Dealing with Diabetes

Could You Have Diabetes and Not Know It?

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Many people dealing with diabetes admit that the disease sneaked up on them. They didn’t see it coming.

These men and women didn’t suddenly lose weight or become excessively hungry and thirsty (as those with type 1 diabetes often experience), nor did they feel sick in any way. In fact, there are few truly recognizable type 2 diabetes symptoms. The disease is usually discovered during a routine blood test when a high fasting blood glucose reading, usually in the 150 to 300 mg/dL range, is noted.

There are, however, a few common type 2 diabetes signs and symptoms:

* The vast majority of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, with the distribution of weight most commonly in the abdominal area. Excess weight is a known factor in insulin resistance. In fact, the link between diabetes and obesity is so strong that it’s led to the coining of a new term, diabesity.

* Most people with type 2 diabetes are inactive. Exercise enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

* Worldwide, the greatest increase in the number of people living with diabetes appears in those over the age of 65. Beginning in our forties, our lifestyle indiscretions are no longer protected by the resilience of youth. Things like an unhealthy diet, extra pounds, and lack of exercise suddenly turn into diabetes risk factors and begin take their toll.

The good news is that in type 2 diabetes the body only becomes “insensitive” or “resistant” to insulin, and people diagnosed with this disease often can boost their insulin sensitivity and reverse their condition. Type 2 diabetes is preventable, and is primarily a result of poor lifestyle choices. The trick is to eat healthy, get plenty of exercise, and get your fasting blood glucose tested regularly so you catch the disease in its beginning stages.

Now it’s your turn: Do you have your blood sugar tested regularly?

You may also be interested in:

Why Diabetes Drugs Fail Patients

Four Medical Tests that Can Save Your Life

Help for Erectile Dysfunction: Beyond Viagra

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Improving your heart health can help ED.

Men, if your sexual function isn’t what you’d like it to be, you can take Viagra, Cialis, or a related drug—a temporary fix at best. Or you can make lifestyle changes and use nutritional supplements and other natural therapies to get a handle on high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated lipids, obesity, metabolic syndrome, inactivity, and smoking, which are the most significant contributors to cardiovascular disease and to erectile dysfunction (ED).

Weight loss, regular exercise, a high-fiber low-fat diet, and targeted supplements not only reduce risk of heart attack and stroke, but according to a 2011 meta-analysis in the Archives of Internal Medicine, may also give your sex life a boost. And don’t forget that prevention is the best medicine. Some degree of ED affects 42 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 70. By tending to your cardiovascular health today, you probably won’t have to deal with ED in the future.

Here are some ways to improve your cardiovascular health and reduce your risk of ED:

* Lower your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol by eliminating high-fat dairy from your diet and only eating meat a few times a week. Also, avoid pork and fatty poultry, processed meats, refined sugars, oils, most margarine, and excess salt.

* Eat plenty of fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, beans, legumes, nonfat yogurt, and poached fish. Plant foods are good sources of antioxidants, B vitamins, and minerals that are crucial to protecting your heart and blood vessels.

* Establish a reasonable exercise program. Don’t be afraid to exercise because you have symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Inactivity can exacerbate the problem. Work with your physician to set up a plan for regular low-impact aerobic activity that’s appropriate for your condition.

* Take fish oil supplements. The omega-3 essential fatty acids in fish oil help lower cholesterol and especially triglyceride levels, improve blood flow, reduce the risk of blood clots, lower blood pressure, and help prevent atherosclerosis. I recommend 2–10 1,000 mg capsules of fish oil a day.

* Take antioxidants, which neutralize the free radicals that contribute to heart disease. I suggest 1,500-5,000 mg daily of vitamin C in divided doses, 400 IU of vitamin E, 1,500 IU of vitamin A, and 15,000 IU of beta-carotene daily. Plus, make sure you’re taking a good multi-nutrient.

Now it’s your turn: Which of these heart-healthy habits have you adopted?

