The Center for Disease Control just released the latest number on diabetes : 24 million Americans, or 8% of the U.S. population, suffer from diabetes! This number will continue to rise as our population ages and obesity continues at an epidemic rate. Of the two main types of diabetes, type 2, or adult onset diabetes, is the most common. If diabetes is left unmanaged, it can cause many health complications including heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, decreased wound healing, skin ulceration and infections.
What is type 2 diabetes ? In this type of diabetes, your body's cells become insensitive to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your cells to take in glucose for its energy need, resulting in the rise of blood sugar. Another term for this is insulin resistance. Though there is no cure for diabetes, there are natural ways to control the blood sugar. With a proper diet, and a comprehensive approach integrating Western and Eastern medicine, type 2 diabetes can be controlled.
In our work with diabetic patients and endocrinologists, we have successfully controlled diabetes naturally. Our patients are put on a strict diet including quality proteins like fish and fowl, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, fresh vegetables and small amounts of whole grains. They eat smaller meals more frequently, exercise at least one hour a day ( doing cardiovascular exercises ), and keep their stress low with meditation. Patients also receive weekly acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. Initially patients are on medication from their endocrinologists, but as their glucose levels normalize, the medications are reduced until they no longer need them. This can be accomplished only with a close collaboration between Eastern and Western medicine.
The best approach to diabetes is, of course, prevention. With simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, along with regular checkups, you can keep this terrible and debilitating condition from entering your life. Work with your physician and a practitioner of complementary and alternative medicine.
In the meantime, here are some simple tips to help you :
- Learn to read food labels well. Look out for sugar, corn syrup, and dextrose in the ingredients of the label. Best to stay away from processed and refined products devoid of healthy fibers and nutrients. Alcohol is nothing but sugar, so it should be avoided. Smoking and caffeine have an adverse effect on glucose metabolism and should be eliminated.
- Take brewer's yeast. Brewers yeast contains natural glucose tolerance factor that is necessary for production and utilization of insulin. Take one tablespoon three times a day for three months.
- Get some herbal help. Fenugreek, garlic, bilberry, ginseng, and gymnema have undergone investigation for their potential beneficial properties for diabetes. Consult your acupuncturist or herbalist for a personalized formulation.
- Learn tai chi. Studies in China have found that practicing tai chi for 30 minutes, at least 4 times a week for three months, have a positive effect on balancing blood sugar levels. Cardiovascular exercises have similar benefits when done consistently for at least 4 times a week.
I hope you incorporate the above advice into your life as part of your own personal diabetes-prevention and longevity program. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
