I went from a 8.5 A1C to a 5.9 without medication by changing diet and adding exercise.

I have lost 76# since Nov. 3rd, 2006. I have been a Diabetic since 1979. I became a Vegetarian Jan. 1st, 2007. I have cut my Insulin by 80%, which in turn has helped me in alot of my other Health Problems. So the combination of weight loss, my walking, new hip, new eyes, new foot, new shoulder, becoming a Vegan, I have reversed my Diabetes. My Dr. says in another year I will be off Insulin at this rate!!!!!

Very disturbing story! As a father of an 8 years old diagnosed with diabetes, I believe that this kind of anecdotes can harm more than they help.
In the first place, the idea that at an early age you were told that you will not live long, is irresponsible and "criminal". That premise moved you to think that taking care of one self is pointless. So why do it.

But secondly, your above opinion only reinforces the same premise, but from the reverse side. It goes like this: Taking care of myself is pointless and therefore live it up. Conditions created by years of mismanagement are reversible. Just watch me. So live it up and when you find a real purpose to live for, then you will reverse all the damage.

So please be careful with the message that you broadcast. I hope my 8 year old will learn that even if the damage is potentially corrected, to a degree, that he will love to take care of himself. It is my job as a parent not only to watch his blood level, but most importantly to prepare him for the management of a long, long and perhaps at times difficult illness.

I believe that it is possible to heal from type I diabetes. If you correct the spiritual problems that led to your disease (the pancreas is affected by how adaptable you are), then the body will respond and begin to function normally again. I believe I can overcome type I if I follow my heart's desire and live life without limits. I took big steps last year by leaving my very unsatisfactory job of 21 years and moving from an area where I felt very out of place. I feel much more in tune with life and myself here and I feel that's a start but I have a long way to go! It was great to see a post such as yours.

Hi...

I was prediabetic in 1998 and weighed 259 pounds at 5'9" and female.

I joined the Diabetic Prevention Program and luckly was randomized into their lifestyle changes group. Which basically meant that I was to exercise 30 minutes a day.... and to make better eating choices and lose at least 7 percent of my weight.

It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I needed someone to point out that I was slowly killing myself with my bad eating habits and lack of exercise.

As of today I weigh 145 pounds and have run a marathon and one of my greatest joys is getting out and running in the fresh air and sunshine. Everyday I am greatful that I am happy and healthy and hope someone can look at me and say it is possible to make small changes in their life that will make amazining changes in your health.

Dyan Buffa
Reno NV

What are you saying David? That Heather developed diabetes at age 8 because she had spiritual problems and wasn't "adaptable?" I don't think you heard what Heather was saying. She had problems adapting to being a type 1 diabetic, resisted and ignored it. She finally made peace with a disease that she has due in no part to anything she did. She changed her attitude and her choices about diabetes and was able to become so much healthier and happier. She did not reverse her diabetes, she reversed the effects that her unfortunate choices had caused. I admire your decision to make a change in your job and life - and I wish you spiritual peace and happiness. But you can have that and accept the fact your pancreas is not functioning normally and that you have a chronic disease that you can sucessfully manage. Don't feel
"limited" - be in control of your life.

Great post Heather. Inspirational! I have also had complete resolution of significant neuropathy in both feet (my left foot was much worse than my right foot).

For many years prior to my diagnosis of type II diabetes in 2005 I had experienced a myriad of neurological symptoms in my feet ranging from icy cold to tingling and numbness. At their worst I had the sensation as if my toes, especially my great toes, had been amputated. I experienced significant numbness both in the my toes and in the soles of my feet. At times I also experienced sharp, stinging pains between my toes when walking.

When I was diagnosed with type II diabetes in February 2005 as a natural problem-solver I saw this as an opportunity to learn and especially as an opportunity to see just what my body was capable of. I had faith that if I worked with my body that it would respond...... and it has done exactly that. Three years after I was diagnosed with diabetes I am now not only completely free of neuropathy but have what I consider to be exceptional tactile sense in both my feet. In addition, my vision has improved to the point where I am now very comfortable without my prescription glasses.

I can't say for certain what has been responsible for my improvements. Even though my 12 fasting BG was 300 mg/dl when I was first diagnosed and much higher at 2 hours PP I have never taken any medications. Instead, I went on a low and then a very carbohydrate diet with a number of supplements including magnesium aspartate and glycinate and Glucorelle (600 mg/day). These are some of the main supplements. However, there is no question in my mind that the low carbohydrate no wheat diet is the major factor. My response to a reduction in carbohydrate intake was both immediate and significant in terms of improvement in BG.

