Diabetes mellitus

A person with diabetes doesn't produce enough of the hormone insulin or is unable to use it effectively, which causes high blood sugar (glucose) levels. Over time, this imbalance can lead to heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, vision loss, and other complications. There are two types of diabetes. Less common is insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1), which usually develops before age 30. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2) accounts for 90% of cases; it usually appears after age 45.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin. No one knows exactly why this happens, but some experts believe a virus or an autoimmune response, in which the body attacks its own pancreatic cells, is responsible. People with this type of diabetes must take insulin for life. Type 2 diabetes develops from insulin resistance. Here the pancreas secretes plenty of insulin, but the body's cells don't respond to it. Obesity plays a major role in most cases of type 2 diabetes. Genetic factors, however, can contribute to the onset of both types.

Supplements and herbs

All the supplements can be used along with prescription drugs and by people with both types of diabetes. Taking some supplements may require altering dosages for insulin or the hypoglycemic drugs used for type 2 diabetes. Dosage changes must be supervised by your doctor.

The B vitamins help produce enzymes needed to derive energy from glucose and may also aid in preventing diabetic nerve damage. The mineral chromium is effective in lowering blood glucose and reducing cholesterol levels in people with diabetes. Gymnema sylvestre, an herb from India, improves blood sugar control, sometimes reducing the need for insulin or hypoglycemic medication.

Essential fatty acids protect against nerve damage and improve the painful symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Fish oils, in particular, may raise "good" HDL cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease. Antioxidants prevent damage to the nerves, eyes, and heart as well. Vitamin E may block the buildup of plaque; alpha-lipoic acid improves glucose metabolism. Many diabetics have low levels of zinc, which helps the body use insulin and promotes wound healing (a function impaired by high glucose levels). Long-term zinc use may require extra copper. Bilberry helps prevent diabetic eye damage, and taurine aids in the release of insulin and can prevent abnormal blood clotting, a factor in heart disease.

What else you can do

• Exercise regularly. Those who burn more than 3,500 calories a week through exercise are half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as those burning less than 500. People with type 1 can benefit from exercise too.
• Lose weight. Being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
• Eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to keep blood sugar in check.

How much to take

Vitamin B complex

1 pill each morning with food.
Look for a B-I00 complex with 100 mcg vitamin B12 and biotin; 400 mcg folic acid; and 100 mg all other B vitamins.

Chromium

200 mcg 3 times a day with meals.
May alter insulin requirements. Consult your doctor.

Gymnema sylvestre

200 mg twice a day.
May alter insulin requirements. Talk to your doctor.

Essential fatty acids

1,000 mg evening primrose oil 3 times a day; 1,000 mg fish oils twice a day.
Or use 1,000 mg borage oil once a day for primrose oil.

Antioxidants

1,000 mg vitamin C, 400IU vitamin E, and 150mg alpha-lipoic acid each morning.
Alpha-lipoic acid may affect blood sugar. Consult your doctor.

Zinc / Copper

30 mg zinc and 2 mg copper a day.
Add copper only when using zinc longer than 1 month.

Bilberry

160 mg twice a day.
Standardized to contain 25% anthocyanosides.

Taurine

500 mg L-taurine twice a day on an empty stomach.
If using longer than 1 month, add mixed amino acids.

For kids

• Siberian ginseng (also called eleutherococcus) may help to stabilize your child's blood sugar. Begin with a low dosage. Try using Siberian ginseng, every other week, for three to four months. Stop for two months, then resume.
• Evening primrose oil, or its active component, GLA, has been shown to help prevent nerve damage due to fluctuations in blood sugar. Give a child over twelve years of age one capsule a day.
  Note: Evening primrose oil should not be given to a child who has a fever.

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