Naturopathic Treatment in Combination with Conventional Treatment Against Type 2 Diabetes Helps Diabetics
Obesity is a phenomenon that has been defined as a global epidemic, and it brings with it a great deal of morbidity, including a significant increase in the rate of people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Treatment of Type 2 diabetes is done with medications, but a large body of research indicates great benefit in the use of complementary medicine methods, which include alternative methods for treating Type 2 diabetes, especially utilizing natural healing techniques.
The researchers found that guidance provided by naturopaths to Type 2 diabetic patients was able to help them improve their physical condition and lower their blood sugar, improve their physical activity levels and dietary habits, and even improve their mood and sense of control over their disease.
To examine the effect of the naturopathic treatments, the researchers examined how naturopathic counseling of 4 sessions given to 40 patients with Type 2 diabetes, when administered by 4 naturopaths, affects the patients’ state on the emotional and functional levels, blood sugar levels, dietary habits, and their ability to control the disease. The consultation included a reference to a healthy diet according to naturopathy guidelines, information regarding physical exercise, managing blood sugar levels, reducing the mental stress associated with their disease, and also the use of supplements.
The findings showed that compared to subjects who did not receive naturopathic counseling beyond conventional diabetes treatment, subjects who received naturopathic counseling in addition to regular treatment by their physician enjoyed an improvement in their blood sugar status. They benefited from lower blood sugar levels, with the healthier eating habits affecting their diabetes, along with the exercise regimen and stress management protocol, which helped with their mood as well.
It should be noted that nutritional counseling is given to these diabetic patients in addition to the conventional treatment of their disease by their treating physician, who prescribes them a medical regimen to follow.