I have been a type 1 since the age of 7 which makes this my 26th year. I too spent over 20 years being totally uncontrolled, eating what I wanted, never testing, drinking alcohol etc and at one point I also had an A1c of close to 18. I went on a pump in 1996 and while I have seen a dramatic improvement in my blood sugars and lifestyle, taking my diabetes seriously for the first time since my childhood years, the complications do not just go away.
You can inprove things but you can't delete the damage that has been done by so many years out of control. I too have had lazer surgery and while my eye's are doing well, they have not improved but stabilized. My kidney function thank God has remained good and I do believe God has been watching over me. I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and starting osteoporosis along with having severe deformities of my feet making walking something I don't do much anymore. I too found my life partner 10 years ago and while my attitudes have changed, the consequences of my folly still haunt me to this day. I"m glad you are doing better and are now happy and yes, attitude can play a big role in our health but reversing serious complications is not possible but improving on them is.
Not seeing doctors and knowing how bad my lab values were for years I don't know if things have improved or if I have just been blessed with good genes to keep me healthy. I too was told I would never live to be past 40 and am now getting ready to turn 53.
I do think studying older diabetics would be beneficial especially one's who have been so severely out of control and later in life learned the seriousness of the disease and regained control. I also hope our new President in 2008 supports funding for diabetes research.
I just hope I can continue to live at home and care for myself and my type 2 husband for many more years and to see my grandchildren grow up so I continue to test my sugars 8-10 times a day and will never give up my insulin pump.

I made an error in my comment, I have been a type 1 for 46 years, not 26, sorry :(

I have a long history of type 1 diabetes 60 years. I had very painful neuropathy in both feet.In 2000 I went on a much tighter control with a pump. I have been in the 5.7 to 6.5 A1c range for 8+ years. After 2 years of low A1c numbers I lost all pain from neuropathy in my feet. I am sure tight control is the cause

Hello Heather.
Congratulations on taking control of your life. I have type 1 diabetes, and was only recently diagnosed (about a year ago), so needless to say, I am not suffering from any complications. I am 32 years old and the disease hit me with the pregnancy of my son Zack, therefore, this past year has been both the best and worst year of my life!
I try to take care of myself and my diabetes the best I can, not only for myself, but also for my son and my husband. Although I can't share any stories of side effects, I wanted to share with you a book I'm currently reading that has become my diabetes bible, you may already have read it, it is called "The Diabetes Solution" and it is written by Dr. Richard Bernstein. His story is a little similar to you in the fact that he was suffering severe long term side effects and was able to reverse them all with a low carb diet. He is an inspiration and a genius in my opinion. If you are looking for stories like your own, you should read his book. He is also a doctor and an engineer, and his book is full of wonderful tips on managing diabetes.
Good Luck to you and your family, your story was great to read!

Heather, I am pleased that you have managed your diabetes and your overall health so well. Congratulations!

I was diagnosed with Type 1 in 1945 when I was 6. I knew nothing about carb counting and low carb diets until 40 years after my diagnosis. I ate many carbs for 40 years but I did not know that was the wrong thing to do. My doctors never told me anything about carbs during that period of time. My parents were told I should not eat anything with a high sugar content. We follwed that advice. I did not cheat but I ate tons of carbs since we did not know any better. I had very high urine sugar almost all the time. I was healthy though and I did not develop complications. I had poor control and I did not know it was poor, but I remained healthy. I began experiencing some minor complications when I was in my late 40's but that was about the time that the glucose meters became available and I started using Humalog insulin and counting carbs. My complications never became serious because of the changes in my diabetes care and my control was the best I had ever experienced. My A1c's have been below 6.0 for several years now and I am pumping insulin. I am very healthy and have wonderful control despite so many years of high BG's and knowing so little of what I desperately needed to know to have the control that I have now.

Good luck to you! We watch our diabetes and our health so closely that it makes me feel that we will live longer, healthier lives than we may have lived as nondiabetics.

Richard

Yes, I know of 4 people with Diabetes who have had remarkable regenerations. 2 recovered from blindness and nearing kidney dialysis,one recovered from spilling large amounts of protein from kidneys and one more from blindness.