You may also be interested in:

What Men Want to Know

The Real Secret to Quitting Smoking

Diabesity Challenge Tip: Make a Commitment to Health

Monday, January 3, 2011 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Each year, I remind you of the importance of choosing New Year’s resolutions that will improve

your health. And while making these resolutions is easy, sticking to them can be anything but.

If you have resolved to lose weight and reverse diabetes, you need to focus on how you are going to attain these goals. This year, I want to give you a surefire way to get started and stay on track. I call it “instant discipline.”

Let’s face it…nobody likes change. It’s painful. That’s why so few people succeed at weight loss. You mean well, you really do want things to be different this time. But after a while, you give up—and no one cares or even notices that, once again, you’ve failed to follow through. I’ve found that the only way to guarantee success is this: Make the pain of not following through greater than the pain of actually changing.

Make a Public Commitment

First, don’t commit to losing X number of pounds. Pledge instead to follow the mini-fast, to eat low-glycemic foods, and to take a 30-minute morning walk at least five days a week for the next three weeks. Of course you’ll be aiming at a target weight, but if you focus on your behavior—what you eat and how much you exercise—weight loss will naturally follow.

Second, pledge a significant sum of money to your least favorite charity, payable if you renege on your commitment. I’ve seen some great contracts over the years. Mike, an avid hunter, pledged to stop eating desserts for three weeks and, if he failed, he agreed to give $1,000 to PETA, an anti-hunting organization.

Third, write the details of your commitment down, sign it, date it, have it witnessed, and then—and this step is very important—make it public. Tell everybody, family, friends, and co-workers about your commitment and its consequences, and keep them abreast of your progress.

I believe that any human behavior can be changed with this system, because it makes you accountable. Accountability is your responsibility to someone for some action. You’re accountable for many things in your life, and if you don’t act responsibly, there are consequences.

If you’re supposed to arrive at work at 8:00 every day, but you show up at 9:30 or 10:00, there are consequences. You don’t park in the red zone or refuse to pay taxes because you don’t want to deal with the consequences.

But when we make promises to ourselves, there are no consequences if we break them. This is why so few people adhere to their New Year’s resolutions. So what if you don’t follow through?

But now you know how to make a real change. Create significant consequences for your personal behavior. Go public with your plans so you’ll risk losing face. Let humiliation be your taskmaster. Become accountable by pledging money to your least favorite charity, payable if you skirt personal responsibility, and be sure to make it a large enough sum to hurt if you have to pay up.

In short, up the ante for failure, hold yourself accountable, and I promise that you will succeed.

I hope this information helps you as you continue your weight loss journey. Have another great week and keep up with the program…it works!

For more information on my Diabesity Challenge, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Supplements to Defeat Diabetic Neuropathy

Friday, December 17, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

If you or someone you know is dealing with diabetic neuropathy, you are aware just how painful and debilitating this condition can be. The numbness, discomfort, and loss of sensation in the extremities isn’t just inconvenient—it can cause real problems.

Fortunately, several supplements are effective in treating diabetic neuropathy.

Alpha Lipoic Acid. Also known as lipoic acid or ALA, alpha lipoic acid is my top supplement recommendation for treating diabetic neuropathy. ALA is an extraordinary antioxidant that, in addition to quenching free radicals, has been shown in clinical studies to improve pain, burning, numbness, and other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. The suggested dose is 600–1,200 mg per day in divided doses.

High-Dose Antioxidants. Because oxidative damage plays a large role in diabetic neuropathy, high doses of antioxidants are imperative. Aim for 300–800 IU of vitamin E, a minimum of 1,000 mg of vitamin C, and 15,000 IU of vitamin A (as mostly beta-carotene.) A high-quality multi should contain these levels.

B-Complex Vitamins. When it comes to supporting nerve health, B-complex vitamins are essential. Suggested minimum doses are 800 mcg of folic acid, 150 mcg of B12, and 75 mg of B6. Again, a good multivitamin/mineral supplement should contain these doses.

Fish Oil. Inflammation is also a factor in diabetic neuropathy and fish oil is just the supplement to counteract this symptom. For best results, take 2–8 g of high-quality fish oil daily.

