I recently had the chance to sit down with Denise Pancyrz, who is the author of The Virgin Diabetic and a national diabetes reversal coach. She has found the power to reverse the effects of diabetes naturally (no more insulin or drugs), and is helping those with diabetes around the country. Statistically, Diabetes is still on the rise, and the U.S. has over 30 million diabetics.
Kimberly: What do you do?
Denise: I am a national diabetes coach, speaker, and author to reverse the effects of type 2 diabetes. I coach diabetes patients how to successfully make holistic lifestyle changes to reverse this deadly disease. I hope no one is afraid of the word “holistic.” It just means we learn to make life adjustments in all or many areas of a person’s life. We certainly focus on food and beverage consumption, however, we also learn how to dine out without sabotaging your efforts, cleansing your kitchen to ensure you stock healing foods that are tasty, we grocery shop to learn what markets really offer and what to avoid purchasing – even in the outer aisles. Clients also learn how their medication can help or hurt, understand their lab testing, learn how to improve their doctor visit and so much more! Individualized coaching allows each person to work on the areas of most concern. Webinar and group coaching is wonderful for people who like to learn with others who share a similar problem and build a healing network.
Kimberly: What is your mission?
Denise: My mission is to educate diabetics and pre-diabetics to improve or reverse the effects of type 2 diabetes. Through coaching, speaking, authoring books and eLearning, I am dedicated to uplifting, motivating and guiding diabetics through lifestyle changes for a lifetime. Accomplished by infusing fun through three pillars of health: Education, Product Awareness, and Support.
Kimberly:What does a day in the life look like for you?
Denise: When working with long-distance clients, I have the luxury of working from my home office or lanai, through video coaching or over the phone. A portion of my day can be working in a client’s home in South Florida. You may find us in grocery stores and restaurants because learning in an environment where we spend our time is key.
Writing is a constant, whether it is working on my next book, a workbook, “Reverse My Diabetes Guide: Step-by-Step Actions for Success,” or my eLearning program, “My Diabetes Concierge.” Diabetics will learn to reverse diabetes through video and audio lessons, just as if I was in the same room in a private consultation.
Speaking events can be at diabetes and health conferences or fairs, businesses to help improve the lives of employees, colleges, community developments and various organizations.
I spend a portion of my time as a member of the Marco Island Rotary Club where we lead and participate in community and global projects and initiatives.
I am Co-Chair of the Retail Food Committee for Southwest Florida’s Blue Zones Project®. It is a healthy initiative bringing businesses, faith-based and other organizations, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and residents to build a healthier community. I help to onboard restaurants and grocery stores to become Blue Zones Project® Approved by offering a healthy environment and plant-based meals.
I always spend time to continue my education in holistic nutrition, diabetes medication, insulin, and device developments.
You can find me in the kitchen preparing healthy and tasty meals for my family and creating recipes to share with my clients. This helps to ease them into the lifestyle change process.
Last, but not least, time to exercise must be made. Even if I spend fifteen minutes on weight-bearing exercises and a little cardio, it helps to keep me healthy and happy.
Kimberly: What is the inspiration behind your work?
Denise: Becoming a diabetes reversal coach was not on my radar until I became a type 2 diabetic. My doctor actually labeled me a type 1-1/2 diabetic as I did not immediately respond to medication and insulin after being hospitalized for pancreatitis and pneumonia. My glucose levels increased over several years while making small modifications to try to improve my health. It didn’t take long to get out of control because I truly did not understand how this disease progresses. As I followed diet and medication instructions as prescribed, I quickly learned the health care system was designed to keep me medicated and on four daily insulin shots. I was given a bleak prognosis being told that my health will continue to deteriorate and medication and insulin dosages would increase as I age.
Once I understood what I needed to change, to learn how to heal versus medicate, and how to set and reach my health goals, my life drastically changed. I was able to stop all insulin shots and medication while regaining my health. I journaled during my healing process realizing others must be struggling in a similar way. This was how my book, “The Virgin Diabetic Reverse the Effects of Type 2 Diabetes, Reduce Medication, and Improve Your Glucose Levels” was born. Before I knew it, I found myself coaching other diabetics.
Kimberly: What inspires you?
Denise: I am inspired by the continuing need of diabetes patients who want to reverse this deadly disease. I heard from so many who have tried different programs, learning to eat vegan, diabetic diets, or exercise programs. The difficulty with many programs is they do not target a long-term result to keep the diabetes patient engaged. For example, a vegan diet can reduce one’s glucose levels. The reality, is that it works for a short time when the patient does not have a desire to remain vegan.
The key is to understand the goal of a diabetes client and set a path to success. That path may be slightly different for each person which keeps me on my toes.
Remembering that my uncle lost a leg to diabetes and my father lost his life due to diabetes, all unnecessarily, continues to inspire me on a daily basis.
Kimberly: What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Denise: Be yourself. You can be much more relevant in helping to do good in this world when you are true to yourself. Always improving while remaining grounded, and never forgetting why you do what you do.
Kimberly: What is your perfect day?
Denise: I like to look at a perfect day in two categories. My perfect workday is hearing that phone call or seeing a client’s face when they received lab results that reflect the hard work they did to improve their health. When a doctor tells my client, “Keep doing whatever you’re doing because it’s working!” solidifies I have had a positive impact on someone’s life. My perfect personal day is spending time with my family and grandchildren.
Kimberly: What has given you the confidence to follow your dreams?
Denise: My husband believed that I could help diabetes patients. He encouraged me to leave a corporate career to do what I love to do and make a positive mark in this world. His support and confidence have never wavered.
Kimberly: Who has been your greatest influence?
Denise: My sister, Dana, died at the age of 25 from Leukemia. Sadly, due to the chemotherapy protocol, she also became diabetic. Managing a single deadly disease is difficult enough. Dana managed two diseases with the utmost style and grace. Her determination to learn how to take control of her health showed her strength to the end. I realized I had no excuse not to manage diabetes any differently.
Kimberly: What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Denise: Healing myself against all odds is my greatest accomplishment. When I was hospitalized, my glucose was 410, triglycerides nearly 8,000, and my cholesterol nearly 800. It seemed I was a long way from being at optimal health. Had I given in and not found a way to go against the grain in regaining my health, I would not be a diabetes reversal coach, speaker, or author to help others with this unnecessary disease which is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Kimberly: How can people learn more about you and work with you?
Denise: People can learn more about me by visiting www.ReverseMyDiabetes.net. Call me at (888) 848-1763. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.timetrade.com/book/47HW6. Look for webinar training sessions posted on Eventbrite at https://reversemydiabetes.eventbrite.com
Facebook: ReverseMyDiabetes
Twitter @MyDiabetesGone
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