Natural Support for Diabetics

written by Dr. Michael T. Murray

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by elevations in blood sugar levels. There are two major categories:Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is associated with complete destruction of the cells in the pancreas that manufacture insulin. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes will require lifelong insulin for the control of blood sugar levels. In Type 2 diabetes insulin levels are typically elevated indicating a loss of sensitivity to insulin by the cells of the body. More than 90% of the 17 million American with diabetes have Type 2.

Diabetes is a serious disease because it is associated with an increased risk of lifethreatening complications such as a heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes for these catastrophic complications is about 4 times that of people without diabetes. In addition to an earlier death, diabetes carries with it significant risks for serious complications such as blindness, the need for dialysis, and limb amputation.

Can natural medicine help people with diabetes?

Absolutely, in fact the most effective treatment of diabetes and other blood sugar problems requires the utilization of key lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional supplement strategies. When used properly, the natural medicine approach to diabetes can:

• Significantly reduce the risk for developing diabetes - even if many of your family members or ancestors are or were diabetic.
• Possibly reverse Type 2 diabetes.
• Improve the sensitivity of cells to the action of insulin thereby improving glucose tolerance and normalizing blood sugar.
• Promote weight loss and slow down or block the absorption of sugar from the intestinal tract.
• Effectively reduce the complications of diabetes including heart disease and retinopathy.
• Improve the actions of drugs and insulin while at the same time reducing their side effects.

The book How to Prevent and Treat Diabetes with Natural Medicine that I coauthored with Dr. Michael Lyon, MD, provides clear guidance for anyone with diabetes or concerned about developing it.

What specific natural products do you recommend to help improve blood sugar control?

Along with Dr. Lyon and Natural Factors, I have created the WellBetX™ product line - a family of nutritional and herbal products designed to address special nutritional needs of people with diabetes. The WellBetX products are designed to be used in conjunction with proper dietary, lifestyle, and medical treatment of diabetes. WellBetX is not designed to “treat” diabetes, instead it is designed to support the proper utilization of blood glucose and insulin as well as deal with some of the nutritional challenges and deficiencies that many diabetics suffer from. The various WellBetX products are designed to impact one or all of the following goals:

1. Reduce after meal elevations in blood sugar levels.
2. Provide optimal nutrient status.
3. Improve insulin function and sensitivity.
4. Prevent nutritional and oxidative stress.

It is vitally important that the diabetic take a high potency multiple vitamin and mineral formula. It is the first step in achieving our first two goals above. The person with diabetes has higher requirements for many nutrients. Clinical studies have shown that supplementation with key nutrients can improve blood sugar control as well as help prevent or reduce the development of the major complications of diabetes. Furthermore, taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement has also been shown to boost immune function and reduce infections in diabetics. Such a formula will usually require 2-3 tablets twice daily in order to provide required levels of key levels of vitamins and minerals for individuals with diabetes.

For the next two goals we can look to unique blends of selected, highly viscous soluble fibers such as Glucomannan, Xanthan Gum, and Alginic acid. Fiber supplements have been shown to enhance blood sugar control, decrease insulin levels, and reduce the number of calories absorbed by the body. When taken with water before meals, highly viscous fiber blends bind to the water in the stomach and small intestine to form a gelatinous, viscous mass which not only slows down the absorption of glucose, but also induces a sense of satiety (fullness) and reduces the absorption of calories.

One of the main components of clinically proven highly viscous fiber blends is glucomannan, a soluble fiber obtained from grinding the root of Konjac, a plant that has been used as a food and remedy for thousands of years in Asia. Glucomannan is 3-times more viscous than Guar gum and approximately 7-times more viscous than Psyllium. By combining the glucomannan with xanthan gum and alginate in an ideal ratio, the viscosity is amplified further to produce a viscosity ^{3- 5} times higher than glucomannan alone.

While other soluble fiber complexes have been shown to produce similar effects, unfortunately, to the greatest benefit, the dosage required (e.g., 20 grams or more) is often difficult to achieve. In contrast, because of a synergistic effect when highly viscous fibers are blended in an ideal manner it is possible to produce results at a dosage as low as 3 grams per day.

