https://www.youtube.com/embed/kqkhj653nIs
AIMED AT REVERSING THE CONDITION. LET'S GET MORE FROM KATE SNOW. >> Reporter: HE ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, HE IS A PERSONAL TRAINER AND REALTOR IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. BUT TYPE 2 DIABETES RUNS IN HIS FAMILY. >> MY GRANDMOTHER HAD DIABETES. MY MOM. MY SISTER HAS IT. >> Reporter: HE WAS SO BUSY, HE USED TO GRAB FAST FOOD, SWEET TEA, ENERGY DRINKS. >> PEOPLE SEE YOU AND THINK OH, YOU WORK OUT, YOU'RE HEALTHY. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. >> NOT IF YOU'RE NOT EATING RIGHT. >> Reporter: A FEW YEARS AGO HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND PRESCRIBED MEDICINE. BUT HE WANTED ALTERNATIVES. SO HE VOLUNTEERED FOR A STUDY AT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, LOOKING AT TWO DIETS. HE WAS PUT ON A LOW CARB DIET FOR THREE MONTHS. EVERY TUESDAY, A BOX OF FOOD ARRIVED WITH RECIPES.
>> YOU COULD PUT WHATEVER VEGETABLES YOU WANT. >> Reporter: THIS NUTRITION RESEARCHER LAUNCHED THE STUDY FIVE YEARS AGO. >> AMERICANS TEND TO EAT A LOT OF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES AND YOU REACH A LIMIT TO STORE THE EXCESS CALORIES. AND THAT ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO TYPE 2 DIABETES. >> Reporter: THE WHITE WE ARE SEEING IS FAT IN BETWEEN THE ORGANS? >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> Reporter: THE KEY TO THE STUDY, TARGETING FAT AROUND THE ORGANS LIKE THE PANCREAS AND LIVER. >> WHEN SOMEONE HAS DIABETES, THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE IDEA TO METABOLIZE CARBOHYDRATES DIRECTLY AND THEY'RE CONVERTING A LOT OF THOSE TO HARMFUL FATS, STORED IN AND AROUND THE ORGANS. WE TAKE THOSE CARBOHYDRATES OUT OF THE DIET WITH THE IDEA IF WE DO THAT, WE MAY ALLOW THE BODY TO RECOVER.
>> COULD THAT POTENTIALLY REVERSE TYPE 2 DIABETES? >> YES, IT COULD. >> Reporter: THE RESULTS SO FAR ARE PROMISING. FOR DECADES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON MEDICATION FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES. COULD THIS BE WHOLESALE CHANGE HOW YOU LOOK AT IT? >> ABSOLUTELY. I AM CONVINCED WE CAN TREAT INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH DIET. >> Reporter: TODAY, HE IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED DIABETIC AND FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO SATISFY HIS SWEET TOOTH. >> I MAY TAKE A CHOCOLATE PROTEIN SHAKE, EAT SOME ALMONDS, TO ME,.
