Holistic diabetes care – Beyond standard, pharmacologic treatments

Question 1

Why should I choose a holistic doctor for diabetes management?

Answer

By partnering with our team in Manhattan, you benefit from complete care. We effectively keep blood sugar in check by first uncovering the root causes of insulin resistance. Numerous assessments are available to understand your health and needs and to help us monitor how well your body is responding to recommended treatments and interventions. Our providers may find that inflammation, chronic and poorly-managed stress, and diet are to blame. Based on findings from these assessments, we can draw from a variety of treatments to personalize your unique plan.

Question 2

How do holistic treatments compare to standard treatments?

Answer

Conventional diabetes management typically relies on medications to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. These drugs include insulin injections and oral medications such as Metformin. While holistic diabetes treatments may involve such medications, we often work with patients to reduce their reliance on drugs. Our varied treatments address your physical and emotional needs and may include personalized nutrition, nutraceuticals, and botanical medicine, as well as mind-body medicine techniques to promote relaxation and mitigate negative stress (distress).

Question 3

How does poorly-managed stress affect diabetes?

Answer

Stress is associated with the release of cortisol and adrenaline. When these “fight-or-flight” hormones are released during stressful events or periods, your body responds by naturally increasing blood sugar levels, providing sufficient energy to take on the perceived threat. While this is considered to be an adaptive response for short-term survival, it is not a healthy state to be in over the long term. When daily or near-daily stress is chronic, lasting several weeks, months, or years, it contributes to numerous health challenges, including the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Physiologically, stress is associated with diabetes in several ways, not limited to:

Triggering sharp spikes in glucose levels
Causing insulin resistance
Inhibiting insulin production
Supporting persistently high blood sugar
Promoting systemic inflammation
The development of “cortisol belly” or abdominal fat is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes
Unhealthy habits, such as emotional eating as a coping mechanism
The development of “diabetes distress,” additional stress caused by the day-to-day pressure of managing diabetes

Question 4

What mind-body support may be recommended for diabetes?

Answer

Depending on what we find, in consultation with you and following thorough testing, we may recommend biofeedback, clinical hypnotherapy, or acupuncture. Lifestyle counseling can also help to address unhealthy behaviors and coping mechanisms. Aside from these therapies, nutritional counseling can also help with stress. Some nutraceutical supplements and botanicals/herbal preparations are known to inhibit the release of stress hormones, lower cortisol levels, calm the central nervous system, and restore a healthy emotional balance.

Question 5

How does your approach to diet for diabetes management differ from standard approaches?

Answer

In addition to incorporating nutraceuticals and botanicals, we use detailed assessment findings to identify gaps in your nutritional needs and account for your unique physiology. How patients process fats, carbs, and proteins can differ considerably. So, the diet that works for one patient may not be appropriate for another patient. We can empower you with information on topics such as the percentage of calories that should come from fats or protein each day. This type of information is fundamental to our sustainable weight management plans, and maintaining a healthy weight is also fundamental to diabetes management.

Question 6

Why is diet so important?

Answer

A nutritious diet optimized to your needs promotes a healthy weight and serves as a protective factor against or helps manage diabetes. Obesity is a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Excess fat (especially abdominal fat) is associated with chronic inflammation and the release of fatty acids that interfere with how the body processes sugar. Weight loss can improve pancreatic function and insulin secretion to support diabetes remission, which occurs when your blood sugar levels return to a non-diabetic range for at least three months without the use of medications designed to lower glucose levels. Guidance on physical activity, nutrition, and other lifestyle factors specific to your circumstances and needs can also prevent pre-diabetes from becoming full-blown diabetes. By supporting healthy and sustained weight loss, many people can get their blood sugar levels within a normal range. Research indicates that losing a modest 7% of your body weight can reduce the risk of diabetes onset by more than half.

If you are interested in learning more about holistic diabetes treatment, request an appointment today! Call (917) 477-3538 to speak with a member of our team at the NY Center for Integrative Health in Manhattan.