By Javier Manrique NMD
Diabetes is responsible for 60% of all non-traumatic limb amputations.
The prevalence of diabetes is rising steadily by about 5% every year. More people are suffering from diabetes than ever before. In the United States, there are 25.8 million diabetics, and an additional 79 million people who have pre-diabetes. This means that 1/3 of the US population is either diabetic or is likely to develop diabetes within the next ten years. It is important to know what your risk is for developing diabetes. This serious disease can be effectively treated and prevented with natural medicine.
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” – Thomas A. Edison
What is diabetes?
Diabetes characterized by the body’s inability to properly regulate blood sugar. It damages every tissue in the body and leads to serious complications such as vision loss, kidney damage, erectile dysfunction, and even amputations.
About 95% of diabetics have the type II form of the disease. Diabetes type II/Insulin resistance is caused by a combination of improper diet, sedentary lifestyle, and genetic predisposition. These patients can’t regulate blood glucose because their cellular insulin receptors do not respond appropriately to insulin. They require much higher concentrations of insulin in order to get glucose out of their bloodstream and into their cells.
Excessive insulin production contributes to obesity.
In addition to regulating blood sugar, insulin has powerful effects on fat metabolism. Insulin prevents the utilization of adipose tissue for energy and signals the body to store any dietary calories that are not immediately used for energy as body fat.
Medical management of type II diabetes provides a temporary fix.
Managing diabetes strictly with pharmaceuticals does not address the underlying cause of insulin resistance. Medications are not a cure for the disease and do not work indefinitely to prevent its complications.
There is another way!
The good news is that in the majority of cases, diabetes can be prevented, or even cured, with simple diet and lifestyle modifications. Insulin resistance and Type II Diabetes are caused by a combination of: genetic predisposition and excessive carbohydrate consumption. Insulin receptors can regain their sensitivity if one adopts a diet that is extremely low in refined carbohydrates, similar to what our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate. I highly recommend The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain for anyone who is interested in learning more about the health benefits of a traditional hunter-gatherer diet. Most type II diabetics can completely cure themselves if they are willing to adopt a strict hunter-gatherer diet and a regular exercise program.
Dietary recommendations for restoring insulin sensitivity:
1) Water: Drink 2-4 Liters of water per day. Avoid non water drinks: soda, alcohol, ice tea, fruit juice.
2) Avoid simple carbohydrates: sweets, bread, pasta, white rice.
3) Limit your consumption of grains. Even whole grains can contribute to insulin resistance for many diabetics.
4) Eat healthy fats with every meal: Olive oil, coconut oil, butter, raw nuts, avocados, and pasture fed animal fat. Healthy fats not only help to stabilize blood sugar, they also provide energy to the brain, liver, and other tissues without requiring insulin. A low carb diet is not safe without adequate fat consumption!
5) Eat fresh vegetables with every meal.
6) Eat high quality protein with every meal: unprocessed meat/fish, eggs, raw nuts.
Dr. Javier Manrique is a naturopathic physician who specializes in treating the causes of disease and helping his patients reduce their dependence on medications. He offers unique solutions for achieving glycemic control in type II diabetes and in type I diabetes with insulin resistance. Dr. Manrique’s clinic has moved to a new location on the Deuce of Clubs, just East of Autozone. 928-537-4242