James Blais

I’m a computer programmer by trade and not a doctor. I am an analytical problem solver. I discovered I had type 2 diabetes at age 35. I was eventually diagnosed with what is now known as metabolic syndrome. After the initial 10 years of denial, I decided to listen to my doctors. Despite adhering to my doctor’s advice, the condition worsened and produced a stroke by age 49. Despite our best efforts I put on weight. I felt terrible all the time. Many of these issues stemming from the drugs that were meant to treat my disease stimulating my pancreas to produce more insulin. My blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipid numbers climbed even higher than at my diagnosis with no improvement in sight. The problem I later discovered was not my adherence to a medical regiment or lack of effort in my general health but in defects in my insulin. The resultant production of what in me is a genetically-flawed hormone. Coded to over store fat in my organs. The root issue was not effort but genetics. Medicines were not working for me and I was falling deeper into depression.

So, I started to analyze my problem the only way I knew how, through the eyes of a computer programmer. I used the same thought processes I used thousands of times before to analyze and write computer programs. But now I used this process to analyze my type 2 diabetes problem. This self analysis has been ongoing for 20 years and is continuing and evolving even to this day.

You see, every computer program starts with a definition that consists of 4 factors. These factors include the data, variables within that data, parameters to provide constraints around the data and switches. Within these variables the flow of the program is defined. The programmer then writes a series of “if then else” statements in a programming language to analyze the relationship between the variables and there effect on the system. This language evaluates these multiple factors to produce an optimal solution. The more variables, parameters and switches within a system, the more complex the program becomes and the more difficult to analyze.

Type 2 diabetes has many variables. With a multitude of variables, type 2 diabetes becomes a very complex problem. To complex a problem to solve easily or quickly. Medicine, food, exercise, and stress are the major variables we can control. The switches in our system include our hormones in the form of insulin, glucagon, and adrenaline. These factors are controlled or regulated by the body to control the processing of the food we eat. To maintain the energy level (blood sugar), not too low or too high, within the range needed to stay healthy and survive. The body uses a complex interplay of these switches to regulate our system. These switches are broken or become dysfunctional when excess fat is stored in our organs. This dysfunction can result in our blood sugar to change in out of control ways. This in turn can affects our ability or rather inability to think and perform in many ways, whether it be mental or physical.

But for me, even utilizing this complex analytical model and methodology my analysis failed me. The problem was just too complex.

But there is one additional factor outside that analytical model. That factor led me through my inability to understand what was going on in my body and onto a path of understanding and healing. That factor was and is spiritual. God led me on a spiritual path to a solution. For me, through Thai Chi God taught me how to become more in tune with my body. An understanding of how to move towards health and control of my disease as I grew more self-aware. God used my sin, my incomplete understanding, and people in my life to guide me. At every point this process caused me confusion and an internal struggle that often lead to hopelessness; though at every turn God provided an answer. The strength to continue.

The good news is that I have learned we can get our blood sugar back into control with hard work and self-discipline. That’s right, type 2 diabetes can be reversed, as the good doctors at Newcastle University have proven. Type 2 diabetes does not have to be the progressive disease and lifelong struggle my general practitioner had define it as for me. I know because with God I reversed the disease process in myself. Does this mean that I can eat whatever I like, whenever I like? No. Very few people have that luxury. I carry in myself flawed genes. These genes are inherited from both sides of my family and are no doubt a result of the poisoned world we live in and I cannot change that. I can only hope to find a way to live within the parameters and constraints my flawed body has given me in an imperfect world. While at times my lot seems harsh to me, to live in a world with so much but being allowed so little. I hope I can be used to communicate a better way of life than the one our world has to offer. Eating and drinking to excess and popping pills to deal with the results are not what it is cracked up to be and frankly there are better ways to live and spend our time.

Let’s look at my life story to see how we can get started in regaining our health and vitality. It wasn’t easy for me and it won’t be easy for others. It will work and the reward is a healthy active life with family and friends, full of adventure and spiritual vitality without pills and the side effects that come with them.

