Diabetes
Information on diabetes is found in three parts:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
Part 3: Nutrients and Herbs
Part 2: Dietary and Lifestyle Changes Dietary changes that may be helpful: People with diabetes cannot properly process sugar. Although short-term high-sugar diets do not cause blood sugar problems for diabetics,1 2 3 sugar is not necessarily innocent. Research shows that sugar causes diabetes in animals.4
The fiber in carbohydrates helps protect against NIDDM. Most sugar comes from low-fiber foods, while high-fiber foods are often low in sugar. Therefore, eating more sugar usually means decreasing fiber—a mistake for diabetics. When whole foods, such as beans, whole raw fruit, and pasta, are compared with processed sugary foods, the high-sugar foods increase blood sugar more than the whole foods.5
Most doctors of natural medicine recommend that diabetics cut intake of sugar, such as snacks and processed foods. The best replacements for low-fiber, high-sugar foods (such as fruit juice) or starch (such as white bread) are high-fiber, whole foods.
High-fiber supplements, such as psyllium,6 guar gum (found in beans),7 pectin (from fruit),8 oat bran,9 and glucomannan,10 improve glucose tolerance. Good results are seen with the consumption of 1-3 ounces of powdered fenugreek seeds per day.11 12 Most,13 14 15 but not all, studies16 find high-fiber diets help diabetics. Focus should be placed on fruits, vegetables, seeds, oats, and whole-grain products, although psyllium and glucomannan supplements also help.
Eating fish also affords some protection from diabetes.17 Glucose tolerance improves in healthy people taking omega-3 fish oil supplements.18 Some studies find that omega-3 fish oil improves glucose tolerance,19 20 high triglycerides,21 and cholesterol levels in diabetics.22 However, others report that cholesterol increases23 and diabetes worsens with fish oil supplements24 25 26 Until this issue is resolved, diabetics should feel free to increase their fish intake, but they should not take omega-3 fish oil supplements unless a nutritionally oriented physician has been consulted.
Vegetarians have a low risk of NIDDM.27 When people with diabetic nerve damage switch to a vegan diet (no meat, dairy, or eggs), improvements can occur after several days.28 In one study, pain completely disappeared in seventeen of twenty-one people.29 Fats from meat and dairy also cause heart disease, the leading killer of people with diabetes.
Vegetarians eat less protein than meat eaters. Reducing protein intake lowers kidney damage caused by diabetes30 31 and may also improve glucose tolerance.32 Switching to a low-protein diet should be discussed with a nutritionally oriented doctor.
Monounsaturated oils may be good for diabetics.33 The easiest way to incorporate monounsaturates into the diet is to use olive oil. However, those who are overweight need to be careful—olive oil is high in calories.
Should children avoid milk to avoid IDDM? Countries with high milk consumption have a high risk of IDDM.34 Animal research indicates that avoiding milk affords protection from IDDM.35 Milk contains a protein that is related to a protein in the pancreas, the organ where insulin is made. Some researchers believe that children who are allergic to milk may develop antibodies that attack the pancreas, causing IDDM. Many, but not all, studies indicate that children with IDDM drink cow’s milk at an earlier age than other children.36 Children with IDDM may have high levels of antibodies that attack milk protein.37
Immune problems in people with IDDM have been tied to other allergies as well,38 and the importance of avoidance of dairy remains unclear.39 Until more is known, most doctors of natural medicine recommend abstaining from dairy in infancy and early childhood, particularly for children with a family history of IDDM. Recent research suggests a possible link between milk consumption in infancy and an increased risk of NIDDM. 40
Lifestyle changes that may be helpful: Most people with NIDDM are obese.41 Excess abdominal weight does not stop insulin formation,42 but it does make the body insensitive to insulin.43 Excess weight even makes healthy people pre-diabetic.44 Weight loss reverses this problem.45 NIDDM improves with weight loss in most studies.46 47 48
Being overweight does not cause IDDM, but it does increase the need for more insulin. It makes sense for people with IDDM to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise helps decrease body fat49 and improves insulin sensitivity.50 Exercisers are less likely to develop NIDDM.51 People with IDDM who exercise require less insulin.52 However, exercise can induce low blood sugar or even increased blood sugar.53 Therefore, diabetics should never begin an exercise program without consulting a health care professional.
Moderate drinking in healthy people improves glucose tolerance.54 55 56 57 However, alcohol worsens glucose tolerance in the elderly58 and in diabetics.59 Diabetics who drink have a high risk for eye60 and nerve damage.61 Until more is known, people with diabetes should avoid alcohol. For healthy people, light drinking won’t increase the risk of diabetes, but heavy drinking will, and should therefore be avoided.
Diabetics who smoke are at higher risk for kidney damage,62 heart disease,63 and other diabetes-linked problems. Smokers are more likely to become diabetic.64 It is important to quit.
Continue reading Part 3: Nutrients and Herbs
References:
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2. Abraira C, Derler J. Large variations of sucrose in constant carbohydrate diets in type II diabetes. Am J Med 1988;84:193-200.
3. Loghmani E, Rickard K, Washburne L, et al. Glycemic response to sucrose-containing mixed meals in diets of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr 1991;119:531-7.
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32. Gin H, Aparicio M, Potauz L, et al. Low-protein, low-phosphorus diet and tissue insulin sensitivity in sinulin-dependent diabetic patients with chronic renal failure. Nephron 1991;57:411-5.
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Copyright © 1998 Virtual Health, LLC
It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your physician, nutritionally-oriented health care practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications.The information presented in HealthNotes Online is for informational purposes only.