Maybe You Don't Need Drugs

Bryan Helm. who works for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry in Ocean City New Jersey, has his Type-2 diabetes under tight control - the best outcome possible for such patients.  First diagnosed over a year ago, Helm began attending classes at a local diabetes center. Here, he was taught what was referred to as the "four aspects of control":

- medication

- blood glucose monitoring

- diet

- excercise

It is interesting that medication was at the top of the list. While it is not wise to simply stop taking diabetic medications without discussing it with one's doctor, given the track record when it comes to harmful side effects, one must wonder if such "cures" or treatments aren't worse than the disease.

On the other hand, recent studies indicate that simple exercise and diet may play a much larger part in controlling Type 2 diabetes than people realize. It's worth noting that Mr. Helm has dropped 65 pounds and runs seven miles three or four times a week. But it may not even take that much.

The American Diabetes Association has long recommended that people engage in 150 minutes of "moderate to vigorous" exercise each week - amounting to thirty minutes of running, cycling or other aerobic activity per day, five days a week. For those who have difficulty working that into their schedules however, there is an alternative: cut the amount of time in half to fifteen minutes a day, but raise the intensity of the workout.

According to a research study done at the University of British Columbia in Okanagan, 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise that get the heart rate up to 90% of maximum can have as much benefit as 150 minutes of lower-intensity training. Be warned: it's not easy or comfortable. Such workouts involve high-speed sprints, step aerobics at a brisk pace, or time spent cross-country skiing or on an orbital trainer (generally acknowledged to be one of the best full-body exercises).

Nonetheless, anything that can help to reduce a diabetic patient's reliance  on potentially harmful prescription drugs is likely to be well worth any amount of "burn" or muscle soreness.

Sources

Little, Jonathan P., et. al. "Low-Volume High-Intensity Training Reduces Hyperglycemia and Increases Muscle Mitochondrial Capacity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes." Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 111 no. 6  (December 2011).

N/A. "Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Self-Managed." Shore News Today, 13 December 2011.

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