Latest Diabetes Articles

Diabetes Remedies to prevent diabetes

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:05:48 -0700

When it comes to diabetes is very necessary to keep all information. Information is the best way to combat this disease. One requires knowing everything about this disease, its symptoms, treatment options, dietary restrictions, lifestyle changes and all that needs to be done when it comes to lead a healthy life with diabetes.

Type2 diabetes is more prevalent these days. According to an investigation proved that about 95% of cases were diagnosed with diabetes Type2.

The cause of the development of this disease is a mystery. However, the experts came to a conclusion that this disease may be due to hereditary conditions, obesity and several other environmental factors.

In order to prevent this disease for some steps in this concern that one can follow.

According to medical experts, before the development of Type2 diabetes, the patient undergoes a phase referred to as pre-diabetes. This is a stage where one starts showing some symptoms. If these symptoms are ignored, the stage can lead to full blown diabetes.

- Here are some steps you must follow in order to stop this disease happening to you:

a) Obesity control
In case you are overweight, you are at greater risk of developing diabetes. You need to reduce the amount of food that you intake. Start gradual reduction in their food and concentrate on weight loss. All you need to do is to drink a glass of water. You can also go for a sugar free drink before your meal, to reduce hunger pangs.

b) reduce the consumption of fat
You need to reduce the amount of fat you have in your diet. Try to grill or roast foods and avoid fried foods. You should also use low-fat low-fat meals and spreads.

c) glycemic index
You need to check the glycemic index of food you eat. You should keep tabs on every food you take and what each food contains sugar in the blood that helps maintain. This will help prevent the onset of full diabetes.

d) Drink plenty of water
You must concentrate on drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. It's a great idea to keep a bottle of water with you and sip it on a frequent basis.

e) Healthy snack
In case you feel hungry, try to choose a healthy snack instead of a chocolate bar.

f) Milk
It would be wise to use skim milk and avoid drinking full cream milk, compared with hot drinks. This will keep a check on your weight.

g) Exercise
Exercise is very important for health. However, if you have not been turned off to exercise later, try consulting your doctor. Try the exercise in moderation. You can also go for 15 minutes of light walk on a daily basis. This will prove to be a great exercise as a model for you.

After all the above steps will help you a lot in preventing pre diabetes development in full blown diabete.

Natural Treatment for Diabetes Disease

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:28:53 -0700

Diabetes and disease me. Sounds like a bad movie. Perhaps part of my tour have diabetes has been a bad movie. Diabetes has become much more common today than ever. Although this disease is hereditary, its growing prevalence of this disease is partly due to poor nutrition.

When it comes to diabetes is very necessary to keep informed from A to Z. Information is the best way to combat this disease. One requires to know everything about this disease, it's symptoms, treatment options, dietary restrictions, lifestyle changes and all that needs to be done when it comes to lead a healthy life with diabetes.

There are basically two types of diabetes: type 1 and 2:
Type 1 diabeties result of a lack of insulin that causes most of our cells to take up glucose from the blood. When there is insufficient supply of insulin, a normal level of glucose can not be achieved.

What happens is that there is an excess of sugar in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is known to have a later onset. This occurs most often in people with overweight and obese people with unhealthy diets, and those who do regular exercise.

The cause of the development of this disease is a mystery. However, the experts came to a conclusion that this disease may be due to hereditary conditions, obesity and several other environmental factors.

Ways to cure diabetes disease:
My strategy to be used in the treatment of diabetes is a disease to separate good and bad fats in the foods we eat. Bad tastes Trans fats and saturated occupy a small amount of my diet. The taste polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats include a much larger segment of my diet. This solution has been a blessing for me. Neuropathy has decreased in my feet and I feel I have more energy. So, in short - eat rawer foods low in fat will help control your diabetes.

As a supplement to change my diet I took herbs Fenugreek, Gymnema Sylvestre Sugar and stable to reduce my levels of blood sugar. These three products have helped accomplish what I wanted. I suggest taking these together with other solutions. My suggestion is that these herbs will help, but they will not completely cure you of your disease diabetes. They can work together to change your diet.

Exercise
This is part of my treatment program. I'm sure you heard about the benefits of working out. I have noticed that when for me to do some strenuous workouts that my level of blood sugar reacts much more favorable to them when I do some light training. Training your body is a strong suggestion that may benefit you.

