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When Stan Antonio walked into TempusClinic five months ago, he had no idea he had diabetes. Physicians immediately put him on a personalized diet and exercise program. Today, the 59-year-old Monte Sereno resident has lowered his glucose and insulin levels to the point that he is no longer considered diabetic.
"That program is a lifesaver," Antonio said about the clinic's new "Undo Type 2" diabetes program.
TempusClinic, a Los Gatosbased healthcare facility, launched a new 21-week program to reverse type 2 diabetes at the start of November, which is also American Diabetes Month.
For $9,750, the program includes a diagnostic exam, a personalized diet and an exercise schedule, including one-hour fitness training sessions three times per week. Participants in the program can take quarterly cooking classes, attend health seminars and participate in weekly yoga and massage-therapy sessions. Clients also receive ongoing assessments and blood tests at weeks six, 13 and 21. The personalized program is designed by a certified physician in consultation with the client's primary physician.
The clinic promises to get clients' blood sugar levels back to normal ranges by the end of 21 weeks or clients receive a full refund.
"Basically, the client has nothing to lose," said Gary Fales, vice president of business development for the clinic and a client himself. "We're fairly confident we won't be giving anyone their money back."
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 17 million people in the United States have diabetes, of which 5.9 million aren't aware they have it. People with diabetes are twice as likely to die as someone without the disease, the association said.
Besides the 21-week diabetes program, the clinic offers a yearlong metabolic-hormonal transformation program to anyone who wishes to improve their health, not just people with diabetes. About 60 people have gone through the yearlong program to date, Fales said.
TempusClinic was founded in 2002 by Dr. Mike Nichols, who decided to open his own facility after seeing people he cared about suffer from the disease. The word tempus is Latin for "time." The idea behind the clinic's name was that it takes a year for people to make lifestyle changes.
"Time is either something we can waste or we can use," said Nichols, adding that his goal is to make eating right and exercising an unconscious activity that becomes habitual in the client's life.
"What we're trying to do here is almost be your unconscious," he said. "People know to eat right and exercise, but they can't do it [alone]. It's hard."
What makes TempusClinic unique, Nichols said, is the fact that clients can get their diagnostic exams and consult with a nutritionist and fitness trainer all in one facility. The clinic has employed eight fitness trainers, one cardiologist and a nutritionist, in addition to Nichols. It also has its own 3,500-square-foot gym with about 40 workout stations.
Antonio, who reports feeling more energized and at peace with himself today, said he appreciates the genuine interest the staff at TempusClinic have shown towards him.
"The instructors feel for you. They don't work you too hard, but they work you to your max," Antonio said. "It's a happy place, and it's a place where people seem dedicated."
TempusClinic is located at 536 N. Santa Cruz Ave. For more information, call 408.354.0801 or visit http://www.tempusclinic.com.
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