Natural Cures For Diabetes

Most people think of sugar as a sweet, white powder we stir in our coffee or tea. But if you are among the 10 million to 12 million or more Americans with adult-onset diabetes mellitus–many of whom are undiagnosed–this sweet stuff is a source of danger.

The problem is not so much sugar as insulin, a human protein hormone that’s critical in helping the body use sugar. In Type 1 diabetes, the type that usually becomes evident in childhood or young adulthood, the pancreas cannot produce insulin or cannot produce nearly enough. Symptoms include intense thirst, frequent urination, and rapid weight loss. Type 1 diabetes can eventually damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves, and lead to coma and death. It can be controlled by regular doses of insulin in the proper amounts. Keeping the precarious balance between insulin dosage and sugar intake is one of the major challenges faced by people with Type 1 diabetes.

Type II diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes, is a bit more complex. It usually doesn’t appear until the early to mid forties, although the stage may be set for the disease many years earlier. In some cases it can resemble Type I diabetes and stem from inadequate production of insulin in the pancreas. In most cases, however, the problem is not a simple lack of insulin, but a defect in the receptors for insulin in the cell walls of fat and muscle tissue and the liver.

Basically, the usual transfer of glucose–a major energy source for the body–into these organs just doesn’t work right. Doctors call this problem insulin resistance. And it means you can have elevated blood glucose despite normal or elevated levels of insulin. Symptoms of Type II diabetes may not appear for years or decades. When insulin deficiency or resistance increases, it results in increased thirst and urination that may worsen over a period of weeks. If blood-sugar levels zoom, someone with diabetes may develop severe dehydration, which can lead to confusion,drowsiness, and seizures.

Long-term complications of Type II diabetes are similar to those of Type I, but include high incidence of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. So it’s worth it to have your doctor monitor your blood-sugar levels as you age.

It’s interesting that before the advent of insulin and oral hypoglycemics, herbal medicines were often used to help treat diabetes. Goat’s rue (Galega officinalis), which had been used by European herbalists for centuries, contains guanidine, which is now used as a chemical precursor to the modern drug metformin. Unfortunately, goat’s rue itself is too toxic for regular use.

There are, however, many safe botanical medicines that are helpful in managing Type II diabetes or the blood-sugar problems that can lead up to the condition. They don’t meant that you can discontinue insulin or other drugs without consulting your doctor.

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects all of the body’s systems. The wisest course is to incorporate herbal medicines with your doctor’s approval and monitor your responses carefully.

Herbal Remedies

Gymnema (Gymnema slyvestre)

This Ayurvedic remedy is probably one of the most common herbs used to treat diabetes. Gymnemic acid, a component of the herb, acts directly on the tongue to block its ability to sense sweetness. This action can help you forgo the sweet treats that may be aggravating the condition. But it occurs only when the herb is chewed or placed on the tongue before eating, not when gymnema is taken in pill or capsule form.

Gymnema also appears to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin and to enhance the activity of insulin. Consequently, it can be helpful in both Type I and Type II diabetes. It can be taken along with hypoglycemic medication; some patients find they can eventually stop taking the drugs. Typical dosage: 400 milligrams of capsules per day.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Ancient Greek and Roman herbalists used this spice to treat diabetes. Modern research has shown that fenugreek seeds not only lower blood glucose but also reduce insulin levels, total cholesterol, and triglycerides while increasing HDL (the “good” cholesterol). Fenugreek seeds also contain up to 50 percent fiber, which is a clue to how they work in diabetes: the fiber in the seed slows down the rate at which food is emptied from the stomach. This in turn delays absorption of glucose from the small intestine, resulting in lower blood sugar. Many nutritional experts believe that all people with diabetes should make fenugreek seeds a regular part of their diets. Typical dosage: for non-insulin-dependent diabetes, as little as 5,000 milligrams of powdered seed per day. For severe or insulin-dependent diabetes, up to 5,000 milligrams (50 grams) twice per day. Caution: May produce flatulence.

Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)

Also known as bitter gourd or balsam pear, this fruit is cultivated in many tropical countries, where it is widely used as a folk remedy for diabetes. Clinical studies in India have verified bitter melon’s benefits. It contains several phytochemicals that appear to act in ways similar to sulfonyurea drugs, without the side effects. Bitter melon also contains compounds that are close chemical relatives of insulin. Typical dosage: 3 tablespoons to 6 fluid ounces per day. For those who can’t tolerate the juice, a standardized extract may soon be available. Caution: The sees and fruits rind are poisonous. Excessive amounts of the juice (more than double the recommended dosage) may cause delayed nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hypoglycemia. It’s best to use bitter melon under the guidance of a licensed professional.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)

The fruit of this bush is a rich source of the bluish pigments called anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, two of the many types of flavonoids. Flavonoids are well-known for their beneficial effects on capillaries. Since one of the main complications of long-term diabetes is damage to the small blood vessels of the eyes, the kidneys, and the tips of the toes and fingers, bilberry and other proanthocyanidin-containing herbs are often recommended for diabetes. Typical dosage: 80 to 160 milligrams of capsules standardized to contain 25 percent anthocyanidins per day.

Grapeseed Extract (Vitis vinifera)

Another rich source of anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, grapeseed extract has the same benefits for people with diabetes as bilberry. Typical dosage: 100 to 300 milligrams of proanthocyanidin content per day.

Getting off the Sugar Roller-Coaster

For both types of diabetes, diet is an important part of treatment–perhaps the most important. But, it’s also quite complex and individualized. Foods that cause blood-sugar problems in one person may provoke different reactions in other. In addition, experts disagree about what constitutes an optimal diet. There are shelves of books that discuss recommended and forbidden foods for diabetes in great detail.

For a person with Type I diabetes who is dependent on insulin, meals must be eaten on a regimented schedule. Food portions and calories must be monitored in a precise fashion so the proper dose of insulin can be determined. Blood glucose must also be measured frequently to assess the adequacy of control. For some people, known as “brittle diabetes,” a few extra bites of food can make the difference between a normal level of blood sugar and one that is out of control.

For many years,conventional wisdom targeted dietary fat as the biggest “hidden” health risk for people with Type II diabetes. Dietary carbohydrates weren’t considered as important. Because ingestion of sugars and starches immediately raises blood sugar, doctors and nutritionists reasoned that people with diabetes could safely eat all the carbohydrates they wanted as long as they compensated by taking more insulin. Another assumption was that complex carbohydrates (starches) are preferable to simple sugars because they are absorbed more slowly, causing a slower rise in blood sugar. Newer research is showing that insulin is not a benign substance. In excessive amounts, insulin can raise cholesterol, increase body fat, and raise blood pressure. If this is true, it means people who have diabetes must not only restrict dietary fat, but also closely monitor their intake of both simple and complex carbohydrates.

Dietary recommendations for people with non-insulin-dependent, Type II diabetes are even more controversial. For many years, the standard advice given was to eat a low-fat, high-starch, moderate-protein diet. But several studies indicated that the large amounts of starch in this type of diet can raise insulin levels above normal, worsening the condition. This tends to be confirmed by anthropological studies that suggest pre-agricultural, hunter-gatherer humans had fewer cases of diabetes and heart disease. They consumed much higher amounts of protein, obtained from wild game and nuts, healthful fats from the same sources, and minimal amounts of grains and other carbohydrates. Of course, the usual sources of “junk” calories in the typical Western diet find a place in neither group’s recommendations; you won’t find double-chocolate-chip cookies on either list.

The Body fat Connection

Since obesity clearly contributes to the majority of the chronic health problems experienced by people with diabetes, experts do agree on the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and monitoring your total percentage of body fat. They recommend between 22 percent and 24 percent in women and 15 percent to 17 percent in men. The best method for doing so is a program of regular exercise.