Drink plenty of water. You must concentrate on drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. It's a great idea to keep a bottle of water with you and sip it on a frequent basis.

Reduce the consumption of fat. You need to reduce the amount of fat you have in your diet. Try to grill or roast foods and avoid fried foods. You should also use low-fat meals and spreads.

Learning to relax has helped me relieve stress in my life. Stress can make diabetes worse. Stress seems to make many things worse. My tip is to take some time out each day to relax and be with you. You are good to be with. Learn to take it easy.

So in a nutshell my 4 tips are:

Eat foods that support your cause. Stay away from fats, which make it difficult for your blood flow and high sugar foods.
Exercise keeps your body moving.
Use herbs and supplements to help your mission.
Relax. Find the time to take it easy.

Various stem cells for future treatments

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:43:01 -0700

The isolation of human embryonic stem cell lines in recent years has really generated a vast excitement among scientists and other people about the possibility of producing quantities of transplantable beta cells.

Since then, more and more people have started considering using stem cells bank or a cord blood bank to store their children’s stem cells in case they become ill and get diseases like leukaemia, diabetes or a cancer. As the collection of umbilical cord blood cells can only be done just after the baby is born, the decision can only be made by the parents before giving birth.
The stem cells collected are usually stored at very low temperature by using cryopreservation.
This process is used to freeze the stem cells to preserve them and only use them when necessary, whether it is ten years or twenty years later.

Even though everybody is very excited about the possibilities and promises of treatments, there are still gaps in our knowledge of the cells that can be extracted to produce transplantable beta cells.
It is important to know that there are actually many different potential sources of cells for beta cell replacement, each having its advantages and disadvantages.
Embryonic stem cells are on of them, along side adult stem cells and pancreatic beta cell lines.
Mainly because of the ethical unease over embryonic stem cells, many of the studies done have been directed toward including beta cell differentiation from adult stem cells from the pancreas or the bone marrow most of the time.
Even though many people have claimed that stem cells from ectopic organs like the bone marrow can be induced to differentiate into a variety of cell types such as neurons for example, there have been no studies in which beta cells have been generated from adult stem cells outside the pancreas. It is almost certain that such studies will be undergone at some point though.
It as actually been known for some time already that the pool of beta cells can be regenerated when placed under stress by a number of manipulations, including partial pancreatectomy. Pancreatic cells can differentiate in vitro into mature beta cells. Some studies have found that duct cells can give rise to endocrine cells. Others have proposed that beta cells can be generated from other endocrine cells within the islet.

A finding that has generated some interest and also controversy involves a population of nest in-positive cells in the pancreas that has been shown to give rise to a variety of cell types, including pancreatic endocrine cells and hepatocytes.

A Natural Herb Called Gymnema Sylvestre May Help Lower Blood Sugar

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:46:28 -0800

Gymnema sylvestre is found naturally in central and southern India, where it has been used in traditional Indian medicine for almost two thousand years. It is known as 'gurmar' in ancient Indian texts, a word meaning 'sugar destroyer', which gives an indication of its uses in medicine.

It is used to reduce the absorption of glucose into the body, and also reduce the sweetness of foods, both of which are desirable for those wishing to lose weight and to reduce the level of sugar in their blood. It was used for this purpose in Ayurvedic medicine, subjects being given the leaves to chew. As with many other ancient Ayurvedic remedies, this use of gymnema sylvestre has passed into modern times, and has sound scientific basis. First, however a bit more about the plant itself.

It is found predominantly in the Western Ghats, and also to the west of the mountains, around coastal Goa. It is a vinous plant that climbs on other bushes and trees, known in Sanskrit as Meshasringa, or ram's horn after the shape of the leaves from which the supplement is extracted. For what it's worth, the official name seems a mix of Greek and Latin (gymnos(Gr) - naked and Silva (L)- forest) for naked forest. That, however, is irrelevant to its uses, so let's have a look at the science involved and the active ingredients in the plant.

The main constituents are terpenoid saponins known as gymnemic acids, so one can assume that they were first found in this plant. They are glycosides, including hodulcine and ziziphin, which act as sweetness inhibitors so that there is no sweet taste in anything that is sweetened by sucrose. There are over 20 types of gymnemic acid in the leaves, of which the strongest, Gymnemic Acid 1, can suppress the sweetness even of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.

