When we eat, our
bodies break down the proteins, carbohydrates and fats we consume to be used as
the building blocks of our bodies. Carbohydrates, such as those found in bread,
pasta, rice, potatoes and cereals are first digested and converted into simple
sugars in the intestines and then move from the intestines into the
bloodstream. These simple sugars are our body’s first choice for energy
production.
Glucose and Insulin
Glucose,
a form of simple sugar is the basic fuel the body uses for energy. In order for
our bodies to utilize this sugar however, it must be transported across the
cell membrane where it can be used to feed and fuel our cells. Insulin, a
hormone secreted by the pancreas, and more specifically by the islets of
Langerhans, which are scattered throughout the pancreas, stimulates our body’s
cells to absorb sugar, thus removing it from the blood stream.
When our bodies cannot properly utilize glucose, thus causing it
to stay in the blood, we are diagnosed as having diabetes. Diabetes is a
disorder which disrupts the mechanism by which the body controls blood sugar.
The build-up of sugar in the blood, characterized by diabetes, can cause the
cells of our bodies to be starved for glucose and can, if left unchecked, lead
to damage of the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.
Types of Diabetes
·
Insulin dependent
(Type 1 diabetes)
·
Non-insulin dependent
(Type 2 diabetes)
Juvenile Diabetes
Type
1 diabetes, is often referred to as juvenile or childhood-onset diabetes. Here,
the pancreas cannot make the insulin needed by the body to process glucose. For
individuals with Type 1 diabetes, while natural therapies may help the body be
more receptive to insulin, they require regular injections of insulin to
maintain health.
Adult-Onset Diabetes
On
the other hand, individuals with Type 2 or Adult-onset diabetes, their bodies
produce varying amounts of insulin, but more often then not, the ability of
their body’s' cells to absorb sugar is diminished. While there are
"classic" warning signs that often accompany diabetes, i.e.,
excessive thirst, excessive hunger, excessive urination, excessive tiredness,
and unexplained weight loss, many people with type 2 diabetes do not have these
symptoms.
Diabetes Risk Factors
Individuals
who are at a greater risk include people who are: over age 40, are overweight,
have a family history of diabetes, have had diabetes during pregnancy, have
high blood pressure or high blood fats, have the stress of an illness or
injury, are a member of a high-risk ethnic group such as African-American,
Hispanic, American Indian and Asian. For these individuals, natural therapies
tend to work well.
Managing Diabetes Naturally
Recommendations
for Wellness
Reduce your consumption of starchy foods that are high in carbohydrates
such as bread, potatoes, processed cereals, rice or that have a high glycemic
index rating. The Glycemic Index is a system that ranks foods based on how they affect your
levels of blood sugar.
1. Consume a high fiber, whole foods diet and
work to eliminate preprocessed junk foods from your eating regimen.
2. Start an exercise program! In most cases,
weight reduction can help those with type 2 diabetes. In addition to decreasing
body fat, regular exercise has been show to improve insulin sensitivity.
3. Dietary fiber, such as psyllium has been show to improve glucose
tolerance in some studies.
4. Incorporate brewer’s yeast or a chromium
supplement into your health program. Chromium helps improve glucose tolerance by increasing our body’s
sensitivity to insulin.
5. Supplement with vitamins and minerals such as
vitamin B, Vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium and zinc. Individuals with diabetes
tend to have low levels of these important nutrients in their blood. In
addition, these supplements have been shown to help to reduce damage to the eyes,
nerves and kidneys - health problems that are often experienced by people with
advanced or long term diabetes.
7. Evidence suggests that supplementation with
vitamin D can increase insulin levels in some people.
8. The herb Nopal (prickly pear cactus) can help
to strengthen the liver and the pancreas thereby improving our body’s ability
to utilize insulin.
9. Some sources recommend that you avoid the
amino acid cysteine which has been reported to break down insulin and interfere
with sugar absorption.
10. Stevia, a naturally sweet plant makes an excellent sugar substitute
without the drawbacks of sugar. Stevia can be used in cooking as well. Visit
your local health food store or look online for cookbooks that utilize stevia
in place of sugar.
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