Diabetes is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body becoming unresponsive to the hormone's effects. During 2014, On Cinema host Tim Heidecker began experiencing symptoms similar to diabetes, and sought various treatments to resolve these symptoms.

In January 2014, Tim began describing feeling a tingling numbness in his hands and feet, especially his right foot. Frequent guest Gregg Turkington suggested that Tim get checked for diabetes, recognizing Tim's symptoms as an early warning sign, though Tim denied the idea that it was diabetes, stating it was for old people.^[1] Over the next week, Tim's foot began to hurt more and more, becoming swollen and irritated, with both Tim and Gregg noting a distinct scent. Tim's nephew suggested that Tim look into an acupuncturist to look into both Tim's foot numbness and potential weight loss.^[2] Tim visited the acupuncturist, Dr. San, who stated that Tim needed 72 hours of medical observation. He diagnosed Tim with an overactive liver, or “liver fire,” and attempted to calm Tim's liver with acupuncture.^[3] A variety of painful sores began developing on Tim's face from the needles, which San stated was allowing toxins within Tim's body to release themselves.^[4] After Tim discovered that the sores were caused by unsanitized needles, causing a stage 3 infection, Tim immediately cut ties with San, who went into hiding.^[5]

Tim eventually saw other medical professionals who diagnosed that Tim was indeed suffering from diabetes after all. Tim researched potential aids for his diabetes on his own, discovering that a website called “cureyourself.com,” which recommended eating two big spoonfuls of flax seed a day to help reverse some of the side effects.^[6] As part of the regiment, he would undergo a “flax cleanse” every two weeks, in which he didn't eat any flax seed at all.^[7]