Managing Diabetes the Natural Way

Diabetes is of growing concern around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this chronic condition was the seventh leading cause of death in the US in 2015, the latest year for which data is available. If left untreated, heart disease, poor circulation, and even blindness can result. The elderly are more likely to suffer from it, with an estimated 25% of those 65 and older having a diagnosis.

Author and functional medicine physician Amy Myers recommends six natural strategies to prevent and reverse the symptoms of diabetes.

• Heal your gut. With most of the immune system located in the gut, it is the foundation of our health. The gut is semi-permeable, allowing absorption of nutrients from food. If it is bombarded with inflammatory foods, toxins, or stress, the immune system attacks the body, causing autoimmune diseases like diabetes. Avoid highly processed foods, foods high in sugar, and alcohol. Cow’s milk is also linked to incidence of type 1 diabetes. Probiotics can be useful to reinoculated the gut.
• Get rid of gluten, grains, and legumes. Gluten-filled grains such as wheat contain proteins that can lead to leaky gut and inflammation. Removal of gluten from the diet will also lower blood sugar levels as the body converts carbohydrates to sugar. Diabetics should avoid sugar from sweets, fruits, and carbs.  Legumes and pseudograins such as quinoa and millet can be inflammatory.

Learning to manage stress is important for diabetes prevention and relief.

• Tame the toxins. Environmental toxins such as lead, mercury, industrial chemicals, and pesticides are well known to be toxic and can increase the risk of diabetes. Beauty products, cleaning products, non-organic food, and plastic packaging also contain toxins. Eat organic food, use non-toxic cookware and cleaning products, avoid plastic water bottles, and consider using an air purifier.
• Heal your infections and relieve your stress. Enteroviruses are linked to diabetes, with Coxsackievirus (CVB4) being the most common. Cortisol, the stress hormone, elevates blood sugar, so learning to manage stress is important for diabetes prevention and management. Get adequate sleep, exercise, meditate, drink herbal teas.   
• Manage your carbs. Avoid inflammatory foods such as eggs and citrus. No more than 45% of caloric intake should be from carbs. A dairy-free version of the ketogenic diet of healthy fats, organic meat, eggs, and nuts is recommended.  Salt and alcohol consumption should be limited.
• Exercise.  Physical exercise has an array of health benefits, including lowering blood sugar, reducing the risk for heart disease, and alleviating stress and depression. It also helps manage weight—a risk factor for diabetes.