‘I finally got pregnant! And all because I stayed committed to a low GI diet so that my insulin levels wouldn’t rise too high.’ – Stephanie
‘I’m 29 and have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) – I was diagnosed in my early teens. My symptoms are irregular periods, infertility and excess of testosterone levels (hormone imbalance). I didn’t find out until this year that the main underlying problem was my insulin level. I did lots of research on my own about PCOS and if there was a way to reverse my condition because I wanted to start a family, and I found that being on a low GI diet was the ticket. I’m not overweight (that can be another side effect of having PCOS) but after only 3 months of being on a low GI diet, I lost 10 pounds and I and my cycles became regular. Then the shock of my life came when I found out that I was pregnant! After all these years of doctors telling me that getting pregnant would be a great challenge or that it won’t happen at all! And all because I stayed committed to a low GI diet, so that my insulin levels wouldn’t rise too high. I’ve finally learned that we can reverse our health conditions once we have the knowledge of what the “trigger” is and I believe in nature’s way of doing this. Knowledge is power and I’m staying on the low GI diet for as long as I can because I know I’ve seen the great results for myself.’



‘In late November 2006, I decided to commit to a regular exercise regime AND a low GI diet. I have lost approximately 10 kilos (22 lbs) in the process and I feel terrific.’ – Fil
‘I am writing this to you a little worse for wear after having completed the 14 km (8.7 mile) City to Surf run yesterday [this was sent to GI News on August 13] in Sydney. A little worse for wear is my way of saying that your body at 44 years of age lets you know when you push the boundaries after a workout like that. So today, my legs and knee joints in particular are reminding me of my efforts yesterday.

But the really good news is that I shaved almost 15 minutes off my time last year and am back at work the next day whereas this time last year, I was far too sore and sorry to leave my house. What has caused this transition? It is really simple. In late November 2006, I decided to commit to a regular exercise regime AND a low GI diet. I have lost approximately 10 kilos (22 lbs) in the process and I feel terrific. I can also sense that my body is more appreciative of the way I am treating it than ever before. I had follow up blood tests about 2 months ago which confirmed that all pre-diabetes triggers ( cholesterol, sugar levels, triglycerides etc) had fallen well below the acceptable limits which is a fantastic turn around based on earlier results some 8 months earlier.



Getting both medical and physical confirmation about the benefits of my new lifestyle changes has been such a positive experience and I can only say thank you to the whole GI team on providing me with the information I needed at the right time. I feel very fortunate to have been able to “reverse” some of the telltale signs associated with men in my age group and look forward to encouraging the rest of my family to embrace this lifestyle as well because the results simply speak for themselves. Bring on the 2008 City to Surf I say!’

‘I have shared this website with my patients and the results have been amazing’ – family doctor from Canada
‘When I first encountered the concept of glycemic index, I was very curious. The rigorous testing and evidence presented on this site along with the information has impressed and convinced me of its validity. I have shared this website and the information with several of my patients and the results have been amazing. In my 16 years of practice, this has been the most immediate benefit that has come from half an hour of discussion with a patient who is struggling with obesity, polycystic ovarian disease or diabetes. My patients have returned with reports of having increasing energy, better sleep, no further cravings for sugar, improved mood and weight loss averaging 3-4 pounds a week. They are naturally moving towards increasing their activity level as they gain more energy.

• “I feel alive for the first time in years and my depression/anxiety symptoms are getting less” was a recent testimonial from a patient.
• “I have gone from a size 14 to a size 10 in four months, look at what my oversize bosom now looks like. I want the last eight years of my life back” was another recent comment from a patient.

I believe that a low GI/GL diet as an adjunct and when appropriate as an alternative to pharmaceutical management is leading patients towards managing diabetes like never before.’



‘My dietitian said I should be the poster child for the low GI diet’ – Carol from Colorado
‘I just came from a visit with my dietitian. I got a positive report. My A1c is at 6.7 and over all cholesterol is down from 195 to 161. Tryglerides 116 – down from 161; LDL 117 – down from 133. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in July 2006, after a stroke. At 198 lb, and with a clotting disorder that is treated by coumadin therapy, it was a big adjustment for me to regulate my diet to accommodate both the glyberide and the coumadin. The up side to that is that I had changed my diet so drastically that I no longer needed the pill. I had lost 20 lb in the first 10 days. I continued to stay away from coffee, sugar (refined) or any processed food. I could not eat artificial sweeteners due to a history of seizures.

It was difficult to prepare my own meals. I received pointers from my dietitian and the general ADA stuff, but my daughter-in-law had done some low GI dieting and she pointed me in the right direction. So with some divine intervention about which foods to prepare, I was able to prepare and freeze meals for myself on the weekends. With my husband’s help, we prepared lunches that consisted of chicken (without hormones or antibiotics), green beans, great northern beans, brown rice, and I would finish off with a serving of peaches. For dinner it was chicken again with a baked russet potato (1/3 cup) and a pat of butter, peas, baby carrots and a plum. I would have a morning snack of cantaloupe with strawberries and a cheese stick and in the afternoon a few grapes or grapes and sweet cherries and a cheese stick. My breakfast consisted of shredded wheat, a boiled egg, 1/2 banana and a cup of milk.

