The Natural Healing of Diabetes
by Claire Buere

Diabetes mellitus - the scientific name for diabetes - is a chronic (frequent recurrence) disorder in which your cells cannot properly use the sugar, or glucose, your body obtains from the food you eat. To help your cells use glucose, they need a hormone called insulin, which allows your cells to accept and take in glucose (a simple sugar in the bloodstream that comes from the carbohydrates you eat) to use as energy.

In people who do not have diabetes, the pancreas - a small organ behind the stomach, secretes the proper amount of insulin to meet the cells’ need. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin is carried by the blood to all parts of the body cells. The cells have receptors to which insulin becomes attached. This binding of insulin enables the cells to use glucose by converting it into energy or storing it as fat. The cells use glucose (sugar) as their fuel. In people with diabetes, this process goes wrong, and the amount of glucose in the blood, or the blood glucose level, can rise dangerously. Individuals who do not produce any insulin are insulin-dependent or type I diabetes. Those who have low insulin production, or whose cells are not sensitive to insulin and so do not accept it, are non-insulin-dependent or type II diabetes. The insulin-dependent type is more serious but, fortunately, accounts for only about ten percent of the total number of cases of diabetes mellitus.

To understand why insulin is important in diabetes, you need to understand how your metabolism works. Briefly, your body derives energy from three sources in the food you eat: glucose from carbohydrates, fatty acids from fats, and amino acids from protein. Glucose, a simple sugar used by the cells, is the body’s first choice for energy, protein is second, and fats are the least efficient and used as a last resort. Glucose is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and goes to the cells with insulin so it can enter and supply the body with energy. Without insulin glucose has difficulty entering your body’s cells. Extra glucose is stored in the liver and muscles (called glycogen) until they are filled to capacity, and then the rest is stored in fat cells. When your blood sugar is low and your cells need fuel, the liver glycogen is released to form glucose. If you have little or no insulin, or if your cells resist letting the sugar in, the glucose accumulates in the blood and causes hyperglycemia - a high level of glucose in the blood. As glucose-rich blood passes through the kidneys, some glucose is retrieved. The excess glucose is eliminated in urine (this condition is called glycosuria) and signals your body to pump more fluids through the kidneys to help eliminate extra sugar. This action explains why diabetes is characterized by excessive thirst and urination. Excess urination (polyuria) causes the body to lose essential fluids, such as electrolytes, which are dissolved minerals and other compounds the body needs. In people with severe diabetes, urination may stop completely once the body’s cells lose all their fluid.

When the body has little or no insulin available to help the cells get glucose for energy, it turns to another, though much less efficient, the energy source-fat cells. When the body burns fats for fuel, it creates byproducts called ketones, which raise the acid level in the blood. The result is a toxic condition called ketoacidosis, which, if left untreated, can cause death.

Blood Glucose Levels. Several factors determine your blood glucose levels, such as diet, amount of exercise, stress and how you manage it, and hormone activity (including insulin, corticosteroids, and adrenaline). These hormones stimulate the release of glucose and its entry into your cells. These activities, in turn, either raise or lower your blood glucose levels. How well your body can regulate these levels can be determined by a glucose tolerance test.

For many years, medical experts have believed that good control of blood glucose levels can reduce or eliminate the sudden complications of type I diabetes (hypoglycemia, also known as insulin reaction or low blood glucose, and ketoacidosis) and may help reduce the risks of long-term problems such as stroke, eye and kidney complications in both type I and II diabetes. In the largest diabetes study ever carried out, data from 1,441 people with type I diabetes showed that maintaining blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible slows the onset and progression of nerve, eye and kidney diseases that accompany diabetes. The sooner you take control of your diabetes, the sooner you will enjoy better overall health and more peace of mind.

The fundamental cause of insulin-dependent type of diabetes is a reduction in the production of insulin by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Children of diabetic parents have a greater prospect of developing diabetes. A hereditary factor causes them to be more susceptible than others to the conditions that damage the beta cells in the pancreas. Such damage may be caused by the invasion of one of several types of viruses. In the non-insulin dependent type that occurs in later life, the body has an adequate supply of insulin, but a defect has developed in the mechanism by which insulin enables the cells to make use of glucose. Therefore, in this type, the injection of insulin as part of the treatment is usually not necessary. The precipitating factor in non-insulin-dependent diabetes seems to be an overburdening of the body’s energy-producing mechanism. It is significant that obese persons are particularly susceptible to this type of diabetes.

