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Life Without Diabetes: The definitive guide to understanding and reversing your type 2 diabetes
FOLLOW THIS REVOLUTIONARY HEALTH PLAN AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE... THIS PROGRAMME IS NOW BEING PILOTED ON THE NHSFrom the pioneer of diabetes reversal whose research is behind the new NHS programme to reverse type 2 diabetesProf Roy Taylor is one of the world's leading experts in type 2 diabetes, the man who discovered that this life-limiting disease was actually a reversible condition.With his team of researchers at Newcastle University, he launched a series of studies culminating in a multi-million-pound trial, which recently confirmed that simple advice about diet could bring about lasting remission.In Life Without Diabetes, Taylor brings all the knowledge and experience of four decades of treating people with diabetes. He explains exactly what is happening in the body as type 2 develops and presents a brilliant 3-step weight loss plan that will enable you to reverse your type 2 and live a full and healthy life beyond it.** Includes delicious tried-and-tested recipes **
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2019
399 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Roy Taylor
19 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Roy Taylor is Professor of Medicine and Metabolism at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK and honorary consultant physician at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. During his career, he has cared for patients admitted with medical emergencies, for people with diabetes, and for women in pregnancy with medical conditions.
Since 1981 he has pursued the basic cause of type 2 diabetes, studying fat cells, muscle cells, and the liver. The potential to develop new techniques to study what happens to food in the body, with or without diabetes, led to a sabbatical year at Yale where he carried out research with Professor Gerald Shulman. This was continued back in the UK, and it was there that he established the groundbreaking Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre.
In 2006 he put forward the Twin Cycle Hypothesis, which predicted that people with type 2 diabetes should be able to return to normal by losing a substantial amount of weight. This was proven in 2011, and among other studies, led to the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) in collaboration with Professor Mike Lean of The University of Glasgow. This trial showed that achieving remission of type 2 diabetes for at least 2 years was feasible under a primary care physician.
Dr. Taylor's other research activities included the management of women with diabetes during pregnancy, the management of severe hyperemesis, and the prevention of blindness in diabetes. He developed the system of screening for treatable diabetic eye disease, which is now a country-wide program in the UK, where diabetes is no longer the most common cause of avoidable blindness in working-age people.
Roy Taylor is Professor of Medicine and Metabolism at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK and honorary consultant physician at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. During his career, he has cared for patients admitted with medical emergencies, for people with diabetes, and for women in pregnancy with medical conditions.
Since 1981 he has pursued the basic cause of type 2 diabetes, studying fat cells, muscle cells, and the liver. The potential to develop new techniques to study what happens to food in the body, with or without diabetes, led to a sabbatical year at Yale where he carried out research with Professor Gerald Shulman. This was continued back in the UK, and it was there that he established the groundbreaking Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre.
In 2006 he put forward the Twin Cycle Hypothesis, which predicted that people with type 2 diabetes should be able to return to normal by losing a substantial amount of weight. This was proven in 2011, and among other studies, led to the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) in collaboration with Professor Mike Lean of The University of Glasgow. This trial showed that achieving remission of type 2 diabetes for at least 2 years was feasible under a primary care physician.
Dr. Taylor's other research activities included the management of women with diabetes during pregnancy, the management of severe hyperemesis, and the prevention of blindness in diabetes. He developed the system of screening for treatable diabetic eye disease, which is now a country-wide program in the UK, where diabetes is no longer the most common cause of avoidable blindness in working-age people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 6, 2024
My engagement with this excellent book was captivated by the title “Life Without Diabetes …” in the hope that Professor Taylor could help me understand my diagnosis with this disease.
At the end of the book, I feel highly informed and optimistic.
I know so much more about type 2 diabetes. I understand what it is, some of the biology around how my body works and the important issues related to the disease.
This book is very readable and written in a highly informative and accessible manner.
The detail and complexity of the text are presented systematically with excellent examples using an affirming approach.
Most importantly, the book has a “good news” story for those “at risk” or those with this disease.
Professor Taylor presents an achievable plan for the reversal of type 2 diabetes based on his research. It is understandable and has details that can be implemented.
I feel empowered and enormously grateful to Professor Taylor, his team, and specifically his dedication and expertise in making this knowledge available.
This book is worth reading for anyone who has type 2 diabetes; has a pre-diabetic diagnosis; for those who have family or friends with the disease including those who wish to be informed about human biology and digestion.
At the end of the book, I feel highly informed and optimistic.
I know so much more about type 2 diabetes. I understand what it is, some of the biology around how my body works and the important issues related to the disease.
This book is very readable and written in a highly informative and accessible manner.
The detail and complexity of the text are presented systematically with excellent examples using an affirming approach.
Most importantly, the book has a “good news” story for those “at risk” or those with this disease.
Professor Taylor presents an achievable plan for the reversal of type 2 diabetes based on his research. It is understandable and has details that can be implemented.
I feel empowered and enormously grateful to Professor Taylor, his team, and specifically his dedication and expertise in making this knowledge available.
This book is worth reading for anyone who has type 2 diabetes; has a pre-diabetic diagnosis; for those who have family or friends with the disease including those who wish to be informed about human biology and digestion.
April 10, 2020
Wonderful Book
Wish I had read this book long time ago. I will try it and see if for me it's not too late. So much of what it says rings true in a simplistic way that one can easily buy into.
Wish I had read this book long time ago. I will try it and see if for me it's not too late. So much of what it says rings true in a simplistic way that one can easily buy into.
July 22, 2020
Fascinating and clear. Debunks lots of fads and myths about food and diets, and proposes a simple way of reversing the disease.
March 17, 2024
It worked for me! 8 weeks and my doctor did new blood tests and confirmed diabetes is in remission and I don’t need to go on medication.
May 28, 2021
An amazing book!
For years I’ve wondered what causes pre-diabetes or diabetes? Or why is my blood sugar high in the morning but normal throughout the day? The answer to the those questions are in this book.
