Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the major killers of Americans. Greatly increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and loss of nerve function are all associated with this disease.

An estimated 10 million individuals have diabetes. Fewer than half, however, know this for a fact. If you are over 40, live a sedentary lifestyle, have native American ancestry or diabetes in your family, be aware of the following common symptoms: putting on weight, losing weight (not on purpose), constant hunger for high carbo or high fat foods, excessive thirst, dry itching skin, lack of energy, excessive urination with high sugar in the urine, obesity, you are at high risk and should consider having a blood test for Diabetes. You don't have to have all the symptoms to have high blood sugar. Many do not consult a physician so they are never given the diagnosis.

In order to discover your high blood sugar history you should get a special blood test which reveals your average value of blood glucose over the last two to four months. request a hemoglobin A1c (HGB A1c) assay be done. If you test over 126 blood glucose twice, during a normal daily blood test, according to the American Diabetes Foundation , you are Diabetic.

If this is the case, don't throw up your hands and have a donut. Take an active approach to your own treatment. Search for a doctor who understands the treatment of Diabetes with out totally depending on drugs. Have your doctor explain each treatment plan available and their potential side affects.

According to Dr Julian Whitaker, many doctors follow the "treatment of laziness" with type II diabetics. Diet and exercise suggestions may be made, but if such a change of habits is perceived as difficult, the core treatment is usually that with which the physician is most familiar and asks less of the patient.

Become aware of alternative natural courses of treatment including diet, supplements and exercise. Take responsibility of your own treatment. Make sure you understand the function of oral meds in comparison to insulin. Most important be aware of the long term "treatment of laziness" with the use of insulin for type II diabetes. They are not good

In the case of the obese type II individual, the cells of the body have become insulin-resistant. This is due to loss of nerve function in the cell tissue which can eventually lead to the amputations often seen in end-stage diabetes.

Some natural alternative supplements for the treatment of type II diabetes are:

Gymnema Sylvestre...used for many years in India in the Ayurvedic medical tradition, has been found by modern reserachers to enhance glucose control in animals as well as humans. Gymnema Sylvestre even helped type I reduce the amount of insulin therapy because it prevents sugar from being absorbed.

For both type II and type I this wonderful herb was helpful. The intriguing role of this herb when healthy individuals are given Gymnema is nothing happens! No lowering of blood sugar. Dr Whitaker recommends 400 milligrams per day and should be taken when consuming sugar or just prior.

Other Nutrient Support:

drhealth Vitamin E (400 to 800 IU per day) is known to improve the action of insulin which can reduce the amount of insulin requirements. Vitamin E may also help prevent many long-term complications of diabetes.

drhealth Vitamin C 1000 mg with 200 mg Bioflavonoids (2000 to 5000 mg) is helpful in improving the immune function which is depressed in diabetics. Vitamin C is helpful in wound healing and increasing permeability of capillaries which tend to bleed. Vitamin C also reduces the accumulation of factors leading to eye and nerve complications.

drhealth Chromium GTF or picolinate (200 mcg 2X daily) works closely with insulin in factilitating the reception of glucose by the cells. Chromium deficiency will block insulin's action and glucose levels will elevate. If the cells of the body aren't doing their job, the transport of vitamin C into the cells of the body is hindered, because this transport is factilitated by insulin.

Magnesium/potassium/bromelain (3X daily) aids the control of blood pressure.

drhealth Evening Primorose (1300 mg caps 3X daily) GLA aids in supplying needed EFAs. GLA is a source of energy for the cells, electrical insulation for nerve fibers, a precursor of prostaglandins which regulate hormone and metabolic functions. GLA is also helpful for PMS, menopause symptoms, low blood sugar, and to help in nerve transmission for M.S. and muscular dystrophy.

drhealth Alpha-Lipoic Acid (100 mg 2X daily) is an important antioxidant and is reported to be helpful in reversing nerve damage in diabetics. The healing effect could also be related to ALA's ability to activate key enzymes in the pathways that convert glucose, fatty acids and other energy sources into ATP--the body's main energy-storage and transport molecule.