Reversing diabetes involves repairing the body's ability to normalize blood sugar. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder; it causes glucose intolerance due to a lack of insulin or the body's inability to use insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed at a young age and requires lifelong administration of insulin, which the body does not produce. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed later in life, occurring when the body no longer produces enough insulin or is insulin-resistant.
Dietary Interventions
Results of an experiment by Neal Barnard, M.D., and colleagues, reported in the August 2006 issue of "Diabetes Care," found diet could help lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. In the study, type 2 diabetics were placed randomly into one of two groups. One group followed a low-fat vegan diet, and the other followed the dietary recommendations of the American Diabetes Association. Both groups of participants experienced statistically significant lower average blood sugar levels, with better results from the low-fat vegan group. The vegan diet consisted of mostly vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes.
Exercise
Exercise can stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetics and is an important lifestyle factor in managing diabetes. Erika Gebel, Ph.D., states that exercise can help control blood sugar because during exercise, muscle in the body becomes less resistant to insulin. This is especially important for those with type 2 diabetes, she says. Exercise done every day is most beneficial, and it is best to engage in both aerobic and resistance workouts. According to Dr. Gebel, exercise can also reduce average longer-term blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics.
Beta Cell Transplantation
Transplantation of beta cells, allowing type 1 diabetics to be free from insulin injections, is showing promise medically. In the September 2010 issue of "Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics," R. Paul Robinson, M.D., discusses "islet transplantation," in which the islets of Langerhans, which contain insulin-producing beta cells from the pancreas, are transplanted into a diabetic patient to restore proper insulin functioning. He concludes that while whole pancreatic transplants have been common since the 1980s, this newer technique of transplanting islets is less invasive and results in fewer postsurgical complications. However, more data are necessary regarding the efficacy and safety of this technique.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Basics
- "Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics"; Update on Transplanting Beta Cells for Reversing Type 1 Diabetes; R. Paul Robinson, M.D.; September 2010
- "Diabetes Care": A Low-Fat Vegan Diet Improves Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Randomized Clinical Trial in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Neal D. Barnard, M.D., Joshua Cohen, M.D., David J. A. Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D., Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy, M.S., R.D., Lise Gloede, R.D., C.D.E., Brent Jaster, M.D., Kim Seidl, M.S., R.D., Amber A. Green, R.D., and Stanley Talpers, M.D.: August 2006
- "Diabetes Forecast"; The Science of Sweat: Is Exercise the Best Medicine?; Erika Gebel, Ph.D.; July 2010
