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.
Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that affects many people
living with diabetes. In addition to being quite painful, it can also be debilitating. Fortunately, there are three effective, natural remedies to treat this common diabetes complication.
Lipoic acid, also called alpha lipoic acid, is an extremely powerful natural antioxidant. High doses of lipoic acid (in the 600 mg range) have been shown in several studies to be an effective therapy for diabetic neuropathy, reducing pain, and improving function in affected patients. Aim for 600-1,200 mg daily, depending on your degree of neuropathy.
Evening primrose oil, which contains the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid, also benefits nerves damaged by diabetes and reduces associated pain. In a landmark double-blind study carried out in seven medical centers, 480 mg of evening primrose oil taken daily for one year resulted in improvements in symptoms of neuropathy in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Other studies have utilized doses of up to 6,000 mg per day with good results. Start with 500–1,500 mg per day.
Potent daily multivitamin/mineral supplement and fish oil. Because oxidative stress plays a role in diabetic neuropathy, you need to take a potent multivitamin and mineral complex that contains the following nutrients in the suggested doses: vitamin E (at least 300 IUs), vitamin B6 (150 mg), and vitamin B12 (1,500 mcg). Since inflammation is also a factor, take 2–8 grams of high-quality fish oil.
For more information on
managing diabetes and diabetes complications, visit
www.drwhitaker.com.
If you or someone you care about is
living with diabetes, you should learn all you can about niacinamide. Also called nicotinamide, it’s a form of vitamin B3 that has been shown to preserve beta cell function when administered in the early stages of type 1 diabetes. It does this by inhibiting free radical production and the activity of PARP, an enzyme that depletes cellular energy stores.
A meta-analysis of 10 controlled clinical trials demonstrated significant improvements in insulin production in type 1 diabetics who received niacinamide for up to five years, compared to those on placebo. Although some studies have been negative—the European Nicotinamide Diabetes Intervention Trial (ENDIT) showed no benefits—I believe that enough positive research exists to warrant a trial of niacinamide in early onset type 1 diabetes.
For more information on
managing diabetes and natural treatments for diabetes, visit
www.drwhitaker.com.
At the Whitaker Wellness Institute, we routinely prescribe high doses of water- and fat-soluble vitamins and minerals to virtually all of our patients. However, for our
patients living with diabetes, we bump up those amounts by at least 50 percent. The diabetic condition causes increased urination and essentially acts as a diuretic, washing away magnesium, zinc, folic acid, and other vital nutrients from the body. Supplementing with high levels of these vitamins and minerals helps compensate for nutritional deficiencies and protect against diabetic complications.
Take Roxann, a type 2 diabetic who had been on insulin for 16 years. She had retinopathy, angina, high blood pressure, a history of two heart attacks, and an open ulcer on her foot that refused to heal. But the most debilitating of her problems was neuropathy. Nerve damage left her with virtually no sensation in her feet, and she could barely get around on her own.
After hitting rock bottom, Roxann came to my clinic and started on a comprehensive nutritional regimen that included high doses of antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and targeted nutrients and herbs known to help control blood sugar. Given the severity of Roxann’s condition, she also underwent a course of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Within three days, the feeling began to return to Roxann’s feet. She had more energy, less pain, and a renewed sense of hope. By the end of her second week at the clinic, she was walking normally. In fact, she and her daughter did something that would have been unthinkable just three weeks before: They spent the next couple of days strolling around and sightseeing in southern California.
If you’re living with diabetes and are seeing a conventional doctor, ask this question: “Doctor, I understand that diabetes causes losses of many micronutrients in the urine. Would it be wise for me to be on a nutrient supplement regimen to counteract those losses?”
If your doctor says it’s not needed or gives you some garbage about lack of science or some other nonsense, run—don’t walk—to a physician with a different attitude toward nutritional supplementation and other natural diabetes treatments. You just might save yourself a whole lot of suffering.
For more information on treating diabetes or key supplements for diabetes, visit
www.drwhitaker.com.
If you’re working hard to
manage diabetes, it may surprise you to know that one of the easiest aspects of diabetes management is keeping on top of the nutritional deficiencies the disease can cause. And taking nutrients and supplements for diabetes in the proper doses can go a long way toward improving your condition.
