Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Have you ever worried that your ability to manage type 2 diabetes will get out of control? That it is a mysterious and dangerous disease that is best left to your doctors and medication?
Well, take heart! I know the dread and bewilderment you are experiencing because I have been where you are. Furthermore, I am aware that this may keep you up at night, which is bad for your diabetes! If you're anything like me, you've "gone through the mill," as they say. Things seemed to be arriving in fives, sixes, or more rather than "coming in threes," as I had assumed!
And I believe that my presumption that you're in the same situation as me is correct.
Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Where it all began, almost undetected...
I remember being at my friends Les and Karan's house some years ago, and Karan said, with much annoyance in her voice, “Why do you keep getting up and down and moving off the lounge to the floor? Can’t you sit still?”
I was having trouble finding a comfortable sitting position since I was having pain in my right hip. They begged me to go to a doctor and ask about it, but I was the archetypal middle-aged male who thought I was physically unassailable, so I ignored them. As we often say in Australia, “She’ll be right, mate!”
And, of course, things got worse—much worse!
I'm working on a page so you can read my full Type 2 diabetes story (this is a relatively new site), but to cut a long story short, the following years were scary ones of hospital stays, major operations, and eventually, learning to manage Type 2 diabetes that I had to accept was destroying my health and my life.
It's important to never undervalue the task of managing type 2 diabetes. It's a dangerous condition with a high fatality rate, and mishandling it might have devastating consequences. Diabetes may significantly reduce your life expectancy if left unchecked.Managing Type 2 diabetes involves several important factors, including medication, nutrition, fasting, natural supplements, stress management, and sleep, which are often neglected.
The conventional approach to controlling diabetes is one in which medicine is a major component. In fact, a lot of people need prescription drugs to help control their blood sugar levels. Insulin injections or oral medicines may be among them. Strict adherence to the specified regimen is crucial; failing to take prescription medications as directed might result in uncontrolled blood sugar and a higher risk of complications. All of this is true, but there's also a more organic method to take charge of your circumstances. One that doesn't have all the side effects that traditional medicine has. That being said...
PLEASE DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDICATION UNTIL YOUR DOCTOR SAYS YOU ARE READY TO START REDUCING AND THEN EVENTUALLY REPLACING IT!
Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Diet is a cornerstone of diabetes management!
Diet is a cornerstone of diabetes management, and carbohydrate control is pivotal to this, with an emphasis on monitoring and managing carbohydrate intake. Particularly, you should concentrate on cutting out refined sugars and omega-6-type oils, such as corn oil, canola oil, soy oil, etc. Additionally, meal timing and portion control are also important aspects. Which leads me to my next point.
One area that has helped me immensely is intermittent fasting. I have yielded very positive results, and in pretty quick time, too! To succeed with intermittent fasting and make genuine strides in improving your health, it's imperative to approach it with dedication and gain a deep understanding of your long-term goals. Furthermore, your diet should primarily consist of nutrient-rich foods, including a diverse array of vegetables, quality protein sources, and healthy fats, with only a modest intake of fruits such as berries Notably, dietary fiber can play a vital role in maintaining steady blood sugar levels, but as mentioned above, you must drastically cut your intake of carbohydrates to reverse diabetes and seriously cut down on the inflammation throughout your body that accompanies uncontrolled diabetes.
Natural supplements are often considered complementary approaches to diabetes management. I'd recommend considering the incorporation of supplements like potassium, cinnamon, and berberine, to name just a few, as they've shown great promise in helping me manage my blood sugar levels effectively. However, make sure you get professional medical advice initially because they might interact with the medications you're presently using. My advice is to do it like I did, namely: add them to my diet gradually, as I was able to also gradually decrease my typical diabetes medication over time.
Stress management is another critical aspect of diabetes care. In my case, stress exerted a considerable influence on my blood sugar levels because the amount of cortisol my body was producing resulted in the hugely elevated blood sugar results. I remember going to my local cafe one Saturday morning and deciding to have one small blueberry muffin. I thought, what harm could be done with such a small cake?
BIG MISTAKE!
By the time I got home an hour later, my blood sugar level had rocketed to '14', from just one small muffin! Now I could see how badly my liver, pancreas, and probably a few other organs were working so poorly and why it was getting harder and harder to manage type 2 diabetes day by day.
Manage Type 2 Diabetes
You've got to rid yourself of unwanted stress...
Additionally, because stress is a key factor in trying to manage Type 2 diabetes, I also decided to incorporate quite a few stress-reduction practices, including meditation, exercise, and a much improved approach to sleep. Indeed, I have also corrected the highly unhealthy balance in my work situation and personal life to alleviate stress almost altogether. That included taking the drastic step of retiring from my permanent teaching position and establishing a more part-time approach. But before you make such drastic changes, it's absolutely a good idea to educate yourself on the causes, treatment, and prevention of type 2 diabetes. And that's the main focus of our website!
But continuing on, I admit that, at first, I didn't completely realize how crucial your sleep is to effectively controlling your diabetes. I've found that insufficient sleep can influence your capacity to control blood sugar levels and how your body responds to insulin. I strongly suggest that you establish a consistent and healthy sleep routine, striving for roughly 7-9 hours of uninterrupted, restorative sleep every night.
Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Summing it up and what to do next...
So, you can really see that it's critical to comprehend the gravity of uncontrolled diabetes. Serious complications may occur and range from heart disease to kidney damage to visual issues to nerve damage to possibly early death. Putting your health first and treating type 2 diabetes seriously are, in my opinion, absolutely critical. Although first seen as an odd illness, type 2 diabetes is really a condition where the body either produces insufficient insulin or uses it incorrectly. One important hormone that controls glucose, or blood sugar, is insulin. Furthermore, persistently elevated blood sugar levels may cause a number of other health issues if ignored.
But as I said at the beginning of this page, take heart because type 2 diabetes is one of the few conditions that can be effectively managed or even reversed, enabling you to regain both your health and your quality of life. You CAN turn this horrible disease around. It's definitely possible if you understand how your body works and the impact of diabetes on it.
Surprisingly, it is one of very few ailments in which food and self-care are crucial for prevention and therapy. On the other hand, if Type 2 diabetes becomes unmanageable, it can trigger more serious illnesses in your body, which could have disastrous effects. These illnesses include chronic inflammation, heart, liver, and pancreatic problems, as well as the ominous spectre of cancer, all of which can cause excruciating suffering.
However, if you identify the source of your issues and shift your attention to leading a much healthier lifestyle, your body will appreciate you, and you'll not only add years to your life but also life to your years!
That is the happy outcome of understanding how you can manage Type 2 diabetes, losing the fear of serious disease, and enjoying your new-found excellent health so that you indeed get your health AND life back!
Read on so you can manage Type 2 diabetes like an expert...