Controlling Diabetes without Medication
Can diabetes be controlled without medication? It depends on the type of diabetes you are talking about. Type-1 diabetes which is also known as “juvenile” diabetes or “insulin dependant” diabetes unfortunately can not be controlled without medication as the diabetics with Type-1 diabetes will need insulin therapy in order to control their disease. To put it bluntly, they need insulin injections for their entire life.
Diabetes is not just a simple disease with simple options and ways to cure or control it. First, diabetes can not be cured – if you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will always have this disease. Second, if not probably managed severe complications can develop that can greatly effect the quality of your life if not end it prematurely. This is not something where you order the latest cure advertised on a website online. There is no quick way to get rid of this disease. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you need to make a life long commitment to doing all that it takes to self manage this chronic disease.
Now that I have your attention there is some better news. If you have Type 2 diabetes and you stay strictly on your diet as well as regularly exercising, there is some hope of controlling this type of diabetes without medication. But, there are still plenty of things which you need to do in order to manage even Type 2 diabetes. Some of the areas that need managing include:
- Healthy, diabetic friendly diet
- Regularly monitoring your blood glucose levels frequently
- Exercising regularly
- Managing your weight
- Managing foot and skin care
- Managing proper dental hygiene
- Regular visits to your dentist every 6 months
- Regular visits to your eye doctor every 6 months
- Follow up visits to your primary physician
- Complete physical yearly by your primary physician
- Regular blood and urine lab tests
As you can see, even without medications, you still have a lot to manage and most of the management can only be done by you – the diabetic. Your family can not make you do any of this – it is your responsibility.
The majority of people with Type 2 diabetes have developed bad habits which are usually associated with unhealthy diet and no exercise. Most of these people have become couch potatoes, watching TV, playing video games and eating fast foods. The awful but simple truth is that to treat this form of diabetes especially without medications it means you will need to reverse the very actions that probably caused your diabetes in the first place. To effectively treat Type 2 diabetes without medication means you need to do all the items listed above – and they need to be done for the rest of your life. You don’t just do them for a few months until you get better – no, you have to live with that list of items foremost in your mind – for the rest of your life.
I know I have painted a bleak picture but I have done that to get your attention, to make you realize how serious this situation is. But if you are willing to do the work, then yes, yes you can control diabetes without medication.
Diet
You need to learn all you can about what a diabetic should eat and then find tasty recipes for diabetic friendly food.
Monitor blood glucose level
You need to test your blood glucose with a glucometer several times a day. This is the only way you have of knowing if the diet and exercise are working. The goal of all these items to manage is to maintain a normal blood glucose level.
Exercise
Find something you love to do – walking, running, swimming etc – there are a ton of exercises that can get you off the couch and burning calories. You need to exercise 3 to 4 times a week for 30 minutes to an hour.
Monitor your weight
Most people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, that’s one of the reasons you developed diabetes. So you need to also count your calories, ditch the junk food and eat smaller portions. Have your doctor refer you to a dietician for counseling on diet and weight control.
If you can get all of these items under control – then the rest is easy. The other items you can learn about with your healthcare team or on the internet. Learn not only what needs to be done, but why it needs to be done. Become an expert on your disease and you will learn how everything connects and the complications that can develop.
With all this work, soon it will become changes in your lifestyle and at that point it will no longer seem like work. And you will be able to control your Type 2 diabetes without medication.
