Diabetes is a dysfunction of metabolism. The pancreas produces insulin when we eat, which is used to move glucose into our cells for energy and growth. Glucose is the body’s main source of fuel. For diabetics, the pancreas either produces too little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced, which is known as insulin resistance.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, which causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s immune system turns against a part of the body. In the case of type 1 diabetes, it’s the pancreas. Treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin injections for the rest of their lives. This type of diabetes usually occurs in children or younger people, but it can occur at any age.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or the body has become insulin resistant. Nutrition and lack of exercise or sedentary lifestyle contribute greatly to the onset of type 2 diabetes. It used to be considered adult-onset diabetes, as it was occurring mostly in adults over the age of 45, however over the last few years, the number of children being diagnosed with diabetes is rapidly increasing. The number one risk factor for a child to develop diabetes is obesity. Did you know that once a child is overweight, the chances of them developing diabetes more than doubles?
All of this information is quite unsettling, however, there is good news for those with type 2 diabetes. With the proper guidance and the right care plan, type 2 diabetes can be controlled and sometimes even reversed. Now this does not mean that you return to you pre-diabetic lifestyle, but it does mean that you are able to control your diabetes without the use of medication.
Functional wellness practitioners are having great success in helping patients effectively manage their diabetes. These specialists are trained to look at the body as an entire operating system, evaluate where imbalances are occurring, create customized care for each patient, and coach patients through the recovery process. The goal is to empower and teach patients to manage their conditions and take charge of their own health for the rest of their lives.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not – many patients are effectively controlling their diabetes without having to use medication. By learning about what the underlying causes of their diabetes is and how to manage their triggers, these patients are able to change their lives through safe and natural care offered by functional wellness practitioners. Are you ready to make a change and get back on the path of wellness?