Ive read other books on the subject of diabetes but this book has new research to help answer the questions as to why I have pre-diabetes/ diabetes, can I get rid of diabetes and if so how?
This book is super easy to read and Roy Taylor explains everything in a clear way that isn’t boring. Following his advice will help you achieve better health.
There is also a small recipe section in the back of the book.
For years I’ve wondered what causes pre-diabetes or diabetes? Or why is my blood sugar high in the morning but normal throughout the day? The answer to the those questions are in this book.
Ive read other books on the subject of diabetes but this book has new research to help answer the questions as to why I have pre-diabetes/ diabetes, can I get rid of diabetes and if so how?
This book is super easy to read and Roy Taylor explains everything in a clear way that isn’t boring. Following his advice will help you achieve better health.
There is also a small recipe section in the back of the book.
February 8, 2020
I’m sheepish to admit this — after all, there are probably certain things you shouldn’t admit on the Internet — but for this book review, dealing with a book offering treatment of a deadly disease, I probably need to say that I suffer from type 2 diabetes. I had it once, lost a lot of weight and went into remission, but then gained the weight back and my “friend” showed up on my doorstep once more. I’m now trying to lose weight through a combination of killing myself at the gym (which, as you can tell, I hate) and trying to eat healthier (non-breaded fish on the menu tonight, yum). My dad has been after me to read books from the library on the condition, but, you know, I already have too many books to read (and review)! However, just the other day, a book came up over the usual ways I snag pre-release copies of books titled Life Without Diabetes, and I thought, “How wonderful! I can learn something about my type 2 diabetes and how to reverse it, and please my old man at the same time!” Hence, this review.
Life Without Diabetes told me nothing new — I need to lose weight and keep it off. The book, however, is interesting that it goes into the reasons why people like me develop type 2 diabetes, and, according to the book’s author, a British doctor named Roy Taylor, it is rather a new and novel way of looking at the disease. According to Taylor, type 2 diabetes is caused by, of course, your liver cranking out too much glucose and your pancreas not pumping out enough insulin to match all the sugar your liver is producing. Beta cells in the pancreas are involved, but that part kind of went a bit over my head. The basic run-down is that, according to Taylor, people who have this liver and pancreas problem tend to have too much fat on both organs. That’s the part of the research that’s relatively new.
Read the rest of the review here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...
Life Without Diabetes told me nothing new — I need to lose weight and keep it off. The book, however, is interesting that it goes into the reasons why people like me develop type 2 diabetes, and, according to the book’s author, a British doctor named Roy Taylor, it is rather a new and novel way of looking at the disease. According to Taylor, type 2 diabetes is caused by, of course, your liver cranking out too much glucose and your pancreas not pumping out enough insulin to match all the sugar your liver is producing. Beta cells in the pancreas are involved, but that part kind of went a bit over my head. The basic run-down is that, according to Taylor, people who have this liver and pancreas problem tend to have too much fat on both organs. That’s the part of the research that’s relatively new.
Read the rest of the review here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...
September 17, 2024
This book was absolutely great. I was impressed at how well the author broke down the science of how the organ system works in simple terms and why regulating glucose becomes challenging when we are not careful about how much we eat. I was able to clear out some misconceptions in this book like I was surprised to learn that just because someone looks overweight does not necessarily mean that he/she is at risk of diabetes - unless tested for it. This goes back to the four agreements of "never mak[ing] assumptions" lol. Another myth I heard prior to reading this book (from my coworker) is that coffee contributes to insulin resistance which THANKFULLY turns out to be a myth! I agree with being mindful about "how much" we eat rather than what we choose to eat. This way we can all enjoy the foods we crave in moderation. Overall, it's really all about establishing a balanced lifestyle, fit for your type of body, not anyone else's. I was pleased to learn that diabetes is much more straight forward to reverse with a determined mindset and a commitment to cutting back than simply giving up to medications and continue to struggle with diabetes dire symptoms. Take care of YOU - you never know if you are at risk of developing something serious when you're overlooking your eating habits just because you may be within normal weight range.
September 13, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's targeted to individuals who have type 2 diabetes so I don't fit that mold.
I'm interested in the idea of insulin resistance and since I have several extended family members with diabetes thought I'd take a look. A lot of the information in the book I already knew but there were a few points I found really interesting. One was that type 2 diabetes isn't AS associated with being overweight as we tend to believe. That being said a good portion of the book is dedicated to the New Castle diet (a 600-800 liquid diet) used to quickly lose weight.
So all in all I didn't find it very helpful or all that interesting. But I can see the benefit for someone with Type 2 Diabetes wanting a place to start learning about next steps.
I'm interested in the idea of insulin resistance and since I have several extended family members with diabetes thought I'd take a look. A lot of the information in the book I already knew but there were a few points I found really interesting. One was that type 2 diabetes isn't AS associated with being overweight as we tend to believe. That being said a good portion of the book is dedicated to the New Castle diet (a 600-800 liquid diet) used to quickly lose weight.
So all in all I didn't find it very helpful or all that interesting. But I can see the benefit for someone with Type 2 Diabetes wanting a place to start learning about next steps.
October 19, 2023
This book challenges conventional beliefs about diabetes and offers hope for reversal through rapid weight loss and lifestyle changes.
For decades, type 2 diabetes has been seen as a life-long disease. The diagnosis brings about a significant change, making one’s health feel fragile and the future uncertain. But in 2006, Roy Taylor, Professor of Medicine and Metabolism, came across a study that showed blood sugar getting back to normal really fast after bariatric surgery. This breakthrough challenged the conventional belief and raised the possibility of a simple and reversible solution to type 2 diabetes, consolidating years of research into a new perspective. The question remained: Could this be a genuine breakthrough?
In this review, we will delve into a compelling book ‘Life Without Diabetes’ by Roy Taylor which presents a revolutionary approach to managing and reversing type 2 diabetes using rapid weight loss.
