| Improper nutrition does contribute to the | | | | blurred or completely impaired. As the eye |
| development of diabetes, but proper nutrition can | | | | continues to get damaged, the eye will attempt |
| be a powerful treatment for this disease. (1) This | | | | to repair itself by growing new vessels. These |
| disease is so closely related to diet and nutrition; | | | | new vessels are fragile and can burst. Scar tissue |
| scientists have studied how nutritional supplements | | | | can form and cause the retina to pull away from |
| can effectively treat diabetes. In researching | | | | the eye, worst case causing blindness. (3,4) |
| vitamin supplements, researchers have found that | | | | Blood vessels network throughout the entire |
| many vitamins and herbs can effectively help | | | | body. Your kidneys are made up of vessels and |
| lower blood sugar. Some of these supplements | | | | can become damaged as well. If the vessels in |
| are vitamin C, B vitamins, minerals like chromium | | | | the kidneys become impaired, waste cannot be |
| and vanadyl sulfate, and herbs like Gymnema | | | | eliminated from the body and a form of |
| Sylvestre can all help lower blood sugar. If one | | | | treatment called dialysis might be required. If blood |
| combines these supplements together, they can | | | | sugar is not kept under control, damage to the |
| synergistically work together to lower blood sugar. | | | | kidneys will continue to the point where a |
| First let's look at what diabetes is and then we | | | | transplant might be needed or daily dialysis is |
| can discuss how these supplements work. | | | | required to remove waste from the bloodstream. |
| The foods we eat are digested and broken down | | | | The good news is practically all of the |
| into simpler forms; most carbohydrates are | | | | complications that occur with diabetes can be |
| broken down into sugar also known as glucose. | | | | prevented when the right care is taken. |
| These sugars are absorbed through the intestinal | | | | With proper diet and nutrition one can successfully |
| tract into the bloodstream where it is circulated | | | | prevent diabetic complications. Along with diet and |
| through out the body to feed cells. | | | | nutrition, vitamins, minerals and herbs can also help |
| Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas. | | | | lower blood sugar and reduce the complications |
| The pancreas is a long skinny organ that sits | | | | that may occur. The best kind of supplement is |
| behind the stomach adding enzymes into the | | | | one that combines vitamins and herbs together |
| digested food. Insulin helps deliver nutrients and | | | | so that they work together synergistically to |
| sugar from the bloodstream into cells where it is | | | | effectively lower blood sugar. You might be |
| needed. The sugar supplies energy to various | | | | wondering what vitamins, minerals and herbs are |
| organs such as the heart and lungs; for example | | | | good for blood sugar, your in luck here is a list: |
| the heart beats and lungs breathe which keep us | | | | Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-6, Folic Acid, |
| alive as a result of sugar's energy supply. (2,3) | | | | Vitamin B-12, Biotin, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, |
| There are two classes of diabetes type I and | | | | Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Gymnema |
| type II. Type I diabetes is sometimes called insulin | | | | Sylvestre, Bitter melon, Fenugreek seed extract, |
| dependent, juvenile or child onset diabetes. This | | | | Bilberry berry extract, Bioflavonoids, and Vanadyl |
| type usually starts at a very early age and the | | | | Sulfate. Make sure most of these ingredients are |
| pancreas stops producing insulin. When the body | | | | in the formula you buy. The frequency at which |
| does not make insulin, the sugar stays in the | | | | you take these supplements should be listed on |
| bloodstream instead of going into the cells where | | | | the bottle you buy as well. As a rule of thumb |
| it's needed. This can be fatal, so a person with | | | | they should be taken at least twice a day. Do not |
| type I diabetes needs a shot of insulin every day | | | | stop taking your normal multiple vitamin |
| for his/her body to function properly (to stay | | | | supplement; diabetic formulas are a complement |
| alive). | | | | to what you currently take not a replacement. |
