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The Best Way To Treat Type II Diabetes

Knowing that I am fitness professional, I'm sure you may think that I am going to say- "exercise and eat right." Well, there is a little more to it than that and most importantly, you need to know why doing the right things has positive effects on diabetes.

Before I go any further, I feel compelled to tell you that if you have or think you have diabetes, you need to see a medical professional. Preferably, you would see an endocrinologist. Any way you look at it, you will most likely need medication (like glucophage, etc.). Also, I need to remind you of the role of insulin in the body, which is to allow blood sugar to be extracted into the muscle and other tissues. It is also responsible in breaking down fat.

Okay the best way to treat Type II diabetes is yes, to "exercise and eat right." As always you need to incorporate the synergistic effect of resistance training (weight lifting), cardiovascular exercise, and supportive nutrition. Every endocrinologist I have known states that as well. Here are the reasons why:

• The Insulin Effect of Exercise
  When you exercise (with weights and with cardiovascular training), your muscles do a very unique thing. It starts to extract blood sugar without the use of insulin. More interestingly, the body will begin to release glucose (blood sugar) from the liver to balance things out. That's a really good thing isn't it?
  
  Even better, when you lift weights and increase your muscle tone, your muscle will extract even more blood sugar even at rest. Studies show, that many Type II diabetics are able to decrease the amount of diabetic medication as a result of exercise. There are even some reports that when caught early, diabetes can solely be treated with exercise and eating right (under the care of a physician).
  
  
• Supportive Nutrition
  Now, you most likely know that blood sugar comes from the most talked about and evil CARBODHYRATES. However, it is the type of carbohydrates that you are eating, the quantity at which you are eating them, and the combination you have with other foods when eating them. Quick breakdown:
  1. Cutting back on processed carbohydrates such as sweets, breads, crackers, or anything that comes out a box is a good thing. These foods increase your blood sugar really fast because they breakdown in the digestive system easily. Foods like vegetables and fruits are carbohydrates too. So long as you eat them unsweetened, they are really good for you. They contain less calories (less sugar and fat) per ounce than the processed foods.
     
     
  2. Hardly anyone will overload on veggies and fruits, but you might overload on potato chips, cake, and ice cream. Be sure you eat as soon as you get up in the morning, that way you are less ravenous. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits. Even the so-called evil carb's like potatoes and fruit are okay (so long they are not sweetened), as they release slower into the bloodstream much slower than processed carb's.
     
     
  3. The combinations of foods that slow down and prevent sugar spikes are lean proteins and fibrous carbohydrates. Fibrous carbohydrates are foods like broccoli, pepper, onions, and mushrooms. Lean protein is chicken, fish, and turkey that is grilled or baked. These foods slow down the breakdown of starchy and high sugar carbohydrates.

Of course, the best course of action is to prevent yourself from developing diabetes. Guess what? The only way to prevent it is by the same means I just mentioned. They is no getting around it. Exercise and eating right have many benefits as it relates to your health.