What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that affects a person’s ability to use, maintain, and store glucose in the body. Approximately 10% of adults in the U.S. have diabetes, but the occurrence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate.
The two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, have different causes and affect patients quite differently. Type 1 diabetes is triggered by issues in the pancreas. Primarily, when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin and, as a result, cannot store glucose as energy. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s ability to process and store glucose is affected by obesity or a sedentary lifestyle.
A commonly overlooked factor in the onset of diabetes is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. Read on to find out how the upper cervical spine could be causing your diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes will depend on whether an individual is suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Treatment for each type of diabetes is different, so it is important that you seek a medical diagnosis before considering any treatment options.
Diabetes type 1 and 2 share a range of symptoms, including lethargy, blurry vision, frequent headaches, excessive thirst, dizziness, frequent urination, leg cramps, stomach pain, slow healing cuts or wounds, and a constant feeling of hunger.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Diabetes
There is no immediate, obvious link between diabetes and misalignments in the upper cervical spine. However, ongoing research has highlighted a potential bridge through the central nervous system (CNS). The central nervous system is responsible for communicating with the endocrine cells in the pancreas. When insulin levels need to be adjusted, the CNS will facilitate this process by communicating with the endocrine cells.
If there is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, it can lead to compression of key neural pathways along the CNS. Over time, this can cause localized inflammation that will disrupt or even inhibit nerve flow between the CNS and the endocrine cells. If the pancreas starts receiving mixed signals about when to produce and store insulin, patients may begin to experience diabetes symptoms.
How Our Upper Cervical Spinal Treatment for Diabetes Works
Dr. Gordon Elder is a specialist Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor. The Blair technique focuses on re-engaging the body’s natural healing mechanisms and restoring the upper cervical spine to improve nerve, muscle, and spinal function.
For diabetes treatment, Dr. Elder usually takes a two-step approach to get to the root cause of your condition. Before treatment can begin, patients will attend a 25-30-minute consultation; this will give Dr. Elder the opportunity to gather information about a patient’s medical history. Dr. Elder will also use this time to determine whether there is a misalignment present in the upper cervical spine. This diagnostic process typically involves the use of advanced 3-D imaging techniques to identify the exact location of any misalignments.
Following diagnosis, Dr. Elder will create an individualized, comprehensive treatment plan, giving you the time to ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have over your treatment. Once treatment begins, Dr. Elder will employ a range of gentle and low-force corrections to coax any affected vertebrae back into alignment. By restoring the upper cervical spine to its natural position, pressure will be removed from the CNS and electrical signals can begin to fire normally. Over time, this will allow for insulin production to stabilize.
To properly treat diabetes, you’ll be required to return for regular check-ups (for at least 3-5 months) to ensure the adjustment is holding. Most patients average between 10 and 15 appointments with Dr. Elder to achieve long-lasting/permanent results.
If diabetes is preventing you from living your life to the fullest, get in touch today to speak with Dr. Gordon Elder about the health of your upper cervical spine. Located in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Elder also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.