Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shelley DiAngelo, Owner of The Holistic Diabetic, located in Arvada, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My clients and patients call me the diabetic fasting guru because, though fasting is ubiquitous these days, it must be carefully taught to those with diabetes for safe, successful results.
I've run The Holistic Diabetic for many years because so many people are begging me that their doctors won't or don't give them healthy, alternative ways to manage and ultimately reverse their type 2 diabetes without more medications.
So, THD is an all-natural intervention through education about diabetes hormones, lowering insulin production, and internal wound care for those with all types of diabetes (sorry, not for gestational).
The programs are virtual and both on-demand and 1:1 or group coaching.
Tell us about yourself
How did I become a diabetes nurse? I was an athlete in several sports as a younger person. Still, when I landed a desk job after years, my weight and prediabetes began increasing. So, I was, teaching my patients all the "right" things, and we were all getting fatter and more diabetic! Yikes!
I decided to move away from the traditional diabetes education (because it doesn't work to make you healthier). I went to conferences, listened to podcasts, and interviewed doctors, dieticians, scientists, and researchers, and after many years of testing various diets and all their info on myself and my patients, fasting won the top spot as the only proper intervention to help diabetes balance blood sugars and potentially reverse their diabetes and many other chronic health issues.
Taking advantage of the post-Covid virtual delivery of information, people love the 24/7 availability of knowledge from anywhere in the world. This excites me as a business owner because health and cutting-edge diabetes fasting education is something everyone should access.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I took a very stoic and stale industry to the internet and made it fun, informative, and creative. This allowed me to see that 100% of my clients have health improvements: weight loss, medication reduction, improved symptoms of less pain, foggy thinking, skin problems, gut bloat, numbness, and tingling in the feet, and they see considerable increases in their energy, restful and restorative sleep, and overall much improvement in their mental health from depression, anxiety, and even bipolar.
Expressing myself as a natural person outside of the uniform and credentials means a lot to my clients - to see that they have someone in their corner that isn't trying to prove anything except that her expertise is tried and true. This is a great accomplishment for me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Moving out under the archaic diabetes paradigm within the traditional western medical model is a tough sell to many people with diabetes. People with diabetes must let go of what they think they know about diabetes and be willing to hear a different message, be ready to take action on changing their carb-addicted habits, and move through the transformation it takes to be that "non-diabetic." And like all addictions, the sugar-addicted diabetic must want help before real change can occur.
So, one of the hardest things as a business owner with this particular population is getting in front of the right people yearning for what I offer.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be prepared to think about your business 24/7. It's your baby, so it is always on your mind, but know not everyone around you cares to hear every thought you have about your business. So, surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs.
- It's okay to be a DIYer, but if you want financial success, you must spend the money to hire the appropriate people with the expertise you need. You can study cursory information about copywriting, marketing, content creation, design, etc., but don't drive yourself crazy because you will never be an expert in all areas.
- Do a lot of inner work on the mental and spiritual barriers to your growth. Most often, the delay in business growth is due to the deep hidden fears or doubts or lack of confidence you must address that keep you blocked from creating the abundance you deserve.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
In closing, do your due diligence on vetting "diet" programs. Ask yourself, "If the big named diet programs (WW's, Jenny Craig, SlimGenics) worked, then why do most people keep going through their programs repeatedly?"
Learn self-sustaining skills with someone who has both walked in your shoes and taught thousands how to get and stay healthy! And as a medical entrepreneur, don't be afraid to start your own business selling your genius.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://theholisticdiabetic.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3foyX1I
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholisticdiabetic_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holisticdiabetic/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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