Stephen, AKA Orbi-Wan, is using the Carnivore Diet to repair 25 years of damage from diabetes and carb
addiction.
My name is Stephen, also known as Orbi-Wan on the internet. I am a 60-year-old retired military veteran
currently working as technology support for our local school district.
I am working to put my 25 years of diabetes into remission through a commitment to eating what is best for
my body. I am the first to admit that, while I have made great strides towards this goal, I still have a long way
to go. Being diabetic with poor management and terrible diet habits for 25 years has taken its toll. It’s going to
take a while, perhaps two or three years, but I am committed to stick with it, and the Carnivore food lifestyle
is the key.
I was diagnosed in 1998 with Type 2 Diabetes, and a review of my military medical records show that I went
undiagnosed as far back as late 1995. I retired from the Navy in 2002.
Prior to discovering the Carnivore food lifestyle, I ate pretty much anything I wanted to, and was especially
addicted to pastas, rice and certain fast foods. I was obese – my weight fluctuated anywhere from 190 to 230
over a period of several years. I suffered from lethargy, multiple sinus infections a year, was put on high blood
pressure meds and statins, and of course, more diabetes management drugs than I can even remember. Of
course, everything I was suffering from was pretty much a direct result of the complications of my diabetes,
my Standard American Diet, and the lack of education about the best way to deal with my condition.
During the fall of 2019, my wife and her sister both began transitioning to the Keto food lifestyle. I was
resistant. I was drinking what I considered healthy green smoothies every morning, loaded with fruits, kale,
spinach, and artificial sweeteners, and thought that was enough. I was on multiple types of medications, both
for diabetes management and associated “medical” problems. I was still putting away massive amounts of
“healthy” foods with carbs but knew in my heart that I was really not doing myself any favors.
As I approached my 60th birthday, something finally clicked. I was coming off an extended recovery after I
broke my foot, and my wife was constantly playing videos by Jason Fung and Ken Berry. The phrases “insulin
resistance” and “reversing diabetes” kept popping up, enough that they finally wormed their way into my
consciousness. I actually began to listen to what they were saying. I watched Fung’s reversing diabetes course
on YouTube, and finally decided on my 60th birthday to make the commitment to put my diabetes into
remission through the Keto diet.
For the first few days of 2020, I gave the old college try, but discovered that I was still running higher glucose
levels. That’s when I started looking at ALL carbs, not just “bad” carbs. Then I listened to Berry and Robert
Cywes (who is my actual doctor now) talk about the Carnivore way of eating. On January 6, I transitioned to a
higher fat/moderate protein/near-zero carb way of eating, and wow. That is when things started taking off.
The first thing that happened – I began losing weight fairly quickly. I lost 15 lbs. within the first few weeks and
am actually stabilized now at between 155 and 158 lbs., which puts me in the middle of ideal weight for my
height and body type. I’ve gone from Extra Large to Medium shirts, and 38/40 pants down to 30/32s.
The next thing that happened, I immediately began to feel better. I had more energy. My sleep became
deeper and my dreams became very vivid. After my initial bout of adjustment, what they call Keto flu, I have
not been sick, lethargic or felt physically bad. I usually would have at least two upper respiratory infections by
this time of the year, but I have been in great overall health, even in the midst of this pandemic. I am
especially grateful for this considering that as a diabetic, the complications associated with CoVid infection for
diabetics can be more severe than with other health issues.
Towards the end of January, with the weight loss and the higher energy levels I was experiencing, I went to my
endocrinologist and explained what I was going, what my goals were, and that I wanted their support for the
path I had chosen. I told them who I had listened to, the research I had done, and that I felt it was a realistic
and achievable goal. To my surprise, the doc laughed at what I said, and proceeded to tell me that their 20-
years of experience trumped what anything new I had learned about managing and reversing my diabetes.
Needless to say, I have not been back to see that endocrinologist. Instead, three days later I had my first
appointment with Dr. Robert Cywes, the Carb Addiction Doc, and he has been my guide. He supports the
Carnivore food lifestyle, and his views on food addiction, especially carbs, has helped me stay committed to
this way of eating.
He has taken me off of all of my blood pressure meds, statins, and all supplements, agreeing with this
community that I can get everything I need for health from eating the right way. He also took me off most of
my diabetes management drugs, although he has helped me realize that although I am eating healthier, I do
have 25 years of damage to repair, and I will need some support through Metformin and carefully considered
and administered insulin injections from time to time.
The good news is, my blood sugars are steadily stabilizing and normalizing. When I started Carnivore, I was
coming off a high A1C of 8 to 9. My last A1C at the end of June was at 7 and, if my Continuous Glucose
Monitor is to be believed, I could be looking at an A1C of 5.5 or even lower in a couple of weeks, as I prep for
my next appointment with Dr. Cywes. And the absolute foundation that I am building on is the Carnivore way
of eating. I have learned I have nothing to fear or even be concerned about when it comes to Cholesterol.
My typical food day: I was able to establish a routine of one “eating” meal a day, in the evening, that fits both
my and my wife’s work schedules. To keep from getting hungry otherwise, I put a couple of tablespoons of
butter and heavy whipping cream in my coffee first thing in the morning, and then again around noon, about
the time of Shawn’s daily meeting. For dinner, we eat rib eyes, bacon, eggs, pork belly, etc., on a rotation,
throwing in some fish and other animal products from time to time. It’s a simple plan, we love the food, and
we both only eat until we’re satiated.
My exercise is considered moderate, primarily walking and the lifting, pushing and stretching that comes with
the physical aspect of my job as technology support on the fairly large campus where I work.
Let’s talk about MeatRx. I joined in February, and I enjoy and use the resources available to me. The primary
resource I take advantage of are the multiple meetings available. They are my support groups. I regularly
attend Shawn’s daily meeting, the weekly diabetes group, the mental health meeting, and a few others as I
can find the time. I find the comradery, encouragement, and fellowship invaluable as I continue on this
journey.
So that is my journey and my goal. I am only in the early stages. I celebrate the victories and study and make
improvements when I encounter setbacks. In it for the long haul, I want to enjoy being alive when I am in my
90s and playing lightsabers with my great grandkids.
Check out Stephen’s facebook page:
www.facebook.com/orbiwanconfrontscarbosaurus