2 methods of regeneration were used. One I have tried to get funding for research with no luck as I am not a doctor. The other is available to all so no research needs to be done.

Medicine has always known one can reverse complications if the complication is not set in for too long.

One of the blind people was blind for 2 yrs.
and it took her a good 6 mos. before she saw anything again. One of the other blind people recovered in 1 week and had been blind for less than 1 yr.

Hope you get lots of responses as research is only going to help the young if they find a cure. There is very little research going on to reverse or improve the quality of life one has with diabetes complications.

SunniD

Heather, First . . . Thanks for your work!

AND, I have 3 points/pointers/comments to offer:

1) I've been on the medtronic/minimed insulin pump since 2002, and am seeing a dramatic improvement in my control. (btw, both my MD and staff nutritionist are type 1s and both on the pump too -- what a coup!!)

1 a) Even BETTER -- I've been on the Paradigm CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system)since October 2007 (just 4 1/2 short months) and my A1c is down a FULL POINT! I am losing weight -- less insulin, less fat storage!!

2) I connected with a Doctor in Singapore (Dr Khoo) who "invented" a Chinese herb blend called Combetic, which he stated (and backed up with data) showed incredible results on reducing and even eliminating the need not only for diabetic drugs but also cholesterol and bp drugs as well. I reviewed the findings and was blown away! It (sadly) had minimal impact on me personally, though I referred a type 2 friend who had FULL RECOVERY!

3) Finally, I have HUGE hope for the study at MASS involving the use of a vaccine (tuberculosis) to "turn back on" islet cells and reverse the auto-immune attack on our own bodies.

We are getting closer . . . thanks for your work. I'd be interested in further info and/or discussions -- bill dot barbee at gmail dot com.

Heather... your story is one of hope and inspiration. It could be my story as well. I am also a Type 1, diagnosed at age 18. I also rebelled and tried to ignore my diagnosis. My doctor also told me I'd never live to see my 40th birthday. That was 10 years ago. I have suffered a major complication in that I had quad bypass surgery at age 41. My eyes and kidneys are doing pretty good considering. I have non-proliferative retinopathy and my kidney function is good for now. I have little, if any neuropsthy. Without the heart working properly... nothing else really matters. I have begun to really take charge of my diabetes in hopes of buying myself a few more years. Your story has inspired me to keep up the fight!

Heather, I have been Type I for 41 years, diagnosed at age 19. Never happy about the restrictions but tried to do the best I could given each particular life situation - college student, NY commuter, pregnancy, Mom, self employed, yoga, golf. My worst A1c was an 11 when I was working full time, had a husband with a travel intensive job and an asthmatic three year old.
All this leads to say about 10 years ago my legs/feet started buzzing and my kidney function was below 1/2 normal. Panic! But, my endocrinologist said that with tighter control and low protein diet the kidney function could improve and tighter control could help the neuropathy. IT DID! - kidney function is now 90% of normal and foot doc says I have normal sensation on bottoms of all toes. I'm not a poster child - my A1cs are good when in the 7s and sometimes run in mid 8s. But even that degree of tightening up has made things better. Hope this helps your campaign. Good luck.

congratulations to all who are trying to reverse this illness, i am looking forward to read more ,I have type two for 10 years now and did not relize how much damage it was doing to me , my vision and now erectile problems that scared me being a macho type man it took that to make me realize i need to control my sugar i have never been heavy , so i started to excersise more and drinking cactus water its a old remeady if it works i certainly will post the good news

Since October 31 of 2007, Halloween, I have been following Dr. Bernstein's very low carb diabetes diet. My kidneys have gone from early stage kidney disease to back to within normal range. My eye exams have shown no further development of retinopathy. They are stable. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 37 years and have done very well, I think, except for eye and kidney problems. Those are responding "big time" to the low carb diet!

I am 85 and have had Type 2 diabetes for about 35 years. My H1cs average 6.5. I weigh 156 pounds. My diabetes is definitely hereditary. Some plump cousins who were jolly and adventuresome lived to be 92-94. Others died in their 60-70-80s. I exercise 2 hours daily. I have had neuropathy in my right foot for the past 3 years, with numbness and some pain. I am hoping that neuropathy can be reversed. I find that a glass of water every time that I get up reduces the neuropathy when in bed.The only specific exercise that helps is to raise myself on my toes. My general attitude is that diabetes has been a good thing for me because it has forced me to pay attention to food, exercise and stress. Also, I try to maintain a good sense of humor. Basically, I have a low carb diet but I don't count calories. So far, I seem to have avoided the worst effects of diabetes except for this fairly recent neuropathy.

