The Diabetes Reversing Breakthrough Course

Diabetes Reversing Breakthrough is a popular diabetes program developed by Matt Traverso. It is well known  to be very effective in lowering and maintaining blood sugar levels at normal levels.

Matt Traverso is an expert in human resource development and healthy living mattesr, who has often worked with Tony Robbins. He has intimate knowledge of the nutritional impact on personal health and, in his book “Diabetes Reversing Breakthrough”, suggesting nutritional strategies that could bring a reversal of diabetes.

In his presentation of Diabetes Reversing Breakthrough, Matt Traverso writes that there is new research out for people with Diabetes and thousands of people have been systematically and effectively reversed their condition.

Can Diabetes be Cured?

Unfortunately, new research has not reached most people because it is not in the interests of pharmaceutical companies or medical professionals to tell you. because:

* If everyone knew about it, pharmaceutical companies can not sell their life-long maintenance drugs anymore.

* Pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals would lose millions of dollars in revenue. This is why you only hear about it through word of mouth, or, on the Internet.

* It is terrifying for pharmaceutical companies to realize that this natural discovery, without the use of drugs, would help people cure their diabetes  completely.

People think that diabetes is not curable and it is true that, in traditional medicine, Diabetes can not be cured. Traditional medicine “fights” diabetes with drugs that treat symptoms of the disease, but never deal with the root causes of the problem.

The problem is that, in the West, we have a high incidence of diabetes and other diseases that practically do not exist in “undeveloped” parts of the world.

Researchers have found that it is our modern lifestyle that is actively causing disease and that your diet is one of the major influences  on your Diabetes condition.

You may have heard parents say, “We are what we eat.” This statement is closer to reality when it comes to people with diabetes, than most people imagine.

The main problem is that the modern diet and lifestyle causes you to destroy the pancreas … which happens to be responsible for producing and releasing insulin.

This organ has become so severely damaged by your diet, that it eventually produced less and less insulin until you were diagnosed with Diabetes.

Diabetes is not a disease about not having enough “insulin”… but a disease of the organ that produces insulin: The pancreas !

In reality‚ diabetes is not the “disease” at all. It is a “symptom” – an outward “signal” – of a damaged pancreas that simply is too damaged to produce the insulin your body needs to regulate the levels of sugar in your blood!

Watch below an interesting video published on YouTube that presents the concepts explained before.

So what’s the solution then?

The solution to all of this is to get back into your natural state of vibrant health… by “cleansing” yourself from the inside, allowing your body to get rid of the acids that are attacking your cells, to enable them to start functioning properly again.

Your immune system is triggered and it immediately starts fighting any disease. Your body can restore every wound, diseased organ or damaged cell that it needs to,  but it cannot do that if you keep polluting it, your body simply can’t keep up!

Once your pancreas does not have to neutralize and protect you from the bad acids, it can get back to doing the job it is meant to do….

As your pancreas starts working again, you start to produce INSULIN!!

You would think that in this modern age of technological and medical advances that medicine would have found a cure. BUT, the cure does not lie in medication and drugs… The Cure Lies In Bringing Your Immune System Back Into Shape.

You can read more on this subject at:

==> Diabetes Reversing Breakthrough

Cocoa Benefits

I found an interesting article on the San Francisco Chronicle website about the Cocoa benefits that can be added to those listed in a previous article and I have re-published it below for your convenience.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (PRWEB) February 22, 2012

Cocoa Powder (Photo credit: LilyBaySoap)

The heart health benefits of dark chocolate (cocoa powder) have been coming to light in the past couple of years. For type 2 diabetics there is additional promise for the use of cocoa powder (pure chocolate without the fats and sugars of processed chocolate).

According to the Journal of American College of Cardiology June 3rd addition type 2 diabetics who consumed pure cocoa witnessed a 30% increase in arterial blood flow.

At the American Heart Institute’s conference in 2011 Harvard researchers looked at 21 studies involving 2,575 participants and found that cocoa consumption is associated with decreased blood pressure, improved blood vessel health, and improvement in cholesterol levles, among other benefits. Eric L. Ding, PhD, of Harvard Medical School believes the healths benefits come from polyphonic flavonoids in cocoa.

A presentation at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2011 Congress showed that people who consumed the most chocolate had a 29% lower risk of stroke compared with people who consumed the lease amount of chocolate.

ProactiveLife (www.proactivelife.com) was founded in 2011 to help people living with chronic disease take control of their health. The approach incorporates community, lifestyle changes, and natural supplements which have been clinically proven to assist people with type 2 diabetes.

A Community of Expert dietitians and exercise trainers operating in the field of diabetes has been assembled by the company ProactiveLife (http://www.proactivelife). The purpose is to provide guidance to type 2 diabetics and pre-diabetics in terms of diet, exercise and natural supplementation. Experts agree proper diet (low in fats and sugars) along with regular exercise is crucial to diabetic management.