To begin with make sure you talk with your doctor. But as a result of my own experience I honestly put very little faith in our medical system. Our current medical system is too closely tied to the profit of drug companies. Type 2 diabetes is a 200+ billion dollar market and growing. Very few doctors and so called diabetes educators have a deep understanding of what I have come to understand. How could they? Most do not have type 2 diabetes or understand what a type 2 diabetic goes through on a daily basis. Many are not spiritual and likely none are computer programmers. That makes my story unique. Remember, I’m a computer programmer by trade not a doctor. The information in this book is derived from the experience of a life lived. Gleaned from self-examination and experimentation to solve health problems. A spiritual life studying the bible and talking to the God of the universe and practicing Thai Chi. All filtered through the analytical thinking of a computer programmer with the help of internet research.

It’s my story. Told my way. You may disagree with some of the content and it’s likely your doctor will. It’s my life experience and it worked for me. There is no arguing with the results. If you find any help in my story I’m pleased. It is only meant as a way to help me organize my thoughts around this horrible disease within the path I have walked to reversal. With the hope of helping others like me.

Conventional Medicine’s View

My previous general practitioner’s view is that type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. The progression is inevitable. A disease that can at best be controlled with the help of medicines. Not cured or reversed. I’m not making that up or assuming that was his view. He told that to me directly. It is a view probably gleaned from his medical practice. A conclusion that is understandably drawn. He would watch his patients get worse as the disease progressed despite his recommendations and efforts. Coming to the conclusion that his patients simply ate too much sugar. After all we are just lazy, glutinous Americans. We want to pop a pill to fix our problem. I’m an American and I’m offended. I’m willing to work hard. Give up plenty. Going to extraordinary measures to maintain my health and live a full life.

In actuality the medicines he was prescribing were likely exacerbating the problem and actually causing the progression of the disease. He would try to control it for his patients with medicines. These medicines focus around two mechanistic underpinnings. In the end both are flawed if one is looking for the optimal solution. Because they are based on incorrect assumptions with regard to their ultimate end-points.

In the first class of medications the focus encouraged the pancreas to produce more insulin in the early stages of the disease when insulin levels are likely already high. In the type 2 diabetic this additionally increased insulin encourages the body to store more fat in the organs including the pancreas and liver. The same organs already dysfunctional from the disease.

The second class of medicines focus on encouraging the liver to hold onto it’s stores of glucose. Essentially to put less of my own sugar into my blood stream. To hold onto the fat that is causing dysfunction in the organs.

Both these drugs lead to the progressive condition my doctor witnessed. In Adding to his belief that type 2 diabetes is a progressive problem without hope of reversal. The patient getting worse as more fat is stored in their organs no matter what they eat. The medicines not allowing the body to rid itself of the fat that is clogging up their system. As the disease progresses,

the medicine becomes increasingly ineffective. The logical solution is to increase the dosage. The patient becomes resigned to their fate. Coming to the conclusion nothing can be done. It is indeed progressive. An irreversible problem. Depression and apathy set in and the patient gives up.

The second class of medications begin with the assumption that the switch to turn off the production of blood sugar by the liver is broken. The liver is unable to properly recognize and react to insulin. This is referred to as insulin resistance. However, if the driving forces leading to the underlying inability to react to insulin is corrected the system returns to normal. If the fat is vanquished from the liver the liver will recover. Heal itself and once again read the signal that the insulin is trying to give. Stop! Enough sugar! Allowing the pancreas to then shut down the production of insulin.

Both these treatment strategies are based on assumptions I and others believe to be false. The results of treating with these faulty assumptions is a perpetual state of too much blood sugar and the secondary devastating side effects on heath.

I believe my general practitioner’s view was wrong. He had his reasons but it was born out of a practice watching unhealthy depressed patients following his advice, popping pills and getting more and more behind the eight ball with their weight and health. Not seeing any way to escape.

The result is often that the doctor blames them for eating too much bad food, not exercising enough. Believing that change is not possible. In actuality its the medications. Encouraging the production of a flawed insulin hormone. In a genetically flawed person. This lifestyle only breeds hopelessness. Enables the progression of the disease. I believe this depression can be lifted and the disease reversed. That people just need to know how. Someone to help them believe they can do it given the correct information.

