The Best Treatment for Type-2 Diabetes

bariatric surgery blood glucose calorie-restricted diet carbohydrates diabetes elimination diet endorphins exercise fructose glucagon glycogen heart disease hormones insulin insulin resistance intermittent fasting kidney disease lifestyle changes low-carb diet medication obesity oral hypoglycemics pancreas physical activity side effects stroke weight loss Feb 02, 2024

A heart-shaped plate full of various fruits and vegetables, a pair of dumbbells, and a stethoscope

Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic condition in which your cells have lost the ability to respond to the hormone called insulin. Plus, your pancreas has become dysfunctional so that it doesn’t produce as much insulin as it should.¹

The result is consistently high levels of glucose (blood sugar).²

If sugar accumulates in your blood, it can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and other health problems.² This is why doctors recommend consistent and careful management of your condition. But what’s the best treatment for T2D?

In this article, we’ll explore the following T2D treatment options:

Surgery
Medication
Physical activity or exercise
Fasting
Dietary changes

Read on to discover the advantages and disadvantages of each of these treatments.

Surgery

Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a vital role in controlling your metabolism. Thus, some surgical procedures target this pathway to treat T2D.³

Bariatric surgery works to limit the volume of your stomach. The restricted part is then connected directly to your intestine. These changes in your GI tract make you eat less food. Your body will also absorb fewer nutrients, especially proteins and fats. The resulting weight loss can help fight insulin resistance and manage T2D.³

Not everyone can have bariatric surgery though. You’ll only be considered for this treatment option if you’re diagnosed with T2D and have a BMI of at least 30. You’ll also have to undergo extensive screening and follow-up tests.⁴

Surgery is the most expensive treatment option, and it can come with complications too. There’s a risk of long-term abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, lightheadedness, nausea, or vomiting. Low blood sugar and malnutrition are also possible. In some cases, bariatric surgery can even lead to death.^4,5

Medication

Oral hypoglycemics are a common treatment for T2D. These drugs help lower your blood sugar levels in various ways.⁶

Some medicines work by improving your body’s response to natural insulin. Others boost your pancreas’s insulin secretion. Still other drugs delay the absorption of carbohydrates into your GI tract. There are also types that work to prevent the release of glucagon (a hormone that increases your blood sugar levels) after meals. There are even meds that promote the exit of glucose from your body via urine.⁶

T2D medications tend to work quickly. They’re relatively inexpensive too, making them a popular choice for diabetes management.⁷

But like all other medications, drugs for treating T2D can have side effects. These medicines can make your blood sugar levels too low. Also, they can cause abdominal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, nausea, and stomach pain. Other potential side effects are weight changes, skin rashes, and various infections. Drug therapy for T2D can also lead to elevated levels of fats called triglycerides in your blood. Plus, it can increase your risk of bone, heart, and pancreas problems.⁷

Many people find they have to take more than just one medication to achieve results.⁶ If you’re one of them, you’ll wind up spending more on treatment and possibly experiencing more side effects.

Chances are you’ll be prescribed anti-T2D drugs together with lifestyle changes. The latter include physical activity or exercise.⁸

Physical activity or exercise

All movement that increases your energy use counts as physical activity. If your physical activity is planned and structured, you’re doing exercise.⁹

Exercise enhances your blood sugar control and helps with weight loss. It can help reduce insulin resistance if you’re overweight or obese. Exercise can also keep you from developing T2D if you’re prediabetic (defined as high blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be considered T2D).¹⁰

In addition, regular exercise helps reduce your risk of heart and blood vessel problems. It adds to your overall well-being by increasing the amount of endorphins in your blood. These feel-good hormones — particularly beta-endorphins — help relieve stress and improve your mood.¹¹

Many people with T2D don’t get the recommended minimum amount of physical activity. They may find exercise tiring and time-consuming. It may even be painful for them. In some cases, they just lack knowledge about the type and intensity of physical activity they need.¹²

