169: Natural Healing Show with Catherine Carrigan - Episode 169169: Natural Healing Show with Catherine Carrigan - Episode 169
UK Health Radio Podcast
Catherine Kerrigan talks with diabetes prevention expert Arunima Haldar about practical ways to prevent type 2 diabetes through small, realistic lifestyle changes. They cover risk factors, A1C testing, balanced nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management in a calm and encouraging way.
46:47•12 Apr 2026
Small Steps to Stop Diabetes: Catherine Kerrigan with Arunima Haldar
Episode Overview
- Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes can often be prevented or improved through consistent lifestyle changes in food, movement, sleep and stress.
- Small weight-loss targets of just 5–7% of body weight can meaningfully improve blood sugar control and reduce risk.
- A balanced plate with plenty of vegetables, lean protein and unprocessed carbohydrates works better than extreme low‑carb diets.
- Around 150 minutes of weekly activity, including some strength training, helps improve insulin sensitivity and supports weight management.
- Good sleep hygiene and regular stress reduction lower cortisol, supporting healthier metabolism and blood sugar levels.
“You don’t have to lose all the weight. Even if you lose 5 to 7% of your weight, that itself is going to put you in the positive direction.”
In this eye-opening conversation, you'll learn about practical ways to head off type 2 diabetes long before it becomes a crisis. Medical intuitive healer and author Catherine Kerrigan chats with diabetes prevention expert and Duke-certified health and wellbeing coach Arunima Haldar, who shares both family experience and professional know-how.
Arunima explains how growing up in India with a strong family history of diabetes pushed her towards helping others: watching her father’s strict diet made her realise early on that, as she puts it, “Prevention is better than cure.” She gives a clear, simple explanation of what diabetes is — “basically, the body is not able to process sugar” — and why uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, neuropathy and loss of vision.
The discussion walks through who is most at risk, what pre-diabetes looks like, and how the A1C blood test can flag problems before they get serious. Arunima stresses that type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes can be turned around, especially with steady lifestyle changes rather than extreme diets. She warns against cutting carbohydrates too harshly, pointing out that “moderation is the key” and that the body still needs balanced nutrition.
You’ll hear simple, realistic suggestions on food (more unprocessed meals, half a plate of vegetables, sensible portions), movement (aiming for about 150 minutes of activity a week, even in 10‑minute chunks), strength training to improve insulin handling, and why losing just 5–7% of body weight can already shift things in a better direction. Sleep and stress management also get serious attention, from basic sleep hygiene tips to using breathing, walking and joy-filled activities to calm cortisol.
The tone stays reassuring and down‑to‑earth, with plenty of humour and real-life examples that make a scary diagnosis feel much more manageable. If diabetes worries sit at the back of your mind, could a few small daily tweaks change the picture for you?
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