Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes with Diet and Exercise

We hear about Diabetes all the time but what are the different forms of Diabetes and why do we need to be aware of diabetes?

What is Diabetes?

To understand Diabetes we first need to understand the pancreas and its function pertaining to blood sugar.

Understanding the Pancreas

The pancreas is about 6 inches long and sits across the back of our abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of our abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) through a small tube called the pancreatic duct. The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of our bodies.

The pancreas is about 6 inches long and sits across the back of our abdomen, behind the stomach. When the pancreas malfunctions, it shows up as diabetes.

This little organ has a massive impact on the quality and length of our lives based on the hormone insulin it produces. Insulin is the master regulator in turning glucose, a type of sugar, from the food we eat into usable energy.

The Different Forms of Diabetes

When we have a malfunction of our pancreas it shows up in many areas of our lives but today we will only focus on three; Type 1, type 2 and pre-diabetes. So let’s look at these three real quick.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which our immune system destroys insulin making beta cells in our pancreas. This form of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and is known as juvenile diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, the insulin making beta cells are killed by the immune system over a period of months or years.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes we are still making insulin, but our cells don’t use it as well as they should and here is where the problem begins. In the beginning stage, our pancreas makes more insulin trying to deliver glucose into our cells.

In type 2 diabetes the body is not able to make enough insulin which causes blood sugar to be locked out of the cells.

But eventually our little pancreas gets tired and can’t keep up, so the glucose in our blood stream builds up to dangerous levels.

People with type 2 diabetes are said to have insulin resistance. Those of us who are mostly affected by type 2 diabetes are middle-aged or older and due to their age this is labeled adult-onset diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes also affects kids and teens, mainly because of… I hate to say it… childhood obesity caused by poor lifestyles.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type affecting an estimated 29 million of us in the U.S. not to mention that roughly 8 million of us have it and don’t even know it since our symptoms are so mild.

Prediabetes

So now let’s take a look at prediabetes since this is where the most good can be held… prevention is the key here.

Prediabetes is an ongoing condition when our blood sugars, glucose, is elevated but not elevated enough to be diagnosed as diabetes yet. Keep in mind those of us with prediabetes, that goes uncontrolled will turn into type 2 diabetes.

Currently, about 88 million of us over age 20 in the U.S. have pre-diabetes, but 84% of us don’t even know we have this pre-life altering disease…

Can I get a… Holy Cow!!

For those of us who are fighting diabetes and those who are prediabetic understand that diabetes is a lifelong disease that demands daily attention, monitoring and lifestyle modification because without proper management, diabetes can have debilitating with irreversible consequences.

Treating Diabetes with Diet and Exercise

You might find yourself asking; If I am prediabetic or have diabetes… how can I treat it organically? This is such a loaded question due to the fact that it’s all individual based on a moment to moment moving disease. Therefore the answer to this question isn’t easy or easy to come by… no matter what popular media tells us.

Sorry!

Brian working with a client virtually via FaceTime.

Listen, I could get you all excited about how easy it is to make some small changes to your diet and do a little cardio and push some weights around. Or better yet I could you excited and tell you to simply get involved in generic events to control diabetes… but I would be just simply lying.

Exercise and Lifestyle Modification

So let’s see where exercise, lifestyle modification and TheissCare fits into those with prediabetes or diabetes. Keep in mind that the founder of TheissCare has worked with thousands of clients globally for the past 35 years and counting with astonishing and life saving results time and time again with clients dealing with diabetes.

We contribute our success here with those dealing with any form of diabetes to detailed monitoring and care with their health care providers.