Wasted away from Diabetes?

[Guest guest]

Our Friend has lost most of her muscle from diabetes. She lives in

California and her family only speaks Spanish.

 

Is there a Diabetes help group that we can ask to help the family how to

care better for her,or to maybe get the correct Medicare Dr. on the case.

We live 12 hours away by car. We go there twice a year, but?

 

Lorenzo

[Guest guest]

Gettingwell, " Lorenzo " <lorenzo1@w...> wrote:

> Our Friend has lost most of her muscle from diabetes. She lives in

> California and her family only speaks Spanish.

>

> Is there a Diabetes help group that we can ask to help the family

how to

> care better for her,or to maybe get the correct Medicare Dr. on

the case.

> We live 12 hours away by car. We go there twice a year, but?

>

> Lorenzo

 

 

JoAnn Guest

May 07, 2002 10:14 PDT

 

Herbal Recommendations

for Diabetes

 

Before the advent of insulin, diabetes was treated with plant

medicines.

In 1980 the World Health Organization urged researchers to examine

whether traditional medicines possessed any real medicinal effects.

In

the last 10-20 years scientific investigation has, in fact, confirmed

the efficacy of many of these preparations, some of which are

remarkably

effective. This discussion is, of necessity, limited to a few

plants—those that appear most effective are relatively nontoxic, and

have substantial documentation of efficacy.

The following plants are discussed: onions and garlic, bitter melon,

Gymnema Sylvestre, fenugreek, salt bush, and pterocarpus. In

addition,

three other herbal medicines (bilberry, grape seed, and ginkgo

extracts)

are discussed because of their important roles in dealing with

diabetic

complications.

Even though the herbs described here possess blood sugar-lowering

effects, proper and effective natural treatment of the diabetic

patient

requires the careful integration of diet, nutritional supplements,

and

lifestyle, along with herbal medicines.

 

Onions (Allium cepa and garlic (Allium sativum)

 

Onions and garlic have demonstrated blood sugar lowering action. The

active principles are believed to be the sulfur-containing compounds

allyl propyl disulfide (APDS) and diallyl disulfide oxide (allicin),

respectively, although other constituents such as flavonoids may play

a

role as well. The cardiovascular effects of garlic and onions, that

is,

cholesterol and blood pressure lowering actions, further substantiate

the liberal intake of garlic and onions by the diabetic patient.

 

Bitter Melon

 

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), also know as balsam pear, is a

typical fruit widely cultivated in Asia, Africa, and South America.

The

unripe fruits are eaten as a vegatable. Bitter melon is a green,

cucumber-shaped fruit with gourd like bumps all over it. It looks

like

an ugly cucumber. In addition to being eaten as a vegetable, unripe

bitter melon has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy

for

diabetes. The blood-sugar lowering action of the fresh juice or

extract

of the unripe fruit has been clearly established in human clinical

trials as well as experimental models.

Bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed

anti-diabetic properties. Charantin, extracted by alcohol, is a

hypoglycemic agent composed of mixed steroids that is more potent

than

the oral hypoglycemic drug tolbutamide. Momordica charantia also

contains an insulin-like polypeptide P, which lowers blood sugar

levels

when injected subcutaneously into type I diabetics. Since it appears

to

have fewer side effects than insulin, it has been suggested as a

replacement for some patients.

 

The oral administration of bitter melon preparations has shown good

results in clinical trials in patients with type II diabetes. In one

study, glucose tolerance was improved in 73 percent of type II

diabetics

given 2 ounces of the juice. The pooled area under the glucose

tolerance

curves of the patients responding to the bitter melon was 187.0

square

centimeters---much lower than the baseline level of 243.6 square

centimeters. In another study, 15 grams of the aquaeous extract of

bitter melon produced a 54 percent decrease in postprandial blood

sugar

level and a 17 percent reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin in six

patients.

Unripe bitter melon is available primarily at Asian grocery stores.

Health food stores may have bitter melon extracts, but the fresh

juice

is probably best, as this was what was used in some of the studies.

Bitter melon juice is, in my opinion, very difficult to make

palatable.

As its name implies, it is quite bitter. If you want the medicinal

effects, simply plug your nose and take a 2-ounce shot of the juice.

The

dosage of other forms should approximate this dose.

 

Gymnema Sylvestre

 

Gymnema sylvestre is a plant native to the tropical forests of India,

and has long been used as a treatment for diabetes. Recent scientific

investigation has upheld its effectiveness in both type I and type II

diabetes. Gymnema is probably the most practical herbal

recommendation

for improving blood sugar control in diabetics. High-quality gymnema

extracts are available in health food stores.

Gymnema Sylvestre appeared on the U.S.market a few years ago.

Originally

it was hyped as a " sugar blocker " . Manufacturers erroneously claimed

that gymnema could block the absorption of sugar in the

gastrointestinal

tract and allow the sugar to pass on through the intestinal tract

unabsorbed. Ridiculous advertisement claims were made, such as " how

to

cut down on sugar calories without cutting down on sugar. " This was,

in

my opinion, a blatant distortion of the truth.

Gymnema components, such as gymnemic acid, block the sensation of

sweetness when applied to the tongue. This has shown some clinical

significance. Subjects that had gymnema extracts applied to the

tongue

consumed fewer calories at a meal compared to subjects not treated

with

gymnema. It must be stressed that the gymnema extract was applied to

the

tongues—subjects did now swallow it in capsule or tablet form, as

this

would not produce the same effect.

Gymnema extracts enhance glucose control in diabetic dogs and

rabbits.

Interestingly, in animals that have had their pancreas removed,

gymnema

possesses no obvious effects. It can therefore be concluded that

gymnema

enhances the production of endogenous insulin. The results of animal

studies suggest that it accomplishes this through regeneration of the

insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Studies in humans seem

to

support this, both in type I and type II diabetes.

 

An extract of the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre given to twenty-seven

patients with type I diabetes on insulin therapy was shown to reduce

insulin requirements and fasting blood sugar levels, and to improve

blood sugar control.

This study confirmed earlier work in animal studies. In type I

diabetes,

gymnema appears to work by enhancing the action of insulin.

Furthermore,

there is some evidence that it may possibly regenerate or revitalize

the

beta cells of the pancreas.

Gymnema extract has also shown positive results in type II diabetes.

In

one study, twenty-two type II diabetics were given gymnema extract

along

with the oral hypoglycemic drugs. All patients demonstrated improved

blood sugar control; twenty-one out of the twenty-two subjects were

able

to reduce their drug dosage considerably; and five subjects were able

to

discontinue their medication and maintain blood sugar control with

the

gymnema extract alone.

The dosage for Gymnema sylvestre extract is 400 mgs per day in both

type

I and type II diabetes. It is interesting to note that gymnema

extract

is without side effects and exerts it blood sugar-lowering effects

only

in cases of diabetes. Gymnema extract, when given to healthy

volunteers,

does not produce any blood sugar lowering or hypoglycemic effects.

 

Fenugreek

 

Fenugreek seeds have demonstrated significant anti-diabetic effects

in

experimental and clinical studies. The active principle is in the

defatted portion of the seed and contains the alkaloid trigonelline,

nicotinic acid, and coumarin. Administration of the defatted seed (in

daily doses of 1.5-2 grams per kilogram) to both normal and diabetic

dogs reduces fasting and after meal blood levels of glucose,

glucagon,

somatostatin,insulin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, while

increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

Human studies confirm these effects. Defatted fenugreek seed powder

given twice daily in a 50-gram dose to insulin dependent diabetics

resulted in significant reduction in fasting blood sugar and improved

glucose tolerance test results.

