Three factors are considered a way to type 2 diabetes mellitus: obesity, lack of exercise and the preference for a carbohydrate-rich diet. Conversely, this means that normal weight, physical activity and a healthy diet cure type 2 diabetes – if action is taken in time. However, there are many other measures that everyone affected can implement and thus increase their chance of recovery.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus – a widespread disease worldwide

Diabetes mellitus is also known as diabetes. The term “mellitus” comes from Latin and means “sweetened with honey or honey-sweet”, which indicates the high-sugar urine of those affected. Diabetes mellitus has now become a real mass disease. It affects almost 10 percent of the population. Of these, 95 percent suffer from type 2 diabetes mellitus and 5 percent from type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetics often take medication for the rest of their lives – and yet they often suffer from the complications of diabetes. These cannot be prevented by medication alone. However, if you react and take action in time as a type 2 diabetic, you have every chance of a complete cure!

The difference between type 2 and type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus usually begins in childhood and can be congenital. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, which are the cells that make insulin. In this case, there is an insulin deficiency and those affected have to inject insulin for the rest of their lives.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the so-called adult-onset diabetes, because it used to affect mostly older people. In the meantime, however, this form of diabetes is no longer called that because the number of younger type 2 diabetics has risen by 70 percent in recent years. In addition, more and more children have recently been going through life with adult-onset diabetes.

In type 2 diabetics, the pancreas still works very well. On the other hand, insulin resistance is present, which means that the cells in the body of a type 2 diabetic (especially muscle, liver and fat cells) no longer respond to insulin or only with difficulty and therefore (temporarily) no longer allow glucose into the cell interior.

The sugar remains in the blood, even though the cells desperately need it and therefore keep sending out “we-need-glucose” signals. Consequently, the pancreas produces more and more insulin and yet the amount produced never seems to be enough. The blood sugar level remains elevated and the pancreas is eventually exhausted, so insulin-dependent diabetes can also occur eventually.

Conventional medicine prescribes antidiabetic drugs

In type 2, therefore, insulin is not administered for the time being (as long as the pancreas is still working). Type 2 diabetics are instead given so-called antidiabetic drugs, e.g. metformin, by their conventional medical therapist.

These are drugs that, for example, inhibit the release of glucose from the liver or block glucose uptake from the intestine. Other antidiabetic drugs are designed to enhance the effect of the body’s own insulin. In this way, the increase in blood sugar levels is to be stopped.

Symptoms

While the type 1 form becomes noticeable relatively quickly and clearly (great thirst, frequent urge to urinate, fatigue, etc.), the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus is often inconspicuous, as the pancreas can initially respond to growing insulin resistance with increased insulin production.

Although blood sugar levels can still rise, most of those affected do not notice their incipient type 2 diabetes at this early stage. Only when the pancreas tires after years of excessive insulin production and can no longer release enough insulin into the blood, does the blood sugar level rise noticeably for the affected person, which can manifest itself in fatigue and a drop in performance.

The aftermath

A permanently elevated blood sugar level leads to various damages in the body in the long term. The first victims are the small blood vessels (microangiopathy), later also the large blood vessels (macroangiopathy). The vascular walls are thickened by the chronically elevated blood sugar level and lose their elasticity.

It can also lead to tissue growth within the blood vessels, which does not exactly improve their permeability. At the same time, high blood sugar levels affect blood platelets (thrombocytes). The result is an increased tendency to clot, i.e. thicker blood.

Unfortunately, the combination of thickened blood vessel walls and thick blood is far from harmless. In the large blood vessels, therefore, arteriosclerosis occurs much faster in diabetics than in non-diabetics and thus also circulatory disorders more quickly.

Possible consequences of these blood vessel changes and thus possible consequences of diabetes are:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Renal failure
• Eye problems (glaucoma or cataracts, risk of blindness due to damage to the retinal vessels)
• Nerve problems (e.g. diabetic polyneuropathy: damage to the blood vessels that supply the nerves, which can develop into calf cramps, nerve pain and even paralysis)
• Circulatory disorders, which can manifest themselves in the so-called diabetic foot. In diabetic foot, the small vessels in the foot in the area of the toes or heel are so damaged that tissue can die in these areas.
• Diabetes also increases the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Possible causes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is even officially considered a disease that can develop due to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Consequently, conventional medical therapists now also recommend their patients to make three fundamental lifestyle changes:

Eat less sugar and carbohydrates, reduce body weight and exercise regularly. In detail, the possible causes of type 2 diabetes are the following:

1. An improper diet

An incorrect diet based on large amounts of carbohydrate-containing foods and sugary drinks, in combination with lack of exercise (see next point), ultimately leads to the described insulin resistance of the cells and ultimately to type 2 diabetes mellitus in many people over several years.

