Important Aids for Diabetes and Neuropathy

[Guest guest]

Important Aids for Diabetes and Neuropathy ---Checklist for Weightloss: ---Evening primrose oil Magnesium Fenugreek (seeds) Psyllium Biotin L-carnitine Vitamin B1 Vitamin B6 Vitamin C Vitamin E Aloe vera Gymnema Onion Fresh Garlic Fish oil (EPA/ DHA) Inositol Manganese Medium chain triglycerides Quercetin Taurine Vanadium (for type 2 diabetes) Vitamin B12 Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) Vitamin D Vitamin E Olive leaf Reishi Brewer's yeast (providing approximately 60 mcg of chromium per tablespoon) Chromium Dietary changes that may be helpful: Eating carbohydrate-containing foods, whether high in sugar or high in starch (such as white bread, processed breakfast cereals, and rice), temporarily raises blood sugar and insulin levels. The blood sugar-raising effect of a food, called its "glycemic index," depends on how rapidly its carbohydrate is absorbed. Cooked dried Beans, fresh whole fruit, and oat bran/oatmeal(No Instant varieties), have low glycemic indices, despite the carbohydrate content, due mostly to the health-promoting effects of 'soluble' fiber. Most nutritionists recommend that we eliminate our intake of refined sugar from snacks and refined processed foods, and replace these foods with high-fiber, whole foods. This tends to lower the glycemic index of the overall diet and has the additional benefit of increasing vitamin, mineral, and fiber intake. A high-fiber diet has been shown to work better in controlling diabetes than the diet recommended by the ADA. In this study, the increase in dietary fiber was accomplished exclusively through the consumption of foods naturally high in fiber—such as leafy green vegetables, and fresh whole organic fruits—to a level beyond that recommended by the ADA. No fiber supplements were given. All participants received both the ADA diet (providing 24 grams of fiber per day) and the high- fiber diet (providing 50 grams of fiber per day), for a period of six weeks. After six weeks of following each diet, tests were performed to determine blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and other values. When glucose levels were monitored over a 24-hour period, participants eating the high-fiber diet had an average glucose level that was 10% lower than participants eating the ADA diet. Insulin levels were 12% lower in the group eating the high-fiber diet compared to the group eating the ADA diet, indicating a beneficial increase in the body's sensitivity to insulin. Moreover, people eating the high-fiber diet experienced 'significant' reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL ("bad") cholesterol compared to those eating the ADA diet. They also had slight "decreases" in glycosylated hemoglobin, a measure of chronically high blood glucose levels. High-fiber supplements, such as psyllium, guar gum (found in beans), pectin (from whole fruits),oat bran, and glucomannan have improved weightloss in some studies. Positive results have also been reported with the consumption of 1–3 ounces of powdered *fenugreek* seeds per day. A review of the research revealed that the extent to which moderate amounts of fiber help people with weightloss in the long term is still unknown, and the lack of many long-term studies has led researchers to question the importance of fiber. Nonetheless, most doctors advise eating a diet high in fiber. Focus should be placed on organic fruit, vegetables, seeds, whole grain oats, and other organic whole-grain products. Incorporating a cold water fish meal into a weight-loss regimen was more effective than either measure alone at improving glucose and insulin metabolism and high cholesterol. Vegetarians have been reported to have a low risk of type 2 diabetes. When people with diabetic "nerve damage" switch to a vegan diet (no meat or dairy), improvements have been reported after several days. In one trial, pain completely disappeared in 17 of 21 people. Fats from meat and dairy also contribute to heart disease, the leading killer of people with diabetes.Saturated fat is found primarily in meat, dairy fat, and the dark meat and skins of poultry. Vegetarians eat less protein than do meat eaters. This reduction of 'protein intake' has lowered kidney damage caused by diabetes and also tend to improve "glucose tolerance". In a group of 13 obese males with high blood-insulin levels (as is often seen in diabetes), a diet rich in "plant proteins" resulted in greater weight loss and control of insulin levels, compared with that of a low-carbohydrate diet. Glucose intolerance has been improved by diets high in *monounsaturated* oils (extra-virgin olive oils), which may also be beneficial for those with diabetic neuropathy. In adults and adolescents with diabetes, increasing *monounsaturated* fats relative to other fats in the diet is associated with better control over blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The