These are not irreversible effects, and last only about 10 minutes, after which normal sweetness is detectable by your tongue. During the active period, however, a solution of normal sugar will taste like ordinary unsweetened water. However, is this just a matter of taste, or does it affect the sugar itself?

Studies have shown that animals fed the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre develop hypoglycemia, probably because it stimulates the pancreas to generate insulin that reduces the level of sugar in the blood. Further studies have shown the presence in the leaves of a number of types of acylated derivatives of deacylgymnemic acid. There are well over a dozen types of saponins known to be contained within the leaves.

Other chemicals found include anthraquinones, flavanoids, chlorophylls, querticol, phytin, a number of glycosides and anthraquinones. The bush also contains alkaloids, although these are constituents in most plants used in ancient remedies. This is by no means all of the chemicals discovered, and many of the minor benefits of using it could be due to the minor constituents of this amazing little leaf.

A study of the above constituents will reveal a few antioxidants, and it is no surprise that the extract from Gymnema sylvestre also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Gymnemic acid is believed to have a similar chemical structure to saccharose, and the plant extracts can be used not only to reduce a craving for sugar, but also to treat digestive problems and high cholesterol levels. So what scientific evidence is there other than the obvious effects reported by those that use it?

A study in the UK in 2005 found that an aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre caused the secretion of calcium and insulin from mouse and human cells to be increased at a specific concentration without affecting the cellular function. This means that the supplement can be used to stimulate the secretion of insulin with people with Type 2 diabetes without otherwise affecting health. Its usefulness to diabetics is obvious, but there are other health benefits to those that are not diabetic.

Anything that modulates a sweet tooth must be of use to those seeking to lose weight, particularly if they feel the need for sweet foods. In fact Gymnema tends to reduce food cravings for carbohydrates and sweets, and can be used by those seeking a natural means of curbing their appetite for sweet and sugary foods. Because excess weight can lead to diabetes,

Although there have been many discussions about the biochemical mechanism of the gymnemic acids in this effect on taste, recent evidence suggests that the phytochemicals act on both your taste buds and on those parts of the intestine responsible for absorbing nutrients from digested foods.

Not only that, but studies have also indicated that Gymnema sylvestre removes the bitterness of acerbic chemicals such as quinine in the same way that it removes the sweetness form cakes and candies, and if you drank tonic water it would taste just like water. On the other hand, if you ate an orange, you would taste the acidity but not the sweetness.

The way to use this remarkable supplement is to follow the instructions, and within about a week you will be able to control your appetite much better, and any cravings for carbohydrates you previously had will be much reduced. After a month or so, you will notice an accelerated rate of weight loss if you had been overweight, and diabetics will find a significant reduction on blood sugar between insulin shots.

Gymnema sylvestre can take care of any sugar or carbohydrate cravings, and is of significant use to the overweight, obese or to diabetics, and the mechanism by which it works has now been all but understood, although there are still some biochemical secrets that this amazing plant has yet to reveal. This amazing herb can be found at your local or internet vitamin store.

