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 about type 2 diabetes symptoms and natural remedies for diabetes, visit www.drwhitaker.com.
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.
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 diabetes complications or dealing with diabetes, visit www.drwhitaker.com.
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 treating diabetes, diabetes risk factors, or diabetes success stories, visit www.drwhitaker.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Excess fat, particularly saturated fats from meat and whole dairy products and trans fats found in processed and most fast foods, can wreak havoc on your body.
As early as the 1920s, it was demonstrated that a high-saturated fat diet not only causes weight gain, but also decreases insulin sensitivity.
A more recent British study also found that cutting back on saturated fats in meat and whole dairy makes it easier to maintain blood sugar in people dealing with diabetes. So, if you want to maintain a healthy weight and better manage blood sugar levels, try to eliminate these foods from your diet.
By far, the best sweeteners—especially if you’re trying to manage blood sugar—are the natural ones.
Topping the list is stevia. This herb has been used for over 1,500 years in South America and continues to boast worldwide popularity. It is calorie-free and does not affect blood sugar levels, so it is ideal for people living with diabetes. Just a few drops of a liquid concentrate or a dusting of powdered stevia is all you need to lend sweetness to any drink or dish. It’s the sweetener of choice at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, and not just for patients who are dealing with diabetes. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.
Running a close second is xylitol. This sweetener looks and tastes like sugar, making it ideal for baking. Better yet, it’s good for your teeth: Xylitol actually reduces cavity and plaque formation, a dental claim approved by the FDA. Although xylitol is not calorie-free, it is metabolized much more slowly than regular sugar and is extremely low on the glycemic index. The only reported side effect is gastrointestinal distress when large amounts are ingested.
For years, doctors have known the potential dangers of oral hypoglycemic drugs. But for whatever reason, they continue to prescribe them to patients dealing with diabetes. So my question is this: When are we going to learn—rather, when are we going to accept—that oral medications used to treat type 2 diabetes actually do more harm than good?
In February 2008, researchers heading a large, government-funded trial made a sobering announcement. The study in question, Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD), was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of various medication regimens in reducing heart attacks, strokes, and death from cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
One arm of the study tested the widely held assumption that using more aggressive methods to lower blood sugar would provide greater protection against heart disease. Instead, ACCORD found just the opposite. Study participants on the most intensive drug regimens aimed at driving blood sugar way down had a much higher cardiovascular death rate. “Intensive blood sugar lowering treatment” proved to be so harmful that the researchers halted this arm of the study 18 months early to prevent this aggressive drug use from killing even more people.
“Those Who Cannot Remember The Past…”
Medical experts were reportedly “shocked,” “stunned,” and “startled” by this “unexpected” finding. Folks, this is nonsense. We’ve known about the fatal complications of diabetes drugs since 1969, when results of a similar study called the University Group Diabetes Program were made public. The goal of this placebo-controlled study of patients with type 2 diabetes was to see if either of two oral diabetes drugs lowered the incidence of heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.
Incredibly, just like ACCORD, the study had to be stopped two years early because participants who were taking the drugs had a 250 to 300 percent higher death rate than those taking the placebo.
Philosopher George Santayana said more than a century ago, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Well, modern medicine has a terrible habit of forgetting—or ignoring—the past. And patients are condemned to pay for this folly. IMPORTANT WARNING: If you are currently taking an oral hypoglycemic drug, don’t stop taking it. You must work with your doctor to determine if you can gradually discontinue the medication. Ask him/her to help you implement a program of weight loss, lifestyle changes, and other natural remedies for diabetes. Check this blog frequently, do your own research, and talk with your doctor to determine that you’re getting the care that’s best for you.
While eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are necessary in your attempt to control blood sugar, these are not the only components of my “Natural Remedies for Diabetes.”
Diabetes is, in part, a nutrient-wasting disease. Elevated levels of glucose act like a diuretic and cause substantial loss of nutrients in the urine. Therefore, people living with diabetes are likely to be deficient in several important vitamins and minerals.
Incredibly, most white-coated experts specializing in diabetes make no attempt whatsoever to replace lost nutrients, leaving people with diabetes to suffer the inevitable consequences of massive nutritional deficiencies.