Author’s background
Roy Taylor holds the position of Professor of Medicine and Metabolism at Newcastle University, along with serving as an Honorary Consultant Physician at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
He completed his medical education at the University of Edinburgh. During the period of 1990 to 1991, he served as a visiting professor of medicine at Yale University in the USA, during which time he acquired novel MRI techniques for in-depth exploration of the human body. After returning to the United Kingdom, he secured £5.2 million in funding to establish the Newcastle MR Centre. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in developing the UK’s system for diabetic eye disease screening. Dr. Taylor’s academic contributions extend to his authorship of more than 300 scientific papers.
What is the book about?
In his transformative book, ‘Life Without Diabetes,’ Dr. Roy Taylor introduces a scientifically validated program for managing and reversing type 2 Diabetes, applicable at any health stage. Based on over four decades of research, his 2017 breakthrough established that type 2 diabetes can be prevented and cured through a simple regimen. The root cause lies in excess fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas, impairing their functions. Remarkably, shedding a minute amount of this fat, less than one gram, initiates the process of reversal.
Central to this approach is a rapid weight loss. Dr. Taylor’s innovative strategy curbs daily calorie intake, enabling individuals to shed up to 35 pounds in just eight weeks. Dr. Taylor’s mission is to democratise understanding of type 2 diabetes, providing effective strategies for individuals and families grappling with this condition. His method, distinct from traditional diets, employs weight loss as a tool to study diabetes reversal dynamics. This approach yielded significant weight loss and enhanced well-being among participants in his research.
Three key takeaways from ‘Life Without Diabetes’
1. The 1,2,3 approach helps you to set yourself free from diabetes
There are other approaches to losing weight. However, several high-quality studies have shown that going on an intensive rapid weight loss diet for a period is not only effective for most people but extraordinarily motivating.
In his book, Taylor presents the 1,2,3 approach that offers a distinctive strategy for addressing type 2 diabetes, departing from traditional slow and prolonged weight loss methods. This approach encompasses three distinct stages:
• Rapid weight loss: Begin with an intensive phase of rapid weight loss with a defined endpoint. The focus here is on shedding excess weight through a low-calorie diet, such as liquid formula products, aimed at achieving around 800 calories per day.
• Stepped food reintroduction: Transition from rapid weight loss to reintroducing ordinary foods in a stepwise manner. Start with substituting one meal with regular food for around two weeks, followed by incorporating another meal over four weeks. The goal is to establish sustainable eating habits while avoiding the pitfalls of suddenly reintroducing a full diet.
• Long-term weight maintenance: Once you have achieved a significant weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes, maintain your new healthier weight by eating around three-quarters of your previous portion sizes. Regularly monitor your weight and make necessary adjustments to prevent significant weight regain.
2. What to do after the weight loss? Five golden principles that will help you ensure sustainable results
The book emphasises that your diabetes-reversal journey does not end with weight loss. After achieving substantial weight reduction, maintaining your progress is crucial. As a result, the author outlines five principles that can be followed in order to ensure long-term results.
• Structured meal timing: Consume meals only during designated mealtimes and avoid snacking between meals.
• Mindful eating: Focus on your meals and avoid distractions like reading or watching TV while eating to prevent overeating and enjoy the experience more.
• Fresh ingredients over ready-made meals: Opt for meals prepared with fresh ingredients over commercial ready meals, which can often contain added sugars and lack satisfaction.
• Eliminate sugary drinks: Steer clear of sweetened beverages, recognising their contribution to excess calorie intake.
• Celebrate and compensate: Embrace special occasions and celebrations, but counteract indulgence by cutting back on calories during the subsequent week.
3. The one-size-fits-all approach to diet doesn’t exist
At the end of the book, the author explains the difference between various diets and challenges the idea that a single ‘healthy diet’ can work for everyone. The book highlights how people have unique food preferences and habits, rejecting the idea of one perfect eating plan for all. It explains how the body’s digestion, managed by the liver, affects calorie distribution.
The book challenges the saying ‘you are what you eat,’ suggesting ‘you are how much you eat’ matters more. While exploring diets like low-carb, Mediterranean, and intermittent fasting, the book stresses that personalised approaches are key to success, focusing on finding an eating style that suits individual preferences and lifestyles for long-term sustainability.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Offers actionable and practical insights for managing health and nutrition.
• Successfully balances scientific detail with simple explanations.
• Written in an easy-to-understand and informative manner, making complex topics accessible to readers.
Weaknesses:
• Tends to repeat information, making it feel unnecessarily lengthy.
• Falls short in explaining the concept of ketosis and its relevance.
Best quotes from ‘Life Without Diabetes’
“A rapid weight loss phase followed by a stepped return to normal eating is very different from the standard advice of “slow and prolonged” of recent years. The 1,2,3 approach recognizes that losing weight is a distinct activity, separate from the matter of keeping the weight steady in the long term, and that there are many benefits from losing weight fast in the first instance.”
“The basic message on alcohol is to enjoy it in moderation – as long as you are honest with yourself about how much is going down and you can keep your consumption to within the weekly calorie envelope that will keep your weight steady.”
“So it is the duration of physical activity rather than the intensity that has more effect in determining how much energy is used. As an extreme example, when Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud walked across Antarctica pulling heavy sledges over mountains and crevasses for up to 14 hours per day, it was estimated that they burned 11,500 calories every day! Gluttons for punishment as they are, even Fiennes and Stroud would not have been able to burn anything like that in shorter bursts of more intense exercise.”
Final takeaway
Dr. Roy Taylor’s book, ‘Life Without Diabetes,’ offers a groundbreaking approach to managing and reversing type 2 diabetes. His scientifically validated 1,2,3 approach challenges traditional methods by advocating rapid weight loss, gradual food reintroduction, and long-term weight maintenance. The book empowers readers to understand the complexities of diabetes and sheds light on the significance of individualised dietary strategies.
