Exercise instead of Insulin for Diabetics

I came across this article on Science Daily, Weight Loss More Effective Than Intensive Insulin Therapy For Type 2 Diabetics. and it grabbed my attention. Why are so many doctors prescribing drugs and health care plans paying for medical treatments that are just adding to the problem? (I'll leave the topic of why many health care plans, universal as well as private, in many cases will pay for expensive medications but will not assist with payments to gyms or personal trainers to those individuals willing to put in a little sweat equity to reduce their risk to another day - but I'll give you a hint, pharmaceutical companies and big money!)

Type 2 diabetes is a scary disease. It is the number one cause of blindness in the 20 to 74 yr old age group. Up to 20% of diabetics will develop kidney disease, many will require daily dialysis or a renal transplant to survive. Heart disease and stroke risk is significantly increased in those with insulin resistance. About half of the amputations done in the USA are a direct result of diabetic neuropathy. And there are many more medical complications which I have not listed.

While it may not possible for all diabetics to avoid complications or get off their medications entirely, a great many diabetics could reduce their risks and decrease their medication requirements by loosing weight. Sounds easy doesn't it! Well, I tell you it is not. Loosing weight is never easy and it becomes more difficult in those with insulin resistance. But this study showed that giving insulin dependant type 2 diabetics higher amounts of insulin just drives the fat molecules into the cells increasing the damage to those cells. “Giving more insulin to an insulin-resistant patient is akin to raising the blood pressure of a patient with high blood pressure to overcome resistance to blood flow. Instead, you would try to reduce the resistance”.
So what is an overweight diabetic to do? Well while it is not easy, loosing weight is a must. It comes down to calories in vs calories out. Making smart choices in food consumption is essential, and a regular exercise routine is a must. Even a small decrease in body weight, as little as 5%, has been shown to decrease the risk of complications in diabetics. It might not be easy, but the hard work would be well worth the efforts if you are facing the prospect of taking a drug that studies have shown will only make the problems worse in the long haul.