Diabetes Support contains 10 clinically proven ingredients to lower blood sugar naturally including cocoa, cinnamon, omega-3, vitamin D and others. Along with lifestyle changes including diet and exercise Diabetes Support is a new proactive approach to Type 2 Diabetes management.

ProactiveLife
www.proactivelife.com

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebCocoaType2Diabetes/ProactiveLife/prweb9211658.htm

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/22/prweb9211658.DTL#ixzz1nCXML0yH

Note

There are many good offers of Organic Cocoa Powder from Amazon.

Click here for the Organic Cocoa Powder offers at Amazon UK

Click here for the Organic Cocoa Powder offers at Amazon US

Diabetes Causes

I found an interesting article on the News Track India blog about some Diabetes Causes and I have re-published it below for your convenience.

Diabetes may originate in gut, says study

A new study suggests that the problems controlling blood sugar – the characteristic of diabetes – may begin in the intestines.

The finding may stir the long-held theories about the causes of the disease. As production of insulin takes place in the pancreas and sugar get stored in the liver, many scientists have looked to those organs for the primary causes of diabetes.

For this new research, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis conducted this study on mice that are unable to make fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the intestine.

FAS, an enzyme important for the production of lipids, is regulated by insulin, and diabetics have defects in FAS. They found that mice without the enzyme in the intestines develop chronic inflammation in the gut that is an important indicator of the diabetes.

“Diabetes may indeed start in your gut,” said Clay F. Semenkovich, MD lead investigator.

“When people become resistant to insulin, as happens when they gain weight, FAS doesn’t work properly, which causes inflammation that, in turn, can lead to diabetes,” said Semenkovich.

First author Xiaochao Wei, PhD, and Semenkovich, the Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine, professor of cell biology and physiology and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, collaborated with specialists in gastroenterology and genome sciences to determine reasons behind non formation of FAS in the intestines of mice.

“The first striking thing we saw was that the mice began losing weight. They had diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, and when we looked closely at the tissue in the gut, we found a lot of inflammation,” Wei, a research instructor in medicine has been quoted as saying.

Wei stated that the mice got sick due to a defect in fatty acid synthase. The mice without fatty acid synthase had lost the defensive lining of mucus in the intestines that checks the microbes from coming in contact with cells. This allowed bacteria to penetrate otherwise healthy cells in the gut, making the mice sick.

The researchers further collaborated with Nicholas O. Davidson, MD, director of the Division of Gastroenterology. In this study researchers found gastrointestinal effects that were similar to features of inflammatory bowel disease. Other investigators studying humans with ulcerative colitis had observation that colon biopsies from these patients have small quantities of fatty acid synthase.

“Fatty acid synthase is required to keep that mucosal layer intact. Without it, bad bacteria invade cells in the colon and the small intestine, creating inflammation, and that, in turn, contributes to insulin resistance and diabetes,” Wei said.

Inflammation and insulin resistance strengthen each other. Inflammatory substances show resistance to insulin and check the production of insulin, both of which interfere with the control of blood sugar. In turn, insulin resistance is known to encourage inflammation.

The study further reveals that the ability to build the thin, but important, layer of mucosal cells was stalled by faulty FAS.

The study also marks the importance of gut in the development of diabetes. Because many people with the condition not only have faulty FAS, but they also often develop gastrointestinal difficulties, Semenkovich added.

“Abdominal pain and diarrhea are some of the most common problems we see in people with diabetes. We could only connect these ‘dots’ because other experts at the university could help us link what we observed in these mice to what occurs in patients with diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease,” he added.

Semenkovich and Wei opined that more study is required on this subject. They also said that FAS and a key component of the intestinal mucosa called Muc2 could be potential targets for treatment of diabetes. They want to study people with diabetes to find out whether FAS is changed in a similar way, making damage to the mucosal layer in the intestines.

Diabetes Reversal

Recently I received an interesting email from Frank Mangano about a Diabetes Reversal kit supplied by Barton Publishing and I have copied it below for your convenience

Warning: Dangerous Diabetes Drugs Don’t Work
How to Halt or Reverse Diabetes with Methods
That Are Natural, Easy … and Virtually Free

Diabetes is the number-one lifestyle disease of modern times, and tens of millions of Americans are being handed prescriptions for anti-diabetic drugs that don’t work. A large-scale study at Duke University School of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that despite serious risks and dangerous side effects, diabetes drugs offer few benefits and simply don’t live up to their claims

Duke researchers found that the combination of the blood-pressure drug Diovan (valsartan) and the anti-diabetes drug Starlix (nateglinide) failed to reduce risk of heart attack at all and that Diovan was only slightly successful in slowing — but not necessarily preventing – development of type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, practically all anti-diabetic drugs result in weight gain and eventual total dependency upon insulin injections, according to researchers Krentz, Nichols, and Gomez-Caminero in 2 recent articles published in Current Medical Research Opinion and Diabetes Obesity Metabolism.

Lead researcher Robert Califf of the Duke study said, “This is a sobering confirmation of the need to continue to focus on lifestyle improvements.”