Clinical studies with highly viscous fiber blends have displayed an ability to lower after meal blood glucose by approximately 20% and also lowers insulin secretion by approximately 40% producing a whole body insulin sensitivity index improvement of nearly 50% - a phenomenal accomplishment that is unequalled by any drug or natural health product.^1,2

What herbal extracts have been shown to be useful in diabetes?

The two most active herbal extracts are Gymnema sylvestre and Bitter Melon. Gymnema extracts have been shown to enhance glucose control presumably through helping to increase the production or activity of insulin.3 Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) on the other hand has been shown to contain an insulin-like substance that promotes improved blood sugar control.4 Other herbal extracts useful are American Ginseng, Fenugreek, Milk Thistle, and Yacon Leaf.

What is Alpha-Lipoic Acid and why is important for diabetics?

One of the critical goals in nutritionally supporting individuals with diabetes is to flood the body with a high level of antioxidant compounds to counteract the negative effects of free radicals and pro-oxidants. In addition to taking a high potency multiple it is important to take additional Vitamin E (400 to 800 IU) and 400 to 600 mg of Alpha-lipoic acid - a vitamin-like substance that is often described as “nature’s perfect antioxidant.” Unlike Vitamin E which is primarily fat-soluble and Vitamin C which is water soluble, alpha-lipoic acid can quench either water or fat soluble free radicals both inside the cell and outside in the intracellular spaces. Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to lead to an improvement in blood sugar metabolism, improves blood flow to peripheral nerves, and actually stimulates the regeneration of nerve fibers.^5,6

Final Comments

Knowledge and awareness are the greatest allies for people with diabetes. An individual with diabetes who makes a strong commitment to learning about their condition and who accepts the lead role in a carefully supervised blood sugar monitoring program greatly improves the likelihood that they will lead a long and healthy life. On the other hand, individuals who remain ignorant about their disease and who refuse to undergo regular testing or self monitoring are far more likely to face years of unnecessary suffering and, more often than not, catastrophic health problems.

Utilizing natural products like those in the WellBetX product line can lead to definite improvements in blood sugar control. These improvements will subsequently be demonstrated by changes in the results with the different monitoring tests, but especially in self-monitored blood sugar levels.

At the present time, individuals with Type 1 diabetes absolutely require conventional treatment with the hormone insulin. We consider this approach consistent with natural medicine - after all, the goal is simply to provide the body with a critical natural hormone. When using the natural products that impact blood sugar control, the Type 1 diabetics will need to work closely with their physician and adjust insulin dosages accordingly. In individuals with Type 2 diabetes, when blood sugar levels cannot be controlled satisfactorily with weight loss, exercise and diet therapy; oral antihyperglycemic agents or, when necessary, insulin are utilized for additional support. Just as in the individual with Type 1 diabetes, the Type 2 individual on these drugs will need to work with their physician in adjusting the dosage of any medications. The difference however, is the goal in Type 2 diabetes is to achieve satisfactory blood sugar control without the aid of drugs. In fact, in most cases of Type 2 diabetes there can be a complete reversal of the disease.

References

1. Vuksan V, Jenkins DJ, Spadafora P, et al. Konjac-mannan (glucomannan) improves glycemia and other associated risk factors for coronary heart disease in Type 2 diabetes. A randomized controlled metabolic trial. Diabetes Care 1999;22:913-9.
2. Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Owen R, et al. Beneficial effects of viscous dietary fiber from Konjac-mannan in subjects with the insulin resistance syndrome: results of a controlled metabolic trial. Diabetes Care 2000;23:9-14.
3. Baskaran K, Ahamath BK, Shanmugasundaram KR, Shanmugasundaram ERB. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharmacol 1990; 30: 295-305.
4. Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Verma Y et al. Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract. An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytotherapy Res 1993; 7: 285-289.
5. Reljanovic M, Reichel G, Rett K, et al.Treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid): a two year multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (ALADIN II). Alpha Lipoic Acid in Diabetic Neuropathy. Free Radic Res 1999;31:171-9.
6. Jacob S, Ruus P, Hermann R,Tritschler HJ, et al. Oral administration of RAC-alpha-lipoic acid modulates insulin sensitivity in patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled pilot trial. Free Radic Biol Med 1999;27:309-14.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.