Significant Nutrients for Diabetes Support (Type I and II)

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Significant Nutrients for Diabetes Support

 

(Type I and II)

JoAnn Guest Jan 24, 2005 17:40 PST

 

Vitamin E

 

People with diabetes have a higher than usual need for vitamin E, which

improves insulin activity and acts as an antioxidant and a blood

oxygenator. Research has shown that people with low blood levels of

vitamin E are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Double-blind

studies show that vitamin E improves glucose tolerance in people with

Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM). Vitamin E was found to improve glucose

tolerance in elderly non-diabetics.

 

A vitamin E deficiency results in increased free-radical-induced damage,

particularly of the lining of the vascular system. Supplemental vitamin

E may help prevent diabetic complications through its antioxidant

activity, the inhibition of the platelet-releasing reaction and platelet

aggregation, increasing HDL-cholesterol levels and its role in fatty

acid metabolism. Vitamin E protects animals from diabetic cataracts.

 

The most impressive study on vitamin E and diabetes used a total of

1,350 international units of d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate daily, divided

into three doses.

Begin by taking 400 international units each morning. After two weeks,

add another dose of 400 international units in the evening. After two

more weeks, add another 400 international units in the afternoon.

 

It may require three months or more of supplementation for benefits to

become apparent.

 

The trace mineral selenium functions synergistically with vitamin E.

 

Note: If you have high blood pressure, limit your intake of supplemental

vitamin E to a total of 400 international units (IUs)daily. If you are

taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner), consult your naturopathic

physician before using supplemental E.

 

Vitamin C

People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) have low vitamin C levels. Vitamin C

lowers sorbitol in diabetics. " Sorbitol " is a sugar that can

" accumulate " and damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys of diabetics.

Vitamin C may improve glucose tolerance in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM).

 

The transport of vitamin C into cells is facilitated by insulin. It has

been postulated that, due to impaired transport or dietary

insufficiency, a relative vitamin C deficiency exists in the diabetic

and that this may be responsible for the increased capillary

permeability and other vascular disturbances seen in diabetics.

 

If you are diabetic, supplement your diet with 1-2 grams per day of

vitamin C in divided doses taken with meals

 

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Diabetics with neuropathy have been shown to be deficient in vitamin B6

and benefit from supplementation. Peripheral neuropathy is a known

result of pyridoxine deficiency and is indistinguishable from diabetic

neuropathy.

Vitamin B6 supplements improve glucose tolerance in women with diabetes

caused by pregnancy.

Vitamin B6 is also effective for glucose intolerance induced by the

birth control pill.

1,800 mg per day of a special form of vitamin B6-pyridoxine

alpha-ketoglutarate-improves glucose tolerance dramatically.

 

Pyridoxine is also important in preventing other diabetic complications

because it is an important coenzyme in the cross-linking of collagen and

inhibits platelet aggregation.

 

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 supplementation has been used with some success in treating

diabetic neuropathy. It is not clear if this is due to the correcting of

a deficiency state or normalizing vitamin B12 metabolism.

 

Vitamin B12 is needed for normal functioning of nerve cells. Vitamin B12

taken orally, intravenously, or by injection reduces nerve damage caused

by diabetes in most people.

Oral supplementation may be sufficient, but intramuscular vitamin B12

may be necessary in many cases.

Take up to 500 mcg of Vitamin B12 per day.

 

Biotin

Biotin is a B vitamin needed to process glucose. It has been shown to

work synergistically with insulin and independently in increasing the

activity of glucokinase. This enzyme is responsible for the first step

in glucose utilization.

Glucokinase is present only in the liver, where, in diabetics, its

concentration is very low.

 

Supplementation with large quantities of biotin may significantly

enhance glucokinase activity, thereby improving glucose metabolism in

diabetics.

 

When people with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) were given 16 mg of biotin per

day for just one week, their fasting glucose levels dropped by 50%.

 

Similar results have been reported using 9 mg per day for two months in

people with Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM). Biotin may also reduce pain from

diabetic nerve damage.

 

Take 16 mg of biotin for a few weeks to see if blood sugar levels fall

to normal.

 

Niacin

High levels-several grams per day-of niacin, a form of vitamin B3,

impair glucose tolerance . So, avoid it if you are diabetic. Smaller

amounts (500-750 mg per day for one month followed by 250 mg per day) of

niacin may help some people with Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM).

 

Chromium

As a key constituent of the 'glucose tolerance factor,' chromium is a

critical nutrient in diabetes. Supplementation in the form of chromium

chloride (200 micro g daily)

or high-chromium-containing " brewer's yeast " (9 g a day) has been

demonstrated to decrease fasting glucose levels, improve glucose

tolerance, lower insulin levels and decrease total cholesterol and

triglyceride levels, while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.

