Diabetes is a chronic disease that arises from the body’s inability to produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is the hormone that we make in order to use sugar as an energy source. When there is not enough insulin, or the cells in the body don’t respond to insulin, the sugar continues to circulate in the bloodstream causing damage to the body’s internal organs. There are three types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually affects children or adolescents and it occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Type 2 occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin or when the insulin produced is not used properly by the body. Although Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adults, increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed. The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes and this type occurs in pregnant women. It is a temporary condition but still increases the risk of the mother and child to develop diabetes later in life.
Diabetes is a serious illness. If left untreated, it can lead to other serious health conditions, including kidney disease, eye disease or nerve damage. It can also increase the risk of developing heart disease. In fact, research shows that having diabetes doubles your risk of developing heart disease or stroke. People with diabetes also tend to develop heart disease earlier than other people. In addition, diabetics that have had a heart attack are more likely to have another heart attack and heart attacks in diabetes are more likely to be serious and result in death.
The treatment for Type 1 diabetes is insulin. Since the body doesn’t make insulin, insulin needs to be provided from an external source. For Type 2 diabetes, modification of lifestyle factors is key. Factors such as obesity, inactivity and smoking can be significant risk factors in developing the disease, so changing eating habits, losing weight and quitting smoking can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes and can also be tremendous factors in treating or reversing the illness. Although there are many herbs and supplements that can help prevent or manage diabetes, in my experience, maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise are, by far, the two most important factors in the treatment of this condition
Maintaining a healthy weight, or losing weight if you are overweight, can seem daunting, but if you start with small steps, the weight will start to come off. It often helps to think of it as “Health Maintenance Plan” as opposed to a “Weight Loss Plan” or “Diet”. Start by increasing the amount of fiber you eat. Fiber reduces the glycemic index or GI of foods. GI is a measure of how quickly foods become converted into sugar in the body. The longer it takes to convert the food into sugar, the lower the GI and consequently, the less insulin the body needs to use that food effectively. Low GI foods also help keep you feeling fuller for longer. You also want to increase fruits and vegetables and other whole foods like nuts, good fats and whole grains in the diet. These foods are usually lower in GI and provide nutrients and antioxidants that your body requires to fight illness and stay healthy. Reducing alcohol, refined foods and sweets are also important. When dealing with diabetes, it is also important to eat small meals more frequently. Eating low GI meals and snacks every three hours helps to keep the blood sugar levels stable. This is not only good for blood sugar control but also for encouraging fat loss. Also, when trying to lose weight, be accountable. Keep a food journal to see what you are actually eating and weigh yourself weekly to track progress. Patients that see me weekly for diet analysis and weigh-ins do far better than those that I see sporadically, specifically because they feel accountable for their progress.
Incorporating an exercise plan into your life can be equally simple. Start by taking daily walks for 30 minutes. Once you fall into a routine, start incorporating exercises that build strength, increase flexibility and endurance. Finding an exercise buddy is also very helpful. Many studies have shown that having a partner to exercise with increases the likelihood that you will exercise regularly. Incorporating exercise into your lifestyle can help reduce blood sugar levels but its benefits go beyond blood sugar control. Regular exercise can reduce blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and the risks of developing heart disease. These benefits are achieved even if significant weight loss is not. Although the benefits of regular exercise are irrefutable, it is important that if you have not been active or if your blood sugar level is very high, that you consult with a healthcare practitioner before embarking on an exercise plan.
Other factors like quitting smoking will also help reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Herbs such as bitter melon, gymnema silvestre and cinnamon and supplements like chromium, to name a few, can also help to prevent or treat diabetes and can be taken on the advice of a naturopathic doctor or other qualified healthcare practitioner.