Unfortunately, the medical mainstream has failed miserably to help diabetic patients reverse their diabetes naturally. This failure is inexcusable considering that anyone can reverse type 2 diabetes and stop type 1 diabetes in its tracks in less than 4 weeks with the right plan — a plan that….

Unfortunately, very few diabetics know what actually does work. And that’s because most doctors simply lack the necessary training and knowledge to steer their patients in the right direction.

Too many doctors don’t even discuss nutrition with their patients, and those who do often make matters worse by advising overly restrictive diets or unrealistic amounts of exercise. A recent paper published by the Society for Biomedical Diabetes Research says, “Diabetic patients encounter . . . confusing and contradictory advice from a variety of sources.”

As a result, diabetic patients “exhibit restrictive eating behaviors, they express feelings of dietary deprivation, and rigid dietary control is perceived as the only way to a proper diet and weight management. Binge eating, [excessive] restraint, and body dissatisfaction frequently occur among these patients.”

So if you’ve tried and failed to manage your diabetes naturally, it’s not your fault! Doctors and the media do more to confuse than to clarify, and meanwhile the diabetes freight train leaves a staggering path of heartbreaking consequences in its path, such as the following:

“These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type 2 diabetes,” said Ann Albright, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. “Successful programs to improve lifestyle choices on healthy eating and physical activity must be made more widely available, because the stakes are too high and the personal toll too devastating to fail.”

The key phrase here is successful programs. To succeed you need to know exactly how to eat foods you love — and feel satisfied, while still banishing diabetes. And you need to know about inexpensive supplements that help you slash your blood sugar effortlessly, such as . . .

Obviously, a spice and a mineral alone aren’t going to single-handedly reverse your diabetes permanently, but such powerful supplements combined with the right effective, easy, and inexpensive natural methods can put you on your way to ending diabetes. No drug in the world can do that, no matter what Big Pharma promises. In fact, drugs are often worse than ineffective — they can even make your life miserable or even be more risky than diabetes itself.

Consider the drug Avandia, once the most popular diabetes drug in the world, which was found in 2008 to dramatically increase risk of heart attacks and death. It took the FDA until last month to finally pull Avandia from the U.S. market.

Another popular diabetes drug, Actos, has its own array of ugly side effects, including average weight gain of nearly 9 pounds and a higher risk of dangerous and possibly deadly fluid buildups. Furthermore, Actos’s heart risks may be almost as bad as Avandia’s, and some researchers have linked this drug to bladder cancer.

A handful of doctors are getting behind the push to educate patients about what really works to cure diabetes. Dr. Scott Saunders. M.D., says natural approaches are the key. “Studying natural medicine is power,” he says, explaining that you can absolutely reverse your diabetes yourself with simple steps that …

• Are fast, painless, safe, and natural

• Based on proven home remedies

• Have zero negative side effects

• Will help you save thousands of dollars in medical bills, drugs, and hospital stays

• Will free you from stress and fear of diabetic symptoms

• Can halt the degenerative side effects of diabetes

• Are safe for type 1 & type 2 diabetes

• Will improve your overall health and immune system

If you suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetes, you cannot afford to ignore the truth about how to stop this dangerous degenerative disease. Diabetes can kill you … if you let it.

But the good news is you don’t have to let that happen. And you don’t have to fear blindness, heart disease, chronic wounds that won’t heal, or even amputation. And you definitely don’t have to rely on expensive, dangerous drugs that don’t work! You can reverse your diabetes in less than a month when you watch a free, informative video, and see how to fix the real cause of your diabetes … using natural, safe, and easy methods that are virtually free.

Now you can empower yourself with cutting edge information on healing yourself or your loved ones of diabetes.

Visit ==> Diabetes Email – Video Letter 8/11/2011 and learn to halt or reverse your diabetes.

Foods for Diabetes

I recently read an interesting article by Patrick Holford about foods for Diabetes and High Blood Pressure published on his Food Hospital blog  and I have re-published it below for your convenience.

Diabetes and high blood pressure on the food hospital

Food Hospital Blog
Went out Tuesday 13th Dec

Image by anaxolotl via Flickr

I discovered this week was that there is a device called a “bloatometer” which measures exactly what you think it would. It was used on 47-year-old Alan who arrived complaining that his stomach swelled up so he looked pregnant after every meal. He felt ill and old and worst of all had gone right off sex.

Just as you didn’t really need a device to tell you Alan was swelling up, a range of blood tests only confirmed what was all too obvious – Alan was seriously not well in a number of other ways, such as having type 2 diabetes. His blood sugar level was 14.4 instead of between 4.1 and 6.1, he was 7 stone over weight and had high cholesterol. He was given just four weeks to show that he could turn the situation around with diet or, he was warned, it was onto the pills.