Those affected often like to eat bread, rolls and pasta made from extracted flours (white flour), jam, white rice, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, ice cream, sweet snacks, sweetened dairy products, and drink sugary soft drinks or sweetened coffee or tea with them.

These large amounts of sugar, starch and white flour cause an above-average increase in blood sugar levels several times a day. As a result, the pancreas has to provide huge amounts of insulin again and again to stop the tidal wave of sugar from the blood into the cells. However, cells only need as much sugar as humans need energy.

If you move little and therefore require little energy, then the sugar is not consumed. As a result, the organism suffers from an extreme excess of sugar with an extremely low need for sugar. Since the cells do not need the sugar offered in excess by insulin, they become downright dull at some point. They no longer respond to insulin. They are insulin-resistant.

2. Lack of exercise

Lack of exercise is also a factor that promotes the development of insulin resistance and thus type 2 diabetes mellitus.

3. Obesity

Being overweight is considered a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance. Research has shown that 65 – 70 percent of all severely obese people are more or less insulin resistant and can easily develop diabetes.

4. Chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation has recently been considered a possible trigger for many different diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, but also diabetes. According to some scientists, it is precisely the above-mentioned excess weight that plays a role, especially if a big belly is present.

Abdominal fat is said to often contain unnoticed inflammation, which can lead to insulin no longer being able to perform its function. Apparently, fat on the thighs or other parts of the body is not supposed to have an effect on this diabetes-promoting kind. Chronic inflammation can also lead directly to damage to the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans.

5. Fatty liver

An existing fatty liver can promote the development of diabetes mellitus. A fatty liver develops with a preference for alcohol abuse and with a general tendency to excess (too much sugar, too much fat, too much fast food, etc.), so that excessive alcohol consumption can also cause an aggravation in diabetes.

6. Antioxidant deficiency

An antioxidant deficiency is often underestimated, but it can promote or worsen almost any disease – and thus also diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2. An antioxidant deficiency manifests itself in the following ways:

Free radicals destroy the insulin receptors* on the cell surface of the body’s cells and could therefore be responsible for the development of insulin resistance. If the insulin receptors on the cell surface are no longer intact, insulin can no longer channel sugar into the cell because the cell no longer recognizes the insulin as such and therefore no longer lets the sugar in.

In type 1 diabetes, free radicals can damage the pancreas and thus impair a possible residual function of the beta cells or, of course, damage the blood vessel walls and thus increase the risk of possible secondary diseases.

Antioxidants eliminate free radicals, thus preventing free radicals from damaging insulin receptors, beta cells or cells in the blood vessel walls, and can thus also delay the development of insulin resistance or slow down the progression of type 1 diabetes.

*Receptors are specific proteins on the cell surface into which suitable hormones (such as insulin) can dock according to the lock-and-key principle. It is a type of code designed to ensure that only “authorized” substances can enter the cells. Substances (e.g. toxins) that do not have a “key” and therefore cannot dock onto the receptors are denied access to the cells.

7. Magnesium deficiency

Magnesium deficiency can contribute enormously to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Only an adequate level of magnesium in the blood allows the pancreas to secrete enough insulin. Without magnesium, the pancreas can only work to a limited extent.

Magnesium also ensures that insulin can remove sugar from the blood and transport it into the cells. If magnesium is missing, the cells close down and do not allow glucose to enter or only rarely (incipient insulin resistance).

Studies have shown not only that diabetics have strikingly low magnesium levels (1) (9) compared to healthy people, but also that the lower the magnesium level, the higher the inflammatory markers in the blood (2). Magnesium can therefore help prevent or reverse diabetes on at least three levels.

Holistic measures for type 2 diabetes

You can overcome your type 2 diabetes with the following measures. In advanced stages, these measures can protect against consequential damage and complications.

Tip 1: Avoid sugar

Sugar in any industrially processed form should be avoided as much as possible – not only because of diabetes, by the way, but because isolated sugars are harmful to health on many levels at the same time. This includes table sugar, whole cane sugar, cane sugar, beet sugar, fructose and all syrupy sweeteners such as maple syrup, agave syrup, corn syrup, etc.

