Diabetes, one of the major health crises in India, has affected over 101 million people in the country. The situation has become more serious, as experts predict that by 2045, over 124 million Indians could be affected. While people thought there is no cure for it, or the cure takes a long process, the good news is that it's not a life sentence. 

Functional nutrition is your answer! It targets the root causes of diabetes, helping you to reverse the condition through personalized dietary and lifestyle changes. This blog will be your guide to learn about functional nutrition, type 2 diabetes, and how it helps to reverse diabetes.

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Root Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels, and without it, sugar builds up in the blood, leading to various health complications. 

The root causes of diabetes are often a mix of genetic and environmental factors, but several common risk factors contribute to its development:

1. Insulin Resistance: Excess belly fat and lack of physical activity are key contributors to insulin resistance, commonly seen in people with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

2. Obesity: Carrying excess weight is one of the biggest risk factors for developing diabetes. If your body mass index (BMI) is high, it puts a strain on your body’s ability to use insulin properly, leading to insulin resistance.

3. Alcohol Consumption: Drinking too much alcohol, especially sugary alcoholic drinks, can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

4. Lifestyle Choices: Unhealthy habits such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking can significantly raise your chances of getting diabetes. 

5. Childhood Trauma: Surprisingly, adverse experiences in childhood, like abuse or neglect, may also increase the likelihood of developing diabetes later in life. The stress from these experiences can disrupt how your body handles sugar.

6. Medications: Certain medications, especially antipsychotic drugs, can increase the risk of diabetes. These medications often lead to weight gain and changes in how the body processes fats and sugars.

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What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where your body struggles to control blood sugar levels. Normally, your body uses a hormone called insulin to help move sugar (glucose) from your blood into your cells, where it’s used for energy. 

However, in people with type 2 diabetes, this process doesn't work well. Either the body doesn’t make enough insulin, or the cells stop responding to it—this is called insulin resistance.

When insulin doesn’t work properly, glucose stays in your blood instead of entering into your cells. Over time, this leads to high blood sugar levels, which can cause serious complications like diabetic neuropathy, and nephropathy.

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Reasons for Type 2 Diabetes Happening

Before knowing the process for reversing diabetes, it is important to know the reasons for type 2 diabetes. You might be affected by it, however, you might know the reasons. The top reasons are:

1. Pancreas Issues

2. Insulin Resistance

3. Excess Glucose from the Liver

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Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is often called a "silent" disease because its symptoms can be hard to spot in the early stages. Many people may not even realize they have it until it’s progressed. Some of the common signs are:

1. Frequent Urination- If you're going to the washroom more often than usual, especially during the night, this could be a sign that your body is trying to get rid of excess sugar.

2. Excessive Thirst- Constant thirst often accompanies frequent urination. You may find yourself drinking water but still feeling dehydrated.

3. Increased Hunger- Feeling hungry shortly after eating could signal that your body isn’t processing sugar properly, leaving you feeling low on energy even after meals.

4. Tiredness- Persistent fatigue, despite resting, can indicate that your body isn’t getting the energy it needs from food due to insulin resistance.

5. Blurry Vision-  Changes in your vision, like blurred eyesight, may occur as high blood sugar levels affect the tiny blood vessels in your eyes.

6. Infections and Slow Healing- Recurring infections or wounds that take longer to heal are signs that your immune system and circulation are being compromised by high blood sugar.

7. Slow Wound Healing- If cuts, blisters, or sores take longer than normal to heal, it could be due to poor circulation and high blood sugar levels damaging your blood vessels and nerves.

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Who Is at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?

Many people with type 2 diabetes don't notice the symptoms until the disease has progressed. This makes it important to stay vigilant, especially if you fall into one of these high-risk groups:

1. People over 40 years old- The risk of diabetes increases as you age.

2. Those who are overweight or obese- Carrying excess weight is a major risk factor.

3. Individuals with a family history of diabetes- If close relatives have diabetes, your chances are higher.

4. People with high blood pressure- There’s a strong link between hypertension and diabetes.

5. Women who had gestational diabetes- If you had diabetes during pregnancy, you are at risk later in life.

6. People with a sedentary lifestyle and stressful life- People who have no physical activity, and spend time mostly sitting or lying down are more prone to weight gain, depression, and type 2 diabetes.

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What are HbA1C Levels?

Monitoring your HbA1C levels is essential to understanding your blood sugar control, especially if you’re concerned about diabetes or prediabetes. The HbA1C test measures how much glucose (sugar) has attached itself to hemoglobin. When blood sugar levels are high, more glucose sticks to the hemoglobin, leading to higher HbA1C results. This makes it a reliable test for long-term blood sugar trends, rather than just daily fluctuations.

HbA1C levels are reported as a percentage and reflect your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. There are 3 types-

1. Normal- HbA1C levels are below 5.7%, indicating healthy blood sugar. 

2. Prediabetes- HbA1C levels between 5.7% and 6.4%, a warning sign that you’re at risk of developing diabetes. 

3. Diabetes- HbA1C levels of 6.5% or higher are a clear diabetes marker.

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Role of Functional Nutrition to Reverse Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a growing concern for many people, and managing it can often feel overwhelming. But did you know that functional nutrition offers a more personalized and effective way to reverse diabetes? Instead of just focusing on treating the symptoms, functional nutrition works by looking deeper into your overall health to identify what’s causing the issue in the first place. Here’s how this approach can help:

1. Comprehensive Health Evaluation: Functional nutrition starts with detailed lab tests and a thorough lifestyle and health history evaluation. 

2. Root Cause Analysis: Rather than just managing blood sugar levels, functional nutrition aims to find and correct the underlying root causes of diabetes, such as inflammation, poor gut health, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and many more.

3. Intensive Lifestyle Changes: Through tailored dietary, functional food like the Mediterranean diet, supplements, and lifestyle interventions, functional nutrition helps reverse diabetes or try to stop the reasons affecting it.

4. Symptom Alleviation: By addressing the root cause, many symptoms of diabetes, such as fatigue, frequent urination, and hunger, can be significantly reduced or even eliminated.

If you’re struggling with diabetes, you know that managing the symptoms can feel like a never-ending battle. That’s where iThrive comes in to help you with reverse diabetes. It not only focuses on your issues, but you can receive a tailored program designed specifically for your needs, which can help you get rid of diabetes medications. With holistic healing and guided personal coaching, you can experience a complete transformation and regain control of your well-being!