Complications. The great tragedy of diabetes of either type is the unpredictable prospect of serious complications. They are most likely to occur in cases of long standing and in cases where carelessness occurs in the program of care and treatment. Diabetes leads to the development of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries); narrowing of the blood capillaries; the development of new capillaries, particularly in the eye; and degenerative changes in the nervous system. Diabetes compound the effect of smoking as it relates to arteriosclerosis. Definitely, the diabetic should not smoke. The person with diabetes is particularly susceptible to coronary heart disease, foot problems resulting from poor circulation in the feet, and to kidney disease because of the constriction of the blood capillaries. He is also susceptible to proliferative retinopathy with its prospect of blindness and to various kind of nervous ailments. A diabetic faces the ever-present danger of loss of consciousness. Two situations representing opposite conditions may cause unconsciousness. The first develops gradually, when the glucose in the blood reaches high levels and is not offset by an adequate amount of insulin. This condition is called diabetic coma (ketoacidosis, hyperosmolarithy, lactic acidosis, etc.). The second possible cause of unconsciousness may develop suddenly when the supply of glucose in the patient’s blood and tissues reaches such a low level that the cells run out of energy. This second condition is called insulin shock (hypoglycemic coma). It may develop when the patient has taken a larger dose of insulin than he presently requires.

Careful regulation of diet is essential for a diabetic person. Many cases, particularly those that develop during adulthood, can be handled satisfactorily without the use of insulin provided the patient follows a proper dietary program. A suitable diet for a diabetic person is relatively normal, except that it contains very little of the rapidly absorbed carbohydrates, is low in fat to protect against arteriosclerosis, and high in fiber to slow absorption. All portions must be carefully measured so that the patient eats neither too much nor too little. The various food elements must be carefully regulated. It is important that the diabetic patient should avoid becoming or remaining overweight.

Nutrition
Diabetes is associated intimately with food, thus attention to your diet is crucial for good control and management of the disease. Recommended eating plans for people with diabetes help maintain appropriate levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure as well as maintain a healthy weight. All are good for diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

General Dietary Considerations
The following guidelines were compiled from various sources involved in the management of diabetes and represent the wisdom from several successful food plans for diabetes.
Eat five to six small meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a snack between each meal and then a night time snack if desired or needed. This helps maintain a steady blood sugar level.
Reduce salt intake: it reduces blood glucose levels. Avoid foods that have a high salt content, such as bagoong, salted dried fish, snacked foods and processed foods.
Consumption of meat can cause sugar cravings in your body’s attempt to establish a protein/carbohydrate balance.
Excessive meat consumption also produces prostaglandins that cause pain, inflammation, and depression. It is best to avoid meat and meat products.
Avoid foods containing sugar, honey, glucose syrup, candy,
cakes, cookies, puddings, sweetened cereals like suman,
and other sweet foods.
Foods high in fiber, especially soluble fiber, should be a
central part of your diet. Soluble fiber, found in vegetables,
oats, and fruit, increases the time it takes for the
intestines to absorb glucose and help maintain optimal
blood glucose levels.
Avoid refined and processed foods. Whole, natural
foods are used by the body more slowly and evenly, which
allows better maintenance of blood glucose levels.
High-protein diets are dangerous, especially for people
with diabetes. Excessive protein, especially animal protein,
causes the kidneys to work overtime and excrete large
amounts of calcium from the body. The result can be
kidney disease and osteoporosis.
Avoid alcohol, as it can impair how your body handles
sugar.
Avoid soft water. Diabetes is higher in soft water areas.
Drink natural, noncarbonated mineral or spring water
that contains naturally occuring trace minerals. Clinical
studies have shown that a good supply of trace minerals is
important for effective glucose tolerance and utilization.
You deserve good, healthy food. Create time in your schedule to shop fresh fruits and vegetables. Take a
diabetic cooking class or cook with a friend. Make it fun
and hobby.

Herbal Medicine Works
Herbs contain a myriad of active compounds, such as enzymes, vitamins, proteins and sugars, that work together in unique ways to produce healing qualities that are special for each plant. When you take an herb that has properties specific for your ailment or condition, these compounds interact with compounds in your body to treat your symptoms and restore your vital energy. Nature “knows” what works. Herbalists will prescribe either a single herb or a combination to create a complete herbal remedy that is specific for your needs. Some of these single and combination herbals are available through commercial herbal manufacturers, others are prepared by herbalists. Both base their formulas on those that have been handed down through many cultures and many centuries. Since ancient times, the perception among those who use herbs has been that disease results when there is an imbalance or lack of harmony within the body; and that natural healing will occur when an individual’s physical, spiritual and emotional states regain their balance. Herbs carry the messages of harmony and balance to the body as they heal.