The best way to do this is to take a high quality daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. Although the bulk of the vitamins and minerals I recommend are included in most multivitamin and mineral supplements, the amount of each nutrient they contain is often woefully inadequate. Most one-a-day brands contain only the government’s recommended daily allowances (RDAs), which are absurdly low.
Read labels carefully and look for a high-potency formula, or augment individual nutrients to achieve the therapeutic doses recommended in articles posted throughout
this blog.
For more information on treating diabetes and supplements for diabetes, visit
www.drwhitaker.com.
As you strive to
control blood sugar levels, it’s important to remember the role antioxidants play in managing diabetes. In order to get a handle on this condition, you’ll need to shore up on these important nutrients.
For starters, there’s Vitamin C. Vitamin C is the most active antioxidant in our water-based tissues. It lowers levels of sorbitol, the sugar that collects in and damages cells of the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), and nerves (neuropathy).
You’ll also want to take an adequate amount of Vitamin E, your body’s premier fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin E improves glucose control and protects blood vessels and nerves from free radical damage, which is accelerated in people living with diabetes. Studies have shown that high doses of supplemental vitamin E may even reverse damage to nerves caused by diabetes and protect against diabetic cataracts and atherosclerosis.
Supplementation with both of these antioxidants is associated with a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy. If you are living with diabetes, aim for 1,000-2,500 mg of vitamin C and 300-800 IU of vitamin E daily.
For more information on treating diabetes and diabetes risk factors, visit
www.drwhitaker.com.
The key to the treating diabetes is twofold. First, you need to control blood sugar levels. Equally important, you must prevent diabetes complications.
While conventional physicians do attempt to stave off diabetes complications by helping patients maintain blood sugar levels that are in the normal range, they ignore the solid scientific research that supports the aggressive use of specific nutritional supplements for protection against the ravages of diabetes. This is one of the most obvious and inexcusable blind spots of conventional medicine.
Diabetes is a nutritionally wasting disease. Massive amounts of nutrients are lost as the kidneys rid the body of excess glucose by increasing urination, so the first step is replacement of these lost nutrients.
Among the most significant losses are the B-complex vitamins, and many people with diabetes have suboptimal cellular levels of these vital nutrients. Vitamins B6, B12, and biotin improve insulin sensitivity and also help prevent diabetes complications, particularly neuropathy, which is present in almost half of all people with diabetes. Supplementation is imperative, with recommended doses of:
- 75 mg vitamin B6,
- 150 mcg of B12,
- 300 mcg of biotin, and
- an array of other B-complex vitamins.
People with diabetes also tend to have low levels of magnesium, and those with the lowest levels are most likely to have diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems. For this reason, anyone trying to manage diabetes should also take a minimum of 500 mg of magnesium per day, balanced with 1,000 mg of calcium.
For more information on managing diabetes, natural diabetes treatments, and reversing diabetes, visit
www.drwhitaker.com.
We have become a nation obsessed with junk food and this emphasis on refined, fatty fare is partly responsible for nutritional deficiencies that can make it difficult to control blood sugar.
Studies indicate that only a quarter of Americans get the recommended amount of magnesium, and intakes of zinc are also low. The average woman gets less than half the calcium she needs, and 58 percent of young women in the US are iron deficient. Chief among the nutrients that are lost during the refining process is the trace mineral chromium, which enhances the action of insulin and also facilitates weight loss. It has been suggested that chromium deficiencies, which are increasingly common in this country, may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Everyone—even those of you who eat a good diet—should take a high-potency multivitamin-mineral supplement every day. Make sure your multivitamin contains “megadoses” of the nutrients that have been demonstrated to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, namely vitamin C (1,000-1,500 mg), vitamin E (300-400 IU), vitamin B6 (75–100 mg), vitamin B12 (100–1,000 mcg), biotin (300 mcg), magnesium (500 mg), and chromium (200–400 mcg).
Think of your multivitamin supplement as insurance to counterbalance the inadequacies of your diet. This small measure can help fill in the nutritional “holes” created by our modern lifestyle. Believe me, it’s the cheapest diabetic treatment you’ll ever buy.
