Episode 1: The Rising Tide Of Diabetes

Host Judd Resnick introduces us to a frightening new reality; we now live in a world where nearly 10% of the global population is diabetic. His quest for health led him to move from America to New Zealand, but the truth that diabetes can affect anyone anywhere led him to seek real answers as to how we can solve this crisis both for ourselves and for our loved ones.

In this introductory episode, we learn the basics of what it means to be diagnosed with type 1, type 2, and prediabetes. We meet type 1 diabetic Ryan Provencher, and former type 2 diabetics Nigel Southam and Rachel Woodrow. They each discovered impactful and lasting methods for successfully lowering their blood glucose levels to the point at which they are each no longer classified as type 2 diabetics. How did they accomplish this amazing feat? In upcoming episodes we’ll explore the secrets to their success, and we’ll meet other amazing people who’ve also triumphed over diabetes.

Episode 2: Hidden Sugars & The Rise Of The ‘Bliss Point’

The main culprit for the alarming rise in cases of diabetes is the dramatic increase of sugar, or “carbs” in our diets. Why is sugar deemed to be “bad?” As we’ll discover in this episode, there are many forms of sugar, and not all are necessarily “evil,” and, in fact, humans need to consume certain forms of sugar to fuel their bodies.

But we’ll break down which types of sugar are best avoided on a regular basis, where to find dangerous and hidden sugars which are secretly added to certain packaged foods, and how to go about healthfully enjoying a certain type, and amount of carbohydrates without damaging your body. We’ll meet author Megan Kimble and hear her story about how she changed her lifestyle and went “unprocessed.” We’ll also introduce you to chef Ronnie Fisher, who will show us two delicious and healthy snack recipes we can create to help us avoid the highly processed and sugar-laden store-bought snack foods.

Episode 3: Pairing The Right Foods To Maximise Insulin Response

Food is essential to life, and in this episode we’ll look at every main food group to learn the benefits and dangers of what you eat. We need carbohydrates, and there are healthy carbs we can and should consume on a daily basis. Did you know that sugar is found not just in “junk” foods, but also in fruits and vegetables?

We’ll learn the importance of fiber and protein in relation to managing diabetes. We’ll also reveal the danger of red meat - how much is “too much” to consume, and which other types of meat might be a healthier option? What are “Blue Zones” and what lessons can we learn from the people who live in these areas? Nutritionist Vandana Sheth, will show us a new method for gauging which types of foods and how much of each we should have on our plate at meal time. And Chef Ronnie will show us how to cook a healthy and delicious salmon salad.

Episode 4: ‘Healthy’ Supermarket Foods To AVOID (& What To Have Instead)Response

Now that we understand the basics of the main food groups, it’s time to delve into the hows, whys and wheres for eating “the right” foods. We’ll journey to the grocery store and show you how to properly navigate each isle to find the healthiest and most cost-effective foods you should be including in your daily meals. We’ll also show you an example of a delicious and healthy pasta alternative you can cook up from home in under half an hour.

We’ll reveal why sometimes you can eat a higher quantity of food while still consuming less calories. Sometimes you just can’t avoid packaged food products, but for those moments we’ll teach you how to properly understand purposefully confusing nutrition labels so that you can make the healthiest choices. Fat loss and nutrition expert Ari Whitten will reveal why certain diets may actually end up making us fatter, and we’ll expose the truth behind artificial sweeteners. Could they actually be more harmful to our health than natural sugars? Plus, Chef Ronnie will once again show us how to create a healthy and cost-effective meal.

Episode 5: Daily Movements That Maintain Glucose Control

Properly managing or avoiding type 2 diabetes is not just accomplished by consuming healthy foods, we must also add movement to our daily lives. Exercise is vitally important, both for our hearts and our blood glucose levels. A growing lack of physical activity is ruining the health of our youngest generation. We’ll discover exactly how unhealthy kids and young adults have become.

High school science teacher Tory Michaels will expose just how unhealthy today’s teens have become, and give us some key insights as to how educators and parents alike can help reverse today’s dangerous trends for the sake of our kids’ health. We’ll also meet research scientists Dr. Corinna Koebnick and Dr. Jean Lawrence. They are each conducting important studies regarding childhood obesity and the links between today’s unhealthy culture and the rise of diabetes amongst adolescent populations.

Muy Thai instructor Dougal McKenzie will break down all the types of exercise we can and should incorporate into our daily routines, and he’ll teach us easy and effective exercises we can quickly do from the comfort our our living rooms. We’ll also show you just how effective certain types of daily movement you might not even realize count as exercise can be for maintaining good glucose control. And Chef Ronnie will show us not one but two great meals we can create to aid our bodies both before and after exercise.

Episode 6: The Science of Diabetes (Part 1 of 2)

In this episode we’ll dig deeper into the mysteries of how and why diabetes adversely affects so many organs within our bodies. What short and long-term damage can we expect if we don’t properly manage our blood glucose levels? What exactly is gestational diabetes, and what does that mean for the health of expectant mothers and their children?

Genetics is a major risk factor when it comes to diabetes as well as other medical complications related to diabetes. What are the chances you may develop type 1, type 2 or prediabetes if there is a history of diabetes in your family? We’ll meet type 1 diabetics and brothers Jonathan and Daniel Vogel, as well as their mother and diabetes educator Rosa Vogel, and reveal the link between genes and a diabetes diagnosis.

We’ll also meet Joselito Buenaventura, an otherwise healthy type 2 diabetic who still must take a wide variety of medications in order to maintain proper control over his condition. Which medications should we know and understand when it comes to diabetes, and can any of these medications be avoided?

Episode 7: The Science of Diabetes (Part 1 of 2)

In the second part of our exploration of the science and medicine behind a diabetes diagnosis, we’ll travel to one of the biotech capitals of the world, Sorrento Valley, California, to meet pharmaceutical technologist Dr. Christopher Rhodes. He’ll give us a sneak peek at the future of diabetes medications and technology.

Technology can be detrimental if we use it as a crutch or as a means to stay sedentary, but it can also aid the life of a diabetic as well as their friends and family. Technological advancements helped create a world in which prescription insulin is widely available, and this medication alone has saved countless lives. We’ll discover the history of prescription insulin, as well as the future technology which will aid diabetics in better utilizing this medication. We’ll meet former type 2 diabetics and mother and son Sandra and John Richardson.

They’ll tell us their stories of how they became type 2 diabetics and reveal the secrets to how they both successfully and permanently lowered their blood sugar levels to below the diabetic threshold. Pharmacist Dr. Jennifer Lamoureux will explain how she created a unique method for her diabetic father to incorporate helpful fruits, vegetables, and spices into his every day diet. And Chef Ronnie will give us yet another unique, easy-to-prepare and healthy light sushi meal we can eat on the go.

Episode 8: How To Live Happier, Healthier, Longer

In our final episode, we’ll explore the major themes of our series. What is diabetes? How can we eat healthier and create better lifestyles for ourselves and our loved ones? There is hope for all of us, and the future does not have to be one in which we are all more unhealthy.

But there are still less obvious dangers to our health, environmental factors which may push us closer to a diabetes diagnosis. What are these factors, exactly, and how can we avoid these potential hazards? Diabetes psychologist Dr. Susan Guzman will explain how stress affects those with diabetes, and how a diabetes diagnosis can affect our lives and the lives of our loved ones in unexpected ways.

We’ll put all the pieces of the diabetes puzzle together to reveal the big picture of how we can all live healthier, happier, and longer lives - lives beyond diabetes.