With a focus on practicality, Taylor’s insights resonate with a broad audience, including those struggling with diabetes and anyone seeking effective, science-backed ways to enhance their health.
For decades, type 2 diabetes has been seen as a life-long disease. The diagnosis brings about a significant change, making one’s health feel fragile and the future uncertain. But in 2006, Roy Taylor, Professor of Medicine and Metabolism, came across a study that showed blood sugar getting back to normal really fast after bariatric surgery. This breakthrough challenged the conventional belief and raised the possibility of a simple and reversible solution to type 2 diabetes, consolidating years of research into a new perspective. The question remained: Could this be a genuine breakthrough?
In this review, we will delve into a compelling book ‘Life Without Diabetes’ by Roy Taylor which presents a revolutionary approach to managing and reversing type 2 diabetes using rapid weight loss.
Author’s background
Roy Taylor holds the position of Professor of Medicine and Metabolism at Newcastle University, along with serving as an Honorary Consultant Physician at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
He completed his medical education at the University of Edinburgh. During the period of 1990 to 1991, he served as a visiting professor of medicine at Yale University in the USA, during which time he acquired novel MRI techniques for in-depth exploration of the human body. After returning to the United Kingdom, he secured £5.2 million in funding to establish the Newcastle MR Centre. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in developing the UK’s system for diabetic eye disease screening. Dr. Taylor’s academic contributions extend to his authorship of more than 300 scientific papers.
What is the book about?
In his transformative book, ‘Life Without Diabetes,’ Dr. Roy Taylor introduces a scientifically validated program for managing and reversing type 2 Diabetes, applicable at any health stage. Based on over four decades of research, his 2017 breakthrough established that type 2 diabetes can be prevented and cured through a simple regimen. The root cause lies in excess fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas, impairing their functions. Remarkably, shedding a minute amount of this fat, less than one gram, initiates the process of reversal.
Central to this approach is a rapid weight loss. Dr. Taylor’s innovative strategy curbs daily calorie intake, enabling individuals to shed up to 35 pounds in just eight weeks. Dr. Taylor’s mission is to democratise understanding of type 2 diabetes, providing effective strategies for individuals and families grappling with this condition. His method, distinct from traditional diets, employs weight loss as a tool to study diabetes reversal dynamics. This approach yielded significant weight loss and enhanced well-being among participants in his research.
Three key takeaways from ‘Life Without Diabetes’
1. The 1,2,3 approach helps you to set yourself free from diabetes
There are other approaches to losing weight. However, several high-quality studies have shown that going on an intensive rapid weight loss diet for a period is not only effective for most people but extraordinarily motivating.
In his book, Taylor presents the 1,2,3 approach that offers a distinctive strategy for addressing type 2 diabetes, departing from traditional slow and prolonged weight loss methods. This approach encompasses three distinct stages:
• Rapid weight loss: Begin with an intensive phase of rapid weight loss with a defined endpoint. The focus here is on shedding excess weight through a low-calorie diet, such as liquid formula products, aimed at achieving around 800 calories per day.
• Stepped food reintroduction: Transition from rapid weight loss to reintroducing ordinary foods in a stepwise manner. Start with substituting one meal with regular food for around two weeks, followed by incorporating another meal over four weeks. The goal is to establish sustainable eating habits while avoiding the pitfalls of suddenly reintroducing a full diet.
• Long-term weight maintenance: Once you have achieved a significant weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes, maintain your new healthier weight by eating around three-quarters of your previous portion sizes. Regularly monitor your weight and make necessary adjustments to prevent significant weight regain.
2. What to do after the weight loss? Five golden principles that will help you ensure sustainable results
The book emphasises that your diabetes-reversal journey does not end with weight loss. After achieving substantial weight reduction, maintaining your progress is crucial. As a result, the author outlines five principles that can be followed in order to ensure long-term results.
• Structured meal timing: Consume meals only during designated mealtimes and avoid snacking between meals.
• Mindful eating: Focus on your meals and avoid distractions like reading or watching TV while eating to prevent overeating and enjoy the experience more.
• Fresh ingredients over ready-made meals: Opt for meals prepared with fresh ingredients over commercial ready meals, which can often contain added sugars and lack satisfaction.
• Eliminate sugary drinks: Steer clear of sweetened beverages, recognising their contribution to excess calorie intake.
• Celebrate and compensate: Embrace special occasions and celebrations, but counteract indulgence by cutting back on calories during the subsequent week.
3. The one-size-fits-all approach to diet doesn’t exist
At the end of the book, the author explains the difference between various diets and challenges the idea that a single ‘healthy diet’ can work for everyone. The book highlights how people have unique food preferences and habits, rejecting the idea of one perfect eating plan for all. It explains how the body’s digestion, managed by the liver, affects calorie distribution.
The book challenges the saying ‘you are what you eat,’ suggesting ‘you are how much you eat’ matters more. While exploring diets like low-carb, Mediterranean, and intermittent fasting, the book stresses that personalised approaches are key to success, focusing on finding an eating style that suits individual preferences and lifestyles for long-term sustainability.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Offers actionable and practical insights for managing health and nutrition.
• Successfully balances scientific detail with simple explanations.
• Written in an easy-to-understand and informative manner, making complex topics accessible to readers.
Weaknesses:
• Tends to repeat information, making it feel unnecessarily lengthy.
• Falls short in explaining the concept of ketosis and its relevance.
Best quotes from ‘Life Without Diabetes’
“A rapid weight loss phase followed by a stepped return to normal eating is very different from the standard advice of “slow and prolonged” of recent years. The 1,2,3 approach recognizes that losing weight is a distinct activity, separate from the matter of keeping the weight steady in the long term, and that there are many benefits from losing weight fast in the first instance.”
“The basic message on alcohol is to enjoy it in moderation – as long as you are honest with yourself about how much is going down and you can keep your consumption to within the weekly calorie envelope that will keep your weight steady.”
