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Dr. Jason Fung,
I want to thank you
for opening my mind and providing a window down a path less travelled. Although we’ve never met or conversed, your writings
and videos have served as our means of communication. My story starts in 1993, where a routine medical test for life insurance,
discovered elevated protein levels in my urine. Ever since, I have regular blood work testing as well as monitoring of protein
levels by both my family doctor and nephrologist. In the last year, without any advance warning, my fasting glucose and HbA1C
steadily increased.
My doctor visit Oct
15/15 suggested I was diabetic and needed to seriously reduce my blood glucose levels as my HbA1C reached a personal high
of 7.4. My doctor set an appointment for the Diabetic Clinic, and I requested a prescription for 1,000 strips and Glucose
Meter. My plan was to measure blood sugar levels and monitor what foods, activity or emotions triggered higher glucose readings.
I tested before/after meals, middle of the night, early morning and late at night (see attached 1-Summary of Glucose Readings).
Between Oct 15th and Nov 19th I followed a Diabetic Glycemic Diet with minimal improvement.
My visit November 19
to the Diabetic Clinic included: my weigh in (257 lbs); review blood work results; understand the Canadian Food Guide; discuss
the importance of exercise, and more importantly, told to setup another appointment with my doctor and have Metformin prescribed.
I took all the literature provided by the Diabetic Clinic and decided I would follow the diet and exercise regimen but delay
my visit to my family doctor for Metformin.
Between Nov 19 and Dec
12, I followed a diet using the Canadian Food Guide. As I continued testing, I found my day time glucose readings were
marginally improving, but my night and morning readings were seriously in the “RED” zone. I couldn’t
understand – I’m not eating and my body had higher levels of sugar than when I do eat – how is that possible?
(textbook case of Dawn Phenomenon). By December 12th it seemed useless – I reserved myself to the fact I needed medication
to control my morning blood glucose level. I decided to review possible medications, dosages and side effects. The weekend
of Dec 12-13/2015, I searched and reviewed online medical journals, diabetic organizations and anyplace in between that spoke
about diabetes.
My searching lead to a forum discussing
treatments that worked for some individuals – that is where I found Dr. Jason Fung, a Nephrologist, U of T graduate
(I’m a sucker to see what alumni are doing) -a kidney specialist who successfully treated patients with serious diabetes
in the Toronto area. Since I also see a nephrologist for my kidneys, I was intrigued and decided to look you up.
The website had written material, blogs and good references with easy to follow video series – explaining HFLC Diet,
Intermittent Fasting, human body function, etc…..I spent that weekend immersed in your material and decided
I had nothing to lose to at least try a HFLC Diet and Intermittent Fasting schedule and immediately started Monday Dec 14/15.
The rest, as they say, is history – my results were immediate. I observed blood glucose readings
in the “5’s” (haven’t seen that in awhile) as well as immediate weight loss. As I continued the HFLC
Diet and Intermittent Fasting, I was forced to schedule fasting periods around Christmas, New Years, birthdays and family
dinners. Although I regularly had a 24-hour fast schedule, I sometimes needed to vary my fasting period – at those times,
I would use a 50% per week fasting target as my goal. I truly believe my organs just need a little time to recoup. I’ve
now created an internal benchmark whereby an “indulgence” is managed back to “normal levels”.
There were a couple of times the last few months where my blood sugar readings were quick reminders that “I over did
it”. No panic, no concern, I was one HFLC meal away and a 24, 36 or 42 hour fast to normal readings (this is the most
amazing and MOTIVATING part of
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