For more information on therapies and nutritional supplements that help treat diabetes complications, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Treatments to Defeat Diabetic Neuropathy

Friday, December 10, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

If you or someone you know is dealing with diabetic neuropathy, you are aware just how painful and debilitating this condition can be. The numbness, discomfort, and loss of sensation in the extremities isn’t just inconvenient—it can cause real problems.

Fortunately, several effective therapies for diabetic neuropathy exist. Here are a few of my favorites.

Chelation. Chelation is an intravenous therapy that binds to metal ions in the blood, carrying them to the kidneys where they are excreted in the urine. Used for heavy metal poisoning, chelation also improves circulation, which helps alleviate symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP). EECP increases blood flow to the extremities and reduces symptoms of diabetic and peripheral neuropathy. During 35 one-hour sessions, pressurized cuffs are placed around the lower extremities. With each beat of the heart, the cuffs contract, squeezing blood up toward the heart and throughout the body, increasing circulation.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered in a specially designed, pressurized chamber. When 100 percent oxygen is inhaled in this environment, it is easily absorbed, even in areas where blood supply is limited. This infusion helps boost circulation and improves a wide number of conditions, including diabetic neuropathy.

Infrared Light Therapy. Infrared light therapy (brand names Health Light and Anodyne) delivers special wavelengths of infrared light through the skin to the affected tissues, increasing the production of nitric oxide (a signaling molecule in short supply in diabetics). This painless procedure enhances blood flow, improves circulation, and has restored sensation in 93 percent of patients in eight separate clinical trials.

For more information on therapies that help treat diabetes complications, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Natural Appetite Suppressants

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

One of the most difficult aspects of losing weight is learning to control your appetite.

Fortunately, I happen to know of several natural appetite suppressants that can help. Some are foods and beverages that can help you fend off hunger pangs, while others are supplements that can give you a boost.

First and foremost is water. I recommend drinking an eight-ounce glass of water before each meal.

Next, be sure to include plenty of fiber in your diet. You can get fiber from foods sources, such as a juicy apple before meals or a quarter-cup of freshly ground flaxseed sprinkled on yogurt, salads, or soups, as well as supplements (psyllium and glucommanan are good sources). Either way, fiber helps to stave off hunger by causing a slower release of glucose.

There are also thermogenic agents that aid weight loss by increasing the rate that the body burns fat and by curbing appetite. The easiest one to incorporate into your diet is caffeine. When you feel the need to reach for a snack, drink a cup of coffee instead—it often takes the edge off of hunger. If you aren’t a coffee fan, another safe and effective option is green tea.

For extra help, try the amino acid 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which cuts cravings, particularly for carbohydrates, by naturally balancing serotonin levels.

Hoodia gordonii, a succulent native to southern Africa, is another one of nature’s appetite suppressants. Used by San Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert to stave off hunger and thirst during long treks, hoodia activates the hunger/satiety center in the brain. Hoodia has created a good deal of buzz in the industry, and has been shown to be highly effective in reducing appetite.

Finally, there’s Irvingia gabonensis. This extract from a West African tree not only reins in appetite and fights obesity, but also helps control diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

You can find these supplements in most health food stores or online. Use as directed.

For more information on weight loss and the connection between diabetes and weight, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Burning Energy and Losing Weight

Friday, September 24, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Let’s quickly take a look at how the body burns energy.

The preferred high-octane fuel of the body is carbohydrate in the form of glucose. Between meals, when there’s no fresh supply of glucose in your blood, energy is derived from your glycogen stores. Once these limited stores are exhausted, the burning of fat starts in full force.

You wake up in the morning burning fat because the eight to 12 hours between dinner and breakfast is ample time for your body to have depleted its carbohydrate stores. When you replenish those stores at breakfast, you again begin to burn primarily carbohydrates. If you do not replenish them, however, you will continue to burn fat.

This is one reason the very low-carbohydrate weight loss diet popularized by Dr. Atkins works for so many people. By not replenishing carbohydrate stores, the body stays in the fat-burning mode.

