GOQii

Blog

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

July 27, 2022 By Dr Akshat Chadha 1 Comment

Busting Myths Related To Diabetes Reversal

diabetes reversalYou may have often come across the term ‘Diabetes Reversal’. But can the condition actually be ‘reversed’? “The word ‘reversal’ is a misnomer, as the dictionary defines it as a change in an opposite direction, position, or course of action or back to a former state. Of late, this seems to be used very loosely next to diabetes, and that’s not an accurate way to look at it.

Why is it not accurate? That is because ‘diabetes reversal’ would mean that the medicines are stopped, and the person no longer suffers from the disease. But, this scenario is seldom seen in practice for many patients. Yes, few patients — like the ones with prediabetes are able to ‘reverse’ their conditions for a longer period of time (if they are able to maintain a good lifestyle) but those with chronic, long-standing diabetes, find it difficult to even sustain the reduced medications.

The word ‘reversal’ may actually only mean better control and management to begin with, then slowly tapering off medicines, to finally try and take them off with further work aimed at a situation where you do not go back to medications. If a patient can sustain this state of no medicines with the blood reports staying within the normal limits for five years, then probably we can say that diabetes (type 2) has been reversed.

Common Myths Surrounding Diabetes Reversal 

Myth #1: Type 2 diabetes reversal is easy and can be achieved in 6-8 weeks by joining a program.

Fact: This one is actually a pretty funny and dangerous myth. I would think it’s impossible to believe something like this. But, people do believe it as they tend to get desperate to get rid of the condition and hence, go to any extent where they see a ray of hope, which makes it dangerous. Fad diets or even strict diets can show the blood reports getting better along with a reduction in weight (4-5 kgs every month). But, this drastic change can cause other issues later in life including chronic deficiencies.

While on the program, the patients are also taken off the medicines (since the blood reports look better) but once the program ends, and those who aren’t able to sustain the changes, the sugar starts to increase and this time with a vengeance. Some even end up rushing back to their original doctors who understandably get upset as they fear the damage caused and invariably have to increase medication. Thus, the patient suffers the most at multiple levels and what starts as a ray of hope for the patient ends up being a ray of destruction.

Myth #2: Cut out carbs, fruits and sugar and you will reverse type 2 diabetes

no sugar diabetes reversal

Fact: The patient will definitely get the numbers down initially, at least on paper. But, apart from the nutritional benefits that they will miss out on, it’s very unlikely that diabetes reversal will be achieved.

I want to help you all understand that the major source of the problem such as inflammation or insulin resistance is the refined carbohydrates and sugar that are present in cakes, pastries, sodas and even packaged foods. Grains and fruits can increase the sugars but it varies from person to person. If they are balanced with fiber, proteins and fats, then you will be surprised to know how well the sugars are regulated. We have a tendency of eating 5-6 chapatis or a big portion of rice with just a touch of vegetables (sometimes the quantity is even lesser than pickle) and sometimes no dals or beans or even curd. So, instead of going extreme and cutting down everything (which again becomes difficult to sustain), look at including a balanced meal as you will not only have better blood sugar but also improve your overall health.

Myth #3: Do fasting and you will reverse diabetes

Fact: This one is really doing the rounds. This might not be a myth but rather an exaggeration. It makes sense to fast as you will end up consuming lesser food (>12hrs – you mostly will end up missing one major meal). Initially, one will witness weight loss and the gut along with the pancreas will get some relaxation during the fasting period. Fasting is an age-old practice and does have benefits if done the ‘right way’. It’s however important to know what’s the right way to fast.

The answer to this question is that it varies from diabetic to diabetic and also depends on the co-morbid conditions, current medications, insulin and how much the blood sugar fluctuates. Of course, eating 2kg of fruits or eating “anything and everything” during the eating window isn’t going to work, so such behaviour is not encouraged. Also, if you are continuously fasting for weeks or months together, then be careful about muscle health, gut health and even your metabolism as all of these can take a slight dip. Fasting when used as one of the tools for better diabetes management under the right guidance should help in the overall improvement of the patient’s health.

Myth #4: I will not be able to reduce medicines or get off them because I have a family history of diabetes.

family history diabetes reversalFact: Family history, especially if both parents have diabetes, does play a big role in making a person predisposed to diabetes. But it’s not the only factor that triggers diabetes. It’s, in fact, your lifestyle, your daily habits repeated over a period of time that finally leads you to diabetes. So, in the same way, you might have to be more particular and take better care of yourself. If done consistently, one can hope to see the medicines reduced, in spite of the family history.

