Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition where blood sugar levels remain abnormally high due to insufficient insulin production or the body’s inability to use insulin effectively. There are three main types: type 1 diabetes, caused by an autoimmune condition that affects the pancreas; type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance often linked to obesity and lifestyle factors; and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy.
Common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurry vision, and slow-healing sores. Type 1 diabetes symptoms typically develop quickly, while type 2 symptoms often progress gradually and may go unnoticed until the condition reaches a severe state. The causes of diabetes vary by type. Type 1 is linked to genetic and environmental factors, while type 2 arises from obesity, inactivity, and genetic predisposition.
Natural treatment options for diabetes include dietary changes, regular physical activity, stress reduction, and complementary medicine therapies like acupuncture. Conventional diabetes treatment involves insulin therapy and antidiabetic medications. However, antidiabetic medications may cause various side effects, ranging from gastrointestinal issues to dizziness and headaches. Adherence may also be an issue for many on antidiabetics.
Read on to learn more about the types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and natural treatment of diabetes.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition when blood sugar (or blood glucose) is too high. Also known as diabetes mellitus, diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to produce or use insulin properly, a hormone that lowers glucose levels in the blood.
Glucose is a type of sugar and is the body’s main energy source. We get glucose from the foods and drinks we take, although the body can also produce its own glucose. The body breaks down food into glucose when we eat, which enters the blood, known as blood glucose.
Cells need glucose as a source of energy to function, so the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) produces a hormone called insulin that allows glucose to move from the blood into the cells. However, in diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or produces enough but the cells don’t respond to insulin, or even both. Therefore, glucose stays in the blood and may start to accumulate.
High blood glucose for extended periods can lead to serious health complications, like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage (especially in the lower limbs), and eye conditions. In more severe cases, diabetes can cause coma and directly threaten the patient’s life.
What Are the Types of Diabetes?
The three main types of diabetes mellitus are Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and Gestational diabetes. Some experts also consider prediabetes as a type of diabetes, and it affects around 98 million people in the United States.
Here are the types of diabetes in more detail.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes results from the autoimmune destruction (autoimmune refers to the body attacking its own cells) of the pancreas’s beta cells. The beta cells are responsible for insulin production in the pancreas, so type 1 diabetes is characterized by little or no insulin produced by the pancreas.
Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, although it typically occurs in children and adolescents. About 5% of all diabetes mellitus cases are type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to use insulin properly, known as insulin resistance. Insulin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus are usually within the normal range or even higher than normal, indicating that the pancreas functions as it should, but the cells don’t use this insulin to take up glucose.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95% of all diabetes cases in the United States. Type 2 diabetes also has strong genetic and racial components, affecting more minority ethnic groups like Latinos, African Americans, Mexican-Americans, and American Indians. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes because it was only seen in adults, but that name has now been dropped because the condition is now increasingly seen in children.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy and at delivery in 9% of women who have it. Gestational diabetes generally develops in the third trimester (last three months) of pregnancy and increases the future risk of type 2 diabetes in both the mother and child.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes refers to blood glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough to meet the threshold for diabetes. In other words, people with prediabetes cannot be diagnosed with diabetes yet, but their risk of having type 2 diabetes in the future is high. The risk of having heart disease and stroke is also higher with prediabetes.
Prediabetes typically occurs in people who have some insulin resistance (when the body cells do not respond well to insulin) or have issues with insulin production. An estimated 97.6 million people in the United States have prediabetes, which translates to 38% of US adults.
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and urination, unexplained weight loss, chronic fatigue, numbing and tingling in hands or feet, and vision problems. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over a few weeks, while the symptoms of type 2 diabetes usually develop over several years.
Here are some of the symptoms of diabetes.
- Increased urination
- Increased thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Chronic fatigue
- Dry skin
- Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
- Blurry vision
- Increased hunger
- Sores that heal slowly
Many people with type 2 diabetes do not have any symptoms until the condition starts affecting their vision or heart. The severity of symptoms is usually worse in type 1 diabetes compared to type 2 diabetes, which may be so mild that they are unnoticeable.
What Are the Causes of Diabetes?
