Naturopathic Medicine

The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 2 of 2

November 1st, 2007
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Wake-up Call to Stop Eating Junk Food

Hold on to your hats. I’m back on my soapbox... Last month I began our discussion of type 2 diabetes with a focus on insulin resistance. This month, let’s examine some other aspects of this disease. Blood sugar levels in the body are controlled by a delicate dance between the pancreas and the adrenals. The adrenal glands sit atop our kidneys and, among their other duties, produce a hormone called cortisol. This hormone increases in response to stress, inflammation and low blood sugar. Cortisol is responsible for breaking down the tissues of the body to make glucose (sugar), which is used as fuel. You see, having low blood glucose is stressful for the body. The brain needs glucose for energy. Simply put, when cortisol goes up, so does blood sugar.

In addition, over time, cortisol contributes to weight gain around the belly and insulin resistance. Do you remember the other reasons cortisol will rise? Stress and inflammation! Think of inflammation as biochemical stress. This is why diabetics have a more difficult time controlling blood sugar levels when they are stressed out—cortisol is running amok. You might be saying to yourself, “type 2 diabetes is genetic.” You are right in that it is an inherited tendency. However, think of your body as a chain. Your genetics determine which links are weakest. Now add some stress to that chain and guess which links break. Since we can’t change our genes, change the amount of stress.

Take Control of Your Diabetes!

Here are some tips to help manage your mental, emotional and biochemical stress, and improve the symptoms of diabetes:

  • Routinely use meditation, prayer, gentle exercise, counseling, journaling, gardening or any other calming activity you enjoy to help you relax.
  • Consider consulting a counselor to help you learn to manage stress. These well-trained professionals can offer you tools to handle life’s challenges.
  • Reduce allergenic or inflammatory foods in your diet. Common allergens are wheat, dairy, tomatoes, potatoes, soy, corn, eggs, peanuts and citrus fruits. (I know this sounds weird, but just try it. I once had a diabetic patient whose blood sugars normalized when he stopped consuming tomatoes. This includes tomato-based products. Since then, I have seen this over and over with patients.) Inflammatory foods include sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans- and hydrogenated fats, caffeine, alcohol and processed “foodstuffs.”
  • Eat anti-inflammatory foods such as vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish. Use anti-inflammatory herbs in cooking, such as turmeric and garlic.
  • Improve your digestion. Take a high quality probiotic every day. (L. acidophilus, L. bifidus, etc.) Try ½ tsp of apple cider vinegar in ½ cup of water 15 minutes before meals to enhance digestion. Digestive enzymes may be helpful to reduce allergenic exposure in the digestive tract.
  • Take supplements that encourage your body to function optimally. The following supplements may be useful in quelling the stress response and supporting your adrenal glands: Vitamin B complex, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and vitamin C.

For those of you who follow my postings, you may have heard some of this before. The reason is simple: these suggestions help the health of the whole body, not just one disease. Like many health problems, type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed holistically. So, climb up on this soapbox with me and let’s create change together. The view is pretty good from up here.

Take care of your (whole) self—

Amy Bader, ND

Read The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 1 of 2

Want more expert tips for leading a natural healthier life? Visit Tips for Healthy Living.

Posted in Diabetes, Diets for Diabetics, Healing Through Diet, Naturopathic Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine: Amy Bader, Nutrition, Senior Health, Tips for Healthy Living

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5 Responses to “The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 2 of 2”
  1. Peripheral Neuropathy: Treating it the Natural Way | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:

    […] First of all, if you have diabetes, please, please, please control your blood sugars! In this instance, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. (Take a look at part one and part two in my series on diabetes for a refresher.) […]

  2. Mrs Sissons Says:

    I’d appreciate any suggestions for keeping blood sugars lower after a bi-lateral adrenalectomy. Since having to take Hydrocortisone to stay alive increases my blood sugars - and I now have Type 2 - what am I to do?! HELP! Thank you.

  3. Amy Bader, ND Says:

    I am so sorry to hear you are having trouble. Things get a little tricky when the body relies on hormones from medications, especially medications in the cortisone family of hormones. With that said, the advice is the same, except you must be even more diligent. I assume you are working with an endocrinologist who is helping you to manage your dose of hydrocortisone well. Given that assumption, anything you can do to reduce simple carbohydrates in your diet, minimize stress, reduce inflammation, and nourish your insulin response will definitely help.(Please read my postings on inflammation and probiotics.) Also, antioxidants such as Alpha Lipoic Acid will limit damage from high blood sugar levels.

    Take care,
    Amy Bader, ND

  4. ANNAMARIE LACEY Says:

    Thank you so much for this column…it is very very informative. My sugar has been surging…I have alot of food allergies and inflammation and saw here that I could be eating things I thought were “innocent” and it could be surging the sugar levels..I am taking a product called Gluco-reg…previously it did the job, I have been very stressed with pain over my kidneys…my PCP is supposed to do a rast blood test for food allergies…some I already know and then to see if I have Cushing disease…Thank you..this is a start..Annamarie

  5. Amy Bader, ND Says:

    Annamarie,
    Thank you for your comments. I am glad my column is useful! I agree…It sounds like you may be eating some foods which adversely affect your blood sugar levels. The RAST testing can be very helpful, but also consider doing an elimination diet. Please read my posting regarding probiotics.I think they will be very helpful in calming your inflammation. I wish you the best.

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