Of course, prevention or postponement is better than reversal so if people can start following a healthier sustainable lifestyle then they can keep diabetes away for a longer time or even if they get it, they can manage it with minimum medicines. Better control can also help to reduce chances of the complications.

Myth #5: If I start medicines or insulin, I will never be able to reverse the diabetes

Fact: I feel this is one myth that should be broken as soon as possible. Many times starting medication or insulin earlier can actually help you conserve the beta-cell function (cells in the pancreas that produce insulin), further increasing your chances of getting off the medicine sooner provided you have made the lifestyle changes simultaneously. If the patient refuses to make basic changes like eating better, getting regular exercise, sleeping and managing stress better, then the medicine will also not get the desired support and that can further lead to an increase in the medicines.

So it’s time the diabetics reset their mindset. Stop doubting every doctor or medicine and take responsibility for your health by making the right changes so that diabetes reversal can become an easier reality in the coming years.

Myth #6: Type 1 diabetes can be reversed

Fact: Simply put, not yet. If anyone at this point is claiming or promising reversal of Type 1 diabetes, then that’s far from the truth. There’s a lot of work and research going on in this field but nothing conclusive has been shown. I do feel and hope that it’s a matter of time and in this interim, we all need to build up our patience and instead work on the information that we have and at least better manage type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t stop a patient from doing anything or living a good life, so if you have that worry or fear, it’s a good time to start changing it.

To summarize, diabetes reversal (the real one as I have mentioned above) is possible if the question on reversal is generic. But, we now need to ask the question differently – can I reverse my diabetes? If not then can I live healthy, fearlessly with diabetes – and the answer will always be a big yes!

We hope this article helps you! For more on Diabetes, check out Healthy Reads.

For further guidance and motivation by certified experts, join the GOQii Diabetes Care program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

#BeTheForce 

February 1, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

This GOQii Player Made the Impossible, Possible!

Avinash-user

“If there is a will, there is a way”, GOQii player Avinash is a living example of this quote. This is the story of how the impossible was made possible with nothing but sheer determination to succeed.

Avinash led a normal life post-retirement. He starts his day at around 6 am in the morning, has his cup of tea and goes for a morning walk without fail. After his breakfast and lunch, Avinash takes a nap for around 2-3 hours, has dinner and goes to sleep. Things started getting difficult after Avinash was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes. His sugar levels were hovering around 160-175. Even though Avinash tried allopathy for a while, he wasn’t satisfied with the results and this forced him to consider other options. He decided to take a more holistic approach to his condition and considers it one of the best decisions of his life.

Avinash first came across GOQii through texts and email from a programme called Active Axis by Axis bank, which promoted health and fitness. He immediately liked what GOQii had to offer and joined the community. When we asked him about the changes that GOQii brought into his life, this is what he had to say:

“Already experimenting with Allopathy and Ayurveda, I was really disappointed with the results. I wasn’t really sure about GOQii in the beginning but today I’ve successfully reversed my diabetes and I’m no more a diabetic. The changes in my life were very basic but they made a drastic impact on my health and fitness. From my eating habits to the number of hours I slept, everything was closely monitored to bring out the best in me. The guidance and motivation provided by my coach is a big contributing factor to my achievement. I used to write a daily diary of physical activities, food intake and other activities, which I uploaded daily on the app. Based on the information, my coach guided and instructed me toward better fitness. I was determined to succeed and stuck to my goals with dedication. Due to this, I received a lot of appreciation from the coach regularly, which in fact was quite encouraging for me.

As far as food intake and nutrition was concerned, I increased the number of proteins, fruits, vegetables, salads and reduced the quantity of wheat and rice in my daily diet. The quantity of these items was decided in such a way that I should not consume more than 1000 to 1200 calories in a day. I started consuming dry fruits like almonds, walnuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and also started drinking Amla Juice every day in the morning. I detox my body regularly by drinking spinach, apple, mint and lemon juice twice or at least once a week. Spicy foods and junk are totally out of my diet and the results are marvellous.

My water intake has increased from 1 to 1.5 litres to 2 to 2.5 liters a day. I walk for two to two and a half hours twice, every day. I have been achieving my daily target of 10,000 steps a day and 70,000 steps a week consistently since I joined GOQii. On many occasions, I have exceeded 100,000 steps in a week as well. I have been monitoring this with the help of a tracker provided by GOQii. Yoga and Art of Living programs have also become a healthy part of my life.

