Naturopathic Solutions For Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that occurs when your body becomes resistant to the insulin your pancreas creates.

This is often brought on by lifestyle choices, although there are also some genetic factors that can increase your risk of developing the condition.

The good news is that there are a variety of methods for managing type 2 diabetes.

You could see a naturopath with a special interest in autoimmune disease or a naturopath for hormone imbalance depending on your personal situation.

Lucky for you, I happen to be both of those things.

This is because naturopathic doctors are a great resource to use for a personalized, holistic approach to healthcare.

Plus, there are many naturopathic solutions for type 2 diabetes that can help to keep the condition from progressing.

Keep reading to find out more.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

There are two different types of diabetes – type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition where the levels of glucose build up unabated in your bloodstream.

The hormone insulin normally moves glucose out of your blood and into your cells, where it’s used for energy.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your cells aren’t able to respond to insulin in this way.

In a sense, your body has become resistant to the insulin it produces.

In fact, towards the later stages of the condition, your body may not be able to produce enough insulin which exacerbates the condition.

Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can lead to chronically high blood glucose levels, which would then lead to potentially serious complications.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

The main attribute of type 2 diabetes is that your body is not able to use its insulin in order to effectively bring glucose into your cells.

Without this source of energy, your cells must rely on alternative energy sources in your tissues, muscles, and organs.

This is the reason that type 2 diabetes develops slowly, because its effect compounds over time.

This chain reaction also causes a variety of symptoms including:

• Chronic fatigue
• Constant hunger
• Frequent urination
• Weight gain
• Blurry vision
• Pain, tingling, or numbness in your hands or feet

Type 2 Diabetes Causes

Remember, type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body becomes resistant to insulin.

This causes your pancreas to work harder in order to make more insulin because your body is not able to use it effectively and so more is required to achieve the same result.

Over time, this causes damage to the cells in your pancreas because they are being overworked.

This is what causes the decline of insulin in your body as the condition progresses.

The exact cause of this series of events is unknown, but being overweight and inactive are two key risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

These two risk factors are primarily related to lifestyle; however there are other risk factors that may increase your risk for developing the condition.

The main ones being a genetic predisposition to either developing type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Aging beyond 45 also increases your risk for developing the condition.

Type 2 Diabetes Complications

As the condition progresses, you can develop severe complications from type 2 diabetes.

These can be potentially very dangerous.

Complications arising from high blood glucose levels for a long period of time include:

• Neuropathy, which is numbness in your extremities
• Gum disease
• Heart diseases like heart attack or stroke
• Eye problems
• Kidney issues

Naturopathic Treatment For Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition to be taken seriously.

The good news is that there are a number of naturopathic treatments to help manage your type 2 diabetes.

You should also do half an hour of physical activity to help control your blood glucose and keep your heart healthy.

Now, let’s dive into some naturopathic solutions for type 2 diabetes.

1. Eat Apple Cider Vinegar

Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar can reduce the rise of blood sugar induced by a hyper caloric diet in rats.

This means that if you have a high caloric food diet, apple cider vinegar would have a beneficial effect in reducing your risk of developing a metabolic disorder, which is exactly what type 2 diabetes is.

Apple cider vinegar is a natural preventative which helps to reduce your risk, and can be combined with other lifestyle adjustments to manage type 2 diabetes.

Apple cider vinegar can also work as a naturopathic treatment for acid reflux and to improve , among other things.

2. Aloe Vera

If you’ve used aloe vera before, it was probably to treat a sunburn, but it has also been shown to slow the progress of type 2 diabetes.

Studies have indicated that aloe vera is anti diabetic due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the body.

Antioxidants generally help to slow the progress of type 2 diabetes, which is great.

It’s worth noting that you shouldn’t eat aloe vera skin care products, you should consume the plant for these benefits.

3. Supplement With Zinc

Zinc is a great supplement to take when you have type 2 diabetes.

This is because people with diabetes are often zinc deficient, and zinc is important nutrient to help reduce blood sugar.

It also has an antioxidant effect, which helps to slow the progress of type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that supplementing with zinc benefited both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients.

But large doses of zinc can inhibit the absorption of other minerals, like copper, so be sure to take zinc in consultation with your naturopathic doctor.

There are a number of other antioxidants with a wide range of other benefits as well, including vitamin E, polyphenols, vitamin C, vitamin B3, and even melatonin.

4. Supplement With Chromium

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that is mainly found in brewer’s yeast.

Chromium helps your body to metabolize glucose, which also helps to lower your blood sugar levels by improving your body’s insulin sensitivity.

This supplement should not to be taken if you have kidney disease.

5. Eat A Type 2 Diabetes Diet

Finally, following a type 2 diabetes diet is a great way to manage your condition.

A type 2 diabetes diet includes many complex carbohydrates, foods with a low glycemic load, and healthy fats to slow the absorption of carbohydrates.

You’ll also want to eat foods high in protein because they provide steady energy with only a small effect on your blood sugar level.

Plus, you’ll feel full longer after eating.

Book Appointment With Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND

As you can see, there are a number of naturopathic solutions for type 2 diabetes.

It is primarily a dietary approach to the management of the condition, and can be very effective in slowing the progress of the condition.

Working directly with a naturopathic doctor who will create a personalized dietary plan is the recommended way forward.

This way, you will have access to a professional who can work with you to meet your health goals and answer any concerns you might have along the way.

Book an appointment today with me, Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND to get started.