The good news about this was that the diet Alan was put on was more useful that the regular low fat HBD (healthy balanced diet) that most doctors would recommend. All refined carbs such as white bread and sugary breakfast cereals were out. Only a couple of years ago the Diabetes Association recommended low fat diet allowed you the equivalent of 60 teaspoons of sugar a day. Instead Alan had to instantly get into nuts, whole grains and a rainbow of colourful fruit and vegetables. The bad news was the business as usual warning that unless he could show results in just four weeks he’d have to start on the pills.

Alan did improve a bit but the program has resolutely avoided saying anything about whether patients get any help to go from fry ups to fruit. That’s realistic –you’re unlikely to get much from your GP – but it makes a totally unreasonable demand on the patient and is clearly very ineffective – we spend 600 million plus a year on diabetic drugs.

There’s a big debate about whether you can “cure” diabetes with diet but what’s very clear is that when people do stick to the low glycaemic diet I recommend, the majority see an impressive drop in their markers for diabetes. Blood sugar levels, fats in the blood, excess weight – all come down to normal, which seems pretty close to a cure to me. What makes a big difference though is having a team to help people through it like our Zest4Life program. To learn how you can prevent or reverse diabetes you should read my book – Say No to Diabetes  There are numerous papers you can read here that show just how effective a low gl diet is in fighting Diabetes.

Critics say that sort of support costs too much. But suppose it cut the diabetes drug bill by 30% – not unreasonable – that would release 200 million. How much support would that buy? No one has done the figures, not even a pilot. Yet the benefit wouldn’t just be limited to diabetes. It might well result in similar savings in the drug bill for hypertension – another disorder the hospital treated this week.

Like diabetes, even though it can be very effectively treated by diet and lifestyle it is also the basis for a huge drug bill – around 450 million a year. Joan arrived at the Food Hospital with a blood pressure of 143/92 when healthy is around 130/80. She was put on what’s called the DASH diet that aimed to push up her levels of potassium and magnesium (two minerals crucial for controlling blood pressure that don’t usually feature much in official recommendations). The result was that her blood pressure came down to close to normal.

All of which is good but hardly surprising since big controlled trials dating back ten years have shown the DASH diet effective at not only lowering blood pressure but also cutting the risk of heart disease by around 24%. Since diabetes and hypertension often go together just how much could be saved with a serious effort to support patients make the changes? And we are not just talking drugs for diabetes and hypertension – guidelines recommend statins and aspirin as well.

About Patrick One of the world’s leading authorities on new approaches to health and nutrition

Natural Treatment for Diabetes

I have found another interesting article by Dr. Mercola on Natural Treatment for Diabetes   and I have re-published it below for your convenience.

Feeling Fatigued or Irritable? There’s a 1 in 4 Chance You Suffer From This Disease…

Posted By Dr. Mercola | September 02 2010 | 297,307 views

Diabetes Natural Remedies

I found another interesting article by Frank Mangano on Diabetes Natural Remedies  and I have copied it below for your information and convenience.

