The
type 2 diabetes epidemic now affects more than 20 million Americans. And it’s
increasingly common among children. The number of kids with type 2 diabetes has
increased 1,000 percent in the last 10 years.
Until
now, type 2 diabetes was believed to be like cancer, a disease that is largely
incurable. People with type 2 assumed they were doomed to a life of taking
medication.
The
good news is that it is possible to control type 2 diabetes with weight loss
and exercise. That’s according to a study published in the journal Diabetologia in 2011.
Researchers
found that an ultra-low-calorie diet can reduce the fat in the pancreas and
liver, allowing insulin production and sensitivity to return to normal levels.
Dr.
Roy Taylor, director of the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre at Newcastle
University in England, headed up the study. He says patients don’t necessarily
have to cut their diet to 600 calories. “What I can tell you definitively is
that if people lose substantial weight by normal means, they will lose their
diabetes," he said in a statement.
People
should talk to their doctor before attempting such a low-calorie diet. But
anyone with diabetes should be encouraged to know that every pound lost is a
step toward renewed health.
People
who lose weight and exercise more may not need medication to control their
diabetes, either. And that’s really good news.
That’s
because some diabetes medications come with serious side effects. The side effects of Actos, which is the
best-selling diabetes drug of all time, include increased risk for eye disease,
bone fractures, heart failure — and even bladder cancer.
In
fact, patients who take Actos for more than a year are at a 40 percent
increased risk of developing Actos bladder cancer. Thousands of patients
have sued after taking Actos and suffering complications.
It’s
always best to start with exercise and healthy eating. Both can bring down blood
sugar, and could end up saving lives. Doctors can decide if and when medication
is needed, and which medication is best.
William Richards is a writer for
Drugwatch.com.
He uses his journalism background to investigate dangerous drugs and promote
consumer awareness to better the community.