You are reading a book about how to reverse your type 2 diabetes. That makes you a health motivated individual. You just have very bad luck in the gene pool category. That combined with a culture where bad food and bad food choices are plentiful and sometimes excessive results in the rise of type 2 diabetes we see today. Plentiful food is not a curse, it is a blessing. You just need help navigating the waters. Help my general practitioner could not provide except in the form of a pill that put me behind that eight ball. And worsened my disease and my belief in the potential for improvement. With no hope of a clean shot. With God’s help I found myself waking up from the lies. The haze and confusion of excessive blood sugar levels. True understanding of what was going on with me. Feeling healthy again. Able to think for myself. God wants the same for all people. He is saddened by the state of confusion and hopelessness this disease causes in us.

New Castle University’s View

New Castle University’s view does not follow the belief type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. Without the ability to reverse the process. Medications are needed along side. My general practitioner’s view.

You can read about Newcastle University’s research on their websiteⁱ. Their research is revolutionary. I achieved the same results. Following a modified version of their program. I stumbled onto the same solution with God’s guidance. I’ll explain later. Their website explained to me why it works and how I can keep type 2 diabetes reversed. In many people without the need for medications.

New Castle University’s research is based on a truth. The fact that as a type 2 diabetic my insulin is genetically flawed. Coded to store fat in my organs.

The two organs we are concerned with are the liver and pancreas. Once these two critical metabolic organs are inundated with fat they stop working. Stop communicating.

A fatty liver can no longer respond to the insulin in our system in a proper and efficient manner. Turning off the sugar production when appropriate. This is known as insulin resistance. To make matters worse the pancreas clogged with fat can no longer produce sufficient amounts of insulin needed to lower our blood sugar. Their are several potential problems with the conventional medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes.

The theory surrounding the efficacy of the first class of medications begins with the assumption that the pancreas is unable to produce the needed insulin to control blood sugar. If the real problem stems from the fat that is causing dysfunction within the pancreas and that fat is vanquished the pancreas will recover and heal itself. The pancreas will begin producing enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. The question is then not how to give the body more insulin but rather how to improve the function of the liver and the body’s natural regulatory functions.

New Castle University’s approach is to get the fat out of the organs. In so doing insulin action will return to normal.

Two Views at Odds

My general practitioner was working only under the assumption that my pancreas could not produce enough insulin. Without deep consideration as to why.

He followed conventional wisdom largely provided by the endocrine society guidelines. Most likely based on study’s from pharmaceutical companies. In short, they had a pill to fix that. To encourage the beta cells not inundated with fat to produce more insulin.

A very ingenuous solution by the drug companies. Also very short sighted from a long term treatment perspective. Adding fuel to the fire. Carefully disguised as half a truth working against my being cured. It was the insulin that was the main problem. Not the pancreas. My insulin is coded to store fat in my organs. The overproduction of it to solve the problem actually worsened the situation. With more insulin came increased fat stored in the organs. Slowly killing my pancreas and liver.

Then there is Metformin. What to make of this drug? Yes, it can slow the release of sugar into the blood stream. A wonderful thing when you are dealing with blood sugars that are too high. It does work up to a point.

That point was where I needed the excess fat out of my liver and pancreas for them to function normally again. The problem was that the Metformin was encouraging them to hang on to at least some of the stores of fat. It was working against me totally reversing my disease.

These two views cannot co-exist. I tried to follow my general practitioner’s advice. I had some partial success. I needed the rest of the fat out of a my organs to be healed. To reverse the process and lead a truly healthy life. Metformin was not allowing this to happen.

My advice is to look for a doctor that will help you follow Newcastle University’s research advice. I was not able to find one. I was told by the one specialist I trusted and respected that she knew of no doctor that would treat me along those lines in the health system in which she practices. So, I decided to go against my doctors advice. To act on faith that getting rid of the medicines would help and in concert with lifestyle chances I could reverse the process.

