What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that impairs the body’s ability to regulate glucose or insulin levels. Diabetes afflicts around 10% of the adult population in the U.S. However, doctors are seeing an alarming rise in diabetes cases across the country. Medical researchers have blamed this concerning trend on our increasingly unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Diabetes diagnoses are divided into two different categories. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces little to no insulin, preventing the body from storing glucose as energy. Type 1 diabetes is often described as an autoimmune condition and is believed to be highly influenced by genetic factors. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is often linked to lifestyle factors, especially obesity or inactivity. These lifestyle choices affect the way the body processes glucose, and, often, glucose cannot be correctly stored and used by the body.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have similar signs and symptoms, so it’s important to be vigilant for the first sign that something is not right. Some of the symptoms to watch out for are as follows; excessive thirst, frequent headaches, lethargy, blurry vision, dizziness, urinating more frequently, constantly feeling hungry, leg cramps, stomach pain or vomiting, and slow-healing cuts or wounds.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Diabetes
Current literature surrounding diabetes has revealed a potential link between diabetes and injury in the upper cervical spine. While the two may seem unrelated at first glance, it’s important to remember that the upper cervical spine plays a key role in supporting the central nervous system (CNS). One of the many responsibilities of the CNS is sending signals to the endocrine cells in the pancreas — these cells secrete a range of glucose-regulating hormones, including glucagon and insulin.
Any inflammation or impact on the CNS from a misalignment in the upper cervical spine can lead to disruptions in the nerve signals between the CNS and the pancreas. Without correction, impeded nerve flow could disturb the body’s ability to process and/or store insulin.
How Our Diabetes Treatment Works
If you’re currently experiencing unusual symptoms or you have received a diabetes diagnosis, get in touch with our office for a consultation with our expert upper cervical chiropractor, Dr. Bello.
Using a combination of digital X-rays and non-invasive cone-beam computed tomography scans, Dr. Bello can determine the exact location and angle of any misalignments in the upper cervical spine that could be contributing to your diabetes.
If a misalignment is detected, Dr. Bello will create a customized treatment plan. This will usually involve a series of gentle, precise corrections to the upper cervical spine to coax the misaligned vertebrae back into place. This process is completely painless and won’t involve any cracking, pulling, or popping of the spine.
If you’re looking for an alternative and natural treatment for diabetes, Dr. Bello is here to help. He offers upper cervical chiropractic care to patients in Brentwood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.