 

Double-blind research shows that chromium supplements improve glucose

tolerance in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, apparently by

increasing sensitivity to insulin. Chromium improves the processing of

glucose in people with pre-diabetic glucose intolerance and in women

with diabetes associated with pregnancy.

 

The typical amount of chromium used in research trials is 200 mcg per

day.

 

Some doctors recommend up to 1,000 mcg per day of Chromium for

diabetics.

 

Niacin administered at relatively low levels (100 mg) along with 200 mcg

of chromium has been shown to be more effective than chromium alone.

 

Exercise increases tissue chromium " concentrations " .

 

Manganese

 

Manganese is an important cofactor in the " key enzymes " of 'glucose

metabolism'.

 

A deficiency of manganese was found to result in diabetes in guinea

pigs. It also resulted in the frequent birth of offspring who develop

pancreatic abnormalities or no pancreas at all.

 

Diabetics have been shown to have only one-half the manganese of normal

individuals.

 

Magnesium

Magnesium levels are significantly lowered in diabetics, and lowest in

those with severe retinopathy. Studies suggest that a deficiency in

magnesium may worsen the blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes.

 

Scientists believe that a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin

secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin resistance in the body's

tissues. Studies suggest that a deficiency in magnesium may worsen the

blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes.

 

Scientists believe that a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin

secretion in the pancreas and increases " insulin resistance " in the

body's tissues.

 

Supplementation with magnesium leads to improved insulin production in

elderly people with Type 2 diabetes.

 

Elders without diabetes may also produce more insulin as a result of

magnesium supplements. Insulin requirements are lower in people with

Type 1 diabetes who supplement with magnesium.

 

Diabetes-induced damage to the eyes is more likely to occur to

magnesium-deficient people with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM).

 

In pregnant women with IDDM who are magnesium deficient, the lack of

magnesium may even account for the high rate of spontaneous abortion and

birth defects associated with IDDM.

 

Low magnesium levels appears to be a significant " risk factor " in the

development of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary artery

" spasm " .

 

Many doctors of natural medicine recommend that diabetics with normal

kidney function supplement with 300-400 mg of magnesium per day.

 

Vanadium

Vanadium is a compound found in tiny amounts in plants and animals.

Early studies showed that vanadium " normalized " blood glucose levels in

animals with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

 

A recent study found that when people with diabetes were given

vanadium, they developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and

were able to decrease their insulin requirements.

 

Potassium

Potassium supplementation yields improved insulin sensitivity,

responsiveness and secretion in diabetics.

 

Insulin ';administration'often " causes " a potassium " deficiency " .

 

Zinc

Zinc deficiency has been suggested to play a role in the development of

diabetes in humans. Zinc is involved in virtually all aspects of insulin

metabolism -synthesis, secretion and utilization.

 

Zinc also has a protective effect against " beta cell " destruction, and

has well-known anti-viral effects.

 

People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) tend to be zinc deficient, which may

impair " immune function " .

 

Zinc supplements have lowered blood sugar levels in people with IDDM.

People with Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM) also have low zinc levels, caused by

excess " loss " of zinc in their 'urine'.

 

People with NIDDM are recommended to supplement their diet with moderate

amounts of zinc (15-50 mg per day) as a way to correct for the deficit.

 

Note: Take zinc with food to prevent stomach upset. If you take over 30

milligrams of zinc on a daily basis for more than one or two months, you

should also take 1 to 2 milligrams of copper each day to maintain a

proper " mineral balance " .

 

Coenzyme Q10

People with diabetes cannot adequately " process " carbohydrates.

 

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is needed for normal carbohydrate metabolism.

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that fights free-radical damage and is a

" blood oxygenator " .

 

Animals with diabetes are CoQ10 deficient.

 

In one trial, blood sugar levels fell substantially in 31% of people

with diabetes after they supplemented with 120 mg of CoQ10 per day.

 

Because the eye is so richly supplied with tiny blood vessels, this is

another nutrient that can help in cases of retinopathy. Take 50

milligrams of coenzyme Q10 twice daily for up to three months, then

reduce the dosage to 30 milligrams daily.

 

Inositol

Inositol is needed for normal nerve function.

 

Diabetes can cause nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy. Some of these

abnormalities have been reversed by inositol supplementation (500 mg

taken twice per day).

 

ALA and GLA

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful natural " antioxidant " .

 

It has been used to improve diabetic neuropathies (at an intake of 600

mg per day) and has reduced pain in several studies.

