Diabetes in the “Tayyibat” Philosophy of Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi: Between Nutrition, the Liver, and Insulin Resistance

Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the most widespread diseases of the modern era, and it has become a major global health challenge due to the increasing number of affected individuals and the serious complications associated with it, which impact various organs and systems of the body. For many years, this disease has been closely associated with pharmaceutical treatment and blood sugar control. However, numerous modern nutritional perspectives and studies have begun to reconsider its underlying causes and methods of management, emphasizing that dietary habits and lifestyle play a fundamental role in the development and progression of the disease.

Within this context, Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi presents, through the “Tayyibat” system, a different perspective on diabetes. He considers it primarily a nutritional and metabolic disease closely linked to liver health, the body’s interaction with food, and insulin levels, rather than being solely a pancreatic disorder as commonly believed. This approach also emphasizes the importance of correcting eating habits, organizing periods of eating and fasting, and reducing practices that disrupt the body’s metabolic processes.

Accordingly, this presentation aims to shed light on the concept of diabetes in the “Tayyibat” philosophy and explain its mechanism as viewed by Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, while clarifying the relationship between fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, cholesterol, and diabetic foot complications, in addition to highlighting the role of nutrition in controlling the disease and improving overall health.

Diabetes Mellitus

Dr. Al-Awadi emphasizes that diabetes is, first and foremost, a nutritional disease. However, according to his perspective, the prevailing misconception lies in attempting to treat it primarily through medication rather than through proper dietary correction. For example, diabetic patients are often advised to avoid sugars and reduce starches, leading them to stop consuming foods such as rice and potatoes while replacing them with large quantities of vegetables, yet the desired improvement is not always observed.

Furthermore, the increasing number of medications prescribed to diabetic patients is viewed as evidence that the disease itself remains dominant rather than being fundamentally resolved. In this philosophy, medications are considered tools for temporarily reducing symptoms rather than permanent lifelong solutions. Therefore, regulating the patient’s dietary system is regarded as an essential step that should precede pharmacological treatment.

The quality of food consumed is considered the central issue, since the body receives new dietary inputs every day, and the biological system must continuously process and respond to them. While medical advice often focuses on consuming foods with a low glycemic index or fewer calories, Dr. Al-Awadi argues that the ultimate goal should be deeper than symptom management.

The objective, according to this view, is to address the disease at its roots and move beyond the concept of “chronic disease” as an inevitable lifelong condition. In this framework, true healing is linked to restoring balance within the body rather than solely suppressing symptoms.

He further argues that diabetes medications primarily regulate blood glucose levels without necessarily treating the root causes of the disorder. The body may occasionally require temporary support during periods of physiological stress, yet long-term dependence on medication alone is not viewed as the ideal solution.

According to this perspective, many diseases commonly considered inevitable with aging—such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes—should not automatically be accepted as unavoidable consequences of reaching middle age.

Changing the Concept of Diabetes

Dr. Al-Awadi believes that diabetes has been misunderstood both in its nature and in its methods of treatment, resulting in therapeutic approaches that often focus on symptoms rather than underlying causes. Consequently, diabetic complications such as poor circulation, nerve damage, and even limb amputation may continue to develop despite ongoing medical treatment.

Within this framework, diabetes is strongly associated with fatty liver disease rather than being viewed solely as a pancreatic disorder. The liver becomes central to understanding the condition.

The liver plays a crucial role in processing nutrients after each meal. Whenever a person eats, blood sugar and fat levels rise, and the liver works to regulate and process these metabolic increases. However, in the presence of fatty liver disease, every meal rich in sugar may produce sharp spikes in blood glucose levels, leading to excessive insulin secretion. Over time, this repeated cycle contributes to insulin resistance, eventually placing continuous stress on the pancreas until its function becomes impaired.

As a result, treatment is often directed toward supporting pancreatic function, whereas the root issue, according to this philosophy, lies in fatty liver disease itself. Therefore, improving fatty liver requires correcting harmful dietary habits and unhealthy eating behaviors. This nutritional approach is presented as a therapeutic strategy through which liver function and blood sugar regulation may gradually improve, potentially allowing some patients to reduce medication doses under medical supervision.

Although diabetes is classified medically as a chronic disease, this perspective suggests that it may become more manageable and less medication-dependent over time through lifestyle modification and consistent nutritional regulation. In this context, increasing medication doses at every medical visit is not necessarily viewed as evidence of improvement, but rather as an indication that the underlying imbalance persists.

