Those of you who have been following these conversations over the past several months have noticed that many people with diabetes and pre-diabetes are experiencing marked reductions in waist size and, with it, reductions in blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, the value that reflects blood sugar fluctuations over the preceding 2-3 months.
In other words, people are becoming less diabetic and pre-diabetic, many to the point of being non-diabetic and non-pre-diabetic!
Patty posted this comment about her escape from diabetes to non-diabetes:
I was diagnosed as prediabetic 4 years ago.
I was put on glucophage and sent to a nutritionist. I subsequently followed the diabetic diet. My weight increased as did my waistline and, lo and behold, I was advised that I was diabetic and the glucophage was increased.
Back in November, my HbA1C was 8.7%. I began decreasing the carbs in my diet and by February my HbA1C was 7.0%.
[Note: HbA1c of 5.7% or greater is in the pre-diabetic range; 6.5% or greater diabetic. Ideal HbA1c, I would argue, is 5.0%, though 5.3% essentially erases all the long-term adverse consequences of high blood sugar and glycation.]
I then found your Wheat Belly diet book. The bagel pics intrigued me since I have always had problems “digesting” bagels. I have been following your Wheat Belly diet since March. I just got my bloodwork back and my HbA1C is now 5.7%. I have lost 7.75 inches off my waistline (my pants went from size 12 tightly to size 4).
I am thrilled and convinced this Wheat Free Adventure is a permanent way of life for me. I can’t thank you enough for your insight and willingness to expose all the falsehoods we are being taught in diabetes classes at the hands of the diabetic drug makers.
A drop in HbA1c from 8.7% to 5.7% is HUGE. And nearly 8 inches in waist size?! Given the magnitude of drop, Patty is likely to watch this value plummet even farther just by staying the course, as HbA1c tends to move slowly, given its “moving average” nature. The reversal of insulin resistance and diabetes is compounded by the dramatic reduction in visceral fat and the elimination of inflammation-provoking gliadin and wheat germ agglutinin. The longer she does it, the better it gets.
Patty learned on her own that 1) the American Diabetes Association diet sustains or worsens diabetes, and 2) increases the need for medication. It is not uncommon, by the way, with complex diabetic regimens, to require $1000+ per month in medications to control blood sugar adhering to a diet that provides a continual flow of blood sugar- and inflammation-causing foods like wheat. I regard the advice to eat plenty of carbohydrates and lots of “healthy whole grains” in diabetics as among the biggest and most inexcusable nutritional crimes of the century.
Patty discovered that, in the world of modern high-yield, semi-dwarf wheat, 2 + 2 = 11. In other words, just removing the carbohydrate burden of “healthy whole grains” doesn’t seem to account for the full magnitude of health benefits experienced: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Lose the wheat, lose the diabetes. And, to further stack the odds in your favor, lose the carbohydrates.
Please do not give TRUE diabetics false hope, be a responsible MD and clarify that you can reverse type 2 diabetes by eating healthier. Cutting wheat out of your diet will not make a pancreas function again. You should be ashamed of yourself. Do no harm.
Rich – You use the same key words as my recently-fired Physician. Yes, I fired him.
“TRUE diabetic”; type 2 diabetes cannot be reversed. What you left out is that ‘a type 2 diabetic will be on “diabetic medications for the rest of their life”.
Are you a rep for the Pharmaceutical industry? Who else would close with the “Do no harm” pontification, while so many of us are beating back type 2 diabetes through a wheat-free diet.
As for stating that a “shot” pancreas will not function again, how can we be certain? We used to believe that the adult brain could not generate new cells – now we know the adult brain does generate new cells. Try reading “The Biology of Belief” to gain an insight into ways our bodies may recover.
Then again, … you may be a rep for the Agri-industry. Which may it be?
I’ve been following a diet called the Diabetes Miracle by Diane Cress. It’s basically a low carb diet, and has worked well for me – when I adhere to it. my A1C’s have dropped from over to to 6.1. Am wondering if anyone is familiar with this plan and how it compares with this one?
Could someone please explain to me how I am supposed to see the reply to my comment? I have not received an email or anything to say there was a response and I can’t find the comment now. I don’t even know where to look other than search the blog with the word ‘diabetic.’ Nothing comes up that I have written. I have also signed up for the recipes to come to my email and I have only received 1 in 2 months. This is very frustrating and if I actually get an answer to THIS question, I don’t know that I will ever see it. Help me out here. My email is jl.street@hotmail.com… thanks.
Update: Sept. 26, 2012
Thank you for your reply Dr. Davis. Confession time: On the 24th we “fell-off-the-wagon” and had homemade waffles for dinner. The next day (25th) we had the left over waffles for breakfast. All day our son’s glucose was high, even with corrections. Today, we have not had any wheat and the only high blood glucose was after lunch (his ratio may need adjusting). How many days does it take to get one’s equilibrium back? He is also coughing quite a bit today, as well.
Also, what is your opinion regarding sprouted brown rice flour? We can’t afford almond flour and I’ve found a source that sells all sorts of sprouted flour products, such as buckwheat, millet, lentils, etc.
Again, thank you so much for your insight and information!
Check internet sources for almond flour.
They are usually 1/2 if not 1/3 of retail store prices.
Learn the difference between blanched and unblanched.
It takes around 24 hours just for the blood sugars to return to something close to normal. The inflammatory phenomena, such as your son’s coughing/airway inflammation, can require several days.
