Can Type 1 Diabetes be Reversed With Diet and Exercise?

Last updated on August 30th, 2022

When you have diabetes, nutrition and physical activity play an important role in helping you live a healthy life. Diabetes type-1 is less common, and it develops when a person’s body does not produce insulin at all. Diabetes type-1 patients mainly rely on insulin therapy to manage their blood sugar levels. It is a lesser-known fact that diet and exercise can reverse diabetes type-1, like diabetes type-2 and gestational diabetes. Read this blog to know about ways to reverse type 1 diabetes with diet and exercise.

Diet Changes to Improve Your Blood Sugar Levels

The kind of food you eat is responsible for determining your health to a lot extent. If you eat healthy foods, your body will function smoothly. It will maintain your metabolism, body weight, and blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Often people with diabetes think that diabetes means that they have to go without foods they enjoy. The good part is that despite diabetes, you can still have your favourite food but less often and in small portions.

The best diet for people with diabetes type-1

People with diabetes type-1 can manage their diabetes with diet changes. Eating lots of carbohydrates increases their blood sugar levels, whereas not eating carbohydrates can make you feel low energetic all the time. Therefore, diabetes type-1 patients have to switch to a balanced diet that helps manage their diabetes. One of the most recommended diets for diabetes type-1 patients is a high fibre and low-calorie diet. This type of diet provides them sufficient amount of carbohydrates that their body can use effectively.

High Fibre and Low-calorie Diet to Manage Diabetes Type-1

As the name suggests, this diet is rich in fibre and contains low-calorie food items. High-fibre foods include non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and some seeds. Consult with your dietician to prepare the best diet chart for you. Some high fibre foods are:

• Broccoli: This cruciferous vegetable is tasty and packed with lots of nutrients. It contains a rich amount of fibre and low-calorie content. It boasts more protein than any other vegetable. You can enjoy it cooked or raw to get the greatest health benefit.
• Purple cabbage: It has a taste similar to green cabbage but has a variety of plant compounds that give many health benefits. Purple cabbage is also rich in Vitamin C and K. It helps improve heart and bone health, protects against cancer, and reduces inflammation.
• Avocado: The unique buttery texture of avocado makes it a delicious fruit. You can also consume it as a vegetable and add it to various dishes. Avocado contains a rich amount of monounsaturated fats, fiber, Vitamin K and C, folate, and potassium. Monounsaturated fats are healthy fats.
• Flax seeds: Small oil seeds contain rich fibre, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Taking one teaspoon of flax seeds powder helps weight loss and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. People with diabetes type-1 should incorporate flax seeds into their meals as well. It promotes better digestion and reduces the risk of heart problems and kidney damage. 
• Chia Seeds: Many studies suggest that Chia seeds help improve blood sugar levels, and you feel fuller for a longer time. Chia Seeds are the best keto-friendly sources of fibre. In addition to being high in fibre, chia seeds contain a rich amount of protein and several vitamins and minerals. It helps improve insulin resistance, regulates insulin, and promotes healthy weight loss. 

Diet Tips for People With Diabetes Type 1

Here are some diet tips for people with diabetes type-1 to manage their blood sugar levels:

• Drink more water. Less water in the body means higher blood sugar concentrations. Thus, people with diabetes type-1 should drink adequate water in a day. Water also helps flush out excessive blood glucose through urine which helps lower blood sugar levels.
• Avoid or limit foods with added sugar, juice drinks, processed foods, refined grains, alcoholic beverages, sugary breakfast, and fried foods. These foods contain more calories, thus, increasing the carb intake and leading to a rise in blood sugar levels.
• Check out the glycemic index of the food. Some foods have low-calorie content but have a high glycemic index. Such foods can raise blood sugar levels. Therefore, people with diabetes type-1 should check out the glycemic index. Foods with a low glycemic index are best for diabetes type-1 to prevent blood sugar spikes.
• Do not skip meals. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, increases blood sugar levels. When you skip meals, your body does not get the required carbohydrates. Hence it starts releasing the glucose stored in the liver for energy to the body. As a result, blood sugar levels increase.