“So it is the duration of physical activity rather than the intensity that has more effect in determining how much energy is used. As an extreme example, when Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud walked across Antarctica pulling heavy sledges over mountains and crevasses for up to 14 hours per day, it was estimated that they burned 11,500 calories every day! Gluttons for punishment as they are, even Fiennes and Stroud would not have been able to burn anything like that in shorter bursts of more intense exercise.”
Final takeaway
Dr. Roy Taylor’s book, ‘Life Without Diabetes,’ offers a groundbreaking approach to managing and reversing type 2 diabetes. His scientifically validated 1,2,3 approach challenges traditional methods by advocating rapid weight loss, gradual food reintroduction, and long-term weight maintenance. The book empowers readers to understand the complexities of diabetes and sheds light on the significance of individualised dietary strategies.
With a focus on practicality, Taylor’s insights resonate with a broad audience, including those struggling with diabetes and anyone seeking effective, science-backed ways to enhance their health.
August 27, 2020
This book was promoted as an explanation of the latest research into the causes of Type 2 diabetes. It is also a very lucid account written for the lay reader and written in a style and layout which makes it easier for the reader looking for help in managing their diabetes or understanding what is happening.
This user friendly text is a welcome approach to science and medical research writing. So much academic writing is written for the writer's peers. The vocabulary is impenetrable and just to make it doubly difficult these writers use acronyms. Taylor does talk about BMI, mmol/l and EFI but he does explain them when he first uses the acronym. And he has a sense of how the layman feels about acronyms:
"As acronyms go, WOSCPS is one of the most memorable. It stands for "The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study, [Page 91-92]
His style is also accessible. While it is not in short simple sentences which insult the reader's abilities nor does he become tangled in compound complex sentences which wind through a paragraph;
"No one with type 2 diabetes was included at the start of the study but during the course of the five years it was conducted, some people went on to develop it. It is very common. It happened to around 1% of the whole group over the five years."
The text is punctuated by simple graphs which many may find useful. I thought his prose was sufficient and the graphics superfluous.
He also has an impish humour in how he presents what might be dull facts. Chapter Five , "A murder mystery and the Twin Cycles", is presented as a murder mystery:
"In type 2 diabetes, half the beta cells seemed to have been murdered. Who were the suspects? From the Passmore insights Mr Incretin seemed to have an alibi. Other popular villains included the mysterious Ms Amyloid and Mr Inflammation."
He quotes effortlessly from Dr Johnson; "Around 1790 he [Dr Johnson] said "if a man is too fat it is plain for all to see that he has eaten more than he should have done." Dr Donne then seems obvious: "As John Donne observed so long ago, no man is an island."
What I liked most though comes at the beginning in "How to use this book. Some books are to be swallowed whole, others to be browsed or enjoyed in part." This book lacks a plot in spite of Professor Taylor's efforts to construct a narrative of discovery or a solution to a mystery. So I preferred to browse it.
He goes on, however, to tell those looking for a cure for diabetes, to go to Chapter Seven where you will quickly find the seven point plan. Then he provides a summary of each chapter in "Quick Reads", separated at the end of each chapter and marked off by being enclosed in boxes. I feel this will help reluctant readers who still need this advice to learn something.
This is a very practical book and it is a well written one with an eye to who might choose to read it.
This user friendly text is a welcome approach to science and medical research writing. So much academic writing is written for the writer's peers. The vocabulary is impenetrable and just to make it doubly difficult these writers use acronyms. Taylor does talk about BMI, mmol/l and EFI but he does explain them when he first uses the acronym. And he has a sense of how the layman feels about acronyms:
"As acronyms go, WOSCPS is one of the most memorable. It stands for "The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study, [Page 91-92]
His style is also accessible. While it is not in short simple sentences which insult the reader's abilities nor does he become tangled in compound complex sentences which wind through a paragraph;
"No one with type 2 diabetes was included at the start of the study but during the course of the five years it was conducted, some people went on to develop it. It is very common. It happened to around 1% of the whole group over the five years."
The text is punctuated by simple graphs which many may find useful. I thought his prose was sufficient and the graphics superfluous.
He also has an impish humour in how he presents what might be dull facts. Chapter Five , "A murder mystery and the Twin Cycles", is presented as a murder mystery:
"In type 2 diabetes, half the beta cells seemed to have been murdered. Who were the suspects? From the Passmore insights Mr Incretin seemed to have an alibi. Other popular villains included the mysterious Ms Amyloid and Mr Inflammation."
He quotes effortlessly from Dr Johnson; "Around 1790 he [Dr Johnson] said "if a man is too fat it is plain for all to see that he has eaten more than he should have done." Dr Donne then seems obvious: "As John Donne observed so long ago, no man is an island."
What I liked most though comes at the beginning in "How to use this book. Some books are to be swallowed whole, others to be browsed or enjoyed in part." This book lacks a plot in spite of Professor Taylor's efforts to construct a narrative of discovery or a solution to a mystery. So I preferred to browse it.
He goes on, however, to tell those looking for a cure for diabetes, to go to Chapter Seven where you will quickly find the seven point plan. Then he provides a summary of each chapter in "Quick Reads", separated at the end of each chapter and marked off by being enclosed in boxes. I feel this will help reluctant readers who still need this advice to learn something.
This is a very practical book and it is a well written one with an eye to who might choose to read it.
January 18, 2020
Not just for Diabetics
This is so easy to read. Plain speaking and informative. Helps you understand why the liver is so important and what happens when you get diabetes, and how to reverse it.
This is a must for everyone.
This is so easy to read. Plain speaking and informative. Helps you understand why the liver is so important and what happens when you get diabetes, and how to reverse it.
This is a must for everyone.
December 31, 2022
This is one of the most refreshing non-fiction books I have ever read. The message of the entire book had personal meaning to me right from the get go as I am a diabetic, so the hope of reversing the condition is very dear to my heart.