All that stuff is not so good. Not as bad as wheat, but not good, either. You might say that grains are a calorie source, but a compromise in health no matter what form they take. The less, the better.
Hi Dr. Davis,
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 37. I have always been a “carboholic” and growing up suffered from lots of stomach issues. After reading your book, I’m convinced that I was always wheat intolerant and my diet just eventually got the best of my health. (I have a son who is very allergic to wheat and another son with ADHD so my household was in desperate need of your book/advice.)
I also have other interesting health issues: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Reynaud’s Syndrome, alopecia areata, high blood pressure and slightly elevated cholesterol. I also have only 1 kidney as I donated one to my sister (pre diabetes and the Hashimoto’s was first noted (goiter) during my post-op kidney donation exam. A “day late and a dollar short!” Both of my sisters have kidney failure due to HUS (hemolitic, uremic syndrome). As you can see, ours is a very interesting genetic mess!
So, now that you have some background, I’m curious how this new lifestyle (been following your WB plan for 2 weeks so far) will affect me. After reading your book, I hope to NEVER put wheat in my mouth again. I think of it as poison. However, I don’t have any hopes for disease reversal as I know this is impossible with my issues. I have not yet begun to feel better due to bloating (just started probiotics) nor have I lost any weight. I have noticed, though, that my blood sugars are finally stable! Hooray! I can’t tell you how many doctors I’ve argued with that I was following their plan exactly and still my post meal blood sugars would spike to the 200s. So nice to have that finally under control. It would have been nice to have had this knowledge through both of my pregnancies! I was over 40 for both and followed strict diets that included 40 – 60 grams of complex carbs per meal. You can imagine how frustrating it was every single time I checked my post meal blood sugar! Of course, the obvious always followed – bolus of insulin to bring down the BS. Which always led to a …. you guessed it… low blood sugar which required some fast acting calories (milk usually). Needless to say, I gained 65 lbs with my first. I am still walking around with about 30 of those. I was skinny my whole life until then. Now, 11 years later, at 51yrs old, I have added more lbs to those and am desperate to get healthy.
Sorry this is so long. Any advice would be appreciated more than you could ever know.
Kathy
I predict, Kathy, that no only will you feel better and lose weight, but most, if not ALL, of your conditions (except the type 1 diabetes) will improve or reverse!
Note that, given the adult onset of type 1, you are highly likely to have celiac disease. If your doctors did not point this out, they have done you a grave disservice.
Please update us with your progress because I predict it will be worth a celebration!
Dear Dr. Davis,
I became aware of you thanks to the Weston A. Price Foundation of which I am a member. As you probably know, they gave your book a “thumbs-up”.
Our family has been eating a mainly traditional foods diet for the last 4 years. What caused this change in our diet was our son (3 years old) at the time was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes. We are always looking to improve our diet to help our son be as healthy as possible.
We have been wheat-free for about 10 days. As or family continues this journey, I have a few questions to ask regarding a few of the grains we’ve been eating. First, I have been baking with sprouted wheat flour as opposed to regular wheat flour. What is your opinion regarding sprouted grains and the changes that occurs with sprouting. Does sprouting not affect the Gliadin in the grain? Second, we enjoy our soaked oatmeal porridge during the winter months and you don’t recommend eating oats either. What are the reasons behind this? We eat the porridge with plenty of butter and fresh raw cream.
I understand your reasons for cutting carbs way back for weight-loss. Our son does need very healthy carbohydrates so his insulin has something to work on. (Our son’s insulin intake is about 1/3 less than children his same age thanks to the traditional foods diet). Also, our family is not overweight (hubby could lose about 10 lbs. I’m a size 6 and hubby said no more wight loss for me)!
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions for changing to a wheat-free diet and having enough carbohydrates/calories for a growing 7 year-old. Any information to improve our health is welcome!
Thank You!
Jessica
I’m afraid, Jessica, that sprouted wheat flour is essentially just as poisonous as unsprouted. All the nasty components are virtually unchanged except for a modest reduction in amylopectin A and amylose.
Please note that type 1 diabetes is increasingly appearing to be a disease of wheat consumption in the genetically susceptible. Your son’s likelihood of celiac disease, for instance, is 10-20 fold greater than other kids. It means that wheat may have been at the root of his type 1 diabetes. If this were my son, I would have him follow a strict no-wheat, no-gluten diet.
While we need a lot less carbs than most people think, kids can do okay with some more fruit, some rices and potatoes, and relatively benign non-wheat grains like buckwheat, wild rice, and millet.
Dr. Davis,
We saw you on a program quite some time ago & were amazed. Thanks for the heads up.
Secondly, I am sure you have heard all this before, but after seeing this gentleman’s blog, felt compelled to send you the link for whatever you choose to do with it.
Thanks again,
J&B
Nothing, Jay.
A couple of points that he disagrees with do NOT invalidate the entire set of arguments.
This is the kind of tripe that comes out when something achieves widespread awareness. It’s like saying that, because cigarettes make you breathe deeply, they surely must not be unhealthy. What is incredible is that this is coming from within the gluten-free community, a clear ploy for attention-getting.
