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Diabetes

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

In one of our “The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes“ workshops I define type 2 diabetes is?   

 

Other information about diabetes by Dr. Matt Mitchell you might be interested in:

Visit our Diabetes section on the website

Why are we Doing Diabetes Workshops?

 

If you have more questions on diabetes or want to attend one of our FREE diabetic workshops entitled, The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes, contact SanTan Natural Medicine.
 


 

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How to Overcome Type 2 Diabetes

One of our patients, was so kind to tell one of our “The Uncommon Cure for Diabetesworkshops how he overcame his type 2 diabetes.  Below is Robert Doleshal’s of Gilbert, AZ story. 

 

Other information about diabetes by Dr. Matt Mitchell you might be interested in:

Visit our Diabetes section on the website

Why are we Doing Diabetes Workshops?

 

If you have more questions on diabetes or want to attend one of our FREE diabetic workshops entitled, The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes, contact SanTan Natural Medicine.
 


 

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Change Your Food, Change Your Life!

We run premium unleaded fuel in our high performance vehicles but we don’t pay any attention to the relationship of the quality of food we eat to how we feel.  The secret to feeling better is simply to change the food we eat. 
 
It is our nature to complicate everything.  We feel that in order for something to be effective, it must be hard and expensive.  Our relationship with food dictates our energy levels, our mental health, and our overall sense of vitality. It will also affect your weight and your risk for chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, etc. Why is it then that we are unable to see the correlation between the quality of food we eat and our resulting health? 
 
If you want to test my theory, simply make one change.  Stop drinking your calories and drink water or herbal tea instead.  Each day you will notice that you feel just a little better.  Maybe you aren’t as agitated, maybe you feel more compassionate toward others, maybe you still have energy at the end of the day, or maybe your day just flows easier.  I am not sure why we have to make things so hard for ourselves.  I know we would do far more for our closest friends and loved ones than we would do for ourselves. 
 
So I challenge you to take your relationship with food to a happier level.  Eat foods that will bring you more vitality.  Eat foods that your grandma would identify.  If you don’t feel amazing, try changing your foods.  I promise it will change your life.

 
If you have more questions about your diet and how it affects your life or to attend our FREE diabetic workshops entitled, The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes, contact us.


 

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Our Reaction to the Movie “Fat Head”

Isn’t it amazing that so much of what we learn about how to eat is from paid commercial advertisements on the television?  Why is it that first we are told to eat low sodium, then low fat, then no animal products, then low calorie… Ahhhhhh!!  How are we to know what to do? 
 
Recently, I watched a movie on Netflix called “Fat Head”.  The movie came highly recommended to me by a patient.  I was so pleased to listen to the information passed on to the viewer.  Information that weshare with our unhealthy, overweight, diabetic patients everyday. We are even holding free workshops called,The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes now. 
 
It is not the consumption of animal fat that is causing our society to be so grossly overweight.  Very simply, it is in the consumption of processed grains and sugars that is causing our obesity and diabetes epidemic.
 
In the film, the food pyramid is depicted with the 11 recommended grain servings as bags of sugar. I could not imagine a better way to gain weight and fat than to eat 11 servings of grains a day.  Who are we fooling?  Our food pyramid for healthy eating should more accurately be called a “Weight Gain Meal Plan”.  I can only imagine how overweight I would be if I spent just 30 days eating 11 grain servings a day. 
 
You have to make sure you are taking nutritional advice from the right sources.  Let me just say, it should not be by paid commercial advertisements.

 
If you have more questions about what is causing our obesity and diabetes epidemic, please attend our FREE diabetic workshops or contact us directly. 
 


 

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Why Are We Doing Diabetes Workshops?

A 55 year old woman walked into our waiting room looking as if she had been diagnosed with a death sentence. When I sat down and talked to her, she proceeded to tell me what she had been told by her physician. First, she was going to have diabetes for the rest of her life. He then told her that she had an increased chance of going blind and the possibility of amputations.  This information was given so “matter of fact” without the consideration of the impact on the patient.
 
Two days later, another diabetic came to us with a similar story, only he was told that medications were the only way to control his diabetes.  Besides feeling extremely tired and sick most of the time, he simply had no zest for life. He felt that even if his diabetes could be managed, he was not going to feel good again.
 
After listening to their concerns, we shared the hope that there are other options and even the ability to reverse diabetes and live a healthy life.  By the time they walked out of our office they both felt a lot better and had hope again. That’s why we are on a mission to do as many workshops as possible for diabetics and their loved ones. No one needs to suffer needlessly.
 

The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes

by Dr. Matt Mitchell, NMD

In this FREE Diabetes Presentation, Dr. Mitchell will explain…

  • Pharmaceutical medications used to manage diabetes and what they do to the body
  • How people become diabetic
  • How to reverse diabetes

 

Wednesday, Aug 3, 2011    7pm-8:30pm
In Chandler, AZ (Cooper and 202)
 
NO CHARGE
RSVP is Required (Limited Seating for 30 attendees)
 
To Register, get exact Location, and find out about
other Upcoming dates

 call 480-636-1068 or e-mail us.
 