For more information on managing diabetes and natural treatments for diabetes, visit
www.drwhitaker.com. While there,
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People living with diabetes have an increased need to urinate, as their kidneys attempt to get rid of excess glucose. Along with excess glucose, however, massive amounts of water-soluble vitamins and minerals also are lost. Yet, incredibly, most white-coated experts specializing in helping patients manage diabetes make no attempt whatsoever to replace these nutrients, leaving patients to suffer the inevitable consequences of massive nutritional deficiencies.
Numerous studies have shown that people with diabetes tend to have low cellular levels of magnesium, zinc, vitamins B6 and C, and other essential water-soluble nutrients. 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?
The combination of these processes puts people trying to
manage diabetes at a dramatically increased risk of premature death and disability. The areas of the body most profoundly affected by diabetic complications include the blood vessels, nerves, eyes, kidneys, and extremities. In fact:
- 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.
- People with diabetes 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 diabetes.
- Sixty to 70 percent of all diabetics have some form of nerve damage, and a majority of lower extremity amputations are performed on diabetics.
- Erectile dysfunction, impaired digestion, urinary incontinence, excess sweating, gum disease, and increased risk of infection are additional diabetes complications.
For more information on diabetes, diabetic complications, and reversing diabetes, visit
www.drwhitaker.com. While there,
sign up for FREE e-letters or subscribe to
Dr. Whitaker’s monthly newsletter, Health & Healing.
R.B., a type 2 diabetic, had been on insulin for 16 years. She had retinopathy, angina, high blood pressure, a history of two heart attacks, and an open ulcer on her foot that refused to heal. But the most debilitating of her problems was neuropathy. Nerve damage left her with virtually no sensation in her feet, and she could barely get around on her own.
After hitting rock bottom, R.B. came to the Whitaker Wellness Institute and started on a comprehensive nutritional regimen, which included high doses of antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and targeted nutrients and herbs to help control her blood sugar. Given the severity of her condition, R.B. also underwent a course of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Within three days, the feeling began to return to her feet. She had more energy, less pain, and a renewed sense of hope. By the end of her second week at the clinic, she was walking normally. In fact, she and her daughter did something that would have been unthinkable just three weeks before: They spent the next couple days strolling around and sightseeing in southern California.
R.B. is just one of many diabetes success stories. And, in 99 percent of these cases, people have been willing to try natural diabetes treatments, as opposed to conventional methods of treating this disease. Targeted supplements for diabetes, coupled with lifestyle modifications, are just a few of the natural methods used in treating diabetes – and they work.
If you’re trying to manage diabetes and need a little extra help to control blood sugar (and your weight), glucomannan may be just the supplement for you.
Glucomannan is a water-soluble fiber derived from the Konjac root, a potato-like tuber native to Asia. Glucomannan works by absorbing water, which increases bulk, helping to reduce appetite, and produce feelings of satiety. It can also help support your health in other ways:
- Glucomannan promotes a more gradual absorption of carbohydrates, which helps to slow the release of sugars from the gut. This helps to manage blood sugar levels.
- Since glucomannan is a soluble fiber, it prolongs stomach emptying time and helps to promote healthy cholesterol levels.
- Glucomannan also helps support overall digestive health and naturally promotes regularity and normal bowel function.
All of these factors place glucomannan at the top of the list when ti comes to natural remedies for diabetes.
If you are looking to manage diabetes, take ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) mixed in an eight-ounce glass of water, two or three times daily, 30 minutes to one hour before meals (drink it quickly, before it thickens). Take care to avoid glucomannan capsules, as they may stick and expand in the esophagus.
Glucomannan is safe and well-tolerated. It can be taken indefinitely.
Note: Taking fiber supplements may interfere with the absorption of some minerals. If you take glucomannan or any fiber supplement before a meal, wait three or four hours before taking your vitamin and mineral supplements. (Most of the time, supplements should be taken with food. If you are taking glucomannan, use as directed and take your other supplements with a light snack to avoid stomach upset.)
Did you know that more than three-quarters of the world’s population today relies on herbs as their primary source of medicine?
And this is not just a “third world” phenomenon. Doctors in Europe often use herbs rather than prescription drugs to treat patients. Unfortunately, here in the US, physicians are far less enlightened.
