Video Q&A about Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Yes, thank you. I would like to know what will healthy eating and exercise do to help my current health problems, which consist of type 2 diabetes( non- insulin dependent) sleep apena, obesity, high blood pressure and stiffness of the heart( No CHF so far). Both my physicians tell me I eat right diet and exercise all of theses disease will go away.

@msbailey75 Baloney. I have all these, and I eat right, and am dying in a few months.

Here is Dr. Phillips' reply: Stiffening of the heart muscle, resulting in poor compliance or lack of “relaxation” of the heart muscle can lead to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Many things may cause this to happen, and reversing the cause if possible can slow the progress of the changes in heart function. Aerobic exercise has also been shown to be helpful. There is currently no specific medication to reverse the change in compliance of the heart.

Hi @msbailey75,

It may sound too good to be true that type 2 diabetes can go away or be reversed with exercise and healthy eating – but research and many clinical studies have established some truth to this statement.
Your physicians' have given you some great advice – eating a healthy diet, being physically active, and losing extra weight is the foundation of diabetes management. When you follow this healthy lifestyle, your body's cells respond better to insulin which then lowers blood sugar levels.
When people with type 2 diabetes can go off medication because their blood sugar is normal or controlled, then the diabetes is considered to have gone away or reversed. However, they must continue to engage in a lifestyle program in order to stay off treatment.

Here's an article from Mayo Clinic, about "Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan" https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-diet/art-20044295

With regard to stiff heart, there are so many studies (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.030617)
that have shown the benefits of high- and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and good diet.
The Heart Failure Society of America has this information about "DASH Diet Softens Stiff Hearts" that might interest you:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/hfsa/41865
@msbailey75, I would sincerely encourage you to join in any of the discussions in the Heart & Blood Health group, and/or in the Diabetes/Endocrine System group on Connect. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/diabetes-and-endocrine-problems/tab/discussions/
You’ve come to the right place to talk with people who have similar experiences with health, and to get support from incredibly informative members who understand your concerns.