It also works because it reduces insulin production. Insulin is a storage hormone. It not only lets glucose into the cells, but it also helps fat get in. People who eat a lot of fat and carbohydrates together often produce excessive amounts of insulin.

The foods that stimulate the highest production of insulin are carbohydrates, particularly rapidly digested refined carbohydrates like white flour and sugar. Protein foods provoke some insulin response, but it is far less than that of carbohydrates, and fat doesn’t stimulate the release of insulin at all. Therefore, eating a low-carb diet dramatically decreases insulin production. This is of particular importance to people dealing with diabetes.

Burning up those fat stores is essential if you want to lose weight and keep it off. To really kick things into high gear, consider taking my Diabesity Challenge.

For more information on healthy weight loss and the connection between diabetes and weight, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Special Note About Type 1 Diabetes

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Type 1 diabetes is sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes because it usually appears before the age of 20 (though it can present itself at any age). It results from the inability of the pancreas to produce adequate insulin.

While the vast majority of people living with diabetes are suffering from the type 2 variety, it is important to note that the advice found in this blog and in my Health & Healing newsletter apply to both forms of the disease.

If you’re dealing with type 1 diabetes you, too, should adhere to the recipes for diabetics, you should take supplements for diabetes, and you should strive to exercise regularly.

Although people with type 1 diabetes will in all likelihood require supplemental insulin for the rest of their lives, it has been scientifically proven that regular exercise and specific nutrients—such as the mineral vanadium—may reduce insulin requirements in these individuals.

Additionally, scores of studies show that aggressive use of targeted nutritional supplements, including antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, magnesium, lipoic acid, and evening primrose oil, protect against diabetes complications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

So, while you shouldn’t expect to reverse type 1 diabetes per se, you can still apply many of the recommendations found in this blog.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

The Dangers of Diabetes Drugs

Monday, September 13, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Although oral hypoglycemic (blood-glucose-lowering) drugs may be able to help lower blood sugar, they do so at a price. Furthermore, most oral hypoglycemic agents utilize the Band-Aid approach to treating diabetes—they lower blood sugar but do nothing to address the underlying condition.

Based upon decades of experience in treating thousands of people dealing with diabetes, I can tell you that safer, natural approaches for treating blood sugar problems really do work. In my opinion, drugs should be resorted to only after natural remedies for diabetes have been given a sincere try.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

People Living With Diabetes Suffer Increased Health Risks

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Treating diabetes can be tricky enough without also having to deal with increased health risks, but they exist and you need to know about them.

Living with diabetes puts you at a dramatically increased risk of premature death and disability.

People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to die from heart disease than those with normal blood sugar levels, and they are five times more likely to have a stroke. They are subject to vision problems such as glaucoma and cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness. Forty percent of all cases of kidney failure are attributed to this condition. Sixty to 70 percent of all diabetics have some form of nerve damage, and a majority of lower extremity amputations are performed on people with diabetes.

Erectile dysfunction, impaired digestion, urinary incontinence, excess sweating, gum disease, and increased risk of infection are additional health risks of diabetes.

But here’s the good news! You can lower blood sugar levels naturally. With a combination of targeted supplements for diabetes, a proper diet, and exercise, you CAN manage diabetes and sidestep these other health concerns as well.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Many people dealing with diabetes admit that the disease snuck up on them. They didn’t see it coming.

These men and women didn’t suddenly lose weight or become excessively hungry and thirsty (as those with type 1 diabetes often experience), nor did they feel sick in any way. In fact, there are few truly recognizable type 2 diabetes symptoms. The disease is usually discovered during a routine blood test when a high fasting blood glucose reading, usually in the 150 to 300 mg/dL range, is noted.

