Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects millions of people worldwide. Traditionally, the treatment approach for diabetes has been centered on managing insulin levels with medications. However, there is much more to diabetes management of insulin levels.
Diabetes also involves a range of imbalances, including cortisol levels, inflammation, and exposure to hormones such as obesogens.
Functional nutrition is an approach that looks beyond just treating with medications. It is an approach that views the body as a complex, integrated system, where different imbalances and dysfunctions can impact each other. This approach has proven successful in managing diabetes and helping people achieve optimal health.
Functional nutrition focuses on the role of cortisol levels in diabetes management. It emphasizes the importance of stress management techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and meditation. It also encourages people to incorporate foods that reduce inflammation, such as fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens. In addition, functional nutrition highlights the benefits of incorporating foods that are high in anti-oxidants such as berries and colorful vegetables.
Functional nutrition also suggests minimizing exposure to hormones such as obesogens. These chemicals can disrupt the endocrine system and cause imbalances in hormone levels, including insulin. Obesogens can be found in pesticides, plastics, and certain cosmetics. Therefore, it is essential to read labels and minimize exposure as much as possible.
Another important element of functional nutrition is optimizing hormonal balance of stress hormones such as cortisol with adaptogens such as Rhodiola. These natural substances help to improve the body's stress response, regulate cortisol levels, and support healthy blood sugar levels.
In conclusion, functional nutrition offers a holistic approach to managing diabetes. It provides a range of tools that address the various imbalances involved in diabetes. Nurses who want to help their diabetic clients with functional nutrition should consider taking our Certificate course to learn more. By incorporating functional nutrition into diabetes management, nurses can help their clients achieve optimal health and wellness.