PLANTPOWER and the Type 2 Diabetes Diet: Jessica’s Story

Two years ago, Jessica Burnett was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and the Franklin, Indiana, mother of three went on a low-carb diet advised by her doctor to reverse her condition.

You’ve probably been hearing about type 2 diabetes for a while now, since the incidence of this chronic disease has been on the rise. Or maybe you, too, have been diagnosed with the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and up to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most common in people over 45, but it’s becoming more common in children, teens, and young adults.

Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Treatment, and Diet

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. While both involve high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes is actually a different disease than type 1.

Type 1 diabetes is the result of your body not producing insulin, the hormone necessary for your cells to absorb sugar from your blood. To compensate, you need injections of insulin to survive.

People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their cells can’t utilize it. Their blood sugar stays chronically elevated, causing serious symptoms. Eventually, their bodies may stop making adequate insulin all-together.

High blood sugar, or blood glucose, is a serious condition. It can cause heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss. Diabetes is more deadly than breast cancer and AIDS combined, and it doubles the risk of a heart attack. It can also cause nerve damage to hands and feet, causing pain and numbness and sometimes requiring amputation of fingers, toes, and other body parts.

To treat type 2 diabetes and prevent complications, you should stop smoking, get high blood pressure under control, and monitor your cholesterol. You should also take any medication prescribed by your doctor. And central to treatment can often be losing weight and improving your diet. Limiting calories from sugar, starchy foods, and processed grain-based options is an important step for many sufferers.

This was Jessica’s struggle.

Jessica Goes Low Carb

Over two years, Jessica lost 65 pounds on a low-carb/ketogenic diet. But it wasn’t until she joined Virta Health, an online medical support program “clinically proven to sustainably reverse type 2 diabetes without medication or surgery,” that things really took off for Jessica.

“The doctors at Virta helped me personalize my nutritional program by keeping me on low carb but tweaking my diet according to my biomarkers,” Jessica told us. “I was off my insulin within two weeks and had lowered my A1C [an average of recent blood sugar levels] without insulin.”

Discovering Outer Aisle Not-Bread Products

When Jessica saw Outer Aisle on Instagram, she investigated right away. What convinced her to try it was the clean ingredients: fresh cauliflower, parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, and whole, cage-free eggs.

“I see lots of low-carb products that emerge on the grocery store shelves and gain popularity, but when you actually read the ingredients, it’s very misleading,” she said. “I get excited about a product and then read the ingredients and have to put it back on the shelf. It’s disheartening—a real letdown!”

But Outer Aisle products were different. “I decided to give them a try but ordered only a small amount, just in case the great ingredients didn’t lead to a great taste.”

She wasn’t disappointed. The taste and texture of Outer Aisle Sandwich Rounds™ perfectly mimicked “real” bread, and she was instantly won over. “I was so excited that I could have a real sandwich,” she said. “Even my adult children, who are the world’s biggest critics, love my ‘cauliflower’ sandwiches and have become huge fans.”

Spreading the Good News

Jessica was so enthusiastic about the pure ingredients in Outer Aisle products, she soon had people in her office interested in what she was bringing to lunch every day. “I love all the products, and I sing Outer Aisle’s praises, both at work and when I talk to my Virta community. Every day at work people walk by me and ask what I’m eating, and I always enjoy telling them how great OA products are.”

She told us how she makes her favorite sandwiches: “I use a multi-function air fryer on the toast setting, turned to 450. It takes two minutes, and it toasts the rounds perfectly.” For a recent Easter family gathering, Jessica made toasted ham and salami sandwiches. Everyone loved the low-carb lunch.

Comfort Food Replay: Having It All

“I also make grilled cheese by first toasting each sandwich round in the air fryer to make it crispy, and then I put a little butter in the bottom of a pan, but not much, to prevent any sogginess. From there, I add cheese and pan fry. When you’re a type 2 diabetic, a grilled cheese can be heavenly!”

Jessica added, “Outer Aisle has opened up so many possibilities. I was making pizza casseroles without the crust, but it just didn’t do it for me. Now with Outer Aisle Pizza Crusts, there’s no need to give up pizza.”

“When you’re raised from a small child with certain comfort foods, like grilled cheese and pizza, it’s very hard to give it all up. You have to choose between your comfort and your health. But with Outer Aisle products, you can have both—the comfort and your health as well!”

Swapping Goes Public

Swapping with Outer Aisle products reached a new high when Jessica met a friend for lunch at Olive Garden. “I love dipping their breadsticks into their Alfredo dressing, so I decided to prepare ahead of time,” she told us. “I used a pizza cutter to cut the OA Pizza Crusts into tortilla chip sizes and then toasted them in the toaster oven for four to five minutes. I put them in a small bag and brought them with me to the restaurant, and enjoyed the Alfredo dip with my ‘chips.’ ”

Making a Difference

Jessica is the kind of person who naturally loves making a difference, not only in her own life but in the lives of others. She was so impressed with Virta Health that she became a Virta Ambassador, representing the patient community. One of the first things she did was share with her Virta community how much she loves Outer Aisle products. “I’m passionate about telling people that with products like this, you don’t have to go without—you can adapt.” Jessica is changing not only her own life, but the lives of others who want to get the same healthy result.

“Carry on Outer Aisle products!” she told us. “You’re helping me adapt my nutritional plan to continue reversing my type 2 diabetes, and helping everyone I come in contact with who wants to do the same!”