Diabetes Poised To Become Aids of the 20th Century Part 2

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Diabetes, Part II:

Potential Natural Solutions to a

Growing Epidemic

 

© By Peter Chowka and Kathi Head, ND

 

All rights reserved

 

 

 

(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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

 

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