The primary goal of diabetes treatment and management is to manage the blood sugar/glucose levels better while avoiding drops in the glucose levels to the degree that the patient develops symptomatic hypoglycemia. Treating diabetes through lifestyle changes is one of the most beneficial and effective ways to lower blood sugar levels, and also results in weight loss.
Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death worldwide and is the most expensive long-term disease to treat. In the US, where the diet of most individuals is high in carbohydrates and obesity is more prevalent, about 10% of the population suffers from diabetes, with type 2 diabetes accounting for about 90% of all cases. Type 2 diabetes is also known as “adult-onset diabetes .” The cause of this type of diabetes is not clearly understood; however, it is most commonly associated with a combination of excessive body weight and insufficient exercise.
Given the rising trend in the rates of obesity, it appears the incidence of diabetes will continue to rise. Additionally, due to the long-term health consequences of diabetes, the risk of early death has nearly doubled, resulting in almost 4 million deaths a year. As such, it is not surprising that the cost of diabetes treatment in the United States is over $300 billion, with the average medical expenditures for patients with diabetes being twice that of non-diabetics.
Therefore, the cost of diabetes is no longer just a cost to your health, but also an economic cost that has physicians looking at treating diabetes through lifestyle changes. One of the most beneficial and effective ways to manage this disease is by treating diabetes through lifestyle changes that include dietary changes, increased exercise, close medical follow-up, and ultimately, weight loss.