Saying Goodbye to Diabetes

There are two kinds of diabetes, but only one of them is related to aging and lifestyle.  Type 1 diabetes is a condition that’s genetic and is usually diagnosed in young people.  With type 1 diabetes, you need to live a healthy lifestyle - but that lifestyle can’t reverse the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is directly related to lifestyle.  This is most commonly found in people who are obese, though not always.  This type of diabetes is directly related to lifestyle choices, but there is a genetic component.

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be devastating, but this isn’t a death sentence.  With lifestyle improvements, you can reduce blood sugar problems and even reverse them.

With type 2 diabetes, your body can’t control blood sugar on its own.  That’s because the insulin your body produces doesn’t bind to the glucose in your blood. 

But when you make lifestyle changes, you can actually reverse diabetes so that it makes insulin properly and your blood sugar is able to be controlled naturally.  Diabetes is the most preventable illness associated with aging.

If you don’t get diabetes under control, it can lead to vision problems, circulatory problems, loss of limbs, and heart disease.  This is a chronic illness that is 100% preventable.

Reversing Diabetes Through Lifestyle

There are many factors that lead to the development of diabetes.  There are common behaviors you can use to your advantage.  It truly is possible to reverse this illness so that you no longer depend on medication to control it.

Nutrition 

The most important factor when it comes to diabetes is good nutrition.  It’s essential that you reduce or even eliminate processed foods from your diet.  Eating whole foods without additives and preservatives will make major changes.

Processed foods contain high levels of refined sugars and grains.  These cause the blood sugar to spike.  When you eliminate these foods from your diet, you’ll have more control over your blood sugar.

It’s also important to avoid artificial sweeteners.  Many products marketed for people with diabetes as “sugar-free” actually contain high levels of artificial sweeteners.

These can actually cause problems with blood sugar and cause you to feel hungrier.  Artificial sweeteners are also associated with health problems that make you feel older, such as inflammation in the body, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

It’s best to get your sweetness from natural fruit.  Stevia is one sweetener that’s natural and has actually been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.  This might be a good option for sweetening beverages.

Eating whole grains will provide you with needed carbohydrates, but these carbohydrates won’t cause a spike in blood sugar.  You should also eat a diet with lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

Healthy oils also help reduce inflammation and reduce your blood sugar problems related to diabetes.

Exercise 

Exercise is also critical for diabetes.  Exercise helps your body regulate blood sugar.  It also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which reduces your risk of diabetes and can help you reverse it.

The thought of exercise may be overwhelming if you’re sedentary.  But you can start small and work your way up to longer periods of exercise.  Eventually you want to walk at least 30 minutes a day. 

But in the early stage, it’s enough to walk five minutes if that’s the best you can do.  Making small changes will help you have long-term success.

Medication

While lifestyle can reverse diabetes, it’s important to use medication where necessary.  If you’re struggling with keeping your blood sugar under control, medication can help you while you’re changing your lifestyle.

As you make better and better lifestyle choices, you’ll decrease your dependence on that medication.  But there are some cases where medication may be necessary and it’s a good idea to take advantage of it.

Supplements 

There are several supplements that can help you manage your blood sugar and reverse diabetes.  Supplements that include antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, and B-complex can all improve your health and make you feel youthful.

You can also take evening primrose oil as a supplement to treat diabetes.  Cinnamon is also a great supplement to add to your diet.  You can eat it as a spice with foods, but you can also take it in capsule form with meals to lower your blood sugar.

Drinking green tea can help reduce inflammation in your body and help you to improve your metabolic rate.  Fenugreek is another herb that’s been shown to help regulate blood sugar.

Chromium supplements can be used to help your sugar metabolism.  This supplement keeps you from experiencing highs and lows with your blood sugar and reduces sugar cravings.

Fish oil is a supplement that is good for many aging health issues.  For diabetes, it actually helps your insulin to work properly and reduces inflammation in the body.  Biotin is another supplement that can improve the way your insulin functions.

Stress Reduction

Stress wreaks havoc on the body in many ways.  In the case of diabetes, chronic stress leads to weight gain in the abdomen because of increased cortisol levels. 

This weight gain can actually cause diabetes.  Learning to relax and manage stress is critical to reversing diabetes.  It’s also important to get plenty of rest and relaxation.