Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that is prevalent in over 77 million people in India above the age of 18.
Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose build up in the blood because the body cannot effectively use it up.
Over time, the high levels of glucose in the blood can cause serious implications to the body like,
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- nerve and blood vessel damage,
- chronic heart conditions,
- kidney failure,
- eyesight problems etc.
There are three major types of diabetes – Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes. Here is a video detailing the importance of lifestyle management for diabetes.
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- In Type 1 diabetes; which can develop at any age but occurs more commonly in children and adolescents, is when the body produces little or no insulin at all. Insulin is a hormone that helps store glucose.
- Type 2 diabetes, which is common in adults, is when the body cannot make sufficient use of the produced insulin and this type of diabetes is mostly associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, diet and lack of physical activity.
- Gestational diabetes or GDM is a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy and is associated with complications for both the mother and child.
We have been aware of the grave consequences of diabetes for quite some time now and thanks to advancements in healthcare research; a series of treatment approaches have been developed that can help patients manage, or even reverse this condition.
We have been aware of the grave consequences of diabetes for quite some time now and thanks to advancements in healthcare research; a series of treatment approaches have been developed that can help patients manage, or even reverse this condition.
However, choosing a doctor with due prudence is of utmost importance and here I have curated a list of some very important tips that will help you find the right doctor for your diabetes care.
Find out more!
Is diabetes reversible?
If I say that diabetes can be reversed it may sound like I have found the perfect solution to make diabetes disappear permanently. However, it is indeed possible to put your diabetes into remission. This happens when your blood sugar levels are below the diabetes range even after you are not taking your medication anymore.
Having worked with hundreds of clients globally, I can confidently say that you are solely in control of your health, despite your genetic mix. Here is one client sharing his experience on diabetes reversal on my program:
There is also strong evidence that shows that diabetes is more likely to go into remission if you lose a substantial amount of weight. Now not any kind of weight loss help’s with diabetes.
In fact, weight dropped by following a Keto diet can make diabetes markers worse! Only sustainable healthy fat loss that happens with lifestyle modification and nutritional intervention can help with diabetes remission.
When we talk about lifestyle modifications to lose weight and reverse diabetes, we mean adopting healthy habits such as,
- working on your circadian health,
- eating nutrient dense foods,
- stress reduction,
- smoking cessation and so on,
that significantly impact your blood sugar and insulin sensitivity.
Physical activity alone will not have a positive change in reversing your diabetes, a holistic approach that focuses on a balanced nutrition that includes whole foods, and complex carbohydrates, as well as practices like mindful eating and personalized meal planning, supports optimal diabetes management.
Diabetes remission is possible but only with lifestyle changes that are permanent. This is why a realistic plan must be curated. If you choose to make a change, for instance, eat leafy greens, but only do so till your diabetes is under control, eventually when you stop eating leafy greens the diabetes will come back.
Thus, permanent lifestyle changes must be your focus.
Long-term complications from uncontrolled Diabetes?
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a range of long-term complications that affect various parts of the body.
These complications typically develop over time due to persistently high blood sugar levels. Some of the major long-term complications of uncontrolled diabetes include:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Kidney diseases
- Eye problems
- Neuropathy
- Foot complications
- Skin complications
- Dental issues
- Mental Health concerns
Book your Diabetes consultation now and take control of your well-being & manage Diabetes effectively.
7 Tips on Finding The Best Doctor For Diabetes Management.
Finding the right team of experts is of utmost importance to heal your body. Here are a few questions to consider when looking for the right expert.
1) Do they believe in integrative medicine?
Diabetes care and management require both traditional and an integrated approach.
While some doctors will only focus on the former part of treatment which will help you manage blood sugar levels and prevent complications through adjustment in medicine doses and blood sugar monitoring.
On the other hand, a fine diabetologist who believes in an integrated approach will provide a holistic view of the patient’s overall health and well-being. It is a more personalized approach where the doctor tailor-makes a treatment plan based on the patient’s unique conditions and needs.
Let me give you an example to help understand better.
Fasting is a fantastic tool to help reverse diabetes. However, glucose medications can often cause episodes of hypoglycaemia, making you hungry and impossible to fast. A doctor must be able to help you tweek your medication dosage so that a comfortable 12- 14 hour daily fast is maintained.
This plan involves a combination of medicinal and lifestyle changes – including exercise. Thus, approach with every client must be catered separately instead of suggesting a one- size- fits- all plan.
2) Do they believe in diabetes remission?
Diabetes is a chronic disease, however, your doctor must have extensive knowledge of Diabetes Remission or Reversal; a concept that is getting a lot of attention from researchers lately.