 

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Diabetes Workshop Coming Soon to Chandler,AZ

The Uncommon Cure for Diabetes

presented by Dr. Matt Mitchell

 

The despair and hopelessness that our patients are experiencing has inspired us to share our results regarding the ability to reverse Type 2 Diabetes. 

 
In this FREE Diabetes Presentation, Dr. Mitchell will Discuss…

  • Pharmaceutical diabetes medications and what they are really doing in your body
  • How your body became diabetic
  • How to reverse diabetes

 

Wednesday, Aug 3, 2011    7pm-8:30pm
In Chandler, AZ (Cooper and 202)
 
NO CHARGE
RSVP is Required (Limited Seating for 30 attendees)
 
To Register, get exact Location, and find out about
other Upcoming dates

 call 480-636-1068 or e-mail us.
 
 
 
Join us for sharing, caring, and learning!
 


 

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A Natural Approach to Managing Diabetes

It is currently estimated that between 40 and 50 million Americans have pre-diabetes, a condition also referred to as Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X.

Metabolic Syndrome is Actually a Group of Conditions Including:

1  Insulin Resistance (the body’s inability to correctly utilize insulin which causes variations in blood sugar levels)

2 High Levels of Blood Fats (high LDL “bad cholesterol”, high triglycerides and low HDL “good cholesterol”)

3 High Blood Pressure

4 Obesity (especially truncal/abdominal obesity)

The concern with metabolic syndrome is not only that it predisposes people to diabetes, but it is also a major risk factor for heart disease. There are certain lab tests that can be run to help determine the presence of metabolic syndrome and aid in reducing the risk of developing Diabetes altogether.

The Common Symptoms of Diabetes Include:

1 Excessive thirst
2 Excessive hunger
3 Frequent urination
4 Unexplained weight changes
5 Poor wound healing

 

All types of Diabetes are cause for concern. Diabetes, especially in its late stages, often results in irreparable damage to the blood vessels, nerves, eyes (retina), kidneys and developing fetuses. This is why it is so important to keep Diabetes, that is, the blood sugar, under control.

Common Treatment:

Conventional treatment for Diabetes (especially Type 2 Diabetes) typically includes prescription medications to improve insulin sensitivity. In some cases of Type 2 Diabetes, certain medications may be necessary for a short period of time to help get blood sugar levels under control. However, these diabetic medications should be avoided where possible to reduce the risks to long-term health and avoid the potential harmful side effects, like increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and kidney and liver problems.

The Good News…

Diabetes can often be entirely managed by lifestyle changes and without the need for any kind of Diabetic medications. Additionally, patients with Metabolic Syndrome (those prone to develop Type 2 Diabetes) would more likely never develop Type 2 Diabetes simply by making changes to their diets, activity levels and stress management.

Diabetic Workshops

Education is the key to controlling and often completely avoiding Diabetes. Diabetes prevention ideally starts early in life, especially for those people genetically predisposed. For those people taking prescription medications for their Diabetes, it is often possible to reduce and even eliminate the need for these medications through proper nutrition, exercise and other natural alternatives.
 

If you want to find out more about the natural approach to managing Diabetes or find out about our Diabetes workshops, contact me, Dr. Matt Mitchell.


 

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Obesity, A Growing Epidemic

Despite the growing popularity and number of diet plans and fitness clubs, the number of Americans that are overweight or obese is continuing to increase each year and at an exponential rate. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention “30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older—over 60 million people—are obese”. And “The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980”. “Among children and teens aged 6–19 years, 16 percent (over 9 million young people) are considered overweight.”

Most doctors put much attention into treating obesity due to its numerous complications.
There are many risks associated with obesity, some include:

* Diabetes
* High blood pressure
* Heart disease
* Stroke
* Gallbladder disease
* Cancer

B.M.I

Many physicians use BMI (Body Mass Index) to determine whether someone is obese.  BMI is a calculated value that takes into account both height and weight.  A Body Mass Index greater than 30 (BMI > 30) is defined as obesity.  Normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.  Be leery of your BMI score however.   A BMI is only intended to give you an idea of your proportionate weight to height .  It is not always accurate because it fails to take into account many of the factors that determine your weight.  For example, a body builder with virtually no body fat could have a BMI that would classify him/her as overweight or obese.  This is caused by a higher than average density of muscle mass.  Some people have genetically more dense muscle tissue, even without weight lifting, or heavier than normal bone mass or retain a greater than average amount of water weight.  Any of these factors could distort the BMI giving a completely inaccurate assessment of your condition.

