A Success Story from an Intensivist to Diabetes Reversal
My Birthday Gift to Myself: How FFD Helped Me Take Control of Diabetes
- Name - Dr. Poonam Gupta
- Age - 64 Years Young
- Profession - Intensivist/ Anesthesiologist
- Place - Delhi
Hello all,
I am Dr. Poonam Gupta, an intensivist and anesthesiologist who served in a tertiary government hospital in New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
- Medicine reduced
- Weight gain 2-3 kg
- Improved strength, stamina & flexibility
My Diabetes Story
My medical career is dedicated to caring for critically ill patients, yet I faced a quiet battle with my health: diabetes.
Diagnosed over 15 years ago, not from symptoms, but through my proactive monitoring, it felt almost inevitable given my strong family history – My father was diabetic due to prolonged steroid use for asthma, and all five of my siblings are either diabetic or pre-diabetic.
"I was keeping a record of my sugars and ultimately it came out to be more," I recall. Despite no symptoms and normal blood pressure and cholesterol, I remained on oral medications, Which steadily increased over the years.
Diagnosed over 15 years ago, not from symptoms, but through my proactive monitoring, it felt almost inevitable given my strong family history – My father was diabetic due to prolonged steroid use for asthma, and all five of my siblings are either diabetic or pre-diabetic.
"I was keeping a record of my sugars and ultimately it came out to be more," I recall. Despite no symptoms and normal blood pressure and cholesterol, I remained on oral medications, Which steadily increased over the years.
How did FFD happen? - A self-birthday gift
A pivotal moment arrived during a VIP medical posting when I encountered Dr. Pramod Tripathi.
Initially mistaking him for someone else, I was intrigued by his claims of diabetes reversal. "Being a doctor, I thought — he’s claiming so many reversals — let me join and see for myself.
Just out of curiosity." So, as a unique birthday gift to myself, I enrolled in the Freedom From Diabetes (FFD) program.
Initially mistaking him for someone else, I was intrigued by his claims of diabetes reversal. "Being a doctor, I thought — he’s claiming so many reversals — let me join and see for myself.
Just out of curiosity." So, as a unique birthday gift to myself, I enrolled in the Freedom From Diabetes (FFD) program.
Reversal Story
Joining FFD has been the best decision of mine. The FFD team studied my case in detail and designed a tailor-made plan.
I started following FFD protocols, and my HbA1c, which never went below 6.3, began improving significantly.
I have dramatically reduced my medication from 1000 mg SR metformin at night, 500 mg in the morning, and 100 mg sitagliptin, to just 50 mg sitagliptin in the morning and 500 mg metformin at night.
I am very happy with the FFD diet, and despite travel and stress, I remain committed, gaining better control.
I have dramatically reduced my medication from 1000 mg SR metformin at night, 500 mg in the morning, and 100 mg sitagliptin, to just 50 mg sitagliptin in the morning and 500 mg metformin at night.
I am very happy with the FFD diet, and despite travel and stress, I remain committed, gaining better control.
Though not traditionally athletic, I embraced weight training, starting with 2 kg dumbbells and building strength.
My arms, once flabby, are now firm. My flexibility and stamina soared; I now do 50 Surya Namaskars regularly, up from barely four. Cycling is my next retirement dream.
My arms, once flabby, are now firm. My flexibility and stamina soared; I now do 50 Surya Namaskars regularly, up from barely four. Cycling is my next retirement dream.
As a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, chanting keeps me sane in my intense job. I plan to deepen my inner transformation with a Vipassana course and may even join FFD's in-house program to mentor others after retirement.
I maintain my weight at 51.5 kg (down from 53 kg), focusing on muscle gain. My ultimate goal is to be completely medicine-free in retirement. "Even when I'm tired, I do my weight training for at least 20 minutes. That's my motivation now." I hope to contribute to the FFD community soon.