Wheatbelly a fascinating read. I’ve been prediabetic for some time and am always looking for ways to reduce blood sugars and sometimes it’s not easy. A year ago I purchased “The 30 Day Diabetes Cure” online by Dr. Stephan Ripich ND, CNP. And you wouldn’t believe what he has to say about grains. Whole Grains Are Diabetes Fighters, Enjoy Whole Grains For Breakfast, The Top 10 Diabetes-Healing Whole Grains (rye, barley, whole wheat, etc.), are some of the headlines in a particular chapter. He goes on to say that whole grains are true diabetes fighters because they’re packed with fiber, which slows digestion and sends a steady flow of glucose to your bloodstream at a rate your metabolism can handle, instead of the peaks and valleys caused by a glucose rush from fast carbs. And this is exactly how you’ll control and eventually reverse Type 2 Diabetes.
I’m sure he meant well, but I guess all I can say after reading Wheatbelly is that perhaps Dr. Davis’ info is just simply more up to date than the info in the 30 Day Diabetes Cure. Is it safe to say that? I would be awfully curious to know what Dr. Ripich would say about Wheatbelly.
Oh, boy, Bruce.
Yes, I’m sure he means well. But way WAY off the mark.
I really wish the ADA would get on board with this way of eating. All the diabetics (T2) that I know have only seen wondrous improvements in both blood sugar and cholesterol when they ditched the wheat.
I personally was diagnosed as insulin resistant 9 years ago, though now I know I actually “had it” since at least 16. Atkins right away took care of all my issues…but after having kids, being laid off, and the stress…I went back to eating nothing but junk. Surprise when I was diagnosed as diabetic with an A1c of 9.1 two years ago. I immediately got on board and ditched the wheat and carbs… within six months I was down to 6.0, and after a year I was sitting happily at 5.3 without any medication needed.
My main frustration is finding a doctor! I’ve been to six in this city already and every time, I have meds pushed on me. Just saw a new one last week and he wants me on Metformin, and a statin (though my cholesterol is normal) because he says ALL diabetics need to be on a statin and he wants my LDL under 70!!! Not to mention he didn’t believe my normal blood pressure (which I assured him has always been normal) and wants me to check that at home and think about medication for that too! I mean, yes, I still have a lot of weight to lose, but I already lost 40lbs and my A1c is normal, cholesterol is normal, BP is normal… but they still just want to push drugs.
I have another appointment in Oct with a more holistic doctor and I’m hoping this one is finally a good fit. I had to wait five months for an appointment, but hopefully the wait is worth it. I’m so tired of being treated like a liar and a ticking time bomb. That’s the second doctor who didn’t believe I could control my blood sugar with diet alone… the first one said the only reason my A1c was normal was because I’d lost weight, not because of my diet….???…how does she think I lost weight??
If you know of any like-minded doctors in Saint Louis – please point me towards them!!
No, sorry, Stephanie, nobody in St. Louis. I know there is an excellent family practice group near St. John’s hospital, but for the life of me I cannot remember any of their names.
It is sad that you essentially cured yourself with diet but have to fight my colleagues to stay off drugs. It is truly an embarrassment.
Stay the course. Know that you, on your own, have done more for your health than any of your doctors.
Ah, that’s shame! I’ll look to see what groups are near St. Johns (Now Mercy). I have an appointment with Webster Family Physicians next.
My biggest issue right now is trying to get my HDL up. High carb/low fat diet, Primal diet (HF/LC), Atkins… it is always stuck at 37. I should add that I was dx hypothyroid when I was ten, and perhaps this has some bearing on it? I’ve been on both Synthroid and Armour, higher and lower doses and it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I eat all the healthy fats, none of the bad ones. I’m at a loss.
I have looked into supplements, but on our budget it just seems impossible. I really want to give Fermented Cod Liver Oil a try. I’m not sure what else will give me that boost in HDL that I need. I do supplement with D3, and occasionally a cal/mag tablet when I get migraines (though I’m considering going to a cal/mag liquid daily).
I was just recently pregnant and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 7 weeks gestation. I then suffered a missed miscarriage, the baby had passed at 12.5 weeks. I had a Dand C last week at 15 weeks gestation as my body did not even begin expelling pregnancy. I still test my blood sugars. I do have glucose intolerance issues that seems to not be going away, so therefore probably was not pregnancy related. I do manage to keep blood sugars in normal range with diet. I have just ordered your book as am now interested in the idea of going wheat free. I am now also curious about your recent comment, how does one accomplish no change in their pre-meal and 1 hour glucose readings. It’s an idea I have thought for myself and sometimes have managed but never heard or read anything that encouraged this until now. Is there a link or reference you could share with more info on this? Thank you so much.
I’m not Dr. Davis, but as long as I don’t eat any starches/grains with my meal, I can achieve no change in my pre and post meal numbers.
For example, I ate a bowl of homemade Thai Red Curry with chicken, zucchini, and broccoli for lunch yesterday and had no change. It was made with a thai curry paste (just herbs and chilis, no additives) and coconut milk.
I haven’t really made this a priority, but have noticed that it is possible by ditching the starches and grains completely. It is a cumulative effect though, at least for me…didn’t happen immediately…but the more steady you keep your blood sugar, the better it gets.
I’m not sure if this question belongs here but it seems relatively on point. Dr. Davis I was wondering what your opinion is of a non-diabetic (not even pre-diabetic – thank goodness) person like me using a glucose meter as a health tool? I’m a quantitative person – when on a low carb plan, I used ketosticks to test for ketones regularly (wouldn’t mind your opinion about benign dietary ketosis also). Some new thinking is pointing people (non-diabetics) to lose the scale and gain the glucose meter as a means for judging health progress. What is your opinion on this?