After recommending the low GI Revolution books by Brand-Miller et al my dietitian saw me and remarked how well I had done. She said I should be the poster child for the low GI diet because with my evening snack, of plain yoghurt , strawberries and almonds I have incorporated six small frequent meals into my day. Oh, and I changed my breakfast to rolled oats with stevia. And in doing so I have dropped 58 lb and my body mass index (BMI) has gone from 35 to 25. I am no longer considered obese, and I am only 1 point away from a normal BMI). Only 5 more pounds!

Now with other tools, such as Dr Brand-Miller’s books, cookbooks and this website, I have many other options and I believe that it will get easier to add variety to my diet and help keep me on a healthy track. My next objective is to add some green leafy salad to my daily evening meal to help round out my diet. I will also take a multi-vitamin supplement. The trick is incorporating these into the coumadin regime. I am waiting for Dr Brand-Miller’s book entitled: Coumadin Therapy and the New Glucose Revolution (or How to balance your diet while maintaining glucose levels, weight, wellness, and vitamin K).’

‘Tomorrow I am running a half marathon and the glycemic index helped get me there!’ – Tricia
‘I was so sad when I read the August newsletter and read how unreceptive the diabetic association was to the glycemic index. I am a firm believer in the GI because it has changed my life. I am a runner and I found that as I was training and trying “fad” diets at the same time, I was getting migraines about once a week. I was really tired all the time and often had a nap in the middle of the day. Then one day I found the GI. I started putting it into practice right away. One of the things I love about the GI is it is so simple. I followed the recommendations for athletes, and ate low glycemic before a workout and higher after. It has not only gotten rid of my headaches, but it has also increased my endurance in running. I feel healthier and I have so much energy. I tell everyone I know about the GI, because it just makes sense to me. It has become a healthy lifestyle for me and my family. Tomorrow I am running a half marathon and the glycemic index helped get me there! Keep up the good work!’



‘It feels so good to go about my work and not constantly be wishing I had chocolate or a Dr Pepper.’ – Shirley
‘I never had a problem in my life with weight until I went through menopause. All my life I weighed around 120–123 pounds. Even after each of my three boys, I returned to my normal weight because my doctor always told me you can gain this amount to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight quickly. I never gained more that I was allowed. I am 5’ 5”. I always weighed myself daily and if I had gained a bit, I left something off that day to get back to my usual weight. Later in my 40s I started walking six days a week. Cutting back just a bit on food and walking would take anything I gained off immediately. Then I entered that menopause stage and gradually started putting the weight on. It seemed nothing I did would help. I constantly craved sweets (chocolate) and started drinking an occasional soft drink which I had never done before. Before I knew it my weight was up to 165. I was devastated. I was tired, felt frumpy and was just generally in bad sorts most of the time.

Then came the low fat diet, the low carb diet, weigh only once a week, etc., and I tried them all which just seemed to compound things. I have fought with my weight for 12 to 15 years now, so frustrated because as hard as I tried nothing seemed to work even the three miles a day I’ve continued to walk. I was just about to the point that I had accepted I would never be back to my normal weight again. About one month ago I really started to pay attention to all the information I was getting in the mail and seeing on the Internet about eating low GI. Maybe ... just maybe. I had no idea what it meant or how to do it but I started researching on the Internet and found that what I was reading made a lot of sense. I found the www.glycemicindex.com website and started researching the GI and found that there were actually a lot of foods that I really liked and thought I could eat on a regular basis so I started putting my diet together from reasonably sized portions of just things that I liked that had a low GI. Later I borrowed some books from the library and know that I still have much to learn.



I have eaten fish three or four times a week, chicken, broccoli, beans of all kinds, cabbage, asparagus, raw spinach salads, green beans. I’ve eaten apples, oranges, peaches, grapes, strawberries and cherries. I eat some peanuts but mostly whole raw almonds. I’ve eaten only 100% whole wheat bread and pumpernickel. For breakfast I’ve had oatmeal (my one failing I still have to have just a bit of sugar in my oatmeal) with whole wheat toast, whole wheat toast with jelly sweetened with juice rather than sugar, granola, an occasional boiled egg and I always eat some kind of fruit with whatever I have for any meal. I snack on plain puffed wheat or oats, eat grapes, strawberries, dried plums or cherries, a piece of whole wheat bread or a cup of low-fat yoghurt. I do not let myself get really hungry but I have started to be able to feel when I’m hungry and I had not had that feeling in years. I probably eat five or six times a day. I have now had no soft drinks in a month, my candy has been once or twice a week a treat of five dark chocolate peanut M&Ms just so I don’t feel totally deprived. Normally I would have gone through a bag of M&Ms in a day or two once it was open. My cravings for these things seem to be completely gone. I have always drank lots of water all my life which I continue now, often I drink it with a little vinegar or some slices of lemon squeezed into it, and black coffee at breakfast .