8 Top Supplements and Herbs for Diabetes Control

Written by Frank Mangano

Saturday, 03 December 2011 19:12

These days, it seems like everybody is worried about getting diabetes. While diabetes is not deadly, what poses as great problems are the complications of the disease. It can cause you to have a stroke, or heart attack, or kidney failure. It can also result to blindness or even inability to walk, especially when you are amputated.Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a condition where there is increasing glucose in the blood. Glucose is important in our body; it is actually the simplest form of food that is being burned in order to create energy for the different cells of our body to function. Without glucose, a person will die. But even if you need glucose, you do not need too much of it flowing in your blood. The normal value of glucose in your blood when you are fasting must be between 80-120 mg/dL. If you regularly have a glucose level that is more than 120 mg/dL, you are already considered to have Diabetes Mellitus. While we are always warned to reduce our consumption of sugar or glucose, the main culprit is actually the insulin. During metabolic process, glucose is being utilized by the cell. But in order for the cell to use the glucose, there is a need for insulin to serve as a key so that glucose may enter the cells. Some people are born with a limited supply of insulin by the pancreas. This people need regular insulin injection since childhood. But there are those where the onset occurs during adulthood. The cells in their body have become more resistant to glucose. Because of this, instead of the glucose being utilized by the cell, it accumulates in the blood. When it accumulates, the blood thickens, and there are more problems that will result from glucose thickened blood. Because of the physiological process mentioned, several remedies are recommended. Some of these are supplements and herbs that are found out to be effective in controlling the disease. Bitter MelonIn a joint study made in China by the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, they were able to discover four compounds in the extract of bitter melon that can activate the enzyme called AMPK. AMPK is actually a type of protein that can help in the regulation of the metabolism of fuel and will enable the uptake of glucose. When a diabetic person exercise, the AMPK that is stored in the muscles is activated, which will then facilitate the movement of glucose into the cell; the glucose can then be used as fuel for energy production in the body. That is the reason why the more you exercise, the better the control of diabetes because of the reaction of AMPK in the body. In the bitter melon, the compounds found in the vegetable are found to be helpful in activating AMPK, the way exercise does. So eating loads of bitter melon is just like exercising. While there are drugs that act the way bitter melon do to the body, bitter melon has fewer side effects. Magnesium Magnesium is one of the macrominerals. It is rich in pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, in spinach, Swiss chard, soybeans, black beans and in salmon and halibut. A normal adult sshould take between 250 to 350 milligrams of magnesium per day. An excellent source of magnesium is boiled spinach and Swiss chard; a cup of these vegetables can already provide about 40 percent of the recommended daily dose. Magnesium does not just keep the bone healthy; it can also help in any sugar imbalance. But magnesium is more associated with the prevention of diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes. Gamma-Linolenic Acid Taking 270 to 540 milligrams daily of gamma-linolenic acid is effective in controlling diabetes. Gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, is a type of omega-6 fatty acids. It can be found in evening primrose oil, in black currant seed oil and in borage seed oil. The most advantage GLA can give to those suffering from diabetes is its capacity to reduce symptoms such as nerve pain in diabetic neuropathy. While GLA is effective in preventing complication experience by diabetics, it is more effective to those who have normal blood sugar levels. ChromiumChromium is one of the trace minerals necessary to the body. When it was discovered, it was found out to be responsible in the metabolism of carbohydrates by forming GTF, or glucose tolerance factor. Being a component of GTF, chromium has shown its ability to control blood sugar levels. GTF’s function is to help in increasing the function of insulin. Because of this, GTF can help lower the blood sugar. Chromium can be found in raw onions, in Romaine lettuce and ripe tomatoes. A normal adult should take about 25 to 35 micrograms of chromium daily. Although not enough, 2 cups of Romaine lettuce can already give 13 percent of the daily value and cup of ripe tomato can give 7.5 percent of chromium. Alpha-Lipoic Acid For healthy individuals, alpha-lipoic acid is already produced naturally by the body. It is an antioxidant that can help in turning glucose into energy. Several studies showed that alpha-lipoic acid can help in lowering the blood sugar of the body. For those suffering from the complications of the disease, alpha-lipoic can actually kill the free radicals that cause diabetic neuropathy in the extremities. Alpha-lipoic is rich in red meats, organ meats and yeasts. If supplements are desired, make sure to take only about 600 to 800 milligrams per day. FenugreekThe seeds of fenugreek are being utilized as medicine. There are several indications for fenugreek, and one of which is its ability to lower the blood sugar levels of those suffering from diabetes. According to studies, it works by slowing the absorption of sugar or glucose in the stomach. As it slows the absorption, insulin secretion by the pancreas is stimulated. GinsengIn a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2000, the researchers of the St. Michaels Hospital and the University of Toronto has found out that taking American ginseng before eating can help in the reduction of blood sugar for those who are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and for those who have normal blood sugar levels. Although the research still needs further studies, it shows the potential of ginseng in controlling diabetes. BilberryIt is the leaves of bilberry that has shown to have an effect in controlling diabetes. Bilberry is a relative of blueberry and is usually made into jams or added in pies. Just like all other berries, bilberry also have ample amount of antioxidants that can help in preventing several diseases. In diabetes, there are studies that show that after eating a meal that is high in sugar content, bilberry can help in the reduction of blood sugar levels. Sources rd.com umm.edu umm.edu whfoods.org sciencedaily.com

Foods that Fight Diabetes

I found another great article by Frank Mangano about foods that fight diabetes and I have copied it below for your convenience. You can also view a similar article here

