Herbal medicines and diabetes
There are two types of
diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes - insulin dependent diabetes
Type 2 diabetes - non-insulin dependent diabetes
Diabetes is also known as hyperglycemia. When a person's
blood
sugar levels are too low, they are hypoglycemic.
When you have diabetes, it means that your body is not producing enough
insulin and that it is unable to use insulin effectively.
This
causes high blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone produced
by
the pancreas and is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose
(sugar) in your blood and also the rate at which glucose is absorbed
into cells.
Glucose is needed by your cells to produce energy and
is also needed by your brain to maintain healthy, normal brain function.
Type
1 diabetes
People
with
type 1 diabetes will have to take insulin for life. This type
of
diabetes occurs when your pancreas stops producing insulin.
It
affects 5 - 10 percent of people with diabetes and normally starts at
an early age. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and
experts believe that it is caused by your body's immune system
attacking and destroying the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
Often type 1 diabetes starts after a viral infection.
This
disease is more common amongst men than women.
Type
2 diabetes
This form of diabetes is the most common and affects 90 - 95 percent of
people with diabetes. Type
2 diabetes
develops when your pancreas produces insulin, but not enough to fuel
your cells. Type 2 diabetes often only begins in later years,
but
recent research has revealed that younger people are now also more
commonly affected. Obesity is one of the main causes of type
2
diabetes. Genetic factors play an important role, and often
type
2 diabetes will run in your family. Other risk factors
include a
diet high in fat, alcohol abuse and smoking.
Symptoms
of diabetes
- Unexplained weight loss -
even though people with diabetes eat
normally, their bodies cannot process the calories in the food that
they eat, causing them to lose weight rapidly.
- Fatigue - because the body
is unable to utilize glucose for
energy, it starts to use up fat for energy. This makes the
body use more energy and causes fatigue.
- Excessive urination - the
body tries to get rid of excess glucose
by excreting it in urine.
- Excessive thirst - the body
encourages more water consumption to
dilute the high blood
sugar back to normal levels and to compensate for the water lost by
excessive urination.
- Excessive eating - increased
hunger and eating is caused by higher levels of insulin.
- Disturbed vision - high
blood sugar levels can cause blurry vision.
- Slow wound healing and
infections - when your blood sugar levels are too high, white blood
cells cannot function properly and wounds can take longer to heal.
Other infections such as urinary tract infections and
frequent yeast infections can also occur.
Complementary herbal medicines
that can be used to manage diabetes
The supplements below can all be used with prescription medication used
to treat both types of diabetes. By taking some of these
supplements, you might have to consult your health care practitioner in
order to adjust dosages for insulin or the hypoglycemic medicines used
to treat type 2 diabetes. Please only alter dosages
or medicines used to treat diabetes under the care of your physician.
- Vitamin B complex - B
vitamins produce enzymes that convert glucose to energy and these
vitamins also help to prevent nerve damage due to diabetes.
Take 1 pill each morning with food, ensuring that the
supplement contains 100 mcg B12 and biotin, 100 mg of other B vitamins
and 400 mcg folic acid.
- Chromium - lowers blood
glucose and cholesterol levels. Take 200 mcg 3 times a day
with meals. Consult your health care practitioner as chromium
might alter insulin requirements.
- Gymnema sylvestre - this
herbal medicine improves blood sugar control. Take 200 mg
twice a day. Consult your health care practitioner as gymnema
sylvestre might alter insulin requirements.
- Essential fatty acids -
these supplements play an important role in protecting you against
nerve damage caused by diabetes. Take 1000 mg evening
primrose oil 3 times a day and 1000 mg fish oils daily.
- Antioxidants can help to
prevent damage to your eyes, heart and nerves. Take 1000 mg
vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E and 150 mg alpha-lipoic acid daily.
- Zinc - zinc plays and
important role in wound healing and also helps your body to use
insulin. Take 30 mg zinc a day. If you are taking
zinc longer than 1 month, add 2 mg copper per day.
- Bilberry - this herbal
medicine can prevent eye damage caused by diabetes. Take 160
mg twice a day.
- Ginko Biloba - this herbal
medicine is very beneficial because it can improve nerve damage due to
diabetes and will also improve blood circulation. Take 40 mg
three times a day.
Further recommendations
- Adding soya foods to your
diet may be beneficial as these products could improve glucose control.
- Eat a low-fat, high-fiber
diet that includes raw fruits and vegetables. Fiber assists
to reduce sudden blood sugar spikes.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
Smoking constricts blood vessels and can worsen nerve damage
due to diabetes.
- Avoid high-glycemic foods
such white flour products, white rice, pasta, starches and processed
foods as these foods convert into blood sugar and can cause insulin
levels to surge. Instead, eat low-glycemic foods such as
asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, green beans and low-starch vegetables and
fruits. These foods convert into blood sugar slowly and only
gradually raise insulin levels.
- Start an exercise program.
Please ensure that you consult your health care practitioner
before starting any exercise.
Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal
medications should you be under their care.
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