Natural treatments for diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, with approximately 90-95% of diabetes type 2.

Sugar, as glucose, is the main source of fuel for the cells in the body. The hormone insulin enables glucose in the blood to enter the cells. In type 2 diabetes, that the body produces enough insulin or cells resistant to the effects of insulin.

As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood instead of enter in cells, which causes cells to be deprived of energy. If the levels of the high concentration of glucose in the blood persist, it can damage the eyes, heart, kidneys or nerves.

There are some natural treatments that are in the study of type 2 diabetes. If you are interested to try a natural treatment in addition to standard treatment, be sure that perform as well as under the close supervision of a health care professional qualified. If diabetes is not well controlled, the consequences can be fatal.

Also inform your doctor about herbs, supplements or natural treatments you use, because some can interact with medicines you take and cause hypoglycemia at least well co-ordinated. Consider keep track of your herbs, vitamins and supplements with the diary of supplement and give your doctor a copy.

Although there are several types of ginseng, most promising studies on ginseng and diabetes have used ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). These studies have shown that ginseng can improve the hemogobin of control blood sugar and glycosylated (a form of hemoglobin in the blood used to monitor blood glucose levels over time) levels.

Chromium is a mineral of essential trace which plays an important role in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and helps the cells of the body to respond properly to insulin. In fact, studies have revealed low levels of chromium in people with diabetes.

There are many promising studies, suggesting a chromium supplementation may be effective, but they are far from conclusive. For example, a small study published in the journal Diabetes Care to diabetes medication sulfonylurea taken with 1 000 mcg of chromium for sulfonylureas taken with a placebo. After 6 months, people who have no chrome had a significant increase in body weight, body fat and abdominal fat, while people taking chromium had significant improvements in insulin sensitivity.

Another study published in the same newspaper, however, examined the effect of chromium on the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes type 2. People received 500 or 1,000 mcg per day of chromium or a placebo for six months. No there was no significant difference in hemoglobin-glycosylated, body mass index, blood pressure or insulin through the three groups requirements.

A form of chromium not recommended is chromium picolinate. For more information, read the side effects of chromium Picolinate.

Magnesium is a mineral found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains and nutritional supplements.

Magnesium is necessary for more than 300 biochemical reactions. It helps to regulate blood glucose and is necessary for muscle and nerve function normal, heart rate, immune function, bone health and blood pressure.

Some studies suggest that low magnesium levels can worsen glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. There is also evidence that magnesium supplementation may help with the resistance to insulin.

For example, a study examined the effect of magnesium or placebo in 63 people with diabetes type 2 and low magnesium levels who took the drugs glibenclamide. After 16 weeks, the people who took magnesium have improved insulin sensitivty and lower fasting glucose.

High doses of magnesium can cause diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm and confusion. It may interact with certain drugs, such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure (calcium), and certain antibiotics, muscle relaxant and diuretic.

Some studies have found that cinnamon improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. In the first study, 60 people with diabetes type 2 were divided into six groups. Three groups took 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon per day and the other three groups consume 1, 3 or 6 g of placebo capsules. After 40 days, all three doses significantly reduced cinnamon glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

In another study, 79 people with type 2 diabetes (not on insulin but treated with other diabetes drugs or diet) have a cinnamon extract (equivalent to 3 g of cinnamon powder) or a placebo capsule, three times per day.

After four months, there was a slight reduction, but statistically significant levels of blood glucose in fasted in people who have taken the cinnamon (10.3%) compared to placebo (3.4%), however, no there was no significant difference in the glycosylated hemoglobin profiles or lipids. To learn more about cinnamon, read cinnamon and cinnamon and sugar in the blood is a proven diabetes remedy?

The mineral zinc plays an important role in the production and storage of insulin. There are some studies showing that people with diabetes type 2 have status of zinc suboptimal due to a decrease in the absorption and increase the excretion of zinc.

Zinc food sources include fresh oysters, root ginger, lamb, Pecans, split peas, yellow egg, rye, beef liver, beans of lima, almonds, walnuts, sardine, chicken and buckwheat.

While aloe vera gel is better known as a minor House to burns cure and other diseases of the skin, recent animal studies suggest that aloe vera gel may help people with diabetes.

A Japanese study assessed the effect of aloe vera gel on sugar in the blood. Researchers have isolated a number of compounds of active gel phytosterols that were found to reduce blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin. For more information about aloe vera, read the fact sheet of Aloe Vera

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Cinnamon for diabetes

I've had a tea of cinnamon on a regular basis, and my blood sugar has also decreased many. Cinnamon tea helped to control my diabetes. I am just curious to know if this has been proved or tested.

-Rudy
Corpus Christi, Texas.

Answer:

There was some preliminary research on the effect of cinnamon sugar in the blood of humans but the studies were small and the findings must be confirmed by the greatest trials.

One of the first human studies was published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003. Sixty people with diabetes type 2 have 1, 3 or 6 grams of cinnamon as pills per day - an amount roughly equivalent to a quarter of a teaspoon of a teaspoon of cinnamon.

After 40 days, all 3 amounts cinnamon reduces blood glucose fasting 18 to 29%, the triglycerides of 23 to 30%, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) 7 to 27% and total cholesterol of 12 to 26%.

