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In my
experience, diabetes is one of the most poorly
controlled and managed illnesses. This is partly due to
lack of information and partly due to the use of
outdated methods regarding a broad range of activities
including dietary approaches, use of medications and
management and prevention of side effects.
One
important area that information is lacking is how
exercise impacts blood sugar levels. For example, did
you know that weight training and building of muscle
mass decreases your need for insulin? While doing
strength training (anaerobic exercise), your muscles
require up to 19 times more glucose (sugar) than during
aerobic activities (ie. running).
Another
key area is the management of sugar lows, called
hypoglycemia. Many diabetics experience a continuous
rollercoaster effect on their blood sugar levels. Over
the long run this may lead to many of the side effects
of poorly controlled diabetes such as kidney damage or
even blindness. One reason for this is the use of
non-standardized sugary drinks or foods to treat
hypoglycemia. Instead, proper use of standardized
glucose pills allows you to predict exactly by how much
your blood sugar levels will increase. The result is
that blood sugar levels go from low to normal rather
than to high.
From a
preventative perspective, many people are at significant
risk to develop diabetes, and yet their blood sugar
levels are not managed until an actual diagnosis is
made. Anyone with excess abdominal fat probably has
chronically elevated insulin levels. The hormone
insulin keeps your weight elevated which further
predisposes you to diabetes. This is despite normal
routine yearly blood sugar tests. Natural remedies and
proper nutrition can be used to increase the body’s
sensitivity to insulin in order to prevent the onset of
diabetes.
For
those already diagnosed with diabetes, herbal remedies
and proper nutrition can be used to decrease or in some
cases wean off medicines. Some people are using
outdated oral hypoglycemic agents such as sulfonylurea.
These burn out the remaining functional cells that can
produce insulin, eventually leading to the necessity for
insulin shots. If you fall into this category, ask your
general practitioner about switching to insulin mimetics
or insulin sensitizers.
My
general treatment goals for diabetics are as follows:
normalize blood sugar levels (this is even possible for
type I’s), obtain ideal weights, fully or partially
reverse diabetic complications, reduce frequency and
severity of hypoglycemic episodes, reduce burn out of
Beta cells and possible increase the efficiency of
existing beta cells to produce insulin. In addition to
this I teach specific management techniques to be
employed while at rest, during exercise, during illness
and other possible scenarios. Basically, people can
take charge of their diabetes by better understanding
all the nuances of how their bodies work and how they
can deliberately affect this.
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