|
|
|
Nutrition and Nutritional Medicine
for Diabetes
-
Complementary and Alternative Approaches
- Conventional/Mainstream
Medicine has made wonderful strides in treating diabetes. However, success so
far is still far from complete. A core problem is this: reducing high
blood sugar is capable of correcting only part of the problem. Diabetes causes
other key metabolic abnormalities that, over time, increase risk for
complications ranging from heart disease and stroke, painful nerve damage
in the legs, to blindness, poor wound healing, leg ulcers and others.
Fortunately, complementary
alternative or "functional medicine" has its strengths precisely at the point
that conventional medicines leave off. The scientific evidence is very
strong that diabetes complications can be reduced by fairly straightforward
nutritional, herbal, mind-body and life-style strategies.
These are a selection of the nutrition and herbal therapies that have fair
to excellent scientific data indicating that they probably improve
specific diabetes related problems. These complementary alternative
approaches may add value to your standard medical care.
Metabolic Abnormality To Be Helped
|
Natural Therapies That May Help
|
|
Lower Blood Sugar/Improve Sensitivity for Insulin |
alpha lipoic acid, Fenugreek
herb, Garlic, Gymnema Sylvestre herb, relaxation skill training, attaining
ideal weight |
|
Reducing Heart attacks and
Stroke |
Fish oil, vitamin B12, Folic
Acid, Vitamin B6 (by reducing high homocysteine) |
|
Reducing Nerve Damage |
Primrose Oil, Alpha-lipoic
Acid, L-Carnitine, Vitamin E |
|
Reducing blindness |
Bilberry herb |
|
Improving Wound Healing |
Zinc |
|
Improving ability to fight
Infections |
Zinc, N-Acetyl Cysteine (a
source of glutathione) |
|
Reducing Kidney damage |
Fish Oil |
|
Reducing High Blood
Pressure |
Magnesium, Fish Oil |
|
Reducing abnormal tendency
for blood to clot
"sticky blood" |
Fish oil, Vitamin E, Taurine,
Garlic |
|
General |
Seek
ideal weight, Increased intake of brightly colored fruits, berries,
vegetables |
|
|
|
|
Video provided by WNBC
Please
note: Physicians are not permitted to give specific advice or answer medical
questions for individuals who have not been evaluated as patients
|
|
|
