Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a family of diseases in which the body doesn’t have enough of a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps transform sugar into energy, so too little insulin causes high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Consistently high blood sugar causes complications including vision loss, heart disease, kidney disease, chronic wounds, and hearing loss. 

There are two main types of diabetes, including Type 2, which is preventable, and Type 1, which isn’t preventable. Of the 37 million Americans with diabetes, 90-95% have Type 2 diabetes.

What causes diabetes?

Several factors often contribute to Type 2 diabetes. The founder of Phillips Family Medical, Pamela Phillips, wrote her doctoral dissertation on metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that puts you at risk for diabetes and heart disease. These include:

• High blood pressure
• Elevated blood sugar
• High blood triglycerides (a type of fat)
• Low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) — the “good” cholesterol
• Extra fat in your midsection

Many people with metabolic syndrome experience insulin resistance, in which the body makes insulin but stops responding to it. This sets the stage for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

Type 1 diabetes is a different matter. Experts believe that it happens because of an immune reaction in which the body kills its own cells — specifically those that make insulin. The reason for this autoimmune response isn’t definitively known, but genetics and certain viruses may trigger it.  

How is diabetes treated?

Type 2 diabetes is preventable, and the same tactics that prevent it may allow for its reversal. Phillips Family Medical offers Type 2 diabetes management centered around diet and exercise, using food as medicine. Most patients participate in the weight loss management program to learn new ways to control their blood sugar and weight. 

Nutrition and exercise are powerful tools in Type 2 diabetes treatment and may help you treat it without medication. If you’re currently taking insulin for Type 2 diabetes, you may be able to discontinue insulin after following the right diet and exercise plan. 

Type 1 diabetes requires insulin injections or the use of an implanted insulin pump. While you can’t control or cure Type 1 diabetes with lifestyle and exercise, they can certainly improve your whole-body health and help you feel your best. 

To learn more about natural diabetes management without medication, call Phillips Family Medical or book an appointment online today.