Diabetes is a chronic condition in which body does not produce or produce less insulin compared to healthy individual or body develops resistance to insulin (body does not respond to insulin).

Most foods that we consume finally enter into the blood in form of carbohydrate, fat & protein. From blood, these nutrients enter into cells. Insulin is required for this entry of glucose into cells. Body cells utilize carbohydrate & fat for energy & growth.

Because of less insulin or resistance to insulin in diabetes, blood sugar cannot enter into cells & remain in blood resulting in high blood sugar.

Studies have shown that supplements like chromium, alpha lipoic acid & vanadium plays an important role in the management of diabetes.

Chromium supplements in diabetes:
Diabetes is associated with low concentrations of chromium in blood, so, an early, long-term addition of chromium to the standard therapy has been recommended in several studies. Some latest clinical reports also support the safety and therapeutic value of chromium supplementation for the management of high cholesterol and sugar in subjects with diabetes.

Chromium increases insulin receptor numbers & insulin binding to cells. Since chromium acts by increasing insulin efficiency, so lower amount of insulin is required in presence of chromium.

A clinical study published in ‘Diabetes Care. (2006, August)’ has shown that chromium supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. Chromium supplementation also reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation

A latest review article published in Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 December has mentioned that 13 of 15 clinical studies involving a total of 1,690 subjects reported significant improvement in at least one outcome of glycemic control. (Glycemic control is a medical term used for blood sugar levels in a person with diabetes) Beneficial effects of chromium supplementation included reduced blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and reduced requirements for drugs for diabetes.

Reduction in blood sugar & improvement in insulin sensitivity with chromium results in decrease risk for diabetes complications.

Alpha lipoic acid in Diabetes:
Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant, which is produced in the body & also present in food. High blood sugar in diabetes increases free radical formation in body, which leads to additional complications of diabetes like atherosclerosis, heart problems, nerve damage & cataract. Antioxidant decreases free radicals in body & decreases risk of complications.

There are number of publications confirming beneficial effect of lipoic acid in therapy of many diseases, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, degenerative processes in neurons, diseases of joints,

A recent clinical study on diabetic patients treated with alpha lipoic acid was published in ‘hormones (Athens). 2006 Oct-Dec 5(4)’. The result of the study has proved that short-term oral alpha-lipoic acid treatment increases peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Improvement in insulin sensitivity could improve both blood sugar control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Peripheral insulin sensitivity gives an idea about how body cells respond to insulin. In diabetes, because of decrease response to insulin by body cells, blood sugar cannot enter into cells causing high blood glucose. Alpha lipoic acid enhances glucose uptake by cells in type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage is a complication of diabetes. It is a progressive disease, which can cause pain, loss of sensation and weakness, in the feet and sometimes in the hands. Studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid is effective in management of diabetic nerve damage called neuropathy and it reduces pain associated with neuropathy.

Vanadium supplement in diabetes:
Vanadium is a trace mineral required by the body in small quantities. Numerous studies have shown that vanadium has insulin-like effects in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. It may improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Along with chromium & alpha lipoic acid, supplement like evening primrose oil, fenugreek & some herbs also help in management of diabetes.

Author is a freelance writer on health topics & contributes to several websites.
You will get detail information on diabetes, & supplements for diabetes on truevalue4money.com/diabetes/supplements.html www.truevalue4money.com/diabetes/supplements.html

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If you have diabetes, elevated glucose levels can damage nerves needed to help pass food along from the stomach through the intestines; the motility disorder called gastroparesis is one of the major complications of the disease.

Gastroparesis causes delayed emptying of food from the stomach into the intestinal tract, which can lead to feelings of early fullness and bloating, as well as heartburn, nausea and vomiting. It’s commonly associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes; that’s because chronically high blood sugar over many years can damage nerves throughout the body. In the case of gastroparesis, poor blood sugar control can damage the vagus nerve, which helps orchestrate the complex connections in the digestive tract and affects the wavelike movements that propel digested food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

“As a result, the stomach doesn’t empty very well,” advises Cindy M. Yoshida, M.D., a gastroenterologist in Charlottesville, VA, and author of No More Digestive Problems. Complicating matters is the fact that when food lingers too long in the stomach, it can become fermented, which can lead to bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. “This can cause problems with the absorption of foods that can, in turn, lead to weight loss and metabolic problems like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances,” Dr. Yoshida explains.

Gastroparesis Diagnosis

The condition is typically diagnosed with a gastric-emptying scan: A person eats a standard meal, then the stomach is scanned to see how quickly it empties. To treat gastroparesis, dietary adjustments are usually in order: Experts recommend eating smaller, more frequent meals that are low in fat and fiber. This may help with both gastric emptying and the feelings of fullness that often haunt people with this condition. It can also help to have liquid meals—such as soups or pureed foods—which typically pass through the stomach more easily and quickly. And keeping tight control of your blood sugar can improve symptoms of gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis Treatment

A few different drugs—including pro-motility agents and antibiotics—can be used to treat gastroparesis. One emerging treatment uses Botox, which has been found to relax the muscle that lies between the stomach and small intestine. Relaxing that muscle allows the stomach to release food more readily. As with other Botox treatments, however, the results are temporary.