| Type II diabetes usually starts in adults and is the | | | | Vitamin C (ascorbic Acid) – keeps diabetics |
| most common kind of diabetes in America. Most | | | | blood vessels and kidneys healthy. Vitamin C |
| people who have diabetes have type II, that's | | | | works with vitamin E to get sugar out of the |
| about 90% -95% of all diabetics in America. In | | | | blood stream and into the cells. |
| this type of diabetes, the pancreas is producing | | | | Vitamin E (Natural Tocopherols) – helps |
| enough insulin but the body doesn't use the insulin | | | | prevent nerve damage, helps prevent kidney |
| effectively. This is called insulin resistance, cells in | | | | damage, blindness, and heart attack. Vitamin E |
| the body do not respond to the insulin and so the | | | | works with the B vitamins to help keep the |
| pancreas produces more and more insulin to over | | | | pancreas healthy. |
| compensate this resistance. When blood sugar | | | | Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine HCL) – works with |
| starts to raise in the bloodstream in this manner, | | | | folic acid to help prevent nerve damage and heart |
| the medical doctor (MD) will diagnose type II | | | | attack. |
| diabetes. Most type II diabetics need a | | | | Folic Acid – works with B-12 to help prevent |
| prescription drug to lower the blood sugar | | | | stroke and the loss of limbs due to diabetic |
| because a diet change isn't enough to control their | | | | complications. |
| blood sugar problem. (4) | | | | Vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) – works with |
| In both cases, the blood sugar is too high in the | | | | B-6 and folic acid to help relieve neuropathic pain. |
| bloodstream and will cause several problems. The | | | | Biotin – helps insulin work better and helps |
| first problem is cells cannot absorb sugar for | | | | keep the pancreas working well to lower blood |
| energy; they starve and start to die. Secondly an | | | | sugar. |
| excess amount of sugar in the blood leads to | | | | Magnesium (Krebs Cycle Chelate) – helps |
| cardiovascular disease, hardening of the arteries, | | | | insulin work more effectively and relieves |
| nerve and eye damage, and kidney damage. | | | | neuropathic pain. |
| Scientists are not exactly sure what causes type | | | | Zinc (picolinate, chelate) – helps insulin work |
| I diabetes, but they do know it has something to | | | | better and helps shuttle blood sugar into cells. |
| do with the immune system. A healthy immune | | | | Selenium (aspartate) – helps prevent nerve |
| system protects us from the common cold and | | | | damage and protects blood vessels against |
| cancer cells (cells in the body that go bad). The | | | | elevated blood sugar. Selenium mimics insulin |
| immune system can becomes confused and | | | | helping blood sugar into the cells. |
| starts attacking good cells, in some cases, the | | | | Copper (picolinate) – helps protect the cells |
| healthy cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, | | | | that produce insulin in the pancreas. Also, copper |
| which causes diabetes. (4) | | | | helps prevent diabetes-related damage to blood |
| Type II diabetes has been linked to individuals | | | | vessels and nerves, and lowers blood sugar levels. |
| who are overweight. These overweight individuals | | | | Manganese – helps prevent damage to nerves |
| have high blood pressure and high cholesterol as | | | | and blood vessels. |
| well which may also lead to this form of diabetes. | | | | Chromium (picolinate) – works with biotin to |
| Being overweight causes the body to become | | | | help bring down blood sugar and keeps the |
| insulin resistant and by dropping some excess | | | | pancreas working well. |
| weight one could possibly reverse type II diabetes | | | | Gymnema Sylvestre leaf extract – helps |
| (rare). | | | | balance blood sugar and may protect us from |
| If you think you have diabetes, you should look | | | | gaining weight. |
| for the following symptoms. Type I diabetics | | | | Bitter melon whole fruit extract – helps |
| usually have frequent urination because of the | | | | pathways in the liver work more efficiently; |
| high blood sugar; the kidneys are trying to balance | | | | lowers blood sugar levels. |
| the body's bloodstream. The kidneys are forced | | | | Fenugreek seed extract – helps our kidneys |
