Diabetes

HOW TO FIGHT DIABETES MELLITUS?

SHORT INFORMATION:

•          Diabetes Mellitus is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US

•          It affects an estimated 18.2M people, another 15M yet to be diagnosed, just in the United States alone!

TYPES

•          Type I (Insulin Dependent)

    - Occurs in children and “Young Adults”

    - body can’t make insulin

•          Type II (Non Insulin Dependent)

•          Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

    - Occurs during pregnancy 6mos onwards

What  is Diabetes 2 (Type II) -  Non Insulin Dependent?

•          Usually occurs to people 35 years old and above

•          This has a circular effect… the blood sugar doesn’t get into the cells of the muscles, liver, & adipose/fat tissues

•          Sugar rises, causing an increased stimulation for production of insulin & for fat storing mechanisms to be activated to get sugar out of the blood

•          Pancreas cannot output enough insulin to overcome the resistance & sugars circulate in the blood without getting into the cells

•          So, glucose gets higher & higher while there is increasing lack of energy in all our cells in the body --- which feeds the diabetes & fat storing cycles again

•          Body doesn’t produce or properly use insulin necessary for the body to absorb glucose

•          Glucose then accumulates in the blood-stream until levels get dangerously high

•          When blood sugar elevation becomes hard to control, complications set in:

              •             Heart disease

              •             Stroke

              •             Eye problem, blindness

              •             Kidney/renal diseases

              •             Nerve problems, cramps

              •             Gum, kidney, foot infections

              •             Risk of amputation of an extremity

              •             DEATH

DIABETES SYMPTOMS

•          Usually no symptoms

•         More than 5 million people has this disease but don’t know they have it

•          What to watch out for:

                                  * Always thirsty

                                  * Always hungry

                                  * Tiredness/irritability

                                  * Frequent urination especially at night

                                  * Weight loss without any reason at all

                                  * Blurring of vision

                                  *Wounds that don’t get cured easily

•          People only know they have the disease when they already have the complications of Diabetes

WHO ARE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING THE DISEASE?

•          Obesity ≥ 20% of the desirable body wt or BMI ≥ 27kg/m2

•          Blood pressure ≥ 140/90mmhg

•          HDL cholesterol level ≥ 35mg/dl (0.90 mmol/L) and/or trigylyceride level ≥ 250mg/dl (2.83mmol/L)

•          Borderline elevation of the blood sugar

•          Have relatives or any family member w/ DM

•          History of gestational diabetes or has delivered a baby weighing 4kg or 9lbs

Diabetes 2 Preventive Measures

•          Make sure your blood sugar is always in the normal level

•          Control BP to normal levels

•          Make sure cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL levels are low

•          According to the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), these are the things that you should do; “LIFESTYLE CHANGES”

    - Exercise for 30mins/daily x 5days

    - Decrease fat intake because fatty deposits in the body trap insulin requiring the release of more insulin and ultimately creating a condition or insulin resistance

    - Curtail the intake of sugar and simple carbohydrates. A major insulin processing stress comes from refined carbohydrates. Cut down on “white stuff”: bread, potatoes, rice and sugar, doughnuts, soda, candy

•          Take medications when needed

    - Conventional treatments help to control it & only delay its devastating affects!

    - Drugs have toxic S/E, but not limited to, nausea, diarrhea, skin rash, wt gain, respiratory infections, liver damage, & headaches

•          Take the right food supplement & ideally these should be able to do the following:

     1. Reduces blood sugar levels:

          - Interferes w/ glucose absorption fr intestine & prevents adrenal hormones fr stimulating liver to produce glucose, to directly reduce bld sugar levels

      2. Eliminates insulin resistance:

          - Repairs cell receptors to better recognize insulin w/c virtually eliminates insulin resistance (w/c is the root cause of Type 2 DM)

          - Cells much more successful at metabolizing glucose w/c further normalizes bld sugar levels

       3. Normalizes insulin production

        - Stimulates increased production of an organic cmpd  naturally produced by the body w/c is easily converted to insulin, helping to normalize & relieve stress on the pancreas, allowing it to heal

        - for Type 1, conversion is not possible due to destroyed B cells but  this organic cmpd remains & functions just like insulin as a natural alternative

        - with increased production over time, stress on the pancreas is relieved which allows it to naturally heal & develop new beta cells which are not susceptible to the body's IS malfunction since they can’t be targeted

Food Supplements that can be used in patients with DM

•          Banaba  – has ability to lower blood sugar & act as a glucose transport in the blood stream, known as "botanical insulin“

•          Lemon Grass or “Tanglad” – highly regarded by traditional herbal doctors for its profuse healing qualities, used to treat colds & flu, stomach cramps & indigestion, flatulence & urinary dysfunctions, fatigue, back pain & menstrual irregularity & yeast infections

       - its essential oils are reputed to contain a substance similar to insulin & can be used in the tx of DM

•          Bitter Melon (Ampalaya) – noted for it's regulative abilities & improve glucose tolerance, recommended by DOH as one of the best herbal medicines for diabetes mgt

•          Anthocyanins (OPTIBERRY) - possess numerous potential health benefits & protective effects, including antioxidant & anti-angiogenic activity; help maintain DNA integrity, serve as anti-inflammatory & antimutagenic agents, & provide cardioprotection by maintaining vascular permeability

•          Cinnamon – USDA research, reduces the amount of insulin necessary for glucose metabolism; shown to stimulate glucose uptake & glycogen synthesis to similar level as insulin.

•          Gymnema Sylvestre – Harvard study indicates can lower bld sugar levels in Type 1 & Type 2 DM; A King's College study states that it acts by increasing cell permatibility, reducing insulin resistance

•          Huckleberry – Helps to improve circulation in the little capillaries in the hands & feet; valuable in balancing the digestion & strengthening the immune system

•          Chromium – helps cells respond properly to naturally produced insulin; current estimates show that 90% of Americans are lacking in this essential mineral nutrient

•          Zinc – contributes in correcting insulin function

        - when levels are low, pancreas may not secrete enough insulin,  glucose levels remain high, & insulin released can’t work as efficiently as it could; glucose cant enter the cells properly elevating levels

•          Biotin – B vitamin needed to process glucose; in Type 1 DM 16mgs  Biotin x 1wk cut their fasting glucose by 50%; same results for type 2 study; may help relieve pain from diabetic nerve damage

•          Magnesium – helps lower cholesterol, LDL, total cholesterol, LDL/Cholesterol ratio; helps to utilize glucose as energy for the cell; decreases insulin resistance; prevents complications or onset prolonged

•          Agaricus Blazei Murill (ABM) – Active Ingredients are Beta-(1-3)-D-glucan, Beta-(1-4)-a -D-glucan & Beta - (1-6)-D-glucan,  known collectively as Beta Glucan, these substances are the most potent immunopotentiating (immune enhancing) substances yet found

“Fuelling your body with the sources of minerals & nutrients is essential to help maintain vibrant health.”

‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’