Alice Says!

As a fresh graduate of Nutrition and Dietetics, in 2000, I wanted to help people eat healthily and prevent lifestyle diseases. This was very clear, especially after working at the Kenyatta National Hospital. While working with an American nurse (Jean Suren) and learning about diabetes, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. One day while testing the glucometers used in the clinic, my random blood sugar was found to be 9 mmol/l. This was scary. The next morning, we tested, and it was 8 mmol/l at fasting. More shocks. We checked two hours postprandial (after meal) it was 11 mmol/l. I was a confirmed Type 2 diabetes patient. I cried myself silly. Alice Achieng Ojwang, at the tender age of 25 years, was going to take pills daily. I was depressed. But Jean Suren, my mentor then, assured me we could reverse it. At 25, you can imagine what happens: probably living alone, eating junk food, having late nights, alcohol, name it. I took up the challenge to change my lifestyle and reverse this deadly condition. I changed my diet, I exercised, I slept early, and I stopped toxic lifestyle habits. For the first time as a dietician, I practised what I preached: eating and living a healthy lifestyle. I can probably say that after 6 months, I reversed my Type 2 diabetes. I have continued to follow a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, and sleep well, and I remain free from Type 2 diabetes. 22 years on, I have never looked back. Because we have a family history of Type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and more, I remain alert and have medical checks regularly. Fast forward: After I graduated from the Diabetes Care Centre with Jean Suren, I started my practice (March 2001), where I specialised in managing Type 2 diabetes and obesity. I worked with Dr Eva Njenga, and together we reversed Type 2 diabetes in overweight and obese patients. It was possible despite the tremendous resistance from the medical fraternity. So as much as it was obvious diet makes the difference, patients were still managed with lots of drugs. What is more, they were not referred to a dietician/nutritionist. During the course of my practice, I have helped hundreds of patients 8 reverse Type 2 diabetes. I remember a gentleman who was referred to me by one of the cardiologists. He weighed a hefty 150kgs. He was diabetic, had hypertension, and had high cholesterol levels He was constantly breathless, tired, and snored even while awake. He had erectile dysfunction, backache, knee pain, and classic symptoms of a fatal heart attack waiting to happen. He had a plastic bag in which he carried all his drugs. He was taking almost 30 tablets a day. When he came to see me, he was interested in restoring his sexual function. He told me his wife was about to leave him. He was no longer able to perform his sexual duties at the tender age of 50 years. He could not go up the stairs to his bedroom in the house he built because of his painful knees and back. He slept in the ground-floor bedroom that was earlier used by the house help. He was miserable. I took him through a basic nutrition plan: Eat a meal for breakfast, a smaller meal for lunch, and only vegetables at night; drink at least two litres of water, cut out all sugar, take only a bottle of Tusker a day, and sleep eight hours even if you are lying in bed awake. I did not prescribe exercises for the first two months because of the excessive weight and severe back pain. My prescription was too simple. He could not believe me. “How will this diet help me?” he wondered aloud. I reassured him and urged him to believe and work with me. The deal was that he had to follow my plan strictly. “Obedience saves lives,” we agreed. One month later, he felt a lot better, slept better, and lost 5kgs. He was now highly motivated, had started walking more, and obediently followed the plan. In six months, he had stopped snoring. He took only medication for blood pressure and cholesterol (only three tablets from the earlier 30) and had lost 25kgs. He was a happy man. He lost 54 kgs in one year, ran a half marathon, and felt like a bull. This client and many others motivated me to believe that diets and lifestyles have a significant impact on chronic conditions, especially Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the most straightforward condition to manage, but it is deadly if poorly controlled.

Over the years, research has produced supplements and meditations that help us regulate our blood glucose, like GlucoTrust. These supplements are improving diabetes health. You can find out more about GlucoTrust here. https://pronutraquest.com/tsl-3885-3856-3247-6839#aff=Katikro

I will share success stories from my practice for the last 25 years. Please tune in and support.

Yours sincerely

Alice