Diabetes

Can you please explain a little about diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition of pancreatic insufficiency. The pancreas is unable to secrete enough insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar (Glucose) level, leading to high blood sugar levels and irregularities. Another reason is that the body cells do not properly respond to the insulin which is produced (insulin sensitivity). Insulin is a hormone which enables the cells to absorb glucose yielded from foods, it acts as the transporter to get glucose into the cell to be used as energy. If the cells are defective in absorbing the glucose, the glucose accumulates in the body, this is called hyperglycemia or “sweet blood”.

A person is regarded as having diabetes if their blood sugar concentration is greater than 140 mg per deciliter after an overnight fast (12-14 hours). Excess amounts of sugar in the blood will flow over into the urine and also cause other complications to the circulation causing neuropathies (diseases of the nervous system) and impaired immune function.

There are a few forms of diabetes, these are:

Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin resulting in the patient needing to inject insulin. It is characterised by destruction of the insulin secreting Beta cells (Islets of Langerhans) of the pancreas, this condition is linked to genetics and autoimmune complications (the immune system destroys the Beta cells).
Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. This is the more common type of diabetes and can be predominantly controlled via diet.
Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 diabetes if not properly addressed.
Pre-diabetics are individuals which have blood glucose levels which are higher than what is considered normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This pre-diabetic condition raises the risk factor of developing type 2 diabetes.
Hyperinsulinemia is when there is too much insulin detected in the blood, it is not diabetes persay but may lead to type 2 diabetes if not managed, it may be caused by a tumor of the pancreas. The increased amounts of insulin produced in the pancreas may be caused by insulin resistance, when the body does not register that there is insulin present in the blood and sends feedback messages to the pancreas to produce more insulin. This may cause hypoglycemia in many people.
Metabolic syndrome (also known as Syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome) is an abnormality in which type 2 diabetes (insulin resistant) or hyperinsulinemia is present. This causes the tissues to stop responding to insulin and again feedback messages are sent to the pancreas to produce more insulin. This in turn causes ineffective sugar metabolism and poor utilisation of glucose. This condition often has other complications which may be a contributing factor such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, increased weight size, high amounts of stress hormones (cortisol) and an increase in inflammatory responses.

Symptoms of diabetes:

Blurred vision
Irritability and shakiness when hungry
Increased thirst and frequent urination
Extreme fatigue
Slow healing of wounds
Thrush or urinary tract infections
Weight loss
Constant hunger
Ketoacidosis or a low blood pH due to accumulation of ketones in the blood. Ketones are a by product of metabolising fat in the digestive process when fat stores are used for a fuel source in energy production instead of carbohydrates.

Risk factors for diabetes:

Age
Family history
Pregnancy
Ethnic background
Viruses
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Antibodies or autoimmune diseases

Diabetes can cause further complications:

Kidney disease or failure
Cardiovascular and circulation complications
Fatigue
Neuropathies (nervous system disorders), anxiety, nerve damage, agitation, irritability, difficulty in concentrating
Blindness
Heart disease
Infections and foot ulcers
Acidosis
Chronic dehydration
Seizures and coma

Guidelines, tips and diet to help balance blood sugar levels:

