80. Day One – Reversing Diabetes
Dear Grandma Donna: My friends and I are excited to keep up with your plan to reverse the adult-onset diabetes of Sally Goodin. Sally is not alone—several members of my friends’ families suffer with this disease and they want to know what steps you will take. Also, each of us is interested in our own health, so we will be following the health principles you present. Love, Savana
Dear Savana: Thank you for your support. We are going to use the guidelines for overcoming diabetes given by Dr. David DeRose in his DVD series, “Reversing Diabetes Naturally.” As we listen to Dr. DeRose, we plan to work together to restore her to good health.
She and I began our program last week from the comfort of our individual homes. We get on the phone together at 8:15, read our study from Sealing Promises Daily Devotional Book and have prayer. Then we listen to ten minutes of Dr. DeRose’ DVD, review the information he presents, and talk about changes that need to be made. We talk about the food she will be eating.
On the first DVD, Dr. DeRose stated that there is an invisible epidemic sweeping our nation—it is Metabolic Syndrome X or Insulin Resistance. Twenty percent of 20 to 30-year-olds have this syndrome; forty percent of 40 to 59-year-olds have the problem; fifty percent of those 60-years-old and older have the syndrome.
Here is the quiz to take which reveals if we have this metabolic syndrome:
- Abdominal obesity, which is 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men
- Triglycerides greater than 150
- HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) below 50 for women, below 40 for men
- LDL cholesterol (harmful cholesterol) higher than 200
- Blood sugar of over 100
Sally has her cholesterol under control, but she is a diabetic who takes an insulin shot every morning and evening. Her blood sugar can sometimes run as high as 400; her blood pressure can be as high as 200/100 and she has a weight problem.
Unhealthy lifestyle habits can be overwhelming, but Sally desperately wants to change. As we listen to Dr. DeRose, we plan to work together to restore her to good health.
She feels that her worst problem is being addicted to sugar, which could possibly be brought on because she has to take so much medicine. We plan to fight this battle on three fronts and fight it to the death:
The first front is to rid her home of CocaCola, which contains high amounts of high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener which causes fatty liver and contributes to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity when regularly consumed. From henceforth, the only drink in Sally’s home will be water—the most healthful drink possible.
The second front is to omit yogurt. Sally likes fruit yogurt which is loaded with sugar to enhance the taste. Besides sugar, yogurt has very little fiber, so it will be wise to replace yogurt with fruit smoothies, which are full of fiber and have only natural fruit sugar. The recipe is below and will require keeping plenty of fruit in stock.
The last front to conquer is the sweetened breakfast cereal she loves—Honey-Nut Cheerios. Since the second ingredient is sugar and the fourth ingredient is honey, this food is a no-no. Again, this change will be easier because the cereal will be replaced by oatmeal. The recipe for oatmeal bake is below, or she can simply cook a pot of oatmeal and add fruit toppings.
We are so thankful that we live in a land where plenty of good food is available. Sally will shop for whole food while she omits all fiberless, refined, sugared, chemically-laden food. WHOLE FOOD FOR A WHOLE BODY! Love, Grandma Donna
Following is the first food plan. Since Sally lives alone, she can freeze and label helpings of oatmeal bake and the beans and corn, so she won’t get tired of eating the same thing.
FRESH FRUIT SMOOTHIE
2 bananas
1/2 c fresh pineapple or pineapple canned in juice
flavor with 1/2 c of one of these fruits:
strawberries, apricots, peaches, blueberries, etc.
Serve with slivered almonds or chopped nuts to add richness.
Breakfast:
OATMEAL BAKE
2 c rolled oats
1 large apple chopped
1 c unsweetened crushed pineapple
1/2 c raisins or dates
1/4 c unsweetened coconut
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
3 c water
1/2 c chopped walnuts or pecans.
Mix ingredients together. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
Slice a banana on the oatmeal bake and serve with applesauce
or almond milk. Peel and section an orange.
Dinner:
BLACK BEANS AND CORN
2 1/2 c dry black beans
1 c chopped onion
1 lb tomatoes fresh or canned
6-8 cloves minced garlic
2 t basil
1 small can green chilies (optional)
1 lb fresh or frozen corn
salt to taste
Wash beans then let them soak overnight in double water. To cook, add onion, garlic, basil, green chilies if desired, and salt. Bring beans to a boil and simmer two hours or until tender. When beans are tender, add the corn and cook 5 minutes. Serve over cooked brown rice, with baked sweet potatoes seasoned with 2 ounces of pecans instead of butter, and steamed broccoli. Add this salad:
ROMAINE TOMATO AVOCADO SALAD
1 large head romaine lettuce
1/2 c cilantro
1 avocado
1 c cherry tomatoes
1/2 English cucumber
1/2 red onion
Dressing:
1 T olive oil
1 1/2 -2 T lemon juice
1/2 t salt
Chop romaine and cilantro. Cube avocado. Half tomatoes. Pour dressing on salad.