What is Diabetes?
If the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin in response to sugar levels in the blood, then the sugars accumulate in the blood and body tissues causing defects in various parts of the body. Diabetes is generally split into two groups, type 1 and type 2. The condition affects all ages and genders.
Causes
Some people are genetically pre-disposed with some cases triggered by stress or a viral infection. A diet high in simple carbohydrates with a lot of refined, processed foods is believed to be the underlying factor in most cases in type 2 diabetes. Sugar has been shown to cause diabetes in animals (1).
Type I diabetes occurs mostly in children and young adults and means that they are dependent on insulin. With type I individuals, the pancreas cannot make the insulin needed to process glucose so insulin has to be injected into the system. Symptoms include frequent urination and excessive thirst, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting, increased appetite, and, in advanced cases, deterioration of vision. Children may well start to wet the bed. Type I individuals either find that their glucose levels are very high in the blood (hyperglycaemia) or very low (hypoglycaemia). Both of these conditions are serious.
Hyperglycaemia can occur over a period of hours or days, and is characterised by an inability to keep down fluids or an extreme thirst. If not treated, it can lead to coma with many serious long-term complications including kidney failure, gangrene, heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and stroke.
Hypoglycaemia may lead to dizziness, confusion, palpitations, numbness or tingling in the lips, sweating, and hunger. It comes on very quickly and can be triggered by missing a meal, having too much exercise, or as a reaction to too much insulin. If not treated, the person becomes very disorientated and may go on to experience trembling, double vision. In extreme cases hypoglycaemia can lead to coma and death.
Type 2 diabetes is often linked to poor diet and occurs more often in adulthood. Type 2 is unlike Type I in that the pancreas often makes enough insulin, yet the body has trouble using the insulin (2,3). Most non-insulin dependent people are obese (4), which is why weight loss is the preferred treatment, often tending to reverse the condition (5,6,7,8). Symptoms include numbness or tingling sensations in the feet, unusual thirst, blurred vision, itching, fatigue, slow wound healing, skin infections, drowsiness, and blurred vision. (See our article on Tai Chi effective at delaying cognitive decline related to Type 2 Diabetes)
Complementary Approach
Diet
The advice from diabetes organisations, including Diabetes UK, is for diabetics to include a high amount of carbohydrate with each meal. They propose a diet high in complex-carbohydrates and high in fibre (9) as this will reduce the need for insulin. Research, however, points towards a diet that emphasises high quality protein, plenty of vegetables, a little fruit, and low overall carbohydrate intake.
Eat foods that stabilise blood sugar levels including spirulina, brewer’s yeast, dairy products – especially cheese, berries, egg yolks, fish (10), garlic, sauerkraut, soybeans, and kelp. Foods that are high in fibre are much better for you because they contain less sugar than low fibre foods. Therefore, eat beans for their guar gum content (11), fruit for its pectin content (12), and oat bran for its fibre content (13). Use olive oil as it is high in monounsaturates and good for diabetics (14).
Don’t eat saturated fats and simple sugars. Avoid fish oil capsules as these can elevate blood sugar levels as too can salt and white flour products the latter often being addictive. Some research indicates that following a vegan (plant-based) diet as reports show dramatic results in the improvement of people who are type 2 diabetic (15,16,17).
(See our article on Best Low-Carb Diet for Diabetes: Animal versus Plant-Based Protein)
The following information does not constitute a prescription or recommended dose – studies have been conducted using the dosages stated and are included for your information only. The nutrients mentioned here are often recommended by healthcare practitioners.
Nutrients
Zinc helps the immune system and may reduce the risk of certain illnesses. Research suggests that zinc may be beneficial for the management of diabetes (18,19,20,21,22,23). Take 50-80 mg per day, but do not exceed a daily dose of 100 mg. Be sure to check if you are taking other supplements.
Vitamin B12 is needed for normal functioning of cells and helps reduce nerve damage caused by diabetes (24). Take 500 mcg 3 times daily.
Vitamin B complex (25,26,27) and inositol taken together work more effectively. Take 50 mg of vitamin B complex 3 times a day along with 50 mg of biotin as this will help with the metabolism of glucose. Take with it 50 mg a day of inositol as this is important for circulation. Be sure not to exceed 300 mg per day of Vitamin B complex if taking other supplements containing this vitamin.
Vitamin E (28,29,30,31,32,33) improves glucose tolerance (34,35,36) and helps protect the blood vessels from damage (37). Take 900 IU per day.
Vitamin C lowers levels of a sugar called sorbitol that can build up to such a level that it can damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys of the diabetic (39). It appears that type 2 diabetics have low vitamin C levels (38). Take 1-3grams per day.
(See our article Can Folic Acid halt the rise of Type 2 Diabetes?)
Nutritional Supplements
L-Carnitine mobilises fat and should be taken on an empty stomach. Take 500 mg twice a day with water not milk. In order for the l-carnitine to work more efficiently take together with 50 mg of vitamin B6 and 100 mg of vitamin C.
Chromium picolinate lowers blood sugar levels by improving insulin’s efficiency. Take 400-600 mcg daily. Alternatively take brewer’s yeast with added chromium as directed on the label. You must consult with your doctor before taking any supplement containing chromium.
Taurine should be taken on an empty stomach. Take 500 mg twice a day.
Quercetin, in the treatment of diabetes, protects the membranes of the lens of the eye. Take 100 mg 3 times daily.
Herbs
Fenugreek seeds (40,41) are very safe, but if you take more than 100 g of fenugreek seeds a day, you may experience intestinal upset and nausea. In the treatment of diabetes take between 5-30 grams with each meal.
Asian Ginseng that contains 5-7% of ginsenosides should be taken 100-200 mg per day, every day for 2-3 weeks Follow this by having a rest period of 1-2 weeks before resuming. Not recommended for pregnant or lactating women or people with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Cedar berries are excellent nourishment for the pancreas.
Blueberry (also known as huckleberry) and its cousin bilberry are of benefit as they maintain healthy blood vessels, especially those round the eyes. A tea made of the leaves of the blueberry seems to be of benefit to diabetics who have damage to the retina. Make a tea using 5-10 grams of dried leaves steeped for 10-15 minutes. Drink 3 cups a day. Alternatively you can use a tincture form of this herb; take 5 ml 3 times a day.
Further Information
Diabetics should not drink alcohol as they have low glucose tolerance (42). Diabetics who decide to drink should be warned that they have a greater chance of developing eye (43) and nerve damage (44).
Diabetics who smoke increase their chances of going on to develop heart disease (45) and kidney damage (46). Smokers are more prone to developing diabetes than non-smokers (47) and for this reason should avoid it.
Diabetics can develop foot ulcers and peripheral nerve damage due to lack of oxygen to the extremities so wearing cotton socks and ensuring that feet are kept clean is essential. (See our articles on Diabetic Neuropathy and Foot Pain and Heal Naturally: Effective Strategies for Managing Peripheral Neuropathy)
Exercise improves insulin sensitivity (48) while decreasing body fat (49) so it is worth checking out the local gym. Your doctor should be consulted before you undertake any exercise programme, as vigorous exercise can decrease blood sugar levels (50).
References
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