Hello there, that was a very inspiring story. I am trying to fight type II diabetes.

I am 57 having had diabetes since I was 13. I now have problems with neuropathy and retinopathy, heart disease (not helped by having Sleep apnoea diagnosed 3 years ago), being very overweight, irregular blood sugars. I would love to know of a way to help reverse these problems.

MerileeK
Thanks for your inspiring post. For 46 (since I was 16) years I've coped with IDDM. Urine testing -- 2 hours delayed, as results were -- was insufficient. I indulged in the candies and proscribed cookies and candies, not out of hunger, I'm sure, but rather because my BG's too high or low. Mild diabetic peripheral neuropathy in my legs and hands ensued. For exercise, while swimming hands would numb, while toes tingled, ala pins and needles. My endocrinologist helped me with Inositol (part of the B-complex vitamins.) In split doses, I took 3,000 IU (or mg) daily. Like you, since finding a loving mate (37 happy years together,) I had more reason to avoid further complications. I'm fortunate the BG home monitoring (recommended by my psychiatrist) came along, and I jumped onboard. This, I'm sure, saved my life. Symptoms abated. I'd read, and asked my "endo" if I could get off the Inositol. He said, I could try it by, little by little, reducing the total. I've done this. My A1c has normalized, and I'm symptom free. At a talk about diabetes complications, I heard an endocrinologist say that neuropathy does not get cured. I say, fine, but symptoms abate. I'm glad to tell this story...and lead a healthier happier life. For those who've not yet found, as motivation to improve, outside love, may I suggest that loving oneself is a great start.

There's absolutely a chance to decrease or stabilize thr risk of serious diabetes complications by tightening up on control. But it's not going to "reverse" complications for everyone. I'm tightly controlled at A1C of 6.5, age 33, female, with type 1 for 25 years, and have retinopathy (stable), gastroparesis (stable), and early kidney disease (stable). I'm positive that living happily & healthfully prevents my complications from being worse, but even doing my best, I still can't "reverse" my complications. Let's be cautious in how we talk about this; remember that not too long ago Halle Berry claimed she "weaned herself off insulin."

Very disturbing story! As a father of an 8 years old diagnosed with diabetes, I believe that this kind of anecdotes can harm more than they help.
In the first place, the idea that at an early age you were told that you will not live long, is irresponsible and "criminal". That premise moved you to think that taking care of one self is pointless. So why do it.

But secondly, your above opinion only reinforces the same premise, but from the reverse side. It goes like this: Taking care of myself is pointless and therefore live it up. Conditions created by years of mismanagement are reversible. Just watch me. So live it up and when you find a real purpose to live for, then you will reverse all the damage.

So please be careful with the message that you broadcast. I hope my 8 year old will learn that even if the damage is potentially corrected, to a degree, that he will love to take care of himself. It is my job as a parent not only to watch his blood level, but most importantly to prepare him for the management of a long, long and perhaps at times difficult illness.

Thanks for a great article, Heather.
I was diagnosed with IDDM in 1972 at the age of 4. So I guess I've survived for almost 36 years with it.
I smoked for 19 years, and am an alcoholic. I got sober 7 years ago, so that has helped my health more than you can even imagine.
I had many ulcers on both of my legs, which have since (in the last 9 years) healed beautifully and have not recurred.
I have worn an insulin pump for over 17 years and tested 5 or 6 times a day. I currently am using one of the continuous glucose monitor systems from DexCom (LOVE IT!) which means i'm only poking my finger 2 or 3 times now. The continuous monitor gives me blood sugar results every 5 minutes. It is a wonderful addition to my diabetes care package. I am just graduating from nursing school and when I am working a 12 hr shift at the hospital, it is very convenient to check the monitor in my pocket and know how I’m doing, and also what direction my sugar is heading. I can head off problems before they materialize.
In direct reference to complications and healing, I too had retinopathy in both eyes, but did not have laser. After getting sober and taking very good care of myself with nutrition, exercise, and improving my mental/emotional health- over 4 years time went by and I have NO sign of any eye damage at all, no protein exudates, no hemorrhages, no nothing! My ophthalmologist was surprised and very happy!
I am the picture of health and happiness. My doctor in Seattle also considers me her Diabetes Poster Child. I am a miracle, among many. I'm happy for you and me, and all the others. To all: keep trying. Just do the best you can each day, and give yourself a lot of credit for it! It is not easy.

very inspirational!!!

