What Causes Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is caused by insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high amounts of sugar in the bloodstream. Insulin is a message to the cells that there is sugar in the bloodstream. This communicates to the cells to take up the sugar from the bloodstream and utilize the sugar for cellular energy and other processes. In a healthy body, insulin is produced in high amounts after eating a meal. With our Western diet of high carbohydrates (breads, pastas, etc.) and high sugar (most foods that have any sweet taste to them have high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar) combined with our sedentary lifestyle, more people have higher amounts of blood sugar in their bloodstream and therefore higher amounts of insulin than is optimal. When there is too much insulin in the bloodstream, the cells take up as much sugar as they need but then stop "paying attention" to the insulin. This leave more sugar in the bloodstream over a longer period of time. Also, insulin production declines because the cells do not respond, leading to even higher amounts of blood sugar. Higher amounts of blood sugar eventually leads to diabetes mellitus type 2.

How Can I Tell If I Am Diabetic or Even Pre-Diabetic?

There are simple examinations and tests that your primary care physician can run as well as history questions he or she can ask to see if you have diabetes or if you are at risk for developing diabetes. If you are overweight you are more likely to develop diabetes; your doctor can tell you your body mass index (BMI) based on your height and weight. The higher the BMI, the more at risk you are for developing diabetes. Your doctor can also test your blood sugar, either fasting (before eating) or post-prandial (taking a certain amount of sugar and testing how your blood sugar changes over time). The easiest way to test your blood sugar is fasting. If you have three high fasting blood sugars in a row, you are a candidate for diabetes mellitus type 2. An alternative test that I run also tests your salivary insulin, which measures your insulin four times throughout the day both fasting and post-prandial. This can show if you are pre-diabetec. If you have a family history of diabetes mellitus type 2 then you are more likely to develop the disease. Also, some minority groups, such as African-American, Latinos and American Indians, are more at risk for developing the disease.

How Can I Prevent and Treat Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Naturally?

The good news is that diabetes mellitus type 2 is completely preventable and curable.. Conventional treatment with medications are great for the short-term and help to prolong organ damage but do not help balance blood sugar or sensitize cells to insulin in the long-term. Long-term treatments goals are to balance blood sugar and re-sensitize cells to insulin. The following natural treatments are the basics for balancing blood sugar and re-sensitizing cells to insulin:

Healthy Diet:

• Eat 5-6 small meals every day: The first step in balancing blood sugar is to avoid blood sugar crashes that occur in between meals. Eating smaller meals throughout the day creates fewer blood sugar crashes. It is also important to eat a protein snack before bed to help prevent blood sugar crashing while you sleep.
• Eat protein with every meal: Protein helps stabilize blood sugar and prevent blood sugar crashes in between meals. Sources of protein include legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, dairy and meat (beef, chicken, pork, fish).
• Have 25-40 grams of fiber every day: This is a lot of fiber! Fiber helps stabilize blood sugar by keeping food in the stomach longer so it slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. If you cannot get at least 25 grams of fiber per day through diet alone then the cheapest fiber supplements is non-sweetened Metamucil.
• No sugar: Any form of sugar is absorbed very quickly into the body, therefore raising blood sugars rapidly. A great sweetener that does not spike the blood sugar and tastes good is agave nectar (can be found in PCC, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, occasionally Fred Meyer, Costco, other grocery or health food stores).
• No high fructose corn syrup: High fructose corn syrup is a synthetic sweetener made from corn that spikes the blood sugar more that regular sugar. A common source of high fructose corn syrup is soda pop and other sweetened drinks, but can be found in as a sweetener in many packaged foods and candy.
• No refined carbohydrates: Refined carbohydrates (white breads and pastas are the main sources) are absorbed similar sugar into the bloodstream. Refined carbohydrates are grains whose outer layers, containing fiber and other nutrients, have been stripped, leaving only the carbohydrate portion of the grain. A good alternative is whole-grain breads and pastas. An even better alternative is eating whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, wheat berries, etc., steamed or pressure-cooked in water.

Cardiovascular Exercise: 30-60 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (running, biking, swimming, walking briskly, etc.) helps both balance blood sugar as well as sensitize cells to insulin.

Natural supplementation:

• Chromium: Chromium is a trace mineral that sensitizes cells to insulin.

What Else Should I Know If I have Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?

The consequences of long-term diabetes type 2 can be severe if not well-managed. High amounts of blood sugar in the system over time can cause blood vessel damage leading to heart disease (e.g. heart attack, stroke, etc.) , retinopathy (eye disease), tissue and nerve damage especially in the feet, and kidney disease which can lead to kidney failure among other problems. Diabetics should have regular testing to monitor the progression of the disease. The tests that should be done every three months are: 1) Fasting blood sugar, 2) Hemoglobin A1C (a measurement of blood sugar over three months) and 3) Urinalysis (tests kidney function).

Conclusion

Unfortunately, diabetes mellitus type 2 is becoming more and more common as we continue to eat high-carbohydrate and high-sugar diets coupled with lack of exercise. Fortunately we have the power and the ability to reduce our risks for the disease as well as treat and cure the disease. I believe we can prevent and treat diabetes mellitus type 2 if we all work together to make our lives healthier for ourselves and our families.