Awareness, Prevention & Support

* Defeating diabetes
* Consequences of uncontrolled diabetes
* Understanding both types of diabetes

Also read: Diabetes Preventing Suggestions

Facts (sources CDC)
Eighty-six million Americans now have prediabetes—that’s 1 out of 3 adults! Of those 86 million, 9 out of 10 of them don’t even know they have it. Without intervention, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
With numbers like that, it’s important to learn about prediabetes and take action.

Having prediabetes means your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal-but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Prediabetes can often be reversed.

With type 2 diabetes, your body cannot properly use insulin (a hormone that helps glucose get into the cells of the body). You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, but you are at higher risk if you are older, overweight, have a family history of diabetes, are not physically active, or are a woman who had gestational diabetes.

Many people with prediabetes who do not change their lifestyle—by losing weight (if needed) and being more physically active—will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health issues such as:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Kidney failure
• Loss of toes, feet, or legs

In addition, some of the risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes-like being overweight and not being physically active-can make you feel sluggish and affect your mood. Positive lifestyle changes not only lower your risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, they can improve your overall well-being and the well-being of your family.

Defeating Diabetes
Reprinted from Sunshine Sharing

The herb industry is unsurpassed in its variety of single and combination herbs that treat diabetes. Herbal formulations help alleviate the symptoms of diabetes and the many complications that stem from this disease. Consider the following lineup of powerful nutritional supplements.

Single Herbs

Goldenseal   Goldenseal, known to many as a cure-all, was first used for its healing properties by NativeAmericans, who named this herb “yellow root” after its bright yellow color. To the diabetic, goldenseal’s ability to lower blood sugar levels is its most desirable feature, along with its effect as a natural form of insulin. In this way the pancreas is supported in its job to decrease high blood sugar levels due to goldenseal’s hypoglycemic properties. Goldenseal also treats many of the complications that come from diabetes. For instance, the alkaloids in goldenseal work as a natural antibiotic to fight infections. To treat cardiovascular problems, goldenseal strengthens the heart. Another health problem of this condition, excessive weight, can also be lessened by using goldenseal (when combined with healthy dietary practices). What’s more, goldenseal works with other herbs to treat eye conditions that stem from diabetes.

Add L-Acidophilus   Although goldenseal provides many positive effects for the body, this herb has negative effects on intestinal flora when used for long periods. Therefore, goldenseal should be used alternately with forms of friendly bacteria, such as lactobacillus acidophilus. Garlic, another herb that helps treat diabetes, contains allicin, a natural antibiotic that eliminates toxic bacteria, viruses, fungus, staphylococcus and E. Coli bacteria. Another component in garlic, selenium, helps treat arteriosclerosis. Well known for treating infection and circulatory problems, garlic also helps reduce high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol, fortifies blood vessels, removes toxins from the liver and all body systems and removes plaque from arterial walls.

Consequences of Uncontrolled Diabetes

The consequences of uncontrolled diabetes can affect all organ systems, from the skin to the heart to the sexual organs.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure
Diabetes can cause chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) reports diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure among Americans.

Heart Disease
According to NIDDK, people with diabetes have twice the risk of developing heart disease compared to people without diabetes.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (legs)
Persistently high blood glucose levels increase the risk peripheral arterial disease, or PAD. PAD most commonly causes symptoms in the legs. Partially blocked arteries cannot supply the leg muscles with the oxygen they require during physical activity, which causes pain. In severe cases, walking is limited because of pain.

Neuropathy
NIDDK states 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes develop some form of diabetic neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves in the extremities, especially the hands and feet. Symptoms include abnormal sensations such as tingling, burning, numbness or complete loss of feeling. Autonomic neuropathies affect the organs and cause abnormalities such as slowed stomach emptying and constipation, incomplete bladder emptying and decreased sexual response.

