There are 3 main types of diabetes, and as a whole, this chronic disease affects so many people in Trinidad and Tobago. Many people believe that diabetes is permanent, and I am here to clarify the reality of this thought because it is more nuanced than we think. The truth is that type 2 and gestational diabetes can be reversed, but type 1 can be better managed with lifestyle changes. It’s better to understand the types and what options you have to make a more informed decision about your health.
What does reversible mean? Ideally, type 2 and gestational diabetes can be pushed into remission and, in many cases, be reversed when it has been effectively resolved because of the nutrition treatment intervention. It is not about being “cured” but sustaining healthy blood sugar values without the support of medication. Remission is a shorter timeframe for blood sugars to regulate to the “normal” ranges, but it still exists and can return if the lifestyle changes are abandoned.
Insulin resistance can be affected by lifestyle factors such as excess body fat, poor diet, inadequate sleep, inactivity and chronic stress. This occurs when the body cannot use insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels over time.
Research has shown that early nutrition intervention increases the likelihood of remission. In my nutrition practice, many clients have successfully reduced their HbA1c from diabetes levels to normal ranges by consistently improving their eating habits and adopting healthier lifestyles. This helps with healing the body from the inside out.
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and can cause the mother’s body to be less responsive to insulin. For most women, after delivery, their blood sugars return to normal; for some, they develop type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas, and now the body cannot produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. This is not reversible and cannot go into remission. It can be managed better with nutrition solutions.
Blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes with HBA1C levels, where normal is <5.7% and diabetes is >6.5% or fasting blood sugar levels, where normal is <100mg/dl and diabetes is >126mg/dl.
Foods that can worsen blood sugar control includes frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates, sugar beverages and unbalanced meals with highly processed foods. These are my favourite foods that help to manage blood sugars more effectively:
1) Vegetables, for example, callaloo, cabbage, spinach, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, eggplant.
2) Complex carbohydrates: sweet potato, breadfruit, cassava, oats, green fig.
3) Fruits instead of juices, such as pawpaw, watermelon, pommecythere, plums.
4) High-quality protein like egg whites, turkey, beans.
5) Healthy fats: chia, flaxseed powder.
Nutrition alone is very powerful. It works best when combined with lifestyle habits to improve sleep, stress and other factors that impact our health. One phrase that I often share with my clients is:
“You are what you eat. The focus is to transform your health with daily habits focusing on nutrition solutions gives you the best quality of life.”
Nutrition solutions can help to combat insulin resistance, improve HbA1c, and support better diabetes management. While Type 1 diabetes requires insulin, healthy lifestyle choices can improve overall health and quality of life.
Candida Khan, MSc RD also known as Didi is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
She is also the CEO of Didi’s Nutrition Consultancy: didisnutritionconsultancy.com
