Guest guest Posted August 8, 2002 Report Share Posted August 8, 2002 Diabetes-Natural Solutions to a Growing Epidemic JoAnn Guest Aug 08, 2002 15:22 PDT Diabetes, Part II: Potential Natural Solutions to a Growing Epidemic (July 1, 2002) Diabetes, a chronic degenerative disease, impairs or destroys the body's ability to metabolize glucose with profound and often deadly consequences. The condition is increasing at an epidemic rate. There are an estimated 17-18 million cases of diabetes in the United States today, although in one third of the people who have the condition, it hasn't yet been diagnosed. Almost 10 percent of Americans over 20 years old and 20 percent of those over 65 have diabetes. A million new cases a year are being diagnosed in the United States. There are two forms of diabetes, Type I and Type II. Type I is an irreversible autoimmune disorder that begins with the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Multiple injections of insulin per day are necessary for the life of the Type I patient in order to keep him or her alive. While clinical trials on treatments to prevent Type I are proceeding, none has yet pointed to a treatment that can unequivocally prevent or reverse Type I. The vast majority of people with the disease - more than 90 percent - have Type II. Type II is largely preventable and, according to many clinicians, even reversible. According to the International Diabetes Federation, " Recent large-scale clinical trials have shown that frequent lifestyle advice, delivered by a health professional, is effective at reducing [Type 2] diabetes incidence in people at high risk. " Impaired Glucose Tolerance, or IGT, has been identified as a precursor to the development of Type II. Fortunately, natural treatments for diabetes - herbs and nutritional supplements to lower blood sugar and prevent or ameliorate the disease's side effects - generally benefit both types of the disease. Treatment of Diabetes with Nutrition and Herbs Diet For people who have diabetes, unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all diet that works best for everyone. A critical factor, however, is to eat a lot of fiber. Certain types of fiber reportedly slow the absorption of sugars into the blood stream and improve the " glycemic effect " of a meal. Foods having a favorable glycemic effect raise blood sugar levels gradually, more closely mimicking the metabolism of a healthy person. The fibers best known for these kinds of positive effects are oat bran and guar gum (found in beans, lentils, and other legumes). Another fiber that provides benefit is from powdered, defatted fenugreek seeds. Studies have reported that 10-20 grams of fenugreek fiber with each meal can lower both fasting blood sugar and blood sugar after a meal in both Types I and II diabetes. An additional benefit of fiber, especially fenugreek fiber, is its ability to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, which in people with diabetes are often higher than normal. (Because this kind of fiber may slow the absorption of oral medications, it is best taken at a time different than the medication.) The kinds of fats in the diet are important. Saturated fats, like the ones in meat and whole milk dairy products, can decrease the body's response to insulin, while monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil, can enhance the effect of insulin. Maintaining optimum weight is one of the most important factors in not only preventing Type II diabetes but in helping to reverse it once it has been diagnosed. In this respect, higher amounts of protein in relation to carbohydrates can be helpful. One study found that people on a diet consisting of 25 percent protein and 45 percent carbohydrate were more successful in losing body fat than a group of people on a lower protein (12 percent) and higher carbohydrate (58 percent) diet. Optimally, carbohydrates should be in their complex form - derived from vegetables and whole grains - rather than simple ones like refined breads, pasta, and desserts. Large amounts of fruit and fruit juice should be avoided. Another important lifestyle factor in controlling blood sugar in diabetes involves exercise. Aerobic exercise - a brisk walk four times a week, for instance - can help improve insulin's uptake. Resistance training that builds muscle mass is also beneficial. Muscles are able to take up glucose without the need for insulin so the more muscle mass that a person has, the more efficiently the sugar can be removed from the blood stream without taxing the pancreas. Nutritional Supplements that Help to Control Blood Sugar Chromium is a mineral reportedly beneficial in helping to control blood sugar. In one study, 180 Type II diabetics were divided into three groups: one given 100 mcg of chromium picolinate twice daily, the second 500 mcg chromium picolinate twice daily, and the third group a placebo twice daily. During the four months of the study, the blood sugar in the two groups taking chromium improved, especially in the individuals taking 500 mcg twice daily. Before the discovery of life-saving, injectible insulin in the 1920s, the mineral vanadium was used as a treatment for diabetes because of its effects that are similar to insulin. Several small, short-term studies on people with Type II diabetes, using doses of 50 mg in the form of vanadyl sulfate twice daily, have been published. While such a dose appears necessary to obtain the desired