Can simply eating correctly without exercise prevent diabetes?
I was wondering if you could prevent Diabetes from simply avoiding refined sugars and eating gluten free stuff and basically eating fairly healthy? I know the benefits of regular exercise but I also know you can loose weight by just eating healthy and gradually restricting fat and calories.
So, weight issues aside, exercise aside, can you avoid diabetes by simply adjusting your diet to a low sugar (low refined sugars) and increasing fruits and veggies and just overall eating in a more healthy way?
I am talking about Type 2 Diabetes not type 1.
There is no evidence that I have seen that links gluten to Type 2 diabetes.
Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and Type 1 diabetes *are* genetically linked because they are both AUTOIMMUNE diseases. Celiac Disease is not linked genetically with Type 2 diabetes, as Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are totally different diseases with different genetics. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, Type 2 diabetes is not.
There is some evidence to suggest that a gluten free diet may help prevent some cases of *Type 1 diabetes* in certain people who are genetically at risk to develop the disorder.
However, a gluten free diet cuts out a lot of readily available junk food,so it may help you lose weight due to that.
Sometimes information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is hard to sort out, since most media forms incorrectly tend to lump them together. Or they mention "diabetes" but not what type. They are very different diseases with the same name and similar symptoms, but very different causes.
As for your question, a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight will go a long way to prevent Type 2 (although some cases cannot be prevented), provided that you are already AT a healthy weight. If you are already severely overweight/obese, it is doubtful you will lose enough weight by changing your diet alone, unless you have been eating a bucket of KFC and 5 Big Macs daily. In that case, it may be enough. But if you already have insulin resistance (a precursor to Type 2 diabetes) from being overweight, you will need exercise to decrease that.
Exercise can also decrease the risk/severeity of heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. which obese/overweight people are prone to. It’s usually needed for most to stay healthy. Also, many are not able to KEEP the weight off without exercise. Once again, insulin resistance from when the person was overweight may still be a factor here. It may not be a reversible state immediately.
While it’s great you are trying to make changes, and I am glad, you have to understand that staying healthy takes work. Just as it takes effort to *become* overweight by storing too many calories, it takes effort to BURN those calories.
Start with a VERY healthy and strict diet. When some of the weight starts to come off, you may then feel better about starting an exercise routine. Walking after meals is a good start. There are also workout videos for people in wheelchairs, which you can do at home right in your own armchair.
A healthy diet WILL decrease your risk, but exercise will decrease your risk even further. You want to give yourself the best fighting chance, right?
Good luck!
P.S. Avoid trans fats like the plague. I personally believe they play a role in inflammation, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. You can do this by avoiding junk food/fast food, and by reading the labels on crackers, margerine, etc. Many "healthy" foods are not when you really look at them. Anything that says "partially hydrogenated" means Trans Fat.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Everyone needs to exercise whether they have diabetes or not. Just plan good for you
References :
September 28th, 2009 at 9:44 am
It’s step in the right direction, and yes it will lower the risk of acquiring type II diabetes, but nothing, not even a combination of diet and exercise, will guarantee a prevention. Sometimes factors outside of your control, such as genetics, will determine your expression of a disorder.
A healthy diet does go a long way though.
References :
September 28th, 2009 at 10:06 am
There are really no preventive measures for Type 1 Diabetes as there is no known cause. On another note, being healthy in general is always a good thing, and something to strive for. Best of luck.
References :
September 28th, 2009 at 10:28 am
definetly especially in individuals where there is no family history so mostly likely there’s no genetic predisposition for such.
however you have to realize that the human body is not designed to be sedentary. our muscles are designed to be operated over the full range of motion and to exert force on a daily basis. a lack of exercise over the lifespan will catch up to you and those who feel exercise is not necessary because the bodyweight may be normal. that logic is completely flawed
References :
BS Exercise Science
IFPA Certified Master Trainer
25+ years of resistance training experience
17 years of martial arts training
September 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am
There is no evidence that I have seen that links gluten to Type 2 diabetes.
Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and Type 1 diabetes *are* genetically linked because they are both AUTOIMMUNE diseases. Celiac Disease is not linked genetically with Type 2 diabetes, as Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are totally different diseases with different genetics. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, Type 2 diabetes is not.
There is some evidence to suggest that a gluten free diet may help prevent some cases of *Type 1 diabetes* in certain people who are genetically at risk to develop the disorder.
However, a gluten free diet cuts out a lot of readily available junk food,so it may help you lose weight due to that.
Sometimes information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is hard to sort out, since most media forms incorrectly tend to lump them together. Or they mention "diabetes" but not what type. They are very different diseases with the same name and similar symptoms, but very different causes.
As for your question, a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight will go a long way to prevent Type 2 (although some cases cannot be prevented), provided that you are already AT a healthy weight. If you are already severely overweight/obese, it is doubtful you will lose enough weight by changing your diet alone, unless you have been eating a bucket of KFC and 5 Big Macs daily. In that case, it may be enough. But if you already have insulin resistance (a precursor to Type 2 diabetes) from being overweight, you will need exercise to decrease that.
Exercise can also decrease the risk/severeity of heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. which obese/overweight people are prone to. It’s usually needed for most to stay healthy. Also, many are not able to KEEP the weight off without exercise. Once again, insulin resistance from when the person was overweight may still be a factor here. It may not be a reversible state immediately.
While it’s great you are trying to make changes, and I am glad, you have to understand that staying healthy takes work. Just as it takes effort to *become* overweight by storing too many calories, it takes effort to BURN those calories.
Start with a VERY healthy and strict diet. When some of the weight starts to come off, you may then feel better about starting an exercise routine. Walking after meals is a good start. There are also workout videos for people in wheelchairs, which you can do at home right in your own armchair.
A healthy diet WILL decrease your risk, but exercise will decrease your risk even further. You want to give yourself the best fighting chance, right?
Good luck!
P.S. Avoid trans fats like the plague. I personally believe they play a role in inflammation, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. You can do this by avoiding junk food/fast food, and by reading the labels on crackers, margerine, etc. Many "healthy" foods are not when you really look at them. Anything that says "partially hydrogenated" means Trans Fat.
References :