Is it any wonder that they are at increased risk for atherosclerosis, heart disease, and other degenerative conditions that have been definitively linked to nutritional deficiencies?
If you are dealing with diabetes, it is very important that you take a high quality vitamin and mineral supplement every day. Research has shown that taking a potent daily multivitamin and mineral supplement dramatically reduces the incidence of infection and the number of sick days among people dealing with diabetes.
In one study, half of the participants were given a daily multivitamin and mineral, while the other half received a placebo. Over the next 12 months, 93 percent of those who had received the placebo experienced one or more infections, and 89 percent missed work or other activities due to infection-related illness. Of those receiving the multi, just 17 percent contracted infections—and not a single person in this group missed work or other activities due to infection-related illness.
Beyond a daily multi, there are other targeted supplements that can help you control blood sugar levels and reduce diabetic complication. I’ll tell you about them in future posts…so stay tuned!
Chromium is a trace mineral that provides us with a wonderful natural treatment for diabetes. It works by improving the action of insulin and helping to move glucose and other nutrients into the cells.
At least 15 well-controlled clinical trials examining the effects of supplemental chromium on patients with dealing with diabetes and/or insulin resistance, as well as those finding it difficult to manage blood sugar have shown that chromium improves glucose metabolism.
In one study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center and Beijing Medical University, 180 people with type 2 diabetes were divided into three groups. Each group was given either 100 mcg chromium picolinate, 500 mcg chromium picolinate, or a placebo twice a day. No other changes were made in their medications, diets, or activity levels. When their blood glucose levels were tested after four months, the patients taking chromium had reductions in blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin (a longer-term measure of blood sugar control).
Chromium has also been demonstrated to facilitate weight loss. To enjoy the profound effects of this natural diabetes treatment, I recommend taking 200 mcg of chromium daily.
In the past decade, the prevalence of kidney disease has doubled.
One of the main reasons for this upsurge is our epidemic of diabetes. One-quarter to one-third of people with this condition develop diabetic nephropathy, which is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease.
Diabetes does a double whammy on the kidneys. When a person is unable to control blood sugar levels, damage is done to the blood vessels in the nephrons. The nephrons are the part of the kidneys that are responsible for filtering blood; returning blood cells, proteins, minerals, and other vital constituents to circulation; and passing excess water and wastes into tubules, which drain them into the bladder as urine.
And because the water-soluble antioxidants and other nutrients that protect against damage are lost in the excessive urination that accompanies diabetes, it’s no wonder so many people with diabetes end up developing kidney disease.
But don’t despair! There are natural remedies for diabetes, many of which we’ll be discussing in this blog. And if you do have this disease, the information I’ll share here will make dealing with diabetes a little easier.
Alzheimer’s disease has recently been linked to diabetes. Researchers from Brown University analyzed the brain tissue of 45 patients who had died with varying degrees of Alzheimer’s. In the study, they compared this tissue with that of people who did not have a history of diabetes. In every case, insulin-related abnormalities normally associated with advanced stages of diabetes were noted.
There is another researcher who has uncovered links between diabetes and cognitive problems. According to Suzanne Craft, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Washington, Seattle, and researcher at the VA Puget Sound Medical Center, when insulin levels are elevated, it may prompt the development of the amyloid protein that is found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
One possible explanation for these findings is that insulin and its related growth factor proteins (such as insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1) play an integral role in the production of acetylcholine—a neurotransmitter found in the brain that is necessary for optimal cognitive function.
When insulin levels are abnormal (one of the most common type 2 diabetes symptoms) production of acetylcholine can be disrupted, setting the stage for Alzheimer’s and other memory problems to develop.
I encourage people living with diabetes to pay strict attention to this information. I suggest that they adhere to the natural remedies for diabetes (many of which I’ll be sharing with you here). Diabetes complications should not be taken lightly, and you need to do everything you can to ensure to stay healthy when dealing with diabetes.
People living with diabetes are at higher risk of developing periodontal disease than people without blood sugar problems.