The causes of diabetes vary depending on the type. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition caused by an interplay of environmental and genetic factors. Type 2 diabetes is caused by obesity, physical inactivity, and genetics. Gestational diabetes is caused by hormonal changes and genetic factors.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which means it occurs when the body attacks its own cells. The exact causes of autoimmune conditions are still unknown. However, the consensus is that an interplay of environmental factors and genetics plays a crucial role in their development.
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is caused by several factors. They include:
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Genetics
- Race/ethnicity (African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, Mexican-Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives are more likely to have type 2 diabetes)
- Insulin resistance
Gestational diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, genetic factors, obesity, and lifestyle factors like physical inactivity.
Diagnosis of Diabetes
The diagnosis of diabetes involves examining the patient’s history, evaluating their symptoms, and performing biochemical lab tests. The exact tests a healthcare provider recommends typically depend on the patient’s symptoms and pregnancy status.
The first step to diagnosis is often an examination of the patient’s history. The role of genetics and race in the development of diabetes means healthcare providers can get a general idea of the individual’s risk of having diabetes before conducting any diagnostic tests.
The next step in the diagnosis process is evaluating the patient’s symptoms. This patient evaluation stage is where the healthcare provider begins to gain more insight into the patient’s type of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually characterized by increased thirst and urination, with the symptoms occurring quickly. Type 2 diabetes has milder symptoms that develop over a longer period.
The final and most important aspect of diagnosing diabetes is conducting lab tests. Different tests can help diagnose diabetes, including:
- A fasting plasma glucose test requiring the patient to have fasted for 8 hours
- Random plasma glucose test, which can be done at any time regardless of the patient’s fasting state
- The A1C test, also known as hemoglobin A1C or HbA1C test, measures the average blood glucose level over three months
- Oral glucose tolerance test, which checks glucose levels after an 8-hour fast and 2 hours after drinking a high-sugar drink
Healthcare providers follow the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations for diagnosing diabetes. The ADA’s recommendations are:
- Fasting plasma glucose level 126 mg/dl (milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood plasma) or above
- Random plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dl or above in patients with symptoms of excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive hunger, and weight loss
- HbA1C level 6.5% or above
- Oral glucose tolerance test (after 2 hours) of 200 mg/dl or above
Diabetes lab tests are crucial to diagnosing diabetes, but they cannot definitively tell what type of diabetes you have. Health practitioners will require other tests like genetic testing and autoantibody testing to know which diabetes you have. You may need to take multiple tests before your healthcare provider gives a diabetes diagnosis.
What Are the Natural Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes?
The natural treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus include dietary modifications, physical activity, acupuncture, and stress management practices. These natural treatment options can help reverse blood glucose levels to normal prediabetic levels with few safety risks and concerns.
Here are some of the natural treatment options for type 2 diabetes.
Diet
There is a strong relationship between diet and diabetes, and your food choices can directly contribute to your blood sugar levels. Research in the International Journal of Health Sciences finds that dietary habits are among the major factors for the development of diabetes and that a healthy diet can help improve and prevent diabetes.
Therefore, choosing the right foods and supplements (another component of diet) is essential in treating diabetes. Below are some of the right (and wrong) foods for diabetes.
Foods
Foods are the body’s primary source of energy, providing energy in the form of glucose. Not all foods are made the same, though. Some foods impact blood glucose levels more favorably than other foods, and these foods are essential in the management of diabetes. Foods that can significantly increase blood glucose levels are not advisable for diabetes management. Below are some of the foods to eat and avoid when managing diabetes.
Foods to Eat
- Fruits, such as apples, pears, kiwis, peaches, avocados, grapes, blueberries, oranges
- Nonstarchy vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, carrots, spinach
- Whole grains, such as barley, quinoa, brown rice, millet, rye
- Nonfat or low-fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Proteins, such as eggs, fish, nuts, lean meats, chicken, and beans
Foods to Avoid
- Sugary foods, such as cookies, cakes, ice cream, candies
- Starchy vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, corn, white potatoes, green peas
- Foods high in saturated fats, such as red meat, coconut oil, palm oil, baked goods, sausages
- High-sodium foods, mainly due to salt
Some drinks can also contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus, and they include sugary drinks (soda, sports drinks, flavored coffee, sweetened juice) and alcohol.
