Why Treat Diabetes with a Holistic Approach?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder that occurs when insulin resistance and eventual insulin deficiency lead to high blood glucose. Extensive research is currently underway to better understand the causes of insulin resistance in the body. Numerous factors, such as obesity, toxin exposure, infections, and emotional stress all contribute to chronic inflammation and the development of this chronic condition and its many negative sequelae.

Several large clinical trials have shown that control of hyperglycemia alone does reduce the microvascular (small blood vessel) complications of diabetes but it does not definitively reduce the macrovascular (large vessel) complications, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). It also does not decrease mortality. This suggests, then, that only focusing on treating blood glucose numbers in diabetics is not sufficient. Additional focus should be given to reducing inflammation and improving lifestyle factors, which can have microvascular benefits and lengthen lifespan. This tool offers evidence-based suggestions on how the Integrative Health approach can enhance T2DM care.

Prevention

Patients need to know that T2DM is a preventable—and reversible—disease in most cases. It is estimated that 90% of diabetes is preventable through changes in diet and exercise, elimination of smoking, and moderation of alcohol intake.¹

Summary of treatment recommendations

Nutrition

• Low glycemic index (GI) diet. The low-GI diet focuses on carbohydrate type. GI measures how quickly a carbohydrate affects postprandial glucose levels. Low GI foods result in a more gradual rise in glucose and insulin release versus high GI foods. More insulin release in a short time period can lead to more abrupt drops in glucose levels and promote chronic inflammation. Over time, the low-GI eating can result in a 0.4% to 0.5% reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c).^2,3 For more information, go to the “Glycemic Index.” Integrative Health tool.