Researchers have found that type 2 diabetes can be caused by fat accumulation in the pancreas. Fatty pancreas is a common diagnosis, even in people who don’t have diabetes. Losing less than one gram (0.04 ounces) of that fat can be enough to reverse the disease.

Type 2 diabetes affects 9 percent of the world’s population and is being diagnosed in increasingly younger people. It was once called adult onset diabetes but that name is no longer relevant because these days we commonly see it in children.

People with type 2 diabetes have too much glucose in their blood. This is dangerous because glucose is sticky and it can damage nearly any part of the body if present in excess. Therefore, diabetes can lead to some very devastating health consequences, such as blindness, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, heart attacks and strokes. People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, therefore must inject it. In contrast, people with type 2 diabetes usually produce plenty of insulin; sometimes too much of it. The insulin just doesn’t work properly anymore.

A team of researchers from Newcastle University in the UK has recently found that fat accumulation in the pancreas can cause type 2 diabetes, and losing that fat can reverse the disease. According to Professor Taylor of Newcastle University, “For people with Type 2 diabetes, losing weight allows them to drain excess fat out of the pancreas and allows function to return to normal”. In this particular study, weight loss was achieved through bariatric surgery, but any weight loss method would produce the same result.

The problem is, losing weight is difficult, and it’s twice as hard if you have type 2 diabetes or syndrome X. This is because the insulin resistance that occurs in these conditions inhibits the action of fat burning hormones and significantly increases appetite and carbohydrate cravings. Additionally, type 2 diabetes usually causes a fatty liver. When the liver is fatty, it can’t burn fat properly and metabolism slows down.

If you have type 2 diabetes and want to lose weight, here are my recommendations:

  • Reduce the sugar, carbohydrate and bad fats in your diet.  These foods are what create a fatty liver in the first place.  Most people with a fatty liver got one because they ate more carbohydrate than their liver could process.  Carbohydrate rich foods include sugar, flour, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, breakfast cereals and grains.  The liver is very proficient at converting these foods into fat.  The other food that promotes the formation of a fatty liver is omega 6 rich vegetable oil.  Fried foods and packaged foods like crisps, chips, crackers and cookies are usually full of the wrong fats.
  • Base your diet on vegetables, protein and good fats. These foods will keep you feeling full and will keep your blood sugar level stable throughout the day.  This is very important in order to prevent hypoglycaemia, sugar cravings, foggy head and fatigue. Many people trying to lose weight actually don’t eat enough protein and fat.  They are in such a rush to lose weight and want to reach their goal tomorrow, that they eat too little food.  This is dangerous territory because you will be at far greater risk of bingeing on all the wrong foods once you get tired and hungry enough. When eating protein rich foods like fish, poultry or red meat, please eat a palm and a half sized portion. Whey protein powder is an excellent source of protein that’s highly satiating. It will help to keep you feeling full for many hours and reduces the risk of sugar cravings. Please include good fats in your diet like olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and oily fish such as salmon.  People who don’t eat enough protein and fat usually crave sugar and carbohydrate. For more information see the book Diabetes Type 2: You Can Reverse it. Many of our patients have poor liver health, therefore compromised fat digestion. If you have a sluggish liver, it will not produce sufficient bile. That means eating good fats can leave you feeling bloated, nauseous and tired. Taking an ox bile supplement can help prevent those symptoms.
  • Berberine is a plant extract that helps weight loss by improving insulin sensitivity. This is critical for type 2 diabetics because the insulin in their body doesn’t work properly.
  • Take a good quality liver tonic. Diet changes will work on their own eventually, but you should reach your goal weight sooner, and feel more energetic sooner if you take a good quality liver tonic. Livatone Plus contains the nutrients your liver needs in order to burn fat efficiently and detoxify your bloodstream.
  • Eat more raw vegetables. No matter where you live it is important to eat raw food such as salad every day. Try to eat as many different colored vegetables as possible because the pigments in vegetables are antioxidants and they each have unique benefits.  Your liver and bowels need the nutrients in raw vegetables to function at their optimum. It is well worth adding raw juices to your diet – check out my Raw Juices Can Save Your Life book for recipe ideas.

Weight loss takes more time and commitment for those with type 2 diabetes, but with the right technique it is definitely achievable.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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