easiest way to incorporate monounsaturates into the diet is to eat food with extra-virgin olive oil, macademia nuts, almonds and avocadoes. Milk contains a protein that is related to a protein in the pancreas, the *organ* where "insulin" is made. Some researchers believe that children who are allergic to milk may develop antibodies that attack the pancreas, causing diabetes. Some children who drink cows' milk produce antibodies to the milk, and it has been hypothesized that these antibodies can cross-react with and damage the insulin-producing cells of the *pancreas*. Recent research also suggests a possible link between milk consumption in infancy and an increased risk of type 2 (non-insulin- dependent) diabetes. Lifestyle changes that may be helpful: Most people with diabetes are overweight. Excess abdominal weight does not stop insulin formation, but it does make the body less "sensitive" to insulin. Excess weight can even make healthy people "pre-diabetic". Weight loss reverses this problem. In most studies, type 2 diabetes has improved with weight loss. However, exercise can induce low blood sugar or even occasionally increase blood sugar. Moreover, a preliminary study has shown that long-term physical activity was not associated with control of blood glucose in people with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, people with diabetes should never begin an intensive exercise program without consulting a healthcare professional. Nutritional supplements that may be helpful: Medical reports dating back to 1853, as well as modern research, indicate that chromium- rich brewer's yeast (9 grams per day) can be useful. In recent years, chromium has been shown to improve glucose and related variables in people with glucose intolerance and type 1, type 2, gestational, and steroid-induced diabetes. Improved glucose tolerance with lower or similar levels of insulin have been reported in more than ten trials of chromium supplementation in people with varying degrees of glucose intolerance. Chromium supplements improve glucose tolerance in people with both type 2 and type 1 diabetes, apparently by increasing sensitivity to insulin. Chromium improves the processing of glucose Chromium even helps healthy people, although one such report found chromium useful only when accompanied by 100 mg of niacinamide. Chromium may also lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (risk factors in heart disease). The typical amount of chromium used in research trials is 200 mcg per day, although as much as 1,000 mcg per day has been used. Many doctors recommend up to 1,000 mcg per day for people with diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful natural antioxidant. Preliminary and double-blind trials have found that supplementing 600–1,200 mg of lipoic acid per day improves insulin sensitivity and the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy-- Supplementing with 4 grams of evening primrose oil per day for six months has been found in double-blind research to improve nerve function and to relieve pain symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Vitamin E-- People with low blood levels of "vitamin E" are more likely to develop type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Vitamin E supplementation has improved glucose tolerance in people with type 2 diabetes in most, but not all, double-blind trials. Vitamin E has also improved glucose tolerance in elderly people without diabetes. Three months or more of supplementation may be required for benefits to become apparent. The amount used is at least 900 IU of vitamin E per day. *Glycosylation* is an important measurement of diabetes; it refers to how much sugar *attaches* abnormally to *proteins*. Vitamin E supplementation reduces this problem in many,although not all, studies. Vitamin C-- People with type 1 diabetes appear to have low vitamin C levels. As with vitamin E, vitamin C may reduce *glycosylation*. Vitamin C also lowers sorbitol in people with diabetes. Sorbitol is a sugar that can accumulate and damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys of people with diabetes. Vitamin C may improve glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes, although not every study confirms this benefit. Vitamin C supplementation (500 mg twice daily for one year) has significantly reduced urinary protein loss in people with diabetes. Urinary protein loss (also called proteinuria) is associated with poor prognosis in diabetes. Many doctors suggest that people with diabetes supplement with 1–3 grams per day of vitamin C. Many people with diabetes have low blood levels of vitamin B6-- . Levels are even lower in people with diabetes who also have nerve damage (neuropathy). Vitamin B6 supplementation has mproved glucose tolerance in women with diabetes caused by pregnancy. Vitamin B6 supplementation is also effective for glucose *intolerance* induced by birth control pills. For other people with diabetes, 1,800 mg per day of a special form of vitamin B6—pyridoxine alpha-ketoglutarate—has improved glucose tolerance dramatically in some research. Standard vitamin B6 has helped in some, but not all, trials. Biotin is a B vitamin needed to process glucose. When people with type 1 diabetes were given 16 mg of biotin per day for one week, their fasting glucose levels dropped by 50%. Thiamine-- Blood levels of vitamin B1 (thiamine) have been found to be low in people with type 1 diabetes. In the 1930s, a trial using 10 mg of vitamin B1 per day for four weeks reported reduced blood sugar levels in six of eleven people with diabetes. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)-- is needed for normal blood sugar metabolism. Animals with diabetes have been reported to be CoQ10 deficient. People with type 2 diabetes have been found to have significantly lower blood levels of CoQ10 compared with healthy people. In one trial, blood sugar levels fell substantially in 31% of people with diabetes after they supplemented with 120 mg per day of CoQ7, a substance similar to CoQ10. The importance of CoQ10 supplementation for people with diabetes remains an unresolved issue, though some doctors recommend approximately 50 mg per day as a way to protect against possible effects associated with diabetes-induced depletion. L-Carnitine-- L-carnitine is an amino acid needed to properly utilize fat for energy. When people with diabetes were given L-carnitine (1 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight), high blood levels of fats—both cholesterol and triglycerides—dropped 25–39% in just ten days in one trial. In higher amounts (1 gram per day by injection), L-carnitine has been reported to "reduce" pain from diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy) as well. Vitamin B12-- Vitamin B12 is needed for normal functioning of nerve cells. Vitamin B12 taken orally, intravenously, or by injection has reduced nerve damage caused by diabetes in most people studied. In a preliminary trial, people with nerve damage due to kidney disease or to diabetes plus kidney disease received intravenous injections of 500 mcg of methylcobalamin (the main form of vitamin B12 found in the blood) three times a day for six months in addition to kidney dialysis. Oral vitamin B12 up to 500 mcg three times per day is recommended by some practitioners. Niacin-- The intake of large amounts of niacin (a form of vitamin B3), such as 2–3 grams per day, may impair glucose tolerance and should be used by people with diabetes only with medical supervision. Smaller amounts (500–750 mg per day for one month followed by 250 mg per day) may help some people with type 2 diabetes, though this research remains preliminary. Preliminary trials have shown that niacinamide (another form of vitamin B3) supplementation might be useful in the very early stages of type 1 diabetes.. A controlled trial found no beneficial effect of niacinamide supplementation (700 mg three times per day in addition to intensive insulin therapy) on pancreatic function and glucose tolerance in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes Vitamin D-- Vitamin D is needed to maintain adequate blood levels of insulin. Vitamin D receptors have been found in the pancreas where insulin is made and preliminary evidence suggests that supplementation can increase insulin levels in some people with type 2 diabetes; prolonged supplementation might also help reduce blood sugar levels. Inositol-- Inositol is needed for normal nerve function. Diabetes can cause a type of nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy. This condition has been reported in some, but not all, trials to improve with inositol supplementation (500 mg taken twice per day). Taurine-- Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich food. People with type 1 diabetes have been reported to have low blood taurine levels, a condition that increases the risk of heart disease by altering blood viscosity. Supplementing with taurine (1.5 grams per day) has restored blood taurine to normal levels and corrected the problem of blood viscosity within three months. However, in a double-blind trial, taurine supplementation (2 grams per day for 12 months) failed to improve kidney 'complications' associated with diabetes Glucose tolerance improves in healthy people taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Some studies have found that fish oil supplementation improves glucose tolerance, high triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in people with diabetes. Quercetin-- Doctors have suggested that quercetin might help people with diabetes because of its ability to reduce levels of sorbitol—a sugar that accumulates in nerve cells, kidney cells, and cells within the eyes of people with diabetes—and has been linked to damage to those organs. Clinical trials have yet to explore whether quercetin actually