Having said that, I did not get the impression that this was just a feel-good book, but rather it was a scientific exploration and discovery. What impressed me most about this book, and by extension the author, was how stringently they applied the scientific method to their conclusions, constantly second-guessing themselves, doubting themselves, but using this to investigate further, gather data. It is refreshing to read a book where the author details his attempts to disprove his thesis and the lengths he would go to do it, whilst also acknowledging the emotional risk involved in thinking that the teory you have developed could be disproven at any moment, but this is what good science is all about.
I particularly appreciated the exposure of how certain scientific dogmas permeate the culture by being misrespresented by news articles, and then another issue where the science is actually doen in a way to try and find conclusions to boast about rather than actually investigate cause and effect.
Overall I learned a lot from this book.
I was contemplating giving my review four stars because of the rather long recipe section at the end of the book, which felt almost like an attempt to simply pad out the book. But I went against that intuition as I will definitely be using the recipes in the future, so heave earmarked them for later. I also appreciated that the author didn't just publish a whole new book with all the recipes in there. Reading right up to the end I felt even more admiration for this author because he said he would donate all the proceeds from this book to Diabetes UK, I found that inspirational.
There are some good guys out there who just want to spread knowledge with as little bias as humanly possible and help others overcome a chronic condition.
I could not give this book any less than five stars, not after deriving so much benefit. From the work detailed in this book there is now an NHS Low Calorie Programme completely free of charge to patients registerd on the scheme. Because of this book, I have taken control of my diabetes and am in a much better position than before, although there is still a while to go. I have no doubt that this would have the same effect on so many other diabetics out there, not just in the nation, but in the world.
Having said that, I did not get the impression that this was just a feel-good book, but rather it was a scientific exploration and discovery. What impressed me most about this book, and by extension the author, was how stringently they applied the scientific method to their conclusions, constantly second-guessing themselves, doubting themselves, but using this to investigate further, gather data. It is refreshing to read a book where the author details his attempts to disprove his thesis and the lengths he would go to do it, whilst also acknowledging the emotional risk involved in thinking that the teory you have developed could be disproven at any moment, but this is what good science is all about.
I particularly appreciated the exposure of how certain scientific dogmas permeate the culture by being misrespresented by news articles, and then another issue where the science is actually doen in a way to try and find conclusions to boast about rather than actually investigate cause and effect.
Overall I learned a lot from this book.
I was contemplating giving my review four stars because of the rather long recipe section at the end of the book, which felt almost like an attempt to simply pad out the book. But I went against that intuition as I will definitely be using the recipes in the future, so heave earmarked them for later. I also appreciated that the author didn't just publish a whole new book with all the recipes in there. Reading right up to the end I felt even more admiration for this author because he said he would donate all the proceeds from this book to Diabetes UK, I found that inspirational.
There are some good guys out there who just want to spread knowledge with as little bias as humanly possible and help others overcome a chronic condition.
I could not give this book any less than five stars, not after deriving so much benefit. From the work detailed in this book there is now an NHS Low Calorie Programme completely free of charge to patients registerd on the scheme. Because of this book, I have taken control of my diabetes and am in a much better position than before, although there is still a while to go. I have no doubt that this would have the same effect on so many other diabetics out there, not just in the nation, but in the world.
May 31, 2023
Dr. Taylor explains his type 2 diabetes research in an accessible and engaging way. I learned more details on how ectopic fat in the liver and pancreas leads to Type 2 Diabetes.
I’m a graduate student in human nutrition and I felt things were explained plainly enough for the lay reader. The latter part of the book had more practical take aways.
The most shocking part of the book for me was when Taylor explained that some
“normal weight” individuals (BMI 18.5-25) may carry too much excess abdominal fat and that they would benefit from weight loss. This would be a very controversial statement in the online nutrition space.
Conversely high weight individuals (BMI 30+) are not necessarily at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes if they are carrying most of their excess fat outside of their abdominal cavity. (I.e. on their arms, buttocks, & legs)
I knew central adiposity was more harmful than subcutaneous but Taylor’s research and writing made this abundantly clear. Excess fat in the pancreas causes beta cells to “shut down” & cease insulin production. You’ve got to clear out the excess fat via energy restriction to “wake them back up.”
As a weight loss and nutrition coach I found parts of this work a helpful challenge to my preconceived beliefs. Taylor argues, compellingly I’m my opinion, that rapid and dramatic weight loss is a viable approach for some, but not all, people.
Type 2 diabetes is a devastating disease and we as providers should inform our clients/patients of their options. Some people would rather fight for rapid and longterm weight loss over longterm medication use (metformin -> exogenous insulin). You can use both too.
Rapid weight loss is out of vogue in dietetics these days. Slow and steady is the usual recommendation. But if a client with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes wants to try a very low calorie diet with meal replacement shakes for a few months to shed 20-40lbs I wouldn’t advise against it anymore. The same principles for longterm maintenance still apply regardless how fast you lose weight.
I’m a graduate student in human nutrition and I felt things were explained plainly enough for the lay reader. The latter part of the book had more practical take aways.
The most shocking part of the book for me was when Taylor explained that some
“normal weight” individuals (BMI 18.5-25) may carry too much excess abdominal fat and that they would benefit from weight loss. This would be a very controversial statement in the online nutrition space.
Conversely high weight individuals (BMI 30+) are not necessarily at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes if they are carrying most of their excess fat outside of their abdominal cavity. (I.e. on their arms, buttocks, & legs)
I knew central adiposity was more harmful than subcutaneous but Taylor’s research and writing made this abundantly clear. Excess fat in the pancreas causes beta cells to “shut down” & cease insulin production. You’ve got to clear out the excess fat via energy restriction to “wake them back up.”
As a weight loss and nutrition coach I found parts of this work a helpful challenge to my preconceived beliefs. Taylor argues, compellingly I’m my opinion, that rapid and dramatic weight loss is a viable approach for some, but not all, people.
