Diet guru Dr Michael Mosley has revealed how he dodged a lifetime of medication after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The 66-year-old, famed for his takes on the 5:2 and Fast 800 diets, shared his health journey on Instagram - which has also catapulted him to food expert status. Dr Mosley disclosed that he shed 10 kilos (1.5 stone) in just 12 weeks, effectively reversing his severe health condition. He explained: "When I discovered I was Type 2 diabetic as the result of a blood test I did for TV, my GP wanted me to start medication but I thought there must be something better so I started searching the literature and I came across this thing called intermittent fasting.
"From there, I came up with the 5:2 diet, which involves five days of eating regularly and two of low-calorie consumption. I lost 10 kilos in 12 weeks and reversed my diabetes and have kept the weight off ever since. That then evolved into The Fast 800 to create an easy-to-follow programme that helps you lose weight, improve your mood and reduce blood pressure, inflammation and blood sugars. With the fast 800 you can take your future health into your own hands."
Dr Mosley, at the age of 56, faced a health reckoning when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure a decade ago, reports Gloucestershire Live. Determined to regain his health, Dr Mosley utilised intermittent fasting through the well-known 5:2 diet regime to turn things around.
In the past, he emphasised on the ease of this model, stating: "The 5:2 approach is very simple. For five days a week you don't calorie count. Then for two days a week you cut down your calories. You can do this on any two days of the week that suit you, but it is best to be consistent so you get into a pattern.
"Try consecutive days or you may prefer to split them whatever works for you. In the original version of the Fast Diet, I recommended men to stick to 600 calories and women to 500, twice a week. Going up to 800 calories isn't going to make that much of a difference, particularly if you go low carb on the other five days."
The good doctor advocates for a low-carb Mediterranean-style diet chock-full of disease-battling nutrients, healthy fats, fish, top-notch proteins and plant-based foods.