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Lifestyle Changes Cut Diabetes Risk in Half

Making simple lifestyle changes is at least as effective as taking prescription drugs in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a British Medical Journal study. Changes such as switching to a healthier diet and increasing exercise helped to reduce the risk of diabetes by about 50 percent.

The lifestyle changes were just as effective, or more so, than taking an anti-obesity drug or a diabetes drug among people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine also found -- all the way back in 2002 -- that lifestyle changes work better than drugs in treating diabetes.

Rates of type 2 diabetes are expected to double by 2030, so it is critical that you protect yourself from this pervasive disease. Diabetes is close to 90 percent preventable, as it is often a direct result of dietary and lifestyle factors. The sooner you begin to treat the diabetes, the easier it will be to control, so it is important to take action as soon as possible.

The most basic changes to make first? Restrict all grains and sugars from your diet while increasing your exercise.

British Medical Journal January 19, 2007

EurekAlert January 19, 2007





 
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Comment on This Article Community Comments (15)
 
 
Posted On Jan 20, 2007

I am going to repeat myself again, but the main thing with DM 2 is insulin resistance. This is secondary to America's obession with carbs. Most take in more carbs in relation to protein and fats. Which are very important when it comes to the physiology of the body. Any time you overload on carbs, many things start to happen: your pancreas works over time, as well as the liver, you have fluctuations of insulin and blood sugar levels, your cortisol levels go up/down and eventually stay up and so forth. The main trigger is that your body starts to store sugar in your muscles and most do not exercise enough. So when the muscles stores are filled, the next place is to let if "free flow" in the blood. The end result is that your body cannot handle the blood glucose levels, as well as all the carbs/sugar coming in. You end up with pancreatic insulemia and insulin resistance. Your body cannot keep up and you are now unable to decrease blood sugar levels becuase your body is insulin resistant.

As well, as I have said before, insulin is the KEY that opens the doors of the receptor sites to store fat. So, most, not all type 2 diabetics are skinny, but have guts. This is one of the signs of being insulin resistant. Some great principles to follow are:

  • Your are what you eat and when you eat
  • Get to bed by 10 and rise no earlier than 6 a.m. (physical repair is between 10pm-2am and mental repair is between 2am-6am)
  • Drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day
  • If it wasn’t here 10,000 years ago, don’t eat it
  • If it has a shelf life than it is a nonfood and should not be eaten (it takes more energy for you to metabolize and assimilate a nonfood than that food actually provides you with)
  • If it is white, don't eat it (salt, sugar, flour, pasteurized milk)
  • If it is clear, don't eat it (jello's, juice, etc). Bacteria grows around it and most clear fluids are sugar water.
  • If you are not eating for your metabolic type, it is like putting unleaded gas in a diesel engine
  • If you can't eat it, don't wear it! (www.eastwest.younglivingworld.com)
  • Stay away from or eating food from microwaves!
  • With Love!


     
    Josh Rubin
    Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 6/2006
    Josh Rubin  
    Replied

    Pat Ormsby
    Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
    Pat Ormsby  
     
    Posted On Jan 24, 2007
    I love your list, Josh! It sums up what I've learned very nicely. If you don't mind, I would like to translate it into Japanese for a homepage I am creating.

     
     
     
    Posted On Jan 19, 2007
    Even though I've been a reader of Mercola.com for years now, I'd like to say that it's a bit rash to rash to cut out all grains and go for paleo meat heavy diet.  There is no doubt that many will benefit from cutting out refined foods and folling a no-processed foods eating policy.  But, with all the studies on IGF-1 and protein intake correlating with increased levels of hormones - a meat heavy diet just doesn't seem prudent for longevity.  Also, more studies need to be done on the balance of intestinal flora when consuming various diets.  And lastly, it seems that people are missing out on the benefits of things like meal frequency and intermittant fasting.  I would argue that even people on partially bad diets would live so much longer compressing there food intake or a certain number of hours (IF)- giving there pancreas a much needed break.  The only scientific facts that I'd like to know on intermittant fasting is if compressing all your food intake into 1 meal will be too much of a stress on the pancreas (ie, loss of beta cells).  If that gets worked out - IF will likely probably prove out in the end to be one of the most imporant keys to longevity (it definitly allows for more muscle retension then caloric restricted diets).  In conclusion, its most likely that someone will have maximum longevity with IF, some exercise (ie, light exercise intermixed with Interval type training a few times a week),sunlight, and a mostly unprocessed foods diet.   And please remember, its possible that including grains may lower certain hormones(overall) that contribute to aging - and we know that animal foods can highten (overall) some hormones that would contribute to faster aging.

     
    HaloTeK
    Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2007
    HaloTeK  
    Replied

    foxtroter_203
    Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
    foxtroter_203  
     
    Posted On Jan 20, 2007

    Concerning intermittent fasting, remember that if you fast more than 5-6 hours you still have metabolic requirements for growing your hair, growing your finger nails, replacing hormones, neurotransmitters and other biochemical substances that are constantly needing replacing.  Where do the nutritional needs come from for these when you are fasting?  The nutrition comes from breaking down your lean body mass, that is your muscles and bones.  You are literally eating yourself alive by reducing your lean body mass when you fast. As a result you are metabolically aging your body and shortening your lifespan from your maximum possible genetic age. Never skip meals.



    Matt79
    Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 8/2006
    Matt79  
     
    Posted On Jan 21, 2007
    1 day fasting gives your body's immune system and digestive system a rest.  It allows your body to slow down and go into repair mode.  You can also excrete a lot of built up waste.  A lot of cultures fast from sun down to sun down (1 day) and you can usually drink water. 

     
     
     
    Posted On Jan 19, 2007

    Considering how many people have developed type 2 diabetes, especially since foods have become highly processed, I am suprised this avenue has not been examined more thoroughly.  Of course there is no profit in eating whole foods that a person can grow themselves.

    mmc88121


     
    mmc88121
    Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
    mmc88121  
     
     
     
    Posted On Jan 19, 2007
    The two highest causes of mortality are diabetes and heart disease. Both are linked with obesity risk, and sadly, of all the things that kill a body, these are both preventable.

    Medical treatments aren't the answer, treating symptoms instead of addressing the cause--poor lifestyle choices. Start early to take care of yourself, and you'll enjoy lifelong benefits of health and happiness.


     
    Dex
    Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
    Dex  
     
     
     
    Posted On Jan 19, 2007
    In a consummerist society most people fail to see that it is the least expensive lifestyle changes produces the greatest outcome. Instead of asking... "what can i buy to get health" we need to start asking "what do we need to do to get healthy." While most would be diligent in poping supplements and spending a small fortune on these, all would be wasted if the basics are forgotten:
    • eating right for your Metabolic Type
    • getting adequate sunlight
    • appropriate exercise
    Funny how all of these are the least expensive! So when you go to a health food store move pass the supplement section and go straight to whole foods... your bank balance and your body will thank you!

     
    Kevin S
    Novice User Novice User, Joined On 2/2006
    Kevin S  
     
     
     
     
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