There are, however, a few common type 2 diabetes signs and symptoms:

The vast majority of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, with the distribution of weight most commonly in the abdominal area.
Most people with type 2 diabetes are inactive.
Worldwide, the greatest increase in the number of people managing diabetes appears in those over the age of 65. Beginning in our forties, our lifestyle indiscretions are no longer protected by the resilience of youth. Things like an unhealthy diet, extra pounds, and lack of exercise suddenly turn into diabetes risk factors and begin take their toll.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Managing Diabetes Side Effects With Infrared Light Therapy

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Infrared light therapy (brand names Anodyne and HealthLight) delivers pulses of special wavelengths of light through the skin directly to injured tissues. Though the light itself is invisible, its effects are readily apparent: enhanced blood flow, improved sensation, regeneration of tissues, and pain relief.

As I've indicated before, treatment with infrared light therapy is simple and painless. Flexible pads containing small lights are affixed to the affected areas. The energy that pulses from the lights penetrates beneath the skin and is absorbed by deep tissues. After just 30 minutes of treatment, blood flow is enhanced by 400 percent, and this boost in local circulation persists for several hours after the pads are removed. The key to this dramatic improvement in blood flow is a short-lived molecule called nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is an unstable gas that is crucial to the health of every part of the body that depends on an adequate blood supply for normal functioning. Unfortunately, people dealing with diabetes produce less nitric oxide than healthy individuals. It’s not surprising then that people living with diabetes often suffer from problems related to poor circulation, including heart disease, poor blood pressure health, kidney dysfunction, retinal damage, peripheral neuropathy, and impaired wound healing. This is where infrared light therapy comes in.

As blood cells pass beneath the light unit, they absorb photons of energy, causing them to release nitric oxide. This localized release enhances blood flow in the immediate vicinity, bringing oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues and stimulating healing.

Infrared light therapy has been the subject of at least eight clinical trials in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and “loss of protective sensation,” an objective measure of nerve impairment and a significant risk factor for amputation. These studies found that treatment with infrared light restored sensation in 93 percent of affected limbs, greatly reducing risk of amputation.

Though you may not hear about it from your conventional doctor, infrared light therapy is gaining popularity as its benefits are becoming better known.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Protects Against Diabetes Complications

Friday, August 20, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

If you are dealing with diabetes, it is imperative that you take a potent daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. This will give you the nutritional foundation you need to help manage your diabetes. Antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10, acetyl-L-carnitine, and n-acetyl-cysteine are also important because they help scavenge the free radicals and clear up the oxidative stress caused by the diabetic condition. But if I had to choose just one antioxidant for people trying to manage diabetes, it would be alpha lipoic acid (ALA).

ALA has the unique ability to work in both water- and fat-soluble mediums and to regenerate vitamins C and E, and other antioxidants. Furthermore, it actually improves the diabetic condition by enhancing glucose uptake, increasing insulin sensitivity, and protecting against beta cell destruction.

Most important are ALA’s effects on diabetes complications. Studies show that daily doses of 600-1,200 mg of ALA reduce pain, burning, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms of neuropathy. Benefits of this supplement have also been demonstrated for diabetes-related eye, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Let’s Talk About Type 1 Diabetes

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Type 2 diabetes information and research can be found all over the place, but much less is written about type 1. That’s likely because the vast majority of people living with diabetes have type 2. Nevertheless, type 1 diabetes warrants discussion.

Type 1 diabetes, sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes because it usually appears before the age of 20 (though it can crop up at any age), results from the inability of the pancreas to produce adequate insulin. Insulin is the nutritional storage hormone. Produced in specialized beta cells located in areas of the pancreas called the Islets of Langerhans, insulin is the key that opens up cells to glucose and other nutrients. If there is not enough insulin in the bloodstream to “unlock” these cells so that nutrients can get in, cells literally starve to death.

Not surprisingly, classic symptoms of type 1 diabetes include extreme hunger as the body tries to compensate for this inability to feed its cells, and rapid weight loss as the cells are unable to utilize food, regardless of how much is eaten. In addition, untreated individuals with type 1 diabetes are extremely thirsty, drink copious amounts of fluids, and urinate excessively. This is because the kidneys, in an attempt to keep things in balance, excrete as much excess glucose via the urine as they possibly can.

