Type-1 diabetes, which is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, is a condition where the pancreas no longer produces insulin, which consequently results in chronic high blood sugar levels. Unfortunately no one has found a way to cure diabetes of the type-1 variety; however multiple case studies suggest that chiropractic care, in combination with a healthy diet, can offer diabetes help by reducing the severity and frequency of symptoms. A few of these studies are explained below.
Case Study 1:
In a study published in the December 2006 edition of The Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, a woman in search of diabetes help partook in regular chiropractic visits for a month. The treatment she received consisted of Sacro Occipital technique as well as Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique (CMRT), which is a technique that helps to increase pancreas and adrenal gland function. The chiropractor also had the type-1 diabetes sufferer modify her diet and begin an exercise protocol. Within just one month of treatment, the patients’ blood sugar levels as well as glucose urine levels had normalized and remained stable. Granted the treatment results did not suggest that chiropractic adjustments can cure type-1 diabetes but the resulting improvements were substantial enough to warrant further research.
Case Study 2:
A 9 year old female with type-1 diabetes undertook chiropractic care in a study that was published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (June 9, 2008). In this study, the chiropractor performed low-amplitude, high velocity adjustments as well as the manipulation of vertebral subluxations. The girl was also instructed to increase her intake of fruits, vegetables and water. At the end of the study, the girl required lower doses of insulin, and she experienced a decrease in hypoglycemic episodes, as well as an improvement in her sleeping patterns.
Case Study 3:
Another, more recent study was conducted in 2011 and published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health. This study was done on a 4 year old female, and it involved 24 visits to the chiropractic office. A specific type of chiropractic treatment referred to as the “Gonstead Technique Protocol” was administered, in order to reduce vertebral subluxations. At the end of the study, the girl experienced a decrease in A1C levels, which is the measure used to calculate an individual’s average blood glucose levels over a three month period of time. Similar to the above case studies, the girl was also able to decrease her insulin administration dose.
Case Study 4:
An additional study was recently conducted and published in the July 2011 edition of Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. In this study, a 61-year old man pursued diabetes help from his chiropractic practitioner. Although this man had adult-onset diabetes and not type-1 diabetes, the results of his treatment are worth mentioning for two reasons: Firstly, the results were quite dramatic. And secondly, the pathology of both type-1 and type-2 diabetes is quite similar, in that they both involve chronic high blood sugar levels which are caused by insulin insuffiency.
In this study, the man was put on a “Maximized Treatment Protocol” which is a type of chiropractic care that involves dietary modifications in combination with both Diversified Full Spine and Pettibon techniques applied to the vertebral subluxations. After just one month on the Maximized Treatment Protocol, the man was able to quit taking all of his diabetic medications, and after just two months his blood sugar levels had completely normalized—in this case the chiropractic protocol was enough to completely cure diabetes!
Conclusion:
Although all of the above case studies suggest that chiropractic care is a beneficial technique for managing type-1 diabetes, it should be noted that it cannot cure diabetes unless the individual is suffering from the type-2 variety. Finally, future research, conducted on a larger scale, is required in order to definitively confirm whether or not chiropractic treatment is an effective method of diabetes help.
Related Reading: Your risk for diabetes increases if you’re not getting enough of this
Related Reading: Turning 50? You could be at risk for diabetes
Advertisement
