In 2013 Ramesh was diagnosed with diabetes, which he describes as a real knock. However instead of taking the normal route of medication he decided to tackle his diabetes head on. Ramesh is now completely fascinated by the power of whole plant-based nutrition and spends a lot of his time in the UK and around the world organising and conducting talks and seminars on the benefits of this lifestyle. Now with an online portal,' www.resetfromdiabetes.com' his programmes reach a much wider audience.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Madhapar, located in the Indian stat of Gujrat, is where I feel most at home. But London has been my home for almost my entire life, 48 years. Initially North West London and now SW In leafy Surry. I love everything London has to offer from its diverse culture, arts, to amazing international cuisine, but nothing beats a 'Dabeli' from back home in Madhapar.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
I am very proud of the first gated community development we built in Nairobi. There is something very satisfying about building homes from scratch that people eventually live in and call their home. I’m also very proud that we have had over 4,000 participants complete one of our reversing diabetes programmes with many coming of medication altogether. We have had many people report back to saying they have better sleep, more energy and feel a whole lot younger and vital.
3) What inspires you?
In the arena of reversing Diabetes, I get inspired by all the brave individuals who really want to take their diseases head on and make the changes, take responsibility for themselves and away from the doctors and NHS, and get well. My Mum and Dad are people who are so inspirational. My dad, a diabetic for nearly 30 years, who was on many tablets and over 40 units of insulin injections has taken it on and is so dedicated. He had dropped all his medication and reduced his insulin down to just 4 units a day after just 8 weeks. He managed to reduce this to zero 12 weeks later. I also get inspired by people with real vision that have a global impact, for example, Greata Thumberg the Swedish activist, is highly driven by the environmental challenges we face today.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
In the field of disease reversal, I want to reach a wider audience. Although the reversal process via nutrition is medically proven through research, it doesn't always reach the doctors. Many doctors remain sceptical and instead stick to traditional medication which only addresses the effects of diabetes not the cause. We need the doctors support to help reverse the trend and instil confidence in diabetics to make diet/lifestyle changes to make them well. I see every obstacle as an opportunity to learn more and overcome.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
In disease reversal, my biggest influencers have been Dr Neal Bernard, Dr John McDougal and Prof. T Colin Campbell. They have taught me how to reverse my own diabetes through simple and natural nutritional changes. In business, its Richard Brandson, he is a true entrepreneur. I have read a lot of his books and draw a lot of inspiration from them. I hope to meet him someday.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
Being able to impart this knowledge to others who are also eager to get off medication and get well. I enjoy giving talks as I can see in the participants when the penny drops and the get it. They understand why they got sick and how they can get themselves out of it.
7) And the worst?
I have had some bad experience where some doctors have been extremely obstructive without having done the research. But this was when I started my journey to reverse diabetes, now it’s much more mainstream that diet and lifestyle changes have a huge impact on your overall metabolic health.
8) What are your long term goals?
I would like to run seminars all across the UK and reach as many people as possible. Eventually getting NHS approval so all new diabetics are sent on a course with us via NHS as the first protocol to a step toward much better health.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
I would task a team to overhaul the healthcare system to change the way we run it from the current system of managing symptoms to addressing the causes of illness.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Leonardo di Vinci. Why? He mastered way too many things during his lifetime from sculpture to painting, architecture to music, mathematics to anatomy, and engineering among others. He was without a doubt the most diversely talented men of his time and many historians believe that a mind and personality like his comes only once every thousand years. Because of the multiple interests that spurred him to pursue various fields of knowledge, da Vinci is widely considered the archetype of the term genius and the greatest inventor who ever lived. Can you imagine what could be learnt from this man?
