Almost 20% of Russians have elevated blood glucose levels. However, it is not high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes. This condition is called prediabetes. It is characteristic of a complex of metabolic disorders - metabolic syndrome. It often causes excess weight to accumulate around the waist, as well as increased blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The endocrinologist at our medical center provides recommendations that will help you cope with this condition.
The development of these disorders is based on insulin resistance - a condition accompanied by the development of immunity in the body's cells to insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. But this condition is reversible, since its main risk factors are a sedentary lifestyle and excess fat intake.
By changing your lifestyle, in particular by increasing physical activity and starting to follow the principles of a healthy diet, you can have a beneficial effect on carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and subsequently lower the level of glucose and “bad” cholesterol in the blood. For example, there are a number of foods that help lower blood sugar. So what foods lower blood sugar? This will be discussed further.
Difficulties in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus
A huge number of people in the world suffer from type 2 diabetes. It is surprising that many doctors prescribe drug treatment for this disease. A huge number of studies have been conducted that have proven the effectiveness of non-drug therapy for this disease (this is all scientifically and officially confirmed). Everyone knows about this, but some endocrinologists continue to prescribe medications to patients. The problem is that at first the doctor prescribes non-insulin drugs, and some experts even recommend insulin drugs. Unfortunately, doctors' thinking is directed towards prescribing drugs; they cannot prescribe anything else. This is some kind of psychological cliché. It is easier for a doctor to prescribe a drug rather than something else, although it helps much better than injections and pills. For most endocrinologists, drug-free diabetes treatment is a priority.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens are becoming more and more popular. In addition to various varieties of salads, chard, kale and spinach, and microgreens are increasingly taking up space on tables. These products contain, in addition to fiber, an impressive amount of antioxidants and magnesium, which lower blood sugar. It has been proven that insufficient magnesium intake increases the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Not by diet alone
Doctors also prescribe a diet for type 2 diabetes, which is very good. But there is also a certain imbalance here: between the psychology of the doctor and the psychology of the patient. The doctor thinks: the person came to me for treatment, so I will prescribe him medications and a diet so that he does not eat carbohydrates and sweets (he will advise adding fat to his diet). Based on this, the doctor prescribes Metformin and diet.
The patient thinks differently: he comes to the doctor, who prescribes medication and recommends dieting, walking more, and maintaining a sleep-wake schedule. Patients have heard about the pills, and information about maintaining a proper diet and life is not relevant for them. After the appointment, the person goes to the pharmacy, purchases medications and is satisfied that the first point of medical prescription has been completed. The patient is confident that he will follow other medical recommendations. Then I took the pill, and everything else will happen tomorrow: diet, sleep and wakefulness, as well as walks in the fresh air. Important: most patients do not realize that treating diabetes without medications is possible, and it is so important to lead a healthy lifestyle and adhere to the diet prescribed by the doctor.
Serious complications
This approach to the disease (not only from doctors, but also from patients) ruins a huge number of lives. The fact is that type 2 diabetes , without proper treatment, leads to very serious complications, these are:
- eye diseases;
- kidney and pancreatic diseases;
- brain pathologies;
- enlarged thyroid gland;
- atherosclerosis;
- nephropathy;
- angiopathy (vascular pathologies).
Important: people die from complications of diabetes!
A person may lose consciousness from a sharp drop or increase in blood glucose levels (hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic coma). This most often happens when a patient is prescribed insulin, but he does not know how to correctly calculate the dose. In such a situation, the patient needs medical assistance on an emergency basis (life is literally counted for minutes).
Features of non-drug therapy for type 2 diabetes
Many endocrinologists have extensive experience (many years) in treating patients with type 2 diabetes, including those who have been switched to insulin. They stop taking not only insulin, but also other medications. You will be surprised, but their diabetes goes away. It can be treated without medication and has been proven by science (international clinical studies).
First, glucose is utilized by muscles. Muscle glycogen stores (a polymer of glucose) are depleted during anaerobic exercise. Doctors recommend that patients with diabetes walk at least 2 hours a day.
The second is proper nutrition. Limit your intake of fast carbohydrates, these include sweets, honey, fruits, pies, cakes, buns, pastries. Slow carbohydrates should also be avoided. This is rice, pasta, potatoes, buckwheat, bread. These products should be minimized. Fats should be added to the diet, not only vegetable, but also animal. It is important that the body can take energy for life.
First of all, it is necessary that the body is not loaded with glucose, which comes from food.
