With type 2 diabetes cases rising globally, many people fear they will have to live with the condition for their entire lives. However, controlling and even reversing diabetes is possible. Devlin Donaldson, who once viewed diabetes as a lifelong sentence, managed to achieve diabetes remission and lost over 40 pounds (18 kg) in three years. “My understanding was that diabetes was something you lived with for your whole life. Once you got it, you had it,” Donaldson told Business Insider.
At 66, Donaldson had tried numerous medications with no significant results. He then decided to try a ‘digital twin’ application, which offers advice on diet control, exercise, and medications. This technology, commonly used in longevity clinics and hospitals, tracks a patient’s health over time and suggests personalized interventions, optimizing treatment plans to match individual preferences and biology.
Donaldson placed his trust in Twin Health, a digital twin AI firm specializing in diabetes reversal. He claimed that the personalized insights from the app transformed his understanding of his body and the challenges he faced. After three years, Donaldson found his diabetes in remission.
Initially skeptical, Donaldson admitted, “I wasn’t super enthusiastic. I didn’t want to get my hopes up.” Using Twin Health’s tools—a digital scale, a blood pressure cuff, a smartwatch, and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)—he tracked how different foods and activities impacted his blood sugar levels. This data helped him identify patterns in his routines and measure his health.
“It becomes very much about my body. All of my information goes in and it talks to me like a smarter version of myself saying, ‘you ate this, this was really good. You ate this, this was really bad.’ And it begins to give me this feedback cycle,” Donaldson explained.
Within just a month, he became hooked on the constant and real-time feedback, seeing it as the future of medicine. The digital twin also provided new ideas about what foods to eat, like nuts for snacks, vegetables for meals, and increasing fiber intake. Moreover, it helped him understand the importance of sleep.
“When I started sleeping better, I started losing more weight. Within six months, I went to 200 pounds—bang! My good cholesterol went up, my bad cholesterol came down, my triglycerides came down, my inflammation scores all dropped. I mean, all the numbers went in the right directions so quickly,” he noted.
After successfully reversing his diabetes, Donaldson quit taking Ozempic and other diabetes medications. He also dropped from a size 44 pants to a size 34.
Also Read: Eating Biscuits and Cakes with Emulsifiers Can Raise Diabetes Risk
Donaldson’s story highlights that with the right tools and personalized care, reversing the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and significantly improving one’s health is achievable. His journey serves as an inspiring example for others battling the condition.
A: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose). It occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
A: While type 2 diabetes is often considered a lifelong condition, it is possible to control and even reverse its effects through lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and, in some cases, with the help of advanced technology like digital twins.
A: Devlin Donaldson is a 66-year-old man who successfully reversed his type 2 diabetes symptoms and lost over 40 pounds (18 kg) in three years by using a digital twin application for personalized health insights and interventions.
A: A digital twin in healthcare is a virtual model of a patient that uses real-time data to simulate, predict, and optimize health outcomes. It helps track a patient’s health over time and suggests personalized interventions to manage and treat conditions like diabetes.
A: Devlin used Twin Health’s digital twin AI, which provided him with tools such as a digital scale, a blood pressure cuff, a smartwatch, and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). These tools helped him track the impact of different foods and activities on his blood sugar levels, offering real-time feedback and personalized health insights.
A: Devlin made significant changes to his diet, incorporating more nuts, vegetables, and fiber. He also paid attention to his sleep patterns, which helped him lose weight and improve his overall health metrics, such as cholesterol and inflammation levels.
A: Benefits include personalized health insights, real-time feedback on the impact of diet and activities on blood sugar levels, the ability to track progress over time, and optimized treatment plans that cater to an individual’s unique biology and preferences.
A: Devlin successfully reversed his diabetes symptoms, lost over 40 pounds, improved his cholesterol and inflammation levels, and was able to stop taking diabetes medications.
A: Digital twin technology is increasingly being used in longevity clinics and hospitals, and platforms like Twin Health are making it more accessible for diabetes management and other health conditions.
A: While digital twin technology holds great promise, its availability may vary based on location and healthcare provider. Those interested should consult with their healthcare provider to see if this technology is an option for them.
A: Devlin would likely encourage others to be open to new technologies and personalized care approaches. His success highlights the importance of real-time feedback, understanding one’s body, and making informed lifestyle changes.
Also Read: Men Face Higher Risk of Diabetes Complications Than Women: Study
A: Sleep played a crucial role in Devlin’s health improvement. Better sleep patterns helped him lose more weight and improved various health metrics such as cholesterol and inflammation levels.
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