Treating diabetes with lifestyle changes instead of medication

If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, you're probably wondering if you'll ever be able to get off your medications. We'll answer that backwards, by explaining what it takes to be put on medications.

Generally, doctors will let you try to bring blood sugar under control with diet and exercise alone as long as your fasting glucose is 140 to 150 mg/dL (7.78 to 8.33 mmol/L) or less. Here's where those A1C results come in:

• If your reading holds around 6.5 to 7 percent, there's a good chance you'll succeed with just lifestyle changes. If this number creeps up to 7.5 or above, however, you'll likely need extra help. Still, at this level your doctor will usually let you try diet and exercise alone for a three-month trial period. If your A1C number is still above seven percent, you'll probably need to start taking medication.
• If you start off with fasting blood-glucose levels higher than 150 mg/dL (8.33 mmol/L) or your A1C results hit eight percent, your doctor may put you on drugs from the get-go. Since type 2 diabetes can change over time, you may eventually need medication, no matter how healthy your diet and or how regularly you exercise. If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll always need to take insulin every day.
• If you have type 2 diabetes, high A1C results don't mean you'll stay on drugs forever. Often, doctors prescribe drugs to gain immediate control over blood sugar until diet and exercise have a chance to produce results. If you lose as little as 10 percent of your body weight, you're likely to bring your blood sugar closer to normal levels. Here's what you might expect as your blood sugar normalizes:

126 to 140 or 150 mg/dL (7 to 7.78 or 8.33 mmol/L):

• While still above normal, these levels are low enough that you may be able to stop taking all medication.

150 to 200 mg/dL (8.33 to 11.11 mmol/L):

• The chances are good that continuing your weight loss plan may allow you to get off medication. For now, however, you may still need medication and perhaps occasional doses of insulin.

Above 200 mg/dL (11.11 mmol/L):

• You may need medication or full-time insulin coverage, and possibly both, but losing weight may let you reduce your doses or make other adjustments.

There are lots of ways to controlling your blood sugar. If you catch the problem early, you may be able to avoid medication entirely. Losing weight will most likely lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol numbers, not to mention the satisfaction you'll enjoy by having gained control over your health.