Just over eleven years ago, author Alan D. Raguso was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He spent ten years battling raging A1Cs and ever-worsening blood-glucose readings; two and a half years ago, he started developing the beginning stages of retinal problems. That's when Raguso decided to get serious about his health and resolved to find a way to beat diabetes. In The Diabetes Slayer's Handbook, he narrates his journey with the disease and presents a nonsurgical, nonprescription-drug intervention program that he discovered through his research and study of nutrition. He provides an understanding of the basics of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, excess weight, sugar and carbohydrates, and metabolism, and he outlines diabetes-reversal techniques using everyday healthy foods combined with easy low-impact exercise. The Diabetes Slayer's Handbook dissects the components of diabetes and offers a game plan for attacking the disease to help diabetes sufferers get a handle on their health and their life.

The Diabetes Slayer's Handbook

Preventing or Reversing Prediabetes and Type 2 DiabetesBy Alan D. Raguso

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Alan D. Raguso
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-5003-8

Contents

Disclaimer......................................................................................vDedication......................................................................................viiAcknowledgments.................................................................................xiIntroduction....................................................................................xiiiThe Terrorist...................................................................................1The Assault on Diabetes.........................................................................3Payback.........................................................................................7Change Your Health Destiny......................................................................9Your Doctor.....................................................................................11Diabetes Education Is the Key...................................................................13The Sinking Ship................................................................................15The Metabolic Syndrome..........................................................................17Diabesity.......................................................................................19A Word about Weight.............................................................................21Sleep—or the Lack of It...................................................................23Glucose Spikes and Dawn Phenomenon: Tips to Avoid Them..........................................25You've Got to Pay for the Bus Ride..............................................................27Poker...........................................................................................29The Food Groups.................................................................................31The MAID: Mediterranean Anti-inflammation Diet..................................................35The Economics of the MAID.......................................................................43Counting Processed Carbohydrates and Processed Sugars...........................................45The Quick Reference Guide.......................................................................47Voodoo..........................................................................................51The Four Bs.....................................................................................53The Three Ps "P = (P/P)"........................................................................55Stocking Your Food Arsenal......................................................................57Rewiring Your Brain: Flip the Switch That Kills Appetite and Glucose Spikes.....................61Food Allergies: Wheat, Gluten, and Soy..........................................................63Low-Resistance Interval Training: LRIT ("Lower It").............................................65A Stronger Pancreas.............................................................................69Five Key Hormones You Should Know About.........................................................71Timing Is Everything............................................................................73Do Your Best....................................................................................75Questions and Answers...........................................................................77Wonderland......................................................................................79Health Warriors.................................................................................81Good Hunting....................................................................................83Summary.........................................................................................85Conclusion......................................................................................87About the Author................................................................................89Resources.......................................................................................92Pull-Out Reference Guide........................................................................97

Chapter One

The Terrorist

How can you fight something you don't understand? Defending yourself from something you can't see indeed seems impossible. We can discuss your options.

I had been referred to an ophthalmologist due to my worsening eye condition. As I drove home, I was angry and scared. How did this happen? I wondered. What was I really going to do about it?

I'd been fighting diabetes for about nine years, and my condition just kept getting worse. I'd developed the disease early in 2001, the year of 9/11. It was the year of the terrorist. Then it hit me: Diabetes is a terrorist. It will maim and kill as many people as possible. It had killed several of my friends and family. I then realized you don't negotiate with a terrorist! You take out the terrorist before it takes you out. I decided to declare total war on the terrorist!

I set out on a plan to lose weight and try to control my diabetes. Little did I know that I would stumble onto some incredibly simple solutions, ways to win the war I was fighting against raging diabetes, morbid obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, joint and tissue pain, diarrhea, and fatigue.

Chapter Two

The Assault on Diabetes

How do you fight a condition like prediabetes or type 2 diabetes?

It takes some time and patience, but the payoff is well worth it. You have to "pay for the bus ride," but, man—what a ride!

I came off of all my diabetes medications in ten months, after being on them for almost ten years.

The keys to your victory over prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight are to have

• the means;

• the will; and

• the knowledge.

In World War II, two famous tank commanders faced off against each other. Each was determined to annihilate the other in battle. One was General Erwin Rommel of Germany; the other was General George C. Patton of the United States.

Eventually, General Patton defeated Rommel in battle. Why? I feel that there were three key elements of General Patton's success: First, he had the means. The third army was at his disposal. By far, it was the top-of-the-line fighting group. Second, he had the will. He didn't get "blood and guts Patton" fame by being weak or giving up.

Finally, he had that final element that is so necessary in defeating a strong enemy. That element is knowledge. He studied Rommel's writings and learned how the German general thought. Patton found Rommel's weak points and exploited them.

Find your enemy's weak point, exploit that weak point, and hit the enemy from all sides! Once you know how to defeat diabetes, you can proceed to do so.

Learn all you can about your diabetes condition. Ask your doctor about getting plugged into diabetes education, support groups, workshops, and other specialized diabetes exercise and education programs. Only about 26 percent of prediabetes and type 2–diabetes patients attend diabetes-education programs. Train yourself for war. Whether you realize it or not, you are at war. Attend as many educational training sessions as you can. You—and only you—have to...