(NaturalHealth365) Did you realize a whopping 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes (which leads to type 2 diabetes), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? With so many people facing this life-altering condition, it’s no wonder diabetes prevention and treatment are such major areas of public health concern.

Unfortunately, most diabetic patients come to realize that metformin and other medications used to “manage” diabetes come with many unwanted side effects like: weakness, vitamin B12 deficiency, and gastrointestinal distress.  Yet, even most conventional doctors acknowledge that adopting a healthier lifestyle is one of the best ways to really treat diabetes.  And a new study shows just how powerful a healthier lifestyle can be.

Type 2 diabetes “cured” through a healthy lifestyle intervention

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses of our time.  It’s characterized by insulin resistance and chronically elevated levels of blood sugar, since the body becomes unable to adequately shuttle sugar into the cells for fuel.

Unfortunately, having diabetes significantly increases your risk for a number of other health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and stroke. If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with diabetes, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed.

But research tells us there’s hope – great hope.  For example, a September 2019 paper published in Diabetes Medicine shows that losing even just 10% of your body weight within the first few years of your diagnosis can push diabetes into full remission!

The paper’s authors followed 867 people with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes in a prospective cohort study. Health assessments were performed at baseline and at 1-year following the initial diagnosis.

Later, the researchers determined that people who achieved a weight loss of 10% body weight or more were significantly more likely – as much as twice as likely, in fact – to have disease remission at a 5-year follow up compared to people who lost no weight at all.

“Greater attention should be paid,” the authors conclude, “to enabling people to achieve weight loss following diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.”

Their data is consistent with other research which shows that calorie restriction or even bariatric surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes, as well.  Interestingly, this recent paper found that modest weight loss was achieved “without restrictive and sometimes unachievable calorie restrictions,” which may be helpful for some individuals who have struggled with weight loss in the past.

Healthy weight loss strategies: 3 things to consider for people living with diabetes

What’s the takeaway here?  Lose a little, gain a lot!

In other words, you may not need to make drastic changes in order to see a meaningful improvement in your overall well-being.  Start small, stay committed, and stay consistent.

And remember: something happens to our health that forces us to stop and re-assess our choices. If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with diabetes, consider it a valuable opportunity to improve yourself!

As you start or re-commit to a healthier lifestyle, keep these three things in mind:

1. Fill up on fiber: Fiber is great for gut health and helps you feel full, which can help you avoid overeating. Diabetes-friendly fiber-rich food include organic leafy green vegetables and chia seeds.
2. Get moving: A little is good and a little more is better.  Try these simple “sneaky” ways to get more active: take the stairs, take all your phone calls while walking, create a stand-up desk, and do multiple 10-minute bouts of exercise throughout the day – it doesn’t have to be all at once.
3. Think safety first: People with diabetes can and should exercise and modify their diets, but they should do so under supervision of their physicians. So check with an integrative physician before making any significant changes.

And, finally, a “bonus tip,” check out the value of ALA, in a past article done here at NaturalHealth365.

Sources for this article include:

CDC.gov
RXlist.com
NIH.gov
CDC.gov
Diabetesjournal.org
Medicalnewstoday.com