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Judd Resnick grew up watching his father run at least five miles a day and lift weights on top of that. In his family, his dad was the fit one.
After his father retired, the routine slowly changed. Long runs gave way to big meals and long rides on his motorcycle. Then came the appointment where his doctor told him he was pre-diabetic.
Judd is a documentary filmmaker, and he couldn't let the question go. How does that happen to a man like his dad, and what could his dad change at home?
Three years of filming in different countries
Diabetes wasn't new to Judd. Years earlier, his friend Ryan had shown him how to give a glucagon shot in an emergency, and one day Judd had to do it for real. Ryan spent several days in hospital before he recovered.
So when his father's news came, Judd picked up his camera. He says he planned on six months of filming, and it took three years of flying to different countries to interview doctors, nutritionists and people living with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
The people he interviewed include an endocrinologist, Dr. Jim Mann; a diabetes psychologist, Dr. Susan Guzman; a nutritionist, Vandana Sheth; and Ronnie Fisher, a chef who shows several quick, easy and healthy meals.
The yoghurt that changed my breakfast
Much of what Judd learned is about food, and one example shows the whole idea in a single bowl.
It's called food pairing. What you eat alongside a food changes how your body handles it, and the program also covers combinations to avoid. For most people that leaves room for many favourite foods. Sometimes the change is what goes on the plate next to them, and sometimes it's one ingredient in a family recipe.
That's very different from the strict diets that leave so many people hungry and frustrated. The focus is on small, gradual changes and meals that keep you feeling full for longer.
Eight episodes, plus books, guides and short videos
- Eight documentary episodes, about eight hours in total
- The ebook 7 Steps to Balanced Blood Sugar Levels
- A companion guide for each episode, with a summary and a short quiz
- That Diabetes Shopping List, to take the guesswork out of grocery shopping
- The Silent Epidemic, a book about type 2 diabetes
- The Diabetic's Guide To Healthy and Delicious Food
- Small Bites, short videos with true stories of people living full lives
A cookbook for the whole family
That Diabetes Cookbook is full of simple, balanced recipes for everyday meals. Whoever does the cooking can make one dinner the whole table enjoys.
For anyone who has been told to watch their blood sugar
If you've been told your blood sugar is higher than it should be, if you cook for someone who has, or if diabetes runs in your family, this series is a calm place to start learning. It's also covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you have two months to watch it and decide.
Judd's free presentation tells the whole story and shows you what's inside.
This page is for general information and isn't medical advice. Everyone is different and results vary. Diabetes Smarts is an educational documentary series and doesn't replace your doctor's care. If you take medication for your blood sugar, talk to your doctor before you change your diet or anything else.