Guest guest Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 Okay, Greg...I've been thinking about how to approach the remaining areas of diabetes control when it occurred to me that I was reinventing the wheel! Except for my relaying my personal advice and experiences, most of it is already covered in hundreds of websites across the internet. So, I will wrap this up with some quick advice and a lot of links. I do encourage you to print all this stuff out and keep going back to it for future reference... CHECKING YOUR BS: I check mine twice daily, and I deliberately switch up the times to get a more accurate overall snapshot of how I am doing. The most crucial time, of course, is your morning BS before you eat or drink anything. Until you have it under good control, you should take it EVERY morning without fail. The rest of the time can be divided up between before meal and after meal BS (one to two hours) so you can get an idea of how different foods affect you. Here's more info on that subject matter: http://diabeticgourmet.com/faq/entry/22/39/ CARB LOAD OR GLYCEMIC INDEX: Understanding how carbs affect you is essential to diabetes management, so below are links to valuable information on the glycemic value of various foods and what it exactly means. Simple explanation: http://www.glycemicindex.com/ More advanced and lengthy explanation: http://www.mendosa.com/gi.htm Actual table of glycemic values of commonly eaten foods: http://www.nycacupuncture.com/glycemic.pdf Some things defy explanation but are true for unexplained reasons. For instance, I can eat a sugary doughnut and my blood sugar will not rise as high as it does when I eat pita bread. Go figure! I have learned by trial and error what I can and can't eat, and in what amounts. From the Mendosa site: "Many people have noticed that pizza seems to keep their blood glucose level high longer than just about any other food. While the reason remains a mystery, this folk wisdom now has scientific confirmation. Ahern et al. compared the effect on insulin-dependent patients of a pizza meal with a control meal that included high glycemic index foods. They found that although the initial glucose increase was similar for the two meals, the GI continued to rise and was significantly increased from four to nine hours after the pizza meal compared with the control meal." EXERCISE: I personally shoot for 30 minutes of aerobic excersice a day, 7 days a week, with two additional weight lifting workouts. Muscles help you burn calories faster and also strengthens the body's insulin response. I'm sure that more would be beneficial, but frankly, I won't stick with it if I have to do too much! Studies show that 30 minute routines are more likely to "stick" than longer exercise periods anyway, so it's not a bad thing to shoot for. But remember...baby steps, baby steps, baby steps. Start slowly and build up...even if it's just 5 minutes a day, and one minute each day until you get to 30. Warming up and stretching are very important to prevent injury if you are sedentary, so don't forget to include that! Here's a site with good exercise advice: http://www.seniorindian.com/exercise_diabetic.htm SUPPLEMENTS: There are a lot of herbs that "help" diabetics that are under good control, but they are no substitute for insulin if you are not under good control. Below is some information on the use of herbs that can "assist" you. I personally take a supplement called Glucobetic that contains many of teh below herbs: http://www.flourishwellness.com/store/glucobeticingred.asp Of the herbs listed below, I can attest to the ability of both cinnamon and fenugreek to help diabetics and I have used both for years. All of these things do a little by themselves, but by combining them, there is more impact. Herbs for Diabetes Since antiquity, diabetes has been treated with plant medicines. Recent scientific investigation has confirmed the efficacy of many of these preparations, some of which are remarkably effective. Only those herbs that appear most effective, are relatively non-toxic and have substantial documentation of efficacy are covered here. Pterocarpus marsupium (Indian Kino, Malabar Kino, Pitasara, Venga) The tree is the source of the Kino of the European pharmacopeas. The gum-resin looks like dried blood (Dragon's blood), much used in Indian medicine. This herb has a long history of use in India as a treatment for diabetes. The flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, extracted from the bark of this plant has been shown to prevent alloxan-induced beta cell damage in rats. Both epicatechin and a crude alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium have actually been shown to regenerate functional pancreatic beta cells. No other drug or natural agent has been shown to generate this activity. Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) Bitter melon, also known as balsam pear, is a tropical vegetable widely cultivated in Asia, Africa and South America, and has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. The blood sugar lowering action of the fresh juice or extract of the unripe fruit has been clearly established in both experimental and clinical studies. Bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed anti-diabetic properties. Charantin, extracted by alcohol, is a hypoglycaemic agent composed of mixed steroids that is more potent than the drug tolbutamide which is often used in the treatment of diabetes. Momordica also contains an insulin-like polypeptide, polypeptide-P, which lowers blood sugar levels when injected subcutaneously into type 1 diabetic patients. The oral administration of 50-60 ml of the juice has shown good results in clinical trials. Excessively high doses of bitter melon juice can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Small children or anyone with hypoglycemia should not take bitter melon, since this herb could theoretically trigger or worsen low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Furthermore, diabetics taking hypoglycemic drugs (such as chlorpropamide, glyburide, or phenformin) or insulin should use bitter melon with caution, as it may potentiate the effectiveness of the drugs, leading to severe hypoglycemia. Gymnema Sylvestre (Gurmar, Meshasringi, Cherukurinja) Gymnema assists the pancreas in the production of insulin in Type 2 diabetes. Gymnema also improves the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It decreases cravings for sweet. This herb can be an excellent substitute for oral blood sugar-lowering drugs in Type 2 diabetes. Some people take 500 mg per day of gymnema extract. Onion and Garlic ( Allium cepa and Allium sativum) Onion and garlic have significant blood sugar lowering action. The principal active ingredients are believed to be allyl propyl disulphide (APDS) and diallyl disulphide oxide (allicin), although other constitutents such as flavonoids may play a role as well. