CAN DIABETES BE REVERSED ???
Frequent question from the patient
1. Can diabetes be reversed
2. Can I avoid medications
3. Can I take native foods that can cure diabetes
Answers to the questions
1. Diabetes can be reversed depending upon certain factors
a. Understanding of the problem
b. Minimal unlearning of myths about the disease
c. Stage of diagnosis of diabetes
d. Intensive lifestyle change
For example it cannot be reversed by just holding medications and doing some mild lifestyle changes like restricting sugar, consuming millets, walking. This shall waste time and cause considerable damage in the micro level that can be a nidus for future atherosclerosis and major events like heart attack and stroke.
2. One can avoid medications if his sugar values are within target values and started to decline further based on lifestyle changes
3. Normal food that are BELIEVED can be taken and NEWLY PROPOSED FOODS can be avoided
Myths about reversal
1. Extreme or unproven diets
2. Unqualified lifestyle experts from the society
3. Self-centric approach vs Professional centric approach
4. Handsome physique vs Healthy body and mind
5. Fast vs Slow methods
6. Expensive Resort health stays vs Frequent Clinic visits
7. Protein myths
Explanation about MYTHS
1. Extreme or unproven diets
a. Our body can’t be tried with some experimental or proposed diets that our ancestors have not seen. Only difference is being that we need to change our diet for existing lifestyle condition. Many pseudo experts who themselves are not healthy try to manipulate the people for some motive. So, any dietary prescription should be evidence based with community and culture practices rather some remote ideas.
2. Unqualified lifestyle experts from the society
a. Many so-called experts without any professional knowledge or training start giving advice for free or commercially without knowing the consequences of such superficial knowledge. All are free to practice whatever they like how wrong it could be, BUT when it comes to prescribe others, everything matters. This is the basis of CLINICAL PRACTISE and TRAINING which carries accountability and credibility. Ignorance is better than false teaching.
3. Self-centric approach vs professional centric approach
a. The professionals involved in lifestyle changes are endocrinologists, cardiologists, lifestyle physicians, psychiatrists, specialist doctors depending upon the medical condition, dietician, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals. Information coming from the professional and the change coming from the patient is professional centric. In contrary information and the change both from the patient is self-centric approach. Although self-centric suits certain people, it may not suit everyone since it may have bias, waste time and may not be evidence based.
4. Handsome physique vs healthy body
a. Most trainers and young college students are focused on good looks like muscular, six pack etc. But what one really need is fitness in natural ways rather than just strength. This is evident by many celebrities having young heart attacks although they look good and smart.
5. Fast vs slow methods
a. Any reversal so fast is so fast to rebound. Multiple rebounds shall make one to lose confidence. Slow but not very slow would be more permanent. Any attractive packages that promote faster healthy packages are not good for health
6. Expensive resort stays vs frequent clinical visit
a. Some ads showing staying in the resort for 10 days for healthy detox is something so underestimating the real value of health. These are commercial ways to again drag you to be the target. Professional charges and purely commercial approaches should be differentiated by the people.
7. Protein myths
a. There is no need to pump protein shakes in and build up muscle. It is the time with natural diet gives us the real muscle strength rather short protein shakes and vigorous exercises
DR ARUN KAUSHIK P, INTERVENIONAL CARDIOLOGIST AND LIFESTYLE PHYSICIAN
SHADOW CLINICS AND PSG HOSPITALS