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Nicholas Cohen, MD

Did you know that more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults has pre-diabetes, and the prevalence of diabetes has increased 10-fold in the past century. The diagnosis of diabetes is determined by a blood test measuring hemoglobin A1c%. 

Diabetes is one of the disease of Western diet, virtually non-existent in traditional cultures. The causes of the worsening epidemic of prediabetes and diabetes come down to the food we eat, the stress in our lives, and how active we are. If your hemoglobin A1c is 5% or greater you are at increased risk of progression to prediabetes and diabetes, and at increased risk of premature death.

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Did you know that more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults has pre-diabetes, and the prevalence of diabetes has increased 10-fold in the past century. The diagnosis of diabetes is determined by a blood test measuring hemoglobin A1c%. 

Diabetes is one of the disease of Western diet, virtually non-existent in traditional cultures. The causes of the worsening epidemic of prediabetes and diabetes come down to the food we eat, the stress in our lives, and how active we are. If your hemoglobin A1c is 5% or greater you are at increased risk of progression to prediabetes and diabetes, and at increased risk of premature death.

In this course, Dr. Cohen, a primary care physician in downtown San Francisco, shares with you an evidence based approach to making lifestyle changes to prevent and reverse diabetes. It starts with addressing anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social isolation. These factors contribute to chronic stress, and the chronic activation of our sympathetic nervous system which pumps out cortisol and adrenalin in what is called the fight or flight response.  Cortisol raises blood sugar levels so addressing factors that are contributing to stress is the first step.

Next, we turn to sleep. Insufficient sleep affects 1 in 3 Americans.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to reverse prediabetes
  • How to reverse diabetes
  • How to make small habit changes to lead to big results lowering blood sugar
  • The best ways to lower blood sugar through lifestyle

Syllabus

Welcome!

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Evidence Update - July 2022
14 Tips to Prevent Diabetes
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Offers practical advice on lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, which are known to help manage blood sugar levels
Explores the role of stress, sleep, and mental health in diabetes, which are often overlooked aspects of disease management
Examines the impact of specific dietary factors like sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats on diabetes risk
Presents an evidence-based approach, which may appeal to learners seeking scientifically-backed information
Includes a discussion of hemoglobin A1c, which is a standard measure used by clinicians to assess blood sugar control
Requires learners to make changes to their lifestyle, which may be difficult for some individuals to implement and maintain