If you’re able to exercise, injury is a risk. Even if you do stretching beforehand, your bones, muscles, and joints can still get injured. Getting injured while exercising is a concern especially for overweight or obese people. This is because the extra weight can contribute to balance issues or falling.¹⁰

Finally, exercise doesn’t prevent your metabolism from slowing down after weight loss. This means that even if you lose weight through exercise, you’re likely to gain it back unless you can sustain high levels of physical activity.¹³

Fasting

Besides exercise, a calorie-restricted diet is usually included in lifestyle treatment recommendations for T2D. But as obesity trials show, it’s difficult for humans to keep limiting daily calories for long periods of time. This challenge has made intermittent fasting (IF) a popular alternative to calorie-restricted diets for treating T2D.¹⁴

In IF, you cycle between fasting and eating periods. During fasts, which can range from 12 hours to several days, you consume minimal to no calories.¹⁴

This eating pattern promotes your body’s use of fat (ketone bodies and free fatty acids) instead of glucose as its energy source. When your body switches from creating and storing fat to burning it, the transition helps improve your levels of hormones called leptin and adiponectin, and also enhances your body’s response to them. These hormones are secreted by your fat cells, and increasing them boosts metabolism, lowers chronic inflammation, and promotes better control of your appetite. All these effects help with T2D management. In fact, studies show that T2D patients can reverse their need for insulin therapy through IF.^14,15

Because it focuses only on when you eat, IF is generally less restrictive and more flexible than other diet plans. It’s also more compatible with human metabolic needs. So, IF can be easier to follow.^14,16

Despite its benefits, IF isn’t for everyone. You should especially avoid it if you’re underweight or have a history of eating disorders. Also steer clear if you have adrenal problems, or if you’re under chronic stress.^17,18

IF is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can worsen symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as well.¹⁸

In case IF is a good fit for you, prepare for possible side effects. You may experience bad breath. You may feel anxious or irritable. You may have trouble sleeping or feel sleepy during the day. Many of these are actually symptoms of dehydration, so be sure you drink lots of water when doing IF.¹⁸

Dietary changes

Other types of diet for managing T2D highlight what you should and shouldn’t eat.

A low-carb diet involves eating foods rich in protein and fat and limiting carbohydrate intake. There are many variants of low-carb diets. The Atkins, paleo, and keto diets are popular examples. Each of them has different limits on the type and amount of carbs you consume.^19,20

Carbs can either be complex or simple. Complex carbs take longer to break down inside your body. So, they increase your blood glucose levels more slowly. Complex carbs include starches and fibers. They’re found in wheat products, grains, legumes, and root crops.²¹

On the other hand, simple carbs get digested by your body faster. This is why they cause rapid spikes in your blood sugar and insulin levels. Fructose, glucose, and other sugars are simple carbs. They’re found in large amounts in candies, cakes, and dairy products.²¹

In general, you should eat minimal amounts of starches and sugars on a low-carb diet. Doing so can help lower your blood sugar levels, especially if you have T2D.^19,22

Fructose intake should especially be limited. This simple sugar is naturally found in fruits. But it’s also a component of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is added to sodas, candies, and many other processed foods.^23,24

Among the cells in your body, mainly your liver cells can process fructose. So, if you consume large amounts of this sugar, most of it has to go through your liver. There, fructose gets converted into glucose, lactose, and glycogen. Glycogen is a form of glucose that your body can store in limited amounts in your liver and muscles. Once your glycogen stores are full though, the excess fructose turns into liver fat. This is a major problem because a fatty liver directly causes insulin resistance.^24,25,26

Conclusion

Many options exist for the treatment of T2D. They include weight-loss surgery, drug therapy, physical activity, fasting, and other dietary changes.

Each treatment option has its pros and cons. The best one(s) for you will depend on several factors, including treatment costs and any other health conditions you may have.

Among the treatments for T2D, dietary changes are the least invasive. They’re budget-friendly too, and you can start right away. But with all the foods out there, it can be daunting to sort out which ones to include in your diet, and which ones to eliminate. That’s where we can help! Learn how to reverse your condition with the Diabetes Diet Solution.

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