I have now lost 10 pounds in the last month. I started the GI at 158 pounds and weighed 148 when I got on the scales this morning and can tell a definite difference in the way my jeans and shorts fit in the waist. I am so excited. I am eating so many simple things that I like to eat and am now ready to start branching out and finding some of the recipes like what I’ve found on this site and others. I do believe that I can eat this way indefinitely. It feels so good to go about my work and not constantly be wishing I had chocolate or a Dr Pepper, and I am so excited that I again have hope that I can get back down to my 120–123 pounds.’

‘It had been so long since I felt “good” after a meal’ – Amy
‘I am telling you this one hundred per cent true story about my ongoing experience with The Low GI Diet. It actually seems a little ridiculous to even call it a “diet”. It is so easy to follow, and makes so much sense. I laugh every time I think of the time and money I wasted on Weight Watchers ... oops ... sorry if I offended any WW people. Anyway, I am a nurse, and very serious about researching everything before I try it. Well, I was surprised at the research I did about this low GI thing. It made perfect sense. I have battled, I mean REALLY battled with digestive problems for about six years. I have had fertility problems, acid reflux, terrible bloating and weight gain throughout the past six long years. I have been eating only low GI foods, and very occasionally I will eat a moderate GI food for about 2 weeks now. I was able to stop taking my Prilosec (which I was totally dependent on) after two days. I stopped taking all my other digestive medications after 3 days. My bloating ended after day one. I am completely satisfied after a low GI meal. Not bloated, not tired, not miserable ... just satisfied. It took me a few days to realize what that actually felt like. It had been so long since I felt “good” after a meal! I have lost 6 pounds in two weeks. Yep. SIX pounds! I feel GREAT! I have so much more energy than I did before. I look great, and my husband has started on the plan too. I’ll have to get him to write his story soon too!’



‘I no longer drool when I see all those pizza food commercials on TV’ – Dolores
‘Four months ago I was diagnosed by my doctor as pre-diabetic, having a high sugar count, and asked to lose ten pounds and have my blood retested in three months. I discovered your diet after researching online, and have lost 28 pounds in the last four months! My blood test revealed my sugar count down 30 points, and I am no longer pre-diabetic! I am not hungry with this diet, never snack between meals, eat more fruit and veggies, and I'm convinced my stomach has shrunk!! I can't even finish a “large” meal, I drink more water, and no longer drool when I see all those food commercials on TV, especially the pizza, I just see all that fat. I am nowhere near my weight loss goal, but seem to have no problem sticking to this diet. Unfortunately I am unable to exercise, I'm 76 years old, can't walk too far, or stand too long. If I could, I know I would have lost much more weight.’



‘How can I listen to a “specialist’ who believes the glycemic index is a fad?’ – Barbara
‘I am a diabetic 2 - and was recently in hospital for removal of a stomach lining tumor. A consultation with the hospital nutritionist was part of the schedule but shortly I sent her packing. How can I listen to a “specialist’ who believes a carb is a carb and the glycemic index is a fad? How could she argue with success - both my husband and I have lost 20 pounds, are close to our target weights, and are looking forward reaching our goals, following a low GI diet! Hurray for this site! Keep up the good work and research!’

‘My symptoms have disappeared and I'm medication free all thanks to a little education and the GI Revolution’ – Karen
‘It was about 18 months ago, at the age of 28, when I was diagnosed with PCOS. I'd been overweight for most of my 20s and had a history of irregular periods (not to mention a family history of diabetes). It had been 6 months since my last period and I knew I wasn't pregnant, so I had my doctor run some tests. At my next appointment she broke the news. It was polycystic ovary syndrome in combination with insulin resistance. It was a real wake up call. My father is a type 2 diabetic and I was heading in the same direction. The doctor's suggestion was a drug called metformin, to help with my weight and regulate my periods, the same medication my father was on for diabetes. To me the concept of being on daily medication for the rest of my life, just to combat my symptoms, was unacceptable. So, I began to educate myself on my condition and other alternatives to medication. I learned about the concept of 'low GI' and the importance of regular exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Then I set about changing my life, by incorporating both and surprisingly it wasn't that hard to do. I was already eating mostly the right foods just in the wrong way and the GI diet taught me to balance it out. Now, three weeks away from my 30th birthday, I can honestly say I am the happiest I've ever been. I exercise most days, eat a healthy low GI diet and have a normal regular menstrual cycle. Not to mention I've lost over 13 kilos!’



‘Diabetes is not a diet it is just a health change’ – Louisa
‘I was only diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on the 14th Febuary this year, after bringing up six healthy children, and always having lots of fruit and vegetables. It was a shock. I soon realised I could still enjoy a great variety of foods, and I bought an exercise bike which became part of my daily routine. I read anything and everything I could about diabetes, shopping took forever as I was determined to find good food that I could make. After 6 weeks I visited my doctor, and he was very pleased, but not as much as I was – I lost 9 kilos! Diabetes is not a diet it is just a health change. I hope to see many more foods with the blue GI Symbol on them.’