There was also a 54 percent reduction in 24-hour urinary glucose

excretion and significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride

values. Innoninsulin diabetics the addition of 15 grams of powdered

fenugreek seed soaked in water significantly reduced postprandial

glucose levels during the meal tolerance test. These results indicate

that fenugreek seeds or defatted fenugreek seed powder should be

included in the diet of the diabetic.

 

Salt Bush (Atriplex halimus)

 

Salt bush is a branch woody shrub native to the Mediterranean, North

Africa, and southern Europe. Salt bush is especially common around

the

Jordan valley in inundated saline depressions and oases. Salt bush is

the feeding source of the sand rat. Researchers began investigating

the

possible therapeutic benefits of atriplex in humans when it was

noticed

that sand rats switched from a diet rich in atriplex to standard rat

chow typically developed severe diabetes. Replacing the atriplex to

the

diet brought about a quick reversal of the condition.

Human studies conducted in Israel have yielded good results in

patients

with type II diabetes. Blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance

were

improved. Atriplex is rich in fiber, protein, and numerous trace

minerals including chromium. The dosage used in the human studies was

3

grams per day.

 

Pterocarpus (Pterocarpus marsupium)

 

Pterocarpus has a long history of use in India as a treatment for

diabetes. The flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, extracted from the bark of

this plant, prevents beta cell damage in rats. Further, both

epicatechin

and a crude alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium actually

regenerate

functional pancreatic beta cells in diabetic animals. Epicatechin is

also found in green tea (Camellia sinensis). As there are no

commercial

sources of pterocarpus in the United States, green tea may be

suitable

alternative. At least two cups of green tea should be consumed per

day.

 

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), grape seed (Vitis vinifera), and

Ginkgo

biloba extracts

 

Bilberry, grape seed, and Ginkgo biloba extracts offer significant

benefits to diabetics. The active compounds of these extracts are

flavonoids. These flavonoids increase vitamin C levels, decrease the

leakiness and breakage of small blood vessels, prevent easy bruising,

and exert potent antioxidant effects. These effects are greatly

needed

in dealing with the microvascular abnormalities of diabetes and

preventing diabetic retinopathy.

 

Although all three of these extracts are of significant benefit,

bilberry and grape seed extract are probably the best to use in the

prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, while gingko biloba

extract appears most useful in the prevention and treatment of

peripheral vascular and nerve disease due to diabetes.

 

Regardless of the source, PCO extracts can be used to support good

health. As a preventive measure and as antioxidant support, a daily

dose

of 50 mgs of the grape seed extract is suitable.

When used for therapeutic purposes, the daily dose should be

increased

to 150 to 300 mgs. For PCO bound to phosphatidylcholine, the dose for

general support is 50 mgs; for therapeutic purposes, 150 mgs.

PCO extracts exert no side effect.

 

 

 

The standard dose for bilberry should be used on its anthocyanoside

content, as calculated by its anthocyanidin percentage. Widely used

pharmaceutical preparations in Europe are standardized for

anthocyanidin

content (typically 25 percent). The following doses should be taken

three times daily:

 

Anthocyanosides (calculated as anthocyanidin): 20-40 mgs.

Bilberry extract (25 percent anthocyanidin content): 80- 160 mgs

 

Much of the clinical research on Gingko biloba has utilized a

standardized extract, containing 24 percent ginkgo heterosides

(flavone

gylcosides) at a dosage of 40 mgs three times a day. However, some

studies have used a slightly higher dosage of 80 mgs three times

daily.

Clinical research clearly shows that GBE should be taken consistently

for at least 12 weeks in order to be effective. Although most people

report benefits within 2 to 3 weeks, some may take longer to respond.

Gingko biloba leaf extract is extremely safe and side effects are

uncommon. In 44 double blind studies involving 9,772 patients taking

GBE, the number of side effects reported was extremely small. The

most

common side effect, gastrointestinal discomfort, occurred in only

twenty-one cases.

 

Taken from-

" The Healing Power of Herbs "

Revised and expanded 2nd version

-- Michael T. Murray, N.D.

Co-author of

" Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine "

 

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

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