Holistic Treatment of Diabetes
HEALTH
INFORMATION SERIES
Never stop insulin therapy
without consultation with a qualified herbalist and your medical doctor.
DIETARY MODIFICATIONS:
Dietary modification is
fundamental to the treatment of diabetes. This disease is almost
exclusively found in countries where the diet is highly refined and the
fibre intake is low (ie. it is largely a product of the Western 'civilised'
diet).
In principle the diet
should consist of 40% complex carbohydrates, 40 % protein and 20% fats.
There should be a total of 100 grams of fibre taken daily. There should
be no refined sugars at all and the fat is strictly limited. Fruit
juices should be kept to a minimum.
As well as a slow but
steady reduction in weight down to a healthy sustainable level,
following these dietary guidelines will lead to reduced post-prandial
hyperglycaemia, increased tissue sensitivity to insulin, reduced plasma
cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increased HDL fractions.
It is also recommended
to avoid the addition of salt to the food and to avoid the use of
saturated or hydrogenated fats.
Sample menu
Breakfast:
Whole oats 1 cup or Whole wheat bread 2 slices
Soft boiled egg
Skimmed milk 1 cup
Grapefruit 1
Butter (mixed 50:50 with olive oil) 2 pats
Lunch:
Whole wheat bread 2 slices
Kidney bean & rice casserole 1 cup or steamed / baked fish
Kale, cooked 1 cup
Cucumber & onion salad 1 cup
Potatoes, boiled, with skins 1 cup
Butter as before 3 pats
Dinner:
Lima beans 1 cup
Peas 3/4 cup
Tomatoes 1 small
Asparagus, steamed 1 cup
Squash 1 cup
Beef, roasted 100 g. or low fat vegetarian equivalent
Blackberries 3/4 cup
Snack Yoghurt, plain, low fat 1 cup
Fresh strawberries 1 cup
Whole wheat bread 2 slices
Butter (mixed in equal parts with olive oil) 2 pats
The best beverage is plain water or
herbal teas. Coffee and black tea should be avoided because the caffeine
will be detrimental to the micro-circulation. All soft drinks and pop
should be avoided, even if they are 'diet' type because the sugar or the
artificial sweetener are both harmful. Alcohol should be very strictly
avoided because of its effect on the blood sugar.
In order to simplify the determination
of insulin doses it is best to eat approximately the same amount of food
at the same time each day.
SUPPLEMENTS TO AID IN THE TREATMENT
OF DIABETES
Chromium
Trivalent chromium (Cr3+) is
also known as Glucose Tolerance Factor because it significantly
enhances the action of insulin. It appears to act by binding with the
cellular receptor sites for insulin and then strongly attracting insulin
to these sites and aiding in the binding of insulin with the receptor
site. A lack of chromium can lead to decreased sensitivity to insulin
(insulin resistance) which can be the first step on the road to
developing diabetes. As well as aiding insulin in its work, chromium
also reduces the plasma levels of LDL's and VLDL's and raises HDL's in
the blood. In combination with niacin it is especially effective
at lowering plasma cholesterol. It is interesting to note that exercise
increases tissue chromium concentrations while the consumption of simple
(refined) carbohydrates increases chromium excretion. A supplement of
chromium chloride (200 mcg./day) or brewers yeast (9 grams (3
tablespoons) per day) is recommended for diabetes.
Vitamin B complex
Vitamins B3, B6 and B12 (niacin,
pyridoxine & cyanocobalamin) are especially useful in reducing some
of the neuropathies that so often occur with diabetes. All of the B
vitamins are useful, however, and it is best to take them in the form of
a high potency complex (100 mg. of each per day). B12 supplementation
should be 1 mg./week.
Inositol
This B vitamin may also help with
diabetic neuropathies through its ability to stabilize the integrity of
the myelin sheath and to re-establish normal myo-inositol levels that
are often depleted in diabetics because of its replacement with sorbitol.
Biotin
This B vitamin works synergistically
with insulin and also increases the activity of glucokinase which is a
liver enzyme that is required for glycolysis and which is frequently
deficient in diabetics.
Both inositol and biotin are best taken
in the form of B complex where they can act synergistically with all the
other B vitamins.
Manganese
This mineral is an essential co-factor
in glucose metabolism and diabetics have been shown to have only half
the manganese levels found in non-diabetics. It is also involved in the
activation of super oxide dismutase, a free radical fighter and
powerful anti-oxidant. Manganese should be supplemented to 2.5 mg./day.
