by: Dr. Tina Marcantel
If you are among the growing
number of people suffering from type 2 diabetes,
here is some good news: A plan of basic therapies including
education, a personalized meal plan, nutritional supplements,
and ongoing monitoring and support can reduce the amount of
insulin and oral medications needed to manage the disease
and decrease the symptoms and complications of
diabetes. When you are empowered by knowledge, you can learn
to effectively manage this potentially devastating disease.
Many diabetic patients think their symptoms are " under
control" because they are taking insulin and other oral
medications that help keep
their blood sugars
within acceptable levels. Medications are, of course,
critical in the treatment of the disease. However, if the
patient does not commit to an active role in
addressing the causes of problems, then the result may be
an ever-increasing dependence on insulin or other
medications, which have their own negative side effects over
time. For instance, did you know that insulin is a
fat-storing hormone that often leads to unwanted weight gain
among diabetic patients? That weight gain can then lead to
other problems such as high blood pressure or joint
problems.
In my own work with patients, I stress four important
factors. The first is education about the disease process. It
is critical to understand what diabetes is and what
the effects can be on your body. Without proper treatment,
problems such as loss of vision, pain or numbness in the
extremities, ulcers on the feet, and damage to vital organs
can occur. Learning about how the disease affects the
body to cause these problems is the first crucial
step in your treatment plan.
The next factor is developing a personalized meal plan. "You
are what you eat" was never truer than when talking about
diabetes. By understanding how certain foods affect your body
and your blood sugars, it is possible to enjoy good meals
while still controlling blood sugars and decreasing
your weight. As an example, eating a piece of fruit alone can
cause blood sugars to rise, but taking a protein such as nuts
or cheese with the fruit will prevent a spike in the blood
sugars.
Targeted nutritional supplements or botanical treatments can
also be very helpful. Recent studies have shown these
alternative therapies to be effective in decreasing blood
pressure, lowering cholesterol, and decreasing blood
sugars, thus reducing potential organ damage.
Perhaps the most important factor in a treatment plan is an
ongoing monitoring and support program. Working with a
healthcare provider who will spend time discussing your
progress and modifying your treatment plan on a regular basis
is critical to successfully managing the disease.
You don't have to be a "victim" of type 2 diabetes. By being
proactive and working with a knowledgeable physician, you can
control your diabetes without letting it control you.
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