Dear Haether

First I would like to truly congratulate you for the all the changes you have made in your life. Second, as an endocrinologist and a researcher in the area of diabetic complications, more specifically in the diabetic nephropathy field (kidney disease caused by diabetes), I want to say that there is evidence in the medical literature that improved/normal glycemic control, as obtained after pancreas transplant, can reverse the clinical and pathological changes of diabetic nephropathy (New Engl J Med 339:69, 1998). There is also data suggesting that peripheral neuropathy can be improved by such treatment. I am not advocating for pancreas transplant as a treatment/cure for diabetes and its complications, but patients and health professionals need to be aware that it has been proven that once you remain normoglycemic for long periods of time, it took about 10 years for the renal lesions to reverse in the study above, the chronic lesions caused by diabetes may significantly improve or even disappear. The long time needed for recovery could be expected, since it is known that kidney lesions develop slowly, in clinic silence for many years, thus it is conceivable that it will also take several years for them to heal after the factor causing the injury is removed. This suggests that there is a balance between injury and repair, which leans towards injury during periods of severe hyperglycemia, and towards repair during periods of normoglycemia. There is also evidence that our cells have some kind of “memory” for the glucose environment they were on, and this has been demonstrated not only in vitro, but also in vivo. Thus, having diabetes does not mean that you are destined to have chronic complications. You can change this course, if you take good care of yourself.

yay heather awsome article........devin loves ya baby!

Diabetes is a condition. 60% of prediabetics can revert to normal plasma glucose levels with healthy diet and physical activity. Changing habits slowly over time is what works. You can do it!!

Harness the power of the internet. For the first time in history, there is a simple way of getting these unique stories together to find out the truth. My daughter gets amazing information and help about her 'failsafe' condition from the net.

Get these great success stories together onto a permanent website (separate the type 1`s and 2's). Well done to all of you.

What an inspiring story. No one's life is perfect and to reflect upon this fact and be able to change it is paramount to a successful life. I have had type I diabetes for 54 years and am facing the fact that my mate often (via emotional tension) is a factor in my high blood sugars. I hope I can find the courage (as you did) to correct this problem.

I am a Type 1. I slowly developed neueopathy on the bottoms of my feet. A very strange feeling when you try to walk! The pharmacist suggested that I take 1000 mcg of
Vitamin B-12 twice each day at 12 hour intervals (reason: constant high level of B-12) to restore my nerves. My Endocrinologist who is a professor at Northwestern University's medical school comfirmed upon giving me the needle test that my neuropathy has sugnificeently improved. VERY HAPPY!

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. If you want to reverse your diabetes check out Dr. Gabriel Cousens work. His site is TreeOfLife.NU.

Congratulations Heather, on learning to live with diabetes. You are proof that if one pays attention and lives healthy, living with diabetes is almost as simple as living without it. I don't think however, that your experience is that unusual. The body has a tremendous ability to repair itself if you treat it right and you have learned to do that. Anyone, with or without DM can do the same and I hear many stories at support groups all of the time of similar accomplisments. Any diabetic can live a long and healthy life if they choose to, just like anyone without diabetes. We just have an added step in our daily lives to compensate for this "metabolic malfunction" we live with. It's not a lot different than getting up and brushing your teeth and combing our hair, we just do a quick blood test and medicate accordingly; not that big a deal when you get used to it. Yes, there's a little more to it such as a healthy lifestyle, but you also learn never to let DM get in the way of living a good life.

As for being being a "scientific anomaly," I think you're more the norm. At least for those who pay attention, you're the norm. Most of the old "scientific" theories have gone out the window over the last 17 years. And with the acknowledgement of "leptin's role in DM, more will follow shortly. Science still lacks answers and the focus to cure this disease as long as it is more profitable to treat than cure.

I was diagnosed a type 1 32 years ago at age 33 with a glucose reading of 1056. Six moths later a teen came in with a reading of over 2000. My complications were due mainly to my lifestyle prior to my diagnoses and my smoking which I finally gave up. I changed my lifestyle, had repaired what I could and the body is taking care of the rest. I'm not totally stupid. I've just been able to work diabetes into my life, no choice involved.

