🌟 How Did You Discover the Diabetes Solution? Was it via Let Me Be 83?🌟

Everyone who has discovered Dr. Richard Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, which helps people with diabetes, especially those with Type 1 Diabetes, achieve normal blood sugar levels, usually remembers the first time they encountered this method.

For my family, in 2015, my husband stumbled on a YouTube recording of a presentation given at Low Carb Down Under by Australian radiologist, Dr. Troy Stapleton, who was diagnosed with T1D as an adult. We listened to Dr. Stapleton explain how he used food to dramatically improve his quality of life and diabetes results. We were intrigued and all ears – no one had ever suggested cutting the carbs before. In the recording, a book by Dr. Richard Bernstein was mentioned, and we bought it right away.

That was circa 2015. Since then, there are various ways to learn about Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction and about Dr. Bernstein’s methods, and one woman, in particular, has been inspiring others to consider how we can get better outcomes for our kids with T1D. Her name is Bethany McKenzie, and her son, River, was diagnosed at the age of 5. The McKenzie family spent the first three years after River’s diagnosis following the conventional medical guidelines of diabetes management. Despite their efforts, they felt like they were always falling short. The stress and overwhelm of living this way had reached a critical point for the family.

"I had reached my breaking point. Why couldn’t I figure this out? I’m an intelligent woman. I could count carbs with my eyes closed. I had a diabetes alert dog, the newest pump, and a CGM. I had every single tool known to man to help me manage River’s diabetes, yet I FAILED. Failing my son meant I was responsible for setting him up for a potential future of complications. A life of potential eye problems. Kidney problems. Heart problems. Reproductive problems. HELL NO. I was DONE."

Other parents reached out to Bethany on social media, suggesting the Bernstein protocol. Once she and her husband tried it, reducing carbohydrate amounts and adjusting the insulin regimen according to Dr. Bernstein’s approach, River’s blood glucose levels stabilized and normalized.

“I found such overwhelming joy in finding a strategy to maintain normal blood sugars for my own son.”

When parents find something that works, they want to shout it from the rooftops to help others!

And because Bethany is what I consider a “gatherer of people”, more and more families are becoming aware of how to use Dr. Bernstein’s methods and how life can be normal and safer for kids who follow low-carb lifestyles. How? Bethany created the Let Me Be 83 movement, which includes a foundation and a popular Facebook page with 48k followers. She has also hosted an annual fundraiser, the Blue Ball, which gather T1D families together, organized Carb Conferences, and commissioned inspiring videos (I cry every time I watch this)! Bethany gathers people and ‘shouts from the mountain tops’ that there is another way because she knows what it is like to live on the blood sugar roller coaster.

“For the first 3 years after River’s diagnosis, we gave all of our passion and effort towards raising money for the American Diabetes Association. Once I realized that their guidelines were harming my child, I couldn’t donate another penny. I created Let Me Be 83 so that our fundraising efforts could be used to help other families with diabetes learn there’s another management option that can bring about long-term health and a more peaceful life.”

Why Let Me Be 83? According to the foundation, “Because 83 is the ideal blood sugar for EVERYONE.”

But sometimes it’s hard to gather people if they don’t know where to find you! So Bethany went the extra mile and produced a documentary called The Diabetes Solution. "I felt I needed to get this story out to parents all over the world", she says.

🎥 The Diabetes Solution documentary is a must-watch for every T1D family. It’s a call to action and it tackles tough questions like:

➡️ Why are children fed junk food in hospitals after a diabetes diagnosis❓
➡️ Why does insulin, once sold for a dollar, now cost hundreds, leading to tragic outcomes for those who can’t afford it❓
➡️ How were diabetes guidelines established and who funds these organizations❓

As a parent watching the film, I felt less alone when the documentary shared the stories of other families who struggled with things about diabetes management that didn’t make much sense. It’s overwhelming when your child is newly diagnosed, and nothing seems to make sense.

The Let Me Be 83 organization has inspired countless families to adopt a lifestyle that strives to achieve normal blood sugars. If you’ve never heard of this organization before, you’ll find their regular posts about meals options for stable blood sugars presented in the context of daily life, with messages of inspiration that are easy and entertaining read. And Bethany’s son, River, is a shining example in the T1D community. A four-time state tennis champion with non-diabetic A1C levels, River is known for his kindness and dedication to helping others manage their diabetes.

This week, in celebration of Dr. Bernstein’s 90th birthday, I want to celebrate the work of people in the T1D community giving back. A heartfelt thank you to Bethany and River for showing my son that he’s not alone. I know this is something Lachlan has really appreciated, and meeting Bethany, River, and River’s brother, Rocky, left a big impact on him. Many people are following in Bethany’s footsteps to inspire other families living with T1D, trying to “shout from the mountain tops” simply to help others. We can continue to support each other, share our experiences, and spread the word about T1D treatment options for better blood sugars. 🌸💙

If you learned about low carb, Dr. Bernstein, or the Diabetes Solution via Let Me Be 83, please tell us in the comments. We love to hear stories about how you found out about this option!

🎥 Stream the documentary via multiple platforms. For access, click here: https://www.facebook.com/letmebe83/posts/pfbid02Ve8ij6VKZDxYE7Hz9c1GjetMue3ysDN7fUVj7tyLtA3SDqgCis4PnkJ5ueCe9uWml

🎗️Rivere Foundation: https://letmebe83.org/

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Facebook Community: Let Me Be 83: My Dude with Diabetes

💃 The Blue Ball: https://letmebe83.org/the-blue-ball/

🎥 Inspirational Video: https://www.facebook.com/100064762356321/videos/2233062550229262