4 Ways To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
Each year World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated to spread awareness about diabetes. It is becoming a growing concern and this day intends to draw attention to the issues of importance regarding diabetes all over the world.
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. While both cause an increase in blood sugar levels, they are different. A person suffering from type 2 diabetes can produce insulin but their body is not capable of responding to it normally. Glucose is required for energy supply in the body and in this case it becomes less able to enter the cells. This leads to a rise in the blood glucose level and the pancreas strains and works harder to make more insulin.
Who can get type 2 diabetes?
You may get diabetes if you have a family history of the disease, you may also get it if you are overweight. Type 2 diabetes mostly affects adults, sometimes even kids in puberty suffer from the same.
The symptoms of type2 diabetes are:
- The need to urinate a lot.
- Drinking excessive liquids and fluids.
- Lack of energy causing fatigue.
What are the health problems caused due to type 2 diabetes?
- You may develop visibly thick and dark skin around the neck, armpits, groin, between fingers and toes, or on your elbows and knees.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in girls is also often associated with insulin resistance. It causes irregular or missed periods, and you may notice excess facial and body hair growth. It also can cause fertility problems.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) or abnormal levels of blood fats.
- Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.
Ways to reverse type 2 diabetes
There is no complete cure for type 2 diabetes. However, studies have found that it is possible for some people to reverse the condition through diet changes and body weight management. Here’s how you can control the glucose level and prevent the health concerns that come with diabetes.
Low-Calorie Diet
There are positive effects of adapting a very low-calorie diet on diabetes. This type of diet can be extreme and not everyone can follow it. You must be mindful about your daily calorie intake and a professional may help you best. Your motivation should be that this could send you into remission and you can lose weight. You must start planning as soon as you are diagnosed.
When you have type 2 diabetes, the cells that regulate your blood sugar stop working properly. People who lost weight have helped the insulin releasing cells in the pancreas work well and control blood sugar levels. At an early stage, you can reverse type 2 diabetes by making certain lifestyle changes and managing symptoms with medication.
- Exercise
The more physically active you are, the more you tend to lose weight and it increases the chances of reversing your condition. Exercises along with a proper diet can be really helpful. A lower-calorie diet helps burn calories. Along with cutting down calories, if you follow a specific insulin and medication routine you may be able to keep those levels in control for the long-term too.
- Bariatric Surgery
This is a type of surgery that helps you lose weight by changing your stomach and digestive system. It can limit how much you eat and reverse diabetes. although scientists don't yet know exactly why.
Researchers estimate that several people noticed their diabetes reversed after bariatric surgery. This surgery can be only carried out when your BMI is 35 or higher and it successfully works for people who have had the disease for 5 years or less and do not use insulin.
You must talk to your doctor about this if you are obese and have been recently diagnosed. The surgery may have certain risks that you should be aware of. You can also discuss it with people who have done it and ended up reversing their diabetes.
- Fasting
It is another proven way to lose weight but it's not meant for everyone and does not count as a mainstream treatment for type 2 diabetes. A therapeutic fasting usually means having no food or drink with calories for a set amount of time and it can help reverse type 2 diabetes. People who underwent this process were able to stop taking all diabetes medication, and lost weight to a great extent.
If you want to try fasting, you must speak with your doctor so you get the right information and support to do it safely and what suits your body.
Conclusion
Doctors can examine and suggest blood tests that will help determine if a person has type 2 diabetes. Children who are overweight are more likely to get it and doctors might suggest a blood test. Diagnosis is the key and treatment is carried out accordingly. Diet, exercise and medicines can improve the body's response to insulin to control the blood sugar levels.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/can-you-reverse-type-2-diabetes