blood sugar-lowering effect, no long-term safety studies on vanadium have been conducted. Biotin, one the of B vitamins, has been found to be helpful in controlling blood sugar. Biotin improves both the body's sensitivity to insulin and the liver's ability to metabolize sugars. Biotin has been found in two studies, on both Type I and II diabetes, to help lower blood sugar after a meal. The dose in the studies was 8 mg twice daily. Herbs to Help Control Blood Sugar Gymnema sylvestre, an Ayurvedic herb, has been used for centuries and extensively researched in India for controlling blood sugar in people with diabetes. In animal studies, it has been found to help regenerate new insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Studies in both Type I and II diabetes in humans suggest that the herb has an ability to lower blood sugar. In one study involving Type II diabetes, participants were able to decrease their dosages of oral blood sugar-lowering medications. Five people were able to completely discontinue their prescription medications. In a study with Type I diabetics, the participants were able to decrease their insulin doses by about one half and their average fasting blood sugars decreased from 232 mg/dL to 152 mg/dL. Doses of 400 mg daily were used in both studies. A standardized extract containing 24 percent gymnemic acid is recommended. Momordica charantia or bitter melon is another herb with a long history of use in India as well as in China and Africa. Among its ingredients are two that lower blood sugar, charantin and p-insulin (for plant insulin). P-insulin closely resembles insulin from cows (bovine insulin), both in structure and function. Limited studies have tested various forms of the plant, ranging from fresh juice to dried powder, and positive results in controlling both short-term and long-term blood sugar have been noted. Dosages vary depending upon the form used: 50- 100 mL of fresh juice (warning: it's very bitter tasting) or water extract, or 3-15 g of dried powder. If a standardized extract is used, containing 0.5 percent charantin, lower doses in the range of 100-200 mg three times daily may be beneficial. Summary of Nutrients and Herbs to Control Blood Sugar Chromium (as picolinate or nicotinate) - 500 mcg twice daily Vanadyl sulfate - 50 mg twice daily Biotin - 8 mg twice daily Gymnema sylvestre (24 percent gymnemic acid) - 200 mg two to three times daily Momordica charantia (0.5 percent charantin) - 100-200 mg three times daily Fenugreek fiber - 10 g three times daily with meals Preventing and Treating Complications of Diabetes If blood sugar is allowed to remain high over a long period of time, damage to the body's organs may occur. Among those most vulnerable to the effects of high blood sugar are the nerves, the retina of the eye, the kidneys, the heart, and blood vessels. While the most important aspect of preventing complications is good, or tight, blood sugar control, there are a number of nutrients and botanicals that may help to prevent as well as to treat these dangerous conditions. Preventing and Treating Neuropathy Lipoic Acid - 300 mg twice daily (if this is not helping, double the dose after three weeks) B-complex including at least 50 mg B6 twice daily Methylcobalamin (a form of B12) - 500 mcg three times daily GLA (from borage, black currant, or evening primrose oil) - 500 mg daily Preventing and Treating Retinopathy Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) (25 percent anthocyanosides) - 160 mg three times daily Vitamin C - 1 g daily (or more) Magnesium - 500 mg daily Preventing and Treating Sugar Cataracts Quercetin - 500 mg three times daily Vitamin C - 1 g daily Preventing and Treating Cardiovascular/Circulatory Problems Vitamin E - 500 IU twice daily Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil) - 300 mg three times daily Taurine - 500 mg three times daily Magnesium - 500 mg daily Ginkgo (24% ginkgo heterosides) - 80 mg three times daily (avoid if on blood thinner medications) Preventing and Treating Kidney Disease Omega-3 fatty acids - 300 mg three times daily L-carnitine - 500 mg daily Vitamin E - 500 IU twice daily Lipoic acid - 300 mg twice daily ____________________ Summary Nutrients to lower blood sugar Minerals: Chromium Vanadium Magnesium Vitamins: Biotin Herbs to lower blood sugar Gymnema sylvestre Momordica charantia (bitter melon) Nutrients/Botanicals to prevent and treat complications Neuropathy Lipoic acid B vitamins: B12, B6 EPA/GLA Retinopathy Bilberry Quercetin Cardiovascular disease/peripheral vascular disease CoQ10 EPA/GLA Vitamin E Ginkgo Nephropathy EPA/GLA Carnitine JoAnn Guest jogu- Friendsforhea- http://canceranswer.homestead.com/AIM.html theaimcompanies " Health is not a Medical Issue " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2002 Report Share Posted August 9, 2002 On Friday, August 9, 2002, at 06:24 AM, mrsjoguest wrote: > Diabetes-Natural Solutions to a Growing Epidemic JoAnn Guest Would you be married to Gary Guest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2002 Report Share Posted August 9, 2002 Good info thanks very much for sending it. sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2002 Report Share Posted August 10, 2002 ---My pleasure! In Gettingwell, " shar2 " <shar2@s...> wrote: > Good info thanks very much for sending it. > > sharon > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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