Long ago, the belief that Type 2 Diabetes is simply a result of overeating and underexercising has been turned on its head. We are now looking at how things like toxins, poor sleep habits, hormone imbalances between estrogen and testosterone, and poor gut health, contribute to changes in how our body uses glucose and insulin. It is true that the average person eats about 150lbs of sugar each year with High Fructose Corn Syrup making up the bulk of that. Why do we then give someone more insulin who has poor gut health, has toxic exposure through the environment, and lacks the nutrients to produce energy that drives more glucose into the cell, when that is not the actual issue with Type 2 Diabetes?
Large swings in blood sugar is usually caused by not eating often enough and many times not eating enough throughout the day so you get the insulin spikes that lead to Type 2 Diabetes. To give someone who is already dumping too much insulin into the bloodstream even more insulin, you are just slapping a band-aid on the problem. This roller coaster of blood sugar leads to an imbalance of the gut bacteria which is vital to stabilizing one’s blood sugar levels. As the imbalance continues, you develop inflammation that causes even more issues such as obesity, hormone imbalance, and cardiovascular/hypertension. So what do we need to do?
First, look at eating more real food that is Organic because pesticides act as antibiotics in the gut, leading to the gut imbalance. Eating more protein and fats during the day keep the swings in blood sugar levels to a minimum. Second, we need to have better sleep habits as this contributes to improved testosterone levels and less inflammation in the body. Reducing your toxic load through better choices in what you use each day on your hair, skin, and body is key to helping your body have a better metabolic rate (see our previous blog posts on cleaning up your environment). Third, you need to move every day of your life – walking and strength training are key exercises as your body wants to feed the muscles as much as possible to keep you moving to stay alive. Fourth, getting the gut healthy is essential, so addressing the imbalances that exist will be needed to get a lasting resolution of Type 2 Diabetes. Lastly, using things to help make your body more insulin sensitive when you do eat can be very helpful in helping you cure yourself of Type 2 Diabetes. I like berberine, magnesium, carnitine, and alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to work great in studies and my patients.
Type 2 Diabetes is a disease that you can get rid of, you can be healthy. It starts with a choice, the right guidance, and a change.
Dr. Brian Opp, Chiropractor