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Please excuse these technical difficulties as we try to resolve them.

[Tour Hi, everyone and welcome to day 3 of this amazing tour.

In this tour you’re going to learn of a unique approach to warding off a diabolical disease which I first heard of in person when I met this most talented author.

Now to the really important stuff.

The Giveaway

Got a question or an observation about the book, the GEM method, the author, or the tour? If not, just say, “Hello!” Comments at each stop earn entries in the Giveaway for a chance to win one of four signed print copies (If you live outside the U.S. a free digital copy will be substituted due to the high costs of international shipping.)

About A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes

Have you just been diagnosed with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes and don’t know where to turn, or have you tried different weight-loss programs or medications that haven’t done enough?

GEM—Glucose Everyday Matters offers a practical, science-based approach to preventing and managing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes by focusing on one powerful idea: reducing blood glucose spikes that can quietly damage health, energy, mood, and motivation.

Developed from decades of clinical research and real-world coaching, GEM helps readers understand why blood sugar rises—and how small, realistic choices can improve it. Rather than rigid diets or exhausting exercise plans, GEM teaches flexible strategies that fit everyday life: eating smarter, moving with purpose, understanding your body’s signals, and using glucose feedback as a tool for empowerment.

Inside this book, you will discover how to:
• Lower blood sugar naturally and sustainably
• Reduce cravings, fatigue, and energy crashes
• Lose weight without feeling deprived
• Improve motivation, confidence, and emotional well-being
• Use simple movement and meal strategies to reduce glucose spikes
• Personalize diabetes management to fit your lifestyle and goals
• Build lasting habits that support long-term health

Whether you are newly diagnosed, trying to avoid diabetes, struggling despite medications, or supporting a loved one, GEM provides a compassionate, evidence-based roadmap toward better health—one manageable step at a time.

This is not about being perfect.
It is about discovering what works for you and making meaningful changes.

To learn more about diet and blood glucose control, see A GEM for your Pre- and Type 2 Diabetes at your favorite retailer here: https://books2read.com/GEM

If you have had type 2 diabetes (T2D) for 24 months or less and would like information about our ongoing NIH GEM study, contact Jacqueline Rodriguez at ZMT8XG or 434-422-2653.

What is GEM? – Glucose Everyday Matters

As pointed out in the Forward by Dr. William Polonsky, “In this book, the development of GEM is laid out in simple language, and Dr. Cox shows you how to employ it in your own life as an effective way to prevent or manage diabetes with or without medications

If you are a person who wants to take charge of your health in general, and diabetes in particular, I would strongly encourage you to not only read this workbook but employ all of the activities that Dr. Cox introduces, and take pride in your accomplishments. You can do this!”

GEM is a lifestyle, not a diet, So, GEM needs to continue for the duration of your diabetes- a lifetime. It empowers you to dampen BG elevations with your food/drink selections and hastens your BG recovery with physical activity. This is illustrated by the figure below, displaying the daily BG response of a person when entering GEM (blue line) and at the end of GEM (black line). The goal of GEM is to “flatten” the BG curve.

The GEM logo displays our guiding principles:

• GEM should be satisfying, giving you control over a chronic disease, and lead to an overall healthier you.
• GEM should be simple, getting to the basics, without the distraction and confusion of unnecessary details.
• GEM should be sustainable, something you can do for the duration of your diabetes- the rest of your life.
• GEM should be successful in allowing you to lower your BG, A1c and risk for complications.
• GEM should be safe, not compromising your health in other areas.

The GEM intervention involves 4 chapters spread across 7 weeks. While it does not necessarily require blood glucose monitoring or Continuous Glucose Monitoring, this feedback can be very personally informative and motivating.

1. The first chapter focuses on becoming more aware of your personal motivation to better control diabetes, as well as your routine nutrient and physical activity choices. No behavior change is expected.
2. The second chapter focuses on gradually increasing your level of physical activity, as a tool to bring your blood glucose down. However, increasing one’s fitness through physical activity is probably one of the most important behaviors for maintaining general physical and mental health
3. The third chapter focuses on changing your routine food choices in order to dampen your blood glucose elevations
4. The final chapter focuses on how to maintain and improve future healthy and enjoyable choices and general fitness.

To learn more about diet and blood glucose control, see A GEM for Pre- and Type 2 Diabetes at your favorite retailer.

If you have had type 2 diabetes (T2D) for 24 months or less and would like information about our ongoing NIH GEM study, contact Jacqueline Rodriguez at ZMT8XG

Dietician Monica Davis Interviews Daniel J. Cox

https://youtu.be/-QBOTO6ofkw

About Daniel J. Cox

Daniel J. Cox (Dan) is a professor of Psychiatry, Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center and a member of the Center for Diabetes Technology. He is a longstanding investigator of behavioral diabetes- how behavior affects diabetes and how diabetes affects behavior. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and industry (LifeScan, Abbott, DexCom, Lilly).

In 2010 he shifted his research focus from type 1 to type 2 diabetes (T2D) following his own diagnosis of T2D. He was not optimistic about losing weight and was not thrilled about a lifetime of medication, so he developed an alternative and effective way of managing T2D. Glucose Everyday Matters focuses on preventing high blood glucose (BG) by choosing foods that do not raise BG much and by lowering high BG with physical activity. Since an initial diagnostic A1c of 10.3 (reflecting a three-month BG average), GEM has put his diabetes in remission-lowered his A1c below 6.5 with no medication. This transformation was achieved with significant critique, support, and help from his wife Debbie.

Tour Schedule

Mon. 7/20: Short Trailer & “How Does GEM Work?” – Poetry by Mich: Hotel by Masticadores: Masticadores Philippines

Tues. 7/21: “Becoming Aware of Choices” & “Food Choices”– Roberta Writes

Wed. 7/22: “Dietician Monica Davis Interviews Daniel J. Cox” – Patty’s Worlds

Thurs. 7/23: “Bringing Down BG with Physical Activity” & “Gem’s Research Findings” – Undawnted

Fri. 7/24: “Protecting and Extending Your Investment” – Writing to be Read