Rockstar of The Month
– February 2018 –
“In 2001 I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. It wasn’t a surprise to me. After that, I saw doctors and tried to eat fewer carbohydrates. But I have to admit, I sometimes fought the disease with diets, but backslid into my favorite foods in a cycle that slowly did me no good. In 2009, I decided to step away from my career and earn a bachelor’s degree. At the age of 54, I entered Mills College in Oakland, CA. The stress of study and writing college papers hit me as soon as I began attending classes. I reached out to my endocrinologist for insulin since I could not keep my glucose numbers in check. I graduated from college and years later, I was not only insulin-dependent, the use of it was starting to have negative affects on my body. I’d began to use an insulin pump and my body showed signs of rejection. All of the negative indications came slowly. I saw my lab tests and heard my doctors suggestions, which went in one ear and out the other.
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Then a dietitian told me about Enara and encouraged me to go there. I trusted her and made an appointment. I began to take my health a bit more seriously. Yet, I couldn’t seem to make any progress because job changes affected my insurance coverage and I hadn’t quite given up what was sabotaging my efforts. As a diabetic, I had this fear of not eating enough food and a reluctance to commit to the plan. All this kept my weight higher. After a couple of years of seeing the staff at Enara, I learned about the very low carb diet (VLCD). In July of 2017, I decided it was time. I told myself that I had to learn to live in this world and food needed to support my health, not the opposite. So I met with Dr. Bailony and Danielle Traub to begin my commitment to the VLCD plan. After two weeks, I had lost some weight and I started to feel my goals could be met. Dr. Bailony surprised me at that two-week appointment and said, ‘Take off your pump.’ I was happy to do so, but realized my eating had to be disciplined and I didn’t dare cheat. The pump supplies and insulin were a costly part of my treatment and I certainly wanted to cut costs.
Short videos provided by Enara Health also educated me on how insulin worked in the body and not always for good. I viewed them often as reminders. I couldn’t believe more people didn’t know about the ill effects of sugar and insulin. I was interested too in reducing the many medications prescribed by various doctors. Dr. Bailony said we did not know exactly what would happen after my being on insulin for 8 years, but gradually my body responded well to my new eating regimen. My blood glucose readings stabilized immediately and I noticed a reduction of inflammation. I remained committed as one milestone passed another. Close monitoring using Enara’s smartphone app and frequent appointments brought me into line. I became a believer in nutrition as a way to heal the body. The holidays came and I was able to continue my weight loss through those tempting days. I didn’t focus on the number of pounds lost, but rather on enjoying nutritious food. My tastes completely changed. I was beginning to enjoy salads and vegetables. Cooking offers me a way to relax on weekends and I often cook for several days for convenience. I’ve even learned how to incorporate carbs into my diet without raising my blood glucose significantly. I’ve learned the way forward if I want to be healthy. I worry less about the effects of diabetes and focus on eating healthy meals that fuel my body and encourage healing. Thanks to Enara Health, my body is functioning much better.
Weight Loss Progress:
Louise lost 49 lbs. (24% of her weight) in 2 years.
Reversed her diabetes with 20% drop in Hg A1c
- Hemoglobin A1c measures the percentage of your blood hemoglobin that is coated with glucose (sugar). This test reflects your average blood sugar level for the past 2-3 months.
- A level less than 5.7 is normal, and a level between 5.7 and 6.4 indicates pre-diabetes. Hg A1c level of 6.5 percent or higher indicates Type 2 Diabetes.
LDL Cholesterol Progress 39%
- LDL is the bad cholesterol.
- It collects in the walls of blood vessels leading to atherosclerosis which put you at greater risk for a heart attack or stroke.
- The goal for people with one other risk factor for heart disease (e.g. increased BMI, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history) is an LDL level under 100.
Triglycerides Cholesterol Progress: 43%
Fatty foods and carbohydrates that we eat are broken down into globs of fat called triglycerides.
High levels increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and nerve damage.
Excess glucose in the blood can be used to make triglycerides, which is why people with insulin sensitivity, prediabetes, or Diabetes often also have elevated triglycerides.
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