Why Do We Need The Glycemic Index? Read On

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The Glycemic Index is a concept developed in the University of Toronto in 1981. The purpose of the Glycemic Index is to measure the effect carbohydrates have on blood glucose levels. The Glycemic Index is imperative for anyone who needs to monitor their glucose level due to diabetes or hyperglycemia. With diabetes reaching more than epidemic levels in the United States, the development of the Glycemic Index could not have been introduced at a better time. Each year, more people are diagnosed with this potentially life threatening disease that can cause all sorts of serious complications. It is very important for anyone who has this condition to become familiar with the Glycemic Index so they can empower themselves and learn foods that should be avoided. Carbohydrates are a diverse group of foods and all break down in different ways in the system. People with diabetes have a difficult time breaking down certain foods, particularly those high in carbohydrates, in their system. Digestion is slow and sugars and starches are absorbed into the blood stream, causing an excess in blood glucose. Diabetics are often warned to limit their carbohydrate intake because it takes a long time for most carbohydrates to digest. However, this is easier said than done and it is not easy, in fact almost impossible, for many diabetics to eliminate carbohydrates from their diet. This is one of the reasons many diabetics are non-compliant in their treatment. Because diabetes does not often cause serious complications at onset, many patients refuse to take their medicine and continue eating foods that are high in sugar and starch. The Glycemic Index is very helpful because it rates different carbohydrates based upon their effect on the different levels of blood glucose. Those foods that digest rapidly cause the less harm to the system and have a low glycemic index. The carbohydrates that take a longer time to digest have a higher rate as they cause more harm to the blood glucose level. The Glycemic Index ranges from one to one hundred. A low food in the glycemic index has a rating of below 55. These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and some pastas. Foods that fall between the 56 to 69 range are considered "medium" in the Glycemic Index. They include candy bars, croissants and some rices. Surprisingly, although a candy bar scores in the medium classification of the glycemic index, it is not as harmful as those carbohydrates that score in the high glycemic index range. These include corn flakes, white rice, white bread and baked potato. In other words, it is easier for a diabetic to digest a candy bar than a baked potato. Knowledge of the glycemic index is imperative for anyone who has diabetes or who has been diagnosed as borderline diabetic. To be able to understand which foods have the most impact on blood glucose levels is crucial for anyone fighting this potentially life-threatening condition. If you or a loved one suffers from diabetes, you need to get familiar with the Glycemic Index so that you learn about the different categories of carbohydrates and which groups should be avoided. There are many substitutes for carbohydrates that rate high in the Glycemic Index and are available at most grocery stores. While diabetes is currently without a cure, there are many different ways that people with this disease can live long, productive lives.

The Challenge of Navigating the Holidays with Diabetes

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700

For people with diabetes, the approach of Halloween can bring a certain anxiety with it. Not only is the candy-fest on October 31st a challenge for those who must carefully monitor each gram of sugar and carbohydrates they eat, but Halloween also kicks of the whole holiday season. It seems there's no escaping the extra-rich foods and treats that are tightly connected with traditions and celebrations. At one online diabetes community, members have already begun sharing ideas and advice for how to survive the holidays. In one discussion thread about Halloween, members exchanged suggestions for what to do about a holiday that encourages complete abandonment of all restraint and sinking into sugary indulgence. A few members explained that they simply refuse to participate. They leave home and don't return until all the little costumed trick-or-treaters have left the streets. One member offered this rather harsh opinion, "There are too many fat kids in the US; they don't need bags full of free candy." However, other members seem to have more fondness for the traditions of the holiday but also want to act responsibly. The discussion included suggestions for inexpensive giveaways that don't include sugar. Pencils, crayons, or "scary"toys were popular substitutes suggested. One insightful mom offered a suggestion to walk the neighborhood and enjoy all the costumes, the decorations, and the fun of the evening. You don't have to knock on the doors and collect all the free candy. Plus, you can benefit from the fresh air and a little exercise. Sadly, there were also tales of discouragement and trouble. One member wrote, "I bought a bag of candy and nobody came by. I ended up eating it myself." This sentiment is perhaps the "scariest" part of the Halloween thread. Many people with diabetes are older and may live alone. The holiday season can often cause feelings of anxiety and depression. When such feelings are combined with unhealthy eating and indulgences, blood sugars can soar wildly out of control. Uncontrolled blood sugars can lead to serious complications including blindness, kidney damage, heart damage, nerve damage, and more. A circle of supportive friends can be key to maintaining healthy habits in the face of considerable temptations. Positive reinforcement and friendly support can make all the difference in the world when you face choices regarding your health and lifestyle. The members of diabetic communities hope to help each other make healthier choices this holiday season. Watch for future articles about dealing with other holiday meals and treats.

