Reversing Diabetes: Your Path to Health and Vitality

In our previous blog post, we’ve delved into some alarming statistics regarding prediabetes and diabetes in the United States. We’ve also explored the definitions of prediabetes and diabetes in terms of fasting blood glucose and A1c levels. Today, we’re going to discuss how you can bring these levels back into the normal range and why it matters.

 

Let’s start by asking a crucial question: What would happen if you could return your blood sugar levels to normal, or even better, to optimal levels? Achieving optimal blood sugar levels can lead to a host of benefits, including:

 

1. Weight Loss
2. Increased Energy
3. Improved Mood
4. Clearer Thinking
5. Reduced Need for Medications
6. Most Importantly, Avoiding Future Health Problems Associated with Diabetes (including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s just to name a few)

 

I’ve been in practice for over 20 years. And although our office typically works with spinal problems, I’ve witnessed firsthand how diabetes progresses when not addressed properly. From neuropathy in the feet and hands to vision loss, severe infections, and amputations, diabetes can wreak havoc on one’s health.

 

Take my mother, for instance. She developed diabetes in her mid-thirties, primarily due to her consumption of probably 6+ Pepsis per day. She wouldn’t change and despite medication, her diabetes progressed, leading to severe pain in her legs and feet, rendering her unable to work by the age of 50. By 60, her kidney function had deteriorated to the point where she had to undergo 8 hours of dialysis daily at home. Tragically, she passed away at just 64 years old, a victim of both diabetes and heavy smoking. Unfortunately, hers is an all too common story.

 

So, the question becomes, how can you bring your fasting blood glucose and A1c levels back to the normal range and avoid the devastating consequences of diabetes? Let’s break it down.

 

Lowering your fasting blood glucose is a straightforward process that can take just a matter of days to a few weeks. It boils down to consuming the right foods that have minimal impact on your blood sugar. Here’s the key:

 

• Fats have no effect on blood sugar levels.

 

• Protein can moderately raise blood sugar levels, depending on the type. For example, your body responds much differently to a piece of chicken breast than it does to an easy-to-digest protein shake.

 

• Carbohydrates are the primary contributors to blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates and sugars that digest slowly have a smaller impact on blood sugar levels and are said to have a low glycemic index. Simple carbohydrates and sugars cause rapid spikes in blood sugar and are said to have a high glycemic index.

 

* Key Point: To lower your fasting blood glucose, focus on a diet rich in healthy fats, proteins, and low-glycemic carbohydrates.

 

Now, let’s talk about A1c. Your A1c reflects your average blood sugar levels over the past three months. Thus, bringing your A1c into the normal range is a matter of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels consistently for three months. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, it is simple, but not necessarily easy. If you’re not willing to make dietary changes, such as limiting soda and sugary foods, you may find it challenging to achieve this goal.

 

In our upcoming post, we’ll discuss some practical tips to lower your blood sugar levels and introduce an eating plan that can quickly help you regain control of your blood sugar.

 

Hopefully, you learned a little something in this article. If so, or if you have any specific questions, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading. Stay tuned.