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Professional Quality Vitamin Supplements at Discount Prices |
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Health Tips from Vitamin Power
Helping You Stay Healthy and
Optimize Well-Being . . .
With Safe, Effective, Natural Nutritional
Remedies For Common Health Ailments and Conditions
Subject:
Control Blood Sugar Naturally
Nearly 16 Million Americans have
diabetes. About 625,000 new cases are diagnosed each year! The following
comprehensive overview provides important information and is well-worth reading
. . .
Essentially, diabetes is a problem
with blood sugar control related to insulin function. Insulin, a hormone
released from the pancreas, is responsible regulating blood sugar levels. It may
be that a person’s body doesn’t produce any insulin, or it doesn’t produce
enough, or it doesn’t use it properly. The three major categories of diabetes
are:
-
Type I, or insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (IDDM), represents 5% (five percent) of the diabetic
population. It is now recognized as an autoimmune disease, in which the body’s
immune system turns on itself and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in
the pancreas. Individuals with Type I diabetes must take insulin daily. Type I
diabetes is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes.
-
Type II, or non-insulin-dependent
diabetes (NIDDM), affects 95 percent of individuals with diabetes. Unlike Type
I, Type II diabetes typically affects middle-aged, overweight people. Type II
diabetics may be able to control it through proper diet, nutrient intake and
exercise.
-
Gestational diabetes is a form of
diabetes that develops during pregnancy. This happens in one to three percent of
all pregnancies. It can occur because hormones secreted during pregnancy can
increase the body’s resistance to insulin. Gestational diabetes typically
disappears after childbirth. However, more than 50 percent of women who get
gestational diabetes eventually develop Type II diabetes.
Who Is Typically At Risk . . .
Although diabetes can strike anyone at any age, the following populations appear
to face a higher risk, according to the American Diabetes Association and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH):
-
Your risk of developing Type II
NIDDM diabetes increases with age. An estimated 11 percent of the United States
population, ages 65 to 74, has Type II diabetes. About half of all new cases of
diabetes occur in people older than 55.
-
80 to 90 percent of Type II
diabetics are overweight.
-
A family history of diabetes is
common among those with NIDDM.
-
Women have a slightly higher
prevalence of diabetes.
-
African Americans, Mexican
Americans, and Native Americans experience a higher rate of Type II diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes . . .
Tell-tale symptoms can include excessive thirst and appetite, increased
urination (sometimes as often as every hour), weight loss, fatigue, nausea,
vomiting, and blurred vision. Women with diabetes may experience frequent
vaginal infections and possibly the cessation of menstruation. Men with diabetes
may suffer from impotence. Frequent yeast infections are a symptom in both women
and men.
People with Type II diabetes may
have no symptoms for decades. Eventually, they are likely to experience any of
the symptoms, plus recurring bladder, vaginal, and skin infections,
irritability, and tingling or loss of sensation in the hands and feet, according
to a Mayo Clinic Health Letter, February 1998.
Implications of diabetes . . .
By keeping their blood sugar under control with the appropriate medications,
diet, and lifestyle measures, diabetics can dramatically reduce their risk of
health complications.
However, out-of-control blood sugar
levels increase the risk of blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure,
nerve malfunctions, slow wound-healing, and in the worst cases, amputation of
the lower extremities. (Berkow R [ed]: The Merck Manual of Medical Information.
Whitehouse Station: Merck & Co., Inc., 1997).
Dietary changes . . .
Proper nutrition is critical for health management for people with diabetes.
Consider the following dietary recommendations (Austin S, Brown D, Lininger S,
Jr.: Natural approaches for diabetes. American Journal of Natural Medicine
5[1]:8-14, January/February 1998):
-
Eat high-fiber foods such as legumes
(beans and peas), vegetables, seeds, oats, and whole-grain products. High-fiber
diets help protect against Type II diabetes.
-
Reduce consumption of sugar. Sugary
foods raise blood sugar levels more than whole, unprocessed foods.
-
Reduce consumption of animal
products. The incidence of Type II diabetes is significantly lower among
vegetarians. Meat and dairy products are high in saturated fats, and diabetics
face an increased risk of heart disease.
-
Eat more fish. According to some
studies, the omega-3 essential fatty acids in fish promote glucose tolerance,
reduce high triglycerides, and support balanced cholesterol levels in people
with diabetes.
Fish oil supplements show promise in
protecting against nerve-damage and reducing serum triglyceride levels in people
with diabetes (Friedberg CE, Janssen MJ, Heine RJ, Grobbee DE: Fish oil and
glycemic control in diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care 21[4]:494-500,
April 1998).
Necessity of regular exercise . . .
