How I Reversed Diabetes – AASHA

The statement that I will have to stay on medicine for whole life was a shocking news for me.

I had heard about diabetic persons, but I will become one among them was never imagined. I used to go to gym/morning walk daily and had always maintained my physical fitness despite my ageing.

I started collecting as much information on diabetes as possible. I learned about different types of diabetes. I learned about diabetes and insulin, BMI and Glycemic Index. I learned about insulin deficiency and insulin resistance. I came across many myths and realities on diabetes. A lot of literature is available on internet, and there is no point for me to repeat them.

Armed with sufficient information on diabetes, I got ready to fight. There were success stories of diabetes reversal, and therefore I also believed that if I make a sincere effort then I can reverse my diabetes.

I also realized that I would need expert guidance and support, therefore I searched for some references, and ultimately joined Breathe Wellbeing program. It provided me with regular medical and health experts’ advice together with guidance on my food intake, yoga and fitness exercise.

Being a frequent traveler, maintaining a healthy lifestyle was a real challenge, but I overcame it. Though I was not taking any junk/processed food for years, leaving sugar, dairy products, and potatoes was bit difficult as it suddenly dropped my energy level. I quickly shifted to dry fruits (walnut and almonds), fresh fruits (apple, pear) and green leafy vegetables. I also reduced my portion of wheat and rice, and substituted it with millet, oats, and pulses (moong, chana).

I purchased a gluco-meter and closely started monitoring my fasting and PP sugar level. Under the expert’s guidance I, first replaced my medicine, and then gradually started reducing the dose. At first, I was advised to take one tablet every morning and evening. After around a month, the dose was reduced to one tablet in the morning and half in evening. There was some spike in my blood sugar level, but after a couple of days it stabilized within the range.

Within a month, I was advised to start taking half tablet in morning and half in evening. I was also advised to start taking fenugreek (methi dana) water by soaking the few seeds overnight in a glass of water and drinking that water in the morning. My nutrition/health expert advised me to soak 8-10 almonds and walnuts overnight and eat them in the morning after removing the skin. These precautions helped me to restore my sugar level.

The major challenge was to stop taking the medicine completely which I did within three months of starting my reversal process. My doctor and health expert asked me not to get nervous even if there is sudden spike in blood sugar level. Fortunately, when I stopped taking the medicine, the spike was not so high (170-180 PP level, and 130-140 fasting level). They said that my body immune system had worked. They advised me to start taking mixed seeds after every meal to maintain my sugar level.

I started my treatment end of July 2022 and by end of October I was out of medicine. Half of the war was won but I had to be very much vigilant so that it does not relapse.

Another spike came in January 2023 when the PP sugar level jumped to 180-190. My family advised me to start taking the medicine; however, my doctor and health expert asked me to continue watching my sugar level. They also advised me to avoid taking any food with high GI. She provided me with a list of food with low GI. I became very disciplined in following my daily routine. Every morning, I started spending one and half hours in morning walk, yoga and fitness exercise, and start finishing my dinner before 8.00 pm. After staying for over a week, the blood sugar level came down to the normal.

Now, it’s almost 8 months that I am out of medicine. Sometimes, I do cheat-meal (taking sweets or ice-cream) but the sugar level is always within the range.

Many people asked me how I restored my insulin level. You would be interested to learn that in almost 95% diabetes cases, it’s not the lack or low insulin level, but the insulin resistance. Therefore, the key to success was to reduce the insulin resistance which I did by increasing my physical activity, reducing my Body Mass Index (BMI), and keeping a balanced diet with low GI food items.

My secret formula was learning and understanding my diabetes, gaining knowledge, and then devising my strategy AASHA (Awareness, Action, Sustenance, Healthy Lifestyle and Attainment) to come out of diabetic situation.

I got bonus also. I have become much more physically fit by reducing my body weight from 78 kgs to 71 kgs. My chronic asthmatic condition is also under control.?

In my next LinkedIn article, I will highlight that winning the war against diabetes is a part of my Final Battle which I am fighting now.

A lot has been put on Stake – my more than 10 years of Tapasya (austerity), and possibility of millions of farmers coming out of poverty while reducing global warming if I win the Final Battle.

Jitendra Sinha