The concern with this study, however, because a couple of conclusions was atypical. For example, no there was no difference in benefits between the 3 doses of cinnamon. Also, people who normally take a placebo showed improvement, but this was not the case for this study.

Another study examined the effect of cinnamon on 79 people with type 2 diabetes who were not on insulin but was taking oral antidiabetic drugs or change their diet. They took about 3 grams of cinnamon or a placebo, 3 times per day for 4 months.

There was a significant reduction in blood glucose in people taking cinnamon compared with people taking placebo. Surprisingly, no there was no difference in the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), a test that measures how well blood sugar was controlled for 3 to 4 months.

In a study of 6 weeks on 25 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, women received 1.5 grams of cinnamon daily or placebo. No there was no effect on blood glucose, insulin sensitivity or cholesterol.

A very small Swedish study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has examined the effect of cinnamon on 14 persons. People received only rice pudding or rice with cinnamon pudding. The researchers found that added cinnamon has lowered the rise regulate blood glucose levels compared to people who eat cinnamon.

Using cinnamon in the kitchen or having a cup of tea of cinnamon is a great way to add more of this delicious spices in your diet. There are a few precautions to be aware of when the use of cinnamon, although.

Taking cinnamon in large quantities or taking supplements may change the dosage of medications that you need.

Also, people who have been prescribed drugs to control their blood sugar should not reduce or stop their dose and make cinnamon instead, especially not to speak with a physician. Poorly treated diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as a heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and nerve damage.

Cinnamon Cassia, the sort of cinnamon found normally in grocery stores and as a supplement, naturally contains a compound called coumarin. Coumarin is also located in other plants such as celery, Chamomile, clover and parsley.

Levels, coumarin can damage the liver. Coumarin can also have a "blood thinner" effect, kind of cassia cinnamon supplements should not be taken with anticoagulant medication such as Coumadin (warfarin), or by people with bleeding disorders.

Cinnamon in a concentrated form of oil which comes from the bark of cinnamon can also be found. Some of these products are not intended for consumption, but instead, are used for oils essential aromatherapy. In addition, the oil is very powerful and an overdose can depress the central nervous system. People should not take the oil to treat a condition unless under the close supervision of a qualified health professional.

Pregnant women should avoid excessive amounts of cinnamon and not as a supplement to take.

More: Sources:

Hlebowicz J, Darwiche G, O, Almér LO Björgell. Effect of cinnamon on postprandial glycemia, gastric emptying and satiety in healthy subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 85.6 (2007): 1552-1556.

Khan A, M, MM Ali Khan Khattak KN, Anderson RA Safdar. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with diabetes type 2. Diabetes care. functions (2003): 3215-3218.

(B) Mang, Wolters M, Schmitt B, Kalb K, Lichtinghagen R, Stichtenoth DO, Hahn a. effects of a cinnamon extract on blood glucose, HbA and serum lipid in type 2 diabetes. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 36.5 (2006): 340-344.

Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK, van Loon LJ. Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic control in patients with postmenopausal type diabetes. Journal of Nutrition. 136.4 (2006): 977-980.

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Excess fructose may play a role in diabetes, obesity and other health conditions

PharmaLive.com (23 November 2010) - more and more people have become aware of the dangers of excessive fructose diets. A new review on fructose in an upcoming issue of the journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) indicates just how dangerous this simple sugar can be.

Richard j. Johnson, MD and Takahiko Nakagawa, MD (Division of kidney disease and hypertension, University of Colorado) provide insight into concise recent experimental studies and clinical understanding how excessive fructose, present in added sugars could play a role in arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Dietary fructose is present mainly in food sugars added, honey and fruits.américains ingest more frequently sucrose, fructose syrup high fructose (HFCS), a mixture of free and glucose, fructose generally in a proportion of 55 45-corn and a disaccharide containing 50% 50% of glucose and fructose bound together.With the introduction of HFCS in the 1970s, has been an increased intake of fructose and obesity rates have increased at the same time.

"The link between excessive intake of fructose and metabolic syndrome is becoming more établi.Toutefois, in this literature review, we conclude that it also increased evidence that fructose may play a role in hypertension and renal disease.""Science shows us some there are potentially negative impact of excessive amounts of sugar and corn syrup high-fructose on cardiovascular and kidney health" explains Mr. Johnson.Il continues that "excessive intake of fructose could be seen as an increasingly risky food and beverage additive.

Concerned that physicians may be overlooking this health problem when counsel patients IRC dieting low in protein, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Nakagawa recommends that low-protein diets include an attempt to restrict the added sugars containing fructose.

Mr. Johnson and Mr. Nakagawa listed as inventors on several requests for patents related to the lowering of uric for treatment or prevention of hypertension, diabetes and foie gras.

Editor's note: this article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Source of the story:

The story above is reproduced (with drafting adaptations by staff at PharmaLive.com) materials provided by American Nephrology Society, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Reference of the review:

Richard j. Johnson, MD and Takahiko Nakagawa, MD.Effects of fructose kidney biology and diseases of the American Society of Nephrology, 29 November 2010 .Journal DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2010050506

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited for this.

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