Consistent physical activity is as important as diet in controlling blood sugar
levels. If you are susceptible to Type II diabetes, you may never develop it if
you exercise regularly. If you already have Type II diabetes, physical activity
may decrease or eliminate your need for insulin. The standard recommendation is
at least three days a week, for 20 minutes a day.
Exercise promotes health in the
following ways:
-
It helps control weight. Excess body
fat increases the risk of diabetes, while appropriate weight loss can
significantly improve diabetics’ health.
-
Physical activity uses up sugar,
thereby reducing high blood glucose levels.
-
It makes cells more sensitive to
insulin. That means it can transport glucose into the cells, instead of leaving
it in the bloodstream.
-
Exercise increases blood flow,
thereby improving circulation. Diabetics are especially susceptible to poor
circulation.
-
It increases energy levels. Extreme
fatigue is a common symptom of diabetes.
-
Physical activity promotes
cardiovascular health.
VERY IMPORTANT:
People with diabetes must get a complete physical before starting an exercise
program. Because of the potential for diabetic complications, a healthcare
professional should check for any signs of heart, eye, kidney, or nerve disease.
If they exist, the diabetic may have to alter the type and intensity of the
activity. In addition, people with Type I diabetes need to be aware that
hypoglycemia - dangerously low blood sugar levels - may occur during exercise.
Long periods of exercise are more likely to induce hypoglycemia than exercise of
moderate duration.
Supplements for blood sugar control
. . .
Diabetes is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition, and requires
professional medical care. Self-medication is strongly discouraged. However,
specific natural nutrients may promote balanced blood sugar levels and help
reduce the side effects and complications of diabetes.
-
Chromium has been shown to improve
glucose tolerance, apparently by increasing the cells’ sensitivity to insulin
(Gaby AR, Wright JV: Diabetes. In: Nutritional Therapy in Medical Practice:
Reference Manual and Study Guide. Wright/Gaby Seminars, 1996).
-
Magnesium deficiency is common among
diabetics because they tend to excrete it through the urine. A magnesium
shortage may be involved in insulin resistance, making it more difficult for the
body’s cells to use glucose. Research indicates that magnesium supplements can
help reverse the problem (Eibl NL, Schnack CJ, Kopp H-P, et al: Hypomagnesemia
in Type II diabetes: effect of a 3-month replacement therapy. Diabetes Care
18:188, 1995).
-
Zinc levels are generally lower than
normal in people with diabetes. Zinc supplements may be used to promote healthy
blood sugar levels and immune function.
-
Vitamins C and
E both reduce glycosylation. Glycosylation refers to how much sugar attaches abnormally to
proteins. Excessive glycosylation is typically associated with poorly controlled
diabetes.
-
Vitamin B6 deficiencies are common
among diabetes, especially those with nerve damage. Vitamin B6 supplements
promote glucose tolerance in pregnant women with gestational diabetes (Coelingh
HJT, Schreurs WHP: Improvement of oral glucose tolerance in gestational diabetes
by pyridoxine. Brit Med J 3:13-15, 1975).
-
Vitamin B12 has been shown to reduce
diabetes-related nerve damage (Yamane K, Usui T, Yamamoto T, et al.
-
Ginseng appears to promote the
release of insulin from the pancreas and increase the number of insulin
receptors. One study found that 200 mg. of ginseng extract daily improved blood
sugar control and energy in Type II diabetes (Sotaniemi EA, Haapakoski E, Rautio
A: Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Diabetes Care
18:1373-1375, 1995).
-
Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to
enhance insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. In one study, Type II
diabetes took 600 mg. of alpha-lipoic acid orally. After four weeks of
supplementation, their insulin sensitivity increased by about 30 percent, and
their oral glucose tolerance also improved (Jacob S, Henriksen EJ, Ruus P, Rett
K, et al: The radical scavenger alpha-lipoic acid enhances insulin sensitivity
in patients with NIDDM: a placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes 45:1024-1029,
1996).
Food For Thought . . .
Although diabetes is a serious, incurable condition, advances in medicine are
making it easier to monitor blood sugar levels, to customize treatment plans,
and to catch potential complications early. Whether the diabetes is Type I, Type
II, or gestational, blood sugar control is the key to long-term health and
vitality.
As with most illnesses, a diabetic’s
day-to-day choices have an enormous impact on blood sugar balance and overall
health. By working with a qualified healthcare professional, eating a diet high
in fiber and complex carbohydrates and low in sugar and animal foods, reducing
body fat if overweight, getting the appropriate amount of physical activity, and
taking specific, doctor-approved supplements, a person with diabetes can live a
full and robust life.
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