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Diabetes
by author Lorna R. Vanderhaeghe, BSc

There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the beta (insulin-producing) cells of the pancreas. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.

The number one risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is being overweight or obese. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, but today, children as young as four years old have been diagnosed with it. Up to 45 percent of new cases of diabetes in children are the type 2 form.

Fifty to 90 percent of those with type 2 diabetes are overweight. It is estimated that up to 80 percent of those with diabetes will die as a result of heart disease or stroke. Type 2 diabetes is a disease of poor diet and lifestyle–a condition that is totally preventable.

When nutritional strategies and exercise are used, the risk of developing diabetes can be reduced by as much as 58 percent. For some people, insulin dependency can be reduced after following a regime of nutritional changes. The side effects associated with diabetes–including blindness, neuropathies (neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused by diabetes), high cholesterol and heart disease, kidney disease, impotence, loss of circulation, and amputations - can be reduced or avoided by using natural medicines alone or in combination with appropriate drugs.

Health food stores contain an arsenal of natural remedies for fighting diabetes. Nutritional researchers are working to determine what foods and nutrients can prevent or reverse the disease. Two of alive’s contributors, Michael Lyon, MD, and Michael Murray, ND have worked alongside Vladimir Vuksan, PhD, of the University of Toronto, to find a solution for blood-sugar irregularities. Dr. Vuksan is a recognized expert on the role of diet in the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Vuksan and his colleagues (including Dr. David Jenkins, the developer of the glycemic index) have conducted extensive research with various combinations of edible soluble fibres.

They have discovered that by combining various soluble fibres in specific ratios, the viscosity of the fibres was amplified. This improved viscosity is directly related to its effectiveness in maintaining proper blood-sugar balance and insulin regulation. The fibre lowers after-meal blood-sugar levels by approximately 20 to 40 percent and also lowers insulin secretion by about 40 percent. This results in improvements in the insulin sensitivity index by approximately 50 percent. No drug, natural product, or diet can do this. It is exciting that leaders in the health food industry are working with respected researchers to bring validity to nutritional medicine.

We are just entering the holiday season of sugary foods, more alcohol, stress, and fewer opportunities to exercise. For diabetics, this time of the year is particularly difficult. I suggest you pick up Dr. Murray’s book, How to Prevent and Treat Diabetes with Natural Medicine (Riverhead Books, 2003) before the holiday season raises your blood sugar.

Lorna Vanderhaeghe, BSc, is the author of many books including Healthy Fats for Life (Wiley and Sons, 2004). For more information, go to hormonehelp.com

Source: alive #265, November 2004

Prevent and Treat Type II Diabetes
Nutrition is the keyStaggering statistics show that more than two million Canadians have diabetes and another 11 million or more unknowingly suffer from it.

Understanding Type II Diabetes
"Fewer than half of people with type II diabetes know they have it or consult a physician." Diabetes can be devastatin.

Curbing Type 2 Diabetes
Diet and exercise are key for preventing type 2 diabetes. Consuming a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, and "good fats can stimulate weight loss and keep blood sugars within a healthy range.

Diabesity®
Type 2 diabetes, which represents over 90 percent of all cases of diabetes, occurs when cell receptor sites become insensitive to insulin and it cannot bind with them to release blood sugar. Taking steps to lose excess fat can enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce symptoms of diabetes.

Managing the Munchies
With an increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in young people-so much so they don't even bother calling it "adult onset anymore-it's clear that eating habits play a major role in our health. But for many teens, snacking on high-sugar, high-fat food is as much a part of life as homework or driving lessons.

Changing the Direction of Diabetes
Even though Sara is only 34, she was not entirely surprised when her doctor told her that her blood sugar test results showed she was clearly on the road to developing diabetes.

Sara realized this was her wake-up call and that she needed to make major changes.

Dodge Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health problem that involves elevated blood sugar levels. Proper nutrition, exercise, and dietary supplements normalize blood sugar levels and weight preventing diabetes. Your diet should be high in fibre, found in vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. More specifically, your diet should include water-soluble fibre.

The Healing Power of Botanical Medicine
Dear Medical Advisor: I am the mother of a 19-year-old female athlete who does not have a monthly cycle. Her diet has been poor (her choice).

Hallelujah Health Tips
Diabetes Epidemic . . . A killer disease--diet and lifestyle can help beat it."--US News & World Report, June 25, 2001 According to the above article, about 16 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes. Similar statistics come out of Canada.

Kids with an adult disease

Not so sweet

Kids abusing OTCs

Whole grains can control diabetes

Avoid diabetes during pregnancy

Dr. Jay Wortman
When Dr. Jay Wortman discovered he was diabetic, he began a self-healing journey by dramatically changing his diet-without realizing that he had reverted to a more traditionally aboriginal way of eating.

Under New Management
It is estimated that more than two million Canadians live with diabetes and that number is increasing well beyond the expectations of most world experts on the subject. Obesity and lack of adequate physical exercise are universally blamed for these troubling statistics.

Spotlight on Diabetes
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Canada and affects approximately 5 percent of the population. According to Statistics Canada, rates are significantly higher in the eastern provinces.

Blood Sugar Balance
In 2007, 246 million people had diabetes globally; that number is expected to grow to 380 million by 2025. Despite its world-wide prevalence, most people don't recognize prediabetic symptoms, never receive treatment for them, and are unaware of natural treatment alternatives.

Type 2 Diabetes
Currently, more than 1.8 million Canadians have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This diabetes used to be considered a disease of late onset; however, it is now being diagnosed in more young people then ever before.

Diabetes
November is diabetes month. Many people know that the most common form of diabetes is preventable, but too many are not yet incorporating that message of prevention into their daily lives.