DIABETES

Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by inadequate production or use of insulin (IGH), the hormone secreted by beta cells in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or IDDM) appears more often in children under the age of 15. The more prevalent type 2 (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM), is also called “adult-onset diabetes,” as it appears mostly in people over the age of 20.

Things are however changing as age doesn’t stop one from being IDDM or NIDDM.

It is very important to differentiate between the two types, partly because the dietary and nutrient requirements vary in some important ways. Major symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, fatigue, and frequent urination. The long-term health problems that can result from diabetes are mostly vascular. Fluctuations in blood sugar shock the mural cells in tiny capillaries, gradually weakening and narrowing them.

Diabetics who don’t have the necessary discipline to take proper care of their health risk blindness, kidney failure, burning nerve pain, and early death. It is possible to live a long and healthy life with diabetes.

Diabetics need to learn to listen to their bodies. Many doctors and books will tell you that as a diabetic you can do nothing about it but cope with it. The reality is that if you let diabetes or any other disease control your life, it will. By taking responsibility for your own health you will begin to understand how it is possible to live a normal life even with diabetes. It is important to listen to your body, it will tell you when it agrees or disagrees with what you are eating, drinking or breathing. The following are crucial steps to gaining control of your disease:

• Thoroughly understand the disease and its relationship to your whole person
• Learn how to manage the disease properly, which will help you detect and treat any problems that may arise while they are still small. Detoxing monthly is essential.
• Adopt the necessary nutrition and lifestyle habits, and incorporate herbal nutritional supplements that can prevent or repair problems

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TYPE OF DIABETES

Type 1 or IDDM results from a progressive destruction of the cells that secrete insulin. This may be a result of either error in the production of the insulin molecule, or perhaps by viral invasion. Type 1 diabetics always need insulin and must maintain good control of their insulin levels to avoid serious health problems.

Type 1: Type 1 diabetics often require a diet higher in protein, vegetables, and healthy fats (foods with low glycemic index’s), with restriction on sugars and grain carbohydrates such as wheat and corn (high glycemic index foods). This type of diet alone will lower the blood sugar; reduce cravings for sweets, and lower levels of glycosylated haemoglobin. Each person nutritional requirements are unique and so one needs to experiment to find out how your body reacts to carbohydrates, protein, fibre and fat.

Type 2: The more common form of diabetes is characterized by onset at a later age and is associated with obesity and poor diet. Diabetes has escalated in countries that follow the standard American diet, where more and more foods contain simple sugars and fewer nutrients. High levels of dietary sugar (man made negative energy) stress the pancreas and the liver and overall sugar regulation. This may result in depletion of insulin supplies, or cells may become resistant to the insulin.

Prescription drugs (chemicals) are not a substitute for healthy living. Various prescription drugs for type 2 diabetics can wear off and stop working after a few years as the body builds a tolerance to them. This occurs in 40% of patients. You can use foods to lower blood levels. It is said that two garlic cloves and one medium onion a day will do what the pharmaceutical drugs will do without risk.

Type 2 diabetics generally do well on a diet consisting of complex carbohydrates (but low glycaemic index) and fibre. This includes cereal grains, legumes, and root vegetables, with restrictions on fats and simple sugars. As mentioned earlier one needs to adjust ones to diet to manage your diet and diabetes successfully.

LIFESTYLE RULES FOR BOTH DIABETIC TYPES

• Regular daily exercise is essential for diabetes. Regular and frequent exercise is helpful for burning fat and improving cardiovascular and vascular health but it also help to bring blood sugar levels down. Exercise also improves circulation and metabolism, which will help your body fight off other diabetes-related symptoms. Studies have shown that people who exercise have 50% lower incidences of diabetes than those who don’t.
• The appropriate amount of insulin is the one that causes the least fluctuations in your blood sugar and keeps you at a healthy weight. You may have to experiment under a doctor’s supervision to find out the proper insulin dosage and the best times of day for you to take insulin. Some patients also need to use more than one type of insulin. There are both long and short acting forms.
• Check your blood sugars several times per day, and act accordingly. If your sugars are above 150, it is a good idea to delay meals. Eating food will cause your sugars to rise over 200, leading to toxic ketones. Check your insulin levels two hours after eating when sugars are normally at there highest. You can take some insulin to lower the blood sugars. Alternatively you can do some exercise or reduce food intake on your next meal. Consciously figure out how to keep your levels from getting to high.
• Relaxation and stress reduction techniques have also been shown to reduce insulin needs in some patients. Studies have shown that stress reduction tactics can reduce medication need and reduce sugar levels.
• Check your glycosylated (HgbA1c) every 3-4 months, to find out how well you are controlling your blood sugars.
• Get you eye examination by a good ophthalmologist. Diabetics are more prone to retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. Use EDTA regularly to keep blood vessels o eyes clean.

HOW TO GET WELL  :  DETOX

• Avoid artificial sweeteners. There is concern that they are toxic to the nerves, and diabetics are more susceptible to this reaction. Try stevia leaf or tincture or d-xylose, these natural sweeteners wont increase you blood sugar.
• Eat more beans. Your body metabolizes beans slowly, which slows down the absorption of sugars from the intestinal tract, aiding your body’s regulation of sugar levels. A diet high in fibre is very helpful for diabetics due to this beneficial action.
• Eat lots of berries, especially blueberries. Blueberries contain anthocyanins, plant chemicals that help repair tiny blood vessels especially in the eyes. Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are also low in sugar.
• Take your vitamins. Diabetics can benefit greatly from vitamin supplements. I recommend taking a multivitamin twice each day, as well as the following:  See do’s and don’ts in our brochure and apply  NB.
  1. Vitamin C (1000-2000mg), which make collagen and keeps capillaries strong.
  2. -B vitamins, including niacin, zinc, and other minerals, which are important for sugar metabolism.
  3. -Vitamin E and essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are important for cell membrane stability.
  4. -Alpha-lipoic acid, which protects nerves, decrease insulin resistance, and can reverse neuropathy.
  5. -Quercetin (1000mg per day), one of the most powerful bioflavonoids, which prevents capillary leakage.
  6. -Always take a multivitamin if you have diabetes. Three minerals that are known to lower blood sugars are GTF chromium (200 mcg per day), manganese (5-15 mg per day) and vanadium (2 mg per day).

Herbal Treatments for Both Diabetic Types

• Some studies that niacinamide used early on can sometimes prevent the destruction of the beta cells. Some patients have had complete reversal (Cleary, 1990)
• Tien chi root act directly on capillary vessel weakness and eye damage.
• Diabetics suffering from neuropathy may benefit from acupuncture, alpha-lipoic acid supplements, and ginkgo leaf (Reljanovic et al., 1999; chung et al., 1999)
• Coenzyme Q10 can help with heart problems and blood sugar control in diabetics. In one study as many as 59% of patients responded to supplements (reported in Murray, 1996).
• Evening primrose oil was shown in a double blind clinical trial of 22 diabetics with neuropathy to reduce pain and improve motor function after 6 months of supplementation (Jamal, 1987)

Affect blood sugar levels and overall diabetic status. Some of these herbs are discussed below:

Cook with cloves, cinnamon, garlic, pumpkin seed, fenugreek, parsley daily (just a nip). Turmeric root, black atractylodes rhizome, fenugreek seeds, bitter melon, prickly pear cactus, ganoderma mushroom, gymnema, Malabar kino, green tea, maitake mushroom, devils claw root bark, jumbal seed, fig leaf, Siberian ginseng root bark, and bay leaves can help regulate and lower elevated blood sugars.

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