People with type 1 diabetes are often diagnosed in the emergency room—dehydrated, wasting away, and sometimes in a life-threatening diabetic coma. Their blood glucose is sky high, usually between 350 and 750 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL; normal is 80 to 110 mg/dL).

This type of diabetes is defined as an autoimmune attack on the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes the immune system to attack, but viral infections are one possible cause.

But to reiterate, only 10 percent of all people dealing with diabetes have this form of the disease. For the other 90 percent, lifestyle factors—the foods you choose to eat, the supplements you take, your activity level, and your weight—determine whether or not you will develop diabetes and what course it will take if you already have it.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Maintain Blood Sugar Levels Naturally

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

If you’re dealing with diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes, the primary thrust of your medical management should be to obtain and maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range.

For most physicians, this means drug therapy. However, in more than 30 years of treating thousands of type 2 diabetics at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, I’ve found that drugs are rarely necessary. Instead, I rely on alternative diabetes treatments, including a comprehensive diet, exercise, and weight loss program, and natural agents that lower blood sugar. Adopting this natural treatment program has allowed the majority of the diabetic patients who come to the clinic to be successfully weaned from their hypoglycemic drugs.

Take the case of Alice, who came to Whitaker Wellness with a seven-year history of type 2 diabetes. Her blood sugar was under pretty good control on Diabeta (a sulfonylurea drug), but she was concerned about side effects—as she should have been. Drugs in this class are associated with weight gain, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and an increased risk of heart disease.

During her week at the Back to Health Program, Alice was weaned off Diabeta and placed on a combination of targeted minerals and herbs. And guess what? Her blood sugar levels remained stable. She continued on this effective, less expensive, and far safer program, and has been able to maintain blood sugar levels in the normal range.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Diet Is Important When Managing Diabetes

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

What you eat has a profound effect on your blood glucose levels and your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. So if you or a loved one are at risk for or already dealing with diabetes, read the following information carefully.

Refined carbohydrates and sugars are rapidly broken down into glucose, driving up blood sugar levels and placing an increased burden on normal metabolic processes. Please avoid them whenever possible.

On the other hand, vegetables, legumes, and most fruits, cause a slow, sustained release of glucose into the bloodstream. Couple these slow burners with moderate amounts of lean protein and healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and you’ll find it easier to control blood sugar.

Other great dietary tips to help you manage diabetes include:

Eat moderate amounts of lean protein with every meal. Good sources are fish, poultry, tofu, egg whites, and legumes.
Avoid saturated fats and trans fatty acids, found in margarine and other processed fats, and eat only healthy fats, such as those found in raw nuts and seeds, olive oil, and flaxseed.
Make unprocessed carbohydrates the mainstay of your meals. Concentrate on fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Whenever possible stay away from starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, and refined grains.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Sugar Dressings for Diabetic Ulcers  

Monday, June 21, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

J.J. was lying in a hospital bed awaiting a below-the-knee amputation, thanks to a diabetic ulcer that didn’t respond to intravenous antibiotics.

Five hours before his surgery, someone told J.J. about the Whitaker Wellness Institute, so J.J. checked out of the hospital against medical advice and came to see us.

Like all of our patients dealing with diabetes, J.J. was started on natural diabetic treatments, including a therapeutic diet and targeted nutritional supplement program (he was obviously unable to exercise). He also underwent a course of EDTA chelation.

In addition, we treated his infected diabetic ulcer—which was so far gone the skin was almost black—with sugar dressings.

When sugar or honey is packed on top of and inside of an open wound, it dissolves in the fluid exuding from the wound, creating a highly concentrated medium. Bacteria cannot exist in this environment, and infection is dramatically curbed. This natural treatment for diabetes related wounds also reduces swelling and encourages the removal of dead tissue to make room for new growth.

Over the next few weeks, J.J.’s foot began to regain its normal color, and eventually the wound healed completely. Today, he’s beating diabetes, is nearly 150 pounds lighter, and he walks several miles a day on his own God-given legs.

NOTE: Do not try this on a bleeding wound, as sugar promotes bleeding.