Vitamin C
The transport of vitamin C into the
cells is facilitated by insulin and a lack of insulin leading to
impaired vitamin utilization may be part of the reason for the capillary
fragility seen in diabetics. It may also be responsible for the
depressed immune function and high plasma cholesterol level common to
diabetics. Vitamin C should be supplemented to bowel tolerance and it is
especially important to take it in a form with bioflavonoids
which further strengthen the capillary walls.
Vitamin E (d alpha tocopherol)
A deficiency of vitamin E results in
free radical damage especially to the lining of the vascular system.
Diabetics also seem to have a higher than usual requirement for vitamin
E, perhaps to offset the damage done by the presence of so much glucose
in the blood. Vitamin E promotes the formation of HDL's, regulates
platelet clotting that can be disrupted by diabetes, and regulates fatty
acid metabolism. At least 400 iu daily is recommended.
Magnesium
In diabetics and especially those with
retinopathy there is a significantly lower than normal magnesium level.
Low magnesium levels appear to be an aetiological factor in the
development of cardio-vascular disease as well. To correct deficiencies
a supplement of 300 - 500 mg. per day is useful.
Zinc
This mineral is involved in virtually
all aspects of insulin metabolism. - synthesis, secretions and
utilisation. It has beneficial regulating functions in the immune
system, protects against viral infection and specifically against beta
islet cell destruction by auto-immunity in the pancreas. 25 - 30 mg. per
day of zinc picnolate should be used.
SUGGESTED DAILY DOSES OF
SUPPLEMENTS USEFUL IN DIABETES:
| Chromium chloride |
200 mcg. OR |
| Brewers Yeast |
9 grams |
| Vitamin B complex |
100 mg of the major B vitamins |
| Vitamin C with bioflavonoids |
to bowel tolerance |
| Vitamin E |
400 iu |
| Manganese |
2.5 mg. |
| Magnesium |
300 - 500 mg. |
| Zinc |
25 - 30 mg. |
EXERCISE
This is very important to help in
weight loss and general fitness as well as to improve oxygen supply to
the tissues which helps in maintaining tissue health.
HERBAL REMEDIES FOR DIABETES
When treating diabetes with herbs the
approach must be two fold. The secondary effects and complications of
diabetes need to be treated from a symptomatic perspective and the
underlying metabolic dysfunction also needs to be addressed.
The following herbs have a reputation
for being effective in lowering blood sugar levels:
Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) (leaves)
Potentilla aurea (Alpine Cinquefoil) (aerial parts)
Galega officinalis (Goat's Rue) (aerial parts)
Syzygium/Eugenia jambolana (Jambul) (fruits)
Allium cepa (Onions) (bulb)
Allium sativa (Garlic) (bulb)
Geranium maculatum (Cranesbill) (whole herb)
Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) (seeds)
Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon) (fruit)
Panax spp. (Ginseng) (roots)
Oplopanax horridum (Devils Club) (root bark)
Daucus carota (Wild Carrot/ Queen Anne's Lace) (aerial parts &
seeds)
Vinca spp. (Periwinkle) (aerial parts)
Iris versicolor (Blue Flag) (rhizome)
Arctium lappa (Burdock) (root)
Rhus aromatica (Sweet Sumach) (berries)
Through its tonic action on the
pancreas, Glycyrrhiza glabra will also be helpful in regulating the
blood sugar. For the treatment of secondary diabetic symptoms use herbs
appropriate to the part affected. Crataegus oxycanthoides is almost
always appropriate and others to consider include Ginkgo biloba,
Equisetum arvense, Tilia europea, Achillea millefolium and Hydrastis
canadensis.
Additional notes on Diabetes:
Co-enzyme Q10 may be helpful in
regulating cellular metabolism and minimising free-radical damage to
blood vessels.
Diabetes has been associated with a
deficiency of vitamin B3 (Niacin) and a supplement of 2 - 3 g./day may
be useful in reducing the requirement for insulin in both type I and
type II diabetes. It is especially effective when combined with
eicosapentanoic and gamma linolenic acids and with chromium.
A supplement of vanadium to 7 mg./day
may be useful but use with caution because the therapeutic dose is close
to the toxic dose.
Diabetics tend to accumulate iron in
their body which is possibly one reason why they are prone to various
infections. There is also a danger of developing hemosiderosis so iron
supplements should be avoided.
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