According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, with about 90 to 95% having Type 2 diabetes. These diagnosed cases were once limited to adults, but the number of children diagnosed with Type 2 is increasing as sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and obesity continue to rise.
In addition, there are over 40 million undiagnosed people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. They are insulin resistant, overweight or obese, but their blood sugar levels have not yet reached diabetic status. In women, a common cause of pre-diabetes is Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, a hormonal imbalance in women which often involves insulin resistance.
The national cost of diabetes in the U.S. in 2007 exceeded $174 billion. This estimate includes $116 billion in excess medical expenditures attributed to diabetes, as well as $58 billion in reduced national productivity. People with diagnosed diabetes, on average, have medical expenditures that are approximately 2.3 times higher than the expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes. Approximately $1 in $10 health care dollars is attributed to diabetes. Indirect costs include increased factors such as absenteeism, reduced productivity, and lost productive capacity due to early mortality.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that involves insulin resistance, which affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose). People with Type 2 diabetes are still able to produce insulin at diagnosis. However, the insulin they produce is unable to perform its primary job, which is helping the body’s cells use glucose for energy. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood instead of entering cells, which causes cells to be deprived of energy. If high glucose levels in the blood persist, it may damage the eyes, heart, kidneys, and nerves.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the United States. More than 18 million Americans have diabetes. Diabetes can be life-threatening, as diabetics have 4-6 times the risk of dying from heart disease and stroke.
The death rate from cancer is about 40 percent higher in diabetics than it is in the general population as well, illustrating once again a clear connection between diabetes and compounded cancer risk. A new study published in the journal Diabetes Care reveals that diabetics have a nearly doubled risk of developing certain types of cancer compared to those without the disease. The results of the study determined that diabetics are far more prone to develop colon, pancreas, rectum, urinary bladder, kidney, breast and prostate cancers, than the rest of the population.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin. As a result, insulin cannot clear sugar from the bloodstream, causing high blood sugar levels commonly seen in Type 2 Diabetes. Consequently, higher levels of insulin are needed to have its effect of clearing glucose from the bloodstream.
Aside from the well-known association of insulin resistance with metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure, there are several other medical conditions that are associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is often seen with poor dietary habits combined with lack of exercise, and genetic inheritance.
In individuals who will ultimately develop Type 2 diabetes, it is believed that blood glucose and insulin levels are normal for many years; then at some point in time, insulin resistance develops. At this point, there is often an association of high insulin levels, central obesity, cholesterol abnormalities, and /or high blood pressure (hypertension). When these constellations of disease processes occur, it is known as the metabolic syndrome.
Conventional medical treatment of Type 2 Diabetes focuses on the use of drugs that force the pancreas to produce more insulin, or insulin injections (see flowchart below). Other drugs, such as metformin, help improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Side effects to commonly prescribed drugs for Type 2 Diabetes include liver problems, pancreatic problems, and thyroid problems.
Naturopathic treatment for Type 2 Diabetes consists of a comprehensive, yet individualized course of treatment. First, there is screening for high blood glucose, hemoglobin a 1c (Hba1c) levels, triglycerides, lipids, hypertension, and PCOS. Prevention is the goal of naturopathic care, with careful screening and intervention to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and the multitude of health problems that result.
Treatment includes a personalized exercise and diet prescription, focusing on a low carbohydrate diet. Various nutrients and antioxidants are recommended as a result of medical studies having shown that diabetics are lacking in a number of vital nutrients. Further, the research has shown that the progression of diabetes is considerably slowed by antioxidants. Naturopathic physicians may use various botanical medicines, vitamins and nutrients to help decrease blood sugar levels, Hba1c levels, insulin resistance and sugar cravings, which has the added benefit of aiding in weight loss. Naturopathic treatment also includes recommendations for diabetic eye care, foot care, diagnosing and addressing imbalances in other hormones such as cortisol. Aerobic exercise and weight lifting are necessary for the patient to regularly engage in and, if need be, stress relaxation and counseling become part of the overall regimen.
The Naturopathic treatment regimen has shown other significant benefits, with the reduction and oftentimes elimination of oral diabetes and blood pressure medicines as patients become healthier. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes should work closely with a licensed naturopathic physician and their primary care physician for best results.
There are many remedies used by naturopathic physicians for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. If you are interested in trying a natural treatment in addition to standard treatment, be sure to do so only under the close supervision of a licensed naturopath. If diabetes is not properly controlled, the consequences can be life-threatening.
Also inform your physician about any herbs, supplements, or natural treatments you are using, because some may interact with the medications you are taking and result in hypoglycemia unless properly coordinated. Create a list of your prescription medications, herbs, vitamins, and supplements and keep your doctors informed of any changes to your regimen.
Dr. Helene Pulnik is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, practicing in Glastonbury. For more information visit www.naturopathicwellness.com. Visit Dr. Pulnik at her booth at the “Empowering Me…Naturally” conference on November 12th! www.empoweringmenaturally.eventbrite.com.