‘Thank god for the Glycemic Index. I think it is a major component of my successful diabetic management’ – Toma
‘In February 2005 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and my labs were so bad my doctors and nurses at the Seattle VA hospital told me if I was close to death. My A1c was 20.5, triglycerides were 1517, I was starting into kidney failure, necrosis had already set in, potassium was severely depleted, I was badly dehydrated, my eyes were blurry from sugar in my lenses and a few other things. I was diagnosed by a doctor in Canada but since I was not a Canadian resident I did not have the out of pocket funds to pay for treatment and the doctor told me not to drive to Seattle. When I arrived at the Seattle VA Emergency room after a 24-hour bus trip my blood glucose was 570 mg/dl. I suspect they had been higher since I was not maintaining my normal high sugar diet while on the bus which normally included lots of Dr. Pepper, candy and other high glycemic carbs. During the first 4 days in intensive care I was given insulin injections, 15 liters of potassium IV drip and constant monitoring and tests. I was given a glucose meter and taught to use it and was taught to self inject insulin. After the first four days they decided not to put me on insulin but to try oral medication with metformin. I saw several other patients at the VA who had recent amputations because of diabetic neuropathy. I became very motivated to learn about type-2 diabetes and how to control my blood glucose.

The dietitians and diabetic trainers started me on the standard ADA recommendations for diet. There was improvement but I was unable to get my glucose under the 200–250 mg/dl range. Canada Immigration would not allow me to return to my wife in Canada so I went to Denver where I met a nurse who started me on a different track and an internet search. The two most important things I found were software to help me manage my diet and the GI Database and the low GI concept as outlined on www.glycemicindex.com.

Through a combination of very targeted meal planning using the software, greatly improved nutrient goals and low GI food selection using the Glycemic Index Database I started seeing dramatic results. Where I was having trouble getting below 250 mg/dl with the ADA methods and heavy medications, I soon started seeing glucose readings between 80–100 mg/dl, and a dramatic improvement of my A1c. In May of 2005 my A1c was down to 5.2. I was taken off all medications and have been off medications since.My diet strategy includes a PCF ratio of 20% lean protein (mostly skinless chicken breast, fish, nuts and legumes), 50% low glycemic carbohydrates and 30% good fats such polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and a good supply of omega 3 EPA/DHA. In addition I also include stevia as a sweetener, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, buckwheat and other foods that help control blood glucose. Thank god for the Glycemic Index. I think the Glycemic Index is a major component of my successful diabetic management.

I acquired a Canadian doctor in July of 2006. He said, based on my labs and intake physical there was no indication I was diabetic. He questioned whether my original diagnosis was correct. I think after two weeks in the hospital they probably got it right. I know from experience, if I go off my diet with things I know I should not be eating I do see a quick rise on my glucose meter. I think when we find something that works very well we have a responsibility to share what we learn with others. I have taken what I have learned over the past two years and put it on a website in hopes of helping other diabetics and you can read it HERE. Understanding low glycemic index carbs is an important part of what is on my site.

‘I wish more American companies would adopt your ‘G’ symbol’ – Abby
‘When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I began researching everything I could get my hands on, and luckily I came across your website. Living in the US, my doctor sent me to diabetes education classes, but I was appalled to discover that they are not saying a word about GI, telling me privately that there isn’t enough evidence, that it is very individualised, etc. I told them the very same things could be said about the meds they are willing to talk about and that changing one’s diet in this way does far less harm than ingesting medicine. Apparently, the American Diabetes Association refuses to make GI part of their education, which I consider to be tantamount to malpractice. I have sent a lot of information to the diabetes educators at the local program and told them they should start supplementing the old information given out on diet with the newest information. I myself have seen a marked drop in my blood glucose levels thanks to this information and I anticipate that if I can keep it up I can delay for a very long time my need to use medications. I wish more American companies would adopt your ‘G’ symbol, but perhaps Americans are just too tied into the needs of the fast food and pharmaceutical companies.’



‘The low GI diet has been a lifestyle change for us, but refreshingly simple and easy to put into practice’ – Darryl
‘We read about the low GI diet in a newspaper at the turn of the year and then found out more by looking at various internet sites. It all sounded too good to be true – but on 8 January we decided to give it a try. Despite both my wife and I being pretty fit a decade ago, the advancement to early middle age had taken its toll on our weight being ably assisted by poor diet, takeaways, snacking, long working hours and lack of exercise. The scales tipped a shocking 301 pounds for me and 238 pounds for my wife and neither of us could believe how much we had let ourselves go and as a result our health was beginning to suffer - out of breath, sweating, poor sleep, acid stomach on a daily basis, aching ankles - a death sentence if we didn’t take back control!

So here we are, some 16 weeks later and neither we nor our friends can believe the difference! First we have to say how easy it has been to stick to a low GI diet and how much we have begun to enjoy our food - real food without all the stodge! We eat a wide variety of really tasty dishes, we eat well and rarely have either of us felt hungry. Every now and again we have a treat and we can still even enjoy a bottle of wine with friends in moderation. We go to restaurants but stick to a few basic rules - but the flexibility afforded by a low GI diet means we can still sensibly choose from a number of enticing dishes on any menu. In particular my wife has tried many different diets in the past but all of them have left something to be desired and she has after a short period of time found them to be restrictive and unfulfilling.