Several diet plans have been designed for diabetes, but no single combination of foods and drinks in a diet plan is perfect for managing diabetes. Different people have different dietary needs, and you should talk to a functional health practitioner and your healthcare provider to find the best diet plan for you. Still, any quality plan must include eating the right foods in the right amounts at the right times.
Supplements
Supplements are intended to provide nutrients that are missing from foods in a diet. Supplements have been researched in the management of different health conditions, including diabetes. Some of the supplements that could be potentially beneficial for the management of diabetes include:
- Magnesium
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
- Green tea
- Chromium
- Vitamin B1
- Fenugreek
- Cinnamon
However, these supplements cannot cure diabetes and should not replace other treatment options. The right supplements will only support your diet and other treatment options, making it easier to maintain low blood glucose levels and manage diabetes. Ensure you talk to your healthcare provider before you make drastic changes to your diet, especially if you are already showing symptoms of diabetes or other health conditions.
Managing diabetes naturally starts with the right guidance. At Bay Clinic of Chiropractic in Panama City, FL, Dr. Tony Salamay provides personalized functional medicine and clinical nutrition programs designed to help stabilize blood sugar, improve metabolic health, and support long-term wellness safely and effectively. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Salamay today and take the first step toward naturally balancing your blood sugar.
Physical Activity
Physical activity refers to bodily movements that work the muscles and require the body to use more energy than in its resting state. Physical activity is essential in the maintenance of good health and the management of different health conditions, including diabetes.
The role of physical activity in the management of diabetes is multifaceted. First, physical activity can help facilitate weight loss and prevent further weight gain, which is critical to the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
What’s more, physical activity improves glycemic control (the body’s maintenance of glucose levels), which helps reduce blood glucose and manage diabetes. Physical activity also lowers the risk of cardiovascular issues, as there are noticeable reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that diabetic patients participate in both aerobic exercise (like running, swimming, dancing, walking) and resistance training (like weight lifting). More specifically, the ADA recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity a week, with resistance training at least two times a week.
You can start improving your physical activity by setting specific, attainable goals, starting small, finding a partner for accountability, and journaling your progress. Remember not to overexert yourself and push your body beyond your limits, especially if you are taking antidiabetic medications.
Stress Management Practices
Stress management practices are techniques that help relieve stress in the body. Stress can contribute to diabetes, as it stimulates the release of various hormones that can raise blood glucose levels.
Therefore, stress management practices can help manage diabetes. A study in the journal Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome also showed that stress management can help reduce sugar levels in diabetic patients.
Examples of stress management practices include meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, exercise, sleep, positive thinking, and social support. You know yourself best and can decide on the strategies that can best relieve your stress levels.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that involves inserting thin needles into specific points of the body. Acupuncture deals with the flow of energy in the body, and health practitioners of acupuncture believe that regulation of the body’s energy can directly affect biochemical substances in the body.
Acupuncture is used to treat several health conditions today, such as osteoarthritis, migraines, depression, anxiety, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Functional health practitioners also use acupuncture to manage diabetes, and the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) has acknowledged the use of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for diabetes. A 2019 Chinese study also revealed that acupuncture can help reduce weight, regulate blood lipids, and control blood pressure, all of which are useful in diabetes management.
You can visit a functional health practitioner for more information about acupuncture and possibly get started on alternative medicine therapy. However, note that acupuncture is an adjunct treatment, which means it can only support other treatment options. Therefore, you should not neglect other natural treatment options or the advice of your healthcare provider.
Conventional Medicine Treatment of Diabetes
Conventional medicine’s treatment of diabetes revolves around the use of insulin and diabetes medicines known as antidiabetics. There are multiple classes of antidiabetics, and the exact diabetes medication used depends on the condition and the specific needs of the patient.