I am a bit distressed with some of the comments posted to your story though and the misguided thinking which prompted them. Diabetic education obviously is still sorely needed in most parts of this country. Many of these people really need to be in support groups to learn what they are talking about. And that goes for the medical community as well.

Good luck on your long and happy life.

Has anyyone that is reversing kidney damage with low carb diets checked their cholestrol or ask doctors the effects it will have on heart later? I have always wondered, because my type 1 son loves the low carb, high protein diet, but I worry about heart blockages. Also, does anyone else have big discrpencies in finger stick A1C's than blood drawn from arm? Our regular doctor will check Jake's A1C w/ fingerstick method and it's always in the 6 to 6.5 range, but the endo will draw it from arm and be in the 8's.Please respond.

Heather,

I am type 1, have been so since 1972 (at the age of 12).

Here's my story. About 5 years ago, I lost 50 pounds and started eating what my wife calls "fishetarian", meaning mostly vegetarian with the exception being that I also eat fatty fish (salmon) 5-8 times a week. I run 15-20 miles a week and work out regularly. For about the last 2 years, my retina specialist has said, like yours, that not only was my retinopathy not continuing to proliferate, but that the lipid deposits were disappearing or dissipating. I am practically off statins (my cholesterol is still slightly above normal, possibly genetic). My A1C's have been 5.5-6. I have found that it's almost impossible to stay in control if you are significantly overweight -- I was literally having to 'hammer through' 10-15 units of humalong for a meal that now I bolus for 2-3 units. I didn't even realize how insulin resistant I was.

I get most of my help not from my doctor ("eat right and exercise -- see me in 3 months -- that will be $95.00 -- second window please!), or from my diabetes nurse educator (who is used to dealing with hopelessly out of control people), but from DESA, the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association, http://www.diabetes-exercise.org.

I love my continuous glucose sensor - pump combination. I sure hope insurance starts covering the sensors. But that won't stop me from buying them.

In response to the poster who says they're getting different readings depending on the method, don't forget to wash the site you draw from... I have had readings of 250-300 from a finger that touched food, and 120-150 from the one next to it that didn't.

Anyway, just wanted to respond -- yes, I have seen symptoms improve markedly and in some cases recede under tight control. Good luck, everyone!

Thanks for the stories! I have to live by Heather's story, otherwise I don't see much of a point to keep on living. 26 year type 1 survivor here. Minimal complications, thank God. GO HEATHER! Mi in AL

To anonymous from 4/10:

Science does not know why the body attacks itself in auto immune diseases. Studies are coming out that show suffering from depression can increase your risk of diseases. Depression can be caused by chemical imbalances but sometimes it is not. If having a poor mental outlook onlife increases your risk of certain diseases (Alzheimer's, heart disease for example), then why is it not possible that diabetes can be caused by some similar mechanism? I'm not saying that the person in question's diabetes was caused by not being adaptable (perhaps it was) but everyone's system is affected by different issues, otherwise all people with the same disease would follow the exact smae course and that doesn't happen (of course self care plays into that).

You are very correct in pointing out that this person accepted her diabetes and this was her big turnaround. I believe in order for such reversals to take place, one must be fully accepting of their situation. I have improved greatly on this but still have a little bit to go. It doesn't stop me from taking care of myself however. I do accept that my pancreas in not functioning normally but I do believe it is possible to heal from this. If one gets to their place of joy in life, amazing things can happen.

This is such an important idea...if those who have experienced symptom reversals would share the means of their recovery, it has the potential to be of enormous benefit to all of us. We need one localized website (one that is highly publicized so we would get a lot of responses that could then be statistically analyzed). There are so many anecdotal remedies and even so-called "cures" out there that it becomes ridiculous to attempt to sort them all out and try the ones that appear to be halfway plausible. If we could learn from each other's experience, it would save us all a lot of time and money, as well as allowing us to more quickly narrow down the field of promising treatments.

I understand the dad's comment on being careful about the message being portrayed to his 8 year old child, however; for those of use who have had the disease before glucometers and pumps were around, who tested sugar levels using urine and existed on 1 shot a day, the story is inspirational. It is scary to think about what the effect of unintentional improper control of diabetes has on the body. They just didn't know then what they do now. To the dads of the 8 year olds who get the disease now, any diabetic who has had the disease prior to today's technology will encourage good control and emphasize how much easier it is and how much better we can control our health today. However, recognizing and seeing if we can learn more from the mistakes of the past will increase research and technology today, hopefully leading to better control, if not a cure, in the future.

