With the staggering statistics rocking the globe, you must learn how to fight diabetes naturally. No matter your doctor’s recommendations, no matter the drugs you may be on to manage what has quickly become an epidemic, there are steps you can (and must) take to increase your chances of successfully regulating (and even reversing in many cases) diabetes.
There was a time not so long ago that diabetes occurred most often in two specific instances. Either children were born with the disease or the elderly developed it later in life. Those with obesity (another fairly “new” epidemic to humankind) were also at risk.
Most people didn’t know about type 2 diabetes and it wasn’t something you really worried about in your daily life. You need to be concerned. Experts estimate that 1-in-3 will develop diabetes within their lifetime.
A True Epidemic
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than 6 million people in the United States were diagnosed with diabetes in 1980.
Today, almost 29 million Americans have the disease and about 25% of them have no idea. Worse, there are approximately 86 million who have pre-diabetes (with bio-markers that show a major risk for full diabetes) who aren’t aware that the disease is looming.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states there are 346 million diabetics globally and 350 million who are pre-diabetic. They categorize it as an epidemic to human health for good reason.
What is Diabetes?
- Type 1: This form is not preventable or reversible. Patients are diagnosed in early childhood when their bodies are unable to produce insulin. About 5% of all patients have this type of diabetes.
- Type 2: This form is 100% preventable and 100% reversible. Your body is unable to use insulin effectively. Most common causes for type 2 are poor diet, obesity, smoking, and living a sedentary lifestyle. Around 95% of all patients have this type of diabetes. You can prevent and learn how to fight diabetes naturally when you have type 2.
- Gestational: This form affects women who are pregnant. Your body struggles to make and utilize the glucose it requires throughout the course of your pregnancy. Left untreated, it may increase complications during pregnancy and delivery. It can be controlled with diet and exercise. However, those who develop gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 later.
In the past 30 years, the rate of diabetes has risen alongside rising rates of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death around the world. However, experts believe it should be much higher on the list.
Death certificates that state heart disease or stroke as the cause of death may also list diabetes as an underlying factor. The disease is incredibly damaging to human tissues.
Diabetes drastically raises your risk for…
- Heart disease
- Kidney failure
- Premature death
To fight diabetes naturally is not as difficult as you might imagine. There are specific lifestyle habits that lower your risk substantially.
- Garlic: This ancient superfood possesses antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. It also prevents and fights diabetes naturally! It improves insulin resistance by blocking your liver’s deactivation of insulin production, making more insulin available for the body to metabolize. Science has verified the immune-boosting benefits as well. It contains vitamin B-6, vitamin C, copper, iron, calcium, selenium, and manganese. Low in calories and low on the glycemic index, this versatile food is ideal for health maintenance.
- Red Onions: The bio-active compound in onions responsible for their health benefits is allicin (they’re also an excellent source of chromium). Both help lower blood sugar whether you’re currently on diabetic medications or not. They have anti-mutagenic, antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties that protect against tissue damage diabetes causes in your body. They’re high in fiber, low in calories, and a low-glycemic food.
- Kale: Loaded with vitamins A, K, and C that are essential for vision, skin health, and better mental functioning, this is one of those foods many people turn their noses up about. Give it a chance! Kale is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with protein. Properties that make it ideal to fight diabetes and obesity simultaneously. Kale is a fantastic heart and bone health food. Add it to your morning shake if you can’t bring yourself to throw it over salads or add it to soups. Other leafy greens shouldn’t be overlooked! Add broccoli, spinach, collard greens, and more to your meal plan for similar results.
Other foods you might consider adding are Greek yogurt (full fat with active cultures), tomatoes, berries, fatty fish, chia seeds, flaxseeds, avocados, green tea, peppers, and coconut or olive oils.
5 Tips to Prevent (or Fight) Diabetes Naturally
- Regular exercise (even 15 minutes of low-impact exercise helps)
- Quality sleep (8 hours a night)
- Drop the garbage in your diet (white grains and sugars, fast food, soda)
- Quit smoking and lower alcohol consumption (bio-markers for many major diseases)
- Add diabetic-friendly foods to your diet
Type 2 diabetes is particularly responsive to changes in your diet.
Simply removing some foods and adding a few others increases your chance of success. Once you have your diet under control, you can add the other things on the list.
Don’t become a statistic for something you can prevent or reverse! Start making changes right now to prevent and fight diabetes naturally.