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Reviews summary

Lifestyle approach to diabetes prevention

According to learners, this course offers a practical and evidence-based approach to preventing and reversing diabetes. Students praise the instructor, Dr. Cohen, for his clear explanations and focus on lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management, which many found empowering and actionable. While some reviewers noted the information might be found elsewhere, the course is commended for bringing these elements together in a structured and easy-to-understand format. A few reviews mention it could be basic for those with prior knowledge, but overall, it's seen as a valuable resource for making healthy changes.
Grounds advice in scientific evidence.
"Liked that the approach is evidence-based and not just fads."
"The 'Evidence Update' module shows the information is current and reliable."
"Felt confident in the recommendations knowing they are supported by evidence."
Covers stress, sleep, and mental well-being.
"It was eye-opening to learn how stress, anxiety, and sleep affect blood sugar."
"The first step addressing anxiety and depression was a unique and important angle."
"Appreciated that the course goes beyond just diet and exercise to include sleep and stress."
Concepts explained simply and easy to grasp.
"Dr. Cohen explains complex topics like insulin resistance and HgbA1c clearly and understandably."
"The mechanism behind how lifestyle factors raise HgbA1c was made very clear."
"I liked how the course broke down the evidence and background in simple terms."
Provides actionable tips for prevention/reversal.
"The tips on diet, sleep, and stress were incredibly practical and easy to start implementing right away."
"I appreciated the focus on small habit changes that can lead to big results in lowering blood sugar."
"The best ways to lower blood sugar through lifestyle were explained in a way I could actually use."
"Found the advice on increasing whole grains and reducing red/processed meat very actionable."
May be too introductory for those with prior knowledge.
"If you've already done a lot of research on diabetes and lifestyle, some of this might be review."
"Good for beginners, but those looking for deep scientific dives might find it basic."
"Felt like I already knew some of the tips presented."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Prevent (or Reverse) Diabetes with these activities:
Review Basic Nutrition Principles
Strengthen your foundational knowledge of nutrition to better understand the dietary recommendations in the course.
Show steps
  • Review the basics of macronutrients.
  • Understand the role of micronutrients.
  • Familiarize yourself with the glycemic index.
Design a Personalized Meal Plan
Apply the course's principles to create a meal plan tailored to your individual needs and preferences.
Show steps
  • Assess your current dietary habits.
  • Set realistic goals for blood sugar control.
  • Incorporate diabetes-friendly foods.
  • Monitor your blood sugar levels.
Track Your Blood Sugar Levels
Gain practical experience in monitoring your blood sugar and understanding how different factors affect it.
Show steps
  • Obtain a blood glucose meter.
  • Test your blood sugar at regular intervals.
  • Record your blood sugar readings.
  • Analyze the data to identify trends.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Read 'The Diabetes Code'
Deepen your understanding of diabetes reversal through a detailed exploration of dietary strategies.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Diabetes Code'.
  • Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
  • Compare the book's recommendations to the course content.
  • Identify actionable steps to implement.
Read 'Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity'
Deepen your understanding of diabetes reversal through a detailed exploration of dietary strategies.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity'.
  • Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
  • Compare the book's recommendations to the course content.
  • Identify actionable steps to implement.
Create a Diabetes-Friendly Recipe Collection
Reinforce your understanding of healthy eating by compiling a collection of delicious and diabetes-friendly recipes.
Show steps
  • Research diabetes-friendly recipes.
  • Adapt existing recipes to be healthier.
  • Organize the recipes into a collection.
  • Share your collection with others.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Prevent (or Reverse) Diabetes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Health Coach
A health coach guides clients in making lifestyle changes to improve their well-being, often focusing on nutrition, exercise, and stress management. This course provides a strong foundation for a health coach, particularly in understanding the root causes of diabetes and strategies for reversing it. The emphasis on stress reduction, sleep improvement, and diet modifications within the course gives the health coach evidence-based methods to help clients at risk of diabetes. A health coach would draw on the course's tips around diet, exercise, and stress reduction to offer practical advice to their clients.
Wellness Consultant
Wellness consultants work with individuals or organizations to develop and implement strategies for promoting health and well-being, often focusing on preventative measures. This course equips a wellness consultant with knowledge about the drivers of diabetes and actionable steps to prevent or reverse the disease. The course provides specific guidance on lifestyle adjustments that wellness consultants can incorporate into their recommendations and programs. The course's focus on stress, sleep, and diet will be highly useful for a wellness consultant who seeks to provide a holistic approach to wellness. This aligns with a growing interest in lifestyle-based interventions.
Lifestyle Medicine Specialist
A lifestyle medicine specialist works with patients to prevent, manage, and treat chronic diseases by implementing lifestyle changes. This course on preventing and reversing diabetes helps build a foundation in understanding the lifestyle factors that contribute to diabetes. The course can help a lifestyle medicine specialist understand how factors such as stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep can affect blood sugar levels. The course's practical tips, such as improving sleep, increasing whole grains, and limiting red meat, offer tangible advice for a lifestyle medicine specialist to integrate into their patient care.
Nutritionist
A nutritionist assesses and advises individuals on their dietary needs, promoting healthy eating habits to improve overall health. This course provides a useful background for a nutritionist, particularly one who works with patients at risk for diabetes. The course helps inform dietary recommendations by discussing the factors that raise diabetes risk, such as sugar sweetened beverages and processed meats. The course also shares how to lower the risk of diabetes, for example, through increasing whole grains and reducing red meat. A nutritionist could use the course's insights to help clients manage diabetes.
Public Health Educator
