Oscar Chimenti loves carbs. In fact, he calls himself a “carboholic.” But when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 40, he began researching natural ways to manage diabetes without medication and discovered the low-carb lifestyle. 

By cutting carbohydrates from his diet, Oscar was able to keep his blood sugar levels in a healthy range and reached an A1C of 6.4 mmol/L at his next visit to the endocrinologist. Soon after that, he founded I Hacked Diabetes to share his original low-carb recipes and articles on what has helped him manage diabetes. 

But like so many of us, Oscar’s health journey has not been linear. Since his initial diagnosis, Oscar has had long stretches with a normal A1C due in part to eating low carb. At other times, he’s struggled with managing his diabetes and has used medications like metformin to help him keep blood sugar in check.

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Oscar’s story is incredibly common. Unlike what we might be promised on social media and in the news, there’s no magic bullet for staying healthy. We don’t simply get healthy and stay there; we are constantly changing and the way we take care of our health needs to change, too. Staying healthy is a life-long process that takes trial and error and a lot of patience. 

Along his health journey, Oscar has developed hundreds of tasty low-carb recipes that you can find on I Hacked Diabetes. Whether you have a wicked sweet tooth, you’re an avid carnivore, or you’re a staunch vegetarian, you’ll find recipes for all of the above. Check out a few of our favorites below. 

	Braised Fennel and Leeks 4 carbs Simple, yet sophisticated, Oscar’s recipe for braised fennel and leeks makes an excellent low-carb side dish. A sprinkling of parmesan on top adds some cheesy goodness.  Get the recipe for Braised Fennel and Leeks
	Spaghetti Squash Buffalo Chicken 5 carbs Do you have leftover spaghetti squash? This casserole is a perfect way to use it up. It’s pure comfort food with a little kick. We highly recommend adding the optional blue cheese for that extra tang only blue cheese can bring.  Get the recipe for Spaghetti Squash Buffalo Chicken
	Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies 2 carbs This cookie recipe proves that living a low-carb lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to give up sweets. These decadent cookies are fudgy and chewy—the perfect diabetes-friendly dessert. Get the recipe for Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies

This article has been clinically reviewed by Hanna Rifkin, RD, CDCES, clinical health coach at One Drop.