From Stroke to Strength: How Revero Helped Me Address My Type 2 Diabetes and Lost 130 Pounds

This is Ramona's story. After suffering a stroke at 62 and being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, she turned to Revero to take back control of her health. Here is her experience, in her own words.

The Wake-Up Call

I had an ischemic stroke at age 62. I found myself in the hospital, diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. My blood glucose was over 400 mg/dL, my A1C was 11.8%. And I weighed about 220 pounds, at 5'2" tall. My highest weight was in 2004, at about 310 lbs. So, I had already lost 90 lbs at that time. That weight loss was primarily from years of low carb eating and intermittent fasting.

I was released from the hospital after 3 days, with a blood glucose under 200. The hospital stroke team also assigned a Primary Care Provider to manage my diabetes and stroke recovery, who basically prescribed multiple drugs to manage my blood sugar: insulin injections, Jardiance, and Mounjaro. I told the PCP I did not want to take those drugs, and that I wanted to use a more natural approach, like a ketogenic diet and fasting. And I wanted to address insulin resistance directly, not just inject increasing doses of insulin for the rest of my life. I did not want to take a GLP-1 agonist. If I needed to eat less, she should tell me how much to eat, and I would comply, but I did not want to take a drug that forced me to drastically undereat, or be sick. I have other medical conditions, and was very concerned about what the slower GI motility would do to me. She dismissed my concerns without any discussion. She told me that a natural approach would never work. She literally said, "You've had a stroke. You don't have any choice anymore. You have to do exactly as I say, or you will have another stroke."

Finding My "Why"

So from that moment, I knew I needed to find a new provider who would give me a choice, who would let me participate in finding a treatment plan that I could live with, and work with me to truly help me get better, and not just manage glucose for the rest of my life. At that time I had never heard of Revero.

I knew I had to do something really effective (and preferably fast) to prevent another stroke. And it looked like the best thing I could do was to reverse my diabetes, and get my insulin and glucose into safer ranges. I was pretty confident that addressing the diabetes and insulin resistance would also address the obesity, even if I did not make weight loss my primary goal.

So, I immediately did the best thing I knew how to do, to get started with my goal of reversing T2D through diet and lifestyle. I had been eating low carb for a few years by this time, with fairly frequent higher carb treats. So, I took a huge leap of faith. On June 1, 2025, I went all-in strict keto and started a weekly fasting practice. I knew from my previous weight loss experience that fasting was, for me, the "secret sauce" above and beyond eating keto that helped me to lose almost 100 pounds.

Discovering Revero

Within about a week, I heard Bella, on Steak and Butter Gal, talking with Shawn Baker, and he explained what they were doing over at Revero, treating the root causes of metabolic conditions like T2D and obesity with nutrition and lifestyle. I applied to Revero that day.

I got an answer back from Revero, had my initial calls to complete my application, and found out if I would be accepted, especially only 30 days after a stroke. I was accepted, and started my program officially on June 11, 2025. I decided to continue with my strict keto nutrition plan, and I asked if I would be allowed to fast in the program. Fasting is not required, but it is allowed, so I continued the routine that had already given me some early success.

Setting Goals: It Was All About Choice

One of the first things I did in my Revero program was establish my goals. What did I want to get out of the program? In a word, CHOICE. I had a very strong "why!" I never want to hear another doctor tell me I don't have any choice about my treatment plan. I am the patient. I am the one who has to take the drugs, follow the diet, live with the side effects, and die at the end. I should have some choice in the matter! So, my primary goal was stroke recovery and prevention, which meant: (1) T2D reversal/remission, and (2) weight loss.

My Revero Experience

I was assigned to a Health Coach to help me navigate the program and ensure results. I had access to her through a chat feature on the Revero app, and I was able to contact her on a daily basis for anything I needed.

My Revero program went very well for me, with no big obstacles. I loved my Revero keto plan! And I felt great on fasting days, too! Throughout my time with Revero, I lost about 5 pounds per month, for a total loss of about 40 pounds in 8 months. So, when I left Revero, my total weight loss from 2004 to 2026 was 130 pounds. I lost a whole person! I am delighted with my results!

The Numbers Tell the Story

And don't forget the glucose! My morning fasting glucose levels went from the 300-400 range down to double digits, and normalized in the low triple digits (100-120 mg/dL) without any meds. My A1C went from 11.8% to 5.4%. My fasting insulin went from ~10 to somewhere in the range of 2.5-6.

Community and Care

Revero has weekly community Zoom calls, hosted by Shawn Baker. That was great, seeing others who are on the program, hearing their questions, and hearing Dr. Baker answer all the questions. Everyone I had contact with were skilled professionals who really knew their stuff, as well as being kind humans who truly offered medical care.

Looking Ahead

The Revero program is great. The Revero people are great. From my first onboarding/intake calls, to my interview with my provider (a physician licensed in my state), to daily communication with my health coach. Working with Revero was a joy and a big success for my health! I have truly accomplished one of the biggest things I could ever do for myself: I greatly reduced my biggest risk factors for secondary strokes.

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