The Connection Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s

Friday, March 26, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker
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.

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

Another Downside of Supplemental Insulin

Friday, March 19, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker
In my earlier post, I explained that supplemental insulin can cause people who are trying to manage diabetes to gain weight.  Sadly enough, weight gain isn’t the only downside of insulin use.

Another strike against insulin is its tendency to increase your risk of hypertension.

Taiwanese researchers looked at more than 87,000 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with either oral drugs or insulin. They found that patients managing diabetes using insulin had a higher prevalence of hypertension (61.3 versus 53.9 percent), and the longer they used it, the greater their risk.

This is not surprising when you consider insulin’s activities beyond nutrient storage.

Injected insulin increases sodium retention and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. It induces oxidative stress, leading to free-radical damage that impairs the function of the endothelial cells lining the arteries. It also has growth factor–like activity that thickens blood vessels and increases risk of atherosclerosis, which also adversely affects blood pressure health.

Since people living with diabetes are already at dramatically increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, the last thing they need is a treatment that amplifies this risk.

I opt for more natural remedies for diabetes, many of which I’ll be discussing here in my blog. Please stay tuned.

For more informantion on Dr. Whitaker's recommendations for healthy daily living, visit www.drwhitaker.com.
(0) Comments

Diabetes and Weight

Monday, March 8, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker
Are you looking for natural remedies for diabetes?  If so, one thing you can do is maintain a healthy weight.

One of the most significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes is obesity. Statistics show that 90 percent of all people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. In fact, the link between diabetes
and obesity is so strong that it’s led to the coining of a new term, diabesity.

Where you store those extra pounds is also an issue. If you’re a person living with diabetes and you carry your weight in the abdominal area, you are at an even greater risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. That’s because abdominal fat is more metabolically active than fat stored in the hips or buttocks. It is more easily broken down into free fatty acids that enter the bloodstream, interfere with the action of insulin, and raise triglyceride and glucose levels.

The good news is, for most people, getting a handle on weight is all it takes to minimize diabetes risk factors.

For more information on diabetes and weight, visit www.drwhitaker.com.
(2) Comments

Diabetes and Weight

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker

One of the most significant risk factors for type-2 diabetes is obesity.

Statistics show that 90 percent of all people with type-2 diabetes are overweight. In fact, the link between diabetes and obesity is so strong that it’s led to the coining of a new term, diabesity.

Where you store those extra pounds is also an issue, in terms of your ability to control blood sugar. For example, if you carry the pounds in the abdominal area, you are at an even greater risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. That’s because abdominal fat is more metabolically active than fat stored in the hips or buttocks. It is more easily broken down into free fatty acids that enter the bloodstream, interfere with the action of insulin, and raise triglyceride and glucose levels.

The good news is, for most people, getting a handle on weight is a great way of beating diabetes. Check this blog often for tips on how to lose weight and other natural remedies for diabetes.

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

Diabetes Risk Factors You Must Be Aware Of

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Dr. Julian Whitaker
Just about anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, but research has shown that certain individuals seem to be more susceptible than others. Let’s take a look at two common type 2 diabetes risk factors.

Genetics

Some research has found that people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes typically have at least one close relative who has the disease. That being said, if you have a family history of diabetes, it is important that you take steps now to manage the risk factors that you can control so you can avoid diabetes and its complications.

Age

According to recent findings published by the CDC, the age bracket with the highest percentage of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes is the 60+ age group.

However, the CDC also found that of the approximate 1.6 million new cases of diabetes that
were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older in 2007, most of them (approx. 819,000)
occurred in those aged 40–59 years.

Furthermore, while there are no firm statistics available, more and more young adults and children are now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes—a disease that has historically been confined to adults aged 40 years and older.

Additional diabetes risk factors will be discussed in future blog postings.  I’ll also be sharing natural remedies for diabetes.  Stay tuned.

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

Natural Type 2 Diabetes Treatments: New Study Supports Cinnamon Supplements

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 by Tom Callahan
It's always nice to be proven right, particularly when it concerns health advice that actually changes people's lives.

As has happened so often over the years, Dr. Whitaker's core recommendation of supplementing with cinnamon daily as a natural way to control blood sugar continues to rack up additional clinical support, the latest from a recent study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

This study sought to determine whether cinnamon could help lower hemoglobin A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes. The randomized, controlled study followed patients for 90 days, with the cinnamon group using 1g cinnamon daily (curiously, the same amount Dr. Whitaker has been recommending for years...).

The result: Cinnamon users lowered their hemoglobin A1C by .83 percent, compared to .37 percent with standard treatment alone.

Said another way, adding cinnamon doubled the effectiveness of the basic treatment.

This may not sound that significant, but lowering your A1C is critically important for anyone with diabetes. A hemoglobin A1c test measures the level of glycated hemoglobin in the blood, the result of blood sugar (glucose) attaching to hemoglobin. As your A1C rises, so does your likelihood of diabetes complications, like vision problems, cardiovascular or kidney disease, circulatory and nerve imparement, and stroke.