The low GI diet has been a lifestyle change for us, but refreshingly simple and easy to put into practice. So what are the results after 16 weeks? I have lost a very pleasing 62 pounds and my wife 43 pounds! We have not really increased the level of exercise we do, but we feel more energetic, the aches have gone, I have not had a single acid stomach attack, we are more positive and mentally more alert and we are getting much better quality sleep. We would never have believed anyone who said this would make this difference to our lives in just 16 short weeks - it has been so easy and we know we will not only get down to our goal weights in the next 6 months but more importantly be able to sustain what we have done whilst really enjoying our food. Tell your friends (we have ) and they are all now converts because of our enthusiasm – if we can do it – anyone can!’

‘The great thing about the low GI diet is that it is not restrictive. It has given me more freedom in what I eat and more energy’ – Veronica
‘I lost almost 20 kilos on the low GI diet. I had tried various diets before low fat, detox etc. but it never made any difference to my weight and they were often quite restrictive in what they allowed you to eat. So I could never keep them up for long. It took one year to lose the weight, with once a week exercise and now 2 years later I still have not regained the weight. My diet is varied, enjoyable and does not make me gain weight. The great thing about the low GI diet is that it is not restrictive, you can eat most foods, you only need to modify your diet slightly, like eating grainy bread instead of white bread. I find low GI foods taste better too. Oat biscuits are great. It has also allowed me to eat lots of foods that I would never have eaten before as I thought they were too fattening. It has given me more freedom in what I eat and more energy.'

‘The low GI lifestyle works. My weight dropped 35 kilos over 18 months.’ – Lisa
‘I turned 42 last week and have been living with diabetes since my first pregnancy when I was 23. I was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes at the onset of my second pregnancy 7 months later (yes I know, nice and close). I largely ignored all the advice from the health sector for the first 7 years after diagnosis, swallowing the prescribed pills and conducting blood testing when I remembered. I made the odd trip to the specialist who was always at pains to tell me how non-compliant I was along with all the dire warnings about heart disease, blindness, amputation etc. By the time I was 30, I was extremely overweight with out of control BGLs and generally disgusted with myself. Around this time I discovered a new GP who really put himself out to try to get me on the straight and narrow. He gave me a copy of The New Glucose Revolution and I have been religiously following the concept ever since. My weight dropped 35 kg over 18 months and has stayed off to this day, my BGLs average around 5 mmol and I still have my eyes, feet and very luckily for me, no obvious complications from my years of self neglect. The low GI lifestyle works and it was so easy to make the changes to my every day foods with such amazing results.’



‘We are finding more energy to do more activities as a family. I believe this is due to a conscious decision to eat better carbohydrates with a lower GI.’ – Michael
‘In the 1990s I was extremely fit, competing in triathlons of all distances including Ironman. However, since 2000, a back injury and work commitments led to a fairly sedentary lifestyle where I put on 15 kg. The back would not heal and finally a chiro advised me to start back exercising. By exercising at least once daily I was able to cure my back injury by strengthening my abdominals. Recently I discovered low GI foods and their assistance with weight loss and in sustaining energy allowing longer sessions without flat – last weekend I completed a 3-hour run without any after effects, my longest run in 7 years.

I used to eat only white bread and jasmine rice etc. I have now changed to wholegrain bread, Doongara and basmati rice. I am now learning that these foods actually taste better when creatively used. Some of the recipes found on http://ginews.blogspot.com have really helped bring back the flavour to foods and also assist with a steady flow of energy rather than the quick hit and drop off of the type of carbohydrates I was used to consuming.

My whole family is benefiting from this. We all eat the same meals and no one complains about my cooking or my wife’s. My wife who has always been fairly sedentary is now running and doing triathlons as are 2 of my daughters, aged 7 and 11 (at 20 months the youngest is still a bit young). My wife has also lost approx 8 kg and working towards her pre-children weight. We are finding more energy to do more activities as a family. I believe this is due to a conscious decision to eat better carbohydrates with a lower GI. I still am amazed about the differences in GI content in not only the individual raw ingredients but also amongst different brands etc.

Recently I completed a 25 km 2 day hike with my 2 daughters (7 and 11 years old). Without the use of low GI foods I don’t believe it would have been as easy. We are finding every week that we are benefiting from making a conscious choice of low GI foods.

Websites such as www.glycemicindex.com have proved invaluable as a resource to assist us in our quest for a better form of carbohydrate as we know that they are not the evil foods portrayed in the late 90\'s but rather an essential part of an active lifestyle.’

‘I lost 10 pounds within 3 months and feel great!’ – Jamie
‘At the age of 31 I had my first child. After a 3 month maternity leave I returned to work thinner than before pregnancy. My weight gain began after I weened my daughter 6 months later. I was used to eating more food. When my daughter turned one, I knew I needed to make some changes. I weighed 17 pounds more than before pregnancy! I learned of the Glycemic Index eating plan. Our family now consumes very little processed carbohydrate. I lost 10 pounds within 3 months and feel great! Now I plan to add in more exercise and lose those last 7 pounds.’

