Cause: Unknown. Type 2 may be caused by obesity.

Useful Supplements: Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Carnitine, Chromium, Coenzyme Q10, Evening Primrose Oil, Inositol, Magnesium, Taurine, Vanadium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc.

Useful Herbs: Aloe Vera, Asian ginseng, Bitter Melon, Gymnema.

Further information: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which is caused by the body’s inability to produce adequate insulin supplies. This results in high blood sugar, which can cause dizziness, visual problems, and heart conditions.

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when the pancreas stops producing insulin (the chemical needed by the body to process foods and sugars into energy). Type 1 diabetes (also called Juvenile Diabetes) accounts for about 10% of all diagnosed diabetes, and is treated via insulin injections. In addition, a low-sugar diet is recommended.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a number of factors: pancreas not producing enough insulin, liver producing too much glucose (sugar), or body cells not being receptive to insulin. This type of diabetes is quite common, and is usually treated by change in diet and lifestyle.

Diabetes is a very common disease. It becomes more common with age. Risk factors include people with a family history of diabetes, those who are overweight, and women who have suffered from gestational diabetes (diabetes which occurs during, and is related to, pregnancy).

The cause of diabetes is unknown. Certain factors appear to increase one’s susceptibility to it, however. In addition to the risk factors listed above, environmental events (such as a virus, a vaccination, or shock) may be the trigger for Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes appears to be more related to obesity and inactivity.

While eating large amounts of sugar does NOT cause diabetes, it can lead to obesity, which can in turn cause type 2 diabetes.

Eating natural, non-processed foods is helpful in the day-to-day treatment of diabetes, and is recommended even with insulin treatment.

Some foods appear to be especially helpful in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. A vegetarian diet seems to help prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.¹ Completely vegan diets appear even more effective, and even help to reverse some of the problems related to diabetes.²

Part of the effectiveness of a vegetarian or vegan diet in the treatment of diabetes appears to be due to the low protein content of such diets. Lower protein intake appears to lower the risk of kidney damage caused by diabetes³ and to help improve glucose tolerance.⁴

High fiber foods – including fruit pectin⁵ and oat bran⁶ – improve glucose tolerance. Monounsaturated fats have also been shown to be effective in the treatment of diabetes.⁷

Fish appears to offer some protection against the onset of diabetes.⁸

One food’s effect on diabetes has been the cause of much discussion in the past several years: dairy. Countries with high milk consumption have higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes.⁹ Many studies have shown that children who develop Type 1 diabetes at an early age also started drinking milk early.¹⁰ It may be that milk intolerances trigger the onset of diabetes¹¹ but this is not certain.¹²

The most effective way to avoid Type 2 diabetes is through exercise and weight management. While excess weight does not prevent insulin formation¹³, it does appear to make the body less sensitive to insulin and its effects.¹⁴ Excess weight can put the body into a pre-diabetic state¹⁵ from which diabetes can quickly occur. Weight loss will reverse this situation, however.¹⁶

Smoking diabetics are at higher risk for heart disease¹⁷, kidney damage¹⁸, and other complications. In addition, smokers have a higher rate of diabetes than the general population.¹⁹

The following nutrients and herbs may be effective in the prevention and treatment of diabetes:

The antioxidant Alpha-Lipoic Acid, taken in a dose of 600 mg daily, has been shown to help improve nerve damage and reduce pain in diabetics.²⁰

Carnitine is used by the body to help turn fat into energy. Taken in a dose of 1 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight, it can drastically reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in as little as ten days.²¹ Higher doses (1 gram daily) may help reduce nerve damage caused by diabetics.²²

Chromium appears to improve glucose tolerance in animals.²³ In humans, it appears to increase sensitivity to insulin,²⁴ and to improve glucose processing in people with prediabetic glucose intolerance²⁵ or gestational diabetes.²⁶ Recommended dosage is anything from 200 mcg to 1000 mcg daily.²⁷

Coenzyme Q10, used for carbohydrate processing, often is effective in helping diabetics to lower their blood sugar levels.²⁸

Evening Primrose Oil supplements appear to help reverse diabetic nerve damage and decrease pain in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.²⁹

Inositol can help reverse nerve abnormalities related to diabetes.³⁰ A dose of 500 mg twice daily appears most effective.

Low Magnesium levels are very common in patients with diabetes.³¹ Magnesium supplementation appears to improve insulin production in Type 2 diabetics,³² and to decrease the amount of injected insulin needed by Type 1 diabetics.³³

The American Diabetes Association has acknowledged the "strong associations...between Magnesium deficiency and insulin resistance".³⁴ Daily supplementation of 300 to 400 mg is recommended.

The amino acid Taurine often is deficient in Type 1 diabetics. Supplementing with 1.5 grams daily helps to replenish the body’s supply and to correct blood viscosity problems caused by the deficiency.³⁵

Vanadium, taken as vanadyl sulfate, may help improve glucose control in Type 2 diabetics.³⁶ However, it usually needs to be taken in a high quantity to offer these effects, and its safety at these levels is untested.

Many diabetics, especially those with nerve damage,³⁷ have low blood levels of Vitamin B6.³⁸ B6 supplements appear especially effective in treatment of gestational diabetes.³⁹

Vitamin B12, taken orally (up to 500 mcg three times daily) or intravenously, reduces nerve damage caused by diabetes.⁴⁰

Biotin is another B vitamin needed in the production of glucose. Supplementation of biotin has been shown to reduce fasting glucose levels in diabetics by 50%.⁴¹ Biotin may also help to reduce pain caused by diabetes-related nerve damage.⁴²

Vitamin C levels have measured low in many diabetics.⁴³ It is suspected that Vitamin C helps the body to reduce glycolysation,⁴⁴ which is an abnormal attachment of sugars to proteins. It also lowers accumulation of the sugar sorbitol,⁴⁵ which can damage eyes and kidneys.

Low Vitamin E is also found in many diabetics.⁴⁶ Taking a supplement appears to improve glucose tolerance in both diabetics⁴⁷ and non-diabetics.⁴⁸ A dose of approximately 900 IU daily, taken for at least three months, is generally needed before any benefits are seen. Vitamin E also may be effective in reducing glycosylation.⁴⁹

Zinc deficiencies are common in Type 1 diabetics.⁵⁰ Zinc supplements have been shown to lower blood sugar levels in these patients.⁵¹ However, Type 1 diabetics should not supplement with Zinc without consulting their health professionals, as supplements may cause an increase in glycosylation.
Type 2 diabetics also have low Zinc levels.⁵² They are usually able to take supplements of up to 25 mg daily without any adverse effects.

Aloe Vera juice appears to help lower blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes. 1 tablespoon twice daily appears highly effective in improving the effectiveness of blood sugar lowering medications.⁵³

Asian ginseng is traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for diabetes. It encourages the pancreas to release insulin and increase the number of insulin receptors.⁵⁴ It also appears to directly lower blood sugar,⁵⁵ and helps improve energy levels in Type 2 diabetics.⁵⁶ It should not be taken by patients with high blood pressure.

Preliminary studies suggest that Bitter Melon – eaten whole,⁵⁷ as a juice,⁵⁸ or in extract form⁵⁹ -- may improve blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetics.

Gymnema helps the pancreas to increase insulin production for Type 2 diabetics. No controlled studies have been done. However preliminary research suggests that 400 mg taken daily can reduce the need for oral medications by Type 2 diabetics.⁶⁰ It may also decrease the amount of insulin needed by Type 1 diabetics.⁶¹ These changes should not be made without the assistance of a health care professional.

References:

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