By Dr. Robyn Wright, Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics
Diabetes is a pandemic that has been quietly heating up underneath the surface and it’s a disease that’s costing communities around the country lives and money.
According to the American Diabetes Association, over 34 million Americans have diabetes and face its devastating consequences which can include heart disease, stroke, amputation, kidney disease, blindness and death.
In addition, about 10.8% of the adult population in Arizona have been diagnosed with diabetes and an estimated additional 164,000 people in the state have diabetes but don’t know it. And every year, approximately 37,000 people in Arizona are diagnosed with the disease.
Being diagnosed with diabetes is also very costly financially. Medical expenses tend to be 2.3 times higher with direct medical expenses being estimated at $5.1 billion in 2017 with another $1.7 billion spent on indirect costs from lost productivity due to diabetes.
The questions that come to mind are: Can we reverse diabetes? And can we do that in a natural manner? A diagnosis of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes can be reversed and can be done naturally.
The first steps to take when someone receives a diabetic diagnosis is to immediately assess their lifestyle. Increasing fiber and protein, correcting metabolic dysfunction as well as correcting mineral and vitamin deficiencies may help slow down the release of glucose from food. Broccoli, kale, lentils, collard greens and beans are some healthy food options.
At Rejuvena, after assessing patient lifestyle and diet, we would recommend a tailored plan to improve nutrient status and appropriate caloric intake. We recommend that our patients choose foods low in sugars, saturated fat and trans-fat. A diet that typically works very well is the Mediterranean diet, which features plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains with olive oil being the primary source of fat.
The next step is to begin building muscle, improving body composition and regularly moving your body.
According to a study published in the “Journal of General Internal Medicine” for those with a prediabetes diagnosis, people who lost 10% of their body weight within six months from their diagnosis decreased their risk of developing diabetes by 85%. Regular exercise, even just walking for 30 minutes a day, can help prevent or reverse prediabetes and insulin resistance.
Natural botanical medicines can also be a great way to complement your diabetes treatment regimen. Aloe vera, berberine, gymnema and nopal are a few natural ingredients that have been found to help lower people’s blood sugar and have plenty of additional medical benefits. It’s also crucial to have healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, quit smoking, drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol.
Another important task to reduce the chances of becoming diabetic is testing for the disease as part of regular blood work if overweight or obese.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the earlier people screen for prediabetes the quicker they can hop on a natural treatment plan to begin reversing course their diabetes detection.
Being diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes can be a scary thing to handle but know that it’s a very naturally treatable disease that can be reversed by lifestyle changes such as healthier eating, exercising and eliminating alcohol and tobacco.
Editor's note: Dr. Robyn Wright is a primary care physician at Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics.
