Tame type 2 diabetes by removing fat from where it doesn’t belong

Hard - Requires significant effort Recommended

Insulin resistance is often described as a sugar problem, but its roots are frequently in fat stored where it doesn’t belong. When excess fat accumulates inside muscle and liver cells, it interferes with insulin’s signal, making it harder for glucose to enter. Blood sugar rises, the pancreas works overtime, and over years beta cells tire. This process has been demonstrated by imaging fat inside muscles, by infusing fat to induce resistance, and by improving insulin sensitivity when fat is reduced in these tissues.

The everyday translation is clear. Meals centered on beans, vegetables, and intact grains reduce dietary saturated fat and provide fiber that helps clear fat from the liver. Swapping butter and fatty meats for nuts, seeds, and olive‑rich dishes reduces lipotoxic by‑products that harm cells. Colorful plants deliver polyphenols that lower oxidative stress and inflammation, easing the cellular traffic jam at the insulin receptor.

Small movement matters too. A ten‑minute walk after eating opens the door for glucose to enter muscles without demanding more insulin. Patients who add this simple habit often report steadier energy and fewer late‑afternoon crashes. One client shared a micro‑anecdote: a relaxed stroll around the block after dinner lowered her post‑meal glucose by 30 points within two weeks.

This isn’t about perfection or deprivation. It’s about consistent, repeatable choices that change the metabolic environment inside your cells. Reduce saturated fat, raise fiber and color, and recruit your muscles after meals. The physiology follows: less fat inside the wrong cells, better insulin signaling, and more stable blood sugars. Over time, many people see medication needs fall under medical supervision, a tangible sign that food is working at the level of cause.

Center your meals on beans, vegetables, and intact grains so fiber helps move fat out of muscle and liver cells. Replace saturated fats like butter, cream, and fatty meats with whole‑plant fats from nuts, seeds, olives, and avocado to avoid lipotoxic by‑products. Fill your plate with at least three to five colors to bring in polyphenols that quiet oxidative stress. Finish each meal with a ten‑minute walk to let muscle contraction shuttle glucose inside without extra insulin. Keep the steps simple, repeatable, and enjoyable—your meter will tell you it’s working.

What You'll Achieve

Feel steadier energy and fewer cravings while seeing lower post‑meal glucose and potentially reduced medication needs under medical guidance.

Shift fat out of muscle and liver

1

Center meals on beans and intact grains.

These foods improve insulin sensitivity and help move fat out of muscle and liver cells. Build lunches around lentil soup, bean chili, or a grain‑and‑greens bowl.

2

Swap saturated fats for whole‑plant fats.

Replace butter, cream, and fatty meats with nuts, seeds, olives, and avocado. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are less lipotoxic to muscle and beta cells.

3

Create a color quota at lunch and dinner.

Aim for 3–5 colors on your plate. Color diversity correlates with polyphenols that reduce oxidative stress tied to insulin resistance.

4

Walk 10 minutes after meals.

A short, easy walk acts like another dose of insulin by shuttling glucose into muscles. Set a timer when you put down your fork.

Reflection Questions

  • Which meal is your easiest target for a bean‑based swap this week?
  • Where does saturated fat sneak into your day, and what’s a whole‑plant replacement you’d enjoy?
  • When can you fit a 10‑minute walk after meals without stress?
  • What number on your glucose meter would feel like a win in two weeks?

Personalization Tips

  • • Office: Keep a shelf‑stable lentil pack and frozen veggies for fast lunches.
  • • Family: Serve a build‑your‑own bean taco bar with whole‑grain tortillas.
  • • Travel: Choose oatmeal with nuts and fruit over pastries at hotels.
How Not to Die: Daily Dozen
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How Not to Die: Daily Dozen

Michael Greger 2017
Insight 3 of 9

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