Environmental Healing and Type 2 Diabetes — The Journey
I remember the moment clearly. My A1c was 5.9, but my random glucose was 26 mmol/L (about 468 mg/dl). My vision was blurry. I had lost almost 45 pounds in a few weeks. I went from feeling like Superman to feeling like a shadow of myself.
I was fortunate to have a dedicated family physician who immediately referred me to an exceptional endocrinologist, Dr. Haggis (now retired). Her professionalism — and her mastery of motivational interviewing, a skill still missing in much of our healthcare system — changed the course of my life. She looked at me and said:
“You are a scientist. Modify your lifestyle, and let’s meet again in three months.”
That was the turning point. When people deny their diagnosis, they fall into the abyss. I chose acceptance. I knew what unmanaged type 2 diabetes could lead to, and I had no choice but to make serious changes — not easy changes, but necessary ones.
I used my science and technology background to build a simple program: a diary of everything I ate, did, and felt. I monitored my blood sugar closely. Today, these tools are standard in most glucose meters — though I always caution people to be careful with third party apps whose real purpose is often to collect patient data.
This was the beginning of my proactive management: learning my body, understanding how it reacts to my lifestyle, and applying a simple decision rule — if my blood sugar rises after a food or stressor, remove it. One example stays with me to this day. I love chocolate — I could eat it endlessly — but when my glucose spiked, it immediately affected my vision. And if I kept going, I might not be able to see the chocolate again, let alone enjoy it. So it was out. Simple, yes. Easy, no. But this is the reality of diabetes: every decision has consequences, and the cost of ignoring them is far too high.
As I learned more, I was shocked to discover how many gaps exist in diabetes care — despite the fact that type 2 diabetes was first described 4,500 years ago by the Ancient Egyptians. This pushed me deeper into the science. With the mentorship of the late Dr. Dawson, a pillar of diabetes care in Canada, I dedicated my work to developing solutions that address these gaps.
As part of addressing these gaps, I collaborated with a group of dedicated healthcare providers to develop two volunteer-driven educational programs:
- Live Well With Diabetes (English): https://livewellwithdiabetes.ca
- Sukar Misr (Arabic): https://sukarmisr.com
Both programs were created to empower individuals and communities with accessible, practical, culturally relevant diabetes education — long before digital health became mainstream.
Along the way, I was blessed to learn from the Indigenous peoples of the West Coast — their traditional healing, their relationship with Mother Earth, and their understanding that healing is not only physical but environmental, emotional, cultural, and spiritual. Their teachings helped me see that diabetes management must be proactive and holistic, not reactive and fragmented.
This is where my work in Environmental Healing began — the recognition that our environment is not a backdrop to our health, but an active participant in it.
In the coming articles, I will share how each element of Environmental Healing influences type 2 diabetes management — from Mother Earth to quantum biology — and why this integrated approach is urgently needed today.
If you have type 2 diabetes: Make your glucose meter your best friend. Know your body. Be in control. Yes, we can live well with diabetes.
If you are a healthcare provider: Know your patient. Use motivational interviewing. Embrace proactive, holistic approaches. Diabetes management is not only medical — it is environmental, relational, and deeply human.
Diabetes is manageable, but only when we take it seriously. The body keeps score — and it rewards those who listen early. Proactive holistic management is not a luxury; it is the difference between living well with diabetes and being controlled by it.
“What I learned over three decades is that diabetes is not only a metabolic condition — it is an environmental one.”
About the Author
Hesham has lived with type 2 diabetes for more than 32 years and has dedicated his work to proactive, holistic diabetes management. He co-developed two volunteer-driven educational programs with healthcare providers:
- Live Well With Diabetes (English): https://livewellwithdiabetes.ca
- Sukar Misr (Arabic): https://sukarmisr.com
His current work focuses on Environmental Healing, Indigenous teachings, and the integration of AI and virtual care to transform chronic disease management.
Connect with us and be part of the journey.
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