Weight Loss Plans…

Many overweight people have tried various weight loss plans, some with minimal to no success and some with great success.  However, most people seem to put the pounds back on shortly thereafter.  Differently from what most of the fad weight loss diet plans suggest, there is no one weight loss diet for everyone.  Diet plans need to be tailored to the individual by taking into account different body types, blood types, metabolisms and varying needs and goals.  In my practice, I have seen tremendous results with certain weight loss programs, like the hCG weight loss program.  But even the hCG diet is not for everyone, and when it is, it needs to be adjusted to each individual.  Exercise, for example, is one of the most misunderstood aspects of many weight loss plans.  Although exercise can enhance weight loss, many vigorous and aerobic-like exercise plans can actually serve to increase fat production and nullify the benefits attained through diet.

Causes of Obesity

Weight loss is not always as simple as diet and exercise.  There are many factors involved in the underlying causes of obesity and these factors vary between individuals.  Certain diseases, like hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) or Cushing’s disease (excess stress hormone) can contribute almost exclusively to obesity.  These diseases can typically be easily identified with certain clinical and/or lab tests.  Other diseases or conditions that contribute to obesity, may not be as apparent on a typical physical exam or lab test and often require closer examination and testing to determine their presence.  Some of these conditions are as simple as:

*Stress, which causes the release of excess stress hormone which increases fat storage
*Aerobic exercise, especially after a long day at work, can actually create more fat than it burns
*Nutrient deficiencies
*Menopause or Andropause
*Hormone imbalances
*Environmental toxins, like those in pollution, plastics, foods, etc.
*Mental / emotional causes

The list of the possible causes for weight gain is extensive.  It is not always as simple as overeating and lack of exercise.  It is important to discover and address the true cause or causes of obesity.  This awareness makes weight loss not only more effective but also more permanent.  Naturopathic Doctors specialize in getting to the root of the cause of obesity.  An extensive patient history can often reveal the cause(s) and there are lab tests available that can help as confirmation.

 


 

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Diabetes, It’s A Choice

According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 21 million Americans (7% of the U.S. population) currently have diabetes and over 6 million of these people are unaware that they have this condition.  According to the Center for Disease Control, Diabetes kills over 200,000 people per year, due to complications, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.. The statistics are frightening, but what's even more alarming is that these numbers are rapidly increasing.  It is currently estimated that between 40 and 50 million Americans have pre-diabetes, a condition also referred to as Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X. 
 
Metabolic Syndrome is actually a group of conditions including:

Insulin resistance (the body's inability to correctly utilize insulin which causes variations in blood sugar levels)
High levels of blood fats (high LDL “bad cholesterol”, high triglycerides and low HDL “good cholesterol”)
High Blood pressure
Obesity (especially truncal/abdominal obesity)

The concern with metabolic syndrome is not only that it predisposes people to diabetes, but it is also a major risk factor for heart disease (the #1 cause of death in the US).  There are certain lab tests that can be run to help determine the presence of metabolic syndrome and aid in reducing the risk of developing Diabetes altogether.
The common symptoms of Diabetes include:

Excessive thirst
Excessive hunger
Frequent urination
Unexplained weight changes
Poor wound healing

 

Diabetic Types

Type 1 Diabetes: (also called Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes) the body's inability to produce insulin (the hormone responsible for allowing sugar to pass from the blood into the cells to be converted into energy). Type 1 constitutes about 5 10% of all cases of Diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes: (or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes) the body's inability to properly use insulin (insulin resistance) combined with insulin deficiency.  Type 2 makes up the majority of cases of Diabetes, from 90  95%.  Although Type 2 Diabetes is also called Adult Onset Diabetes, it is becoming increasingly prevalent in children.

Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes acquired during pregnancy.  About 4% of pregnant women are affected with Gestational Diabetes and many progress to Type 2 Diabetes within 10 to 20 years.

All types of Diabetes are cause for concern.  Diabetes, especially in its late stages, often results in irreparable damage to the blood vessels, nerves, eyes (retina), kidneys and developing fetuses.  This is why it is so important to keep Diabetes, that is, the blood sugar, under control.

Conventional Treatment

Conventional treatment for Diabetes (especially Type 2 Diabetes) typically includes prescription medications to improve insulin sensitivity.  In some cases of Type 2 Diabetes, certain medications may be necessary for a short period of time to help get blood sugar levels under control.  However, these diabetic medications should be avoided where possible to reduce the risks to long-term health and avoid the potential harmful side effects, like increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and kidney and liver problems.

The Good News…

Both Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes, which makeup the vast majority of people with Diabetes, can often be entirely managed by lifestyle changes and without the need for any kind of Diabetic medications.  Additionally, patients with Metabolic Syndrome (those prone to develop Type 2 Diabetes) would more likely never develop Type 2 Diabetes simply by making changes to their diets, activity levels and stress management.

Education is the key to controlling and often completely avoiding Diabetes.  Even the number of Type 1 Diabetics, which once acquired requires a lifetime of insulin injections, could be better managed reducing the amount of needed insulin.  Diabetes prevention ideally starts early in life, especially for those people genetically predisposed.  For those people taking prescription medications for their Diabetes, it is often possible to reduce and even eliminate the need for these medications through proper nutrition, exercise and other natural alternatives.


 

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