There is no greater testament to the heavy-handed dominance of conventional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry in this country than the fact that herbal medicine is relegated to the fringes of our culture—branded by conventional physicians as an unproven remnant of our primitive past, rather than thoroughly modern therapies for the diseases that plague us.
But despite the prejudice among doctors against these proven therapies, Americans are buying herbs. According to one survey, almost half of all Americans have used herbal supplements at one time or another.
This is great news for anyone managing diabetes, as herbs are among the top alternative treatments for diabetes. In fact, diabetes herbal remedies, as well as vitamins, minerals, and simple lifestyle adjustments make treating diabetes safe, easy, and natural.
Many natural treatments for diabetes are highlighted in this blog. We hope you’ll read them and take advantage of their ability to help you.
Vitamins D and E are great natural diabetes remedies.
Vitamin D deficiencies are linked with the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as impaired insulin secretion. This vitamin also turns on genes that boost production of antimicrobial peptides called cathelicidins, which destroy viruses, bacteria, and other germs. Since people managing diabetes are more prone to infections due to diabetic ulcers and periodontal disease, optimal levels of this fat-soluble vitamin is important. Have your vitamin D blood level tested, and take enough vitamin D3 to bring it into the 40–60 ng/mL range. I’m reluctant to give an exact dose, but my average patient requires 5,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D daily.
Vitamin E, the body’s premier fat-soluble antioxidant, improves glucose control and protects blood vessels and nerves from free-radical damage, which is accelerated by the diabetic condition.
Studies have shown that high doses of supplemental vitamin E may even reverse damage to nerves caused by diabetes and protect against diabetic cataracts and atherosclerosis.
Additionally, research suggests that approximately 40 percent of people living with diabetes have a gene variation (haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 gene) that increases oxidative stress and doubles or triples their risk of cardiovascular disease. Israeli researchers found that when these people took
400 IU of vitamin E daily, their risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, and death fell by 50 percent! Vitamin E’s benefits were so profound the study was terminated early so all study participants could benefit.
Oxidative stress also contributes to liver damage that, if untreated, can lead to diabetes complications such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The best-studied antioxidant for NAFLD also happens to be vitamin E, with doses averaging 800 IU per day. Everyone, regardless of health status, should take 400 IU of vitamin E every day.
Note: Take only natural vitamin E. You can tell it’s natural if it’s listed as d-alpha-tocopherol or d-alpha-tocopheryl. Synthetic vitamin E is listed as dl-alphatocopherol or dl-alpha tocopheryl (note the “l”).
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.
Glaucoma is another serious eye disorder that is more common in people with diabetes. Imbalances between the production and outflow of fluid in the eye create abnormally high pressures in the eye that can lead to loss of peripheral vision (“tunnel vision”). Although this can happen very quickly with acute glaucoma, most cases of glaucoma are chronic, meaning that vision impairment occurs progressively over time, so vision loss is gradual and there’s time to take protective measures.
The reason people living with diabetes are at higher risk of developing more severe forms of this condition is because, in addition to the damage caused by an inability to control blood sugar levels, abnormal eye pressure related to glaucoma further damages the nerves and blood vessels in the eye.
If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, have regular checkups. If this condition is not addressed, it can cause permanent vision loss. Common treatments are drugs and surgery, but studies suggest that several natural agents can reduce pressures in patients with glaucoma. The best studied is high-dose vitamin C, but Ginkgo biloba, bilberry, and magnesium also appear to be helpful for treating this vision concern.
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!
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.
One reason why diabetes complications are so common is because diabetes is a nutritionally wasting disease.
People dealing with diabetes experience dramatic increases in urination as the kidneys attempt to get rid of excess glucose. Along with excess glucose, however, massive amounts of water-soluble vitamins and minerals also are lost.
Numerous studies have shown that people living with diabetes tend to have low cellular levels of magnesium, zinc, vitamins B6 and C, and other essential nutrients.
As a result of these nutritional deficiencies, people living with diabetes are at increased risk of premature death and disability. Diabetes ravages the blood vessels and nerves. This can lead to blindness, neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, impaired digestion, amputation, and gum disease.
Thankfully, there are natural treatments for diabetes and we’ll be discussing many of them in this blog.