Type 2 diabetes is a devastating disease and we as providers should inform our clients/patients of their options. Some people would rather fight for rapid and longterm weight loss over longterm medication use (metformin -> exogenous insulin). You can use both too.
Rapid weight loss is out of vogue in dietetics these days. Slow and steady is the usual recommendation. But if a client with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes wants to try a very low calorie diet with meal replacement shakes for a few months to shed 20-40lbs I wouldn’t advise against it anymore. The same principles for longterm maintenance still apply regardless how fast you lose weight.
July 9, 2024
Informative! Accessible. I highly recommend for everyone who is pre-diabetic, diabetic, or interested in avoiding becoming so. Pre-diabetes (early or stage 1 diabetes) and full on type 2 diabetes are no joke - they damage your body and put you at a much higher risk for multiple terrible diseases including cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver disease, neuropathy, and dementia.
- Obesity does not cause type 2 diabetes
- Most people that are obese do not have type 2 diabetes
- Only about 30% of those who have type 2 diabetes are obese (less than the overall % of adult obesity)
- Regardless of BMI, having a BMI that is greater than what it was during your 20's greatly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Each person has a unique to them body weight/fat percentage that will affect the liver/pancreas
- Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes is reversable - without medication
- Losing enough weight to get your BMI back to what it was during your 20's is key to reversing type 2 diabetes
The author advocates for very rapid weight loss through a low calorie/low carb diet, followed by a slow reintroduction of more food to a point that will maintain an ideal weight for each person. Eliminate sugary drinks (including fruit juices and sports drinks), no snacking, focus on fresh foods, eat without distraction focusing on the food and eating experience, paying attention to how much food you eat and eating only what you need to maintain an ideal weight. Pay attention to your weight each day and adjust as necessary (making small changes instead of waiting until it's a big problem). He also says that many different kinds of diets can be effective because it's more how much you eat than what you eat. Exercise is also necessary and duration is more important than intensity.
- Obesity does not cause type 2 diabetes
- Most people that are obese do not have type 2 diabetes
- Only about 30% of those who have type 2 diabetes are obese (less than the overall % of adult obesity)
- Regardless of BMI, having a BMI that is greater than what it was during your 20's greatly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Each person has a unique to them body weight/fat percentage that will affect the liver/pancreas
- Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes is reversable - without medication
- Losing enough weight to get your BMI back to what it was during your 20's is key to reversing type 2 diabetes
The author advocates for very rapid weight loss through a low calorie/low carb diet, followed by a slow reintroduction of more food to a point that will maintain an ideal weight for each person. Eliminate sugary drinks (including fruit juices and sports drinks), no snacking, focus on fresh foods, eat without distraction focusing on the food and eating experience, paying attention to how much food you eat and eating only what you need to maintain an ideal weight. Pay attention to your weight each day and adjust as necessary (making small changes instead of waiting until it's a big problem). He also says that many different kinds of diets can be effective because it's more how much you eat than what you eat. Exercise is also necessary and duration is more important than intensity.
September 8, 2023
70% of obese people are not diabetic (DM). DM is not a disease of the obese which is a common misconception.
DM results when fat builds up in liver and pancreas causing dysfunction. How quickly that happens, varies from person to person, based on their “fat tolerance”, ie how much fat one can tolerate before resulting in routing of fat to liver and pancreas (skin is a safe space for fat storage). This “fat tolerance” is determined genetically. For some people, this will happen at a normal BMI, and for others at a higher one. For Indians and East Asians, this build up of fat in the pancreas and liver, ie DM, happens at much lower weight levels than for whites.
DM II (this book is only about type 2) can be reversed, particularly so in the first 4 years of diagnosis, and sometimes longer (but it’s just less likely)…with decreasing food intake. Yup, that’s it. For someone with a normal BMI, weight loss into the lower range of normal BMI can reverse it as well - that person just has much less fat tolerance. Studies have shown with vigorous caloric decrease, glucose levels can drop to normal in a week and then with significant weight loss (15kg), liver and pancreas fat can dissipate causing reversal of diabetes. From there, the patient would eat a normal diet but aim to not overeat.
Watch labels. Lower fat foods tend to load up on carbs / sugar to compensate for flavor. The dietary pattern you use to reach this goal doesn’t matter for this particular condition but protein and fiber rich foods do result in more satiety (and the latter with normal bowel movement) which is helpful in maintaining goals.
DM results when fat builds up in liver and pancreas causing dysfunction. How quickly that happens, varies from person to person, based on their “fat tolerance”, ie how much fat one can tolerate before resulting in routing of fat to liver and pancreas (skin is a safe space for fat storage). This “fat tolerance” is determined genetically. For some people, this will happen at a normal BMI, and for others at a higher one. For Indians and East Asians, this build up of fat in the pancreas and liver, ie DM, happens at much lower weight levels than for whites.
DM II (this book is only about type 2) can be reversed, particularly so in the first 4 years of diagnosis, and sometimes longer (but it’s just less likely)…with decreasing food intake. Yup, that’s it. For someone with a normal BMI, weight loss into the lower range of normal BMI can reverse it as well - that person just has much less fat tolerance. Studies have shown with vigorous caloric decrease, glucose levels can drop to normal in a week and then with significant weight loss (15kg), liver and pancreas fat can dissipate causing reversal of diabetes. From there, the patient would eat a normal diet but aim to not overeat.
Watch labels. Lower fat foods tend to load up on carbs / sugar to compensate for flavor. The dietary pattern you use to reach this goal doesn’t matter for this particular condition but protein and fiber rich foods do result in more satiety (and the latter with normal bowel movement) which is helpful in maintaining goals.
March 5, 2024
Having recently been diagnosed with diabetes 2 I am keen to do whatever I can to change my prognosis.
I weighed 120.9 kg on the day I was diagnosed, Jan 14th 2024. The following weekend I read Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes by the same author. Both books are similar in context but Life Without Diabetes goes into a bit more depth.