 

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), found in black currant seed oil, borage oil,

and evening primrose oil,

has been shown to be helpful for improving damaged " nerve function " ,

which is common in diabetes.

 

Supplementing with 4 grams of evening primrose oil per day for six

months has been found to reverse the cause of diabetic nerve damage and

improve this painful condition.

 

In double-blind research, 6 grams per day helps reduce nerve damage in

people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (IDDM and NIDDM).

 

Take 500 to 1,000 milligrams of any of these oils twice daily.

 

Carnitine

Carnitine is a substance needed for the body to properly use fat for

energy.

When diabetics are given carnitine (1 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight),

high blood levels of fats-both cholesterol and triglycerides-dropped

25-39% in just ten days.

 

In addition, carnitine improves the

" breakdown " of fatty acids, possibly playing a role in preventing

diabetic " ketoacidosis " .

 

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich food. People with Type 1

diabetes (IDDM) have low taurine levels, that leads to " thickened "

blood-

a condition which increases the risk of heart disease. Supplementing

taurine (1.5 grams per day) restores taurine levels to normal and

corrects the problem of blood viscosity within three months.

 

http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Diabetes/diabetes_vitamins-and-supplements.ht\

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Magnesium and potassium in diabetes and " carbohydrate metabolism "

---

 

Magnesium and potassium in diabetes and carbohydrate metabolism. Review

of the present status and recent results.

 

Magnesium (SWITZERLAND) 1984, 3 (4-6) p315-23

http://www.mgwater.com/abstract.shtml#diabetes2

 

Diabetes mellitus is the most common pathological state in which

secondary magnesium deficiency occurs.

 

Magnesium metabolism abnormalities vary according to the multiple

clinical forms of diabetes:

 

" plasma magnesium " is more often decreased than red blood cell

magnesium.

 

Plasma Mg levels are correlated mainly with the severity of the

" diabetic state " , " glucose disposal " and " endogenous insulin secretion " .

 

 

various mechanisms are involved in the induction of Mg depletion in

diabetes mellitus, i.e. insulin and epinephrine secretion, modifications

of the vitamin D metabolism,

decrease of blood P, vitamin B6 and taurine levels,

increase of vitamin B5, C and glutathione turnover,

treatment with high levels of " insulin " and

" biguanides " (diabetes drugs with heart attack listed as a common side

effect!).

 

K depletion in diabetes mellitus is well known.

 

Some of its mechanisms are concomitant to those of Mg depletion.

 

But their hierarchic importance is not the same: i.e., insulin

hyposecretion is more important versus K+ than versus Mg2+.

 

Insulin increases the cellular inflow of K+ more than that of Mg2+

because there is more free K+ (87%) than Mg2+ (30%) in the cell. The

consequences of the double Mg-K depletion are either antagonistic:

 

i.e. versus insulin secretion (increased by K+, decreased by Mg2+) or

agonistic i.e. on the membrane: (i.e. Na+K+ATPase), tolerance of glucose

oral load, renal disturbances.

 

The real importance of these disorders in the diabetic condition is

still poorly understood.

 

Retinopathy and microangiopathy are correlated with the drop of plasma

and red blood cell Mg. K deficiency increases the noxious cardiorenal

effects of Mg deficiency.

 

The treatment should primarily insure diabetic control.

 

Magnesium and carbohydrate metabolism

THERAPIE (France), 1994, 49/1 (1-7)

 

The interrelationships between magnesium and carbohydrate metabolism

have regained considerable interest over the last few years.

 

Insulin secretion requires magnesium:

 

magnesium deficiency results in impaired insulin secretion while

magnesium replacement restores insulin secretion.

 

Furthermore, experimental magnesium deficiency reduces the tissues

sensitivity to insulin.

 

Subclinical magnesium deficiency is common in diabetes. It results from

both insufficient magnesium intakes and increase magnesium losses,

particularly in the urine.

 

In type 2, or non-insulin-dependent, diabetes mellitus, magnesium

deficiency seems to be associated with insulin resistance.

Furthermore, it may participate in the pathogenesis of diabetes

complications and may contribute to the increased risk of sudden death

associated with diabetes.

 

Some studies suggest that magnesium deficiency may play a role in

spontaneous abortion of diabetic women, in fetal malformations and in

the pathogenesis of neonatal hypocalcemia of the infants of diabetic

mothers.

 

Administration of " magnesium salts " to patients with type 2 diabetes

tend to reduce " insulin resistance " .

Long-term studies are needed before recommending systematic magnesium

supplementation to type 2 diabetic patients with subclinical magnesium

deficiency.

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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