According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 34 million Americans have diabetes and about 95% of those cases are type 2¹. Out of the millions that have this disease, about 50,000 of diabetics develop kidney failure, 73,000 experience lower limb amputations, and 80,000 die from it annually. Additionally, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) ranks diabetes as the seventh leading cause of death in the United States².
Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic impairment that affects how the body regulates glucose and turns food into energy. Those diagnosed with it are at a higher risk of developing severe heart conditions such as cardiovascular disease, peripheral artery disease and stroke. It is normally caused when too much sugar circulates within the bloodstream. Overtime, this causes the pancreas to become overworked, thus ruining its ability to produce insulin in the way that it should and damages the heart and blood vessels³. Diabetes is also induced if the cells respond poorly to the insulin, which causes less glucose to be taken in. Sometimes when people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they experience feelings of hopelessness, however at LifeWorks Wellness Center, we help our patients to better understand the condition to help them realize that they have more control over it than what meets the eye.
Follow a Low-Carb Diet
A few major factors that increase the risk of becoming a diabetic is through DNA and poor diet. Diabetes can sometimes be inherited, and if it runs in the family, this may put someone at a higher risk, especially if they are obese or have a high sugar intake. It is encouraged that those with a diabetic lineage or are currently suffering with the condition, should keep track of their glycaemia and maintain a low-carb diet. Medical News Today reports that the average American consumes approximately 71.14 grams of added sugar per day4. One gram of sugar equates to four calories in total. While most people may believe that these come from candy bars and caffeinated drinks, they also come from carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, rice, packaged foods, peanut butter, breakfast cereals and other starchy edibles.
At LifeWorks, we highly encourage the Ketogenic (Keto) Diet for diabetics. Keto is a low-carb, high fat diet with the purpose of reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat so that the body can burn it for energy. Healthline reports that the diet “improves glucose levels while reducing the need for insulin5.” Before starting the Keto diet, it is recommended that one should speak with their practitioner to determine their carb counts, as these can differ from patient-to-patient.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Harsh consequences are subsequent to those who make poor lifestyle choices. Additionally, those with diabetes or with family history of the disease may need to be even more careful than the average person. Most of the time, diabetes is brought on by specific factors such as smoking, poor diet, excessive alcohol intake, medications, stress, obesity, and sedentary behavior.
LifeWorks recommends that patients who suffer with diabetes should:
- exercise for at least an hour every day (whether it’s walking, riding a bike, jogging, etc.),
- have frequent checkups with your practitioner,
- quit smoking or heavy tobacco use,
- receive the proper amount of sleep and
- take Vitamin D.
Adjusting to these new lifestyle habits will tremendously help maintain normal blood sugar levels and increase one’s quality of life while doing so.
Monitor Your Blood Sugar
Since the pancreas can no longer produce insulin to regulate glycaemia levels, diabetics are typically trained to monitor their own blood sugar through the use of a finger-pricking device. However, pricking a finger several times a day doesn’t seem ideal as it has grown into such a painful aggravation and inconvenience for those who suffer with the disease, and can even bring on future health complications. Thankfully, new technologies in the medical industry have been able to bring these painful irritations to a halt.
At LifeWorks, Dr. Minkoff highly encourages his patients to consider the FreeStyle Libre as an option. The FreeStyle Libre is a prescription glucose monitoring system that measures blood sugar levels through a small sensor that is applied to the upper arm of the patient. Subsequently, the patient must download an application on their Apple iPhone or Android. This app can scan the monitor on their arm and accurately provide their current glucose reading without any drop of blood leaving the body. This will provide the proper information needed in order to understand one’s daily diet plan and the amount of insulin that their body needs.
Curcumin
Some natural treatments that have been proven to help are Curcumin IV Therapies. Curcumin is a component of the gold spice turmeric that originates in the country of India. This mineral has been effective in treating cancer, reducing inflammation, and decreasing pre-diabetic developments. Healthline noted that Curcumin also has extensive evidence of reducing insulin resistance and slowing down the progression of diabetes in those who are at risk5. In a group of 240 pre-diabetic adults, one group was instructed to take curcumin over a nine-month period while the second group did not. Out of those in the second group, 16.4% proceeded to develop diabetes, while all of those who took curcumin did not. In addition, those who took curcumin showed improved results of insulin production within the pancreas6. LifeWorks provides Curcumin IV Treatments, however patients must speak with a LifeWorks practitioner prior to see if they are eligible for this treatment.
Treating type 2 diabetes can vary from patient-to-patient, however we strongly believe that this disease can be mitigated and treated using natural solutions. We will check your Insulin-Growth Factors (IGF), check for food allergies and discover inflammation or toxin overloads within the body. From there, a practitioner will provide guidance on the treatment plan for you. If you are pre-diabetic or suffer from type 2 diabetes, please call to schedule an appointment at 727-466-6789.
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