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Richard (New York) on 10/10/2026
Poor diet is generally a major cause of adult-onset diabetes.
3. Diet (long-term)
· Excessive sugar and high-glycemic-index foods (Ch. 8)—white bread, rice, pasta, watermelon, cream of wheat, instant oatmeal, corn flakes, pancakes, processed snacks (doughnuts, chips, crackers, cookies)—cause or worsen
· Excessive saturated fat and cholesterol can accumulate as visceral fat around abdominal organs ⇨ insulin resistance ⇨ muscle, fat, and liver cells stop responding properly to insulin. As a result, these cells fail to absorb sugar from the bloodstream for energy.
· Coffee raises blood sugar
Treatment: foods that help stabilize blood sugar
Beans: rich in soluble fiber and resistant starch: slow digestion and sugar absorption, significantly reducing post-meal blood sugar surges
Nuts, seeds: rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber reduces absorption rate of carbohydrates, improves insulin sensitivity.
Vegetables (cooked): carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, hard squash, parsnips broccoli, spinach (high fiber) paired with the above proteins and fats ⇨ healthy blood sugar
Whole fruits (high fiber)—berries, apples, citrus—mild-to-moderate effect on blood sugar. However, eating large portions, dried fruits, or drinking fruit juice (without fiber) ⇨ blood sugar spike. Pairing fruit with a protein or fat (nuts) helps balance the response.
Hot spices improve metabolism, insulin sensitivity
Gymena sylvestre, aloe vera, turmeric and goldenseal help manage blood sugar
Case history #28. My 72-year-old friend was diagnosed with diabetes in his 40s and needed started taking needed insulin. For the last 20 years, he has managed his blood sugar without insulin, using only diet and herbs.
My name is Richard Heft. I (75) was a licensed Acupuncture Physician (FL), nutritionist, herbalist, cooking teacher, health food store owner, operator of Food and Thought health food store (Hollywood, Fl 11984-2001). specializing mostly in Ayurveda medicine and Western Naturopathy. My book, The Complete Guide To Natural Healing, East and West, have 50+ case histories, anecdotal yet scientific.
Debbie T. (Australia ) on 10/17/2013
Research "wheat free". Many people don't know that wheat (or white or wholewheat bread) for instance will raise your blood sugar up by as much as a can of soda or a candy bar. This has been documented in scientific literature. Add to that a few biscuits, a slice of cake or more during the day and you have multiple spikes of insulin occuring during the day.
Also carbohydrate foods like too much fruit or root vegetables will raise insulin levels.
Gluten free foods contain many starches which also will raise insulin levels way too high so are very bad for diabetics.
Many people who have cut out grains and only had less than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day are able to get their problem under control, many are reversing all diabetic symptoms (type II). Some type 1's have been able to get off insulin (some).
