Chinese Association of Idaho State University (CAISU)

Type 2 Diabetes - Three Tips To Help Reverse Diabetes

Even though being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes can be devastating to hear, it does not mean that your life is over. Unlike many illnesses, Type 2 diabetes can be completely reversed in many cases. Damage does occur to many areas of the body when blood sugar levels remain elevated for too long. While some of this damage can be reversed, some cannot be. However, even if damage has been sustained, keeping your blood sugar in check will prevent the damage from worsening.

There are three simple tips which will help you avoid:

nerve damage: diabetic neuropathy affects 60 to 70 percent of all diabetics.
infections: impaired circulation and damaged nerves increase the risk of infection.
kidney failure: diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and is responsible for 40 percent of all new cases.
blindness: the number one cause of blindness in people ages twenty to seventy-five is diabetic retinopathy.
cardiovascular disease: elevated blood sugar damages the blood vessels and alters blood fat levels,
and all of the other issues that accompany diabetes.

They are:

1. Lose excess weight. As we age, we tend to gain weight. This comes from a loss of muscle and a decreased level of activity. Gaining weight means the insulin produced must go further than it did before to lower blood sugar levels. A high blood sugar level is the culprit that causes irreparable damage to our bodies.

If weight is lost, it can single-handedly eliminate Type 2 diabetes because the amount of insulin your body produces will now cover your bodies need plus you will have less visceral fat in your abdominal area which means insulin resistance will improve. There are many healthful diets you can follow, or diet plans such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. The means are not as important as the results.

2. Exercise. You need to get your body moving. The intent is to start burning off calories (or kilograms), and getting your blood circulating. Make your body perform like an engine. You put the fuel in (food) and you burn it to produce a result. If you don't, the fuel doesn't get properly spent and builds up in the form of fat. Make it fun activities such as walking, bowling, dancing, etc. Or, if you have your doctor's approval to start a new exercise regimen, set aside time during the day to carry out weight training or aerobics.

Without your doctor's approval, you need to make sure your take part in low-impact exercise. This burns fat efficiently and doesn't tax the body too much at once. Carrying out exercise that is too strenuous causes your blood sugar to drop too rapidly, allowing hypoglycemia to set in.

3. Track your progress with a diary or journal. This will keep your momentum for dieting and exercising. It will also make you more aware of what you are putting into your body for fuel.

Awareness of healthy eating and control in what you eat, along with exercise (30 minutes a day), will produce weight loss and help you to reverse Type 2 diabetes.