Today, my sugar levels are back to normal and I’m very proud of what I have achieved, equally thankful to GOQii for helping me reach my goals.”

What did Coach Trisha have to say about her player Avinash?

“Since the time I started coaching Avinashji, I was sure that diabetes reversal with him was absolutely possible! He has always been extremely cooperative, irrespective of what the circumstances were.  He is a live example of how important it is to take care of yourself even while traveling. Even after reversing his diabetes, he has never gotten off plan! Kudos Avinashji!”

 

This is an excellent example of how you can turn your life around. If you feel like you are not at your best health, may this story encourage you to work towards fitness! It always seems impossible until it’s done.

November 14, 2016 By Dr Ashwin Nanda 2 Comments

DECODING DIABETES

Diabetes-Day

Last month, I had 2 patients on the same day diagnosed with Diabetes- one an overweight 34 year old IT professional and the other a 6-year-old girl. The reason, why this incident comes to my mind today is because they were both diabetics but, had different diabetes and even their course of treatments was different.

But, the first question I was asked in both the cases was whether they will need to be put on insulin injections immediately. Well, this is a common question asked by patients. To understand this condition better, let me try and explain a bit about the different types of diabetes on the basis of which the required treatment is normally recommended.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin or both. Common symptoms of either diabetes are unexplained weight loss, excess hunger, and excess thirst and delayed wound healing.

Today, I would like to take you through specifically 3 major types of diabetes namely, Type 1, Type 2 and gestational Diabetes.

Let’s talk about

Type 1 Diabetes: is caused by a loss or malfunction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. Damage to beta cells results in absence or insufficient production of insulin. Most cases of Type 1 Diabetes have an autoimmune basis in which immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own beta cells. These cases are detected either in childhood or teenage years. There are many theories about what causes type 1 diabetes like autoimmune disease, viral infection, genetic predisposition and environmental factors may also play a role.

Whatever be the cause, this missing insulin has to be replaced as insulin is necessary to sustain life. It is responsible for entry of glucose into the body cells from where the glucose is further utilized for energy and other activities. This glucose which is not entering the cells is circulating in the blood which gets detected as high blood sugar. The replacement insulin is administered by injection using a syringe or an insulin pump. Thanks to the invention of Insulin clubbed with a healthy lifestyle, a Type 1 diabetic is able to lead a happy good quality life.

Coming to Type 2 diabetes most often than not your tissues will be resistant to insulin, so the insulin is being produced but unfortunately not being utilized properly. It is the most common form of diabetes worldwide and accounts for 90-95% of the cases.

Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes means the signal insulin gives to a cell is weakened. This results in less glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells and a reduction in insulin mediated activities inside cells.

Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include an Unhealthy Lifestyle (being physically inactive or less active, erratic food and sleep habits, stress), being overweight or obese and importantly family history of diabetes in close relatives.

Diabetes-Risk

We have ample medicine combinations for type 2 diabetes like tablets which keep the blood sugar under control. But if sufficient sugar control is not achieved in spite of oral medications and a healthy lifestyle, then insulin might be required for further management.

Another type of Diabetes I would like to talk about is Gestational diabetes which basically refers to diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormones can interfere with the way insulin works in the mother’s body which can lead to elevated blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Women are typically screened for gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, however, women who have risk factors may be screened earlier.

Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, or over 28 years old. Blood glucose control during pregnancy is critical as elevated maternal glucose levels can lead to pregnancy complications and pose risks to the health of the baby. Gestational diabetes is likely to recur during subsequent pregnancies.

Gestational diabetes requires specialized treatment for the rest of the pregnancy. After the pregnancy is over, most women will have normal blood sugars again; however, up to 20-50 % can develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Regular screening is recommended.

A study conducted on people at risk of type 2 diabetes, it was seen that those who lost just 7% of their weight and exercised about 30 minutes a day cut their risk of diabetes by nearly 60%. In a nutshell, irrespective of the type of diabetes the best prevention or diabetes management strategy is to eat healthy, stay active and keep a check on your weight.

Reference: University of California, San Francisco – Diabetes online Education website.