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, occurs when the gums become infected and inflamed. Signs that you may have periodontal disease include:
red, sore, swollen gums
bleeding gums
loose or sensitive teeth
bad breath
trouble chewing
According to the CDC, young adults dealing with diabetes have about twice the risk of periodontal disease than those without diabetes. Also, people with poorly controlled blood sugar levels are nearly three times more likely to have severe forms of gum disease, and they typically lose more teeth than those without diabetes.
As is the case with most diabetes risk factors, a primary culprit behind the increased risk of periodontal disease is damage to blood vessels due to the inability to maintain blood sugar levels within the healthy range. Without nourishment and removal of wastes from their tissues, the gums become less resistant to infection, setting the stage for periodontal disease.
Another reason people with diabetes are much more prone to periodontal disease is because they are prone to nutritional deficiencies. Diabetes is nutritional wasting disease, and affected individuals often have low blood levels of vitamin C, zinc, and other water-soluble vitamins and minerals. Zinc is necessary for tissue healing, and vitamin C is required for collagen formation. In fact, scurvy, the quintessential vitamin C deficiency disease, is characterized by bleeding gums and loose teeth.
And if you smoke, you are at even higher risk. Statistics show that diabetics who smoke and are 45 years or older are 20 times more likely to develop severe gum disease than people who don’t smoke.
The best way to lower your risk of developing periodontal disease is to brush and floss every day, take a good daily vitamin and mineral supplement, and visit your dentist on a regular basis.
When blood glucose levels remain elevated for an extended period of time, sticky sugar molecules can attach to protein molecules in a process called glycation. Glycation of protein molecules creates irreversible cross-links between adjacent protein molecules. This cross-linking creates new protein structures called AGEs (Advanced Glycosylation End products).
If you’re dealing with diabetes, you’ll want to be particularly aware of this because, among other things, AGEs can cause tissues like the collagen in your blood vessels to become stiff and lose their flexibility. This is a major culprit behind many diabetic complications, including cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.
But, the good news is that there are two supplements for diabetes that are especially good for your eyes.
Grape Seed Extract. Grape seed extract is a powerful antioxidant that protects blood vessels and capillaries from free-radical damage. Research shows that grape seed extract can also help prevent diabetic retinopathy. The initial dose is one mg per pound of body weight for the first week, in divided doses with meals, continuing with a maintenance dose of one-half this amount. Round your weight up or down to the nearest 50 pounds. For example, if you weigh 210 pounds, take 200 mg a day for the first week, and then continue on 100 mg a day.
Benfotiamine. According to researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, benfotiamine blocks three of the major culprits responsible for blood vessel damage in patients with elevated blood sugar levels. As a result, it helps prevent retinopathy, neuropathy, and other diabetes complications.
Although benfotiamine is found in small quantities in garlic, shallots, leeks, and onions, you’d have to eat an awful lot of these vegetables to obtain therapeutic doses. If you want to forego the bad breath, I suggest you use benfotiamine in capsule form. Look for it in your local health food store. Typical doses range from 150 to 450 mg daily.
I know you are thinking that sugar-laden chocolate is the last thing people who are trying to manage diabetes should be eating. But, while it is true that chocolate has fat and calories—and it tastes way too good to be good for you—the health benefits of dark chocolate cannot be denied, even to people living with diabetes.
Italian researchers discovered that dark chocolate significantly improves markers of insulin sensitivity. It can also decrease fasting insulin and glucose levels, as well as insulin and glucose responses to the glucose tolerance test.
High-quality dark chocolate is sold in health food, specialty, and grocery stores. Look for bars that contain 70 percent cocoa or more. Don’t be put off by the fat content, and expect it to have some sugar. Unsweetened dark chocolate is extremely bitter and, even sweetened, it is for some an acquired taste, so shop around for a brand you like.
I urge my patients to enjoy it in moderation so that it doesn’t interfere with their ability to maintain blood sugar levels. So, if you are dealing with diabetes, know that a square or two of dark chocolate every other day or so is enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. Just be sure to keep caloric intake steady, and eat your dark chocolate in place of, rather than in addition to, other foods or snacks.
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