Eye Problems
People with diabetes are at substantially increased risk for serious eye problems that may threaten their vision, including retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Retinopathy is the most common of the vision-threatening eye diseases that develop in diabetics. Uncontrolled diabetic retinopathy may cause partial loss of vision or blindness. People with diabetes are also at greatly increased risk for cataracts and glaucoma compared to non-diabetics.

Understanding both types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Only 5-10% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.

With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children with type 1 diabetes can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy, happy lives.

• Frequent urination
• Unusual thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and Irritability

Type 2 (Most common)
In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications.

Type 2 Diabetes : symptoms

• Any of the type 1 symptoms
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
• Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

*Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms
Since weight is one of the major cause of diabetes, let's deal with it now!

1. Check your Body Mass Index
2. If weight is an issue visit this page

Herbal Combinations

Blood Sugar Formula - AyurVedic. The herbs in this combination have special qualities that aid the liver and pancreas in controlling blood sugar and diabetic tendencies. One of the major ingredients in this formula, gymnema sylvestre, blocks the taste and absorption of sugar without hampering pancreatic action. Not only this, but the need for insulin is also reduced, thereby requiring less from the pancreas. Other herbs in this formula help treat a variety of conditions that result from diabetes and its many complications. For example, this formula contains the herb enicostemma littorale, which reduces blood sugar, thus exhibiting a hypoglycemic action. This particular herb is also useful in treating kidney disorders, which also trouble diabetics. Finally, Blood Sugar Formula helps treat infections as well as cardiovascular and circulatory problems.

Other Nutritional Helps

Thiamin (Vitamin B1). (Aloe Vera Freeze Dried) This vitamin has helped diabetics who are unable to sleep due to pain or irritation in the feet. Daily dosages of 50-100 mg can help in one to two weeks

Vitamin C Citrus Bioflavonoids Vitamin C can keep hardening of the arteries in check. However, vitamin C can also give inaccurate urine test results. If you get dubious test results, avoid vitamin C for a few days and re-test.

Vitamin E Diabetics require a greater quantity of vitamin E for their body tissues, more so than non-diabetics. Vitamin E combined with lecithin supplements also improves a diabetic’s poor circulation.

Chromium GTF Critical for regulation of blood sugar. Insulin works with the GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor) molecule to regulate blood sugar levels by transporting glucose in cells.

Magnesium Magnesium deficiency is frequently found in the diet of diabetics, and supplying a diabetic with adequate amounts of this mineral can reduce convulsive muscle contractions and jerky movements. Another benefit of providing magnesium is the prevention and treatment of retinopathy, a common eye complication of diabetes. To assure plenty of magnesium in the diet, eat plenty of grains and nuts.

Fiber The major complications, kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, neuropathy can be avoided by keeping blood sugar levels at normal levels. One way to ensure this effect is adequate fiber in the diet. One form of fiber, guar gum, is an extract from the bean of a plant from India, which delays the surge of blood sugar levels after eating carbohydrates. Other foods rich in fiber include dried beans, spinach and broccoli.

When considering the amount of these nutrients that you should consume daily, check with a healthcare professional (such as a registered dietitian). Large doses of some nutrients can clash with medications or other supplements you may be taking for this condition. Investigate to be sure.

Sources
"NBS-AV" by Linden Wood in Nature's Field, A Journal of Holistic Healing .
Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen.
The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1989).
The Complete Book of Vitamins and Minerals (Rodale Press, Inc., 1992).
The How To Herb Book by Velma J. Keith and Monteen Gordon
The Natural Health Book by Dorothy Hall.
The Nutrition Desk Reference by Robert H. Garrison, Jr., M.A., R.Ph. and Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.
The Unauthorized Guide to NSP Products.

This information is for educational purposes only. Consult with a qualified health practictioner for all serious or persistant illness. Copyright © 1999 by Robinson & Horne, L.C., P.O. Box 1028, Roosevelt, UT 84066. This material may be duplicated for educational purposes only (not for resale) provided it is not altered in any way.