People need to get back to eating basic, healthy foods. – Ashton
I purchased two of your books. My husband and I have completely changed our eating habits based on the GI. Within the first ten days we lost seven pounds and we feel fantastic. Food prep is a little more involved now and I have to shop more often for fresh foods, but we are simply amazed. We now understand why we were not losing weight when we were eating ‘healthy’. It just makes so much sense. People need to get back to eating basic, healthy foods and ignore the messages that are being sent to us by the giant companies pushing junk. I say this because since we began eating this way we look at commercials for things like fast food and processed food and just shake our heads. We feel we have truly found a new and permanent way of eating. Finally!



If I can turn my diabetes around like this in just a few months, despite having an underlying endocrine condition, I think there’s hope for everyone! – Kerry
In 2000, I was diagnosed with either a pheochromocytoma or other type of ganglioneuroma, in either case a rare cancerous tumor that brings havoc to the endocrine system, a condition that apparently only one in a million people have. Lucky me! Usually with this type of tumor (which is almost always benign) once the tumor is located and surgically removed, the patient can return to a normal life. In my case, like a very few who have this condition, an army of doctors and all of their tests have not been able to locate the tumor. It became clear a few years back that I was permanently disabled by the condition. Despite all of this bad news, I was able to adjust to most of the debilitating symptoms (dizziness, panic attacks, flushing, hypertension alternating with hypotension, fainting) and with the right mix of meds I’ve been able to find some quality of life.

Then came the news about a year ago that due to my endocrine problems I had developed diabetes. Having not been able to exercise for about 7 years due to my condition, with one of my few activities being eating, I had gained a huge amount of weight, and that added due and brought on the symptoms of diabetes, the last thing I needed on top of everything else. Though I had not had success with defeating my underlying endocrine problem, I knew I could fight Diabetes with the right medical help. I sought out the aid of Dr Richard Berkowitz of Wayne, NJ, a highly recommended endocrinologist whose specialty was the treatment of diabetes. Dr. Berkowitz was a godsend. He put me on actoplus metformin and other meds which helped me greatly. But more than this he referred me to Johanna Burani, M.S., Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator.

I knew I had to fight the diabetes by seriously changing my diet and had begun this process already. I knew I wanted a healthy food plan but I was so confused as to what that plan should be. Johanna explained the causes of diabetes and the way the body converts foods to sugar in a way that I finally understood. She taught me about good carbs versus bad carbs, the ones she calls ‘gushers’. She was so understanding, patient and helpful and put me on a very simple food plan – one that I could easily follow. And follow it I did!

From the time I saw Johanna in August until the time of this writing (February 23, 2007), I have dropped from 330 pounds to 270 pounds, an amazing 50 pounds, (and a total of 70 pounds lost from my high of 350)! Even better, my blood sugar levels have dropped down into the normal range, my trigliceride level which was high has dropped, my bad cholesterol is down and my good cholesterol is up. When I saw Dr Berkowitz and Johanna recently for follow up visits in the last few weeks, they both were as thrilled with my progress as I am.

Most importantly, I feel so much better. Not only have my symptoms from diabetes been improving, but my other chronic problems related to the endocrine tumor have abated to a degree. In general I have more energy, I am less dizzy and I am more able to function. I have even now been able to begin a walking program, which is helping me continue to lose weight and in general feel better. As I’m learning I just have to carefully observe my food plan and stay with it! Notice, I don’t call it a diet. I don’t like that term, because it implies that there is an end to this and I know I can’t stop eating healthy. This for me has to be a lifestyle choice and I know I am choosing to eat this way for the rest of my life, not for the next year or so alone. I hope this story will inspire all of those readers out there who are feeling discouraged or overwhelmed with their fight to regain their health.’

‘Listening to the wake up call’ – Claire
‘It was June 2003 and I was 26 weeks into my first pregnancy. I was off to the pathologist’s for a second glucose test (GTT), having had a slightly abnormal reading previously. There was no history of diabetes in my family and despite having reactive hypoglycaemia, I assumed I’d be in the clear. Little did I know that this fairly routine visit to the pathologist would end up changing my life.

A couple of days later, via voicemail, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (gestational diabetes). The diagnosis and treatment for gestational diabetes is focused on looking forward and delivering positive outcomes. However, for the next few weeks I went through enormous feelings guilt and concern for my unborn child. I was told it was nothing I had eaten; yet I still worried about everything I’d consumed in the last six months.


Claire and her son

My gestational diabetes journey started with a visit to Diabetes Australia where I was given a blood glucose level (BGL) tester. I had to test my levels four times a day; which involved a painful finger pricking, putting blood onto a test strip and then recording the reading in my little green book. Next I saw a dietitian to put me on the righteous path of eating well; however, it seemed I was a fairly healthy eater already. My next visit was to my endocrinologist, who essentially became my BGL (blood glucose level) ‘personal trainer’. After a few weeks, as my BGL was controlled through diet, I able to get away with a weekly fax of my levels rather than a weekly visit. I regularly received a post-fax call from my endocrinologist, to discuss my performance with praise for good levels and a scolding for minor slip ups.

