November is diabetes awareness month, and today is Diabetes day! In honour of this, we’ve decided to shine some light on this condition that affects around 9% of the Canadian population. Diabetes is a condition in which the body has impaired production or abnormal response to the hormone insulin, which is required to uptake glucose from the blood and transport it to our tissues as a source of fuel. Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of our pancreas in response to high blood sugar. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the beta cells, resulting in very little or no insulin being able to be released from the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes generally develops in childhood or adolescence and accounts for about 5-10% of cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is more common and occurs when the pancreas can produce insulin but the body is unable to utilize it, resulting in insulin insensitivity. The classic symptoms of a diagnoses of diabetes include polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), polyuria (increased urination) and unexplained weight loss.
It is important to manage both types of diabetes because there are many complications that can occur such as kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, heart attack and stroke. In fact, diabetes is the number one cause for adult blindness and non-traumatic amputation in the US, and patients with diabetes have approximately 2-3x increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Treatment plans for diabetic patients must be individualized, and often include regulating glycemic status, supporting renal function and preventing long term complications.
Diet and lifestyle therapies show great success in not only managing type 2 diabetes, but also in the prevention of developing this condition. Individuals with a BMI of 35 or greater have over a 75% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with a BMI of 25 or less. Regular moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise is crucial in maintaining a healthy BMI and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Exercise improves insulin receptor sensitivity, allowing more glucose to be taken out of the bloodstream and into cells. Just a 20 minute walk per day can achieve incredible outcomes regarding weight loss and glucose management. Additionally, stabilizing blood sugar through diet by limiting refined carbohydrates and increasing intake of vegetables, fruit and lean protein is effective. The Mediterranean diet is a great reference, and includes a good amount of olive oil that can lower blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure.
Additionally, there are many supplements that can be prescribed for the management of diabetes. For example, chromium is a supplement that may improve the functioning of the insulin receptor and cinnamon can lower fasting glucose and improve cholesterol. Inositol may help prevent gestational diabetes and curcumin can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid can be used for peripheral neuropathy and lutein or zeaxanthin promote eye health to prevent diabetic retinopathy and subsequent risk of blindness.
Though diabetes is a condition that affects many people worldwide, there are evidence based naturopathic therapies that can help manage blood glucose levels, alleviate symptoms and prevent progression to further complications. Talk to you Naturopathic Doctor for individualized care in managing or preventing diabetes.
