WITH all the available research on diabetes and claimed advances in treatment, it’s tempting to think that a cure would have been discovered by now. However, the reality is that there is no medical cure for diabetes, neither Type 1 nor Type 2. But there are many people living normal lives by natural means.

The link between chiropractors and successful diabetes treatment has earned global attention, as emerging research hints at a positive correlation. One study shows that chiropractic care may be an effective addition to medical treatments for controlling blood sugar or insulin levels.

The incidence of Type 2 diabetes is at an all-time high, and is expected to increase over time. This is mainly due to higher levels of obesity, unhealthy diets and the inactive lifestyles enjoyed by many.

With Type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels may often be controlled through diet and exercise. However, many will often require medication, including insulin. Even with proper nutrition, exercise and medication, blood sugar levels fluctuate, resulting in a need to alter medication and dosages. If the addition of chiropractic care can help keep blood sugar levels stable, then there will be less risk of diabetic side effects and damage to the body’s organs and systems due to long-term exposure to high blood glucose levels and toxic drugs.

PROBLEMS IN THE SPINE

Chiropractic care may be helpful if problems in the spine are affecting blood flow to the pancreas, which releases insulin into the body and is necessary to regulate proper levels of glucose in the blood. If the pancreas does not receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients via proper blood circulation, then there may be a relative effect upon insulin production and thus, blood glucose levels.

Chiropractic care an also alleviate compressed nerves in the spine to allow for restored connection between the brain and the systems involved with endocrine and metabolism. When the nervous system is free to work as designed, the body can work to heal itself efficiently.

A recent study showed that individuals with Type 2 diabetes who had proper nutrition, engaged in appropriate exercise and received continuous chiropractic treatment were able to stabilise their blood glucose levels in the course of a month’s time.

Another case study published in the November 2011 Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health documents a case of a four-year-old who had terrific results stabilising blood sugar through chiropractic care. She was diagnosed with spinal subluxations in the upper cervical spine, began chiropractic care and was seen a total of 24 times over a two-month period. During that time, she experienced a decrease in haemoglobin A1C from 7.2 to 6.5 per cent. The amount of insulin used was decreased from 15 units to 11 units per day.

This is quite remarkable because the literature states that intensive medical treatment of Type 1 diabetes often does not succeed in lowering A1C levels under 7.0 per cent.

Optimising neural connections

Chiropractic care works by optimising the neural connections throughout the body.

Drugs are widely prescribed for Type 2 diabetics to help lower blood sugar levels, but a meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials involving more than 33,000 people showed that this treatment is not only ineffective, it’s possibly dangerous. Treatment with glucose-lowering drugs actually showed the potential to increase risk of death from heart-related and other causes.

One of the most frequent causes of diabetes is spinal injury. The nerve supply to the digestive organs becomes compromised by stress on nerve centres in the thoracic area of the spine, most often the fifth to tenth thoracic vertebrae. Thus, chiropractic spinal adjustments should be a primary therapy for the attempted correction of diabetes. Being adjusted no less than weekly, changing diet and maintaining an exercise routine, has rendered many medication free.

Researchers found that the correction of upper-cervical subluxations resulted in a stabilisation of plasma glucose levels during a three-hour fasting period. Research points to evidence that chiropractic care may make a valuable contribution to a wellness protocol that assists those diagnosed with one of the deadliest diseases and growing epidemics worldwide.

How are diabetes and chiropractic care connected?

What does the back have to do with blood sugar? Likewise, if the nerve supply from the upper neck or middle back – the two areas that supply the pancreas – is disturbed, pancreatic function can suffer in its ability to produce enzymes, to digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and/or produce insulin. Blood sugar and digestion become imbalanced, resulting in diabetes or hypoglycemia.

INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT

A study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research illustrated the positive effects of chiropractic care when used as part of an integrative treatment for adult-onset diabetes diagnosed by a medical doctor. Along with chiropractic care, the patient received nutritional and exercise guidance. After one month, the patient’s glucose blood/urine levels normalised and remained stable. The medical doctor said the patient would not need insulin or other drugs if the condition continued to remain stable.

In addition to all of these scenarios, we offer an exclusive acupressure procedure that is intended for weight loss, which itself can help stabilise diabetic imbalances, but has serendipitously been discovered through our objective and subjective findings to assist diabetics; specifically, because it helps to control appetite and eliminate cravings for sugars and carbohydrates – which are key problems that most diabetics struggle with daily.

Don’t forget to “Ask Your Chiropractor” every week where your questions may be published and answered in subsequent articles. Address questions to: Dr Chris Davis, the Spinal Mechanic at movethebone@gmail.com; or, Dr Michael Harvey, director, at dr.michael_harvey@yahoo.com