10 Power Foods that Fight Diabetes

Written by Frank Mangano

Friday, 25 November 2011 20:53

They say eating too much food causes diabetes. Or they say, reduce your food intake so you will not develop diabetes. But why are we advised to eat these power foods to fight diabetes? Isn’t diabetes all about eating a lot? What is diabetes, by the way? Diabetes has long been regarded as the accumulation of too much sugar in the body. But this is such a rudimentary notion. Diabetes is not just about sugar accumulation, it is also about another factor – insulin. There are three major food nutrients that our body needs: carbohydrates, fat and protein. This is written in this order because that is how our body successively utilizes the said nutrients. First, carbohydrates, in its simplest form, glucose, are used by the body as fuel. When glucose is absent, fats are broken down into fatty acids; and lastly, protein through amino acids is utilized. In order for the cells to use glucose as food, it needs insulin. Insulin serves as a key. Without insulin, glucose flowing through the bloodstream, or the blood sugar, accumulates and cause several symptoms of diseases, which are called diabetes. Producing the insulin is the pancreas. Sometimes, the pancreas is impaired that it cannot produce enough insulin. But sometimes, even if the pancreas can produce enough insulin, the cells are unresponsive to the instructions of insulin. Both are the common reasons why diabetes develops. There are various ways to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. One of them is by eating these power foods that have been studied and had been found to help in lowering the risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus. WalnutsFor those who are diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a joint research by the University of Toronto and St. Michaels’ Hospital showed that eating at least 2 ounces of nuts every day to replace carbohydrates can help in the control of glucose as well as lipid. Whether it is roasted, raw, mixed or unsalted, nuts, such as walnuts, those who ate them in the study has lowered their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). HbA1c is the long-term marker that the body was able to control its glucose. Additionally, they also showed that their LDL cholesterol is reduced. FlaxseedsLinum usitatissimum, or flaxseeds, have several health benefits. Larger than sesame seeds, flaxseeds is rich in omega-3-fatty acids, manganese and dietary fiber. Its ability to fight diabetes is due to its omega-3-fatty acids. These precious fatty acids are able to generate a cell membrane that is highly flexible. With flexible cell membranes, it is able to respond effectively to the instructions of insulin. Because of that, glucose is greatly absorbed and glucose in the bloodstream is reduced. LentilsJust a cup of lentils can already provide you with daily value of 198 percent molybdenum, 89.5 percent folate, 62.6 percent dietary fiber and about 50 percent of manganese and tryptophan. The power of lentils in fighting diabetes is in its ability to stabilize the blood sugar levels of the body. This is due to the high fiber content of lentils. Green VegetablesIn a study published in the British Medical Journal, it affirmed that those who increase the amount of green leafy vegetables in their diet has lowered their risk in developing type 2 diabetes by at least 14 percent. There is still a blur as to what cause this, but there are indications that it is due to the green vegetable’s high antioxidant content. Additionally, the high magnesium contained in green vegetables also helped in lowering diabetes risk. DatesDates may be very sweet, in fact, chopped and powdered dates are being used as artificial sweeteners in several location. But despite its sweetness, dates have the power to control diabetes. The high glucose and fructose contained in dates are not necessarily harmful since they can easily be utilized as energy. Additionally, dates have the roughage necessary to control the blood sugar, while providing the needed energy of the body. BerriesAmong the berries that can lower diabetic risk are the blueberries and the strawberries. In a research that was presented during the conference of Experimental Biology in 2009, there are indications of the potential of blueberries to fight diabetes. Although tested on the rats, the experiment showed that by eating blueberries, belly fat is reduced, there is lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides, and the sensitivity of glucose and insulin after fasting is greatly improved. As for strawberries, studies showed that those who are ingesting daily strawberries have lowered risk of developing type 2 diabetes, perhaps because of its polyphenols that can help in regulating the blood sugar and insulin responses. OatsIt is the beta-glucan that is implicated in the diabetes-fighting power of oatmeal. When two groups were compared, those are given oatmeal regularly and those that are given rice or bread, the first group showed a slow rise in blood sugar levels. Aside from being fiber-rich and being able to control cholesterol levels, oatmeal is highly effective as an early morning blood sugar stabilizing food. BarleyA study conducted by HealthGrain has shown that barley’s indigestible carbohydrates are able to regulate glucose by utilizing the mechanism that ferments the microorganisms found in the intestines. During the fermenting process, a hormone from the intestine called GLP-1 is released. GLP-1 lowered the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes, and activated the satiety benefits. Not only will GLP-1 cause antiobesity and antidiabetes, it also lowered the person’s appetite, thereby controlling his blood sugar levels. TunaTuna is mostly known for protecting the body from developing cardiovascular disease. But tuna is also effective in the regulation of insulin and lowering the tendency of obesity. This is due to tuna’s high omega-3-fatty acids content, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which has the ability to accelerate the secretion of leptin. Leptin is actually a hormone that can help in the regulation of food intake, metabolism and body weight. SalmonStill the culprit in many of salmon’s health benefits is its high omega-2-fatty acids content. In a study of the Yup’ik people in Alaska who are having salmon-rich diet, their prevalence of developing adult-onset diabetes, or the type-2 diabetes is lower compared to those who have low intake of salmon. In the study, it would seem that the recommendation is to increase the intake of foods rich in omega-3-fatty acids for better control of sugar and insulin. Sources prevention.com alaskadispatch.com whfoods.org sciencedaily.com

I found an interesting article by Frank Mangano on his Natural Health on the Web blog about Diabetes Natural Remedies where he reports that a University research has found that daily consumption of almonds poses a promising potential in reducing the risk factors for developing diabetes.  I have copied it below for your convenience

Almonds: A Must-Munch for Diabetics

Written by Frank Mangano

Image via Wikipedia

Diabetes is one of the major health concerns in the world today. Type 2 diabetes, or the health condition wherein the body’s cells have become tolerant and to some extent non-responsive to the insulin, comprise 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. In this condition, the common treatment is the supplementation of insulin. But even if this allows the individual with type 2 diabetes to have more control over his blood sugar levels, its long-term side effects causes other health problems.

