A Type II Diabetes Journey: The Chicken or the Egg?

My diabetic education specialist says that people don’t get diabetes because they’re fat; they get fat because they’re diabetic. This would be a lot easier to swallow if it wasn’t coming from someone who weighs 350 lbs. Is the diabetes due to the fat or is the fat due to the diabetes? Yes, to both questions. That may seem a contradiction, but the truth is that each contributes to the other. I’m fat because I’m diabetic, and I’m diabetic because I’m fat. Not all fat people will get diabetes. Genetics definitely plays a role. I’m going to go out on … Continue reading

CLA: Burns Fat, Increases Lean Muscle, Helps Maintain Weight

Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA, is a naturally occurring fatty acid which can be found in meat and dairy products. It is also sold as a dietary supplement. Three health benefits of CLA are reduction of body fat, increased lean muscle, and weight loss maintenance. A study of CLA was conducted by Jean-Michel Gaullier, PhD and his colleagues at Scandinavian Clinical Research Group in Norway. Participants were divided into three groups. Two were given either a pill or CLA syrup and the third was given an olive oil filled capsule. In twelve months, the pill group lost 9% of body … Continue reading

A Type II Diabetes Journey: Been There, Done That, Can’t Fit into the T-Shirt

I’ve been overweight for about a dozen years. Like most people, I’ve tried just about everything. Some diets have been successful in the short run; others have been complete disasters. Does anyone remember the Pasta Diet? I gained six pounds in two weeks with that. I tried the meal replacement shakes. Ended up so sick the doc wanted to put me in the hospital. I just couldn’t stick with Atkins, and the pounds I did lose came right back on. The only diet that ever really worked was the Healthy Liver Diet, and my family refused to stay on it. … Continue reading

A Type II Diabetes Journey: Introduction

My name is Julie Gentry. I’m 44 years old and I’ve known I was diabetic for almost five years now. I say “known” because, looking back, it’s likely that my problems started a little further back than that. When I first got the diagnosis of Type II Diabetes, I was surprised. Wasn’t that something older people with poor nutrition or morbidly obese people got? I wasn’t even forty, grew up eating healthy food, and played sports in college. Sure there were some extra pounds around my middle, but that was pretty common in women with children, wasn’t it? It’s taken … Continue reading