We all know Type 2 Diabetes has serious health consequences which may require surgical intervention. What many people don’t know is that most people, before they develop Type 2 Diabetes, develop a condition called pre-diabetes. This condition may precede the actual onset of the chemical findings of Type 2 Diabetes by up to 3 to 5 years in general.
The concern about this is people with pre-diabetes, even though they are asymptomatic, are already beginning to develop the complications and conditions associated with Type 2 Diabetes. Diseases such as diabetic neuropathy and vascular problems which are developing before the obvious signs of diabetes are identified.
With pre-diabetes the usual tests that identify the presence of diabetes may be normal when in fact a pre-diabetic state actually exists. One of the major problems with the effects of diabetes is the high level of circulating insulin. Insulin and high circulating insulin levels are what actually begin the process of damage to the lining of the large blood vessels which cause hardening of the arteries and vascular occlusive diseases leading to heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. This can lead to extremity loss, heart attack, kidney disease, blindness and stroke.
Diabetics, as most people know, are very susceptible to damage of the blood vessels in their extremities. The greatest cause of amputations is found in those with vascular disease (as a result of Type 2 Diabetes) which leads to a blockage of the blood flow. Peripheral neurorpathy, which is a problem with the sensation to the lower extremities, is also a factor because it leads to unsuspected injury due to poor blood supply. Poor blood circulation diminishes the body’s defense against infection, leading to gangrene and amputations.
People with Type 2 Diabetes and to some degree, pre-diabetes, can develop sensory loss primarily in the lower extremities first. This can result in sustaining injuries to their lower extremities and not feeling or having any awareness of the injury. For example, a small blister from a new pair of shoes could be a cause. This is inconsequential for most people; but, in a diabetic with peripheral vascular disease, it can be the beginning incident for losing an extremity. This is why physicians ask diabetics to visually inspect their feet every day. Many cannot feel a small injury and by the time the damage is discovered the injury has developed into a full blown infection spreading through the soft tissue of the extremity.
So, if people realize they are on the road to pre-diabetes can they reverse the course they are on? The answer, for the Type 2 Diabetic, is yes. For ninety to ninety-five percent of the people with Type 2 Diabetes the disease is caused by lifestyle factors such as excess calorie intake, sedentary lifestyle, being overweight and the dependence on refined foods and the effects of high fat from animal sources.
To prevent and reverse Type 2 Diabetes, the best thing is to reverse one’s lifestyle and eliminate the causes that brought this about in the first place. Go on a diet that is low in fat with no refined fats or carbohydrates and decrease your weight by reducing calorie intake. The Cheryl Farley Wellness Program allows you to do this easily without counting calories and carbohydrates.