Good Healthy Food Choices For Diabetics

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It is true that if you have diabetes there are limitations to what you can eat but that does not mean you will no longer be able to enjoy your food. Regrettably, to stay healthy it will require strict adherence to a special diet which for some people may be the grounds they contracted diabetes in the first place. The situation today is much simpler than it used to be as there are particular diabetic recipes available which make the task of arranging a diet much simpler. Firstly, one of the main ends for a diabetic diet is to lower your weight and maintain it. Diabetic diets actually help you here by ensuring you only consume the correct amount of food from the four main groups. Two complications linked with diabetes are coronary illness and strokes but by sticking to your diabetic diet plan you should reduce the risk of having these problems. Diabetic recipes are designed to be healthy, ensuring a low fat diabetic diet which should help with some of the familiar symptoms associated with the condition such as blurred vision, low energy levels and endless thirst. Eating healthy involves eating a wide assortment of nutrients that embrace the whole diet spectrum with the help of the diabetic menu containing the food pyramid of vegetables, entire grains, fruits, non-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, poultry, and fish. In diabetic, low carbohydrate diets, the foodstuffs that are approved are meats, fish, poultry, eggs and cheese and certain vegetables like kidney beans, carrots, avocados. Diabetic recipes should not contain saturated fats and foodstuffs that are low in cholesterol such as skinless poultry, with fresh fruit and vegetables as talked about previously. A diabetic is not just about eating the right foodstuffs, as it is also serious that the amount consumed is correct to ensure the calorific intake is not too high, so weighing the food will become second nature. Using the food labels in the supermarkets will also become second nature when you are preparing your diabetic recipes as they contain useful information, usually based on a diet of 2,000 calories per day. If you have been prescribed 2,000 calories per day on your diabetic diet program then for breakfast you may be allowed some sugar free yoghurt or skimmed milk two slices of bread or alternatively pasta or rice cakes plus an egg and some fruit. However, if a lower one thousand eight hundred calorie per day has been advised for your diabetic diet program then your diabetic recipes book might suggest something like a cup of skimmed milk, a tablespoon of cheese, a couple of slices of bread and a serving of fruit. In the afternoon a snack might comprise of a half cup of tea or coffee with substitute sweeteners a couple of crackers and some more fruit. Alternatively, to vary your diabetic diet you could always have a cup of skimmed milk or yoghurt to replace the tea or coffee. There is no reason for you to believe that you can no longer savor your food if you're restrained to a diabetic diet, because diabetic recipes are designed to have plenty of variety.

The Pre-diabetes Prevention Plan To Lower Blood Sugar

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:44:45 -0700

Many people struggle to control their weight. However, while they are going on and off various diets, they fail to realize that they are also struggling to control blood sugar. Actually, the cause of blood-sugar problems may be weight problems, as being overweight and having blood sugar problems tend to go hand in hand. Too many blood sugar swings during the day tend to increase hunger jags, snacking, and overeating. When you overeat, you’re much more likely to add on the pounds, setting the stage for obesity, pre-diabetes, and full blown diabetes.

Sadly, both pre-diabetes and overweight have become modern epidemics that are out of control, with two of every three Americans being overweight and over 100 million people having some signs of pre-diabetes. Both of these illnesses are nutritional disorders that result from eating too many unhealthful foods. However, there is good news: you can reverse pre-diabetes and control your weight.

One can self-diagnose pre-diabetes by looking for the most visible symptom: being chubby or fat around the waist. Other clues are cravings sweets and starchy foods, not being hungry at breakfast, and feeling tired or mentally fuzzy after lunch. Many physicians diagnose pre-diabetes when a patient’s fasting blood sugar falls between 100 and 124 mg/dl. There are several dietary factors that significantly increase the risk of overweight. Some of these being: too many calories, too many refined carbs, especially sugars, and too many unhealthful oils.

The average woman needs about 1,600 calories and the typical man needs about 2,000 calories daily, but the average American now consumes 3,900 calories each day, making it difficult to burn off all these calories and causing the accumulation of body fat. Because most excess calories take form of refined carbs and sugars, which are digested rapidly, rapid or extreme spikes in blood sugar levels, elevated insulin levels, and bouts of hunger result, which stimulate low blood sugar. Trans fats, which are found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, interfere with the body’s processing of fats and often lead to weight gain. Most of these problematic calories are found in fast foods, microwave foods, and other types of convenience foods, which are all best if they are avoided.

Even though pre-diabetes can be scary, it’s actually an opportunity to improve your eating habits and regain your health. To improve your health you can emphasize quality protein, emphasize high-fiber vegetables and fruits, include grapefruit in your diet, use more vinegar, and add some cinnamon. Since protein stabilizes and safely lowers blood sugar levels, be sure to start each day with some protein with breakfast and eat a little protein with each meal.