protects people with diabetes from neuropathy, nephropathy, or retinopathy. Vanadyl Sulfate-- Vanadyl sulfate, a form of vanadium, may improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes, though it may not help people with type 1 diabetes. Over a six-week period, a small group of people with type 2 diabetes were given 75–300 mg of vanadyl sulfate per day. Only in the groups receiving 150 mg or 300 mg was glucose metabolism improved, fasting blood sugar decreased, and another marker for chronic high blood sugar reduced. At the 300 mg level, total cholesterol decreased, although not without an accompanying reduction in the protective HDL cholesterol. Inulin-- In a preliminary trial, supplementation with fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) (8 grams per day for two weeks) significantly lowered fasting blood-sugar levels and serum total-cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Because of these conflicting results, more research is needed to determine the effect of FOS and inulin on diabetes and lipid levels. Manganese-- People with diabetes may have low blood levels of manganese. Animal research suggests that manganese deficiency can contribute to glucose intolerance and may be reversed by supplementation. Psyllium-- Supplementing with psyllium has been shown to be a safe and well- tolerated way to improve control of blood glucose and cholesterol. In a double-blind trial, men with type 2 diabetes who took 5.1 grams of psyllium per day for eight weeks lowered their blood glucose levels by 11% to 19.2%, their total cholesterol by 8.9%, and their LDL (bad) cholesterol by 13%, compared to a placebo. Gymnema-- Gymnema may stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin in people with type 2 diabetes. Gymnema also improves the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. One preliminary trial found that 400 mg of gymnema extract per day could reduce or eliminate the need for oral blood sugar-lowering drugs in some people with type 2 diabetes. Two preliminary trials found that aloe vera juice (containing 80% aloe gel) helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. One trial found that 1 Tbsp (15 grams) twice daily reduced the amount of the blood sugar-lowering drug glibenclamide required to manage blood sugar levels. Bitter Melon-- Whole, fried slices, water extracts, and juice of bitter melon may improve blood-sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, according to preliminary trials. Preliminary trials and at least one double-blind trial have shown that large amounts of onion can lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The mechanism of onion's blood sugar-lowering action is not precisely known, though there is evidence that constituents in onions block the breakdown of insulin in the liver. Other herbs that may help are fenugreek seeds, gymnemre sylvestre, and bitter melon. Reishi-- Animal studies and some very preliminary trials in humans suggest reishi may have some beneficial action on diabetic weightloss. ----- -The Importance of B-Vitamins Vitamin B1 [thiamin] converts carbohydrates into energy required for the brain, nerve cells and heart function. Vitamin B2 [riboflavin] converts food into energy for the growth of red blood cells. Vitamin B3 [niacin] converts food into energy for healthy skin, nerves and digestive system. Vitamin B5 [pantothenic acid] converts food to energy required for essential chemicals in the body. Vitamin B6 [pyridoxine] is required for chemical reaction of proteins and amino acids in the body and production of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 [cobalamin] is essential for the development of red blood cells and the functioning of the nervous system. ---Vitamin B1 ~ found in whole grains, legumes and nuts. Deficiency can cause nerve dysfunction, beriberi. Vitamin B2 ~ found in whole grains,organic eggs and leafy veggies. Deficiency inflames mouth, dries facial skin. Vitamin B3 ~ found in peanuts, whole grains and legumes. Note that the body can convert tryptohan [an essential amino acid into niacin] and acute deficiency can cause pellagra. Vitamin B5 ~ is found in nearly all foods. Vitamin B6 ~ found in potatoes, sweet potatoes, avocados and bananas. Vitamin B12 ~ found in free-range poultry, organic eggs, cold-water fish and organic yogurt. This vitamin exists only in animal foods and deficiency results in pernicious anemia. - Note: All B vitamins are water soluble and any excess in the body is excreted through the urine and not stored in the body. Water soluble vitamins especially in vegetables and fruit are lost if cooked too long or over a high heat, steaming is best. You can get all the benefits of the B vitamins in a good multiple B complex vitamin and by eating a variety of the right foods. _________________________________JoAnn Guest mrsjoguest DietaryTipsForHBP http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest