Diabetes Mellitus:

metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, resulting in an elevation of blood sugar level.

Compared to DM, there is another type of diabetes called as “Diabetes Insipidus”. In diabetes insipidus, blood sugar (glucose) level does not increase and glucose does not appear in the urine. When people talk about diabetes, they usually mean diabetes mellitus (DM).

There are two types of DM:

DM type I is due to lack or decreased release of insulin from the pancreas. It is about 10% of all diabetes, appears at younger ages, insulin level is very low, insulin resistance is rare, and they always need insulin.

DM type II is about 90% of diabetes. People with DM type II have usually normal and even higher levels of insulin, but insulin resistance is very common. It appears often at later ages and can be controlled by diet, exercise, and medications. They might need insulin at the later stages of the disease.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes are fatigue, tiredness, polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), frequent urinary tract infections, weight loss, weight gain, and fungal infections. People with diabetes are at greater risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, depression, and neurological dysfunction.

Contributing factors include:

1. Genetics.
2. Obesity.
3. Diseases of the exocrine pancreas:
   1. Inflammation of pancreas (pancreatitis).
   2. Tumors of the pancreas.
   3. Cystic fibrosis.
   4. Hemochromatosis.
4. Infections: congenital rubella, cytomegalovirus, and coxsackievirus.
5. Endocrine disorders:
   1. Acromegaly.
   2. Cushing`s syndrome.
   3. Hyper function thyroid.
   4. Tumor of the adrenal glands.
   5. Gestational diabetes.
   6. Polycystic ovarian syndrome.
6. Medications: corticosteroids, pentamidine, nicotinic acid, thiazides, hydantoins, protease inhibitors, diazoxide, and alpha-interferon.
7. Chromosomal disorders: Down`s syndrome, Klinefelter`s syndrome, and Turner`s syndrome.
8. Chronic stress.
9. Nutritional deficiencies, especially chromium, vanadium, zinc, vitamins A, D, and B group.

Nutritional Supports:

Restricted Foods:

1. Sugars and sweets.
2. Saturated and Trans fats.
3. Alcoholic beverages.
4. Carbonated beverages.
5. Refined foods.
6. Process foods.
7. Food colorings, flavourings, additives and preservatives.
8. MSG (monosodium glutamate)-containing foods.
9. Foods with glycemic index over 55 (See “Glycemic Index” under the section of “Carbohydrates“), for example, white rice, and white bread.
10. Cow`s milk.

Recommended Foods:

1. Drink plenty of water: at least 2 liters a day.
2. Whole grains.
3. Foods high in fiber: lentils, beans, avocado, and artichoke.
4. Alkaline diet.
5. Foods high in omega-3: fish, flaxseeds, chia, and hemp seeds.
6. Fruits and vegetables high in flavonoids: berries, red grapes, grapefruit, pomegranate, sea buckthorn, persimmon, kiwi, beets, basil, garlic, parsley, radish, radicchio, rhubarb and parsnips.
7. Garlic.
8. Onion.
9. Foods with glycemic index less than 55 (see “Glycemic Index” under the section of “Carbohydrates“).
10. Lean protein: fish, turkey, chicken, and egg whites.
11. Cinnamon.
12. Turmeric.
13. Ginger.
14. Chlorella and spirulina.
15. Reishi mushroom.
16. Bitter melon. This unique fruit contains blood sugar-lowering compounds, charantin and insulin-like polypeptide.
17. Green tea.

Recommended Supplements:

1. French Maritime Pine Bark Extract: 100 – 300 mg a day. It is a powerful antioxidant that can lower blood sugar, bad cholesterol, and blood pressure. French Maritime Pine Bark Extract may protect the eyes from diabetic complications.
2. Grape Seed Extract: 100 – 200 mg a day. It lowers blood sugar level and has a protective effect on the eyes against diabetes.
3. Omega – 3 Fatty Acids: 1000 – 1500 mg a day. Caution: higher doses of Omega-3 in people with diabetes type II may actually elevate blood sugar level by aggravating insulin resistance. Adding vitamin E may prevent from this adverse effect.
4. Chromium Picolinate: 500 – 1000 mcg. It improves glucose tolerance and fights insulin resistance.
5. Vanadium: 10 – 30 mg a day. It helps control blood sugar by mimicking the effects of insulin.
6. Zinc: 50 – 100 mg a day. It is a key mineral for normal function of insulin.
7. Resveratrol: 200 – 400 mg a day. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps lower blood sugar level and also reduces risk of heart diseases.
8. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA): 500 – 1000 mg a day. ALA reduces insulin resistance and may alleviate symptoms of neuropathy in diabetic patients.
9. Spirulina: Spirulina: as a tablet: 2000 – 3000 mg a day, or as a powder: 2 – 3 teaspoons a day. Spirulina is a powerhouse of nutrients.
10. Aloe Vera Juice: 1/4 to ½ cup three times a day. It has a healing effect and provides variety of micronutrients.
11. Co – Enzyme Q10: 100 – 300 mg a day. It a potent antioxidant that protects from heart disease, lowers blood pressure, and reduces bad cholesterol.
12. Magnesium: 200 – 600 mg a day. It improves function of insulin.
13. Vitamin E: 400 – 800 IU a day.
14. Vitamin D: 2000 – 5000 IU a day.
15. Vitamin C: 2000 – 3000 mg a day.
16. Glucomannan: 4 – 10 grams a day. It is a water soluble fiber that helps control blood sugar and cholesterol. It may be used in weight management and constipation as well.
17. L – Carnitine: 1000 – 3000 mg a day. It may prevent from diabetic retinopathy and also helps lower LDL cholesterol.
18. PGX: 3000 – 4500 mg a day. It is a water-soluble fiber that helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
19. Ginkgo Biloba: 120 – 240 mg a day. It improves blood circulation and is useful in diabetic retinopathy.
20. Evening Primrose Oil: 3000 – 6000 mg a day. It contains GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) and may prevent from diabetic nephropathy.
21. Fenugreek: 10 – 40 grams a day, or as tincture 3 – 4 ml up to three times a day. This herb helps lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels. The active ingredients responsible for it benefits are trigonelline, lysine, L-tryptophan, and saponins.
22. Psyllium: 5 – 20 grams a day. It is a bulk-forming laxative that contains insoluble fiber and mucilage. It is generally used for constipation, and it may reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well.
23. Digestive Enzymes:  A full spectrum product.
24. Probiotics: a product that provides minimum 5 to 10 billion organisms per serving.
25. Vitamin B – Complex: A high potency product.

Miscellaneous Suggestions:

1. Exercise.
2. Weight management.
3. Acupuncture.
4. Liver detoxification.
5. Colon cleansing.
6. Banaba leaf extract: 16 – 48 mg a day. The active ingredients in this tropical plant are corosolic acid and valoneic acid. Corosolic acid mimics insulin and increases glucose uptake in fat cells.
7. Cinnamon extract: 500 – 1500 mg a day. It helps lower blood sugar level by improving insulin sensitivity.
8. Green tea extract: 150 – 300 mg a day.
9. Benfotiamine: 300 – 600 mg a day. Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble form of thiamine (vitamin B1) and has protective effects against complications of diabetes (nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy).
10. Asian ginseng: 200 – 400 mg a day. Known also as panax ginseng, it may help lower blood sugar level and has a blood flow-enhancing effect as well.
11. Astaxanthin: 6 – 12 mg a day. It is a potent antioxidant that has a protective effect against oxidative stress and diabetic retinopathy.