When it comes to natural remedies for diabetes, cinnamon is pretty hard to beat. It's cheap, readily available, safe, and as the research continues to prove, effective.
(0) Comments

Vitamin D Shows Potential as Natural Diabetes Remedy

Thursday, October 29, 2009 by Tom Callahan

Oh vitamin D, is there anything you can't do?

As I've written before, the "D" in vitamin D may soon be shorthand for "diabetes fighter" as the pile of research continues to grow supporting this humble nutrient's power to maintain blood sugar and beat back diabetes naturally. 

This, of course, is in addition to the already long list of benefits for vitamin D, including immune fortifier, bone builder, PMS and SAD preventer, fibromyalgia fighter, C-reactive protein reducer and mood booster.

If anything has earned the moniker "the sunshine vitamin," it's this.

The latest good news for vitamin D takers comes from the British Journal of Nutrition, which showed that by increasing levels of D, you can improve insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, two major risk factors for developing diabetes.

Study participants taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily for six months showed "significant improvements" in both insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance, according to the New Zealand researchers conducting the study. 

The improvements were also accompanied a decrease in fasting insulin levels, another boon for those struggling with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or metabolic syndrome.

This study focused on the D3 form of vitamin D, also known as cholecalciferol, which Dr. Whitaker recommends due to its bioavailability. It's also the form created naturally in the body from regular sun exposure.

The bottom line. If you're not taking vitamin D, start. If you haven't asked your doctor to check your vitamin D levels, do it soon. You're not going to find a more inexpensive, easy-to-take, versatile natural remedy than this one, whether you're focused on beating diabetes naturally, or just looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

(0) Comments

Fiber a Great Natural Remedy for Type 2 Diabetes

Friday, October 16, 2009 by Tom Callahan
Will an apple a day keep the diabetes away? Add some beans and some flax, and you're certainly on your way.

A growing body of research shows that dietary fiber is a critical and often overlooked factor in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. If you're looking for an inexpensive, natural way to balance your blood sugar and maintain a healthy weight, a few simple changes to your diet could be just the answer you need.
 
In two large studies including nearly 100,000 women, a high intake of whole grains dramatically reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 21-28%. The best type of fiber for improving blood sugar control is soluble fiber, from sources like legumes, apples and oats.

Insoluble fiber is a terrific natural diabetes remedy too. In a British study of over 1,100 men and women, fiber-rich vegetables (an excellent source of insoluble fiber) were very protective against diabetes. Those who ate salad and raw vegetables regularly had an 80% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who didn't.

But fiber doesn't just prevent diabetes, it makes living with diabetes easier to manage too.

Fiber is one of the most powerful natural ways to control type 2 diabetes. In patients with type 2 diabetes -- and those with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes who are on their way to developing diabetes -- blood sugar remains abnormally elevated, especially after eating. This prompts the release of high levels of insulin from the pancreas, resulting in elevated insulin in the bloodstream as well.

The conventional approach to this problem is of course blood-sugar-lowering drugs. But as Dr. Whitaker often points out, nature offers a much simpler, safer and less expensive solution. 

Fiber slows absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, promoting a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, followed by a gradual release in insulin. It also improves the body's sensitivity to insulin, combating insulin resistance and helping insulin to do its job of ushering glucose into the cells.

In a study comparing a diet containing 24 or 50 grams of fiber daily, blood glucose levels were reduced by 10 percent with the high-fiber diet -- a blood-sugar-lowering effect equal to that of oral anti-diabetic drugs! This high-fiber diet had an additional benefit that diabetes drugs can't match: It significantly reduced levels of total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Dr. Whitaker's Recommendations for Fiber to Prevent and Treat Diabetes

• Adding fiber to your diet is easier than you think. The simplest way to ensure you're getting the recommended 30+ grams of fiber per day is to make plant foods the mainstay of your diet. Start your day with a bowl of bran cereal (8 grams). Snack on an apple (3.5 grams). Have a spinach salad (4 grams) and whole grain bread (2 grams) for lunch. Eat a half cup of beans (6-8 grams) at dinner.

• If you need to add a fiber supplement to get enough, good choices include psyllium and citrus pectin. Or consider my favorite, flaxseed. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed over your cereal or salad and you'll get 15 grams of fiber -- not to mention high-quality protein and essential fats.

• Be sure to increase your intake of water as you increase your consumption of fiber-rich foods.

(0) Comments

Beating Diabetes Now is Critical to Our Country's Future

Friday, October 9, 2009 by Tom Callahan
I don't need regression analysis, statistical modeling or a supercomputer to know that the incidence of diabetes and blood sugar concerns is skyrocketing across the United States.