Most veggies and fruits are rich in fiber, which helps to lower blood sugar, so opt for salads and steamed broccoli while avoiding crutons, potatoes, bananas, and pears. Despite the calories, eating fresh grapefruit can help in weight reduction. The acetic acid in vinegar can also help to improve blood sugar and insulin levels, reduce appetite, and help with weight loss. Adding cinnamon has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels. There are also several supplements that have exceptional value in improving insulin function or lowering blood sugar levels. These include lipoic acid, chromium, silymarin, omega-3 fish oils, vitamin D, and Pycnogenol.

You can also enhance the benefits of diet and supplements by increasing your physical activity as it helps build muscle and burn blood sugar and fat. Tackling pre-diabetes can not only reduce your long-term risk for health problems, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, but also can allow you to quickly gain more energy and feel less post-meal fatigue.

Control Your Blood Sugar With Natural Supplements

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:29:52 -0700

Diabetes is an inflammatory condition caused by the autoimmune system, and manifests as resting hyperglycemia. Your blood glucose levels have to be maintained within fine concentration limits: both too high and too low a blood glucose concentration can be dangerous to your well being.

Your blood glucose level is generally controlled by insulin and glucagons, both of which are biosynthesized in the pancreas. Insulin works by making the glucose bioavailable to the mitochondria to convert into energy, while glucagon, the lesser known of this twosome, stabilizes the level of insulin and mobilizes it to do its job. There are two types of diabetes, known as Type I and Type II or A and B.

Type I diabetes, also known as juvenile onset diabetes, is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys Beta cells because they are recognized as being foreign. It is the Beta cells that generate insulin, and so the condition can be fatal. Patients with Type I diabetes must take insulin throughout their lives, and while potential cures are currently under investigation, none are yet available. Although insulin can be effective it does not guarantee survival, and a better form of treatment is required.

Type II diabetes is by far the more common of the two, and is a form of resistance to insulin, where the body cells cannot use insulin properly. The pancreas initially reacts to this by producing more insulin in response to the increased blood glucose level, but through time it loses its ability to produce insulin as a reaction to an increase in blood sugar, even though this occurs as a result of digesting a meal.

The exact causes of either type of diabetes are not known for sure, although the general mechanism by which they work is known. However, Type II diabetes is believed to be due to some form of interaction between genetics and environment, and it is known that the majority of Type II sufferers are obese and also over 40.

The treatment for this type of diabetes is rarely insulin, but a controlled diet, control of your cholesterol level and blood pressure, exercise and specific medicines designed for sufferers of this form of diabetes. However, there are also natural supplements that can be used to control your blood sugar levels. Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death of the USA in 1999, with 450,000 deaths, and by 2005 had reached about 300 million sufferers world wide. It is therefore a serious and widespread condition, though Type II is less serious than Type I.

It is important to do what you can to control your diabetes, since after several years it can lead to problems with your nerves, eyes, kidneys and gums, and can also lead to heart disease. With diabetes you are at least twice as likely to have a stroke or heart problem as those without it, although you can reduce the risk of this by keeping your blood pressure under control, and the levels of fats in your blood to a minimum. Stopping smoking helps, and there are some natural treatments that can also help you control your diabetes.

The most important means of control is to reduce your blood sugar levels. While there are natural products that will help you to do that, do not stop taking the medication prescribed by your doctor, but use these in addition to what you are already taking. Among specific substances that can help are:

Chromium: chromium helps your body to use insulin properly. When taken in the form of chromium picolinate, it helps to replace chromium that diabetics appear to be short of. Human studies have indicated that chromium can decrease insulin levels and improve the metabolism of blood sugar in those with Type II diabetes. Some claim that chromium is harmful to health, but the general opinion is that it helps, though you should consult your doctor before using it.

Cinnamon: If you take cinnamon daily, your blood sugar levels should gradually decrease. It appears to enable your cells to make better use of the insulin your blood, although there still discussion as to the mechanism by which this occurs and of the active ingredient in cinnamon that promotes it. Some claim it to be a flavonoid known as methylhydroxychalcone polymer, or MHCP. However, others claim it not to be MHCP, but polyphenol type-A polymer. Whichever it is, many people are finding cinnamon to be effective in reducing high levels of blood sugar to a more manageable level.

