Diabetes is a medical condition in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from food you eat and is used by cells as energy source; insulin helps the glucose move from your bloodstream into cells for energy use.
Verapamil can protect insulin-producing cells in people living with Type 1 diabetes, while bromocriptine (Cycloset) resets hypothalamic circadian rhythm and decreases insulin resistance.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative form of treatment for diabetes that uses needles to stimulate various points on the body. Acupuncture has been shown to effectively help patients manage their blood sugar levels and may even eliminate the need for medications altogether, as well as alleviate fatigue, itchy skin and dry mouth symptoms associated with it. Furthermore, acupuncture has been known to prevent or relieve neuropathy-induced pain associated with diabetes.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that acupuncture can enhance pancreatic islet cell function and increase insulin production, as well as help with weight loss and reduce diabetic complications. Although more research needs to be conducted to support these claims, this practice remains safe and can be combined with medical treatment in order to enhance quality of life for people living with diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting over 34 million Americans (according to statistics provided by the Center for Disease Control). Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose (sugar) level becomes too high; glucose is your body’s main source of energy and comes from food you eat; normally your body produces enough insulin to move the glucose from your bloodstream into cells where it can be used as fuel; however if you have diabetes your body either cannot produce or use enough of its own.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical practice, offers an alternative treatment option for diabetes that is both natural and effective. When combined with herbal supplements or holistic therapies such as yoga or Pilates, acupuncture may also help manage symptoms associated with it such as headaches and nausea.
A study published in Holistic Nursing Practice revealed acupuncture to be an effective means of treating type 2 diabetes, according to researchers. Researchers discovered that it improves key markers associated with diabetes such as fasting plasma glucose and two-hour plasma glucose, lowers glycated hemoglobin and increases insulin sensitivity while providing relief for stress and sleep issues commonly associated with this condition.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a mind-body technique that uses real-time information about physiological processes to teach people how to control involuntary functions such as heart rate, muscle tension and sweat gland activity in their fingers. Biofeedback empowers individuals to manage stress more effectively while improving overall health and performance. It’s safe, noninvasive treatment that teaches patients how to control heart rate, muscle tension and sweat gland activity in their fingers as well as manage pain more effectively and improve sleep quality – it is often an invaluable adjunct therapy when treating diabetes such as physical or occupational therapy are insufficient treatments alone.
Energy Therapy involves the use of various tools to monitor and provide feedback regarding your body’s responses, helping you gain control over them. Examples of such devices are electrocardiographs that monitor heart rate, photolethysmographs that measure skin temperature, thermal biofeedback that monitors muscle contraction/relaxation in hands, computer screen displays/sound (for instance tone/flashing lights feedback etc), or both; providing helpful insight for learning to control involuntary processes involuntarily being monitored as it allows recognizing physical reactions they want changed or changing them.
Biofeedback practitioners can assist you in using its tools and techniques to manage your blood sugar, reduce complications associated with diabetes, such as foot ulcers, neuropathy, and retinopathy, reduce anxiety which contributes to poor glucose control and weight fluctuations and help reduce anxiety levels.
As with any therapy, biofeedback requires consulting your doctor. They’ll consider your age, cognitive ability, specific conditions and level of motivation when making their determination. Your physician can also evaluate whether biofeedback is right for you by looking at factors like your age, cognitive ability, specific conditions and level of motivation – as well as whether or not you are ready to participate and practice this form of treatment; they can help set realistic goals and devise a care plan – remember, the more actively and consistently you participate, the better results will be. Eventually you might even be able to control your heart rate with breathing exercises without assistance from professionals – as one such program might do just this task alone!
Metformin
Millions of people worldwide take metformin to manage Type 2 diabetes. Patients typically see optimal results when combined with other oral antidiabetic medicines and insulin injections.
Metformin can reduce blood sugar by helping the body become more sensitive to insulin and decreasing production of glucose in the liver, and by slowing cancer cell growth and inflammation. But its exact mechanism remains unknown. Recently, researchers at Northwestern Medicine have discovered the drug works by blocking mitochondrial function to cut energy supplies to cancer cells reversibly.
Discoveries like these could assist in the creation of new medications targeting mitochondrial functions for treating diabetes, COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease. While metformin’s anti-gluconeogenic action is well known, its role in increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing cancer cell growth remains less well understood. Protective action could possibly be achieved via stimulating 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase and modulating lipid metabolism pathways.
Biguanides work by decreasing the amount of glucose released by liver into the bloodstream and making muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin so it can absorb glucose for energy, making biguanides the go-to medication for type 2 diabetes and helping correct menstrual abnormalities in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Common side effects may include diarrhea and upset stomach.
Metformin should never be taken by individuals with kidney issues or metabolic acidosis conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis; pregnant or breastfeeding women; nor those taking metformin. Individuals taking metformin must follow an carefully crafted diet and exercise program in order to ensure adequate glucose control, testing their blood regularly to make sure that it’s working and learn to recognize when glucose levels drop too low; this can be accomplished using either an at home test kit or monitoring system – which your physician will show you how to use properly.
Exercise
Exercise can be one of the most significant assets to anyone living with diabetes. Exercise helps them keep their blood sugar at healthy levels, reduce heart disease risk and alleviate its adverse effects on other organs in their bodies – all while combatting fatigue related to their disease.
People living with diabetes should strive to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily, such as walking or riding their bicycle around their neighborhood, but may also include tai chi, yoga and other forms of low-impact exercises like stretching. The goal should be finding activities you enjoy doing and gradually increasing how much exercise is done each day.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of regular exercise as an effective solution for managing Type 2 diabetes, particularly insulin resistance. Furthermore, exercise helps you shed extra weight – another aspect that will improve symptoms while avoiding long-term complications.
Prior and after exercise, it is also vitally important to monitor your blood sugar. If your glucose level becomes too high, ketoacidosis – an emergency health condition that requires immediate medical treatment – could arise. To protect against this situation, always carry an immediate source of carbohydrates with you while exercising – this could include snacks, drinks with added sugar or glucose tablets, insulin pumps or an insulin pump.
Keep your blood sugar in a normal range to protect yourself against complications from diabetes, such as nerve damage, eye problems and foot and leg complications. Also important are maintaining healthy levels of fats and controlling blood pressure through regular physical activity and diet – an exercise regime is one effective method for this goal.
Though diabetes fatigue may make exercising difficult, many who experience it report being able to overcome it by finding an activity they enjoy and sticking with it. Since fatigue is a side effect of many diabetes medications, it’s wise to consult your physician prior to making changes that could alter or increase its effects.
