Can We Do More for Diabetics? New Research Suggests that We Can

Diabetes can briefly be defined as a state when the body's blood glucose is too high. The body does require a certain amount of sugar in the blood; however, those suffering from diabetes have levels much higher than what is needed.

Type I diabetes is also referred to as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. In this form of diabetes, the body's immune system has destroyed the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin from its beta cells. As in all cases of immune disorders, the body makes a mistake somewhere along the line and sees itself (the pancreas and its insulin producing beta cells) as foreign bodies. The immune system launches an attack to get rid of the invaders, which in this case are actually much needed beta cells.

Type II diabetes, on the other hand, has been called non-insulin-dependant diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, although lately the number of children presenting with Type II diabetes is rising at an astonishing and alarming rate. In Type II diabetes, patients' cells are found to be unresponsive to the insulin in their blood or unable to recognize and use it properly when present.

Currently, treatment for both types of diabetes is limited to either painful, usually daily, insulin shots or diabetes medication. Patients are also advised to change their diet, increase their physical activity, and maintain a controlled blood pressure and cholesterol level.

When considering the cause of the disease further, one realizes that the same basic concept is true for both forms of diabetes. For some reason the body has turned against itself, attacking and destroying - as in Type I diabetes - or has ceased to recognize its own cells as "self" - as in Type II diabetes.

The body's mechanism for cellular communication and recognition is glyconutrients, or sugar forms, found on the outside of every single cell of the human body. Glyconutrients help each cell to recognize others as "friendly" and not to be attacked (Type I diabetes). Additionally, they are the words by which cells "talk" to each other and give instructions, ie. "I'm insulin, let me in" (Type II diabetes).

If these glyconutrients are absent or damaged, the cells cease to have the ability to recognize and communicate with one another and various diseases such as diabetes may appear in an individual.

New research and studies are focusing on the use of glyconutrients to help diabetic patients. Several recent studies 1, 2 have shown that with the use of supplemental glyconutrients, blood sugar levels in patients with Type I and Type II diabetes can be decreased. What is hoped is that with continued use of supplemental glyconutrients through the diet, the body's repair mechanisms may be able to fix the damage that has been done by the disease by learning to recognize and communicate between cells once again.

1. McDaniel C;Baumgartner S;. Case report: early intervention in insulin dependent juvenile diabetes with dietary supplementation. Proc Fisher Inst Med Res. 2002 Apr 2; 2: 9-11.

2. McDaniel CF;Stevens EW;. Nutraceuticals decrease blood glucose and pain in an individual with non-insulin dependent diabetes and myofascial pain syndrome: a case report. Proc Fisher Inst Med Res. 1997; 1: 30-31.

Scott Saunders is a full time wellness consultant who can be reached at Whole Earth Health.

---

Diabetes Awareness: The Downside... a New Wardrobe?

Here is some commonsense thinking:I can't understand why anyone who... Read More

Fanning the Flames of the Diabetes Epidemic

INTRODUCTIONIt is my pleasure to introduce to you, a new... Read More

What Is Diabetes?

Your doctor may have recently advised you have diabetes. Or... Read More

Can We Do More for Diabetics? New Research Suggests that We Can

Diabetes can briefly be defined as a state when the... Read More

Pre-Diabetes - The Calm Before the Storm

Remember when the medical world identified pre-hypertension to better monitor... Read More

Get More Out Of Life While Managing Your Diabetes

When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at... Read More

Diabetes Awareness: Ill Wait til it Hurts

By the time many type 2 diabetics (and often their... Read More

Insulin Resistance And Complex Carbohydrates

One of the biggest mistakes that weight loss failures make... Read More

Diabetic Complications - Can Benfotiamine Help Prevent Them?

Diabetic complications contribute too many life threatening diseases globally. The... Read More

Diabetes Has Become A Risk in Mens Life

This is true that men with diabetes have an increased... Read More

Diabetes is Manageable

It is estimated that over 18 million people over the... Read More

Diabetes, A Bad Omen Or A Fresh Start?

So you've learned that you've got diabetes. Well after the... Read More

Diabetes: African Americans Deadly Foe

Diabetes is having a devastating effect on the African American... Read More

Benfotiamine And Diabetic Retinopathy

Damage from diabetes can occur in different areas of the... Read More

The Profect Solution for Diabetics

Diabetes, which affects more than 6% of the US population... Read More

Diabetic Frozen Shoulder. An Explanation of The Frozen Shoulder - Diabetes Connection?

Diabetic frozen shoulder is a major problem. The pain and... Read More

Diabetes

The following information is for educational purposes only and is... Read More

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy.... Read More

Type I Diabetes: Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or... Read More

Ascensia Breeze Glucometer Rated

Simple Testing Over and Over* simple and easy testing. Simple... Read More

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic Neuropathy, a nerve disorder caused by diabetes, is characterized... Read More

Pre-Diabetes Awareness: Gamblers Understand the Odds

Do you gamble? Play Texas Hold'em poker, casino games, or... Read More

Treating Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

The toes burn and tingle and sharp pains shoot into... Read More

Exercise & Diabetes

You are no doubt aware that exercise can help prevent... Read More

Medicinal Properties of Bitter Melon - Good for Diabetics

Bitter Melon is the English name of Momordica charantia, a... Read More