According
to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse,
the 2007 statistics reported 23.6 million people, 7.8
percent of the population, have diabetes. Type 1 and
Type 2 Diabetes are a group of diseases marked by high
levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, resulting
from defects in the pancreatic cells insulin production,
insulin action, or both.
Type 1 diabetes usually has a
genetic or auto-immune etiology in which the body’s
immune system destroys the pancreatic beta cells, affecting
5-10% of the population. They are dependent on insulin
in order to survive.
Type 2 diabetes, currently affects
90% of the population and is often classified as a disease
of lifestyle leading to serious complications including
blindness, peripheral neuropathy, gangrene, and premature
death if not controlled. It is associated with age,
obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational
diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity,
and race/ethnicity. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians,
or other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high
risk for type 2 diabetes and its complications. Type
2 diabetes is being diagnosed more frequently among
American Indians, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino
Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders and in younger
children and adolescents.
In traditional medicine, initially
drugs are prescribed to optimize the pancreatic function,
but once the pancreatic beta cells are no longer functioning,
more medication will be necessary. In the world of naturopathic
medicine it is not uncommon to reverse the disease process
by bringing the blood sugar levels back to the normal
range without the need for medication. This is imperative
as excess sugar in the blood is what causes the horrendous
systemic damage to the many organs of the body. With
Naturopathy, people with diabetes can live a full, productive
life.
Dr. Ardolf has a special place in her heart for the
Hawaiian islanders, without them Hawaii would not be
the same. She welcomes all who aspire to live a healthier
life to make an appointment today.
Call
(480)
993-3205 to get
started on the road to health today.
At Dr. Ardolf & Associates
