There are a huge number of foods and especially spices, as well as some OTC herbs that have been scientifically established to be just as good, or even better, than their pharma equivalents. For example:
Silymarin (active ingredient in Milk Thistle), is perhaps the “ideal liver drug”, protecting and healing it, as well as eliminating fatty buildup within. It takes some months, but can substantially improve the condition of the liver.
For diabetes, there is quite a laundry list.
Leading the pack is an Indian herb called Sylvester Gymnema, whose nickname is “the sugar killer”. As a tea, it mildly inhibits the sugar taste buds so that it doesn’t taste as good. But its real action is in the intestine, where it blocks the absorption of sugars.
Other spices that have a strong impact on blood glucose and other blood components are Ginger, Clove, Turmeric w/black pepper, Garlic, Cassia Cinnamon (disputed), and others.
To avoid diabetic complications, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (specifically) against diabetic neuropathy in the extremities; Bilberry, which normalizes eye capillary pressure, reducing the odds of diabetic blindness; Vitamin B-1, to protect against excess albumin in the urine, reducing the odds of kidney damage.
There are many alternative therapies to pharma. But they should always be explored with an open minded doctor.
I’ve talked to people who grew up in Europe and they tell me doctors often suggested foods and spices as alternatives to commercial drugs.
This raises another problem that impairs getting away from the drug industry - many supplements seem to cost around $1/per pill, such as a quality probiotic.
Medicaid patients get free meds, and many with insurance will just have a small copay for prescription meds - so these patients keep accumulating lifestyle diseases and maybe a couple dozen meds over the years, and many feel they could not afford to pay out of pocket for supplements, herbs, etc. Not to mention buying cheap fast food and starches.
Quite a trap.