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- DIABETES
- Are You at Risk?
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Frequent urination |
Unusual thirst |
Extreme hunger |
Unusual weight loss |
Extreme fatigue |
Irritability |
Any of the type 1 symptoms |
Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections |
Blurred vision |
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal |
Tingling/numbness in the hands or feet |
Frequent infections |
If you have been given a diagnosis of diabetes, your most important goal is to keep your blood glucose as close to normal as possible. This is the only hope you have to alleviate the serious complications of the disease. In most cases of type 2, this can be achieved with diet and exercise. The ADA is currently advising a method called Carbohydrate Counting. They recommend this method be individualized by a registered dietician. Considering the plethora of current dietary advice and vastly differing opinions, this would seem like the easiest way to develop your food plan. If you know or suspect that you are insulin resistant, you might take the same advice. "The Zone" diet which discourages high blood glucose could also work well.
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Ask the Expert about Natural Sugar Control Supplements (click) |
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| Free Radicals Arrested: Harmful Activities Halted: Free radicals are natural and useful by-products in the body’s vital processes. Free radicals only cause damage when there are more than the body’s antioxidant systems can handle. People with diabetes are particularly susceptible to free radical damage. Glucose at levels consistently higher than 120 mg/dl actually auto-oxidizes. Of course, the body responds to the presence of glucose by releasing insulin, and insulin generates more free radicals. Adding insult to injury, the joining of glucose to protein in the formation of AGEs also causes free radical release. The body simply cannot keep up with all this oxidative stress. |
| Vitamin C and E supplementation is imperative. Besides defending against free radical damage, both of these vitamins have been shown to reduce protein glycosylation. Vitamin C is recommended at 1-2 grams daily. Since a daily dose of 400 IU of vitamin E has been shown to protect against heart disease by reducing the oxidation of LDLs (the "bad" cholesterol), certainly this is the minimum for an anti-diabetes regimen. Other helpful nutrients include a multivitamin-mineral formula (the B vitamins are critical to carbohydrate metabolism), additional calcium, and magnesium (often deficient in diabetes), a chromium supplement (lowers glucose and decreases glycosylation), vanadyl sulfate (a salt of vanadium which mimics the action of insulin) and Trim Plex (an naturalfractionated protein from White Kidney bean extract, help stable blood sugar levels). |
| Chromium is an essential trace element required for normal insulin functioning. Chromium deficiency produces diabetic symptoms including high blood sugar, impaired glucose metabolism, decreased insulin binding and receptor number, decreased HDL cholesterol, and increased total cholesterol and and triglycerides. A diet high in refined grains and sugars exacerbates Chromium depletion. Firstly, these foods contain low amounts of Chromium, yet Chromium is necessary to metabolize them. Secondly, a high consumption of sugars and refined starches foods increases Chromium excreted in the urine by 10 to 300%. Typical North American and European diets require more Chromium than they provide, thus leading to long-term depletion of Chromium from our bodies. The majority of the US population does not obtain the recommended intake of 50 to 200 micrograms per day. Brewer's yeast, beer, whole grains, cheese, liver, and meat can be good dietary sources of Chromium; however, Chromium contents of foods vary widely. Much of the Chromium in foods may be unabsorbable metal contamination from stainless steel food processing equipment. Refining of grains and sugars, and processing of foods removes most of the absorbable Chromium. The Chromium requirements of our Paleolithic ancestors were almost certainly lower than ours, since they consumed no cereal grains or refined sugars, but did consume lean protein, balanced PUFA, and plenty of soublesoluble fiber. They also lived in the geologically active East African Rift Valley for over for 4 million years. During this time, volcanoes erupted often, covering the area with trace-element rich lava and ash. Further, traditional hunting societies make a point to consume the internal organs of game, which are rich sources of absorbable trace elements, Chromium included. We have no reason to think this behavior differed in the past. Therefore it is considered that this relative lack of Chromium in Western diets is a major factor in the increasing incidence of NIDDM. Appropriate dietary choices and chromium supplementation of 200-400 micrograms per day may help prevent NIDDM, but may not be sufficient to reverse existing diabetes. A recent double-blind placebo-controlled study on 3 groups of 60 Chinese NIDDM found that 500 micrograms chromium picolinate given twice per day for 4 months was greatly superior to placebo, lowering fasting blood glucose (129 mg/dL vs 160 mg/dL), post-meal blood glucose, (190 mg/dL vs 223 mg/dL) and nearly normalizing "glycated hemoglobin" (6.6±0.1% vs 8.5±0.2%). Glycated hemoglobin is another test used to measure the extent of diabetes. When blood glucose is too high, glucose can chemically bond to hemoglobin in the blood, which reduces its ability to bind and carry oxygen. Total cholesterol and insulin levels also dropped. A third group given 100 micrograms twice per day showed lesser but significant improvements in glycated hemoglobin and insulin levels, but not blood glucose levels If you are taking any medication to control your blood sugar, start with 200 micrograms per day for a week, and monitor your glucose closely. Increase by 200 micrograms per week until you reach 1,000, and then have medication adjusted accordingly. For IDDM, use the same approach. Add Chromium in 100 to 200 microgram increments per week. Monitor glucose closely, because you should experience a decrease in your insulin requirements. If you have trouble adjusting the insulin dose you take just before going to bed, do not take Chromium supplements within 3 hours of retiring. Work up to the level of Chromium that allows you to consistently reduce your daytime insulin, and stabilize your requirements. Then work on the night dosage. Research |
