Healthcare, Health Insurance, Vitamins, Nutrition

The word diabetes is rooted in from a Greek word meaning to “siphon or pass through”. In the diagnosis of diabetes it is often considered a nutritional disorder, a characteristic of having abnormally high blood-sugar levels and the subsequent secretion of that excess in the urine. The disease can result from a absolute lack or reduced production of insulin which leads to abnormalities in the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein.

Two different types of diabetes are commonly diagnosed. Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile onset diabetes, the body ceases production of insulin or produces less than required to regulate the level of blood glucose.

Type 2 diabetes, when the body is not able to use the insulin that is secreted by the pancreas. It is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes.

There is a third type of diabetes called gestational diabetes that occurs during the second half of pregnancy and ends with the birth of the baby.

Many people who suffer from type 2 diabetes contribute to their bodies to use insulin more efficaciously by making simple changes to their lifestyle. Some of those changes include decreasing their intake of carbohydrates and increasing the amount of exercise each day. Exercise aids the cells by enabling them to absorb more insulin from the bloodstream and thus maintain a normal blood glucose level.

Because the pharmaceutical industry is so competitive, medications and drugs sometimes slip through the Federal Drug Administration research process. Thus some drugs can be supplied to the general public which can have undue side effects or cause damage to other organs in the body. As a result, many people are inclined to look at natural remedies for diabetes as a means of bolstering their medication program or attempting to replace their medication entirely.

Today, diabetes affects over 170 million people around the world and that number increases each and every year. Left untreated, diabetes will lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, blindness and some joint problems. Individuals will lose circulation to their referral tissues meaning their fingers and toes, and leading to amputation.

Checking the disease can often be a matter of losing weight, exercising and improving your diet. Persons afflicted with diabetes often find that increased protein intake assists in the repair of cell membranes. They should also reduce their intake of sugar and increase their intake of complex carbohydrates, but not simple carbohydrates.

Diabetics may also find that using other natural remedies will assist in the control of their blood sugar even further. One of those remedies is Ginseng. Although there are several different types of ginseng most of the promising studies have been made using North American ginseng. These studies have shown that over a lengthy time, ginseng may improve blood sugar control.

The diabetic drug Acarbose decreases the breakdown of starch (carbohydrates) to sugar. Recent research has shown that the pericarp of the Mangosteen fruit contains a nutrient that works exactly the same way in our bodies as the drug Acarbose. It is recommended that diabetics take the Mangosteen one to three hours before their largest meal or with the meal.

The metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, requires an essential trace element, chromium. Several studies have revealed that diabetics have low levels of chromium in their blood. Presently, further study is still needed to prove that using chromium supplementation will be an effective way of controlling blood sugar for a diabetic.

Further studies by other researchers have also found that chromium improves glycemic control in individuals who have insulin-dependent diabetes. So although the research may be varied it does point to the need for on-going research into the inclusion of chromium in the treatment of diabetes.

Another essential mineral that is found naturally in foods such as nuts, seeds and whole grains, is magnesium. Researchers have found that individuals need magnesium for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Some studies suggest that low levels of magnesium can make glycemic control difficult in individuals who have type 2 diabetes.

Studies have also found that the use of cinnamon will improve glucose in blood control. In these studies the improvements were slight but statistically important.

It is essential for people who suffer from diabetes, not to ignore the liabilities. Lifestyle changes and their potential lifespan will be greatly affected. The care and advice of your healthcare practitioner is most important when you consider treatment protocols for your diabetes.