Alternative Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. With type 2 diabetes your body does not produce enough insulin leaving your blood with high levels of sugar. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas that regulates glucose levels in the blood. The risk factors of type 2 diabetes include being excess weight,if you are over the age of 45, high blood pressure, race ( African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans) have high rates of diabetes. Often times people have no symptoms that they have type 2 diabetes. If you do have symptoms they may include extreme thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, increase in appetite, frequent and slow healing infections, and in males erectile dysfunction may also be a symptom. To test for type 2 diabetes your doctor may want to do tests that include fasting blood glucose levels or an oral glucose tolerance test.

Once you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a treatment can be prescribed. The most important treatment is diet and exercise. You and your doctor will discuss the changes that can be made in your diet and lifestyle to help manage your diabetes. Your doctor may prescribe oral medications to be taken, but there are alternative ways to treat your type 2 diabetes. Please consult with your doctor before starting any alternative therapy as treatment for your diabetes. Even when using alternative therapies to treat your diabetes you will want to monitor your blood sugar levels daily.

Alternative therapies Include

1. Take a 1000 mcg of Chromium Picolinate daily. This will help lower your blood sugar naturally. www.chromiumpicolinate.org/ This site will explain Chromium Picolinate to you.

2. Limiting the amount of caffeine you take in. Try drinking decaffeinated products instead of caffeinated.

3. Be sure to drink plenty of water, drink at least eight 12 oz . servings of water a day.

4. Get plenty of exercise, it is recommended that you walk at least 2 miles every other day at a quick pace. It is also recommended that you increase your muscle mass. Increasing your muscle mass will help absorb more insulin then fat cells. The following site will give you tips on how to increase muscle mass www.exrx.net/Questions/MuscleMass.html

Always check with your doctor before starting an alternative therapy so you and your doctor can figure out what is best for you and your body type. You should also take care of your feet when you are diabetic. Diabetics are prone to foot problems. Damage to the nerves may occur with diabetes and you may not feel an injury to your foot. Blood vessels may also be damaged by diabetes which can make it harder for your body to fight infections.

Foot Care:

1. Check your feet daily for sores, infections, or any changes. these changes should be reported to your doctor.

2. Be sure that you have comfortable shoes that fit well.

3. Exercise daily to help promote good circulation in the feet.

4. Use a foot massager to help promote circulation in your feet.

5. Wash your feet with luke warm water and mild soap daily and be sure to dry them throughly after washing them.

6. Apply lotion or petroleum jelly to help soften dry rough skin

7. During routine exams have your doctor examine your feet

8. Visit a podiatrist for any foot problems you may have such as corns or calluses.