In another new development, gastric pacemakers have been found to help with gastroparesis. This treatment involves the surgical implantation of the device on the stomach, where it provides electrical impulses that “help mimic the normal movements of the stomach, causing it to empty faster,” says Prabhakar Swaroop, M.D., an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. In fact, one recent study at the University of Memphis in Tennessee found that electrical stimulation decreased nausea and vomiting and improved the rate of gastric emptying in one week. Even better news is that the study also found that the results were sustained over one full year in those patients who had gastric pacemakers permanently implanted.

While there isn’t a cure, discovering the options in gastroparesis treatment can improve your quality of life.

©Diabetes Focus, Second Quarter 2007

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Even cats are not spared from the dangers of diabetes. Feline diabetes is a complex yet common disorder in cats caused by insufficient insulin production or the cat?s inability to respond to insulin. Feline diabetes is very similar to diabetes and how it affects humans, disabling the body fron using blood sugar properly and resulting in high blood sugar levels. Diabetic cats are also observed to have sugar in their urine and are likely to urinate excessively and thirst more than cats without diabetes. Diabetic cats also lose weight because of their body?s inability to produce or use insulin, despite having good appetite. Feline diabetes may eventually lead to more threatening problems such as vomiting, appetite loss, weakness, and dehydration and should serve as a cause for alarm to their owners.

Diabetic Cat Types

Feline diabetes may affect cats of any breed, sex, or age. It often occurs in older, obese cats. Male cats are also more likely to have feline diabetes than female cats. Although the exact cause of feline diabetes is not yet known, factors such as genetic predisposition, obesity, hormonal imbalances, and pancreatic disorders are looked into as possible causes of feline diabetes.

Signs of Feline Diabetes

In the early stages of feline diabetes, cats may exhibit few signs of the disease and may seem healthy and active. Weight loss despite increased appetite, excessive urination, and extreme thirst are the basic signs commonly related with feline diabetes. As the disease progresses, poor skin conditions and unhealthy hair become apparent. Liver diseases and bacterial infections soon follow, becoming more and more common. Ketocidoses, a dangerous condition, if untreated, may also develop in some cats. Appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration, lethargy, and weakness are some of the signs related to ketoacidosis.

Treating Feline Diabetes

The treatment of feline diabetes depends on the severity of the disorder. Insulin or oral medications may be given in proper doses to diabetic, but otherwise healthy, cats. Diabetic cats with ketoacidosis may require fluid therapy for hydration aside from insulin treatments. A healthy diet consisting of high fiber and high complex carbohydrates will also do diabetic cats well.

z-Diabetes.com Diabetes provides detailed information on Diabetes, Symptoms Of Diabetes, Diabetes Supplies, Diabetes Diets and more. Diabetes is affiliated with e-diabeticdiets.com 1200 Calorie Diabetic Diets.

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Apple

This popular sub-acid fruit one of the most valuable of all fruits, has been found beneficial in the treatment of diabetes of its rich pectin content. Pectin is a natural therapeutic ingredient found in the inner portion of the rind and the pulp. It aids in detoxification of the body by supplying the galacturonic acid needed for the elimination of certain harmful substances. This food element reduces the body’s insulin requirements by approximately 35 percent.

The apple is also considered valuable in depression. The various chemical substances present in the fruit, such as Vitamin B1, phosphorous and potassium, help the synthesis of glutamic acid, which controls the wear and tear of nerve cell. This fruit acts as a very effective tonic and recharges the nerves with new energy and life.

Grapefruit

The grapefruit occupies a high place among citrus fruits because of its favor, its appetizing properties and its refreshing qualities. It is a well-known authority on nutrition, believes that it is a splendid food for diabetics and if this fruit were taken more liberally, there would be much less diabetes.

According to Dr. Riley, any person suffering from high blood sugar should take grapefruit three times a day. A person who does not have high blood sugar, but a tendency towards it, and wants to prevent it, should also use the fruit three times a day. Simultaneously, consumption of starches, sweets and fats should be reduced and diet made rich in fruits, vegetables and juices. Two weeks of this grapefruit rich diet will bring down sugar level in individuals not taking insulin. In those who take insulin regularly, it takes longer.

Jambul Fruit

The jambul fruit also known as rose apple is grown all over India. It too possesses anti-diabetic properties.

In the indigenous system of medicine this fruits is regarded as specific remedy against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreas. The fruit, the seeds and fruits juice are beneficial in treatment of this disease. The jamboline’ contained in the seeds in believed to check the pathological conversion of starch into sugar in case of increase production of glucose. The seeds are dried and powdered. This powder mixed with water, taken three or four times daily reduces sugar in the urine and allays thirst.

In Ayurveda, the inner bark of the jambul tree is considered valuable in the treatment of diabetes. The bark is dried and burnt, to produce a white colored ash. This ash is pestle in the mortar, strained and bottled. The diabetes patient should be given. The diabetes patients should be given about two grams of this ash in the morning on an empty stomach and two grams each in the afternoon and in the evening and hour after meals.

The seeds of the jambul fruits are considered beneficial in the treatment of excessive urination. The powder of these seeds in doses of one gram each, in the morning and evening is effective in controlling this condition.

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