A well-known endocrinologist said that a patient who suffers from type 2 diabetes mellitus and eats sugary foods is like shooting himself in the head with a loaded revolver and hoping that it will misfire. Foolish hopes.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic pathology. The disease goes away if the metabolism is radically restructured. This can be done thanks to an active lifestyle (movement), proper nutrition, and the third factor is the regulation of the liver and pancreas (it is carried out from the brain, from the hypothalamus).
The hypothalamus receives its nutrition from the vertebral arteries (approximately 40%). If a patient has osteochondrosis (a stiff neck), then the function of this part of the brain will decline. The hypothalamus, through activation of the pituitary gland, causes the liver and pancreas, as well as the thyroid gland, to work more actively. It first activates the thyroid gland, which affects the functioning of the liver and pancreas. This is why the thyroid gland suffers greatly in diabetics.
It is necessary to regularly do gymnastics for the cervical spine: if the blood flow to the hypothalamus improves, then you can directly influence the functioning of the liver and pancreas.
Treatment of diabetes without drugs includes the following points:
- lead an active lifestyle (walk daily, at least two hours a day);
- follow a special diet (limit not only fast, but also slow carbohydrates; fats should predominate in the diet);
- activate the hypothalamus using special exercises for the cervical spine.
The effectiveness of these three points has been scientifically proven, many specialists know about this, but it is easier for them to prescribe medications.
If a person has cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to perform special gymnastics daily. For this pathology, medications are also not effective.
If a person who suffers from type 2 diabetes mellitus follows the above recommendations on a daily basis, then within a month you can say goodbye to this pathology.
You will not need any medications, no matter what stage of type 2 diabetes you have, whether you have been prescribed insulin or not.
Important: the above recommendations should be followed throughout your life! If the patient follows these instructions for a month and then returns to his usual lifestyle, his blood sugar level will increase.
Some patients complain that the doctor did not prescribe medications. They believe that the therapy was prescribed incorrectly. This opinion is fundamentally wrong, because medications are an additional burden on the body, and they have a huge number of contraindications and side effects. Proper nutrition, physical activity and exercises for the cervical spine are three steps to recovery from type 2 diabetes.
How to lower blood sugar with diet
You can reduce blood sugar only if you eat properly - eat vegetables, proteins, healthy carbohydrates, fats, create a menu according to the principles of diet No. 9, use substitutes instead of sugar.
Products to urgently reduce indicators
No food can reduce sugar. To prevent it from increasing, the diet includes:
- non-starchy vegetables - zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower and white cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, raw carrots, eggplant, sweet peppers, Jerusalem artichoke;
- lean boiled fish, seafood, chicken, rabbit;
- moderate fat dairy products - cottage cheese, fermented milk drinks;
- unsaturated fats – avocado, nuts and seeds up to 30 g, vegetable oil up to 2 tablespoons.
This diet is considered low-carbohydrate and can only be followed until the indicators normalize. It will help to quickly reduce sugar while taking medications. Then the presence of carbohydrates should be expanded with whole grain porridges, black bran bread, berries, and unsweetened fruits.
Menu for holding numbers in diabetes
There are 9 diet rules that help maintain normal glucose levels in diabetes:
- the following are prohibited: all sweets, confectionery and flour products made from white flour, fatty, fried foods, brews, semolina, fast food, chips, grapes, bananas, dates;
- limit the intake of butter (up to 15 g), sour cream, cream (up to 20 g), eggs (1 every other day), sweet fruits, berries, dried fruits;
- Vegetables should predominate (except for potatoes, boiled beets and carrots), whole grain porridge, vegetarian first courses, fresh vegetable salads with lemon juice and herbs;
- meat and fish can be boiled, stewed and baked;
- fractional meals at least 5 times a day, carbohydrates are evenly distributed between meals.
Proper use of sugar and sweetener
To normalize metabolic rates, sugar in any form is urgently excluded from the diet. Hidden sources of its supply should also be taken into account:
- store-bought juices, sauces, ice cream;
- cakes, pastries, waffles, cookies, sweets;
- curd desserts;
- honey;
- all types of canned fruit, marinades.
At the same time, it is important to reduce the amount of sugar and know what to replace it with in order to lower the levels of diabetics. For this purpose, sweeteners are added when preparing desserts. They differ in composition and properties:
- fructose - does not cause a spike in sugar, high in calories, if the dose exceeds 30-40 g per day, it contributes to obesity;
- sorbitol - less sweet than sugar, has a aftertaste, the norm is 15-30 g, large quantities are laxative;
- erythritol – has no calorie content, is well tolerated, has a neutral taste;
- stevia – natural, no calories, 200 times sweeter than sugar, maximum dose of extract 300 mg, has no contraindications, improves diabetes;
- sucralose - obtained from sugar, has no calories, is safe, retains its properties during heat treatment, and has no aftertaste.