My next experience was with the chemists who sold the strips for the BGL tester. Whilst I didn’t need a prescription, it took a frustrating journey to track down a chemist who was licensed to sell me the strips despite the fact that many stocked them. It was a fairly ostracising experience due to the lack of knowledge about gestational diabetes. Once I found my ‘local’ chemist, 20 minutes away, I was slightly more immune to the questioning looks I received queuing behind the ‘oldies’ who were also handing over their diabetes membership cards.

The turning point was when my mother, who has always been my healthy eating mentor, found a fabulous book which has since become my bible – The New Glucose Revolution. This book changed my life and showed me that whilst it looked like I had a well balanced diet; I ate too many high glycemic index (GI) foods. By making simple changes I was able to manage my BGL with a balanced, low GI diet for the rest of the pregnancy and I was fairly convinced I’d be in the clear post-partum.

Two months later, after giving birth, I went for my next GTT and was diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT or pre-diabetes). This was despite losing somewhere between 10–20 kilos (depending whether you read my scales or my doctor’s). I was told that if I wanted another child and a healthy life without type 2 diabetes I had to lose weight and get fit. I took it very seriously and had great success. Within six months I was cleared of IGT… or as my trainer said ‘you are not abnormal any more’.

I have since had another child and despite doing all the right things I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes again, from week 28 of my pregnancy. This time it was much less daunting for me; I was taught how to prick my finger painlessly, I knew which chemist to visit and generally it made little impact on my life.

Post-partum I made a big effort to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and I was given the all clear within three months and have continued to stay healthy since. However, the stark reality is that I will see my pathologist for the fabulous 2 hour GTT every year of my life until I go through menopause … at 32 that seems rather a long way down the track.

Whilst it was a fairly emotional and stressful experience for me I am so thankful that I had the wake up call early enough. Not only am I living a healthy life, but so is my family. The knowledge I have gained from The New Glucose Revolution and subsequent online research has proven invaluable in starting to teach healthy eating habits to my kids – despite the sugar marketers’ minefield in the supermarket. In retrospect, I am so positive about my experience that I hope other people can perhaps catch my enthusiasm and realise the benefits I have brought not only to my family but to my friends and others around me.'

‘We are focused on healthy eating now so we can teach our children how to make good food choices early on.’ – Rachel
'About halfway through my second pregnancy, I found out that I had gestational diabetes. I was putting on weight fast and was told that if I didn’t change my eating habits, I would be putting my baby--and myself--at risk. I had to see a nutritionist and learn what foods had a low GI and relearn how to eat so my blood sugar stayed level and so my baby continued to gain weight at a healthier pace. The health of my baby was a huge motivator, so I was able to stick to my diet and lose weight everywhere else on my body as my belly expanded a little more slowly. My baby was born a bit large (9 lb.11oz.), but had no blood sugar problems after birth. (Whew!) And I was so pleased with what the low GI diet had done to the rest of my body (my thighs and backside literally shrunk) that I stayed the course and lost more weight. Within a year of giving birth, I had dropped four sizes from my pre-pregnancy weight. My husband has recently joined me in eating more low GI foods, and he’s looking and feeling healthier than he has in years!'

‘I knew that it needed to be a lifestyle change to improve my overall health.’ – David
‘Four years ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Since then I have increased my exercise program but the nutrition adjustments I needed to make were very confusing but I did my best. I wanted to lose weight but knew that it needed to be a lifestyle change to improve my overall health. At 220 pounds (100 kg) I was able to get to 200 pounds (91 kg) in about three years. I started reading your information in mid-December and began to make your recommended changes to my diet and today I weigh 185 pounds (84 kg). My fitness level is excellent but most importantly I feel healthy.’

‘With my family’s support and humour, I control and manage my diabetes well.’ – Muthukrishnan
The managers of my workplace insisted that people were their best asset, and to prove their point they provided a health assessment for their staff. I took one in May 1998, and my urine sample turned out sugary. I was advised to consult my GP as soon as possible. I came home and told my wife and daughters that my health was perfect except for a bit of sugar the in the urine streams and that I had been asked to see my GP. My wife took my medical condition very seriously. Her father had died at 59 due to diabetes. After the final warning in October 1998, I went to see my GP. After the blood tests, I was formally diagnosed with diabetes. At 178 cm and weighing 75 kilos, I was advised to shed 5 kilos. I shed 3.5 kilos over two years through a strict diet and exercise regime. During a routine eye inspection in December 1998, my left retina was found to have developed a cataract due to my diabetic condition. On my wife’s insistence, I finally underwent an operation in September 1999 where a plastic lens was implanted.



