Make no mistake about it – diabetes is a SERIOUS medical condition. Many people think that this is something where they have “a little sugar” in their blood – it’s SO much more than that! It’s inflammatory, and ultimately life-threatening. The complications of diabetes are the worst of all – heart disease being a huge, silent outcome. I’m not talking about Type 1 here as this is either genetic or auto-immune and often identified in children or can be sudden onset. But in the main, I’m taking about Type 2 here which is a lifestyle disease. However, onset of both will have similar symptoms.
If you have any of these, please seek medical help asap.
- Extreme thirst – even if it’s hot and you think it’s just the heat
- Frequent urination
- Dry mouth
- Hunger
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Very slow wound healing
- Yeast infections
- Very itchy and/or dry skin
In children with Type 1 which can also suddenly occur, they may have sudden weight loss, wed the bed, yeast infections in prepubescent girls, flu-like symptoms, nausea, ‘sweet’ smelling breath, breathing problems and even loss of consciousness.
With Diabetes Type 2, the symptoms will more often than not start to occur gradually. Very often you will end up at the doctor for something seemingly unrelated, and be given a diabetes diagnosis.
Don’t wait for this if you are concerned, get the following tests done (fasting) regularly:
- HbA1c
- Insulin fasting
- Glucose fasting
There are various other tests I recommend, but for the purpose of this article, just these three are a good start. Some liver markers are important here too – so if the above are out – especially insulin, it’s time to go for further testing.
Some factors which may predispose you to diabetes type 2 include:
- A family history
- Being over 45 years old
- Obesity or even just a few kg overweight
- Inactive lifestyle
- Smokers
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal triglyceride and HDL blood levels
- Certain ethnic groups seem more predisposed than others
- If you are insulin resistant
- Some medications (like statins) can bring on diabetes
What to do if diagnosed as Type 2:
1. The first and MOST important thing to do is RADICALLY change your diet – fast! You will find an excellent diet in The Low-Carb Creed for diabetics, those with insulin resistance and/or anyone with blood sugar issues, weight issues etc – it is just a fantastically healthy way to live. Find it here https://sallyanncreed.co.za/product/the-low-carb-creed/. Carbohydrates are NOT your friend if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, insulin resistant or overweight.
2. Before you reach for the drugs, try Berberine. If this was classed as a drug, it would be the biggest selling drug of all time.
This amazing nutrient has been shown in 27 massive double-blind studies to:
- 1. lower blood sugar levels as much as Metformin
- 2. lower hypertension as well as many blood pressure medications and
- 3. lower cholesterol as much as statin drugs.
3. Take 1-3 x 500mg a day – start on 1 x 500mg, and build up to one three times a day before meals. It is safe and effective.
4. Make sure you are not sedentary – start moving your body more. You don’t have to run a marathon every weekend, just do more walking – park further from the supermarket entrance, have a stroll round the block and maybe do more gardening. This applies to both types 1 & 2 diabetes. By the way type 1 requires insulin, type 2 does NOT require insulin! It will only compound your problem, you have enough insulin, you just have to ‘resensitise’ it.
5. Include more fibre in your diet – I recommend Psyllium Husks – they are such a fantastic form of fibre and definitely make a massive difference to diabetic outcomes. Even if you are worried that you may be heading that way, use MaxiFOS daily and Psyllium Husks – both available from my online store.
6. A good probiotic – your microbiome is pivotal to blood sugar control. I like ProBPlus – a delicious powder that you can add to MaxiFOS in a glass of water – also from my online store.
7. Take Magnesium Citrate which will help to manage blood sugar and blood pressure far more than you realise. You will be short of magnesium – most people are – if you are diabetic. I have a fabulous, A-grade one in my online store.
SUMMARY
- Change your diet – follow The Low-Carb Creed – Diet is EVERYTHING
- Take Berberine to control blood sugar
- Move more – don’t be sedentary
- Include a fibre supplement like MaxiFOS (prebiotic fibre) or Psyllium Husks (soluble fibre)
- A good probiotic like ProBPlus
- Magnesium Citrate to manage blood sugar
- Take Pure Hydrolysed Collagen to help your gut – an integral part of healing
All the above are available from my Online Store here.
Disclaimer
You can simply click on the name of each product mentioned above (in bold) and a hyperlink will take you directly to the product for an easy purchase.
Originally published on https://www.facebook.com/SallyAnnCreedSA/ in 2018.