Type 1 diabetes, sometimes referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile
diabetes (because it usually appears before the age of 20, but it can present at any
age), is caused by an autoimmune attack on the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes the immune system to go awry, but
viral infection, vitamin D deficiency, and genetic predisposition are possible causes. Whatever the reason, the damaged pancreas is unable to produce adequate insulin, resulting in the inability of glucose and other nutrients to enter the cells.
Type 1 Diabetes Signs and Symptoms
The classic presentation in type 1 diabetes is 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 as the body attempts to dilute and get rid of extremely high levels of glucose in the blood.
Type 1 diabetes is not as common as you may think—only between five and 10 percent of all people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Most diabetics have type 2.
Type 2 Diabetes Causes
Type 2 diabetes is also marked by elevated blood glucose levels but for different reasons. Initially, people with type 2 diabetes make plenty of insulin. In fact, they often produce much more insulin than healthy individuals. But as the disease progresses the beta cells become exhausted and insulin production slows gradually and, although rare, may cease altogether.
The problem in this form of the disease involves the insulin receptor sites on the cells’ surfaces—they simply don’t respond to signals to open up to let in glucose and other nutrients, regardless of how much insulin is knocking at the door. This is a condition known as insulin resistance or insulin insensitivity, and it is at the root of 90 percent of all diagnoses of diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
People with the type 2 form don’t experience the same diabetes signs and symptoms as those with Type 1. In fact, many of them have no symptoms at all. The disease is often discovered only during a routine blood test when a high fasting blood glucose reading, usually in the 150 to 300 mg/dL range, is noted.
The good news is that because the body only becomes “insensitive” or “resistant” to insulin, versus destroying insulin-producing cells , there are many type 2 diabetes treatments available. We’ll be addressing them in future blog postings.
We're all knee deep in New Year's resolutions...if we haven't abandoned them already.
For those of you who smoke, hopefully you've chosen 2010 as the year to quit.
But a study just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine just might have you scratching your head, at least at first glance.
According to researchers, a review of 10,000 smokers found that the risk of type 2 diabetes actually went up when people quit smoking, most dramatically in the first three years after quitting.
During those first three years, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was about 70 percent higher than those who had never smoked. If you kept on smoking, however, your increased risk of diabetes was just (just?) 30 percent higher than lifelong non-smokers.
The good news of course is that if you've never smoked, your risk of developing diabetes is significanly lower than if you have. But quitting smoking as a cause of type 2 diabetes...how can this be?
After all, we know that quitting smoking reduces your risk of nearly every serious disease, including heart disease and an assortment of lung ailments and cancers. But the connection between smoking and diabetes is clear if you've ever known someone who quit or you've tried it yourself -- it's the link between type 2 diabetes and weight.
Sadly, people tend to put on weight when they quit smoking, reaching for a snack when the urge for a cigarette hits. When researchers took into account weight gain after quitting, the increased risk of diabetes from quitting smoking was negligible.
So if you smoke, you need to quit, and you need to control your weight after quitting, to avoid facing increased diabetes risk.
To make it easier to quit and reduce cravings, Dr. Whitaker recommends the following plan:
Before your start date, get two bottles each of Sulfonil and buffered vitamin C. Sulfonil is a sulfur-based compound that actually binds to the same receptor sites in the brain as nicotine. These receptors become habituated to nicotine, and once you quit smoking they cry out for more. Dr. Whitaker prefers Sulfonil to niotine gums, patches, etc. because it satisfies the cravings without providing the very thing you’re trying to escape.
Starting on your quit day, take two Sulfonil capsules when you wake up, then one every four to six hours during the day, and two more at bedtime. Drink copious amount of water to flush your system. The biochemical addiction to nicotine will dissipate in two to three weeks, so you likely won’t need Sulfonil for longer than that.
But you'll still need to break the habit of smoking, and not replace it with a habit for snacking, to prevent added weight and diabetes risk. When the desire for a cigarette strikes, Dr. Whitaker recommends 500 - 1,000 mg of buffered vitamin C, which can take the edge off intense cravings.
Then...do something, don't eat something. Take a walk, do household chores or paperwork, anything to keep your hands and mind busy.
If you're anxious or edgy (which is highly likely), you should consider supplementing with GABA or l-theanine, two nutrients well known for taking the edge off any stressful situation.
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