Control Type 2 Diabetes

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.