November is Diabetes Awareness Month and it makes sense to dedicate an article to this subject since lately I have been working with clients who are self-proclaimed sugar addicts.
There are 2 main types of Diabetes. Type-1, traditionally called Juvenile Diabetes, is a less common autoimmune disease which is rarely reversed and currently has no cure. People with Type-1 Diabetes will probably need insulin injections for life because their bodies are unable to produce insulin.
The other, and more common is Type-2 Diabetes. In fact, more than 30 million people in the U.S. (approximately 10% of the population) have Type-2 which is now an epidemic. Of that huge proportion of the population, only about 1 in 4 people even realize they have it. Type-2 Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Type-2 Diabetes used to be called Adult-Onset Diabetes because it usually affects people over 40. Today there are more than 100,000 young people under the age of 18 who are diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes.
It is frustrating to know that with diet and lifestyle modifications it is possible to prevent and reverse Type-2 Diabetes, yet people continue to eat sugar and processed foods containing sugar.
Dr. Mark Hyman, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine uses the term diabesity which he defines as “anywhere on the continuum between pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.” According to Dr. Hyman, “diabesity is the underlying cause of most heart disease, cancer, and premature death in the world.”
Dr. Hyman also uses the phrase “skinny fat people” to describe approximately 40% of normal weight individuals who are metabolically obese. To Dr. Hyman, these are people with the same risk of disease and death as people who are actually obese. These people are not overweight, but instead “under lean,” with some belly fat. Dr. Jimmy Bell coined an acronym to describe those people who are thin on the inside but fat on the outside as TOFI.
In order to prevent Type-2 Diabetes or have a chance of reversing the diagnosis, it would be necessary to:
Lose weight,
Remove refined sugars and starches
Remove GMO’s
Reduce alcohol consumption
And
Include high fiber foods
Include healthy fats
Include magnesium and chromium-rich foods
Consume lower GI foods
Plus:
Exercise
Control stress levels
Working with clients who are hoping to eliminate sugar from their bodies has become a challenging, yet rewarding experience. Most have discovered that once they finally admit they have a problem, within a relatively short time, they no longer crave sugar and the processed foods where sugar is often hidden. These people have discovered a new, healthier relationship with real food and have admitted their lives have become more satisfying and less stressful without the effect sugar had on their emotions and their bodies.
Yours In Good Health,
