Can The Blair Chiropractic Technique Help With Diabetes?

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by a body’s inability to use, maintain, and store glucose. Once a fairly rare disease, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Some 10 percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from diabetes, and that number is rising at an alarming rate. 

Diabetes is thought to be caused by a defective pancreas, poor diet, or a sedentary lifestyle. One potential cause that often goes overlooked is the link between diabetes and misalignments of the upper cervical spine. 

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough of its insulin to regulate glucose in the body. Type 1 is usually due to genetics, and its onset is typically in childhood. The condition is irreversible but manageable with blood sugar monitoring, insulin injections, diet, and exercise.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in the body become insulin resistant and have difficulty processing and storing glucose. Type 2 is most commonly caused by a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, often accompanied by obesity. There may also be genetic factors, or occasionally other underlying health conditions and/or medications that can lead to the onset of this type of diabetes.

Common symptoms for both types of diabetes include fatigue, lethargy, shakiness, excessive thirst, frequent urination, frequent hunger pangs, dizziness, confusion, headaches, and blurred vision. People with diabetes also may experience tingling in the hands and feet or may notice wounds take an unusually long time to heal. 

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Diabetes

One potential link to diabetes that has been revealed by modern research is upper cervical spine health. The central nervous system sends signals to the pancreas to release hormones that regulate glucose. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord.

The upper cervical spine consists of the uppermost vertebrae that run from the base of the skull and down through the neck. It sits just below the brain stem where it connects to the spinal cord. When the vertebrae in this area are misaligned, it can result in pinched nerves, swelling, and inflammation that impede the flow of signals from the central nervous system to the body. This can disrupt any of the body’s vital processes, including the body’s ability to produce insulin and regulate blood sugar levels. 

How Our Diabetes Treatment Works

Diabetes is a serious condition, and uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to serious problems such as organ damage, blindness, or the need to amputate limbs due to poor circulation. This disease can quickly turn fatal if it goes untreated. Upper cervical spine care can be part of a person’s overall diabetic health care plan.

Dr. Elizabeth Hoefer of Well Connected Chiropractic is a specialist in treating the upper cervical spine. An expert in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, Dr. Hoefer uses state-of-the-art technology to measure and calculate misalignments of the spine so she can plan precise corrections based on your unique anatomy. She can apply low-force yet precise corrections to help align the spine so that the nerve signals can flow unimpeded and the body can proceed with its natural vital processes. 

Dr. Hoefer services patients in Orange County, including Anaheim, Rancho Santa Margarita, Dana Point, San Clemente, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana.