How To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
What
happens if you remove foods that raise your blood sugar from your diet? Is
there anything good left to eat? We think so. In fact, we have a whole guide
on the best foods to control diabetes.
But
a picture is worth a thousand words. These are just a few of the delicious
foods that don’t raise blood sugar:
Many
people with type 2 diabetes are now choosing a diet based primarily on
low-carbohydrate foods.
They
often notice that, starting with the first meal, their blood sugar improves.
The need for medications, especially insulin, is usually dramatically reduced.
Substantial weight loss often follows. Finally, they usually feel better, have
more energy and alertness, and may improve many health markers.
Because
of these benefits and others, many doctors are recommending diets low in
carbohydrates for their patients with diabetes.
RELATED: Home Remedies To Use For Diabetes
Choosing
foods low in carbs is a safe and easy way to help you control your blood sugar.
However, if you are taking medications for your diabetes, you must work with
your healthcare provider to adjust your medications when you change
your diet. Choosing a diet made up of food with fewer sugars and starches means
that your blood sugar levels may improve quickly. The need for medications,
especially insulin, may be greatly reduced.
If
you are looking for a doctor who will work with you to control your diabetes
with a change in diet, our map may help you find one.
The science of diabetes
reversal
In
2019, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) stated that reducing
carbohydrate intake was the most effective nutritional strategy for improving
blood sugar control in those with diabetes.
Research
shows that low-carb diets are a safe and effective option for treating and reversing
type 2 diabetes. This body of evidence includes systematic reviews and
meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (the highest quality of
evidence by our ratings.).
A
meta-analysis from 2017 found that low-carb diets reduced the need for medication
and also improved health markers in people with type 2 diabetes. These included
reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglycerides and blood pressure and
increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, sometimes called the
“good” cholesterol.
Last,
in a non-randomized trial from Virta Health, 349 people with type 2 diabetes
followed either a very-low-carb diet or a standard diet. After one year, 97% of
those in the low-carb group had reduced or stopped their insulin use.
Furthermore, 58% no longer had a diabetes diagnosis, meaning they had put their
disease into remission. These results remained remarkable up to the two-year
mark as well.
This
evidence disproves the idea that type 2 diabetes is a progressive and
irreversible disease. Instead, it clearly demonstrate that it is a treatable
disease when an effective lifestyle intervention is used.
A message of hope
As
recently as 50 years ago, type 2 diabetes was extremely rare. Now, around the
world, the number of people with diabetes is increasing incredibly rapidly and
is heading towards 500 million. This is a worldwide epidemic.
In
the past, type 2 diabetes was thought to be a progressive disease with no hope
for reversal or remission. People were — and sometimes still are — taught to
“manage” type 2 diabetes, rather than to try to reverse their high blood
sugars.
Unfortunately,
“managing” type 2 diabetes may lead to an increase in medications and to
serious complications: impaired vision, damaged kidneys, wounds that won’t
heal, and decreased cognitive function. In many cases, these complications lead
to blindness, kidney failure and dialysis, amputation, dementia, and death.
But
now people with type 2 diabetes can hope to regain their health! Today we know
that the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes — high blood sugar and high insulin — can
often be reversed. People don’t just have to “manage” their diabetes as it
progresses. Instead, they can often lower their blood sugar to normal levels
with diet alone, and may be able to avoid or discontinue most medications.
Normal
blood sugar levels and fewer or no medications likely means no progression of
disease, and no progression of complications. People with a diagnosis of type 2
diabetes may be able to live long, healthy lives, with toes, eyesight, and kidneys
intact!
If
you are not on any medications, you can start your journey back to health
today. If you are on medications for diabetes or for other conditions, consult
your doctor before beginning any lifestyle change, such as a low-carb diet, so
your medications are adjusted safely as your blood sugars improve.
When
you’re ready, here’s where to start: A low-carbohydrate diet for
beginners. During your own journey, you might be inspired by some
spectacular diabetes success stories.
DR. APPIAH
Dr. Appiah is a Natural Health Therapist (Naturopath) who engages the natural healing agents given by God to save lives. EAT FOOD AS MEDICINE! EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT!! FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE: WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS? WANT A PERSONAL(CERTIFIED) NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER? REACH ME DIRECTLY ON WHATSAPP +233245643615 appiahinok@gmail.com