Search

Recent Posts

  • Healthy Evening Snacks
  • Cue to happiness
  • Sleep Your Way to More Muscles
  • Prioritizing Health: Kuntal Goswami’s Post-Pandemic Pursuit of Wellness
  • How To Prevent Heart Disease At Any Age

Stay Updated

Archives

  • October 2023 (3)
  • September 2023 (30)
  • August 2023 (31)
  • July 2023 (31)
  • June 2023 (30)
  • May 2023 (31)
  • April 2023 (30)
  • March 2023 (31)
  • February 2023 (29)
  • January 2023 (31)
  • December 2022 (30)
  • November 2022 (29)
  • October 2022 (31)
  • September 2022 (26)
  • August 2022 (20)
  • July 2022 (23)
  • June 2022 (20)
  • May 2022 (17)
  • April 2022 (16)
  • March 2022 (12)
  • February 2022 (18)
  • January 2022 (18)
  • December 2021 (14)
  • November 2021 (6)
  • October 2021 (10)
  • September 2021 (7)
  • August 2021 (13)
  • July 2021 (13)
  • June 2021 (16)
  • May 2021 (16)
  • April 2021 (14)
  • March 2021 (13)
  • February 2021 (8)
  • January 2021 (7)
  • December 2020 (8)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (12)
  • September 2020 (8)
  • August 2020 (5)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (12)
  • April 2020 (13)
  • March 2020 (12)
  • February 2020 (5)
  • January 2020 (5)
  • December 2019 (7)
  • November 2019 (9)
  • October 2019 (8)
  • September 2019 (6)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (10)
  • June 2019 (13)
  • May 2019 (7)
  • April 2019 (11)
  • March 2019 (11)
  • February 2019 (12)
  • January 2019 (15)
  • December 2018 (12)
  • November 2018 (7)
  • October 2018 (10)
  • September 2018 (11)
  • August 2018 (21)
  • July 2018 (13)
  • June 2018 (21)
  • May 2018 (14)
  • April 2018 (22)
  • March 2018 (17)
  • February 2018 (13)
  • January 2018 (18)
  • December 2017 (13)
  • November 2017 (24)
  • October 2017 (21)
  • September 2017 (20)
  • August 2017 (7)
  • July 2017 (11)
  • June 2017 (12)
  • May 2017 (14)
  • April 2017 (9)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (7)
  • January 2017 (11)
  • December 2016 (10)
  • November 2016 (8)
  • October 2016 (9)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (12)
  • July 2016 (10)
  • June 2016 (10)
  • May 2016 (12)
  • April 2016 (17)
  • March 2016 (18)
  • February 2016 (8)
  • January 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (4)
  • November 2015 (9)
  • October 2015 (8)
  • September 2015 (10)
  • August 2015 (13)
  • July 2015 (10)
  • June 2015 (12)
  • May 2015 (9)
  • April 2015 (13)
  • March 2015 (9)
  • February 2015 (6)
  • January 2015 (12)
  • December 2014 (14)
  • November 2014 (11)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (13)
  • August 2014 (14)
  • July 2014 (7)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (8)
  • April 2014 (5)
Kuntal Goswami - GOQii Health Stories

Prioritizing Health: Kuntal Goswami’s Post-Pandemic Pursuit of Wellness

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call for individuals to recognize the significance of their health and well-being. It prompted people to adopt healthier lifestyles, prioritize self-care, and be proactive in taking preventive measures to protect … [Read More...]

Ram Sharma - GOQii Diabetes Care

Reducing HbA1c from 7.2 to 6.1 | Ram Sharma Health Story

There’s nothing sweet about diabetes and we’re all well aware about that. Factors such as a poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise, improper sleeping patterns, stress and advancing age can cause diabetes. While it might seem overwhelming, diabetes is not an insurmountable affair. With proper self-care, guidance and a few lifestyle modifications, you can manage […]

Ashima Dalela

Ashima Dalela Beats Gut Health Issues and Anxiety With GOQii

You might have heard the saying, “Almost all diseases begin in the gut.” If gut health issues are left unchecked, it can get worse and affect your mental health too. Our Player Ashima Dalela suffered from gut health issues which led to severe anxiety and she visited around 15 doctors who were unable to identify […]

Nitya Kishore Upadhyay

How Nitya Kishore Upadhyay Lost 12kg In 6 Months With GOQii

Are morning walks by themselves a miracle cure for health issues? Can they help manage and lower cholesterol levels or help you lose weight? Managing lifestyle diseases requires a combination of lifestyle changes, and there’s no room for guesswork. This is what our player, Nitya Kishore Upadhyay, figured out when he joined GOQii. Let’s take […]

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

Copyright ©2016 GOQii