Here is this week's question from FOODPICKER.org:
Tammy S. asks: My 45 year-old husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few months ago. Is it true that you can reverse diabetes?
Answer: Confusion abounds regarding whether or not type 2 diabetes can be reversed! The short answer is no. Diabetes is a chronic condition that cannot be cured - it can, however, be managed. There is a distinct difference.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not respond to insulin properly (insulin resistance). In either case, the not enough glucose is moved from the bloodstream into the body's tissues, and you are left with high blood glucose levels.
Let's look at an example: 2 hours after a meal, blood glucose should be below 140 mg/dl. When your blood glucose is over 140 for longer than 2 hours, other constituents of blood are skewed: triglyceride levels increase, fibrinogen (used in clotting) decreases. Over time (in terms of years) this will increase your chances of damaging the tiny blood vessels in eyes, kidneys and nerves - leading to a host of other problems.
A person without diabetes can eat chocolate cake or a salad for lunch - in either case, 2 hours after a meal his/her blood glucose will be below 140 (probably more like 120). The pancreas will compensate depending on what is eaten. In a person with type 2 diabetes, like your husband, eating chocolate cake for lunch (and nothing else) puts a huge glucose load on his bloodstream. His pancreas kicks into overdrive to compensate, but it just can't keep up. Two hours later his pancreas is still trying to clear all the blood of the sugar from lunch. It's like using a spork to eat soup - it sort of works, but is not totally efficient! Now, if your husband had eaten a salad and maybe some broiled fish or chicken followed by a smaller portion of chocolate cake, his blood glucose might be within a normal range 2 hours later.
Does that mean his diabetes is cured? No! If he goes back to eating cake for lunch, his diabetes manifests again.
However, diabetes complications should not be considered manifest destiny! This does not mean that you cannot live a healthy, long life with diabetes. Treatment of type 2 diabetes includes a healthful diet, physical activity, blood sugar monitoring and medication.
The most successful person with type 2 diabetes takes control of their treatment by:
Tammy S. asks: My 45 year-old husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few months ago. Is it true that you can reverse diabetes?
Answer: Confusion abounds regarding whether or not type 2 diabetes can be reversed! The short answer is no. Diabetes is a chronic condition that cannot be cured - it can, however, be managed. There is a distinct difference.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not respond to insulin properly (insulin resistance). In either case, the not enough glucose is moved from the bloodstream into the body's tissues, and you are left with high blood glucose levels.
Let's look at an example: 2 hours after a meal, blood glucose should be below 140 mg/dl. When your blood glucose is over 140 for longer than 2 hours, other constituents of blood are skewed: triglyceride levels increase, fibrinogen (used in clotting) decreases. Over time (in terms of years) this will increase your chances of damaging the tiny blood vessels in eyes, kidneys and nerves - leading to a host of other problems.
A person without diabetes can eat chocolate cake or a salad for lunch - in either case, 2 hours after a meal his/her blood glucose will be below 140 (probably more like 120). The pancreas will compensate depending on what is eaten. In a person with type 2 diabetes, like your husband, eating chocolate cake for lunch (and nothing else) puts a huge glucose load on his bloodstream. His pancreas kicks into overdrive to compensate, but it just can't keep up. Two hours later his pancreas is still trying to clear all the blood of the sugar from lunch. It's like using a spork to eat soup - it sort of works, but is not totally efficient! Now, if your husband had eaten a salad and maybe some broiled fish or chicken followed by a smaller portion of chocolate cake, his blood glucose might be within a normal range 2 hours later.
Does that mean his diabetes is cured? No! If he goes back to eating cake for lunch, his diabetes manifests again.
However, diabetes complications should not be considered manifest destiny! This does not mean that you cannot live a healthy, long life with diabetes. Treatment of type 2 diabetes includes a healthful diet, physical activity, blood sugar monitoring and medication.
The most successful person with type 2 diabetes takes control of their treatment by:
- testing blood sugar as recommended
- following a meal plan to control blood sugar
- exercising on a regular basis
- taking medications as prescribed
- maintaining a healthy body weight (or losing weight, if needed)
- visiting healthcare providers on a regular basis - endocrinologist, dietitian, CDE, etc.)
There's a pretty sizeable movement here in northern california about reversing type 2 diabetes naturally by following a raw food diet. They make some really incredible--and scary--claims! I have a feeling we're going to be hearing this frequently from our patients!
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ReplyDeleteGah, i am afraid you are correct! I just spoke to a woman (T2DM) who had been placed on a vegan diet with literally no fat allowed. I asked if her nutritionist was an RD and she said yes...oh well. Then i said i didn't want to interfere with her treatment relationship, but I didn't see why she couldn't have a bit of olive oil...or fish...erg.
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