Yes, I started this idea way back on my Heart Scan Blog.
So, coming from the horse’s mouth: It is a great idea!
BUT: I aim for NO CHANGE comparing pre-meal to 1-hour after-meal blood sugars. That’s when metabolic transformations occur.
It also begins to show you how destructive wheat products can be.
Just wanted to add, for those no losing many lbs, for me, I really had to cut those carbs. I only lost a couple of lbs, but did lose 5 inches off my waist by just cutting out wheat (and other flours). I can lose a couple of lbs/week if I stay under 50g per day, and about 1 lb/day if I stay at 25g (I don’t often do that, however). I can maintain at 75g per day (which is pretty high, so I’m thankful for that). It also depends on the type of carbs. Starchy carbs are a killer for me, fruit, not so much (in moderation). Because I refuse to give up the bountiful fresh fruit of summer (the season doesn’t last long here in Michigan), I’ll accept that I won’t lose anymore until fall/winter. I’ve also noticed that it depends on the time of day I eat carbs. Seems I can lose weight if I have no starchy carbs at dinner, just meat and veggies. I still need to monitor this more and try it for longer periods of time to see if these results are consistent.
So if you are not losing weight, really take a look at your carb count.
When I first started this “wheat-free living” last December, I was really surprised at the added benefits. Had a knee injury that always ached – gone! A little arthritis in my hands – gone! Depression – gone! Bloating – gone! And best of all, hunger? GONE!
Excellent, Cindy! And well said.
Yes, some people, though not all, are incredibly carb-sensitive. I am that way, too, since I believe I must have damaged my pancreatic beta cells when I was younger, eating tons of junk carbs for years and years. Now, any amount of carbohydrates over around 50 grams per day and I start to re-experience the old problems.
So I stay low virtually ever day.
Dr Davis,
I used to work with one of your patients and we have had many discussions about diet since his surgery to correct blocked arteries around his heart. Not being one to just dive into the latest diet trend I heard him out over many days as he explained the effects that wheat and whole grains has on our body’s. Being an indoctrinated student of the food pyramid for many years, it was hard to contemplate life without whole grains. Cuz what else is there to eat right? So I ordered your book and read through it a few times to try to grasp the points of each chapter, in which there are many as I found out. So, eventually the opportunity to try going wheat and whole grain free arose as a little fast period we call “the 40 days of fire” at our church this last February. This was my chance to try it, The object of the fast was to fast from something each day or week or the whole 40 days; so I promised myself that i would go wheat free during the entire forty days but not weigh myself until after it ended. Cuz i had something to prove to myself since finding out how whole grains effects heart disease and hbp which runs strong in our family lineage. Now mind you, the November of the year before (2011) I was diagnosed with mild hyper tension (put on lisinopril HCTZ) and sleep apnea and the beginning stages of artirial schlorosis and acid reflux damage and I was weighed in at over 200…without boring you with a bunch of numbers i’ll just say that all my panel numbers were well outside of the ‘norm’ range. Since I went whole grain free i am now down to 152 and and everything is back to the normal ranges. My hyper tension…gone, sleep apnea…gone, acid reflux…gone after the third day, everything else takes time for your liver and body to clean up. Can’t fix 40 some years of garbaging up your body that quick even though some correct themselves nearly immediately. Funny thing is, that even my numbers when not fasting are still at the normal ranges of fasting which astounds me (i told my doc that i was but i really wasn’t…shame on me, but I wanted to see where my numbers ended up). And whats even better is that I am no longer a slave to hunger, in fact, sometimes I just forget to eat dinner because i’m just not hungry from my breakfast (two hard boiled eggs, two strips of uncured bacon and a cup of jo with real butter) in the morning and now I eat for nutritional value vs the ravenous cravings I used to have. If you haven’t read the book or you know you need to do “something” because everything else hasn’t worked…just try going whole grain free, you have nothing to lose…except a few pounds, that is…haven’t seen my abs since high school and now that i once again can, I ain’t going back…Thanks Dr Davis
That’s wonderful, Dave!
I know how outrageous the entire Wheat Belly message sounds . . . until you hear the entire set of arguments, and then experience the life and health turnarounds yourself. It sounds too good to be true, like something so big and extravagant that it can’t possible be true . . . and so contrary to standard advice!
But, as you experienced, this simple shift in food choices is incredibly powerful!
WOW! You go Patty! I am in the pre-diabetic level. Have been on the program for about 5 weeks. Many inches down and about 11 pounds. I love your story! I was higher in sugar some years back. I dropped weight and brought it down enough to not need the medication. However, I have been stuck at this weight plateau for MANY years and I am quite heavy. This program is not only taking it off, but lowering my blood sugar as well.
Best wishes to all and congrats to Patty for regaining her small size and health!
Mrs. Ratfire
DR Davis,
I popped into an Asian grocery today and saw they have black sesame powder and walnut sesame powder for sale. I think you mentioned sesame seeds as a “flour” but these variations were not mentioned.
For those looking for more “flours” with which to make bread, muffins etc, do check out Asian and other types of groceries from ones you normally use.
They’re often cheaper too, because what is exotic to Western eyes and tummies is simply normal fare to them.
They still have lots of carby goods though, so read the labels, which, I’ve found, do list the ingredients properly.
