#17 - Saving Myself

Hello Indianapolis. It may be raining a lot and yes travelling from London you'd rather escape the wet than head into it, but so far you've exceeded all expectations.

The city is charming, and the people are even lovelier. From unexpected sprints with my new friend Sandrine through the airport trying to make the same connection, to the warmest hotel staff, and even a serendipity meet with Janice and Charles from Kentucky in search of a half-decent coffee (more on that below), I’ve met some genuinely brilliant humans.

For all the political division often highlighted in the US, the kindness I’ve experienced here gives me real hope.

Rebound & Rise Events

Our Coffee Morning on Thursday 18th at Le Meridien Indianapolis is officially sold out. If you were hoping to join us, drop me a DM, there may be a last-minute space with your name on it.

Meanwhile, there’s still time to grab a spot at our Supper Club at Chakana London. After a very thorough (and delicious) taste test, I can confidently say you’re in for a treat.

Tickets are £79 and include:

1. 🍸 A welcome cocktail or mocktail

2. 🍽️ A three-course meal (with fish, meat, and vegetarian options)

3. 🍷 A glass of wine with dinner

4. 💬 And, of course, the warm, welcoming company of the Rebound & Rise community

We’d love to have you at the table.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rebound-rise-supper-club-tickets-1396848805379?aff=oddtdtcreator

By Darin (Doc) Berntson

Nobody Saved Me: So I Reversed Type 2 Diabetes Myself

Twenty-five years. That’s how long I lived with severe type 2 diabetes. And to be honest, I wasn’t really living. I was medicated, exhausted, burned out, and trapped in a cycle of stress, sugar, and survival.

It finally caught up with me.

The barrage of medications. Diabetic retinopathy, A heart scare that landed me face-to-face with a surgeon who didn’t mince words:

“If you want to stay off my operating table, adopt a ketogenic diet. That’s what I tell all my patients.”

That was it. The final wake-up call.

I was scared of dying, yes. But even more than that? I was scared of not being there for my wife, my family, and my granddaughter. The thought of her growing up with a photo of me on the wall instead of memories? That wrecked me.

Right then, I drew a line in the sand and said: no more.

No more managing this disease. I was going to reverse it.

And I did—in 11 months.

 I didn’t do it with more meds. I did it by taking everything I thought I knew about nutrition and tossing it in the trash.

A heart surgeon’s warning shook me awake. I went all in. I read books, listened to podcasts, dove deep into research, and followed real people reversing their diabetes online. The more I learned, the more obvious it became: the traditional advice failed people miserably.

What I Did Differently

I followed a whole-food ketogenic approach:

• Very low healthy carbs

• Moderate protein

• Healthy fats

• No sugar. No processed foods. No cheat days.

I simplified the heck out of it. No calorie counting. No food apps. Just real food, real discipline, and a very real reason to stay alive.

My wife was in my corner, cheering me on. That mattered more than I realized. Habits formed fast once my mindset and environment lined up with my mission.

The Results

• A1C dropped from 8.7 to 5.4

• 81 pounds lost (from 241 down to 160)

• Zero medications. No insulin, no metformin, no antidepressants, nothing.

It blew my doctor’s mind. It blew my own mind, too.

But the real victory?

I’m awake now. I can think clearly. There’s no more brain fog. No 2 p.m. slump. My energy is off the charts. I can chase my granddaughter around the playground like a kid again. And yes, I go down the slides, and we laugh so hard it hurts.

And business? That got better, too. When your brain and body work with you, not against you, everything improves.

What You Need to Know

If you’re reading this and dealing with type 2 diabetes, or know someone who is, please hear me:

You are not broken. You are not destined for a slow decline. And you sure as hell don’t have to settle for a life of meds and misery.

Food is medicine. Simplicity is power. This disease can be reversed, even after decades, even if it feels too far gone. Catching it early makes the path easier, but even long-haulers like me can put it in remission if you commit fully.

And it’s not about willpower. It’s about these three truths.

1. The food pyramid? A lie.

2. The mainstream medical system? Focused on managing, not healing.

3. Diabetes doesn’t care if you’re male or female. It will ruin your body just the same.

But you? You can choose something different.

Maybe this message isn’t just for you. Maybe it’s for your husband who’s always tired... Your dad, who’s “borderline"... Your teen who lives on carbs and soda…

You don’t have to be a nutritionist. You just have to start questioning the norm and choosing real food over fake fixes.

Nobody came to save me. So I saved myself.

And if I could do it after 25 years? You or someone you love can too.

If this resonated, maybe today’s the day you question what you’ve been told and take your first step toward reawakening your health.

Rooting for you,

Doc

After 25 years with type 2 diabetes, Darin Berntson reversed it in 11 months through a whole-food ketogenic lifestyle. A marketing agency owner turned metabolic health coach, he helps professionals simplify their health and escape the broken system, and regain energy through real food and self-responsibility.

Links: https://metabolicreawakening.com/ (site is just going live, making some tweaks over the next couple of weeks) https://www.berncomedia.com/ Metabolic Edge Newsletter

Next weeks guest writer is Swati Sucharita PMP MBA a seasoned Project Director with over 20+ years of leading global transformations. She is on a mission to help introverted leaders reach their highest leadership and communication potential using science-backed strategies.

We are always on the look out for Guest Writers, so if you are interested please contact us via hello@reboundandrise.com or DM me via LinkedIn.

Jetlagged, coffee-seeking, and unexpectedly connected

By Rachelle Peterson

Whenever I land in a new city, eyes puffy, body convinced it’s still on London time my first mission is always the same: find a decent cup of coffee and hope sleep eventually follows.

I usually default to Starbucks: reliable, familiar, caffeinated. But lately, I’ve been drawn to smaller, independent cafés, not just for political reasons, but because, as a founder myself now, there’s real joy in supporting others who’ve built something from the ground up.

So this morning, on a helpful nudge from the hotel reception, I made my way to Georgia Street Grind instead. As I passed the local Starbucks, closed, eerily dark, with windows smashed in I wasn’t sure what had happened, but clearly, it wasn’t coffee-ready.

That’s where I met Janice and Charles from Kentucky. Also on the hunt for caffeine, they decided to join me on the walk, and just like that, strangers became companions.

We chatted all the way, about their move from Mississippi to be closer to their son and daughter-in-law (also named Rachelle, fun twist), their birthday trip to Indianapolis, and the funny coincidence that all three of us are Geminis with birthdays in the same week.

When we got to the Grind, I treated them to their drinks. They’d brightened my morning, and honestly it was the least I could do.

A little kindness over coffee goes a long way. Give something good, and watch it find its way back to you.

About Us

Rachelle Peterson, a dynamic entrepreneur founded LOQIA Group a media consultancy specialising in hospitality and travel distribution along with Rebound & Rise a networking and events platform for women, after 30 years in the corporate sector. Driven by a fervent commitment to women’s rights, what began as a passion project has evolved into a new enterprise. Rachelle’s effectiveness and high energy resonate through her public speaking gigs at conferences and events worldwide.

Learn more at www.loqia.com

Dorothea Jones is the founder of Inclusivation, intersectional DEI strategists that help businesses unlock the power of individuality. A seasoned public speaker, she has chaired panels with prominent figures like David Lammy and Baroness Shami Chakrabarti. Proudly neurodivergent, Dorothea has been a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment for over 25 years and remains dedicated to driving meaningful change.

learn more at www.Inclusivation.com