11/03/2025
November: National Diabetes Awareness Month — A Call to Wake Up, Not Just Treat
Written by Dr. Craig Binner, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified ReCODE 2.0 under Dr. Dale Bredesen, Certified Brain Health Professional under Dr. Daniel Amen, and Certified Kalish Practitioner
Diabetes has quietly become one of the most devastating epidemics in our country. It touches every home, every community, and every generation. And while modern medicine has made remarkable strides in managing symptoms, we’ve largely missed the deeper conversation — what’s driving it.
From a functional and integrative medicine perspective, diabetes isn’t just about high blood sugar. It’s a signal — a reflection of an overwhelmed system. A body that’s been forced to adapt under too much stress, toxicity, inflammation, and disconnection. It’s the warning light on the dashboard, not the root problem itself.
When we simply suppress that light with medication, we miss the chance to repair what’s underneath.
A Crisis That Touches Us All: According to the American Diabetes Association, over 38 million Americans are now living with diabetes — about one in every nine people. The financial burden is staggering: more than $412 billion is spent each year on diabetes-related costs in the U.S. (Diabetes Care, 2024).
That’s not just an individual issue — it’s a societal one. Families carry the emotional strain, workplaces lose productivity, and our healthcare system spends billions treating what, in most cases, is deeply modifiable through lifestyle and environment.
What’s Really Driving It: From a holistic lens, type 2 diabetes rarely begins with a pancreas problem. It begins with a lifestyle and environment mismatch — too much sugar and stress, not enough movement or restoration. Over time, the body’s communication network — insulin signaling — becomes distorted.
As Dr. Josh Axe explains, “Ultra-processed food isn’t just ‘not great’… it’s driving the epidemic behind pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, and stubborn weight gain.”
That single insight captures what we see daily in functional medicine: our modern diet and environment have drifted far from what the body was designed to handle.
The real culprits?
1. Chronic stress keeping cortisol high.
2. Environmental toxins impairing hormones and mitochondria.
3. Poor sleep and inactivity blunting insulin sensitivity.
4. Disconnection — from nature, from movement, and from community.
When these layers stack, the body stops whispering and starts shouting.
A More Honest Path Forward: Functional medicine teaches that the body is wired for healing when given the right conditions. Type 2 diabetes, in many cases, can be prevented or reversed by restoring balance — not by chasing numbers.
That means focusing on:
1. Nutrition that nourishes, not spikes — whole, unprocessed foods rich in fiber, healthy fats, and clean proteins.
2. Movement that stabilizes metabolism — even a short walk after meals can lower blood sugar spikes by up to 30%.
3. Rest and renewal — deep sleep, prayer, and emotional reset allow the body to recalibrate.
4. Reducing toxic load — minimize plastics, pesticides, and environmental disruptors.
5. Connection — healthy relationships and purpose lower stress hormones and improve metabolic resilience.
Start Small: Choose One Step Today. Pick one simple action and start this month:
1. Walk 10 minutes after each meal. Movement helps glucose enter muscle instead of lingering in blood.
3. Eat with intention. Slow down, chew thoroughly, and choose foods close to their natural state.
3. Cut evening sugar and screens. Allow your body to rest, repair, and reset overnight.
These aren’t grand gestures — they’re small, sustainable acts that ripple into lifelong health.
A Collective Responsibility: When one person in a family becomes healthier, everyone benefits. Children learn what vitality looks like. Spouses share less stress and more energy. Communities grow stronger.
Health isn’t a solo pursuit — it’s a shared mission. We win together, or we drift together. Awareness is the first step; consistent daily action is the next.
Closing Thought:
Diabetes doesn’t appear overnight, and it won’t disappear overnight. But it’s not destiny either.
When we give the body what it needs — nourishment, movement, rest, and connection — healing becomes its natural direction.
So this November, let’s not just raise awareness about diabetes. Let’s raise consciousness — about how we live, eat, think, and connect. Because every small act of balance brings us one step closer to freedom.
