Australia is facing a health crisis. Every day, 280 Australians develop diabetes. With 1.5 million Australians living with type 2 diabetes and an estimated 500,000 unaware they have the condition, we can’t ignore the problem.

SBS recently aired a 3-part series, Australia’s Health Revolution, spotlighting the type 2 diabetes epidemic. The series was hosted by renowned British doctor and trusted medical journalist Michael Mosley, joined by co-host Ray Kelly, a proud Gomeroi man, exercise physiologist and type 2 diabetes researcher.

The pair embarked on a journey to transform the lives of eight participants with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes across the country, determined to make lifestyle changes to put their participant’s conditions into remission with diet, not drugs.

Defeat Diabetes founder Dr Brukner invited Ray Kelly to talk about his experience with Australia’s Health Revolution and learn more about his success sending type 2 diabetes into remission across the country.

Why is weight loss necessary for remission?

Starting his career in the fitness industry, Ray saw a great deal of success helping clients with weight loss. Employed as a trainer in the first two seasons of The Biggest Loser Australia, Ray learnt that a predictor of success in achieving and keeping off unhealthy weight is the rate of weight loss over the first few months.

If you have pre-diabetes, losing 5-10% of your current body weight can prevent type 2 diabetes in up to nearly 6 out of 10 people.

How do you lose weight?

Ray’s advice for anyone wanting to lose unhealthy weight (and keep it off) is a simple and sustainable 3-step approach:

1. Reduce carbohydrates: By reducing carbohydrates, you can expect to see a range of benefits, from improved blood glucose levels to reduction of medications, better sleep and weight loss.

2. Include exercise in your routine: If you don’t have a regular exercise regime, it can feel a bit daunting to get started. Ray recommends beginning with walking and building from there. Dr Brukner also offers some tips for getting started with exercise.

3. Eat nourishing wholefoods, as close to the source as possible: That means as few processed foods as possible (like crisps, junk foods and packaged foods). But making healthy changes to your diet doesn’t need to be complicated. At Defeat Diabetes, we aim to prepare and cook meals in under thirty minutes, using seasonal, inexpensive ingredients. So rest assured, our meals are quick, easy and super affordable (just the way cooking should be)!

I’m ready to lose weight and put type 2 diabetes into remission. Where do I begin?

Taking the first step is always the hardest, but an evidence-based program like Defeat Diabetes provides you with the tools to see dramatic changes to your weight, blood sugar and blood pressure.

With the universal acceptance that type 2 diabetes can be put into remission, you can radically transform your life in as little as three months

You can learn more about Ray Kelly via his website, Twitter or Facebook.