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Overcoming a Keto Disaster and Finding Long Term Health | Bonny’s Success Story

Article written and reviewed by Cyrus Khambatta, PhD
Published July 25, 2023

Bonny's health journey took an unexpected turn when she turned 60 and received a pre-diabetes diagnosis. Following a misguided attempt with a keto diet that worsened her health, Bonny faced a health scare that led her to the hospital with stroke-like symptoms. Determined to find a better path to managing her diabetes, she discovered the Mastering Diabetes Method and decided to embrace a low-fat, plant-based lifestyle. In this blog post, we will delve into Bonny's inspiring success story, her triumph over diabetes, and how she regained control of her health and happiness.

A Detour on the Keto Diet

After being diagnosed as pre-diabetic, Bonny's chiropractor and nutritionist recommended a keto diet to address her blood sugar levels. However, this approach backfired as Bonny felt worse with each passing day. Ignoring her intuition, she tried to increase her fat intake, but the headaches persisted, leading to a life-altering event when she woke up one Sunday with numbness in her arm, face, and tongue. Rushed to the hospital, she was misdiagnosed with migraines before the true nature of her condition was revealed—a blood clot in a vein, a type of stroke known as cortical vein thrombosis.

Discovering the Mastering Diabetes Method

Despite the challenges, Bonny's determination to regain her health never waned. Through a friend's recommendation, she discovered the Mastering Diabetes Method and decided to join the coaching program. In July, she attended a retreat where she wholeheartedly embraced the low-fat, plant-based lifestyle. Bonny took charge of her health and, under medical supervision, made the decision to transition away from Metformin.

Triumph with Low-Fat, Plant-Based Living

Following the Mastering Diabetes Method brought profound improvements to Bonny's health. Over time, she witnessed her blood clot resolving, leading to a clean MRI report in November. Her HbA1c levels dropped from 6.5 to a healthy 5.5, indicating that she was no longer pre-diabetic. The shift to low-fat, plant-based eating not only helped her regain control over her diabetes but also led to a remarkable 54-pound weight loss.

Embracing a Vibrant and Nourishing Diet

Bonny found immense joy in exploring new foods and flavors within the low-fat, plant-based lifestyle. From delicious jackfruit dishes to delectable mango recipes, she discovered a whole new world of culinary delights. Embracing whole foods and steering away from sweets, she found that her cravings for sugar gradually disappeared.

The Power of Encouragement and Support

Throughout her journey, Bonny found immense value in the guidance and encouragement provided by Coach Michelle. Her positive and uplifting approach helped Bonny stay focused and committed to her health goals. With the unwavering support of her coach, she successfully embraced the Mastering Diabetes Method as a sustainable way of life.

Bonny's success story serves as a testament to the life-transforming potential of the Mastering Diabetes Method and coaching program. Despite facing initial challenges and misdiagnoses, Bonny's perseverance and decision to embrace a low-fat, plant-based lifestyle led to remarkable improvements in her health and well-being. By taking control of her diabetes and adopting nourishing food choices, Bonny reclaimed her vitality, joy, and zest for life. Her inspiring journey reminds us all of the power of resilience and the ability to find a path to health and healing with the right support and knowledge.

About the author 

Cyrus Khambatta, PhD

Cyrus Khambatta, PhD is a New York Times bestselling co-author of Mastering Diabetes: The Revolutionary Method to Reverse Insulin Resistance Permanently in Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2, Prediabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.

He is the co-founder of Mastering Diabetes and Amla Green, and is an internationally recognized nutrition and fitness coach who has been living with type 1 diabetes since 2002. He co-created the Mastering Diabetes Method to reverse insulin resistance in all forms of diabetes, and has helped more than 10,000 people improve their metabolic health using low-fat, plant-based, whole-food nutrition, intermittent fasting, and exercise.

Cyrus earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2003, then earned a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 2012. He is the co-author of many peer-reviewed scientific publications.

He is the co-host of the annual Mastering Diabetes Online Summit, a featured speaker at the Plant-Based Nutrition and Healthcare Conference (PBNHC), the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference (ACLM), Plant Stock, the Torrance Memorial Medical Center, and has been featured on The Doctors, NPR, KQED, Forks Over Knives, Healthline, Fast Company, Diet Fiction, and the wildly popular podcasts the Rich Roll Podcast, Plant Proof, MindBodyGreen, and Nutrition Rounds.

Scientific Publications:

Sarver, Jordan, Cyrus Khambatta, Robby Barbaro, Bhakti Chavan, and David Drozek. “Retrospective Evaluation of an Online Diabetes Health Coaching Program: A Pilot Study.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, October 15, 2019, 1559827619879106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619879106

Shrivastav, Maneesh, William Gibson, Rajendra Shrivastav, Katie Elzea, Cyrus Khambatta, Rohan Sonawane, Joseph A. Sierra, and Robert Vigersky. “Type 2 Diabetes Management in Primary Care: The Role of Retrospective, Professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring.” Diabetes Spectrum: A Publication of the American Diabetes Association 31, no. 3 (August 2018): 279–87. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds17-0024

Thompson, Airlia C. S., Matthew D. Bruss, John C. Price, Cyrus F. Khambatta, William E. Holmes, Marc Colangelo, Marcy Dalidd, et al. “Reduced in Vivo Hepatic Proteome Replacement Rates but Not Cell Proliferation Rates Predict Maximum Lifespan Extension in Mice.” Aging Cell 15, no. 1 (February 2016): 118–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12414

Roohk, Donald J., Smita Mascharak, Cyrus Khambatta, Ho Leung, Marc Hellerstein, and Charles Harris. “Dexamethasone-Mediated Changes in Adipose Triacylglycerol Metabolism Are Exaggerated, Not Diminished, in the Absence of a Functional GR Dimerization Domain.” Endocrinology 154, no. 4 (April 2013): 1528–39. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2011-1047

Price, John C., Cyrus F. Khambatta, Kelvin W. Li, Matthew D. Bruss, Mahalakshmi Shankaran, Marcy Dalidd, Nicholas A. Floreani, et al. “The Effect of Long Term Calorie Restriction on in Vivo Hepatic Proteostatis: A Novel Combination of Dynamic and Quantitative Proteomics.” Molecular & Cellular Proteomics: MCP 11, no. 12 (December 2012): 1801–14.
https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.M112.021204

Bruss, Matthew D., Airlia C. S. Thompson, Ishita Aggarwal, Cyrus F. Khambatta, and Marc K. Hellerstein. “The Effects of Physiological Adaptations to Calorie Restriction on Global Cell Proliferation Rates.” American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 300, no. 4 (April 2011): E735-745. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00661.2010

Bruss, Matthew D., Cyrus F. Khambatta, Maxwell A. Ruby, Ishita Aggarwal, and Marc K. Hellerstein. “Calorie Restriction Increases Fatty Acid Synthesis and Whole Body Fat Oxidation Rates.” American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 298, no. 1 (January 2010): E108-116.
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00524.2009