Insulin is the primary medication used for the management of Type 1 diabetes, although it can also be used in some cases of type 2 diabetes. Antidiabetic medications (or antidiabetics) are the main options for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Antidiabetics have different mechanisms of action in reducing blood glucose levels. The typical mechanisms of action of antidiabetics include:
- Helping the body to make more insulin (meglitinides, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas)
- influencing the body’s digestion and usage of glucose (thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors)
- Preventing the liver from making glucose (biguanides, with metformin being the first-line treatment for most diabetes cases)
- Increasing the body’s urinary excretion of sugar (SGLT2 Inhibitors)
Some antidiabetics have unknown mechanisms of action, like dopamine receptor agonists and bile acid sequestrants. There are also different combination medications today that combine different mechanisms of action.
Conventional medicines for managing diabetes are generally effective in reducing blood sugar levels. However, antidiabetics can have different side effects, including hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), gastrointestinal issues (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, gas), weight gain, anemia, headache, dizziness, tiredness, and infections.
Also, patients on antidiabetics may have adherence issues with the antidiabetic medications. Nonadherence to medications can have significant health implications if that is the only treatment option the patient is on for managing diabetes.
Conventional medicines also do not preclude the need for natural treatment strategies. Your healthcare provider may recommend medications to treat your diabetes after examining your condition, but you will still need to make the right dietary choices, be physically active, and reduce stress levels for long-term treatment of diabetes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Blood Glucose Level Reduce Away on Its Own With Diabetes?
No, blood glucose levels will not reduce on their own with diabetes. The only way to guarantee a natural reduction in blood glucose levels if you have diabetes is by making certain lifestyle changes. The right lifestyle changes include eating healthier foods (foods lower in sugar), being physically active, acupuncture, and considering stress management practices (like yoga, massage, and breathing exercises).
How Long Will It Take To Naturally Reduce Blood Sugar With Diabetes?
It takes between 1 and 3 weeks to naturally reduce blood sugar with diabetes. The exact timeline depends on a number of factors, including the level of physical activity, the kind of food the person is eating, and the patient’s weight.
However, a reduction in blood sugar levels is not the same as diabetes remission, which occurs when blood sugar levels are below the diabetes level for at least three months without taking any medications. Achieving remission can take several months.
Is Diabetes Curable?
No, diabetes is not a curable condition; however, there are effective treatment options that can help reverse type 2 diabetes and manage type 1 diabetes. Your blood glucose levels returning to normal levels does not mean diabetes has been cured, as the wrong lifestyle choices or poor adherence to treatment can cause blood glucose to spike again.
Can You Prevent Diabetes?
Yes, you can prevent type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthier foods (less sugar and more fruits and vegetables), and being more physically active. However, you cannot prevent type 1 diabetes, as it is an autoimmune condition influenced by genetic factors, over which we have little power.
Healthy lifestyle changes and losing weight before pregnancy can help prevent gestational diabetes. However, if you are already pregnant, do not attempt to lose weight or make drastic dietary changes.
Can You Treat Type 1 Diabetes Naturally Without Insulin?
No, you cannot treat type 1 diabetes without insulin, although natural strategies can make the treatment process easier and improve the quality of life of the patient. Type 1 diabetes is caused by an underproduction of insulin, and people with this type of diabetes will need lifetime injections of insulin.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. High blood glucose for extended periods can damage blood vessels, organs, and nerves (especially of the limbs). Natural treatment options like dietary changes and physical activity are recommended as fundamental diabetes treatments. Other natural treatments, like stress management and physical activity, can also help manage diabetes.
Several medication classes can help manage diabetes, but they may be associated with unpleasant side effects, and patients may also struggle to adhere to their usage. Therefore, combining natural treatment options is still the best approach, even if medications must be used. Talk to your healthcare provider before making drastic changes to your diet and lifestyle, especially if you have preexisting health issues. If you need professional guidance and support in managing diabetes naturally, contact the Bay Clinic of Chiropractic at (850) 785-9372 or info@thebaydoctor.com. Dr. Tony Salamay is the clinic’s lead Functional Medicine doctor and an experienced clinical nutritionist, dedicated to helping you find the right path for your overall health and well-being.
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