After a process that took a lot of lifestyle changes I was able to reverse the process within me. Initially, I attempted deep lifestyle changes while taking my prescribed medicines. I changed my diet. I exercised constantly and with purpose. I fasted. I prayed. I meditated. I found myself weighing in at 167 pounds. Biking 30 miles a day. Hiking my dogs as much as they could handle. Doing Thai Chi for 40 minutes a day. Eating only fruits, vegetables, cheese, nuts and lean meat. I cut sodium to 5% or less per item. Mostly by eating more fruit. I was taking 2000 mg of Metformin a day. I was still seeing no results. Until God led me in desperation to drop the medicines and the fruit. I cut the medicine in half. My blood sugar dropped. I cut it in half again. My blood sugar dropped again. I stopped the Metformin. My blood sugar returned to normal.

My general practitioner had no explanation.

I don’t want to write another diet book. I’m not going to. The food choices in our culture are plentiful both in quantity and variety. What we need to understand revolves around insulin. More specifically our insulin as type 2 diabetics. Insulin is the fat storage hormone. I’m assuming that mine is genetically flawed. Just like my doctor’s medicine that encouraged insulin production and then in turn stored fat in my organs. So do certain foods. If I encourage insulin production I will store fat in my organs.

Fruit, Fructose and Alcohol

Fructose in the form of fruit or high fructose corn syrup encourage insulin production. It gets processed as fat. So does alcohol. That spells trouble for anyone who’s insulin is coded to store fat in their organs. Consume them with caution.

That means high fructose corn syrup, an apple or a beer. It makes no difference when it comes to fat and fat storage. If our bodies are producing insulin and have fat to store, it will get stored in our organs. I’m not arguing that the apple has the same nutritional value as a beer. Some people, myself included, would like to think that is true. I just like beer. When it comes to fat storage. Our insulin will put the fat from these items in the same place. Our organs.

Carbohydrates, Complex or Otherwise, and the Low-Fat Lie

Sugar, bread, pasta, rice, beans and starchy vegetables all encourage insulin production. Consume them in moderation and with caution. I’ll draw no distinction between whole grain and processed. Because my concern is primarily with insulin production. If you consume them in enough quantities. Your blood sugar and insulin levels will rise. The excess calories will get stored in your organs as fat.

This is the low-fat lie for type 2 diabetics. The current thinking in our culture that replaces fat with sugar or even complex carbohydrates is false. Especially for us. My rule is that if a label reads low-fat then it probably has sugar in it to make up for the flavor they took out when they removed the fat. That sugar, if not burned up, will be turned into and stored as fat in our organs. Especially considering the insulin production it encouraged.

Eggs, Cheese, Nuts and Unprocessed Meat

Eat up. These really have little impact on our insulin levels. They can be consumed regularly. Especially if consumed alone. Calories still count but it’s hard to consume too many of these.

Natural fat is fine when I avoid carbohydrates with them. That way the insulin is not stuffing fat in our organs. Learn to eat those two eggs in the morning without toast. Or eat cheese and nuts without a beer. Word of warning. Peanuts are not nuts. They are legumes aka beans. Avoid them.

Non-starchy Vegetables

Eat as many of these as you like. These also have little impact on insulin. The salad dressings filled with sugar or worse high fructose corn syrup are another matter. Learn to eat your vegetables without a dip or be very careful which dip you chose. Read the label and avoid any dip that has these ingredients. Olive oil and vinegar make a good alternative if you need something.

Artificial Sweeteners

These encourage insulin production. True, a diet soft drink contains no calories. How often is it consumed alone? If consumed with carbohydrates that are not needed for energy the insulin will turn those carbohydrates into fat. Then store the fat in our organs.

Natural Organic Foods

These foods and supplements changed my life. Spirulina and natural organic greens from natural plant products healed me. The nourishment from these foods in the form of natural vitamins and minerals cleansed my liver and pancreas of the fat and toxins introduced.

One maker of these products is Pure Planetⁱ. A wholesome pure product. Their chocolate mint Spirulina and best of greens drinks will provide the nourishment we need without chemicals or added calories. The fasting support in these products is outstanding.

Other companies that specialize in in these natural organic foods are Orgainⁱⁱ and Garden of Lifeⁱⁱⁱ.