Herbs for Diabetes

Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat
diabetes has been shown to enhance the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of insulin receptors. It also has a direct blood sugar-lowering effect. A recent study found that 200 mg of ginseng extract per day improved blood sugar control as well as energy levels in Type 2 diabetes.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Part Used: Fruit
Uses: Bilberry fruit can reduce blood glucose levels. This herb is also known for its effectiveness in improving vision. It is available as a tincture, in concentrated drops, and in capsules and tablets. Bilberry may lower the risk of some diabetic complications, such as diabetic cataracts and retinopathy.
Dose: Prepare as an infusion using one teaspoon of dried berries in one cup of water. Drink one cup per day. For commercial formulations, take according to label directions.
Note: Bilberry is completely nontoxic even when taken at high doses for an extended time.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia)
Part Used: Fruit
Uses: This tropical fruit has been used as a folk medicine for diabetes in many cultures. The fresh juice or extract of the ripe bitter melon lowers blood glucose levels. Better melon contains charantin, a hypoglycemic agent that is more potent than the oral hypoglycemic drug tolbuttaamide, as well as an insulinlike protein that reduces blood glucose levels when injected into people with Type I diabetes.
Dose: Two ounces of the juice per day.

Blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Part Used: Leaves
Uses: A decoction of the leaves of the blueberry has a long history of folk use in the treatment of diabetes. The compound myrtillin (an anthocyanoside) is apparently the most active ingredient. Upon injection it is somewhat weaker than insulin, but less toxic, even at 50 times the 1 g per day therapeutic dose. A single dose can produce beneficial effects lasting several weeks.

Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Part Used: Root
Uses: This common weed, eaten as a vegetable by the Native Americans, may help lower blood glucosee levels. It is high in inulin, an insulin analog. It also increases kidney function and urine output and is a general tissue cleanser.
Dose: To make a decoction, add one teaspoon of root (one-year-old roots or younger only) to twenty-four ounces of boiling water. Steep for thirty minutes. Drink at room temperature, one to two cups daily.

Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens)
Part Used: Fruit
Uses: Also known as the common chili pepper, this herb contains a compound called capsaicin, which is used to alleviate nerve pain (neuropathy) associated with diabetes.
Dose: Topical applications of capsaicin cream, as needed, for pain.
Note: Side effects are limited and mild and may include some skin irritation.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and Onion (Allium cepa)
Part Used: Cloves
Uses: Garlic and its relative, the onion (Allium cepa) help reduce blood glucose levels. These plants contain sulfur compounds that have chemical structures similar to those of insulin, and these compounds-allicin and allyl propyl disulphide-are believed to lower glucose levels.
Garlic also lowers cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Garlic is available in powder, tablet, capsules, and liquid. Fresh uncooked garlic is the best way to reap its benefits.
Dose: One clove per day; or one-half teaspoon of the juice three times daily. Take commercial products according to package directions.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Part Used: Leaves
Uses: Ginkgo-the oldest living tree species-aids in protecting the health of the capillaries and improves blood flow, especially in medium and small arteries. It is available in tablets, concentrated drops, tinctures, extracts, and capsules.
Dose: As an infusion, use one-half ounce of leaves to one pint of water. Pour boiling water over the leaves and steep for five to twenty minutes. Drink hot or warm, one to two cups a day, upon wakening and at bedtime. Take commercial formulations according to package directions.
Note: Buy a ginkgo extract standardized to contain 24 percent ginkgo flavoglycosides. Take forty milligrams three times per day.

Ginseng, Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Part Used: Root
Uses: Siberian ginseng can aid in regulation and reductionn of blood glucose levels. It helps the body adapt to stress, including the stress caused by blood glucose fluctuations, improves mood, and helps in weight loss.
Dose: For a decoctionn, add one-half teaspoon of powdered root to one cup of hot water. Drink in the morning, at lunch and at bedtime.
Note: Siberian ginseng rarely causes adverse side effects. Only buy from reputable companies.

Green tea (various species)
Part Used: Leaves
Uses: In addition to its reported anticancer effects, green tea also helps keep serum cholesterol levels low. It is available as a tea and in capsules.
Dose: For an infusion, add one pint of boiling water to 1 ounce of leaves. Steep for five to twenty minutes and drink hot or warm, one to two cups per day, upon wakening and at bedtime.
Note: Because green tea contains caffeine, you may want to steep the leaves for only two to three minutes to keep the caffeine levels low-it has twenty to thirty milligrams of caffeine per cup.

Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre)
Part Used: Leaves
Uses: This member of the milkweed family is useful in both type I and type II diabetes. It has been used by Ayurvedic healers for diabetes for two thousand years. Studies in the early 1990s suggest that dried gymnema or gymnema extract may repair or regenerate the beta cells in the pancreas, which in turn increases blood insulin levels. Gymnema also decreases triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and can assist in losing weight by taking the edge off of your sweet tooth and creating feelings of satiety.
Preparation: Three quarters of a teaspoon of Gymnema herbal tea is added to 1 glass of boiling water hot water. Strain the mixture and drink it warm twice a day, 1 hour before breakfast and 1 hour before dinner for best results. No sugar is added.

References:
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/Diabetes/diabetes_herbs.htm