Is Your FOOD Causing Your Disease? | Susan Harris Reverses Diabetes
Susan Harris, a writer and former teacher from Canada, shares her remarkable journey of reversing Type 2 diabetes without medication through dietary changes. Diagnosed with an alarming HbA1c of 13.2% in 2021 alongside severe symptoms including unexplained bruising, blurred vision, and dramatic weight loss to 117 pounds, Susan negotiated three months with her doctor to try lifestyle interventions before accepting pharmaceutical treatment. Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track her blood sugar responses to different foods, she discovered which foods were spiking her glucose and causing inflammation.
Initially following a low-carb approach based on Canada's food guide recommendations, Susan achieved significant improvements but continued experiencing inflammation and pain. After attending a health conference in Costa Rica where she met Dr. Anthony Chaffee and other carnivore advocates, she transitioned to a meat-based carnivore diet that eliminated her remaining symptoms. Within 32 days of starting dietary changes, her fasting blood sugar normalized, and her HbA1c dropped to 7.2 after three months, eventually reaching 5.7 - well within the normal range.
Susan has channeled her experience into writing children's books, including "What Will Timmy Eat," which teaches kids about healthy breakfast choices through an engaging story format. The book features a race between different breakfast foods, with high-carb processed foods literally disintegrating when exposed to liquid while protein-rich whole foods maintain their structure and density. Both Susan and her husband Tim have become advocates in their community, sharing their knowledge and supporting others making similar dietary transitions, demonstrating how personal health transformations can create ripple effects of positive change.
Key Takeaways
- Continuous glucose monitoring provides immediate feedback that enables precise identification of foods that spike blood sugar, with Susan tracking up to 28 readings daily to identify problematic foods like strawberries
- A carnivore diet consisting primarily of meat, eggs, fish, and some dairy reversed Susan's Type 2 diabetes from an HbA1c of 13.2% to 5.7% over seven months without any medication
- High-oxalate foods like almonds (244mg per half cup) and spinach (755mg per half cup) were causing inflammation and symptoms despite being recommended as 'healthy' diabetic foods
- Modern fruits and vegetables are significantly higher in sugar content than wild varieties due to selective breeding and greenhouse cultivation, making them less suitable for blood sugar management
- Using a CGM revealed that stress, excitement, and even social media consumption can raise blood sugar levels, demonstrating the mind-body connection in metabolic health
- Starting healthy eating habits in childhood is crucial since 80% of children with obese parents become obese themselves, primarily due to learned behaviors rather than genetics
- Only one-eighth of Canada's Food Guide recommendations were compatible with Susan's metabolic health, highlighting the disconnect between official guidelines and optimal nutrition for diabetics
- Weight loss on carnivore can be managed by eating fatty meat until it stops tasting good, typically twice daily, rather than stopping when feeling satisfied
- Susan Harris's Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis and Symptoms
- HbA1c of 13.2 and Diabetic Complications Explained
- Refusing Metformin and Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring
- Low Carb Diet Success - Reversing Diabetes Without Medication
- Almonds and Oxalates - Hidden Inflammation from Healthy Foods
- Carnivore Diet Weight Loss and Adding Back Foods
- CGM Tracking Food Response and Blood Sugar Spikes
- What Will Timmy Eat - Children's Carnivore Book Introduction
- Childhood Nutrition Habits and Parental Influence on Obesity
- Diabetes Epidemic in Caribbean, Indian and Canadian Populations
- Government Food Guidelines and Corporate Influence on Nutrition Policy
- Spreading Carnivore Message and Radio Show Appearances
This is an auto-generated transcript from YouTube and may contain errors or inaccuracies.