Diabetes is a medical condition where the body does not produce the insulin necessary to break down the sugar in foods. More and more people are receiving the diagnosis of diabetes because lifestyles are becoming more sedentary and modern diet trends focus on convenience. Foods are often high in trans fats and simple carbohydrates.
There are two types of diabetes. Type I is largely caused due to genetic reasons. Type II is acquired in adolescence and adulthood, and is caused by poor diet and lifestyle choices. In both types, the body does not produce enough insulin to keep the blood sugar level normal, but Type II can be prevented if habits are changed before the disease develops. If left untreated, many risks are associated with Type II diabetes including heart disease and high cholesterol.
The symptoms appear slowly, and therefore, many people suffering from Type II diabetes have no idea they have already contracted it. Periodic medical tests and diagnostics can help identify Type II diabetes and treatment can be started early enough so that it does not lead to other medical conditions.
Reversing Diabetes
Some health practitioners, including Dr. Robin Terranella of Southwest Integrative Medicine in Arizona, believe Type II diabetes can not only be prevented, but reversed. According to Dr. Terranella, “It is possible to get someone off diabetes medication. It requires therapeutic lifestyle changes and patients must make the connection between their lifestyle and their health. They will always need to be monitored, but spending more time with a patient allows for a better understanding (of how their choices affect their health).”
While insulin is the most commonly used prescription treatment for diabetes, there are also several natural ways to treat diabetes. Type II diabetes develops as a result of poor diet and little exercise. Ensuring a healthy diet can help you overcome diabetes. Foods that help regulate sugar in the blood include fresh vegetables, whole grains and foods high in fiber. In addition to eating the right foods, it is also important to avoid the wrong ones like fast foods and sweets that are rich in sugars and saturated and trans fats. Beverages containing alcohol, tobacco and caffeine should also be limited.
Benefits of Exercise
Along with a proper diet, it is also important to exercise regularly. Obesity is another major factor leading to diabetes. An inactive and overweight body tends to experience worse side effects caused by diabetes. Walking or jogging daily is the simplest form of relaxing the muscles and promoting good health. If you work in an office or lead a sedentary lifestyle, it can be challenging to fit physical activity into your schedule. Ideally, you should spend at least 30 minutes a day engaged in physical activity.
Certain herbs can also help control and treat diabetes. Some common herbal treatments include prickly pear cactus, bitter melon and garlic. Bitter melon is popular in Asia and Africa. Some popular spices also help prevent damage to tissues that may be caused by high levels of blood sugar. Spices such as cinnamon and Jamaican allspice help lower the glucose levels in blood after a meal. Along with adding flavor to food, these spices help treat diabetes naturally.
Vitamin supplements also help in reversing diabetes. Vitamin C is an effective supplement in controlling diabetes. To ensure the quickest, most efficient absorption, try taking the vitamins in the form of an injection. The health professionals at Southwest Integrative Medicine will help you create a vitamin cocktail that will reduce the effects of diabetes. There are also foods you can add to your diet that combat diabetic complication like basil and bay leaves that work to reduce the sugar levels in the blood.
Lifestyle and poor diets have led to an onslaught of diabetes in today’s culture. The risks associated are serious if left untreated. Changing your lifestyle and dietary habits can help reverse diabetic conditions. Using natural methods such as exercise, healthy diet, and herbal supplements will help treat diabetes and reduce the need for western medical treatments. Combining natural treatments with lifestyle improvements will make all the difference. The health professionals at Southwest Integrative Medicine will help you create a natural treatment plan that can lower your risk of developing diabetes and reverse the effects of an existing condition.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
