really can be. Managing a chronic illness, it can feel very isolating sometimes, especially when you're trying to do things differently than what you've always been told. It's like you're going against the grain. Exactly. But when you connect with others who understand what you're going through, who are facing similar challenges and celebrating similar victories, it can make all the difference. It gives you that sense of belonging, of support, of not being alone in this. It's like having a tribe, your own personal cheer squad. Exactly. That can be so powerful. It can help you stay motivated, accountable, hopeful, even when things get tough. Where can people find these supportive communities? Are there specific resources you can point them to? Absolutely. There are tons of online forums and Facebook groups specifically for people with type 2 diabetes, or those exploring low-carb diets or intermittent fasting. You can even find local meetups. And a growing number of healthcare professionals are starting to embrace these approaches as well. That's good to know. So it's not just about information and changing your habits. It's about finding that support system, finding those people who get it. Exactly. It makes the journey so much easier and more enjoyable when you have people to share it with. Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today. We started this deep dive talking about how type 2 diabetes is often viewed as this life sentence, something you just have to learn to live with. But I think through our conversation, we've painted a much more hopeful, empowering picture. I agree. It's about understanding that we have more control than we might think, and that there are real pathways to reversing this condition and reclaiming our health. It's about shifting from a place of fear and resignation to a place of hope and possibility. Beautifully put. Well, this has been an incredible deep dive. It's been packed with insights. And honestly, I'm feeling pretty inspired right now. What's one key takeaway you'd like our listeners to walk away with today? If I had to choose just one, it would be this. Never underestimate the power of your own choices. You have the ability to make a profound impact on your health and well-being. That's such an important reminder. It's about taking ownership and realizing that even small changes can have a big ripple effect. Exactly. It's about those daily choices, those little things we do each day that add up over time. And it's about remembering that you're not alone in this journey. There's a whole community of people out there who are cheering you on. That's a beautiful message to end on. So to all our listeners out there, keep exploring, keep asking questions, and keep believing in your own power to create positive change. You got this. That's it for today's deep dive into understanding type 2 diabetes. Until next time, stay curious, stay informed, and stay empowered.