Signs
With type 2 diabetes mellitus, the following symptoms develop:
- cramps in the calves;
- constant weakness;
- frequent urination;
- decreased vision (sugar accumulates in the blood, which leads to swelling of the lens);
- itching of the skin, dry skin, and pustular infections;
- a constant feeling of thirst (it does not stop with the consumption of liquid, some patients drink 5 liters of liquid per day);
- insomnia;
- protracted infectious pathologies;
- dizziness;
- reduced performance;
- increased appetite;
- increased fatigue;
- muscle weakness;
- foot pain;
- irritability;
- itching in the genital area;
- a drop in body temperature below average;
- decreased potency, sexual activity;
- obesity or rapid weight loss;
- wounds that do not heal over a long period of time.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that very often type 2 diabetes mellitus is asymptomatic. To prevent this, you should adhere to a healthy lifestyle and do not forget about regular medical examinations (this should be done once a year).
If you are concerned about at least one of the symptoms described above, you should immediately contact an experienced endocrinologist. It is no secret that most doctors prescribe medications, but type 2 diabetes is easy to cure without medications. The doctor is obliged to inform about the need for a correct and active lifestyle, and tell the patient about what diet to follow.
Propolis for diabetes insipidus
Sometimes patients are diagnosed with diabetes insipidus. To treat such a disease, you can use an effective propolis tincture. Preparation:
- Fresh propolis (the size of a walnut) is crushed.
- The raw materials are poured with 100 ml of alcohol (70%).
- Cover the container with a lid and transfer it to a dark place.
- Keep the tincture for 2 weeks, remembering to shake daily.
- Store the drug in the refrigerator.
Take the product daily, 15-18 drops, 20 minutes before meals, three times a day. The tincture can be diluted in water or milk. The course of therapy is 4 weeks.
Causes
Genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes plays a big role. Therefore, if one of your relatives suffered from this pathology: you should eat properly (exclude sweets from the diet), lead an active lifestyle, and also undergo regular examinations. Experts identify the following causes of the disease:
- constant stress;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- bad ecology;
- fast food (the diet should contain large quantities of vegetables and fruits);
- excess body weight;
- age (as patients age, insulin resistance decreases);
- gestational diabetes in the past;
- high pressure;
- taking certain medications (especially without a doctor’s prescription);
- history of strokes and/or heart attacks;
- ethnicity;
- lack of physical activity;
- unhealthy diet (including consumption of drinks containing high sugar content).
Endocrinologists focus on the fact that in the last few years the number of patients who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has increased several times. The reason for this is banal: non-compliance with simple but effective rules.
Honey and bee products
Diabetes mellitus, contrary to popular belief, is not a contraindication to the use of honey as a remedy. Honey has regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties, strengthens the immune system, heart and blood vessels. Diabetics are allowed in small quantities. Preference should be given to varieties with the lowest glycemic index (acacia, chestnut, buckwheat).
To prepare the medicine, a liquid version of the product is used. It is recommended to consume honey not in its pure form, but in combination with nuts or bee products (propolis, dead bees). A mixture of honey and propolis is an effective remedy for stimulating the intrasecretory activity of the pancreas. Grind ten grams of propolis and dissolve in a water bath, mix with 200 g. honey
For daily use, 1 teaspoon is enough. The mixture should not be swallowed, but dissolved slowly. Bee dead contains the powerful antioxidant chitosan, which accelerates regeneration processes. Vodka tincture from dead bees is prepared at a ratio of 1:1. Infuse for 30 days in a dark place. Add to honey water (250 ml of water, a teaspoon of honey and tincture).
Before using bee kill, you should consult your doctor. Medical treatment is contraindicated in the stage of decompensated diabetes
Prevention measures
In order to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, great efforts from the patient are not required. It is necessary to monitor your weight and move more to avoid obesity.
If one of your relatives suffered from type 2 diabetes, you need to monitor the condition of your pancreas and undergo regular medical examinations (take a blood test to check your blood glucose levels once a year).
Pathologies of the pancreas and/or hormonal system should be treated promptly.
It is important to remember that type 2 diabetes is not a death sentence! But the patient must follow all the specialist’s recommendations. This will avoid serious complications.
