According to the World Health Organization, there are already 170 million diabetics in the world and by 2030, there may be 300 million. Type 2 diabetes, which is often called adult-onset diabetes is occurring in children under ten years old; we may have to change the name.
Diabetes is a preventable disease of diet and lifestyle. By changing our behaviors we can, in some cases, reverse the disease, in others we can improve the symptoms. In every case, a person with diabetes needs to work with a licensed health professional to monitor their progress and avoid negative interactions with pharmaceuticals.
In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas may be producing enough insulin but the cells have lost some of their ability to use the insulin to process the glucose (sugar) in the blood, or the pancreas may be damaged and not producing enough insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is usually under-producing.
Activities that lead to diabetes
- Too much sugar, refined and processed flour, caffeine, and soft drinks
- Too much high fructose corn syrup
- Too little exercise
Symptoms of diabetes
- a sudden change in weight—either up or down
- fatigue
- frequent urination
- constant thirst
- sugar in the urine and blood—determined through a doctor’s test.
Managing Diabetes
While a medical professional will have to be involved, the person with diabetes can do a great deal to correct their situation by losing weight, exercising and cleaning up their diet.
- eliminating sugar, milk, alcohol, refined flour, caffeine and sodas,
- adding vegetables, high-quality protein, and lots of water,
- eating six small meals instead of three big ones to keep the blood sugar more constant and put less load on the pancreas,
- taking a good vitamin-mineral supplement with all 90 essential nutrients,
- getting plenty of anti-oxidants which will require supplements because you probably can’t eat that many fruits and vegetables,
- making sure that your supplements include Chromium, Magnesium and Zinc,
- taking, with a physician’s approval, other herbs like Ginseng (panax quinquefolius), Cinnamon, Aloe Vera and Gymnema.
The benefits of some supplements:
- Chromium makes insulin more effective and is sadly lacking in the soils of commercial farms.
- Vanadium appears in studies to mimic the effects of insulin on blood sugar but is also toxic at increased doses so must be used with professional supervision.
- Zinc and magnesium make insulin more effective.
- Selenium, copper and manganese help protect cells from the damage caused by excessive sugar in the blood.
- Vitamin C and E assist in getting sugar out of the blood and protect tissues in the circulatory system from sugar damage.
- Some of the B vitamins help to prevent diabetic complications.
- Essential fatty acids help to rebuild cells and are a good idea for everyone, diabetic or not.
- Ginseng (panax quinquefolius) was found in several scientific studies by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto to produce an improvement in diabetic patients who were already taking a pharmaceutical.
- Cinnamon has been found in multiple studies to increase the effectiveness of insulin and lower blood sugar.
- Aloe vera has been found to stimulate insulin production in mice. Human studies have been inconclusive so far.
- Gymnema sylvestre has been used in Asia for diabetes since ancient times.
Anyone with diabetes should check their blood sugar several times per day. Using the above minerals and herbs irresponsibly could result in hypoglycemia. Once again—work with your licensed health care professional to fine tune your supplements and pharmaceuticals to your individual needs.
