Diabetes - Treatment at early-stage, preventive method updated on July 3, 2011 ZHION.COM |
There two common types of diabetes- Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes occurs in childhood; the body does not produce insulin. Daily insulin injections are required to maintain the life. While, Type 2 Diabetes occurs in adulthood; the body does not produce enough insulin. It is related to obesity and lack of exercise. Risk factors for diabetes include obesity, old age, certain ethnic group, high blood pressure, high triglyceride and high cholesterol levels. The symptoms related to high glucose levels include frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, weight loss and blurry vision. People suffered from Type 1 Diabetes may develop symptoms over a short period of time and they usually have high glucose and ketone levels. Both glucose and ketone may be found in urine. High ketone levels can lead to acidosis, i.e. low blood pH. The basic treatments for diabetes are to stabilize the blood sugar and eliminate the symptoms of high blood sugar. Prevention of long-term complications such as heart disease and kidney failure are important. Diet, exercise, weight control, medication, blood glucose self-testing, and foot care are vital for good control of diabetes and prevention of its complications.A few years ago, there was a breakthrough for islet cell transplant technology and it may become the main treatment for diabetes, especially Diabetes Type 1. Treatment - Change of LifeStyle Structure House, a residential weight loss center, presented data from a research study of obese individuals in a residential weight loss program showing a correlation among degree of weight loss, reduced cardiometabolic risk factors including cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure, and lowered risk score. The data also showed that greater weight loss was associated with greater reduction in participants’ diabetes risk score. Obese individuals can lower their diabetes risk score through acute lifestyle changes. [2011 American Diabetes Association 71st Scientific Sessions] Herbs, Supplements Some people consider glucose-lowering effects (hypoglycemic effects) as a side effect (unwanted effect), while some consider glucose-lowering effects as a therapeutic effect. Low glucose level can cause coma, convulsion or even death. Can we really say the herbs / supplements/food with hypoglycemic activities is therapeutic? On the other hand, an appropriate dose of such supplements can benefit people suffered from diabetes. Here is a list of food, herbs and supplements possibly having such activities: 1. Bitter Melon 2. Stevia 3. Chromium 4. Cordyceps 5. Resveratrol 6. Beet fiber 7. Ginger 8. Cod liver oil 9. Aloe Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are usually served as adjuvants used to improve diabetic syndromes in combination of routine antidiabetic drugs. For single-herb prescriptions, Ginseng, Bitter melon, Golden Thread, Fenugreek, Garlic, and Cinnamon might have antidiabetic effects in T2DM patients. Among 30 antidiabetic formulas approved by the State Food and Drugs Administrator of China, top 10 of the most frequently prescribed herbs are Membranous Milkvetch Root, Rehmannia Root, Mongolian Snakegourd Root, Ginseng, Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit, Kudzuvine Root, Dwarf Lilyturf Tuber, Common Anemarrhena Rhizome, Barbary Wolfberry Fruit, and India Bread. Their action mechanisms are related to improve insulin sensitivity, stimulate insulin secretion, protect pancreatic islets, and even inhibit intake of intestinal carbohydrates. [Xie W et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011] Transplantation Shinichi Matsumoto at Kyoto University Hospital, Japan, successfully transplanted insulinmaking cells, i.e. islets, from a living donor's pancreas into a woman suffered from insulin-dependent diabetes for years. This is the first successful transplantation using the islets from a living donor. Now, both women have a healthy tolerance to glucose. Pancreatic Cell Transplant from Living Donor Could Treat Diabetes, Newswire, April 18, 2006. |
Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) is a life-long disease characterized by elevated sugar levels in the blood. It affects more than 16 million Americans. When food is digested, glucose enters the bloodstream. At the same time, pancreas releases insulin to regulate the glucose levels in the bloodstream. When pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the cells in our body e.g. liver cells, fat cells and muscle do not respond to insulin, high blood glucose occurs. |