Sugar Dressing Protocol

Unravel a 4” x 4” piece of gauze into a long strip and coat it with Vaseline. Place it around the outside edges of the wound, like a donut.
Cover the wound with ¼-inch of sugar. (The Vaseline “donut” will keep it in place.)
Place a 4” x 4” sponge on top of the wound. Bandage it firmly but not too snugly with a cling dressing.
Change the dressing every one or two days. Remove, irrigate with water, saline, or hydrogen peroxide, pat dry, and repeat steps 1–3.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, pease visit, www.drwhitaker.com.

Fish Oil’s Role in Managing Diabetes

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Fish oil, which contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, is powerful medicine for disorders ranging from heart disease and depression to arthritis and autoimmune disorders.

EPA is particularly beneficial for the cardiovascular system, as it discourages blood platelets from sticking together, relaxes the arteries, and lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

For years, people dealing with diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes, were advised to avoid fish oil supplements, due to their presumably negative effects on the body’s ability to control blood sugar. However, a meta-analysis has put this myth to rest.

In this review of studies involving 823 patients with type 2 diabetes, fish oil supplementation at doses ranging from 3,000–8,000 mg per day had no harmful effect on short- or long-term ability to control blood sugar. Furthermore, the fish oils supplements significantly improved triglyceride levels.

More recent research found that women living with diabetes who took 3,000 mg of fish oil a day for two months had marked improvements in body fat and blood lipid levels. (This is key, in part due to the connection between diabetes and weight.)

I’m not suggesting that fish oil is a cure for high blood sugar, but it can certainly play a role in managing diabetes. Everyone, regardless of health status, should take a minimum of 2 g of high-quality fish oil per day. If your cholesterol and triglycerides are high, consider increasing this to 4 or more grams daily. For these larger doses, look for liquid or concentrated fish oil supplements, as they beat taking handfuls of capsules.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Diabetes

Friday, May 28, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Two of the best natural remedies for diabetes are B-complex vitamins and vitamin C.

B-complex vitamins, particularly B6 and B12, are vital for the health of people who have diabetes. That’s because these vitamins support nerve health, which is critical when addressing conditions such as diabetic neuropathy.

Biotin is another B-complex vitamin that is necessary for cell growth and for the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. This vitamin also also been shown to lower fasting blood sugar levels and reduce risk of complications such as diabetic neuropathy.

The ideal daily dose for people living with diabetes is 75-125 mg of B6, 150-1,000 mcg of B12, and 300 mcg of biotin daily.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that protects against free-radical damage throughout the body. This vitamin is also required for the production of collagen, so it strengthens the blood vessels and supports healthy blood flow. In addition, it is involved in multiple aspects of the immune response and boosts overall immunity.

Perhaps most important to people managing diabetes, however, is vitamin C’s ability to lower levels of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that can collect in the cells and damage the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. This, plus its ability to put the brakes on free radicals, makes vitamin C an important weapon in the arsenal against diabetes complications.

Finally, vitamin C is an excellent therapy for another condition that often co-exists in individuals living with diabetes: hypertension. Irish researchers found that just 500 mg of vitamin C a day lowered blood pressure and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes.

I recommend people dealing with diabetes take at least 1,000 mg of supplemental vitamin C daily.

For more information on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Can People Living With Diabetes Drink Alcohol?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

A common dietary question of people dealing with diabetes is, “Can I drink alcohol?” The answer is, “Sometimes.”

Because alcoholic drinks contain a fair amount of calories derived from sugars, conventional wisdom has long held that people with diabetes should avoid alcohol. We now know that rather than worsening the diabetic condition, judicious use of alcohol actually improves it by enhancing insulin sensitivity.

Moderate amounts of alcohol improve the cells’ ability to respond to insulin, resulting in an ability to more easily manage blood levels of both glucose and insulin.

For most people dealing with diabetes, however, alcohol consumption can be a double-edged sword—that’s why drinking in moderation is your best bet. Too much alcohol can lead to serious health conditions, including liver disease. And for some people, even one drink is too much.

For more information on managing blood sugar, visit www.drwhitaker.com.

Search