Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that arises from a lack of the hormone insulin or an
inability of cells to respond to insulin. The persistent elevated blood glucose level can damage
the eyes, heart, kidneys, and peripheral nerves. For a person with diabetes, controlling blood
glucose requires daily monitoring and action. According to the CDC, about 37.2 million people
in the United States have diabetes, and of this number, 8.1 million do not yet know that they
have the condition. (Welsh et al, 2021) This is a condition that effects a large number of
American families.
There are two types of Diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 only affects about 10% of people
with diabetes. In Type 1, there is a destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas. The pancreas is
responsible for producing the hormone insulin (Murray et al, 2012). Insulin is the hormone the
body produces to regulate blood sugar. Type 2 Diabetes is more common, 90% of all diabetic
cases are type 2(Murray et al, 2012). Type 2 diabetes happens when the body has developed
insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when cells that have become resistant to insulin
and cannot absorb glucose, which leads to a rise in blood glucose levels. Since Type 2 Diabetes
is more prevalent, my report will focus on this type of Diabetes.
The signs of Type 2 diabetes include sleepy after meals, excessive thirst, frequent urination,
prediabetic, insatiable appetite, hypertension, blurry vision, and so much more undesirable
symptoms. Diabetes can lead to a myriad of other diseases and ailments such as: Gallbladder
disease, Pancreatic cancer, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness to name a few (Khanna, 2020).
You now can find a kidney dialysis clinic as easily as you can find a Starbucks. This is due to the
rise in Type 2 diabetes in this country.
Since Burkitt and Trowell’s pioneering research, a virtual landslide of data has continually
emphasized the Western diet as the key factor in virtually every chronic disease, especially
obesity and diabetes. (Murray et al, 2012)
The western diet or Standard American Diet (SAD) consists of processed and refined
carbohydrates and saturated fats that do nothing but promote inflammation in the body which
leads to Insulin Resistance. When you eat a diet full of processed foods and sugars it causes
your pancreas to produce insulin. When you are constantly and consistently bombarding your
system with these substances that create that response, it leads to Insulin Resistance. This is
why chronic inflammation is associated with Type 2 diabetes (Ravindran, 2021).
Since this is a disease that first starts out as the body’s response to chronic inflammation, I
believe reducing inflammation will be key in the reversal and prevention of this disease.
Inflammation is a sign that our immune system working properly and how God intended. But
chronic inflammation leads to dysbiosis and eventually disease. Homeostasis and optimal
glucose regulation is dependent on the presence of a wide range of micronutrients.
We can reduce inflammation in the body by eating a whole food diet free of refined and
processed foods. We should also look at and evaluate the environmental toxins that may be
contributing to inflammation in the body.
There are a number of foods that help to regulate blood sugar and promote homeostasis.
Cinnamon contains the powerful phytonutrient, cinnamaldehyde, which is known for its anti-
inflammatory abilities and antimicrobial protection (Chevallier, 2016). Garlic is an anti-diabetic
that lowers blood-sugar levels (Chevallier, 2016). Healthful fats such as Fatty fish, such as
salmon, tend to have high amounts of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Protein content is
particularly healthful for people who have diabetes, as it does not impact blood sugar. It is
filling and provides essential nutrients to help the body grow and repair. People who have
diabetes should try adding fatty fish to the diet on at least one day per week (Fletcher, 2019).
Good carbs like carrots, spinach, collard greens, chickpeas and artichoke are complimentary
synergistic foods that help promote blood sugar regulation and reduce inflammation.
According to Cronometer.com, consuming 10 tsp of ground cinnamon in a day can provide you
with 55% of your Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), and a whopping 252% DRI of Manganese.
Manganese is a trace mineral, which your body needs in small amounts. It is required for the
normal functioning of your brain, nervous system, and many of your body’s enzyme systems. It
is also extremely helpful in reducing inflammation and regulating blood sugar levels.
Manganese is considered an essential nutrient and can be found especially in seeds and whole
grains, as well as in smaller amounts in legumes, beans, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and tea
(Goodson, 2018). 10 tsp of cinnamon can sound like a lot. But there are a lot of places to sneak
cinnamon in. Tea, coffee, smoothies, salad, and cooking (even savory dishes) are just some
ways to sneak in healthy doses.
I do not believe supplementation would be needed. You should be able to get all of your
recommended nutrients and proper nutrition from a whole foods diet. The focus should be on
eating an organic whole foods diet. With no artificial foods or sugars. Also, eating at home and
cooking meals is also a plus. Most fast-food options are filled with preservatives and processed
foods.
Exercise is great for metabolic health. Regular moderate exercise can lower inflammation in the
body. During exercise more blood gets directed away from the gastrointestinal tract and to the
lungs, heart, and muscles. This drop in blood flow is signaled by the nervous system, part of which runs through the gut and is a key anti-inflammatory pathway. Exercise also lowers the activity of inflammation-causing toxins from the intestines. One 2020 study in people with pre-
diabetes found, for example, that a person’s microbial makeup correlated with whether exercise helped improve their glucose metabolism (and therefore lower their risk for Type 2
diabetes) (Courage, 2021).
Stress and sleep should be regulated. If you are stressed it can throw your focus and sleep off.
Which will make it harder to focus and execute your goals. If you are sleep deprived, it could
lead to a stressful state and keep you in a merry go round. Get serious about your sleep time
and regimen. As well as look into tapping into your spiritual source to help promote whole body
homeostasis.
The immediate family should also be brought into the conversation. They should also be
educated on the foods they eat and the changes that should be made for buying and bringing
food into the home. This will help to promote healing on a higher level. If diabetes is affecting
one person in the home, it is not hard to conclude that the other family members may not be
too far behind in terms of disease and ailments. Education and retraining are going to be key.
Once people understand and know it can lead to making better choices.
References
1. Welsh, Charles. Hole's Human Anatomy & Physiology. Available from: VitalSource
Bookshelf, (16th Edition). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.
2. Murray, M. T., & Pizzorno, J. (2012). The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition.
Simon & Schuster. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781451663013
3. Chevallier, Andrew (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine Third Edition. DK Publishing.
4. Khanna M.B.B.S., Sahil (2020). Mayo Clinic on Digestive health Fourth Edition. Mayo
Clinic Press.
5. Time Health Magazine, How Exercise Shapes up your Gut, Katherine Harmon Courage,
Summer 2021
6. Time Health Magazine, A Gut Check for Better Aging, Sandeep Ravindran, Summer 2021
7. Fletcher, J. (2019, March 5). Which foods help stabilize insulin and blood sugar?.
Medicalnewstoday.Com. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323529#fatty-fish
8. Goodson, A. (2018, August 31). Manganese Benefits. Www.Healthline.Com. Retrieved
February 28, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/manganese-benefits