Ready-made products or even beverages that contain sugar in any form should also be avoided in the future ( 8 ). This is not easy at first, but it is quite doable. It’s not an unfortunate renunciation either! After all, why should you regret or reluctantly do something that is clearly good for your own body?

Some sweeteners can also be used from time to time for type 2 diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance. For example, stevia can be used, xylitol, erythritol or yacon syrup in small quantities.

Tip 2: Don’t eat isolated fructose

For many decades, fructose was recommended to diabetics as a healthy sweetener. It is now known that fructose can promote the storage of fats in adipose tissue and in the liver, and therefore a connection between fructose and the development of fatty liver is suspected.

A fatty liver, on the other hand, is – as mentioned above – one of the factors that can promote the development of diabetes. Fructose can also lead to a pathological increase in blood lipids (cholesterol) and – even in non-diabetics – to an increased insulin level in the blood and kidney damage.

Typical diabetic sweets sweetened with fructose are therefore by no means recommended – neither for diabetics nor for healthy people. Fructose from fresh, ripe fruits, on the other hand, is completely harmless as part of an alkaline diet.

Tip 3: Avoid synthetic sweeteners

Synthetic sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame, etc. are not part of a natural diet and are therefore not recommended. A natural sweet substance is the stevia plant, which is available in different varieties. Stevia not only tastes sweet, but is also said to have a positive influence on diabetes mellitus by improving the insulin sensitivity of cells ( 3 ).

Tip 4: Opt for an alkaline diet

Change your diet to a diet rich in vital substances and excess alkaline from fresh and high-quality ingredients. Fresh salads and vegetable dishes should become your future staples. Supplement them with nuts, oilseeds, and sprouts or a small amount of millet, quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice, spelt, bulgur, etc. It is best to prepare your own meals from fresh ingredients and avoid ready-made products and dishes.

If you can’t/don’t want to make some ready-made products yourself, then buy them in high quality from health food stores. So, for example, don’t buy white bread in the supermarket, but additive-free organic bread in the health food store.

Tip 5: Reduce your red meat consumption

Scientists found that – contrary to previous assumptions – not only processed, i.e. cured meat and sausage products, but also unprocessed red meat such as steak, schnitzel, etc. can lead to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In addition, the scientists found that the risk of diabetes is significantly reduced when meat is replaced by other (healthier) protein-rich foods, such as nuts and whole grains.

Even 100 grams of meat per day are risky.

Tip 6: Lose excess weight

With all the measures mentioned, the possibly superfluous kilos will automatically tumble. Especially regarding abdominal fat and its inflammatory potential, a reduction of these “fat reserves” is unavoidable with diabetes therapy.

Tip 7: Stock up on probiotics

If you have diabetes, you should take a high-quality probiotic for at least 3 months – preferably longer. Probiotics represent a specific combination of beneficial gut bacteria. You can not only prevent diabetes but also improve an existing one. We even know that – conversely – an unbalanced intestinal flora can promote the development of the disease.

Probiotics harmonize the intestinal flora, alleviate inflammatory processes (which are associated with diabetes), and improve insulin sensitivity, i.e. reduce insulin resistance present in type 2.

Tip 8: Optimize your magnesium balance

The link between diabetes and a deficient magnesium supply has been explained above. A cure for the disease is therefore not possible without magnesium. The organism can be supplied with magnesium through the targeted selection of magnesium-rich foods such as amaranth, quinoa, seaweed, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and almonds.

In case of diabetes, a magnesium-rich dietary supplement such as Sea Coral should also be taken.

Tip 9: Take omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids offer particularly effective protection against diabetes mellitus because they lead to a reduction in chronic inflammation and improve the body’s insulin resistance. If you use these fats regularly, you can assume that your risk of diabetes is reduced by about half. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in flaxseed, linseed oil, hemp seed, hemp oil, krill oil, etc.

Tip 10: Eat almonds daily

One study showed that almonds can greatly reduce insulin resistance in cells ( 4 ). To do this, it is necessary to consume about 60 to 80 grams daily. Many delicious recipes with almonds (e.g. almond milk) make the daily almond supply a pleasure that you won’t want to miss.

Tip 11: Drink enough water

Drinking 2 to 3 liters of water a day regulates the body’s water balance, helps eliminate harmful metabolic waste products, and reduces cravings for sweets.

Tip 12: Supplement your diet with minerals

The minerals lost due to the often strong urge to urinate should also be replenished with a high-quality mineral preparation.

