Thursday , March 28 2024

A Functional Approach to Treating and Preventing Diabetes

Treating  and Preventing DiabetesThe American Diabetes Association announced that diabetes accounts for more than 190,000 deaths annually. Its many complications, such as amputation, kidney failure and/or blindness, have a devastating impact on quality of life. Currently more than 25 million children and adults in the US have diabetes, and an estimated additional 6 million have undiagnosed diabetes. The worst part is that the numbers are rising! It is proposed that soon diabetes will exceed both heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death.
Diabetes is characterized by a disturbance in the body’s glucose (sugar) metabolism. Studies have shown Diabetes can also be related to a deficiency in trace minerals such as Chromium and Vanadium. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow glucose to enter cells in order for them to produce energy. With Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. It’s caused by the body attacking its own pancreas with antibodies. In people with type 1 diabetes, the damaged pancreas doesn’t make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas usually produces some insulin. But either the amount produced is not enough for the body’s needs, or the body’s cells are resistant to it. Insulin resistance, or lack of sensitivity to insulin, happens primarily in fat, liver, and muscle cells. Chronically elevated levels of insulin raise the risk of degenerative diseases (cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s…). To maintain quality of life and prevent many of the potential devastating complications, it is crucial for patients to monitor and maintain balanced levels of blood sugar.
EVEN IF BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS ARE KEPT IN CHECK WITH MEDICATION, JUST RELYING ON MEDICATION AS THE SOLE TREATMENT FOR DIABETES IS WORRISOME!!
When it comes to diabetes management, blood sugar control is often the central theme and the common mistake is to solely rely on medication. In some cases overuse of certain medications appear to control blood sugar, but in fact they can actually speed up the progression of the disease. Another reason why sole reliance on medication is a mistake is because diet and lifestyle play a major role in the cause, management and rate of progression of this disease. This fact cannot be emphasized enough! A therapeutic lifestyle, one that includes a personalized food plan as well as an exercise program, should always be the first line of therapy. In many cases with the right lifestyle program, the use of medication can either be reduced or totally eliminated!
A functional medicine approach to managing and/or reversing diabetes focuses on a patientcentered, individualized, multi-faceted approach including: hydration, diet, specifically targeted nutraceuticals, exercise, bio-identical hormones (if indicated), weight loss (if indicated), as well as medication management.
Imagine how life would be if you no longer needed the medications…
Imagine how life would be if you no longer had to inject yourself with insulin…
Imagine if you had the energy to exercise and lose the diabetic weight…
Imagine what life would be like without having to get up constantly throughout the night to use the restroom…
Imagine what life would be like without living in constant fear of the devastating effects of this disease…
Well, imagine no longer. By taking a functional medicine approach and enabling your body to protect and heal itself, you may be able to achieve each and every one of these goals.
Nothing can fix your body better than it can fix itself. With the helpful team approach of Dr. Mazzella, Dr. Brown and their staff you can learn how to provide your body with what it needs the right environment, hydration, nutrition, and reduce stress. Your lifestyle and nutrient status have a profound impact on your ability to reduce your risk or symptoms of diabetes. Make the call today that may change your life forever, call 352-512-0222.
ARIS Global Inc.
 

Check Also

Nourishing the Nation

Nourishing the Nation: Celebrating National Nutrition Month

By Elizabeth Mello, Executive Director March marks the arrival of National Nutrition Month, an annual …