Fasting

Whenever I let people know I fast then the advice is often given. “That is so bad for you”, as though skipping a few meals is going to leave me malnourished and sickly. I remember when I was a boy running and playing. Seldom taking time out to eat. I was too busy. My own kids would have eating days and non-eating days. We would joke about the way they skipped meals.

Those were mine and my kids healthiest days. We were lean and mean. My oldest son still is very healthy. He fasts regularly to meet weight for a weight lifting competition.

Almost all major religions have some sort of fasting rituals. Designed to cleanse the body. Bring you closer to God through prayer. When I fast I feel energized and closer to God as I pray. Fasting is not just spiritual. Fasting is physical. My head clears as my blood sugar drops. My energy increases.

When I fast sometimes I just skip one meal. Other times I fast for 24 hours. Still other fasts are 3 days in length. I have never gone beyond a 3-day fast. I will try a longer fast at some point if the need arises.

Other fasts are just from certain foods like carbohydrates or alcohol. Fasting is a healthy choice for many reasons. Type 2 diabetes being one of them. It uses up the stored fat in our organs.

Exercise

I hope you realize by now we need to use up the stored fat in our organs. With exercise this can be done to whatever level is tolerable for you. Gentle long walks and bike rides are good for exercise. As is Thai Chi.

The extra calories we burn in exercise will use up stored fat. To whatever extent we can exercise without eating anything for energy. I find energy bars to be unnecessary and even counter productive. They are concentrated sugar. 

My liver has no problem producing the energy my body needs. For a 30-mile bike ride, a 2 to 4 mile hike with my dogs or an hour of Thai Chi. All without eating anything for energy. Sometimes all in a single day.

When you fast, make certain you are drinking plenty of water especially if exercising. Because as you shed stored fat your body will also drop water with that fat. This will be in addition to the water lost through perspiration while exerting yourself.

Stress and Adrenaline

Stress plays a major role in type 2 diabetes. When we are stressed and we perceives a threat of some kind the body releases a little adrenaline. This in turn stimulates the production of glucagon which stimulates the liver to kick in blood sugar for energy. We then have the energy required to run or fight our way out of a jam. In the end, blood sugar rises and so do insulin levels.

We put ourselves under great stress in this culture with work, school, and families. Always trying to get ahead by completing that big assignment. Pay something off. Save for something new. Get that next promotion or raise. All while living mostly sedentary lives in an office chair or on the couch reading or watching television. Never burning up the sugar that is produced from the stress.

A chemical released from our pancreas gamma-Aminobutyric acid or simply GABA plays an important role in our recovery from type 2 diabetes. As type 2 diabetics GABA may be deficient in our systems. If the beta cells are inundated with fat and not producing enough insulin they may also not be producing enough GABA. GABA can be supplemented in large doses 500 to 1000 mg a day to help calm our adrenal system. Taken at night it can help slow our minds, calm our nerves and improve our sleep. I find Pharma GABA to be the most effective. Pharma GABA is also the most expensive. You don’t need as much where just 100 mg will work effectively. Another way to enhance the GABA in our systems is to drink teas. Green, Pu-er h, and KAVA teas have what is necessary for the body and brain to produce and use GABA naturally.

Thai Chi has been a great help to me in stress reduction. The meditative exercises are relaxing and spiritual. At White Willow Wellness Center where I study I am encouraged to add my relationship with God into this practice. My favorite recording to listen to while practicing Thai Chi meditation exercises is a recording called the Receive Experience. I got this recording from Crossroads Churchⁱ. In this recording God’s many promises are laid out in poetic fashion. At the end of these practice sessions, I am relaxed and have a sense of security that God is going to take care of me. The anxiety I may have felt previously is gone.

Checking Blood Sugar Levels

It is important to check our blood sugar. I hope you already do if you are on insulin. The A1c will give you an average over the past 3 months. This can be misleading not showing the range of highs and lows. I have found for myself the most important time to check is when fasting. In general this number will tell me how much fat is stored in my liver and pancreas. If my blood sugar is climbing then so is my insulin and the fat in my organs.

There is one caveat. Alpha cells in our pancreas can be freed up also when the fat is cleared out causing a temporary rise in your blood sugar. This will level out as the fat in our organs is used up. I shoot for keeping a fasting level at or below 120. I know that people with normal blood sugars are much lower but I am not normal.

