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Diabetes...The Natural Approach
November is Diabetes month...and it’s also Natural
Health Month. What could be more appropriate than to take a natural
approach to a diet-related condition?
There are two kinds of diabetes: insulin dependent
diabetes, which starts in childhood, and non-insulin (Type II) often
referred to age-onset diabetes. The primary aim in both types of diabetes
is to maintain control over blood glucose. This means never allowing it
to be too high or too low.
Diet is a major factor – and it’s important to
concentrate on high fiber, and whole natural foods that have not been
refined or processed. Attention to eating a low glycemic diet is
essential. Consuming sugar doesn’t provide you with energy – sugar is
stored as fat. Many foods that are labeled “low fat” actually contain
more sugar to make up for the taste that the fat provides.
Sugar is also a factor if you have been plagued by
hard-to-diagnose health issues:
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Can’t lose
weight no matter how hard you try |
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Feel depressed
for no apparent reason, even though you are
normally a happy person |
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Insomnia – or
waking frequently during the night |
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Feeling
sluggish all the time |
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Suddenly don’t
see things in sharp focus |
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Have become
forgetful and find your mind wanders
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It’s not in your head – it’s in your blood sugar.
Scientists know that blood sugar imbalances are the hidden cause of a
host of hard-to-diagnose symptoms, even in non diabetics. The
Sugar Solution (Sair Harrar) 
You have probably
heard that laughter is the best medicine. Laugh if you wish,
but a recent study in Japan found that a laugh a day just might keep high
blood sugar at bay. Why? Laughter makes us move, and muscle cells may
absorb more blood sugar, according to researcher Keiko Hayashi, PhD.
It's also possible that mirth affects hormones that help regulate blood
sugar.
This is not to say that spending your day laughing
is all you need to do. Following the glycemic index when making food
choices will not only keep your blood sugar within the proper ratios, it
will also help keep your cholesterol ratios appropriate, too.
Go a little Nuts!
Harvard researchers tracked more than 83,000 women with no history of
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer over a 16 year period and
found that those who ate nuts at least five times per week reduced their
risk of Type 2 diabetes by nearly 30% compared to those who rarely or
never ate nuts. Nuts not only help with blood sugar but raw nuts also
provide you with essential fatty acids – something North Americans are
lacking.
 It’s
a bonus to find that a food substance has a positive impact on more than
one health issue. Now the trick about eating nuts, which are high in
fat, is to control the serving size. One ounce of nuts is all you need.
That’s about one tablespoon. Of course it’s best to substitute nuts for
cholesterol-raising foods such as breads or other baked snack foods. A
good way to consume nuts is to sprinkle ground raw nuts on your salad or
breakfast cereal, or take a small handful to work for that mid afternoon
pick-me-up.
Keeping your weight at your ideal helps to keep
diabetes at bay. Get your blood sugar tested annually. Trim your fat
consumption by making sure that no more than 30% of your daily intake of
calories comes from fat, and less than 10% from saturated fat – you know,
the kind that comes from meats and dairy products. Eat smarter
carbs…..and that’s not the same as eliminating carbs. We need carbs –
the right kind of carbs.
Symptoms to beware of:
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High cholesterol or high blood pressure
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Fatigue
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Powerful thirst and frequent urination
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Blurred vision
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Frequent infections and slow healing of wounds
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Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands and feet
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Sexual problems
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Digestive problems
If you have any of these symptoms, get tested
immediately. Even if you feel perfectly fine, getting tested when you
have your annual physical is a way of protecting yourself.
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Supplements that may help to reduce the risk of several diabetic
complications are:
Bilberry (also known as Huckleberry):
May improve circulation.
Vitamin E: Researchers at the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas found
that Vitamin E reduced the tendency of “bad” LDL cholesterol to
cling to artery walls. That’s significant because 70% of deaths
from diabetes are related to damaged and clogged arteries.
Vitamin C: Used to reduce high levels
of oxidative stress – that’s what leads to blindness. Vitamin C
isn’t for everyone. For example don’t take it if you are
undergoing chemotherapy, because researchers can’t be sure that it
won’t interfere with the treatment. PLEASE NOTE: If your body
stores iron, or if you have a history of kidney stones or are
pregnant, consult your doctor before taking Vitamin C. |
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