A public health educator develops and implements programs to promote health and prevent disease in communities. This course may be useful for a public health educator who seeks to educate communities about the risk factors for diabetes and strategies for prevention. The course will provide them scientific evidence and effective tips to reduce the risk of diabetes. The modules that discuss lifestyle changes, such as improving sleep, increasing exercise, and making dietary changes, may assist a public health educator as they tailor interventions for specific populations. A public health educator can draw upon this course's framework to better inform their programs.
Corporate Wellness Program Coordinator
A corporate wellness program coordinator designs and manages health initiatives for employees within a company. This course may be helpful for a corporate wellness program coordinator to develop initiatives designed around preventing and reversing diabetes, a prevalent condition in many workforces. The course's discussion of addressing stress, improving sleep, and promoting healthy eating habits is directly applicable to creating workplace health programs. A corporate wellness program coordinator can use the practical tips in the course to inform their initiatives.
Primary Care Physician
Primary care physicians provide comprehensive care to patients, often managing chronic conditions like diabetes. This course may be useful for primary care physicians looking to enhance their approach to diabetes prevention and management, since it discusses how to make lifestyle changes to prevent and reverse diabetes. The evidence-based approach in the course, addressing lifestyle factors like anxiety, depression, and sleep, complements a clinical practice. A primary care physician can enhance their patient care by integrating insights from this course.
Registered Dietitian
A registered dietitian provides dietary advice and treatment plans to individuals and groups, often in clinical settings. This course provides a useful background for a dietitian working with clients at risk for diabetes since it highlights the dietary factors that increase diabetes risk and outlines strategies to lower it. The course's focus on the impact of sugar sweetened beverages, processed meats and white rice on diabetes risk can directly inform their recommendations. This course may be helpful for a registered dietitian who wants to create evidence-based nutritional plans that will help clients prevent or reverse diabetes.
Community Health Worker
Community health workers act as liaisons between communities and health or social services, often assisting with preventative care. This course may be helpful for a community health worker by giving them information about preventing and reversing diabetes. The course discusses many lifestyle changes that a community health worker can share to help educate their community. The course's evidence-based approach, highlighting lifestyle factors, helps in creating effective community interventions. This course can provide tools for a community health worker seeking to empower others.
Personal Trainer
A personal trainer designs and implements exercise programs for clients to improve fitness and health. This course may be useful for a personal trainer since the course discusses the risk that conditions such as high blood pressure and high resting heart rate pose to diabetes. The course mentions that increasing exercise helps lower the risk of diabetes. A personal trainer can use these points to design a fitness plan that is tailored to a client who needs to reduce their risk of diabetes. They can also provide a holistic approach by noting the impact of stress and sleep on diabetes risk, as discussed in the course
Health Program Manager
A health program manager oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health-related programs. This course may assist a health program manager who oversees programs that aim to prevent or reverse diabetes. The course's content, which emphasizes evidence-based lifestyle modifications, can be incorporated into their program designs. The course provides tools to develop strategies to address the modifiable risk factors highlighted, including sleep, diet, and stress. The course may be helpful for a health program manager who aims to maximize program effectiveness.
Health Blogger
A health blogger creates content related to health and wellness to share with an online audience. This course may serve as a helpful resource for a health blogger, providing them with valuable information about diabetes, its causes, and effective prevention strategies. The course's exploration of lifestyle factors, such as stress, diet, and sleep, can serve as inspiration for articles and blog posts. The practical tips offered in the course can translate into actionable advice for a health blogger's audience. A health blogger can use this course to gain a deeper understanding of the disease.
Medical Assistant
A medical assistant performs clinical and administrative tasks in healthcare settings. This course may be useful for a medical assistant, especially as they may be involved in educating patients on lifestyle modifications. The course delves into the various factors influencing diabetes risk, such as diet and stress, which can guide their interactions with patients. While the scope of a medical assistant does not focus on treatment plans, they can help reinforce advice on preventative measures mentioned in this course. The course's information on how to prevent and reverse diabetes may be valuable for a medical assistant in their interactions with patients.
Caregiver
A caregiver provides assistance to individuals who need help with daily activities, often in the home. This course may be useful for a caregiver who provides care for someone at risk of diabetes. The course offers practical advice on lifestyle changes that can prevent or reverse diabetes, all of which a caregiver can use to better assist their client. The course addresses the impact of stress, sleep, and diet on diabetes risk. This knowledge can be used by a caregiver to create a more health-conscious environment for the individual they are caring for.
Fitness Instructor
A fitness instructor leads group fitness classes or individual exercise sessions, helping people to achieve their fitness goals. This course may be helpful for a fitness instructor to supplement their knowledge about the relationship between exercise and diabetes prevention. The course discusses many lifestyle recommendations, including increasing exercise. The course touches on how stress impacts diabetes. A fitness instructor can draw upon this course to create a holistic wellness plan in combination with exercise.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Prevent (or Reverse) Diabetes.
Provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and reversing type 2 diabetes through dietary changes and lifestyle modifications. It emphasizes intermittent fasting and a low-carbohydrate diet as key strategies. Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind diabetes and practical steps for implementing the course's recommendations. It serves as a valuable resource for those seeking a more in-depth exploration of the dietary approaches discussed in the course.

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