Glucose-lowering agents
There are a number of products that can lower blood sugar and restore the functions of pancreatic cells; they can be included in the daily menu and consumed without any restrictions.
Such products include:
- Greens (dill, parsley, cilantro, lettuce).
- Vegetables (cucumbers, pumpkin, beets).
- Tea (decoction of young nettle).
- Spices (cinnamon).
Let's look at the most effective foods and plants that are recommended for consumption.
Bitter gourd fruit
Bitter gourd is known as momordica. This is a plant that resembles a cucumber in structure. All parts of the plant have healing properties and nourish the body well.
Momordica fruits have a pronounced hypoglycemic property
Bitter gourd has the following effects:
- Reduces cholesterol levels in the body.
- Increases the body's resistance forces.
- Normalizes body weight.
- Improves visual function.
- Has an analgesic effect.
- Supports hematopoietic function.
These effects reduce the risk of diabetes complications. The main effect of the plant is its ability to normalize metabolism, stimulate the production of sugar-lowering hormone and increase the susceptibility of tissues to its action. Therefore, it is recommended to use momordica for all types of diabetes.
Chicory root
Chicory is indicated for both treatment and prevention of diabetes.
Chicory root contains insulin-like substances
In the first type of pathology, chicory is used to reduce the dosage of sugar-lowering drugs used. For the second type, the plant acts as a medicine that can, with a rapid increase in sugar, lower it to normal levels.
Regular consumption of chicory has many healing effects on the diabetic body:
- Normalization of glycemic levels (daily consumption of the plant in small quantities helps maintain normal blood glucose levels).
- Reducing the level of “bad” cholesterol (increases vascular tone, which serves as a prevention of atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes).
- Reducing body weight (chicory contains natural insulin, which can quickly saturate the body, which prevents you from consuming extra calories).
- Restoration of the digestive tract (natural components of the plant help remove toxins from the intestines, thereby cleansing the body of their adverse effects).
- Prevention of the development of complications of the disease (very often the plant is prescribed to reduce the risk of developing complications of diabetes, such as angiopathy, nephropathy, retinopathy).
Chicory is a nutritious product that can quickly saturate the body, so it helps diabetics stick to their diet and not feel food restrictions.
The intake of chicory is not limited to its raw form; it can also be taken in powder form. Soluble chicory is taken as a drink; it contains many useful substances and is easy to use. Nutritionists recommend consuming an instant drink without foreign impurities or additives, since it is in its original state that it reveals its healing properties. Regular consumption of soluble chicory helps reduce sugar levels in the bloodstream and also speeds up metabolism.
It is not recommended to add sugar to chicory-based drinks; it can be replaced with synthetic analogues
Taking soluble chicory for type 2 diabetes reveals the following beneficial qualities:
- strengthens the immune system;
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal system;
- maintains the balance of intestinal microflora;
- stimulates the excretory system and liver.
Recipes for preparing medicine from chicory root:
- Infusion. 50 gr. Pour 450 ml of boiling water over ground plant roots into powder and leave for 3 hours. Drink the infusion 4 times a day, 100 grams.
- Drink. 35 gr. ground chicory pour 0.5 liters of boiled water. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes. Cool at room temperature, then strain the pulp. Take the drink 3 times a day, a third of a glass.
Chicory is a healing plant, but you should not abuse drinks based on it, as their overdose can negatively affect the patient’s health.
Cinnamon powder
Cinnamon has a pronounced medicinal effect in diabetes, especially insulin-resistant diabetes, since it increases the sensitivity of tissues to the action of the sugar-lowering hormone.
Chinese spice has healing properties for diabetes
The spice is a storehouse of vitamins and essential microelements, which makes it useful not only for diabetics, but also for healthy people.
The main benefits of consuming aromatic spices:
- Accelerates glucose metabolism, evenly distributing it throughout tissues and organs.
- Contains natural substances that have a mechanism of action similar to insulin.
- Reduces the risk of sugar fluctuations after meals.
- A natural antioxidant that prevents the increase in body fat mass.
- It affects fat cells, thereby lowering the level of glucose in the bloodstream.
The therapeutic dose of cinnamon is up to 2 grams per day, it can lower sugar levels to 10 mmol/l.
There are several effective cinnamon recipes to quickly reduce sugar:
- Add 10 g to 250 ml of kefir. cinnamon powder, shake thoroughly. Take the drink in the morning and evening, after the main meal. The therapeutic course is 2 weeks.
- ¼ l. add ground spice to black tea leaves, pour boiling water in a volume of 200 ml. Leave for 10 minutes. Take 2 times a day.