Milk Thistle: It is known that antioxidants can help to control blood sugar, and the flavolignins in Silymarin marianum, an herbal extract available from milk thistle seeds, work in this manner. It is also good for protecting the liver from toxins. Although it is not clear how it is done, silymarin appears to help to control Type II diabetes possibly by way of liver digestion of sugars in the blood. The liver processed glucose and improving its function through the consumption of milk thistle could help reduce blood sugar as well.

Mulberry: The Chinese make what is known as “sugar control herbal tea” from mulberry leaves, green tea and jasmine. Mulberry leaves contain adenine, pectin and choline, and also high levels of Vitamins A and B types. This tea is used by the Chinese to control blood sugar levels, which might occur through the antioxidant effect of the mulberry constituents.

Salacia oblonga: This is an herb used in India and Sri Lanka that appears to cause a dramatic drop in the levels of insulin and sugar in the blood. It binds to enzymes in the intestine that break carbohydrates down into sugars, and so reduces the amount of sugar in your blood. That in turn reduces the amount of insulin released by the pancreas.

Apple Cider Vinegar: There is evidence that apple cider vinegar can help to control your blood sugar levels if taken before a meal. Just two tablespoons appears sufficient to give a noticeable result. This is one of those home remedies that might be just anecdotal, but might also work, so is worth trying.

Zinc: It has been discovered that diabetics suffer a deficiency in zinc. This mineral plays a part in the storage and production of insulin in your body, and a deficiency could cause an increase in your sugar level. Oysters, pecans, almonds, lamb and chicken are all good sources of zinc.

Glyconutrient complexes: we know that diabetes is an autoimmune disease for type I individuals. Supporting a properly function immune system requires a good diet as well as a diet rich in Glyconutrients. The polysaccharides found in glyconutrient formulas can help the immune system communicate better with the body and just possibly correct some autoimmune diseases which attach our cells.

These are the natural supplements that people are taking to help control their blood sugar and diabetes. It is important that you take nothing that interferes with the medicines given to you by your physician, so you should let your doctor know of any natural supplement that you are using in addition to your prescription medicines. However, it is possible to control your blood sugar with natural supplements, and those mentioned above are just a few of the natural substances available that can help diabetics control their condition and so avoid the side effects.

Diabetes--Its Causes And Symptoms

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Diabetes is a growing problem throughout the world. With our population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in health care, the problem is only growing. It is a disease of the metabolism. Our metabolism is what the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Majority of food that is processed through our bodies is broken down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is the fuel our bodies to run on. When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin into our blood. In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced or the body's cells do not respond correctly to the insulin that is produced. So the glucose builds up and overflows into the urine and passes out of the body. This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even though the bloodstream has good amounts of the natural glucose. There are three types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. People who have type 1 are known as insulin-dependent. It is an autoimmune disease where the body's natural system is fighting against another part of the body. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks the insulin producing cells and ruins them. Thus the pancreas can produce little to no insulin. These people are in need of daily injections of insulin to live. Five to ten percent of diabetes cases are type 1 in the US. Diabetes In Children Diabetes in children is known as juvenile diabetes, but more commonly known as type 1 diabetes. It is the most common form of diabetes in children with ninety to ninety-five percent who have it being under 16. Juvenile diabetes is caused by non-capability of the pancreas to produce insulin. It is an autoimmune disease, which means the bodies own defense system attacks the body's tissues or organs. In the last 30 years the number of juvenile diabetes cases jumped three times over and in Europe and the US we are now seeing type 2 diabetes in children for the first time. Obesity easily explains type 2, but not why there is such increase in type 1 diabetes in children. It is believed that a mixture of genetics and environmental factors are what cause juvenile diabetes. But the majority of children don' t have a family history of diabetes. The symptoms for juvenile diabetes are the same as in adults. A person with a potential diabetes illness experiences thirst, weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination is typical, but diabetes in children can also increase stomach pains, headaches and behavior problems. Doctors should consider the possibility of diabetes in children who have unexplained stomach pains for a few weeks, along with the typical symptoms. If you are skeptic your child may be experiencing these symptoms you should schedule them for an appropriate examination and tell your doctor what you suspect your child may have. Be sure to tell them about any and all symptoms your child may be experiencing.