Also Read: Best Diabetic Diet Chart

Exercising With Diabetes Type-1

Staying active helps reverse diabetes type-1 and the chances of developing related complications. Regular exercises help improve quality of life. It also manages your weight, improves mood, and promotes better sleep. Many people with diabetes type-1 often hesitate to exercise. It is because strenuous physical activities may lower blood sugar levels. Well, proper exercising can avoid low blood sugar levels. People with diabetes type-1 can help the personal trainer or coach to learn the best exercises for reversing diabetes type-1.

Suggestions before you start with exercises 

Here are some suggestions for people with diabetes type-1 before they start with exercises:

• Talk to your doctor before exercising. A doctor can suggest the best exercise program to support your diabetes type-1 management.
• Set a realistic goal for exercising. If you haven’t exercised much in the past years, do not exercise more in less time. You also cannot start all of a sudden with jumping or running. You can start walking. Set your goal to first walk for 15 minutes, then increase your time. Later you can jump or run for more hours.
• When you start gradually with low-intensity workouts, your body gets time to build up steadily.
• Don’t do exercises that give much strain or injury to your legs. People with diabetes often do not feel the pain or soreness in their feet, leading to infection. Severe infection may require amputation.

Also Read: Exercises For Diabetes

Guidelines for Exercising                                     

Moderate to high-intensity exercise for at least 150 minutes a week can help people with diabetes type-1 manage diabetes. Experts say that no matter what type of diabetes you have, exercises play an important role in reversing insulin resistance and diabetes both. The basic guidelines for managing diabetes through exercises are:

• Monitoring blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise
• Insulin adjustments
• Eating enough carbs to get energy for exercises
• Check out the exercises suitable for your body
• Consult your doctor in case of any health problem due to exercise

Types of Exercises that You Can do With Diabetes Type-1

Some workout ideas for people with diabetes type-1 are:

1. Resistance activities: Resistance activities include bodyweight exercises, weight lifting, muscle-strengthening workouts, and resistance band exercises. These exercises improve muscle endurance and insulin sensitivity in your body. It ultimately helps manage blood sugar levels.
2. High-intensity interval exercises (HIIT): These exercises include high-intensity exercises for a short time with recovery time. During the workout, the body burns calories from blood glucose for energy. When you take a break between the workouts, your body recovers and pace up with a loss of energy to maintain glucose levels in the body.
3. Running: Walking is mandatory for people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels. But, if you enjoy running, it can be the best exercise for managing blood sugar levels. Running for a short distance gives you the same benefits to the body as walking for a long duration. If you have a short time for exercise, then run.
4. Cycling: Cycling is a fun activity. You can go for outdoor cycling or enjoy pedaling on your stationary bikes. Cycling helps improve insulin resistance, burns many calories, and improves your body’s flexibility. Ensure that if you have a diabetes-related foot injury or soreness in the feet, avoid cycling. Another reason why cycling is best for people with diabetes type-1 is that it gives the option to increase or decrease workout intensity. 
5. Swimming: It is not only a fun activity but a kind of aerobic exercise. Swimming increases your heart rate without putting pressure on your joints. It is one of the best exercises for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and improves physical activity while reducing the risk of injuries.
6. Mixed exercises: A mix of exercises also does well for your body in managing blood sugar levels. If you are doing the low-intensity workout for a longer duration, your blood sugar levels will drop. However, anaerobic exercises, including high-intensity exercises for a shorter duration, increase blood sugar levels. Therefore, consult a personal trainer to know the best exercises for you. Resistance activities before aerobic exercises may keep your blood sugar levels steadier.

Conclusion

Diet and exercises are the most crucial factors that determine your health. If you take a healthy diet and exercise regularly, your body restores the body functions. Your body weight, blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels remain at healthy levels. It avoids the development of health complications. People with diabetes type-1 should take proper diet and exercise regularly to maintain their blood sugar levels. Being consistent with their diet and exercise routine helps reverse diabetes and prevent complications.

FAQs:

References:

1. https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-1-diabetes/type-1-diabetes-exercise
2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity#whatFood
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/type_1_diabetes_diet/article.htm
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/type-1-diabetes-diet
5. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/high-fiber-low-carb-foods

Last Updated on August 30, 2022 by Dr. Damanjit Duggal