Are sweet potato glass noodles OK? They are made from sweet potato starch, their sole ingredient (except maybe for a bit of salt).
I don’t have an overriding urge to eat them but they are very pretty in the bowl! :)
Great suggestion!
Too carby on the sweet potato noodles. Great, perhaps, for kids, but not us Big Kids.
Thanks for responding so quickly! :)
Dr. Davis,
I will post my thyroid results as soon as I get them and you can see if I need to do something else. I used to take iodine until you said that those who have Hashimotos shouldn’t take it. Thanks for responding.
Dove
Thank you so much, I must have missed the chapter on carbs ( I loaned out my book !) I went back over my food diary on myfitnesspal.com great way to track your food and exercise . I found I had been eating fruit a lot this summer and though staying below calorie count the carbs have been way too high, My diabetic class said to eat between 45 and 60 carbs per meal ! No wonder I have been frustrated. My thyroid always tests out fine, but I decided to add Kelp because I have been using sea salt and it has no iodine.Think I saw that on Dr Oz , anyway I am encouraged to get on the seriously low carb end of this and see what happens, here I thought I was doing low carb, while eating all that watermelon and peaches etc. I will try to keep 30 as my target number for the day. Again thank you all for the encouragement and info.
If the American Diabetes Association talks, Ruby, run!
I find it inexcusable that the purported advocacy group for diabetes promotes a diet that CAUSES diabetes.
While I’m giving you a hard time about not clearly dileneating the differences between 1A (auto-immune) and other types of lifestyle-related diabetes , I must agree with your criticisms about the ADA. I’ve ignored their dietary recommendations by entire life which is probably why I’m complication-free after 45 year with Type 1A. Another culprit is Weight Watchers!! OMG. Talk about toxic nutritional advice.
Absolutely understandable, Laura. As a T1 since childhood myself it is absolutely maddening to hear people talk with so much confusion. As I read Dr. Davis’s book I have no doubt that this lifestyle change will be beneficial to my and my diabetes but let us not be mistaken…. Type 1As will always be diabetics no matter what we do to change our health.
Oh my!
“Audio: GMO Crops so Toxic & “Tough,” Farmers now need Kevlar Tires to protect their Tractors from “Spears”-like Stalks!”
http://www.dailypaul.com/247599/audio-gmo-crops-so-toxic-tough-farmers-now-need-kevlar-tires-to-protect-their-tractors-from-spears-like-stalks
Had to hold back the tears when reading a story of this magnitude.
Once upon a time, I was moving towards 300lbs–and my waiste was hard and increasing, as never before, and I was pre-diabetic–and had a fatty liver and high blood pressure to boot.
Kicked the Human Rat Poision, that some call Wheat, and my brain and body craving for all things toxic, went–after all most three weeks of severe withdrawl.
My craving for table sugar (a brian-addiction) is a battle that I am winning, as I do not have Wheat toxins in my system, to agitate my brain-cravings! Now, after less than 5 months, I am winning the war, that I have batteld for almost 40 years, for I was 10 years old, when I learned of Sugar Addiction.
Now, as a severly disabled Vet,, my Service Connected Injuries are more manageable, for they are not compounded and exacerbated by Govt. and Expert Ordained, Heart Healthy Whole Wheat Goodness, propagana of the Powers That Be.
I urge any that read this post, by Dr. Davis, of this woman’s account. Do something radical, think for your self, take charge of the body and mind God gave you (or, be evolved monkey crap, if you wish) and GET OFF THE WHEAT! Do not read, but study Wheat Belly, and learn to counter the severly moron-based arguments against Dr. Davis, and back it up with YOUR LIFE–and YOUR HEALTH! Evidensed-Based Physilogy (how the body actually works) is the main ratonale behind Wheat Belly–and how the body actually responds to a man-made FRANKEN WHEAT TOXIN–hard fact.
My story was as dramatic as this one, only thing, I gave up, and was going to die, rather than be a prescribed druggie or mental case. I hated medical doctors and mental doctors with a passion. I did not even like being on the same planet, let alone, being in the same room with them.
Not all health care professionals are dumb as a box or rocks, and not all have medical model crap-for-brains.
Some of my life-long symptoms are gone, so I cannot say, I feel like I did, when I was 10 or 20–
No fatty liver, no pre-diabetes, no high blood pressure, no certain untimely death–NO HUMAN RAT POISION!
Roger, OHIO
I’m another age 60+ who is seeing very slow weight loss.
Cindy T wrote about iodine — could be an important clue.
Thank you, Cindy T, because I did not see the post by Dr. Davis about iodine.
For others who want to read it, here’s the link:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2012/07/an-iodine-primer/
Even before learning about Wheat Belly, I was supplementing with iodine.
I simply add one cup of ordinary tincture of iodine (from the pharmacy) to warm bath water.
Then I soak for 20-30 minutes in the iodine solution.
However, at the time I started Wheat Belly, I also moved to a new location.
With the moving, I haven’t taken time for a soaking bath with iodine; just quick showers.
But this past week, I had two soaking baths with iodine added to the bath water.
Today, my shirt is flapping lose around my waist for the first time in many years.
I wonder if four months of Wheat Belly eating set the stage, and the recent iodine baths triggered the actual fat loss?
Will iodine continue to help with weight loss?
I don’t know, but I’m going to continue doing that.
I’d be interested to hear more about the topic of iodine, as an adjunct to the Wheat Belly program.
