Type 2 Diabetes in the US is at epidemic levels and it shows no sign of abating. To make matters worse, most studies indicate that adherence to healthy Type 2 Diabetes management practices among Type 2 Diabetics is around 30%. This means most Type 2 Diabetics are slowly killing themselves because they are unable to make the lifestyle changes necessary to prevent the catastrophic complications that accompany this disorder.
The diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes means that your blood glucose levels (A1C) are consistently higher than those of a healthy individual. It doesn’t indicate whether a high A1C is due to a poorly functioning pancreas or whether the patient’s muscle cells have become so insulin resistant that they are no longer able to absorb enough glucose to keep up with the body’s production. Accordingly, the diagnose relates to a symptom, and not an actual cause.
It’s a fact that some people are genetically predisposed to developing Type 2 Diabetes while others are not just like some people are predisposed to developing heart disease or lung cancer and others are not. When you are predisposed to becoming diabetic, an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle will most likely lead to to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. So, if lifestyle choices lead to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes, is it a medical condition or a behavior issue and more importantly, once it develops should it be treated solely as a medical condition or should the emphasis be on the behavior that caused it in the first place?
The best course of action is to treat the symptom then cure the person. Unfortunately too many people just treat the symptoms but never adequately address the behaviors that go them there in the first place. Likewise, many members of the medical community place too much emphasis on treating the symptoms and aren’t aggressive enough at the behavior side of this potentially devastating condition. Sure, they direct them to educational resources but that’s not enough. That’s why adherence levels are so low.
Imagine if someone suffering from self mutilation went to the doctor and they were prescribed an anti-depressant and told simply to “Stop doing that!” Sounds foolish doesn’t it? Naturally, the doctor would highly recommend they start some kind of therapy to change their behavior. So why don’t doctors recommend Type 2 Diabetics focus on getting the kind of support they need to change the behaviors that brought them to the diagnosis as well instead of simply telling them… “Don’t eat like that any more and start exercising?” Just like with the self mutilator, the solution is simple… but it simply isn’t that easy.
Since most behavior relating to Type 2 Diabetes is controlled primarily by the unconscious portion of your mind, hypnotherapy is a very effective way of modifying that behavior so that you can successfully manage Type 2 Diabetes. Make an appointment today and let’s get started getting you healthier and happier,