| to eliminate all the unused nutrients and sugar in | | | | and liver metabolize blood sugar more efficiently. |
| the blood over working the kidneys and if left | | | | Bilberry berry extract – helps reduce the |
| unchecked can lead to kidney damage. If you | | | | severity of diabetic cataracts. |
| experience intense thirst, your body is trying to | | | | Mixed bioflavonoids – helps protect vitamin C |
| replace the liquids lost from frequent urination. You | | | | and E from becoming damaged. Helps clear and |
| may experience increased hunger but you will not | | | | sharpen vision in diabetics. |
| gain weight when you do eat more. This is | | | | Vanadyl sulfate – helps muscle and liver cells |
| because your body's cells need more nutrients, | | | | use insulin more effectively. |
| but since these cells can not absorb the insulin and | | | | These supplements will not lower your blood |
| nutrients the body starves. | | | | sugar too much, but help bring them down to a |
| With type II diabetes you might not notice any | | | | more normal level. Diabetes is a disease that |
| symptoms. Type II diabetes usually happens very | | | | needs to be monitored daily several times |
| gradually and the person doesn't know about it till | | | | throughout the day. When you start taking a |
| diabetic complications occur, then it's too late. (3,4) | | | | diabetic supplement to help equalize your blood |
| All diabetic complications are caused from high | | | | sugar, monitor your sugar levels more often at |
| blood sugar. The longer the blood sugar goes | | | | first so you can get a feel for where you sugar |
| unchecked the greater your chances of having | | | | levels come down to before taking more insulin. A |
| complications. High blood sugar causes | | | | normal range of blood sugar for diabetics before |
| cardiovascular disease. The blood vessels begin to | | | | a meal is 70 – 150 (1,2,5) and ideally 70 – |
| thicken from excess fat in the bloodstream | | | | 120. |
| because high blood sugar elevates the fat | | | | The diabetic formula you may take for lowering |
| circulating in the blood. When the vessels thicken | | | | blood sugar is by no means a license to eat any |
| circulation becomes poor and with poor circulation | | | | way you want. You still need to eat healthy and |
| your ability to heal is impaired. Heart attack, heart | | | | see your health practitioner on a regular basis. |
| pain, and stroke are common in diabetics because | | | | Diabetes might make you feel overwhelmed, |
| of poor circulation and blocked arteries form all | | | | especially if you have recently been diagnosed |
| the fat buildup in the blood vessels. | | | | with it. With proper exercise, diet, and vitamin |
| Nerve damage is another complication of diabetes. | | | | supplements you can be well on your way to a |
| Diabetics may notice numbness in their arms and | | | | lower more manageable blood sugar level, and live |
| legs because of nerve damage caused from high | | | | a longer healthier life. |
| blood sugar. These nerves can not send signals to | | | | References: |
| the brain relaying pain and touching sensations. | | | | 1. American Diabetes Association. In the news. |
| Most diabetics will notice numbness in the feet and | | | | Available at: Accessed on December 10, 2001. |
| lower legs before other parts of the body are | | | | 2. Guven S, Kuenzi J. Diabetes mellitus. In: Porth |
| effected. (3,4) | | | | CM. Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health |
| The next complication is eye damage. A more | | | | States. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 1998: |
| sever complication because going blind is not | | | | 810-830. |
| pleasant for anyone. The eye has very small | | | | 3. Guyton AC, Hall JE. Diabetes mellitus. In: |
| delicate vessels in the retina, these vessels help | | | | Textbook of Medical Physiology. 10th Ed. |
| you see when light shines upon them in the eye. | | | | Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company;2000: . |
| When blood vessels are weakened, they can | | | | 4. Grodner M, Anderson SL, DeYoung S. Diabetes |
| hemorrhage and leak fluid into the eye. This | | | | mellitus. In: Foundations and Clinical Applications of |
| causes swelling and blurs the vision. There is a | | | | Nutrition: A Nursing Approach. St. Louis, Mo: |
| clear gel in the eye keeping it solid and round, if | | | | Mosby; 2000:540-548. |
| blood leaks into this gel, your vision can become | | | | |