Having a relatively complete model of a disease is
not all that common. When it occurs, it offers a
health care practitioner the possibility of taking a
disorder in reverse and healing it. This is the case
with non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes.
Generally understood as a problem of elevated
blood levels of both glucose and insulin (due to
insulin resistance on a cellular level) which eventually
leads to the dependance on an external source
of insulin( injecting insulin). The ramifications of
type 2 diabetes reaches far beyond this simplified
picture.
Now let’s watch a short introductory video:
Diabetics are 4 times more likely to have a heart
attack or stroke (the number 1 and 3 killer diseases
in the U.S.) They are also 4 times more likely to go
blind and 8 times more likely to develop glaucoma
and /or cataracts. Research is showing a relationship
between diabetes and macular degeneration, which
is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. Diabetics
are 4 times more likely to develop kidney failure and
diabetes is the leading cause of amputation. Diabetics
are 4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer or
premature dementia. New research is showing a
direct causal relationship between diabetes and
Alzheimer. A diabetics life span is 10 years shorter
than the general population.
For an insulin dependent diabetic (type 1 or 2) insulin
is a life saving drug. Insulin, however is not a
cure for diabetes, it is a treatment method. Trying to
stop, slow down or even reverse the progression of
insulin resistant type 2 diabetes from developing
into insulin dependent diabetes is movement in the
right direction.
The standard practice medical approach to insulin
resistant diabetes is through the use of 2 drugs.
Glucophage (Metformin) and a class of drugs known
as sulfonylureas.
Glucophage resensitizes insulin receptors and
reduces cellular resistance. As a pharmaceutical,
Glucophage is not so damaging. Long term use
will impact folic acid and B12 levels negatively, so
supplementation is recommended.
The sulfonylureas are a different story. These drugs are designed
to push the pancreas to make more insulin. This is
a short term approach for the following reasons.
When our cells begin to develop insulin resistance,
the compensatory response by the pancreas is to
produce more insulin in order to force the elevated
glucose out of the blood stream and into the
cells. Under these conditions the pancreas is overworking
and accumulating damage through oxidative
stress. Taking a drug (sulfonylureas) that
pushes the pancreas even harder to make more
insulin accelerates oxidative damage and eventually
destroys the cells that produce insulin.
At this point a person becomes insulin dependent and
must inject insulin daily to stay alive. This scenario
should and can be avoided. A long term
strategy is needed and in most cases available.
Diet is primary in the healing process of insulin resistant
type 2 diabetes.
The first step and possible the most difficult is
stopping or greatly reducing the consumption of
carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates include a broader
range of foods than is normally understood.
Carbohydrates include all grains, all alcoholic beverages,
fruit juices and some vegetable juices.
Potatoes, rice and of course the obvious; cakes
candy, cookies and ice cream would be included. It
is estimated that the standard American diet consists
of between 60% and 90% carbohydrate.
The second dietary change is in the area of fats.
Stopping the consumption of poor quality fats and
replacing them with high quality ones.
Poor quality fats include all the oils on the supermarket shelves,
with the exception of extra virgin olive oil. Butter is
also a superb dietary fat.
Butter has received a lot of bad press in the U.S. Butter is a short chained saturated
fatty acid which our cells like to use as fuel for
the development of cellular energy. Butter is also
high in butyric acid. The cells that line our large
intestine utilize butyric acid to maintain their health
and integrity. If the dairy cows have fed on grass,
then the resulting butter (pasture butter) will contain
conjugated linolenic acid (C.L.A.). C.L.A. has a
good range of positive effects on our body including
reducing insulin resistance and inhibiting fat accumulation
in adipose (fat) tissue. Butter is good
food.
A daily meal plan consists of three regular size meals
along with 2 to 3 snacks. A key element is the consumption
of fat and fiber with each meal and snack.
High quality fat and fiber slow down the absorption
of glucose into the blood stream helping to balance
blood sugars.
Proteins become a mainstay of many
meals and snacks. Protein create a different digestive
response than carbs. They are converted to glucose
much slower and this helps to blunt the insulin
response.
Vegetables, raw and cooked, along with
some fruits supply soluble and insoluble fiber, along
with an array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
The fiber in vegetables and fruits slow absorption
of sugars into the digestive tract. A great source
of fiber is fresh ground flax seed. Flax seed is also
high in omega 3 fats and ligans (lignans help balance
and protect our endocrine system)
Resistance exercise also plays a key role in the healing
process. Our gross muscles store two thirds of
our bodies sugar reserve in the form of a starch
known as glycogen. Under the influence of resistance
exercise these sugar stores are depleted. Gross
muscle cells have the ability to pull glucose directly
from the blood stream in order to replenish glycogen
stores. They do not use insulin in this process,
both helping to balance blood sugars and to reduce
insulin resistance, as well as help give the pancreas a
much needed rest. Resistance exercise can be something
as simple as walking uphill.
There is quite an array of herbs and supplements
that can assist the insulin resistant type 2 diabetic.
Many will act as antioxidants; some as cofactor in
various enzyme systems and /or to directly aid in
resensitizing insulin receptors. A number of them
will help blunt insulin response and help balance
the adrenal-cortical stress response. Combinations
of herbs, supplements and nutritional agents help to
protect the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys, and nerves
from the damaging effects of type 2 diabetes. Natural
medicine has a lot to offer in the healing of type 2
diabetes I hope this article offers you a window into
those possibilities.
Harry Chrissakis Herbalist, M.T., Natural Healing.
Herbalist-Herbs.com
contact@herbalist-herbs.com
530-933-8244