—
By the way, it was easier than I expected to buy the Wheat Belly book here in Southeast Asia.
For anyone else in this corner of the world, who wants to buy the book, you can order from Asia Books in Thailand.
They delivered to me in less than two weeks, with no aggravation of clearing customs, and no customs duty either.
— Peter
Bangkok, Thailand
.
Hi, Peter–
Yes, iodine is a truly fascinating, though miserably neglected, issue.
I have several discussions about iodine and thyroid health posted on my Heart Scan Blog.
Thanks for noting that, Dr D! Will check this out!!
My docotr is very nice but also tells me my thyroid is normal. I’m sick of asking for more detailed work and a naturopath helped me with this years ago.
It will be good to get more updated info on this.
I have been on and off of wheat for years thinking that just a little wouldn’t/couldn’t hurt me. But no more. After reading Wheatbelly, I can see all of the ways that it’s been causing the problems that I’ve had. Unfortunately, I have never experienced the weight loss that so many others talk about. I’ve still had that lingering 10 lbs even though I eat a healthy diet and exercise 5 or 6 days/week. I’ve also had a ‘puffiness’ around my neck, throat and chest that I never used to have. Then a few weeks ago, I read Dr. Davis’ blog post about iodine which states that if you’ve tried everything and the weight is not budging to explore your iodine levels and supplementation. (BTW-my thyroid levels have always tested in the ‘normal’ range). I started taking 1-2 capsules of Kelp/day for the last 2 weeks and the difference is nothing short of amazing! The puffiness is starting to subside, the weight is inching southward and my energy levels are almost boundless. I feel 20 years younger! Thank you Dr. Davis….my gratitude to you is immeasurable!!
Sooooooooooooooooo–your thyroid took a wheat-thrasing?
So did mine, as I take a sea-based Iodine–and sea-based supplements, as the sea-based products are easier on our bodys–as the ph (alkalyne to acid ratio) most matches ours.
A quality D, Calcium, Chromium, Magnesium and Zink, at theraputic levels, might be a good thing to look into. An ND., Nutriton or Natural Doctor might be worth the time, agrivation and expense. They are more skilled and trained to guide, in such matters. MD.’s, as a whole, advocate a helth that many never will attain, as most smoke, eat wheat and avoid bodily exercize, like one would avoid the plague.
Our U.S. Soils are mineral defficient, and our foods are not as nutritionally dense, as they were, before the introduction of man-made crap (fertilizers, etc.) at the trun of the Century (1900’s)–to include the introduction of Genetic Modified Franken Toxins (last 50 years), Govt. and Experts calls “food.”
Just as a car can be irridated by the sun, bleached of all its mineral content, in the metals, and tured to rust (auto cancer) our bodies are no different, if our body is robbed of its minerals, turns acid–on the Ph scale–our immune system is in the crapper. Wheat consumption is the mal-absorbtion of any nurtients, for Wheat Toxins bully out all but thier toxins, and our brain and body suffers.
Wheat Free Is Toxin Free!
Roger, OHIO
Great, Cindy!
Yes, when the limiting factor in weight and health is iodine deficiency, supplementation can be miraculous.
The problem is that many people are not iodine deficient. They supplement iodine, experience nothing, then declare that iodine supplementation is worthless. So the key is to consider iodine deficiency in case you are among those are are indeed deficient, in which case the results can be fabulous.
Ruby,
I too am 68 years old and was prediabetic. I have noticed a change in my shape and lost the arthritis quickly, but am having trouble losing more than a few pounds. I thought at first it was my thyroid, but I had it checked recentlly and it checked out okay, so I’m thinking that it’s either my metabolism for which I need to do more exercise or the fact that I ate way too many carbs for years. I don’t plan on ever going back to eating that junk so I will hang in there and hope for the best. I believe it will happen. It might just take us longer because of our age and diabetic/prediabetic disposition.
Dove
Any comments on mine and Ruby’s conversation, Dr. Davis?
Dove
Dove–
Don’t be so quick to declare your thyroid “normal.”
I have encountered many, many people who struggle with weight, cold hands and feet, thinning hair, even depression, all told their thyroid status was normal, yet they respond to some effort to correct thyroid status, often to extravagant degrees.
The key: find someone truly knowledgeable about thyroid, usually a functional medicine practitioner or naturopath.
Thanks Dove, I figure we have about 40 years of wheat poison to combat ! Thought I was doing a good thing making my own bread years ago, same old wheat, what a joke ! I will post my thyroid results also, we may be onto something there.
I have been cutting wheat but put on prednisone for asthma. I’m afraid I’m not experiencing wt loss or appetite control as I would have if just off wheat and no prednisone…anyone ever been on this before and what s/e did you notice, wt gain for sure?
Unfortunately, Devon, the prednisone makes weight loss virtually impossible.
Once you are off the prednisone, then your body will be allowed to enjoy weight loss.
I also hope that elimination of wheat also reduces your need for medication, something we are seeing a lot of.
Thanks Dr Davis for reply, that’s what I figured and I’m hoping too that once I’m off this medication in about a week, I will notice wt drop and also hope very much that asthma gets better!!!