I only need to review the number of questions I get about living with diabetes, or respond to the many emails I get each day seeking natural treatments, herbal remedies, or recipes to deal with diabetes.

Considering the complications of untreated diabetes, and the costs to the country in rising healthcare premiums if this epidemic of diabetes goes unchecked, it's good to know that many natural diabetes treatments do exist. If you're dealing with diabetes or blood sugar concerns, you should know that living with diabetes is not only possible, but so is beating it. And Dr. Whitaker's diabetes success stories prove it.

But what does an epidemic look like? That's where the stats and models come in (just flip through the next few slides and watch).

The picture isn't pretty. It's like flood waters pouring across the country, without much high ground to run to.

I'm not sure what the secret is in Colorado, which fares better than most states. I suppose the average Colorado resident is more active than the average American.

If skiing is a way to prevent diabetes naturally, sign me up!

(0) Comments

Another Top Natural Supplement Remedy for Diabetes

Monday, September 21, 2009 by Tom Callahan

You could fill a book with Dr. Whitaker's diabetes success stories--and, in fact, Dr. Whitaker's Reversing Diabetes is being re-released in paperback on November 1.
 
Since this groundbreaking book was first published, your supplement arsenal for controlling blood sugar--and beating syndrome X, pre-diabetes and even type 2 diabetes--continues to grow, as more research emerges that shows drugs and insulin aren't the only answers anymore.

One of the more exciting herbal blood sugar supplements is Gymnema sylvestre. This climbing plant native to India has been used since the sixth century B.C. to lower blood sugar, and may actually help repair damage to cells in the pancreas in the process.

Animal studies on diabetic rats showed fasting blood glucose levels returning to normal after 20 to 60 days of treatment, with a rise toward normal in serum insulin. An examination of the rats' pancreatic islet and beta cells, which produce insulin, showed the number of cells had doubled compared to those of the placebo group. As Dr. Whitaker points out, this flies in the face of everything we believed possible. Once beta cells are gone, they're gone...or so we thought.

Human studies have shown similar results: Five of 22 patients taking 400 mg per day for 18 to 20 months as a supplement to oral drugs could discontinue the drugs, and the rest reduced their dosages. There was a significant reduction in blood glucose and other parameters of insulin efficiency. Researchers concluded, "the beta cells may be regenerated in type II diabetic patients on (Gymnema sylvestre) supplementation."

Dr. Whitaker recommends that anyone with diabetes try 400 mg daily of Gymnema sylvestre. Or, if you are at high risk for developing diabetes, he recommends a maintenance dose of 200 mg daily.

(1) Comments

Studies Show Natural Remedies Target Cholesterol in People With Type 2 Diabetes

Friday, August 28, 2009 by Tom Callahan
Two new studies show that increasing your dietary intake of vitamin D and soy protein can have significant cholesterol benefits for people looking to manage the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. 

Diabetes brings with it a host of dangers, including increased risk of heart attack and stroke, so Dr. Whitaker is always on the lookout for natural remedies proven to work for those with blood sugar concerns, especially when the solutions are not only safe, but inexpensive too. This new research suggests that simple, low cost additions to your diet are a recipe for delivering powerful benefits for  managing diabetes naturally.

In the first study, adults with type 2 diabetes were able to significantly lower LDL cholesterol and improve the ratio of LDL-to-HDL cholesterol in less than two months. Despite some controversy over the use of soy, the link between soy and heart health is well established. Dr. Whitaker has often written of soy as a "superfood" with far-reaching benefits throughout your body. He recommends 25 grams a day, a few times per week.

However, until further research is conducted, Dr. Whitaker cautions those with thyroid disease or breast cancer to steer clear of soy, as preliminary studies have indicated some areas of concern.

The focus of this second study has no such caveats, and whether you have high cholesterol, diabetes, metabolic syndrome or any combination, this recommendation is among Dr. Whitaker's strongest: increase your intake of vitamin D.

In addition to a host of bone health and immunity boosting qualities, vitamin D may curb the build-up of cholesterol within your blood vessels, by "inhibiting the uptake of cholesterol by cells called macrophages," says Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, MD, lead researcher. "When people are deficient in vitamin D, the macrophages eat more cholesterol, and they can't get rid of it."

This clogging of the macrophages starts the process of atherosclerosis, one of the complications of diabetes, and one which may be averted with adequate levels of vitamin D through supplements.

The researchers will continue their study on vitamin D deficiencies, diabetes and blood pressure health, to learn whether increased intake of D is a natural way to lower blood pressure and increase blood flow.

Low levels of vitamin D have also recently been linked to metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by blood sugar concerns, excess weight, and multiple cardiovascular risk factors. 

It's clear that whether you have diabetes or not, vitamin D should be part of your supplement regimen. And if you're looking to actually prevent diabetes, as Dr. Whitaker has said, then the direct connection between vitamin D and diabetes cannot be ignored either.



(0) Comments