The Mechanism of Diabetes According to Dr. Al-Awadi

Dr. Al-Awadi’s explanation begins with the liver, which he considers the primary regulator of hormonal balance and metabolic activity within the body. The human body naturally alternates between two essential states: the fed state and the fasting state. The liver maintains balance between these two conditions to preserve normal bodily function.

After food consumption, the body enters the fed state, which may last approximately eight hours. During this period, nutrients are absorbed primarily within the small intestine through structures called villi, which resemble tiny fingers. These villi absorb amino acids, glucose, fatty acids, and other nutrients, which are then transported directly to the liver for processing.

The liver converts glucose into glycogen, the stored form of sugar in the body. If glucose intake exceeds the body’s needs, blood sugar levels rise, stimulating the pancreas—particularly the beta cells—to release insulin. At this stage, insulin becomes the dominant hormone, promoting glucose utilization for energy production and facilitating its transport into cells through GLUT4 receptors, especially in adipose tissue where excess energy is stored as fat.

Insulin also contributes to protein synthesis by helping amino acids enter muscle tissue. Excess amino acids may likewise be converted into fat. Furthermore, glucose alone can contribute to the production of triglycerides even without significant dietary fat intake.

Normally, the fed state should not continue indefinitely. After several hours, the body transitions into the fasting state, during which the liver begins mobilizing stored energy by breaking down fats and releasing them into the bloodstream.

However, problems arise when the body is not given the opportunity to enter the fasting state, either because of continuous eating or because of medications that stimulate persistent insulin secretion. In such cases, insulin levels remain chronically elevated, preventing lipolysis (fat breakdown). As a result, fats and cholesterol remain trapped within the liver, contributing to metabolic disturbances and further health complications.

When fatty liver disease develops, repeated sugar intake continuously triggers sharp elevations in blood glucose and insulin levels. Over time, cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to insulin resistance. Consequently, the pancreas is forced to secrete increasing amounts of insulin until it eventually becomes unable to keep up with the body’s demands.

According to this philosophy, the true treatment should therefore focus on correcting liver dysfunction and improving the body’s metabolic interaction with food, particularly during feeding periods. Fatty liver disease is viewed as a reflection of broader disturbances in fat metabolism, including cholesterol imbalance.

Cholesterol and the Diabetic Foot

Cholesterol is described as a waxy chemical substance that forms an essential component of cell membranes. Nerve cells are surrounded by a structure known as the myelin sheath, approximately 80% of which consists of cholesterol. This fatty covering insulates nerves and significantly accelerates the transmission of nerve impulses.

The myelin sheath also acts as an electrical insulator similar to the plastic coating around electrical wires, preventing interference between nerve signals and enhancing communication efficiency. When this sheath becomes damaged, peripheral neuropathy may develop, producing symptoms such as numbness, tingling, excessive cold sensation, and impaired peripheral circulation. These manifestations may represent early stages of diabetic foot complications.

In many cases, patients consume vitamins such as vitamin B without achieving sufficient improvement because the body lacks the necessary raw materials required for tissue repair and rebuilding. This situation is linked, according to this perspective, to the body remaining constantly in the fed state due to frequent eating or medications that continuously stimulate insulin secretion.

When cells remain healthy, with properly functioning membranes and efficient internal signaling systems, their resistance to infections and microbial invasion becomes stronger. Healthy white blood cells, for example, can rapidly attack and engulf microbes. However, when blood sugar levels remain elevated and cellular function deteriorates, immune efficiency declines, cell renewal weakens, and microbial growth becomes more likely.

Conclusion

In conclusion, diabetes in the “Tayyibat” philosophy of Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi is not viewed merely as a disorder of elevated blood sugar levels. Rather, it is presented as the result of cumulative nutritional and metabolic imbalances involving the liver, insulin regulation, and the body’s management of food and energy.

This perspective places strong emphasis on correcting dietary habits, regulating daily lifestyle patterns, and allowing the body to restore its natural metabolic balance instead of relying exclusively on medication. It also highlights the importance of prevention and proper nutrition as fundamental pillars in addressing chronic diseases.

Accordingly, improving food quality and eating patterns may contribute to reducing complications and enhancing overall quality of life. Nutrition therefore remains a central factor in maintaining human health, making nutritional awareness an essential necessity in the modern era, especially amid the continuing rise of metabolic diseases worldwide.