I have been on wheatbelly wagon since Dec of last year, my dog too ! He lost 12 lbs and acts like a puppy, he is 11 yrs old. I lost 6 lbs and not seeing much decrease in A1C either. I love that I no longer have joint inflamation, headaches so frequently and no more acid reflux. But I sure would love better results. I am 68 yrs old, been diabeti for 3 yrs on Janumet and sure would love to get off it. I use the recipes and have done everything I can but still have a big belly( wonder it I have a tumor?) But I will never go back to wheat , too many good things, just curious I am the only one here not seeing fabulous results ??
Are you watching your carbs? I have to stay below 30 grams to get any type of weight loss at all. Also have to watch things like nuts and cheese. I am finding dairy has to be limited. Just keep at it. Sometimes it is slow going but change will come.
please tell me what you eat ! just looked up granny smith apple its 22 carbs ! that shoots the waldorf salad I found on a low carb gluten free site,a typical day would be extremely helpful to me , so far I had 2 eggs scrambled with a bit of onion and pastrami, 5 green olives and 1 babybel cheese, 7 gluten free pretzel stix and and have used up 9 carbs counting non dairy creamer in my coffee. It is 1 pm and I am wondering what to have for lunch.Staying under 30 carbs seems hard , you can only eat so many lettuce leafs.
Are you eating lean proteins, that is fundamental, you have to eat…
First issue after wheat elimination, Ruby, to undo diabetes is to sharply curtail all carbs, e.g., no more than 10 grams “net” carbs per meal.
Second, get your thyroid addressed. An important subset of people respond well to iodine, e.g., 500 mcg per day, while others need to take thyroid hormone, preferably one that includes the T3 hormone, e.g., Armour thyroid. This requires the assistance of someone knowledgeable about thyroid health, certainly not an endocrinologist AKA drug pushers for Big Pharma. Consider a functional medicine doc or naturopath.
Dr D, I’m going to buy some sheets of nori seaweed this week, crush them and mix them with my salt, using this to season my food.
Do you think that would do the trick as far as taking iodine is concerned, given that we’ve never met and you don’t know my requirements? ;)
I think it would be a good start.
I’m not so confident of nori as a source of Iodine, Jill, as its unusually thin nature means the iodine, which is exceptionally volatile, may dissipate into the air within days.
If you want to obtain iodine from seaweed, it means foods like wakame and kombu, thicker varieties less apt to lose their iodine content.
Another problem: Much of the seaweed sources arrive in your store after weeks, even months, after harvest. It means that iodine content is uncertain. I’d love to perform/commission/support a study to document the iodine content of these foods.
Thanks for that Dr D! It looks like going back to kelp will be best.
I’ll do the nori mix anyway as it will widen the area of my food tastes/experimentation/gourmandising.
Perhaps you can talk to some Chinese medicine practitioners about iodine and /or their recommendations/practice for thyroid problems/weight loss interference They do a lot of that kind of thing in Chinese medicine. Their insights might be valuable.
I will get thyroid checked by naturopath who just happens to be near my Dr.’s office. Hope keeping the carbs down will make the difference. I have been checking carbs on everything going into my mouth today. Thank you Dr. Davis for your quick reply.
Ruby, I can’t comment on the tyroid at all, but if you don’tind me saying so, pretzels seem like a waste of good eating time.
here are several alternatives to the endless “lettuce leaf”:
tomato/basil and bocconcini salad – extra yum!
a lamb chop – tasty, lean protein and filling.
Lamb in spinach sauce with a little curry – (a tasty dish I had at an Indian restaurant).
asparagus with cream cheese and pepper.
Pickles! Practically no calories at all!
Cucumber with mustard/lemon juice.
Grated carrots with pickled ginger, lemon.
Check out the menus of the varied types of restaurants on the web.
Many places print their menus – Asian, Israeli, American, Indian, Mexican, Italian etc.
Asian eateries in particular do great things with fresh vegetables and have endless possibilities, greater than just the lettuce leaf option!
Your mouth will be watering by the third menu I reckon! ;)
I
In addition, apart from the allusion to lettuce, you don’t mention vegetables at all. Eating fresh raw vegetables DOES aid weight-loss. Even just fresh vegetables juices really have a great effect on the body.
I have found this to be true in the past, thyroid or no thyroid. Another poster commented on this site ages ago that while she felt better on the WB way, she did not start to lose weight until she began eating vegetables.
Put some raw vegies in your diet – I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Do you also recommend iodine supplementation for those of us who have Hashimotos?
Got to be very careful with Hashimoto’s, Louise.
Nobody should supplement during an active flare. When quiescent, I ask people to supplement starting at very low doses, e.g., 100-200 mcg per day, just a bit more than what you get in food, then build up slowly.
While there is a difference between type 1 & type 2 diabetes, people with type 1 will also benefit from the Wheat Belly Diet. By avoiding wheat and other “healthy whole grains” all diabetics can benefit from more stable blood sugars and the need for less insulin & medications.
I would love to make a suggestion: Could you please add a section where all your readers can add their city & state and share the stores that carry our much needed supplies. We could also connect and help each other if we live near. I would love to find someone in my area that know more about my current health issues. Please let me know what you think of my idea…..JK
Hi, JK–
As I noted on my response to your Facebook comment, let me ponder this.
Allowing readers to add/edit something in a categorical fashion is a bit complex.
Dr Davis, I was on a tech site the other day that recently implemented a discussion board–yep…they went “old schoool.” It looked like it started as the FAQ section for tech help, but they moved popular topics off the blog and continued the discussions on the board . I don’t think this tool would detract from the Wheat Belly Blog, though it would be one additional place for you to monitor…
By the way, I am impressed that you still manage to make time to respond to all our posts on this blog!! It is hugely appreciated!