Right now we have strong research to back up approaches that can lead to diabetes remission. These can include weight loss, switching to a whole- food plant- based diet, integrative medicines and much more.
Your healthcare professional and their team should gradually provide you with a weight management programme, include nutrition counselling and recommend you to do regular checkups because even if you are in remission, it is always possible that your blood sugar levels may bounce back with a bad lifestyle.
3) Do they incorporate nutrition?
As per a consensus report published in April 2019 on Diabetes care, incorporating nutrition plays a significant role in diabetes care and management, and a lot of people find it very challenging to determine what to eat and what food plan to follow.
A balanced diet tailored to individual needs is important in controlling blood sugar levels, promoting weight management, and reducing the risk of complications.
By focusing on nutrient-dense foods, saturated fat control, and switching to whole- foods, the doctor can help patients achieve optimal sugar control. Nutrition is truly the first step to reversing a disease.
Educating patients about the impact of food choices on their condition empowers them to make informed decisions, promoting long-term adherence to a healthy lifestyle and enhancing overall well-being.
Doctors often are not taught nutrition as part of their practice. Thus, it is important to connect with a specialist who has a nutritionist working on the team to help with making changes that are sustainable and promote healing.
4) Do they understand your lifestyle?
Your healthcare provider must understand your lifestyle to produce an effective and sustainable care and management plan. A part of this plan includes providing education and knowledge about diabetes self-care management.
Lifestyle factors, such as occupation, physical activity, stress levels, and cultural practices, greatly influence blood sugar control and overall well-being. By comprehending a patient’s daily routines and challenges, the doctor can tailor a diabetes care plan which is easy for you to follow.
If you are a core vegetarian household and your doctor suggests you consume animal-based protein sources without acknowledging your preferences and alternatives, it will not be practicle. Therefore, a proper healthcare practitioner will consider cultural preferences, social environment, time constraints and a lot of other factors that influence your lifestyle, to develop realistic goals.
5) Do they have experience working with diabetes remission?
It is absolutely ok to ask your doctor if they have worked with disease reversal before. Your doctor can only help you if they have dealt with clients like you before. If you pick a doctor who does not believe in disease reversal at all, how will they even begin to helping you?
The diagnostic criteria for Diabetes Remission are glycosylated haemoglobin ( HbA1c) – a measure of long-term blood glucose level that is less than 6.5% at least three months after a diabetes patient has stopped taking medication.
Achieving remission is possible through dietary and lifestyle changes, however, motivation from your primary care physician plays a significant role in the remission process.
Primary care practitioners should pay great attention and must have an optimum experience with remission along with improving the patient experience to contribute positively towards diabetes remission. So make sure you do a thorough background check on your doctor, ask the right questions and choose wisely.
6) Do they offer mental health counselling?
Research shows that one in four people will experience depression at some time in their adult life and this figure is higher in people with diabetes. Living with a chronic disease and coping with the factors that follow it daily can take a toll on an individual. Especially when they have to make an impactful lifestyle transition.
Therefore, your diabetes doctor must believe in mental health counseling and suggest you go through the same to assess the psychological impacts of the disease. The diagnosis of diabetes can lead to emotional challenges, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Psychological support and counseling help individuals and their families cope with the diagnosis and improve adherence to the treatment plan.
Research also shows that psychological interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, are effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving glycemic control.
Ask your doctor if they are connected with therapists or can refer you to someone for the same. Ideally, having an integrative package with nutrition counselling, doctors consultation and medical intervention and psychological counselling all under one roof must be important. Instead of running to different experts, find a center where you have access to multiple experts under one roof.
7) Do they provide 24/ 7 support?
As a patient with diabetes, you are susceptible to unexpected situations like fluctuations in blood sugar levels, medication issues and complications. This condition requires constant monitoring and management of blood sugar levels along with a doctor who is readily available for round-the-clock support.
Having 24/7 support from your diabetes doctors will allow you to receive immediate advice on managing your blood sugar levels, adjusting medicine dosages and handling other complications.
While a doctor himself might be busy to cater to all your needs, many doctors have a team of experts under them to get back to their clients on demand. Having even chat access to your doctor makes a huge difference in your recovery progress. Along with this, it will provide you peace of mind knowing that professional help and guidance are available without delay.
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Roshni Sanghvi
She is also an ACE-certified personal trainer, certified PlantFed gut coach, certified Bodyshred, and Animal flow instructor with a specialisation in disease reversal through food and lifestyle modification.
Her approach is more focused on helping you in adopting a healthy lifestyle. With her result-oriented holistic methods, she has managed to transform and reverse lifestyle diseases such as PCOS, Thyroid, Diabetes etc for 12k+ clients worldwide.