It's the 5th March 2024 and following the calorie restrictive diet to lose weight as quickly as possible - the strategy paid out in both books - I now weigh 109.5 kg. My goal is to get down to 100 kg by the end of the month.
Reading the book has helped motivate me, I signed up to the WalkFit App which sets daily step targets which I exceed every day by getting up early 6.30 am and walking from an hour or so before the start of my working day at 9 am.
I feel fitter and healthier, with plans to test at the end of the month. Watch this space for further updates.
I weighed 120.9 kg on the day I was diagnosed, Jan 14th 2024. The following weekend I read Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes by the same author. Both books are similar in context but Life Without Diabetes goes into a bit more depth.
It's the 5th March 2024 and following the calorie restrictive diet to lose weight as quickly as possible - the strategy paid out in both books - I now weigh 109.5 kg. My goal is to get down to 100 kg by the end of the month.
Reading the book has helped motivate me, I signed up to the WalkFit App which sets daily step targets which I exceed every day by getting up early 6.30 am and walking from an hour or so before the start of my working day at 9 am.
I feel fitter and healthier, with plans to test at the end of the month. Watch this space for further updates.
June 6, 2024
Professor Roy Taylor's research is ground-breaking and proved that diabetes does not have to be progressive and inevitably lead to all the horrible long-term complications - that it is possible with lifestyle changes to put diabetes into remission. He explains his research very well, but his 'one size fits all' approach is to use a short, sharp 800 calorie diet for 12 weeks using shakes, and then you somehow have to work out how not to put the weight back on - and then some. This will work for some people but will be too difficult for many, especially without all the medical support given in the research. There are other approaches and I would recommend Busting the Diabetes Myth by Dr David Cavan which explores different ways to make it work for you, with the emphasis on long-term sustainable changes.
March 28, 2022
A must read book for anyone with type 2 diabetes or living with someone with the condition!
It is written in a straightforward informative way that makes it clear what is happening when you have the disease. Prof Taylor’s research have established that it is possible to reverse the condition for most people who have a fairly recent diagnosis.
The treatment involves losing 15kg in weight, and then keeping it off thereafter. This causes the fat in the liver and pancreas to be shed, which allows the pancreatic beta cells to recover and start producing insulin again.
In some cases the beta cells can remain dormant and the patients remain diabetic with all that it entails.
So a hopeful book for a condition which up to know has been deemed progressive and irreversible.
It is written in a straightforward informative way that makes it clear what is happening when you have the disease. Prof Taylor’s research have established that it is possible to reverse the condition for most people who have a fairly recent diagnosis.
The treatment involves losing 15kg in weight, and then keeping it off thereafter. This causes the fat in the liver and pancreas to be shed, which allows the pancreatic beta cells to recover and start producing insulin again.
In some cases the beta cells can remain dormant and the patients remain diabetic with all that it entails.
So a hopeful book for a condition which up to know has been deemed progressive and irreversible.
December 18, 2021
Wow... amazing book. This book finally answers my question of many years as to why I have diabetes. There is a cure to diabetes and its soooo simple, spoiler alert!! Lose the fat, no matter how much you weigh you need to lose weight to lose the extra fat in your body since you have surpassed your body's Personal Fat Threshold. This is all backed by research studies and real life data, not simply a doctor's opinion.
May 7, 2025
I think this book has made more of a profound impact on me than any other diet book I have ever read. It's made me realise how bad my relationship with food is and has made me want to eat less with immediate affect. Not only is it laid out in easy to understand language explaining the science going on in our bodies but it also debunks several dietry myths and explains how to live a healthy life. I can't wait to get started.
February 25, 2020
Good intro to modern myths around health management
Refreshing with new ideas on the causes and how to avoid issues leading to diabetes. It could have gone further on the types of diets that the sample undertook, but as a whole a good read in understanding the causes and how to avoid type 2 diabetes
Refreshing with new ideas on the causes and how to avoid issues leading to diabetes. It could have gone further on the types of diets that the sample undertook, but as a whole a good read in understanding the causes and how to avoid type 2 diabetes
August 10, 2021
Written for those of us with diabetes but no medical degree. Easily understood research results. Clear cut answers. 4 stars instead of 5 because the recipes in the back of the book are not appealing to me. Suggest more research also placed on follow up weight loss maintenance which is clearly acknowledged as the most difficult part of continuing a life without diabetes.
March 12, 2025
Accessible, scientific information
This book is an essential for anyone struggling with or just interested in type 2 diabetes. The text is informative, based on results from extremely large study populations, and is presented in a manner that is interesting and accessible to the lay person. I highly recommend it.
This book is an essential for anyone struggling with or just interested in type 2 diabetes. The text is informative, based on results from extremely large study populations, and is presented in a manner that is interesting and accessible to the lay person. I highly recommend it.
August 30, 2021
An excellent insight into how, if you are susceptible to it, Type 2 diabetes can be avoided. Contains much of interest about what is a healthy diet to those who are not susceptible also. For example, rather than 'we are what we eat' it would be better to think ' we are how much we eat'.
September 9, 2022
Clear explanation of what Diabetes is, what causes it, and advice. It’s not super pushy in its treatment approach and has a chapter explaining how everyone is different and you need to find a sustainable meal plan that works for you.
January 2, 2023
Great book to understand how diabetes occurs and how the entire system works in the body for digesting, storing fat, etc. It answered so many questions I had and motivated me to start (or try) eating healthier.
February 9, 2023
An indispensable guide. Whether you wish to reverse your diabetes or avoid developing it in the first place. “The definitive guide” is no idle boast. This superbly written book will arm you with all you need to know.
January 16, 2024
An excellent book which explains the research behind a potentially doable approach to preventing and reversing Type II diabetes (most likely possible within the first few years of diagnosis). Valuable information! This was recommended reading for a class I took last fall.
April 3, 2020
Very inspiring. Must read for all.
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