Great story. I was diagnosed with Type II ten years ago at 50. I followed my doctors recommendations fairly well for about 5 years then due to a broken bone in my foot stopped exercising and ate badly for about three years,put on weight etc. It was then after this abuse I had numbness of my feet start. I am continually traveling with my job and I often work in field on a random schedule. Recently I am making more effort to bring my diabetes under control, my A1c is down from 8.5 to 7.5 and I want get it down further, started to exercise everyday by riding my bike for 40 mins or more. Your story about turning around some of or most of the negative diabetes issues/ symptoms has given me an enormous boost. I will continue make that extra effort to get it completely under control. I hope I can improve the numbness and pain in my feet which I find the Number one issue for me.
It is great to know there can be light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for sharing your story with us all.

I went low carb when I got diagnosed, I already had protein spilling in my urine. The low carb reversed that and the burning in my feet, my kidney function is now normal. Also, my good cholesterol went up and my bad cholesterol and triglycerides went down. A1c has been lower than 6% since a few months after diagnosis when it started out at over 12%.

I sure hope it's possible. I've been suffering from nerve pain for the past couple years that only recently I've come to take seriously. I denied having a problem for too long. I pray the damage to my arms and legs (caused by sitting too long, working at the computer) is not permanent. Your words are encouraging, Heather. Thank you.

I sure hope it's possible. I've been suffering from nerve pain for the past couple years that only recently I've come to take seriously. I denied having a problem for too long. I pray the damage to my arms and legs (caused by sitting too long, working at the computer) is not permanent. Your words are encouraging, Heather. Thank you.

Cinnamon, Real Cassia cinnamon, like from the health food store is really kick-starting my 4 year old's pancreas into action -diagnosed four months ago

davidh, sorry to say this, and i hope you continue to manage your diabetes well, but your ideas are fundamentally flawed. I have a BSc in Cell Biology and I developed diabetes at age 2. So you are saying I was depressed or not adaptable at age 2?

The majority of the scientific community agrees that Type I diabetes is caused by an autoimmune disease whereby a bacterial or viral infection causes your body to undergo an autoimmune reaction against its Beta (insulin-producing) cells in the pancreas. To say that spiritual events cause diabetes is not only ignorant, but also insulting to any individual with either type of diabetes.

heather, what's your routine nowadays? can you please expand on it, what you eat, how often you work out and when and type of insulin you are using?
thanks!

HI, MY NAME IS nAADIRA AN DI LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
I HAVE DIABETES FOR THE LAST 22YEARS .
I HAVE HAD MINOR COMPLICATIONS SO FAR TILL NOW.

RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED CHRCO FEET. IT IS ON BOTH THE LEGS.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN HARD PLASTER FOR THE LAST 4MONTHS.
ACCORDIG TO MY DOCTOR THIS IS THE ONLY TREATMENT FOR THIS AILMENT.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR MY EVERYDAY LIFE. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY ADVANCE FORM/CURE FOR THIS.
PLEASE COULD YOU ASSIST ME .

WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANKS

NAADIRA KARBHARI

Heather, God bless you for your efforts and for inspiring us! I have had Type 1 for 14 years and have no complications--yet. Thank God I got the diagnosis when I was 26, and perhaps had an easier time accepting it than an 8-year-old would. Keep it up, and I look forward to hearing more responses.

Amy Glass

I have had type 1 for 22 years. I've always been good about eating low carb, but I want to remind you all that there are many other (uncontrollable) things besides food that cause high blood sugar. Besides sickness and stress, here are a couple more:
1) The days prior to my period, my BG is sky high. Those hormones can play a major role in BG. 2) Also, my BG spikes not only in the morning like a lot of people (dawn phenonomon), but also most times right after I wake up from a nap at any time of day (if I fall asleep with my 4-yr old daughter). My liver must automatically spill sugar into my system for some "get up and go" when it senses my body moving.
Only since being on the pump and CGM the last year have I been able to recognize these patterns and been able to react to them. For this, I am truly thankful. Prior, it was just a case of randomly getting a high reading and wondering where in the heck that came from (because I knew it was not due to carbs).
No low-carb diet from a book or a doctor is a cureall for type 1s. Comments that suggest that offend me as it is more complicated (for type 1s at least).
Heather, I believe the advancement of complications can be stopped wiht good BG control. I hope you are right that they can also be reversed.

