How to Overcome Diabetes Without Insulin

Overcoming type 2 diabetes without the use of insulin medication requires close monitoring from your physician, exercise and a strict diet that regulates your daily sugar intake, preventing spikes in your glucose levels from unhealthy foods. Because your pancreas can't supply your body with enough insulin to work properly it's important to make lifestyle changes that reduces your risk of high blood sugar levels. Do not attempt to treat your condition on your own, as health complications such as heart disease can occur which require hospitalization.

Instructions

• 1

  Reduce your caloric intake. Eating fewer calories daily can lower your blood-sugar level dramatically which can lower your need for medication, according to the Harvard Medical School. Reduce your daily calorie intake by 200 to 300 calories and test your blood-sugar level to determine how diet helps maintain normal blood sugar. Avoid eating more than the suggested serving size, as overeating leads to weight gain and blood-sugar level rises. Read food labels to determine the appropriate serving. Many type 2 diabetics find it helpful to monitor their intake of simple carbohydrates.

• 2

  Increase your exercise. Excess weight contributes to high blood sugar levels, which puts you at risk for heart disease as well. Although getting at least 30 minutes of exercise helps lowers your blood-sugar levels, you can also maintain your levels by increasing daily physical activity such as walking or taking the stairs rather than using an elevator or driving to your destination. Housework, gardening and biking help burn calories and improve your energy balance. Exercise at least 3 days a week for the best results.

• 3

  Replace unhealthy foods with healthy foods. Foods that are high in saturated fat, sodium and trans fat should be reduced or completely eliminated to maintain a healthy blood-sugar level. Replace foods that use refined sugar or white flour with wheat flour, as wheat-flour products are considered complex carbohydrates that provide your body consistent fuel necessary for staying alert throughout the day. Be sure to include vegetables into each meal. Half of your plate should consist of non-starchy vegetables.

• 4

  Limit your meat to fish, skinless chicken and turkey as red meat is high in saturated fat and calories. Salmon, sardines, tuna and mackerel are high in omega-3 fatty acids that help lower your cholesterol, and high in protein which is necessary for repairing muscles, tissue and energy. The recommended dietary allowance of protein is 46 to 50 grams for women and 58 to 63 grams for men, according to "Beating Diabetes." Avoid too much protein as it can put too much stress on your kidney and liver. Contact your doctor to determine the appropriate amount of protein for you.

• 5

  Spread your meals throughout the day. Portion your meals so that they are roughly the same size, as this helps maintain a steady blood-sugar level. Eating more food at night can cause your blood-sugar reading to be abnormally high in the morning, which throws off the new day's meal schedule as you have to work to get your levels down to a safe level, which is between the low to mid 100s, according to the American Diabetes Association.