Eating a good breakfast will make it easier for your body to balance blood sugar levels throughout the day. Try to combine a small portion of protein with complex carbohydrates - for example unsweetened muesli with yoghurt and nuts, or whole grain toast and egg. The protein content helps to slow the release of sugars into your blood stream. This helps to maintain a more consistent level of energy throughout the morning and avoid the sugar lows. It's fine to eat your fave fruits as long as you combine them with some protein such as nuts and yoghurt. Or put them in a smoothie. In fact, the majority of your food intake should be from fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are cleansing to the system and provide the best nutrients for your baby. Also include whole grain foods and quality protein sources (such as almonds, fish, and organic dairy products).
Reduce all simple sugars in all forms such as lollies, cakes, sweets, biscuits, soft drinks etc. (Hint: When reading labels, look for words ending in -ose, such as glucose, maltose, lactose as these are all forms of sugar).
The mineral Chromium supports the pancreas to produce insulin (which draws sugar into the cells) to ultimately balance blood sugar levels. Chromium is a nutrient which many people have a deficiency of due to it being used by the body in high amounts and is not at optimal levels in the soil or foods we eat. Chromium is a trace mineral which is depleted in Australian soils due to over farming practices, and eating a diet high in refined foods further depletes the body’s levels. Many people who are diabetic have low stores of chromium even though only small amounts are needed for proper body metabolism. Chromium is an important nutrient for the management of blood sugar levels because it is needed by the pancreas to produce insulin which helps to regulate blood sugar levels, it is also needed for carbohydrate metabolism which is a common weakness in diabetics. The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of this mineral is around 200mcg/ day and a therapeutic range is up to 600mcg/ day. Clinical trials have been performed on adults administering 1000-2000mcg per day of Chromium with no adverse effects.
Maintaining a healthy body weight, keeping a regular exercise routine, eating healthy foods and minimising simple and refined sugars in your diet may reduce the possibility of pancreas and insulin insufficiency in the future.
A diet which high in fiber, low in saturated fats and low in concentrated sugars (foods which have a high Glycemic Index).
Reduce your consumption of fructose, simple sugars, transfatty acids (bakery foods, fatty foods and deep fried foods), artificial sweetners (sorbitol and aspartame).
A low glycemic index diet may help to control diabetes and reduce high blood sugar levels. Low GI foods are foods with a glycemic index of below 50 and help to better stabilise the blood sugar because they don’t contain high amounts of simple sugars. If you wish to have a list of foods and their GI value, go to the following website: www.lowglycemicdiet.com/gifoodlist.html
The minerals Magnesium, Zinc and Vanadium may help to control blood sugar levels, consider taking a colloidal mineral formulation as it will contain the trace minerals you may be depleted in.
Gymnema is like the herbal equivelant of the mineral Chromium. It has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine to treat what the Indians refer to as madhu meha meaning "honey urine". In other words it can be used in the treatment of Diabetes 1 and 2 as it appears to lower serum glucose. Another effect of Gymnema is taste alteration. After taking Gymnema, sugar products tend to lose their taste and this helps to lower sugar cravings which may assist in helping to maintain balanced blood sugar levels by removing the urge for sugar bingeing.
B Vitamin complex containing Biotin and Lipoic acid may help to restore function to the pancreatic cells (Islets of Langerham), reduce destruction of these cells and improve blood sugar regulation.
Eating small meals regularly can help to maintain blood sugar levels during the day, blood sugar levels are typically highest one to two hours after a meal. Not overeating means that the body is better able to regulate blood sugar levels without being overloaded.
A balanced diet means not depending on carbohydrates only for an energy source. A diet high in carbohydrates means the body will need to produce more insulin which can cause dysglyemia (sugar irregularities) as well as energy slumping an hour or so after eating. Foods that contain carbohydrates are grains, pasta, rice, crackers, cereals, legumes, cakes, sweets, deserts, potatoes, corn, peas, starchy vegetables and squash.
Beta glycans and fibers may help to better regulate blood sugar levels.
Other herbs which help to maintain blood sugars and improve pancreatic health are: Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Flaxseed, Korean Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng and Stevia.
Regular exercise is an important part of reducing diabetes as physical activity moves sugar from the blood into the cells and helps to reduce insulin resistance and stabilising blood sugar levels. It is important to get professional guidance when treating diabetes. The management of diabetes is a life time commitment to monitoring blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy diet and weight, healthy exercise regime and injecting insulin if necessary (type 1 diabetes), these changes may help to improve glycemic (blood sugar) control and prevent or at least minimise further complications associated with diabetes. Responsible self monitoring of glucose levels is best practice and regular consultations with a Health care professional will ensure you are getting the best treatment and support necessary.