Summer and its monster storms, thankfully, are behind us. But there’s a monster disease among us today—and it continues to grow in strength, affecting an estimated 30 million Americans. You can’t do much about extreme weather, but you can protect yourself against type 2 diabetes.

Why have a National Diabetes Month?

Type 2 diabetes affects more than 30 million people in this country. Another 8 million are thought to have it but aren’t diagnosed.

From a 2017 study, looking ahead to 2030:

“The prevalence of diabetes…will increase by 54 percent to more than 54.9 million Americans…

Annual deaths attributed to diabetes will climb by 38 percent to 385,800…

Total annual diabetes medical and societal costs will increase 53 percent to more than $622 billion by 2030.”

That’s why this is National Diabetes Month—to continue raising awareness, educating the public, and encouraging and empowering people to take control of this disease before it’s too late.

But wait. If we’re smarter about sugar, diet and exercise than in decades past, what’s fueling this rampaging epidemic?

Recent research points to lesser-known causes that are proving to be as deadly as the archvillain, sugar.

What are diabetogens?

They’re environmental toxins that act like hormones, and when they enter your body, they trash your immune response. For diabetics, that means one more factor is interfering with normal insulin release and blood sugar control.

Some of the most dangerous diabetogens?

• Arsenic, found in seafood, poultry, rice, and drinking water
• Bisphenol A (BPA), used to produce plastics, including food and drink packaging
• Dioxins, used in countless industrial processes and spewed into the air
• Pesticides, in plants, water, and air around farms
• Phthalates, that increase durability in plastics, and appear in health and beauty aids, fragrances, and cosmetics

What can you do to protect yourself?

I wish I could advise never ingesting any diabetogens, but I can’t. They’re everywhere. But please, at least be aware of their omnipresence, and avoid them when you see them on packaging labels.

I recommend everyone get tested for diabetogens levels. Your doctor can administer or prescribe:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Platelet count
• Homocysteine
• Bilirubin
• C-reactive protein
• Urine and blood tests

If tests show high diabetogens levels, here’s how to clean up and build up resistance:

Break a sweat with sauna, detox baths, and exercise. Your body will always give you help when you ask for it. Sweating, for example, will help you with weight loss and blood sugar control. A moderate workout most days of the week is my number one recommendation. Or visit a sauna, or take a detoxifying bath with Epsom salt.

Fasting is another excellent detoxer. It doesn’t have to be extreme—just go without food for a certain amount of time. Start by skipping one meal, and increasing what you skip from there. It’s easier than you think–mind over meal.

There’s also intermittent fasting. You consume low calories (about 500-600) 1 or 2 days a week, and eat normally the remaining days. Of course, when you do eat, it should be only fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, little or no sugar, healthy meats and oils.

Cysteine. Cysteine helps produce a powerful antioxidant. It’s found in high-protein foods such as poultry dairy, and eggs. Add these to your diet, or supplement with 600 mg daily of n-acetyl cysteine, which your body can convert into cysteine.

Fiber up. Fiber binds to toxins in the gut and sends them packing. Up your intake of organic fruits and veggies—the best source of fiber.

A daily probiotic. Beneficial bacteria do many critical jobs. In the case of diabetogens, research indicates that certain strains of bacteria bind to diabetogens and eliminate them.

Berberine, found in plants like barberry and goldenseal, helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. I recommend 1000 mg, divided into 3-4 doses across the day

Chromium, an essential mineral, helps to manage your insulin sensitivity. Diabetics tend to have lower blood chromium levels than non-diabetics. I recommend 400 micrograms daily.

Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that helps prevent diabetes by improving insulin resistance, as well as relieving some of its worst symptoms, like neuropathy and retinal damage.

If you want to try a supplement, finding any or all of these on the ingredients label says you’re on the right track.

Make National Diabetes Month a cause for celebration instead of worry. Start by talking with your doctor.

Last Updated: November 1, 2019
Originally Published: November 3, 2018