Introduction
Welcome to my No Pills No Needles review. The full title is No Pills No Needles; How to reverse diabetes and hypertension by finding out what works for you by Eugene Kongnyuy.
Out now in paperback and ebook from Hammersmith Health.
No Pills No Needles Review
Content
This book is part personal account and part advice manual. It’s written after the author received a diagnosis of both hypertension and diabetes. Conventional medicine treats these conditions with medication. Kongnyuy makes the case that as both diseases arise from lifestyle factors, then a change in lifestyle should reverse them. If he could achieve this there would be “no pills, no needles.”
The theory is often much more straight forward than the practice! Kongnyuy applied trial and error at length, until he found what worked for him. He conducted 70 trials to try to reduce high blood pressure. He also did 30 trials for reversing diabetes. Over the course of 14 chapters, Kongnyuy shares how he did this and how he assessed each intervention. There is some information which many readers will be familiar with, e.g. weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. What’s new is the way in which the author describes the various advice and it’s implementation. He also helps the reader to assess what works for them (3 T’s: Try, Track, Tell). By recognising that not everything works for every one, the author stops readers from giving up because an intervention failed. Instead, he empowers them to try something different and to keep trying until they succeed.
Style
I really liked that this is a doctor’s first person account. The style is easy to understand and the author admits how difficult lifestyle changes can be. I particularly liked that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ instruction but instead a recognition that different things work for different people.
There’s a good range of information with chapters on areas such a diets, fasting, exercise, alcohol, smoking, stress, healthy living etc. He shares tips and tricks which work for him e.g. how he lost12.5% of body weight by reducing, carbs fat and protein intake by 50%. There’s no judgement for individuals but instead encouragement to trial different approaches.
Publisher Synopsis for No Pills No Needles
When he was diagnosed with both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, Dr Kongnyuy was initially shocked and depressed at the life-sentence of ill health, medication and restricted lifestyle he felt he’d been handed. But with the support of his family and friends and his knowledge of medical science, he brought his research training to bear on the problem – if these are lifestyle conditions then can changes in lifestyle reverse them?
Conducting a series of over 100 experiments on himself that involved changes in diet and lifestyle over several years, he identified what did and did not work for him. Both his method for finding what suits us individually – the 3Ts: Try, Track, Tell – and his findings as to what returned him to health, will provide invaluable guidance to all those seeking to reverse type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
He also looks at all the factors that can hold you back or motivate you to change, and as someone who ‘hated exercise’ but now jogs or runs for at least an hour everyday he provides great inspiration even for the very unfit. Try, Track and Tell for yourself, with reference to the principles of good health Dr Kongnyuy – an experienced health educator – describes, and discover how to reverse your own chronic health problems.
About the Author of No Pills No Needles
Dr Eugene Kongnyuy is a physician, researcher, educator and diplomat. He was born in Cameroon. After obtaining his medical degree, he moved to the United Kingdom for further studies. There he became a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a global health expert with a PhD from Staffordshire University, UK. He was Clinical Lecturer in Sexual and Reproductive Health in the University of Liverpool before joining the United Nations. He has served with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) since 2009 in several senior positions across many countries.
He is known for his research and work in the area of women’s health, particularly in relation to high blood pressure during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, obesity and oestrogen replacement therapy during menopause. He is also known for his ability to simplify complex concepts and connect with an audience through storytelling.
Conclusion
What lifestyle changes have you make to improve your health? How do you ensure they work? Do share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this review, you may enjoy the other health book reviews in our Reading section.
