A natural pathway to health and healing, integrating the use of natural ingredients and the use of supplements alongside traditional medicine for optimal health to empower you to live life abundantly and help you find your pathway to healing.

Topic 1: Diabetes, Continued

Diabetes affects many organs and systems, including the heart; impaired blood vessels to extremities leading to infections and amputations; decreased blood flow to the eyes resulting in retinopathy; kidney damage which could require dialysis; and nerve damage that causes neuropathy (numbness and/or pain).

Diabetes is rampant around the world; up to 140 million people worldwide may have the disease, and one-third of them don’t know they have it. Impaired glucose tolerance, or pre-diabetes (those with blood sugar reading of over 100 but less than 120) affects millions more.

With diabetes, your body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin so it produces more and more insulin, eventually burning out the pancreas which will require medication and eventually insulin injections in order to supply the body with the insulin it needs.

It’s best to be aware of your blood sugar so you can take action before it gets too high. Get your blood sugar tested after a 12-hour fast; it should be in the 70’s, but if you see it starting to get up in the 80’s or 90’s, you need to take steps to bring it under control.

Last week (see my June 3 radio program, we talked about our foods that can help stabilize and even lower your blood sugar: psyllium, oat bran/oatmeal, beans, and onions. Cinnamon is also a wonderful ingredient to add to your food, as it has been shown to increase insulin activity. Another simple thing you can do is to include regular exercise (such as walking 30 minutes, 5 times a week).

There are also vitamins and minerals that can help with managing blood sugar.

1. Chromium - one of the most researched nutrients regarding blood sugar management, it has been shown to increase the effectiveness of insulin. About 80% of Americans have a deficiency, which may be a factor in the rise of diabetes. One study showed that half of the participants put on chromium were able to cut back on their diabetes medication.

2. Vanadium – works closely with chromium, it has an insulin-like effect, opening cells up to receiving blood sugar.

3. Biotin – a B vitamin, it increases the metabolism of carbohydrates, helping to break them down more effectively. It also increases sensitivity to insulin.

4. Magnesium – helps with nerve function. There is a 50% decrease of blood flow to the nerves after diabetes develops, which causes neuropathy. This is also a common magnesium deficiency in those with diabetes, and in 60% of the American population in general.

5. Zinc – 75 % of the population does not meet the daily recommended intake of this mineral.

6. Omega-3 fatty acids/fish oils – Contains EPA and DHA, which help protect blood vessels. I recommend 2,000mg/day in a supplement as it is difficult to get enough from eating fish or from plant sources.

7. Folic acid and B12 – Help protect blood vessels

There are also a number of specific plant-derived, herbal substances that have been used for centuries around the world to manage blood sugar levels.

1. Gymnema – an Indian plant that has been shown to decrease A1C/glycohemoglobin blood sugar levels (which measures long-term blood sugar levels), increases insulin sensitivity and may help regenerate the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. One study found it could reduce or eliminate the need for oral medications if taken early enough. May take up to 3 months to have a full effect.

2. Bitter melon – used for centuries in countries around the equator, it has a chemical ingredient that mimics insulin and has many of the same effects of insulin, increasing glucose uptake and lowering the fasting blood sugar levels

3. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) – Acting as an antioxidant in the body, ALA can reduce blood sugar levels up to 20%, improve sugar metabolism, increase muscular energy and help regenerate the other antioxidants in the body. By helping to protect the small blood vessels, it can help with kidney function and can also help prevent the retinopathy commonly associated with diabetes. (Vitamins C, E, bilberry, magnesium and B6 are others that are targeted for eye health, and can help protect against the effects of decreased blood flow to the eye due to diabetes.) Because of its varied functions, ALA can help with multiple organ functions.

4. Banaba leaf extract – contains an acid that mimics the function of insulin. Combined with the other ingredients, it can lower blood sugar levels.

We often recommend that our patients take a general full spectrum nutritional complex, and then an additional supplement which specifically address blood sugar problems by providing additional amounts of key minerals and minerals as well as specialized herbs.

The Bible says, “My people perish from lack of knowledge,” so I am giving you knowledge to help you find your pathway to healing from diabetes.