I have had type 1 for 22 years. I've always been good about eating low carb, but I want to remind you all that there are many other (uncontrollable) things besides food that cause high blood sugar. Besides sickness and stress, here are a couple more:
1) The days prior to my period, my BG is sky high. Those hormones can play a major role in BG. 2) Also, my BG spikes not only in the morning like a lot of people (dawn phenonomon), but also most times right after I wake up from a nap at any time of day (if I fall asleep with my 4-yr old daughter). My liver must automatically spill sugar into my system for some "get up and go" when it senses my body moving.
Only since being on the pump and CGM the last year have I been able to recognize these patterns and been able to react to them. For this, I am truly thankful. Prior, it was just a case of randomly getting a high reading and wondering where in the heck that came from (because I knew it was not due to carbs).
No low-carb diet from a book or a doctor is a cureall for type 1s. Comments that suggest that offend me as it is more complicated (for type 1s at least).
Heather, I believe the advancement of complications can be stopped wiht good BG control. I hope you are right that they can also be reversed.

Hey you guys i am always on the look out for better health and nutrition.
My father is a severe diabetic that lives off a dialysis machine.
Here is the cure look up cryptomonadales and ppars or dietetic weightlosscentre.com

I have well-controlled diabetes with an A1c of 5.0 and I still lost my kidney function anyway. It does not seem to be reversing, and my nephrologist says it's the diabetes that did it. I have been diabetic for 13 years. On the other hand, I had a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy last year and this year there is no sign of it at all.

great story, but no hint as to what you did to 'reverse' your diabetes. Were you insulin dependent? What exactly did you do to 'reverse' your diabetes? What do you mean by reverse? You only reveal you had an attitude change and decided to take care of your diabetes, give specifics! This sort of sounds like a soft sell beginning to a sales pitch!?

Having lived with insulin dependent diabetes for 32 years I find this article disturbing. My own reality is that outside of 2 years after my Father died, unexpectedly, in 1974 I have kept my A1C's in excellent range. Despite this fact I have accrued many, many complications. Over the past ten years my A1C's have never been over 6.6 and my complications not only do not regress but continue to progress. I work hard at taking care of myself because of the simply fact that I want to feel as well as possible each and every day and because I want to live long enough to see my 13 year old, adopted, daughter grow up.

Thanks for helping me recover hope

great story, but no hint as to what you did to 'reverse' your diabetes. Were you insulin dependent? What exactly did you do to 'reverse' your diabetes? What do you mean by reverse? You only reveal you had an attitude change and decided to take care of your diabetes, give specifics! This sort of sounds like a soft sell beginning to a sales pitch!?

we all are happy that good things happened to you after so many years of having diabetes.But being a doctor i want to convey one thing;if u r diabetic,the only way to avoid complications is to control ur BG as well as blood presuure right from the day when u know and understand what is diabetes.yes i have seen many cases where there is a lot of improvement in diabetic neuropathy,to some extent in diabtic retinopathy,and very rarely in diabetic nephropathy [with macroalbuminurea] by controlling their blood sugar

Heather! God bless you and your article is an answer to prayer.. I really need help and to start managing my health and you gave me HOPE and DESIRE to keep going and try it!..Thank you...carol

I was diagnosed at age 7 in 1978. My younger sister was diagnosed 4 years later at the same age as I. After my parents divorced, the last thing I cared about was my diabetes. I ate what I wanted, tested rarely and often skipped my insulin dose. At the age of 19, I began to have vision problems. By the age of 21 I was legally blind. I went to all the doctors and had hundreds of laser treatments, yet my sight was gone. After that rude awakening I finally decided to take care of my diabetes. I married and gave birth to a very healthy girl, who had no complications associated with babies of diabetic mothers. My sister who had always been of normal weight and had managed her diabetes well died of heart disease at the age of 28. Today I am on the list for a kidney and pancreas transplant. My kidneys operate at around 20% function. Although your complications improved, many do not. I think the reasons are that each body is affected differently by diabetes. Some have terrible complications and some do not. It is encouraging to hear of someone who recovered like you have, but it is still a risk that teens need to not take. You may have recovered, but I have not, although I too am in very tight control and have been for years. My sister had diabetes take her life before it hardly began. I hope that young people read this and know that diabetes affects everybody in a different way and some do not recover as easily as you.