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that APDS lowers glucose levels by competing with insulin for insulin-inactivating sites in the liver. This results in an increase of free insulin. APDS administered in doses of 125 mg/ kg to fasting humans was found to cause a marked fall in blood glucose levels and an increase in serum insulin. Allicin doses of 100 mg/kg produced a similar effect. Onion extract was found to reduce blood sugar levels during oral and intravenous glucose tolerance. The effect improved as the dosage was increased; however, beneficial effects were observed even for low levels that used in the diet (eg., 25 to 200 grams). The effects were similar in both raw and boiled onion extracts. Onions affect the hepatic metabolism of glucose and/or increases the release of insulin, and/or prevent insulin's destruction. The additional benefit of the use of garlic and onions are their beneficial cardiovascular effects. They are found to lower lipid levels, inhibit platelet aggregation and are antihypertensive. So, liberal use of onion and garlic are recommended for diabetic patients. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the antidiabetic properties of fenugreek seeds. The active ingredient responsible for the antidiabetic properties of fenugreek is in the defatted portion of the seed that contains the alkaloid trogonelline, nicotinic acid and coumarin. Blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus) A decoction of the leaves of the blueberry has a long history of folk use in the treatment of diabetes. The compound myrtillin (an anthocyanoside) is apparently the most active ingredient. Upon injection it is somewhat weaker than insulin, but is less toxic, even at 50 times the 1 g per day therapeutic dose. A single dose can produce beneficial effects lasting several weeks. Blueberry anthocyanosides also increase capillary integrity, inhibit free-radical damage and improve the tone of the vascular system. In Europe, it is used as an anti-haemorrhagic agent in the treatment of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy. Asian Ginseng Asian ginseng is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes. It has been shown to enhance the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of insulin receptors. It also has a direct blood sugar-lowering effect.A recent study found that 200 mg of ginseng extract per day improved blood sugar control as well as energy levels in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM). Bilberry Bilberry may lower the risk of some diabetic complications, such as diabetic cataracts and retinopathy. Stevia Stevia has been used traditionally to treat diabetes. Early reports suggested that stevia might have beneficial effects on glucose tolerance (and therefore potentially help with diabetes), although not all reports have confirmed this. Even if stevia did not have direct antidiabetic effects, its use as a sweetener could reduce intake of sugars in such patients. Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo biloba extract may prove useful for prevention and treatment of early-stage diabetic neuropathy. Cinnamon - Triples insulin's efficiency Barberry - One of the mildest and best liver tonics known.Dosage: tincture, 10-30 drops; standard decoction or 3-9 g. Herbal Combinations For all pancreatic problems: 1 part uva ursi 1 part goldenseal 1 part elecampane 2 parts dandelion root 2 parts cedar berries 1 part fennel part ginger Mix the powdered herbs and put them in #00 capsules. Take them after every meal. HINTS: Another way to help lower your after meal BS is to take a dose of a fiber supplement with a large glass of water before every meal. The fiber swells and helps to fill your stomach, but more importantly, it slows down your digestion of carbs so your BS rises slower and falls more evenly. Also, if you *do* find yourself sleepy after a meal, check your BS. If it's high, drink a huge glass of water and go for a brisk walk. The water helps to dilute the concentration of glucose in your blood, and the exercise speeds up the use of excess sugar that is aleady circulating PLUS helps to regulate your insulin levels so you don't crash afterward. Try it...it works! In a half hour you will find that your BS has dropped considerably and that you are feeling better.... Any questions? Just ask. <smiles> --Celia-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 Celia, thank you so much for the diabetes 101 Like I said before, I don't have it but I always like to learn more. It was great of you to provide us with a lesson Barbara Okay, Greg...I've been thinking about how to approach the remaining areas of diabetes control when it occurred to me that I was reinventing the wheel! Except for my relaying my personal advice and experiences, most of it is already covered in hundreds of websites across the internet. So, I will wrap this up with some quick advice and a lot of links. I do encourage you to print all this stuff out and keep going back to it for future reference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 You're welcome, Barbara! Glad to help out any time I can. I feel bad because I have so much more to say but there are only so many hours in the day... <smiles> --Celia-- RealSimple , " Barbara " <barbara3 wrote: > > Celia, thank you so much for the diabetes 101 Like I said before, I don't have it but I always like to learn more. It was great of you to provide us with a lesson > > Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 We sure appreciate the time you take to write, Cee. :-)Cyndi In a message dated 2/5/2007 4:38:05 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, cbrowne writes: You're welcome, Barbara! Glad to help out any time I can. I feel bad because I have so much more to say but there are only so many hours in the day... <smiles>--Celia--RealSimple , "Barbara" <barbara3 wrote:>> Celia, thank you so much for the diabetes 101 Like I said before, I don't have it but I always like to learn more. It was great of you to provide us with a lesson > > Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 I REALLY appreciate it my friend. Thank you for all your help. GregDream lofty dreams and so as your dreams you become Don't be flakey. Get Mail for Mobile and always stay connected to friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 No problem, Greg! --Cee-- RealSimple , Greg Nevels <nevels65 wrote: > > I REALLY appreciate it my friend. Thank you for all your help. > Greg > > > Dream lofty dreams and so as your dreams you become > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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