Can type 2 diabetes really be reversed?

The ancient Greek physician Aretaeus (ar-e-TE-us) of Cappadocia (c. 81—c. 138) described diabetes as a “melting down of the flesh and limbs into urine.”

Many experts argue that Type 2 diabetes is an incurable disease that gets worse with the passage of time. As a matter of fact, this is what is taught and every medical text book: Type 2 diabetes is a gradually progressive chronic disease that affects all the organ systems of the body, it can be managed but not reversed.

But new research raises the tantalizing possibility that drastic changes in lifestyle may reverse the disease in some people.  As it turns out, type 2 diabetes is the direct result of accumulation of visceral fat or belly fat in the midsection of the body.  Studies have also shown that obese individuals who have bariatric surgery frequently see the condition vanish long before they lose any weight at all, suggesting that metabolic diseases are due to hormonal imbalance which can be corrected!

We know that type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance resulting from droplets of fat blocking the insulin receptors on the liver, the muscles, and in all the tissues that require insulin to open the channels for glucose to enter as a fuel. Therefore, if we can figure out a way to remove the fat blocking the insulin receptors, it would make sense that we can reverse this condition.

At the turns out, type 2 diabetes as well as obesity, and blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, which are disorders of metabolism, are to a huge extent, the result of our lifestyle choices. This means that if we can fix the lifestyle choices that created insulin resistance, we can prevent and often reverse these metabolic diseases.

The key to using lifestyle as therapy is to first understand the master levers of health, and then, to optimize them. As much and is it might appear that there is a lot of controversy about the best diet and then no two experts agree, there is absolutely no controversy about the following 6 master levers of health. If we can optimize what we do with our forks, feet and fingers, while making sleep, stress management and love as priorities, we can create conditions that allow the body to heal itself naturally.

• Forks: Real foods Plant based diet
• Feet: Consistent and Constant Physical Activity
• Fingers: Quit Smoking and exposing yourself to other poisons, including chemicals added to food which can be endocrine disruptors
• Sleep: the most neglected master lever of health
• Stress management
• Love: Meaningful social connections

These are the 6 core ingredients of health. When we optimize these 6 master levers, we can accomplish over 80% of what’s needed to get us healthy, vibrant and strong, eliminating 80% of disease.

1. Nutrient Dense Plant Rich Diet (forks):

Shopping Around the Edges of the Supermarket–no labels required! Eating foods that you would encounter in nature generally provide the healthiest nutritional value. If you must buy packaged foods: get the ones with the fewest ingredients and carefully read ingredient labels, not what is on the front of the packaging.

Take out the trash: drop juices, sodas and artificial sweeteners and other chemical additives. Water as the main fluid. Steer clear of Dairy, and Alcohol.

2. Making physical activity inevitable (feet)

We are made to be in constant motion. As a start, make a commitment to 10,000 steps everyday – no excuses. You can walk or run in place, on a treadmill, in a mall or on the trails or just around. Just get it done. Evidence in the research has demonstrated that walking 10000 steps every day has the greatest return for effort in improvement in overall health maintenance for exercise. The steps don’t have to be done at one time but make sure you get it done. Resistance exercise is VERY important-it’s okay to incorporate body weight for your exercise.

3. Quit Smoking (fingers) period–enough said. Also eliminate chemical toxins which have made their way into our food supply-meat, eggs and dairy are a big source of toxins but conventionally farmed produce can be harmful too: Learn about the dirty dozen and the clean 15
4. Sleep-Our vital systems replenish, rejuvenate and reset themselves when we get deep restful sleep. Many us are getting less than our required amount of sleep, wreaking havoc on our metabolism, appetite regulation, and immune system.
5. 5. Stress Management

Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system with some form of meditation whether it is concentrative, expressive or mindfulness meditation can act as an antidote to the constant onslaught of damage from modern living.

6. Meaningful Social Connections

Deep and meaningful connections with other people are vital to the maintenance of health. These are people we can discuss our inner-most thoughts with, without feeling ashamed or judged. The benefits go far beyond psychosocial and extend into physical and mental aspects of our health. “Friend power” maybe more important than willpower because our social circle is a strong determinant of our lifestyle choices.

When we optimize 6 master levers of health, we can create conditions for the body to return to its default state of balance, harmony and well-being, effectively reversing metabolic diseases, losing fat in the areas where it needs to be lost and living in a state of bliss.