Believe in Magic?

photo by Rafael Amado Deras

There’s no way you can beat diabetes or any of the related chronic diseases if you can’t answer “yes”. But it’s not about some incantation that will make the fish oil activate and magically reduce all the inflammation. You need to believe in magic in order to have the right perspective. If you don’t have a wide angle view of the universe, you’ll miss the fork in the road. If you’re looking down, all you’re going to see is the dog shit you've stepped in, and you’ll frown. Looking up and out, smile sources abound.  Sun, moon, stars, clouds, all of nature, and even eye contact with the passing stranger are all opportunities to feel the connection. It’s not a connection to make, it’s one to remember. It’s always there.  You've heard this before. “You’re an integral part of the cosmic whole”. Everyone chooses, consciously or not, whether to ignore it for some or all of their lives. I’m just somebody else telling you to stay “un-glazed over”.  How are the smile and the cosmic connection going to physically help your body heal? Bookstores full of books can provide reasons. I’m telling you that believing in magic validates your cosmic connection which makes you smile. If you’re smiling, it’s impossible to be a victim. If you’re not a victim, your stress is less. And reducing stress works like magic to prevent or eliminate chronic diseases like diabetes.

Good Doctor!

photo by ernstl

If you want to find your own evidence-based, honest doctor, look for one in family practice. He or She is not making that much money, doesn’t drive a Ferrari, and doesn’t hand out a lot of samples. This doctor is not a rock star. Their numbers don’t look good to the front office because they only order the tests they think you need, even though their resulting healthier patients make them look less productive. Find one quick. They’re being weeded out of our wrongheaded system at an alarming rate.

diabetes tips with captain russ - it's not about substitutes

Captain Russ is not chasing shades of his toxic past.

Fish Food For Thought

photo by Benson Kua

So you have a sick fish in an aquarium. The tank is looking pretty gross, so it’s pretty obvious the poor little guy has been eating, drinking, and breathing some nasty looking water for a while.

The fish doctor comes over and takes a look. He does a blood test and returns with a Fishician’s Order. He says, “There’s no way this fish is getting better. He will develop multiple complications and die a premature death. You have to immediately begin daily injections to simulate the fresh water environment he’s missing.”

When you sheepishly suggest that cleaning the tank might help, he just snorts condescendingly and leaves you with several samples of the stuff he wants you to start injecting poor Dory with. You watch from the door as he gets back in his Audi Quattro and dons a baseball cap with the same logo as the samples before backing out of the driveway.

(Metaphor key: Dory = your pancreas; aquarium = your body; dirty water = toxins from your lifetime eating of processed food; fish doctor = endocrinologist; injections = insulin; commercial bias and conflict of interest = exactly what it looks like)

Diabetes Tips With Captain Russ - Help You Will Need

Captain Russ helps you plan for your trip.

Diabetes Tips With Captain Russ - A Very Different Approach

Captain Russ found a less neurotic way to manage diabetes.

They're Bettin' You've Got No Backbone

photo by Sander van der Wel

C’mon people. They’re calling you out. They say you’re weak-willed and unable to fight. They say you’re so addicted to processed food you’d rather shoot up with insulin like a heroin junkie than give up your fries and soda.

Who are they? First, it’s the western docs who don’t have any real evidence that you’ve got enough backbone to change your lifestyle. They figure if pills and shots will keep you alive a little longer, it’s much quicker and easier, and they can focus on more interesting causes of death. Some physicians are included in the second set of “they”- those who stand to profit if you can be kept alive but still sick, dependent on pills, insulin, devices, frequent tests, and medical care for the many chronic complications of diabetes and all the other ills our toxic diet and lifestyle cause.

Please tell me now if they’re right. I can’t believe I’m unique in how I walked away from my alcohol and saturated fat. And I promise you, nobody loved their beer and cheesecake more than me. But what the hell is going on? Eating right works. The payoff is so obvious. Is the propaganda machine so good? I need to know. I’ll mount this soapbox as long as it takes if it’s just a matter of getting information out there. But if they’re right, and you really are lemmings, willingly walking off a visible cliff…

No Batteries Required

photo by deanj

Why are we so drawn to every technological fix? I’m no exception. I’ve been fascinated with gadgets my whole life. These days, I’m the new cliché with smartphone always in hand. I feel a little panicky if I leave it behind.

It’s getting hard to step back and try to see the difference between short-term convenience and something that actually improves our lives. The technology around insulin delivery is a good example. There’s much excitement among insulin users about advancements in pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Everyone presses closer and peers longingly at these nifty inventions. “How wonderful to just wear this device on my belt to always display my blood sugar level and beep in such a caring manner when it’s low! And Ooh, now it can wirelessly communicate with the pump unit strapped to whichever is the least irritated site on my body? Oh joy. And did you see the ad for the special case that keeps insulin vials climate controlled so they won’t freeze or get too hot?”

It’s all amazing. And the companies that sell this stuff swear it’ll improve your lives. They’ve paid for the research to prove it.

Of course, this is all assuming you need to be using insulin in the first place. Nobody, except the rare heretic like me, suggests backing up to a spot prior to that assumption. Insulin doesn’t address what causes diabetes. The guy that figured insulin out 100 years ago was obviously smart, but surely we can do better now. We should not be asking whether a pump is better than a needle. We should be looking at the growing evidence for a diet-based solution. Even for Type 1’s.

But alas, there’s no gadget for breaking your food addictions and reducing your stress. At least for me, it was just old-fashioned discipline, consistency, and a willingness to look beyond the diabetes establishment gospel that allowed me to nurse my still-functioning pancreas back to a state where I’m maintaining A1c levels well under 6.0 with no lows, no complications, and no lifestyle compromise. I check my blood sugar once a day. I’d check even less if I didn’t want to keep a good data record to help tell this story. But the point is, instead of wearing various battery powered devices and carrying around insulin and glucose tablets and constant worry, I only travel with knowledge and strength. Wherever I am I know what I can eat and how to stay cool. I use consistent strength and willpower to stick to it. No batteries required.