Tip 13: Provide your body with chromium and zinc

Chromium plays an important role not only in sugar metabolism, but also in fat metabolism, which is why it is not only able to promote the insulin effect on the cell and thus the uptake of glucose into the cell, as the study by Anderson et al. ( 5 ) found, but also improves cholesterol levels.

The estimated daily chromium requirement for healthy people is about 100 micrograms, but it depends in particular on the amount of carbohydrates consumed. The more carbohydrates are consumed, the more chromium is needed. Since the usual diet only provides 15 to 50 micrograms per day, there is a clear deficiency in the population.

Diabetics should, according to the Society for Nutritional Medicine and Dietetics consume 200 to 400 micrograms daily. Chromium is completely absent in white flour and sugar, while it is abundant in whole-meal bread. Fresh lentil sprouts are also a very good source of chromium.

Zinc deficiency is also widespread in diabetics. For example, the study by Anderson et al. (5) found a deficient zinc supply in more than 30 percent of the subjects (type 2 diabetics). At the same time, this study has shown that the administration of zinc (together with chromium) leads to a significant reduction of those harmful substances that are produced during fat oxidation by free radicals. Zinc has a clear antioxidant effect here and therefore protects against the vascular diseases that often occur in diabetes.

The Society for Nutritional Medicine and Dietetics recommends a daily intake of 15 milligrams of zinc histidine for diabetics. Pumpkin seeds are a particularly recommended food rich in zinc. At the same time, almonds and legumes such as lentils are good sources of zinc.

Tip 14: Start exercising

Don’t worry, you don’t have to become an athlete. Even a 30-minute walk has a wonderful effect on preventing diabetes mellitus or getting it under control.

The only important thing is that you go for a walk EVERY day. So it’s not about setting records, it’s about making sure you move EVERY DAY. In the meantime, there are numerous indications that regular exercise significantly increases the insulin sensitivity of the cells.

Tip 15: Go out in the sun, fill up on vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced in our body by sun exposure. Those who do not spend much time outdoors run the risk of suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, which already affects a large part of the population today. Such a deficiency favors the development of many diseases: diabetes mellitus, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, and so on. It is therefore extremely important that you let the sun touch your skin EVERY DAY if possible.

Tip 16: Improve your antioxidant supply

A high blood sugar level or insulin resistance of the cells promotes a vitamin C deficiency in the body’s cells. Vitamin C is introduced into the cell via the same mechanism as insulin.

However, if the cell is insulin resistant, then it is also in some way vitamin C resistant, which means that it not only leaves insulin (and thus glucose) in front of the closed “door”, but also vitamin C.

Vitamin C, however, is an extremely important antioxidant that can greatly reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress leads to a large number of typical consequential damages, especially in diabetics, so an extensive supply of antioxidants should be an essential measure for diabetes.

Antioxidants are particularly found in fresh fruits, salads, vegetables and (in the form of vitamin E, among others) also in high-quality oils, nuts and oilseeds. Green smoothies are also an excellent way to raise the body’s antioxidant levels.

Among the stars of strong antioxidant supplements are astaxanthin, OPC, glutathione, and sulforaphane.

Tip 17: Dietary supplement for diabetes mellitus

In addition to the above-mentioned measures, dietary supplements can also be used, e.g. curcumin, ginseng or dietary supplements with a blood sugar-regulating effect (like bittermelon and cinnamon). Certain dietary fibers also help to regulate blood sugar levels, which are often elevated in diabetes.

Tip 18: Keep an eye on your vitamin B12 level

Diabetics who take metformin or acid blockers for heartburn/stomach problems often develop a vitamin B12 deficiency. Acid blockers are also often administered in conjunction with antibiotics or painkillers or anti-inflammatories.

So if you are taking these medications or any of them, then have your vitamin B12 levels checked regularly. This is because a vitamin B12 deficiency can promote diabetes-related diseases, e.g. polyneuropathy.

Tip 19: Supply cells with NAD+

Measures to increase NAD+ levels could also be helpful. NAD+ is a substance that is important for the energy supply of cells. According to a study, a healthy NAD+ level can help prevent diabetes or contribute to healthy blood sugar regulation. It is often helpful to take the precursor of NAD+: NMN.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is curable

Even if it is repeatedly emphasized that type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic, incurable disease, many scientists and doctors already disagree. Among other things, it showed that in many cases changing your diet already can easily control it.