Diabetes and Exercise

Supplements for Diabetes – What Recent Studies Say?

Diabetes:

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which body does not produce or produce less insulin compared to healthy individual or body develops resistance to insulin (body does not respond to insulin).

Most foods that we consume finally enter into the blood in form of carbohydrate, fat & protein. From blood, these nutrients enter into cells. Insulin is required for this entry of glucose into cells. Body cells utilize carbohydrate & fat for energy & growth.

Because of less insulin or resistance to insulin in diabetes, blood sugar cannot enter into cells & remain in blood resulting in high blood sugar.

Studies have shown that supplements like chromium, alpha lipoic acid & vanadium plays an important role in the management of diabetes. You can get details on diabetes at http://www.truevalue4money.com/diabetes/diabetes.html

Chromium supplements in diabetes:

Diabetes is associated with low concentrations of chromium in blood, so, an early, long-term addition of chromium to the standard therapy has been recommended in several studies. Some latest clinical reports also support the safety and therapeutic value of chromium supplementation for the management of high cholesterol and sugar in subjects with diabetes.

Chromium increases insulin receptor numbers & insulin binding to cells. Since chromium acts by increasing insulin efficiency, so lower amount of insulin is required in presence of chromium.

A clinical study published in ‘Diabetes Care. (2006, August)’ has shown that chromium supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. Chromium supplementation also reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation

A latest review article published in Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 December has mentioned that 13 of 15 clinical studies involving a total of 1,690 subjects reported significant improvement in at least one outcome of glycemic control. (Glycemic control is a medical term used for blood sugar levels in a person with diabetes) Beneficial effects of chromium supplementation included reduced blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and reduced requirements for drugs for diabetes.

Reduction in blood sugar & improvement in insulin sensitivity with chromium results in decrease risk for diabetes complications.

Alpha lipoic acid in Diabetes:

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant, which is produced in the body & also present in food. High blood sugar in diabetes increases free radical formation in body, which leads to additional complications of diabetes like atherosclerosis, heart problems, nerve damage & cataract. Antioxidant decreases free radicals in body & decreases risk of complications.

There are number of publications confirming beneficial effect of lipoic acid in therapy of many diseases, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, degenerative processes in neurons, diseases of joints,

A recent clinical study on diabetic patients treated with alpha lipoic acid was published in ‘hormones (Athens). 2006 Oct-Dec 5(4)’. The result of the study has proved that short-term oral alpha-lipoic acid treatment increases peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Improvement in insulin sensitivity could improve both blood sugar control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Peripheral insulin sensitivity gives an idea about how body cells respond to insulin. In diabetes, because of decrease response to insulin by body cells, blood sugar cannot enter into cells causing high blood glucose. Alpha lipoic acid enhances glucose uptake by cells in type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage is a complication of diabetes. It is a progressive disease, which can cause pain, loss of sensation and weakness, in the feet and sometimes in the hands. Studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid is effective in management of diabetic nerve damage called neuropathy and it reduces pain associated with neuropathy.

Vanadium supplement in diabetes:

Vanadium is a trace mineral required by the body in small quantities. Numerous studies have shown that vanadium has insulin-like effects in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. It may improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Along with chromium & alpha lipoic acid, some other supplement like evening primrose oil, fenugreek & some herbs also help in management of diabetes.

Stephen Thomson
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/supplements-for-diabetes-what-recent-studies-say-124793.html

Could I have bipolar disorder?

I am a teenager, 17, and sometimes I feel like I could have bipolar disorder. I am very, very often fatigued, more than any of my friends, even though I am sure I get more sleep than them. I thought this could mean I had diabetes, but I had a blood test done, and no problems showed up. Lately though I have been EXTREMELY irritable. Its very frustrating because everything is getting on my nerves, so I am always in a bad mood, and I dont want to be. I always get at least seven hours of sleep and usually much more than that. My parents are very against medication, and I am so happy a lot of the time, they would be against taking me to a shrink I think. But this almost makes me think I could be bipolar even more. If it sounds like I really could be bipolar, I will bring it up with my parents.

I don’t think it sounds like you have bipolor disorder. To be honest more than anthing it sounds to me like you could have a problem with your thyroid.
Visit your doctor for a check up and discuss how you are feeling with them or go to a reputable naturopath for a more holistic approch.

Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Low Carb and Diabetes (Part 1)

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This video comes out of another myth that gets propagated out by Atkins Diet bashers that somehow we are more likely to get diabetes by following low carb. Certainly there is no shortage of misinformation on the web:
http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/122/Nutritionists_Warn_Diabetics_to_be_Wary_of_Atkins_Diet.htm
http://www.diabetesuffolk.com/LivingWithDiabetes/The%20Atkins%20diet.htm

Some say we are dangerous for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. Some just type 1 diabetics, but it really couldn’t be further from the truth. As all people, ESPECIALLY diabetics, could benefit from controlling blood glucose levels by carbohydrate monitoring or restriction.

There are two major proponents for Low Carb for diabetics:
Richard Bernstein, Type 1 Diabetic since 1946
http://www.diabetes911.net/about.php
Author of THE DIABETES DIET and Diabetes Solution

Mary Ross Vernon
Chairman of the board, American Society of Bariatric Physicians
Co-Author of Atkins Diabetes Revolution with Robert Atkins
http://tinyurl.com/cbjk76
2007 and 2008 Runner Up for Diabetic Educator of the Year Award

Mary Ross Vernon has been controlling diabetes with an Very Low Carb Diet (similar to Atkins Diet) for many years. She says both her Type 1 and Type 2 patients have benefited from carbohydrate restriction. She also notes that seeking quality physicians to handle the dramatic decrease in insulin requirements is paramount as some patients could be medication free in 3 days! See the attached quote (http://rjr10036.typepad.com/askdrvernon/2007/05/ron_of_sarasota.html).

Recently a number of studies have been released to support this position as well. One of the most notable for describing the failure of the existing recommendation of high carb and regulating with increasing doses of insulin is the study released in 2005 Nutrition and Metabolism magazine, “The case for low carbohydrate diets in diabetes management.” (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1188071&tool=pmcentrez) They detail that the high carbohydrate diet has lead to worse glycemic control, dislipidemia, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). They noted in their review of studies that the low carb followers showed dramatic improvement in comparison to the high carb followers.

(Part 2 to be released later)

Duration : 0:11:8

Tags: Atkins, blood, Bowulf, Carb, Controlling, diabetes, Diabetics, diet, glucose, low, Mary, Treatment, Vernon