Naturopathic Medicine

The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 1 of 2

November 2nd, 2007
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Diabetic Kit

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million people in the United States have diabetes. The vast majority of these people, about 90-95%, have type 2 diabetes (aka adult onset diabetes). Many millions more are “pre-diabetic” and, if left on their current course, will surely become diabetic. What a bummer! Not only is it a serious health threat, diabetes is also expensive. In 2002 the medical costs associated with diabetes were $132 billion. That’s billion with a “B” . Why are we in this predicament, and why aren’t we rioting in the streets about it? What really puts the bee in my bonnet is the increasing number of children diagnosed with this disease.

The Good News

Now that I’ve vented a little, I would like to share the good news. Contrary to what many people believe, there are natural ways to treat type 2 diabetes. Since I’m up on my soapbox, I might as well share some thoughts and suggestions with you. This month we will focus on insulin, and next month on some other factors which contribute to this disease.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is ultimately the result of something called “insulin resistance.” Insulin is the hormone which helps our cells absorb sugar (glucose) to use as energy. Insulin resistance occurs when our cells no longer respond to the signals of insulin, and the result is harmfully high levels of sugar floating around in our blood with nowhere to go. This elevated blood sugar wreaks havoc (picture a fraternity party) on our blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and nerves.

What Can I Do to Help Control My Type 2 Diabetes?

There are a number of natural ways to improve our cells’ response to insulin and help control type 2 diabetes. Remember to talk to your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan.

  • First things first. All the talk about losing weight and exercising is true. In order to get the body’s sensitivity to insulin working better, we have to trim off that weight around our bellies and move our bodies. There is no easy way around this. You must make exercising a priority.
  • The tasty spice cinnamon has an insulin-like effect. It has been shown in studies to help reduce blood glucose levels. Eat it every day as part of your routine.
  • Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) is an herb that is helpful in treating diabetes. Be cautious! This herb can be very successful in lowering blood glucose, so your blood sugar levels should be monitored carefully. In addition, gymnema can decrease the body’s ability to taste “sweet” and, therefore, reduce sugar cravings.
  • Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) has long been used in the management of diabetes. Research suggests that this traditionally used herb can indeed lower blood sugar levels.
  • Chromium is an essential trace mineral that takes part in sugar and fat metabolism. It helps our cells properly respond to insulin. In fact, studies have found low levels of chromium in people with diabetes.
  • Zinc plays an important role in the production and storage of insulin. There is some research showing that people with type 2 diabetes have poor zinc status.

One final note: it is extremely important to frequently check your blood glucose levels whenever you make lifestyle changes or start new medicines—even natural ones. Tune in next month when I will delve deeper into the root causes of type 2 diabetes and discuss a truly holistic approach to diabetes management.

Take care of your (whole) self—

Amy Bader, ND

Read The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 2 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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3 Responses to “The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 1 of 2”
  1. regina Says:

    my doctor just told me i am pre-diabetic and i have been online looking at how to change my diet. i also like to use natural ways to get healthy so i like this posting. i’m guessing the cinnamon can’t be from cinnamon rolls. LOL.

  2. Is Obesity Linked to Cancer? | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:

    […] Inflammation can target many organs including the brain, muscles and skin. Irritable bowel syndrome, for example, is related to small areas of inflammation in the bowel. Some of the disease states in addition to cancers that are inflammation related include coronary artery disease, asthma, diabetes and several forms of arthritis (autoimmune disease). Chronic inflammation is also thought to be one of the causes of Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, fibromyalgia and more. Some doctors recommend taking one anti-inflammatory ibuprofen per day to reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s.  Minimize Your Risk So is obesity linked to cancer? The simple answer is yes, and research suggests that the link is called inflammation. The good news is that you can take precautionary measures to minimize your risk. Altering your diet to embrace anti-inflammatory principles will help curb obesity and reduce overall body inflammation. In turn, this small change will support the body’s efforts to prevent and combat illness.   [1] Fobair, P., Gautier, H., Maffit, L., Rosenbaum, E., Spiegel D. Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Survivorship: A Road Map for Better Health. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2007.   […]

  3. The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 2 of 2 | Gilbert Guide Blog Says:

    […] 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: […]

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