Ever since I became a diabetic, my food tastes have revolved round the glycemic index. My latest results indicate very good self control, but I have to regularly monitor it. Exercise is also an important factor in tackling diabetes. I walk six to eight kilometres a day. I competed in my first Sydney City to Surf (Sydney city to Bondi Beach, Australia) 14 kilometre run in 2004 at the prime age of sixty, although it was more fun than run. I clocked 152 minutes. I am aiming to do it in under 120 minutes in future.

I rigidly follow all the do’s and don’ts for diabetics. Most days I feel fantastic. With my family’s support and humour, I control and manage my diabetes well. Oh, to be a diabetic. I am fitter than ever before. I am having a lot of fun, too.

‘What a relief to finally understand why a little butter and sugar actually won’t kill you.’ – Jane
‘For reasons unknown, my metabolism seemed to change and I put on an extra 15 kilos over 12 months when I turned 35 – without changing my eating habits. I trudged off to the nutritionist - had my hormones, thyroid, blood sugar, everything tested, but nothing was obviously amiss. So it was decided that I was an over-eater (which I knew was not the case-more like an occasional binge-potato-chip-eater - sound familiar?) and put on a strict calorie counted, portion weighed and measured diet. Apart from regularly almost fainting from the constant and gnawing hunger on this diet, I only lost 4 kilos in 6 months. The nutritionist got angry and said that I must be eating on the side and lying about my calorie intake, so needless to say I didn’t visit that person again!

Then while surfing the web, I discovered the whole low GI thing. I suffer from a number of food allergies as well and had always joked with friends that I was allergic to the 20th century! Now that I have started the GI way of eating, I discover that this is pretty true. Much ‘modern’ food, (read ‘processed’ food) has a high GI. So after studying the GI, and cutting out most processed food, anything that even slightly resembles potatoes and a number of other high GI foodstuffs, I have lost 7 kilos in 30 days with no effort at all. I eat whenever I’m hungry with naturally much smaller amounts because real food is so much more filling. I always had the feeling that my weight gains and fluctuations were linked to what I ate, not the quantity, and the low GI way of eating has helped me understand just how that works within me. I was a potato-high-carb junkie.

I am just back from a two-week exotic holiday where I paid 50 per cent attention to what I ate (still avoiding those spuds!) and I didn’t put on a single ounce, while still enjoying all the local delicacies. Now into my second month, I have just got the exercise bike up and will help myself even more by getting out of my modern sedentary style of life with time on the pedals every day.

My personal understanding is that basically, the low GI diet brings us back to a culinary point in our evolution that our bodies can still cope with. And what a relief to finally understand why a little butter and sugar actually won’t kill you ... it’s more likely the white bread and cookies that will be your real downfall! But no longer mine!’



‘I am in my mid-seventies, and feel renewed.’ – Karl
‘As a physician I closely followed my blood chemistries and weight. At retirement my BMI was 26.5, body fat 25%, total cholesterol = 170, LDL/HDL = 2.5:1, triglycerides = 160, and HgbA1C = 6.3 - 6.6. After having a single stent placed in the LAD coronary artery, I became motivated to take control of those factors within my control. I discovered your website and obtained the recommended books and literature. After 18 months of maintaining a diet with a GI below 55, a GL at or below 80, limiting saturated fats, and consistently exercising with an output of 500 Kcal in each of two sessions a day, I have achieved an amazing improvement in wellbeing and energy. And I have the following bonus chemically. Body fat 17–18 per cent with lean weight gain of several pounds and a total weight loss of 25 pounds; HgbA1C = 5.6, total cholesterol = 115, LDL/HDL = 1:1, triglycerides = 60, and BMI = 24-25 (lean weight gain skews the BMI, and ageing reduced my height by 1.5 inches). Chemistries are important, but the most impressive is the activity level and sense of wellbeing. I am in my mid-seventies, and feel renewed. Thank you.’

‘My life changed for the better when my dad showed me a list of foods with GI values and explained to me why it worked’
– Hannah
‘After years of being lethargic and having my weight yo-yo and trying numerous ways to cope with those issues I discovered the wonderful glycemic index, which has been my saviour. Prior to my learning about the GI, I watched and followed my parents try all sorts of diets. We cut out carbs, increased protein, followed points, fasted and ate things at certain times of the day. Nothing seemed to work to get our weights down and to increase our energy. I went to the doctor at age 20, am now 26, believing that I was diabetic and was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. I wasn’t really told what to eat by the doctor except that I should eat between meals. For many years I snacked but remained overweight and lethargic especially after meals. I would call this my carbo-coma. Due to this, my work performance suffered as did my home life as all I wanted to do was sleep. At work I would literally fall asleep with my hands on the keyboard and would have to pump myself with coffee to stay awake.



My life changed for the better when my dad showed me a list of foods with GI values and explained to me why it worked. I thought I might as well give it a try, since I had tried everything else. I love a wide variety of foods and didn’t feel like this way of eating would prevent me from eating what I loved most – good food. When I started eating low GI foods I wasn’t exercising much but within a few weeks I was noticing that I was losing weight, not to mention that I wasn’t falling in to my ‘carbo-coma’ in the afternoon after lunch. I didn’t need to snack as often either. I was hooked.’