3 MYTHS ABOUT PRE-DIABETES AND TYPE II DIABETES


There are a lot of common myths about pre-diabetes and type II diabetes. If you have just learned that you, or a loved one has one of these diagnoses, much of what you read and the common myths surrounding diabetes can leave you feeling hopeless. However, when we separate fact from myth, there is hope for preventing type II diabetes and avoiding medications.

MYTH #1 – PRE-DIABETES AND TYPE II DIABETES ARE IRREVERSIBLE

One of the most common myths about Diabetes is that it is irreversible.  It is true that the typical course for most people is a slowly progressive worsening of diabetes, leading to more and more medication to manage blood sugars.  Pre-diabetes, and type II diabetes however, can be improved, and in many cases even reversed, with proper diet and timing of meals.  Our current medical system is just not set up to do the intensive one on one counseling that is required to see significant results. Physicians in general get poor training in nutrition, and have only 15 minute office appointments, leaving them ill-equipped to really make meaningful changes.
If diabetes is left uncontrolled, it will progress to irreversible damage to other organs, such as kidney damage, vision impairment, and vascular changes.  At that point, even if the diabetes is reversed, the damage from the years of uncontrolled blood sugar will be permanent.  This is why it is so important to tackle this issue early before it progresses.
The same is true for pre-diabetes.  Most people assume that if they have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes that it is inevitable that they will eventually be diagnosed with diabetes.  This is not the case.  In fact if you have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, this is the most important time to learn proper nutrition and eating habits to prevent further progression and permanent damage.

MYTH #2 – MEDICATIONS ARE AN INEVITABLE PART OF TREATMENT FOR PRE-DIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES

This is a commonly held belief that is not true in all cases.  Before discussing this further, I want to be clear that we are talking about type II Diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes – type I is much less common, often diagnosed in children, and is a disorder where the body does not make insulin.  These individuals absolutely need medication (insulin) because their body does not make it.  For type I Diabetics, their life depends on taking medication.  I am not addressing type I diabetes.
Type II Diabetes is the type that is usually diagnosed in adulthood, and affects 95% of diabetics.  Type II diabetes is a disorder of insulin resistance.  Your body makes insulin, but it does not work well because your body has become resistant to it.  Therefore many diabetics get treated with more insulin and other medications to overcome the effects of insulin resistance.  This resistance to insulin is exactly what can be improved and even reversed with proper diet and timing of meals.  
If you have pre-diabetes or early diabetes, you can avoid medications by improving the level of insulin resistance.

MYTH #3 – PRE-DIABETES IS NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE SAME AS DIABETES

Pre-diabetes is a state of increased insulin resistance before you have progressed into full diabetes.  If you can imagine a spectrum where on one end you have a healthy person who processes sugar normally, and on the other end you have a type II diabetic with severe insulin resistance, pre-diabetes is in the middle.  As your body slowly increases its resistance to insulin, at the very first detectable levels we call this “pre-diabetic” or “elevated fasting glucose”.  
If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes, this means that your body has started to develop insulin resistance.  Your body is not responding correctly to its hormone signals, but you don’t yet have all of the complications of diabetes such as kidney damage, vision loss, and leg amputations.  As a prediabetic however, you are at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.  Many doctors will even start to prescribe medications, such as metformin, at this stage.  Unless you take action with your diet, you will likely continue to progress to full blown diabetes.  

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION?

If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, or you have early diet controlled diabetes, taking action now may be the best thing for your health.  If you are ready to make a change, please contact me to schedule a free session to learn how.  

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