Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with type II diabetes or are on the edge of developing it?
Have you known someone who has died of complications from it?
It’s not surprising that many of us are familiar with this disease, even though we may not fully understand it. After decades of our diets being infiltrated with excess added sugars while we struggle to find time and motivation to exercise, 1 out of every 3 adults are at risk for developing it.
That’s pretty staggering. But what do we do about it?
We always prefer to start with finding the root cause of a disease if we can. Let’s explore common questions we receive.
How does type II diabetes form?
Type II diabetes revolves around our body’s use of insulin.
Insulin is a hormone our body naturally produces. When we take in carbs/sugars, we secrete insulin to help move the sugar from our blood into our cells. We do need some sugar/glucose to function!
However, when we consistently eat high sugar, high carb diets without proper exercise, our cells become insulin resistant. This means that because of the overstimulation and over saturation of sugar in our bodies, our cells stop responding to the natural insulin we produce.
What does this lead to?
You guessed it – high blood sugar.
What does high blood sugar do to the body?
High blood sugar is very dangerous for our body. It can lead to:
– heart disease and heart attack
– stroke
– kidney disease/failure
– blindness
– amputation of limbs
These issues are incredibly serious and can even lead to death.
What are common symptoms of type II diabetes and when should I be concerned?
If you have a family history of diabetes, this should be your first inclination to always be on guard of any symptoms. Getting blood sugar tested regularly is crucial for keeping your health in check.
In addition to elevated blood sugar tests, symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
– low energy, fatigue
– weight gain
– carb and/or sugar cravings
– excessive thirst
– hypoglycemia
– highly fluctuating blood sugar
If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, we recommend having your blood sugar tested through our office or your general practitioner.
What if I am told I am pre-diabetic? What should I do?
First, don’t panic! We understand this diagnosis can be scary. It is serious, but there are many things you can do and try to reduce your risk of developing it completely.
We recommend starting by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Graves. After reviewing your test results and discussing your overall lifestyle, diet, and exercise regimen, he can create a plan for you to work towards your goals.
This may consist of such things as:
– herbal protocol to help lower blood sugar and support cells in processing insulin (such as berberine, cinnamon, inositol, alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, and biotin)
– diet changes to reduce carbs and sugars
– exercise program that is functional and appropriate
– acupuncture to treat consequences of diabetes (neuropathy, swelling, low immune function, etc.)
Giving this your best for 1-3 months can give a good indication of whether or not these changes help in reducing your development risk.
What if I have been diagnosed diabetic. Is this something I have to live with the rest of my life? Can this be cured?
Great question. While it’s never a guarantee, it’s certainly possible to reverse this disease for many people.
Typically, western general physicians will prescribe medications such as Metformin to help with insulin sensitivity. Even though these are a short-term fix, these drugs are to be taken, possibly with additional ones, for the entire duration of the disease (typically, a lifetime).
However, with strict changes, sometimes type II diabetes can be reversed in the body which make this the best long-term solution.
If you are diagnosed with type II diabetes, you may choose to go on prescription medication from the start. Dr. Graves can work with your general practitioner’s recommendations to provide guidance and help in trying to wean off the medications.
Or, you may choose to try natural medicine and lifestyle changes for 1-3 months before trying prescriptions medications.
Our recommendation?
Change: Lifestyle. Diet. Exercise.
Change is the best long-term solution. Whether that means you need both western and eastern medicine or just one or the other to help you make changes is up to you – as long as healthy changes are made.
What if I have tried and failed on a diabetic-friendly diet and exercise program?
You’re not alone! It can be hard to find and stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle. But, we can help! Dr. Graves specifically works with clients who are in need of readjusting their diets and exercise regimens to create a plan that is realistic and goal oriented.
Do you live in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Larkspur, Highlands Ranch, Monument, Colorado Springs, Parker, or Centennial and are struggling with type II diabetes?
We highly recommend a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Graves to discuss natural medicine options for the disease.
Click here to schedule your consultation and start a new way of conquering life.
REFERENCES:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/prediabetes-type2/index.html
Leave a Reply