Type
2 Diabetes and You
Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing
chronic disease in the world today. The good news is that with the right diet,
nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes Type 2 diabetes can be reversed
in the majority of cases. The other
interesting news is that Type 2 Diabetes is preventable. Even if you have a strong family history, you
can prevent yourself from becoming a diabetic.
Type
2 Diabetes is lifestyle induced and lifestyle controlled
How much diabetes
will influence your quality and quantity of life will largely depend on
you. It is well recognised as a disease
that is a consequence of our modern lifestyle: a result of poor diet and inactive lifestyle
to begin. These two factors combined may
produce an overweight body and may lead to diabetes.
Main
Symptoms of Blood Sugar imbalance: increased thirst, urination, hunger and
fatigue, sores that do not heal, and skin infections such as boils or fungal
infection. Blurred vision and numbness or tingling in the feet, hands, and lips
may be indicators also.
Diabetes
is a sugar problem
Understanding
of the disease is complex, with the hormone insulin and its release from the
pancreas dependant on the foods fed to the body and the exercise it is given. From
the foods we eat the fats and sugars get absorbed from the intestines into the
bloodstream and are converted into physical energy inside the cells. Insulin
transports them into the cells. If the insulin receptor does not work properly,
the fats and sugars stay in the bloodstream, and the pancreas responds by
putting out more insulin. The cells are starved of the sugar they need for
energy production. The fats and sugar are taken to the liver or fat tissues and
it turns into fat instead of energy. So
we put on weight, get fatty liver disease, feel tired and crave more sugar. Most
people get fat on a diet that is not high in fat and this is why.
“Your
body makes large amounts of saturated fat out of sugar and high carbohydrate
foods like bread, pasta and potatoes that you eat but don’t burn off as
energy,” says Dr Sandra Cabot (P67
Diabetes Type 2, You can reverse it..)
Dietary
contribution to blood sugar imbalance
SAD
(Standard Australian Diet) diet
The most prevalent
contribution to raised blood sugar levels is our diet which encourages all to eat
refined carbohydrate based on wheaten flours (breads, pasta, boxed cereals,
muffins) at every meal. Over consumption of cola drinks including those
labelled “no sugar”, wine and coffee is also a major contributing factor.
Not
eating enough fibre
Fibre is in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds,
whole grains such as brown rice, millet, quinoa, and dried whole beans such as
adzuki, cannellini, kidney etc. These
are whole foods, not grainy or wholemeal bread.
Eating
the wrong fats or
no fats
The cheap oils used in
making processed foods and margarine spreads are polyunsaturated, high in omega
6, unstable oils that oxidise easily and promote inflammation in the cells (sunflower,
safflower, canola, corn oils). Saturated and monounsaturated fats (real butter,
olive oil, lard, coconut oil) are more stable, do not rancidify easily and can
be used in cooking. The beneficial fat,
omega 3, is found in flax and chia seeds, nuts and seeds, fish and all flesh meats.
Fats in the diet assist digestion, transport the fat soluble vitamins
(A,E,D,K), satiate the appetite (stops hunger feeling for more and sweet foods)
and assist in stabilising blood sugar.
High
intake of non foods (nutrition processed out of the
original food)
A good example is minerals and oils which are processed out of the
wheat that becomes white flour and made into the breads in plastic bags in
supermarket, savoury and sweet biscuits, pasta, muffins, cake, waffles,
crumpets and most breakfast cereals. These foods carry very little nutrition and
the refining process creates a food that acts like sugar when it is eaten.
A
diet low in antioxidants
We need antioxidants to overcome damage to
our cells by the effect of pollution, cigarettes, EMR’s (electro magnetic
radiation), stress and toxins generally.
These are supplied through fresh and raw vegetables, fruits, green tea,
raw nuts and seeds and dark chocolate is a good source also. Vegetable juicing
is an excellent way of getting concentrated antioxidants into the diet. Or eat lots of raw vegetables.
Glycemic
Index/load.
Using
this measure to rate foods suitable to keep diabetes at bay can be misleading.
Protein at every meal is required to keep blood sugar regulated and because red
meat, fish, poultry and eggs rate at zero on the glycemic scale they are not
listed. But these are the foods that should be eaten along with fresh plant
foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains and the good
fats (real butter, olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, fish oils).
Summary
To
reverse type 2 diabetes the total carbohydrate content of the diet needs to be
reduced substantially, with carbs coming from vegetables and fruits. Weight loss may also result from this, the
glycemic load of the foods eaten will be naturally low and you may feel
motivated to go for a daily walk. If wanting to ensure diabetes does not become
your health issue, limit refined carbohydrate and processed food intake. Do you live a busy life with little time to
prepare your daytime food? A boiled egg, a cooked chicken leg and some cubes of
cheese don’t take a lot of time to organise and remember that fresh and raw
vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits are the original and the best “fast
food”..
Blood
sugar tests and equipment is available at Calanna Pharmacy
A non fasting reading of over 11 is considered
to be in the “diabetes” range. If this
is your reading, it is recommended you ask your doctor for a fasting test to be
done, as sugar readings fluctuate throughout the day according to food intake.
Naturopaths
at Calanna Natural Medicine clinics in Townsville,
and Woree, are available to recommend food plans and nutritional medicines which
address your blood sugar concerns.
Ref: Diabetes Type 2 –You can reverse it naturally. Dr Sandra Cabot, Margaret Jasinska ND
Available at Calanna Pharmacy Woree.
Lesley Parker ND ANPA
Naturopath, Nutritionist/Food plans
Calanna Natural Medicine Clinic
Telephone: (07)4054 2440
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