Best Ways to Treat Diabetes - Essay Example

BEST WAYS TO TREAT DIABETES Introduction Diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases in the world and is caused due to the inability of the body to produce Insulin, a hormone that is essential for the smooth working of the body’s vascular system. The seriousness of the disease arises from the fact that it is not caused by any harmful bacteria or exposure to any unhygienic conditions. Instead, hereditary characteristics combined with the lack of proper eating habits are one of the primary causes of Diabetes. People affected with Diabetes cannot be cured of the disease and are instead reduced to waging a lifelong war aimed at minimizing the factors that aggravate the disease (Bernard Brodoff, 1982). The situation with diabetes is so dire that almost 1 out of every 10 persons in the United States is affected with it. This has not only cast doubts on the measures being taken to minimize the onset of the disease and enhance the awareness among the people, but also throws light on the lack of proper oversight into the consumption trends among the people. There are predominantly two forms of the disease, categorized as Type one and Type two. In the former case, the body does not produce enough insulin to helo sustain the metabolic processes of the body while in the case of the latter, the body begins to resist insulin (Mary Vernon, 2004). Most of the people who are diagnosed with Diabetes tend to have the Type two form of the disease. Some of the common symptoms of Diabetes are exhaustion, excessive hunger, fluctuation in weight, fatigue as well as the frequent urge to urinate. The disease is traditionally controlled by the use of drugs and insulin based injections, although a proper diet and regular exercise also hold key to keeping the disease in check. Further, Insulin can also be cured by the use of herbs (such as in the case of Ayurveda) and homoeopathic medicines (Arlan Rosenbloom, 1993). Natural ways to control diabetes Doctors recommend that maintaining a healthy and steady diet by relying more on vegetables, fiber content, whole grains and legumes is the best way to keep the effects of diabetes at bay. This is because a diet rich in all such content is extremely useful in regulating the sugar that is present in the blood stream. Diabetics are strictly warned to refrain from consuming foods whole in sugar and starchy content such as fast food, cakes and other sweets (Maggie Robinson, 2002). Further, smoking and consuming alcohol are strictly forbidden as an effective means to keeping the onset of diabetes under check. In addition to following a strict dietary regimen, diabetics often resort to exercising regularly as it helps combat the negative effects of the disease. Exercise is necessary in this context as it helps maintain a steady body weight, thus preventing the disease from causing any unnecessary weight fluctuations. People with diabetes, who tend to remain inactive or do not put enough effort into controlling the buildup of weight are often at a much higher risk to aggravate the ill effects of diabetes and can often be seen to suffer from the various side effects of the disease. In addition to maintaining the body weight, it is equally essential to aid in the build up of the body muscle. Diabetics often seek the help of a certified fitness instructor, thus obtaining the benefit of following a properly structured weight programme, thus enhancing the sensitivity of the body and the muscles to Insulin (Lynn Kuchinski, 1999). Apart from maintaining a diet and regular exercise, diabetes can be kept under control by ways of herbal remedies, which are highly regarded for their therapeutic properties in healing the disease. Such herbs can be found in pharmacies or even groceries and are considered as a natural remedy to the disease. One of the most common herbs used for healing diabetes is the prickly pear cactus, whose effectiveness has even been recognized by the International Diabetes Center as a potent natural solution to diabetes. Bitter melon is another wonder herb, which was used for curing the disease for several centuries in Asia and Africa. Garlic is another common kitchen ingredient, which is well known in reducing the sugar levels in a person and is thus used by diabetics in their diet, thus benefiting from its curative properties (Annette Gormican, 1971). Other common herbs, which many of us know from day to day use are items such as ginseng, fenugreek and the dandelion. Vitamins are other weapons, which aid the body in putting up a defense against the disease with the most effective ones among them being the Vitamins, B6, C as well as E. drugs containing elements such as Zinc, Chromium and Selenium are also prescribed for treating diabetes and are often supplemented by these multivitamins in their diet (Bernard Brodoff, 1982). Fast food is often attributed to as one of the major reasons for an upsurge in the number of diabetes cases. The reason for this arises simply from the fact that fast food is often high in fats and carbohydrates. Due to the lack any nutritional value, the sugar levels in the blood increase upon the consumption of fast food thereby leading to spikes in the resulting insulin levels (Mary Vernon, 2004). In fact, studies have shown that even healthy people addicted to consuming fast food on a regular basis are at a very high risk of developing diabetes and as such, it is irrelevant whether one is diabetic or not when it comes to avoiding eating fast food (Lynn Kuchinski, 1999). People are often convinced that unlike fast food, aerated drinks do not make one fat and as such pose no rick to issues such as diabetes. However, consuming sodas are equally harmful to the body as they have the same effects on the sugar and insulin levels in the blood and thus, diabetics are especially asked to refrain from consuming fizzy drinks in any form. It is often said with conviction that the French are the healthiest people in the world. One of the reasons for this statement can be attributed to the high volumes of vinegar used in the French cuisine. In fact, using a pinch of vinegar in salads and meals is known to work wonders on keeping the blood sugar levels at the optimum levels thereby preventing any unwanted spikes (Annette Gormican, 1971). Therefore, using vinegar regularly in meals is a domestic way to treat diabetes in a natural fashion. Aside vinegar, the grapefruit is also an effective weapon to reduce weight and can be used as a means to conquer issues associated with obesity. Further, cinnamon is another tasty way to treating diabetes through natural methods as it is renowned for its ability to replenish insulin in the body, thus helping control diabetes without any notable side effects (Arlan Rosenbloom, 1993). Though not liked by many, the bitter gourd is also considered as one of the most effective answers to treating diabetes as the juice from the vegetable not only treats the disease, but also helps in enhancing the complexion of the skin and prevents the occurrence of pimples. Further, the seeds of fenugreek can be soaked in water and the resulting solution can be consumed to reduce any excessive sugar in the blood stream (Maggie Robinson, 2002). Conclusion As can be seen from the above discussion, diabetes is a disease that is widespread among the population, whose associated risks can be controlled predominantly by a marked shift in our current fast paced lifestyle. A balanced diet combined with a strict exercise routine helps prevent the various side effects that diabetes is known for. Additionally, it is recommended that diabetic rely on natural herbs and vitamins to the traditional form of drugs as a means to controlling the disease thereby ensuring an effective resistance to the disease. References 1. Mary Vernon (2004), Atkins Diabetes Revolution: The Groundbreaking Approach to Preventing and Controlling Type 2 Diabetes. New York: HarperCollins. 2. Maggie Robinson (2002), Control Diabetes in Six Easy Steps. London: St. Martins Griffin. 3. Lynn Kuchinski (1999), Controlling Diabetes Naturally With Chinese Medicine. New York: Blue Poppy. 4. Annette Gormican (1971), Controlling diabetes with diet. University of Michigan. 5. Arlan Rosenbloom (1993), Living with diabetes: a comprehensive guide to understanding and controlling . London: Plume. 6. Bernard Brodoff (1982), Diabetes mellitus and obesity. University of Michigan. Read More