Some medical experts also argue that the prolonged introduction of insulin to the body, other than that which is naturally produced by the system, may encourage further resistance to insulin. There is also the presence of some minor and temporary side-effects like the appearance of rashes, weakness, rapid heart rate, shaking, cold sweating and other things which diabetic patients will refer to as minor inconveniences compared to the symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

The supplementation of insulin to type 2 diabetes patients has become inevitable due to the lack of pharmaceutical alternatives to effectively control a person’s blood sugar levels. But different studies conducted around the world suggest the potential of some natural ingredients in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Though diabetes is, at present, an incurable disease, various researches on the health condition presents several options for people to better manage and control the symptoms of diabetes. One research published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that the consumption of almonds may help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.

Almonds against Diabetes

Various natural ingredients have been found and observed to possess the potential in battling numerous diseases like cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A study conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey said that the daily consumption of almonds poses a promising potential in reducing the risk factors for developing diabetes and even cardiovascular disease. They worked with other medical experts from other universities including Dr Michelle Wien from the School of Public Health of the Loma Linda University. Wien said that the research team has managed to come up with strong evidences that indicate the potential of almonds in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

In addition to their findings on the effect of almonds to a person’s diabetic conditions, the researchers also found that the food ingredient has the potential in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The team gathered a group of 65 adults with 17 men and 48 women and subjected half of them to an almond-enriched diet; the other half acted as the control group in order to test and validate the results.

Diabetes has been listed as one of the biggest health problems in the world. In Europe, there are around 55 million diabetic patients and the numbers are expected to increase each year. This is the main reason why studies are continuously being conducted in order to find an effective means to help combat diabetes. People are advised to take the initiative in protecting themselves from the disease my maintaining a health lifestyle. This includes having sufficient, a healthy diet and eating foods that have been found to lower the risk of developing diabetes.

Natural Ways to prevent Diabetes

Prevention will always be better than cure. Though scientific studies have found that some people can be more genetically inclined to develop the disease, an unhealthy lifestyle still has the strongest influence over the development of the diabetes. Getting enough exercise is the first step to reducing diabetes risk; eating the right kind of foods in the right amount is also as important. There are several food ingredients that have been observed to influence the body’s ability to process and control sugar in the body. Almond, for one, is a good example. And the numerous foods known to help fight and prevent diabetes make it easier to make them a mainstay in people’s daily diet.

Blueberries are known for their strong antioxidant property. And in the case of diabetes, blueberries have the ability to influence and promote the cells’ sensitivity to insulin and help it gain more control over managing blood sugar levels as demonstrated by a study conducted by a team of researchers from the Center for Study of Botanicals and Metabolic Syndromes. Cinnamon has also been found to optimize the cells’ ability to consume sugar. It has been observed that the supplementation of at least half a teaspoon of cinnamon can help the cells to better respond to insulin.

There are a plethora of foods, spices and herbs that one can take to help with diabetes management.  Examples of which vinegar, barley, garlic, flax seeds, lemons, onions, cherries, nuts, sweet potatoes, avocadoes and lupin seeds.

Another natural approach on the prevention and treatment of diabetes is through the consumption of natural products proven to have similar properties to insulin. Bitter melon, for that matter, has the proven ability to lower the concentrations of glucose in the body. Instead of having to be injected with insulin, diabetic patients, upon the recommendation of their physicians, can alternately take bitter gourd products in order to manage their blood sugar levels and, in effect, the symptoms of diabetes.

Alpha-lipoic acid also proves to be beneficial in reducing blood sugar levels as well as in treating damage of the peripheral nerves – one of the most common complications of diabetes.  Other means of dealing with diabetes include:

• Coenzyme Q10 taken 100 mg daily as it helps stabilize blood sugar levels.
• Vitamin C to prevent complications
• Manganese supplementation, 5-10 mg each day, for pancreas repair
• Magnesium intake for restoration of energy.

Preventing the risk of developing diabetes starts with the understanding of what causes the disease and the natural ways of overcoming the risk factors. Medical experts will advise early prevention by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having a healthy diet. Frequent exercise helps in managing weight which is a keystone in reducing diabetes risk. Eating foods that have been found to prevent diabetes is also recommended.

Sources
independent.co.uk
naturalhealthontheweb.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com
medicinenet.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com

I found an interesting article on  the AikenStandard website with useful information about Diabetes and I have re-published it below for your information and convenience.

Image by heathbrandon via Flickr

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to raise awareness about the prevention, treatment and consequences of this serious medical condition. Fortunately, most cases of diabetes can be treated or prevented through healthy eating, weight control and regular exercise.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) caused by a lack of insulin production or impaired insulin action. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose by causing the body’s cells to take glucose out of the blood. Normally, when blood glucose is high – after a meal – insulin is released from the pancreas. If the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or if the cells don’t respond to the insulin, blood glucose remains high. This is called hyperglycemia.

There are three major types of diabetes:

* Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that is usually diagnosed in childhood. Damage to the pancreas by the immune system results in a lack of insulin production, so type 1 diabetics require insulin injections.
* Type 2 diabetes tends to occur in adults and is associated with obesity, particularly excess abdominal fat, and physical inactivity. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the cells do not respond to it, a condition called insulin resistance.

* Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy in women who are not diabetic. Although this condition tends to resolve itself after childbirth, it may lead to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in the future. One consequence of gestational diabetes is having a high birth weight baby.

The terminology regarding diabetes has changed in recent years. Type 1 diabetes used to be called insulin dependent or juvenile diabetes and type 2 diabetes was formerly called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes. But some type 2 diabetics require insulin, and, given the increase in childhood obesity, kids as young as 12 years old are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – a condition that used to occur only in overweight adults.

It is estimated that more than 26 million Americans have diabetes, the vast majority of which are type 2. Additionally, another 79 million have prediabetes, meaning that blood glucose is above normal but not high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes. Prediabetes often leads to developing diabetes in the future, so this is an important opportunity to make lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes.

Diabetes is diagnosed based on blood glucose level and symptoms including excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, blurred vision and weight loss. A common test is a fasting blood glucose test in which blood glucose is measured at least eight hours after a meal, usually in the morning. Another common test is an oral glucose tolerance test in which blood glucose is measured for two hours after drinking a special beverage containing glucose. This test measures the body’s response to glucose. The hemoglobin A1C test is a long-term measure of blood glucose control. This is important because the higher the hemoglobin A1C level, the greater the risk of diabetes complications.

In all types of diabetes, control of blood glucose through diet, exercise and medication is essential. Over time, high blood glucose levels can cause nerve and blood vessel damage leading to vision problems, lack of sensation in the hands and feet (neuropathy), kidney damage and poor wound healing. In fact, diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, foot amputation and kidney dialysis and transplants. Additionally, type 2 diabetes tends to be associated with high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol and obesity. This combination is called the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, two-thirds of diabetics die from heart disease and strokes. The treatment of diabetes involves several approaches: blood glucose testing, proper use of medications, planning healthy meals and regular exercise.

Blood glucose is typically tested several times throughout the day in order to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetics (and some type 2 diabetics) require injections of insulin. Type 2 diabetics may also take medications, known as oral hypoglycemics, which also lower blood glucose. In order to be effective and to prevent hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood glucose), medications must coordinated with meals, exercise and other activities.

Exercise is important for blood glucose control because exercise causes an increase in the uptake of glucose into cells and can improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. These effects of exercise last about 24 hours, so exercise should be done every day. In addition, exercise has the added benefits of promoting weight loss and improving strength and fitness. Both aerobic (walking or jogging) and resistance (weight lifting) exercises are recommended. Diabetics should be careful to wear comfortable, supportive shoes and avoid exercise that raises blood pressure significantly. Blood glucose should be tested before exercise. If it is too low, a snack containing carbohydrates should be consumed prior to exercise. If it is too high, exercise should be postponed.

Meal planning involves selecting healthy foods to help maintain consistent blood glucose levels while meeting energy needs for exercise and other activities. The dietary recommendations for preventing and treating diabetes are almost identical to the general recommendations for good health: Emphasize whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and low-fat meat and dairy and reduce saturated fat, cholesterol, added sugars and salt. The diet should also promote weight loss and weight maintenance, especially for overweight patients.

While many diabetics believe that carbohydrates should be avoided, this is not true. Whole grains and complex carbohydrates (whole wheat bread, for example) should make up the majority of calories. Sugars and refined grains (white bread) should be minimized. However, both sugar and alternative sweeteners are safe when consumed in moderation, as part of a healthy diet. The glycemic index (GI), a measure of how much a food raises blood glucose, can be helpful in dietary planning, but it is not the only meal planning tool that should be used. The intake of saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium should be reduced, especially if you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Meals should be planned around medications and exercise in order to avoid hypoglycemia.

Proper diet, blood glucose testing, medication use and regular exercise can improve blood glucose control, reduce the risk of other health problems and improve quality of life in diabetics. In those with prediabetes, these efforts can delay the progression to diabetes and may even result in a return to normal blood glucose. In fact, diet and exercise have been shown to be more effective than medications in preventing diabetes. Plus, these lifestyle changes lead to weight loss and improved fitness, benefits that no medication can match.

And there is good news for those people who do not have diabetes or prediabetes now: Healthy eating, regular exercise and weight control can prevent or delay the development of diabetes, as well as many other chronic diseases.

Brian Parr, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at USC Aiken, where he teaches courses in exercise physiology, nutrition and health behavior. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and is an ACSM certified clinical exercise specialist; his research focuses on physical activity in weight management and the impact of the environment on activity and diet. Parr lives in Aiken with his wife, Laura, and sons Noah, Owen and Simon.

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You will find plenty of useful information about diabetes in the Diabetes Reversal 

Diabetic Epidemic

I found another good article by Dr. Mercola on the Diabetic Epidemic and I have re-published it below for your information and convenience.

Feeling Fatigued or Irritable? There’s a 1 in 4 Chance You Suffer From This Disease…

Posted By Dr. Mercola | September 02 2010 | 282,023 views

Note: A good resource on Diabetes is the Diabetes Reversal site.