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| Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Traditional Chinese medicine recognized that ginseng helped diabetes centuries ago. On the Western side of the globe, a landmark 1995 Finnish study found that only 200 mg ginseng per day for 8 weeks improved mood and physical activity, and lowered fasting blood glucose and body weight compared to placebo. This is only a very small ginseng dosage, and I'm frankly surprised it has this much effect. A dosage considered safe and perhaps more appropriate would be 200 mg ginseng extract or 500 mg capsules, 2 to 4 per day. Those with IDDM or on diabetic medications should start with 1 capsule and increase by 1 capsule per week, monitoring blood sugar closely, however dramatic changes in glucose should not be expected. Excessive amounts of Korean ginseng may cause elevated blood pressure, so you should check your blood pressure periodically while increasing your dosage. Research |
| ALA: Absolutely Amazing Metabolic Substance Brings Help, Increases Health |
| In a recent study, the blood sugar levels of diabetic participants were normalized by taking 600 mg daily of alpha lipoic acid (or lipoic acid) supplements. Blood tests showed increased insulin activity, more insulin sensitivity, and greater glucose tolerance. This sugar-regulating property of lipoic acid has made it a successful treatment for diabetes in Europe for over 30 years. Further, it protects against the terrific free radical threat of diabetes, and limits glycation Plus it reduces nerve pain and damage and improves nerve function. Lipoic acid is a natural substance found in all living things. It works in the cells as a metabolic coenzyme, essential to energy production. Relative to diabetes, it helps to move glucose into the cells independently of insulin. This helps to lower circulating glucose levels and to enhance energy levels. Normally, the body does not depend on lipoic acid as an antioxidant. However, the supplement form gives the cells lipoic acid to spare. Under these conditions, not only are its energy-producing capacities enhanced, its antioxidant properties rise to stellar heights. Research |
| Lipoic acid is a truly spectacular antioxidant. It has been called a "broad spectrum" antioxidant, a "wild card" antioxidant, and a "universal" antioxidant. It meets all six of renowned researcher Lester Packer’s criteria for being the antioxidant’s antioxidant: 1) neutralizes free radicals; 2) is absorbed and utilized rapidly and easily; 3) is highly concentrated in cells, tissues, and extracellular fluid; 4) is capable of enhancing the effects of other antioxidant; 5) chelates free metal ions (these are the toxic pollutants we take in from our environment); and 6) promotes normal gene expression. (The lipoic acid molecule is so small it can penetrate the cell nucleus and protect DNA.). The greatest free radical activity occurs as a natural result of cellular energy production. (Glucose itself is an oxidative substance. See "Free Radicals Arrested," this issue.) Lipoic acid is able to quench free radicals right at the source of cellular energy production, the mitochondria (the powerhouses of the cells). Further, it has the capacity to protect both water- and lipid- (fat) based substances in free radical interactions. Because of this dual affinity, it helps to recycle used vitamin C and E so that they can continue to give their antioxidant support to the body. |
| Nerve damage is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes, affecting 60-70 percent of those stricken with the disease. People with diabetic neuropathy are five times more likely to die early than diabetics with healthy nervous systems. This is because nerve damage leads to heart disease, poor wound healing, infection, impotency, and numbness of the limbs. At its extreme, nerve damage can lead to lower limb amputation. (Each year, 54,000 individuals lose a foot or leg to diabetes.) In addition, neuropathy is very painful. |
| The good news is that lipoic acid shows promise for stopping and possibly reversing nerve damage. A four month German study resulted in a modest but significant improvement in sympathetic nervous system function. In this study, the nerves affecting heart rhythm were observed. During the usual course of the disease, these nerves eventually lose their protective outer covering (the myelin sheath) and deteriorate. Heart rate variability in the lipoic acid group was statistically improved over the controls. Participants took 800 mg daily. |
| In his Lipoic Acid: Metabolic Antioxidant, well-known biochemist Richard Passwater, PhD, reports that researchers have induced the regenerative growth of new nerve fibers using lipoic acid. In addition, he writes, "In as little as three weeks there is a significant reduction in pain and numbness....[with] no adverse effects [using 600 mg per day]." There is little doubt that those with diabetes should support their bodies with lipoic acid. Plus, the peripheral nervous system gains support when lipoic acid is taken with vitamin B5, pantothenic acid. Incidentally, lipoic acid is the second nutritional supplement to demonstrate relief of neuropathy. The first was gamma linolenic acid (GLA). This essential fatty acid is found in evening primrose, borage, and black currant oils. In general, people with diabetes convert fatty acids inefficiently and frequently find GLA helpful. Other helpful oils are fish oils (EPA or broiled deep ocean filets) and monounsaturated fats (canola, olive, and macadamia oils), both of which are effective in lowering glucose levels. |
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