Okay, I think I understood that, Belinda.
And thanks for noticing!
Clearly, we need additional tools to categorize information and FAQs here.
I am at this blog at least a couple of times a week and so enjoy reading these stories.. Mine is not as dramatic but certainly parallel. Saw a friend last night who has not seen me in over two months and they said… My gawd, you have gotten so skinny… For me that was music to the ears… Glad to hear that the longer you do it… the better it gets… I went through my pantry and gave all my soup that has wheat (which was virtually all of it) to charity… BTW if you are near a Trader Joes their tomato and red pepper soup does not contain wheat…
I received a call from the American Diabetes Association for a donation and/or neighborhood canvassing (which I have done in the past) and I told them that I could no longer support them either financially or as a volunteer until they they change their position on healthy whole grains… This is how change begins and Dr. Davis has ignited a small but powerful force that is growing everytime someone reads “Wheat Belly”
Well done Tom we can only hope that the ADA eventually gets the message and WOW Patty. The good news just keeps rolling in.
Ah, thank you, Tom!
I agree: Your actions will contribute to changing the ways of misguided organizations like the American Diabetes Association, the agency that has (inadvertently?) chosen to worsen the diabetes epidemic.
You’re right Tom, it does get better. Glad it’s worked for you!
I’m still eating lots of sugar things – I suspect my next task should be to check out the probiotics Dr Davis talks about – but at the same time i am doing more things and cooking more vegetables and chicken etc.
Naturally my freezer has chosen to die, which means i can’t freeze things any more but my soups are pretty good! :)
I’m also beginnign to notice which food are good for me, which ones suit my body and which ones actively make me feel terrible.
Lots of work to do yet, and still am not 100% but every improvement makes me more optimistic. :)
As a Type 1 diabetic for 25 years, I’d be grateful if you would make a distinction between Type 1 and Type 2, the first an autoimmune disease, the second a disease of the environment, or lifestyle disease. The general public often is not well-informed on this subject.
While Type 2 (the more common form) diabetes can, indeed, be reversed by diet and exercise, there is as yet no cure for Type 1 diabetes.
> … make a distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 …
You just did :)
Most of the diabetes stories on this site have made that distinction (and the book does as well).
> … there is as yet no cure for Type 1 diabetes.
I suspect we won’t know the real relationship between wheat and Type 1 until we have a statistically valid sample size of parents who were known to be off wheat for years prior to having children.
Yes, indeed, I failed to specify type 2.
But don’t dismiss the type 1 and wheat connection, Katja. A lot of type 1 diabetes is truly a disease of wheat consumption. You will find this discussed in the Wheat Belly book, as well as a blog post here some months back.
I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic 20 years ago, and put on insulin immediately. After a lot of weight gain and increasing amounts of insulin following the ADA recommended level of carbs, I decided to reduce my carbs on an Atkins diet. My insulin needs dropped and I felt better. After reading Wheat Belly, I cut out all wheat and grains Starting last December. I’ve lost 55 lbs, 6 inches off my waist and feel great. I no longer have asthma, arthritis and have gone from 140 units a day of insulin to 8. My Endo has said that each blood test indicates my beta cells are starting to make insulin again, and she has officially changed my diagnosis from Type1 to Type 2. She feels that in another 3 months, I’ll probably not need to take any more insulin, and only need the metformin oral meds.
I come from a long line of bagel lovers and pasta eaters and yes, it was hard at first to change my diet. The results however, were well worth it. Thanks for your work Dr. Davis!
That is great news. I have to admit I’ve never known anyone graduating from Type1 to Type2. Most have died following the dictates of the diabetes organization’s recommendations. Wonderful!
There is no such thing as “graduating” from type 1 to Type 2. He was always Type 2 and mis-diagnosed, which happens too often.
Wow, Marc: It makes me wonder if wheat was somehow causing inflammation or pancreatic damage sufficient to cause a partial or temporary type 1 situation?
This issue has not been adequately and formally explored, but truly needs to be.
Please, please keep us updated on your progress, as this is a fascinating development that we need to hear more about!
Brava Katja!!!!!
I’m off wheat and happy about it — but let’s not confuse the auto-immune type 1 diabetes with other types or misrepresent the facts. Type 1A isn’t caused by diet. Not even in utero and ergo affecting the embryo. Has nothing to do with wheat and cannot be cured by discontinuing wheat.
There is NO CURE. NO-ONE has ever been cured of Type 1A (auto-immune diabetes).
Please get this straight. The JDRF is hoping to create a name change so this confusion stops. Let’s hope they finally get it done — and soon!
Type 1 is related to celiac..http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/ Read this
There are many type 2s taking insulin and calling themselves Type 1, which they aren’t. There are lab tests than have to be done to determine the type of diabetes one has. And it has nothing to do with celiac disease.
Again, Laura, not so quick: Many people who are “borderline” type 1 or the LADA variety are actually variants of celiac disease, but appear to be the obese type 2 on the outside.
In short, wheat generates both type 1 (irreversible) and type 2 (reversible usually) diabetes, and perhaps (likely?) also creates the in between LADA variety—not always, but in a percentage. Given the uncertain understanding of the causality of type 1, the fact that we know that at least some are unquestionably caused by wheat consumption has to at least give us pause.