An endocrinologist at White Willow Wellness Center explains it that a type 2 diabetics metabolism would fare very well in times of famine. His or her body storing up and then using up the energy needed for survival. I have just the opposite problem in that food for me is always readily available and plentiful. I need an external way then to keep from eating too much. That way is by checking my fasting blood sugar and if it’s climbing then push the plate aside until my blood sugar gets back in line.

This may take an initial extended period of time to reverse the process of type 2 diabetes within you. New Castle University claims 8 weeks on their 800 calorie diet is long enough to reverse most with some taking less. The lowest as little as 11 days.

Books

There are a lot of good diet books out there that talk about carbohydrates verses proteins, fats, counting carbohydrates and reading food labels. Start reading and take the advice. To put the information into practice keep in mind one simple fact. My insulin stores fat in my organs and this is why I have type 2 diabetes. You need to discourage insulin production.

Some simple internet searches will yield a very long list of books. Search on things like low carbohydrate diet. Newcastle University also has some dietary information you can follow.

I’ve decided to redo the new castle university 8 week (though it wont take that long this time) 800 calorie a day diet and blog it on my website. I’m on week 1 and my numbers are listed in the log. I’ll keep going till those drop into normal. I’m not nearly as strict as 800. I need to not go to far this time and to stick this out long enough to reverse things totally again and document it. So far so good. No depression or low blood sugars. I’ll adjust downward if needed. Just trying to avoid the depression and mental fuzz that I had the first time.
Two of the new key elements this time. I’m already off metformin (have been for a couple years) so it’s effects with vitamin B depletion are not involved plus it is not there to force any low blood sugars if my system is working correctly. Also, I’m drinking a greens drink every day for the vitamins as low calorie and fasting support. Their study used something called optifast a key point I ignored last time because of all the sugar in it and I was unable to find a suitable replacement without carbs, a ton of protein or sugar. This time the greens drink will fill in for that providing all the vitamins and minerals I need without the sugar.

My 8 week diet log: Started 5/2/17
Week one:
Day one:
B: Greens drink ,1 Hardboiled egg.
L: Greens Salad w/ Veggies, Hard boild egg, olive oil vineger dressing, walnuts
D: Sandwich w/ turkey, cheese, greens, tomatoes, lift beer
A: Tai chi, walk dogs
F: Fine.
Day two:
B: Greens drink ,1 Hardboiled egg.
L: Greens Salad w/ Veggies, Hard boild egg, salmon, olive oil vineger dressing, walnuts
D: Sandwich w/ turkey, cheese, greens, tomatoes, carrots
A: Tai chi, walk dogs
F: Lite headed
BSL:118 morning 140
Day three:
B: Greens drink ,1 Hardboiled egg.
L: Sandwich w/ salmon, cheese, greens, tomatoes, egg, on 1/2 flatout, carrots, radishes
D: Cheese burger w/ greens, tomato, 1/2 flatout, couple fries, steamed veggies
A: Tai chi, walk dogs
F: Tired
BSL: 119 morning 140
Day four:
B: Greens drink ,1 Hard boiled egg.
L: Sandwich w/ turkey, cheese, tomatoes, egg, on 1/2 flat out
S: Cheese stick, walnuts (hand full)
D: 1 chicken thigh, 1 zuchini
BSL: 114, morning 140
A: Tai chi (3 hours), walk dogs
F: lite headed during and after tai chi. cleared with sandwich, Fussy headed 3 (159). anxious 7 (114)
Day Five:
B: Kava Tea, Greens drink w/ Spirulina, 1 hard boiled egg
L: Greens salad, chicken, egg, cheese, Onion, radishes, carrots, tomato, walnuts, oil vinegar, Kava Tea, Puerh Tea
D:
S:
BSL: ? ,morning 140
A: Tai chi, walk dogs
F: little fuzzy after tai chi (131)
Day Six:
B:
L:
D:
S:
BSL:
A: Tai chi, walk dogs
F:
Day Seven:
B:
L:
D:
S:
BSL:
A: Tai chi, walk dogs
F: