Do Natural Remedies Really Help Diabetics?

Intro to Diabetes and Natural Remedies

A position statement issued in 2001 by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) urged health care providers to speak with their patients about natural remedies and acknowledge when these alternative treatments were effective in treating Diabetes. In the book "Natural Remedies: Their Origins and Uses," Finn Sandberg and Desmond Corrigan state that an increasing percentage of Americans use natural remedies, such as herbal supplements, to improve their health.

Natural remedies such as herbal medicines have been used for as long as people have been populating planet Earth and getting sick. It has only been during the 20th century that synthetic organic chemistry became mainstream and replaced natural remedies as a popular means of treatment. As more and more people turn to alternative medicine and natural remedies, however, the trend in Western medicine may be shifting once again.

About Diabetes

Diabetes the disease actually has four different manifestations. Juvenile Diabetes, or Type 1, is an auto-immune disease that is believed to be genetic. The immune system essentially attacks the pancreas in Juvenile Diabetics and inhibits their bodies’ ability to produce insulin. People with Type 2 Diabetes do produce insulin, but they have much less sensitivity to use that insulin in processing blood glucose. Type 2 Diabetes may be more related to lifestyle than genetics. Though both these types of Diabetes have different causes, the symptom of high blood sugar levels and its related complications are the same.

The two other types of Diabetes are Gestational Diabetes (GD) and a somewhat new condition referred to as Type 1.5. GD is a temporary condition that develops in pregnant women during the second trimester. After women with Gestational Diabetes give birth, the condition goes away, though those women are then at greater risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in the future. Type 1.5 Diabetes is a combination of Types 1 and 2, whereby the pancreas produces less insulin and the body becomes increasingly less sensitive to insulin as well.

The Good News About Natural Remedies

The good news is that natural remedies can do more than control blood sugar levels for diabetics. This is good news because insulin and oral medicines do nothing to control the complications that arise from Diabetes. In fact, many prescribed oral medications cause cardiovascular complications as a possible side effect. This is extremely troubling since, according to the ADA, 2 out of 3 diabetics will die from cardiovascular disease or strokes.

Which Natural Remedies Can Help Diabetics?

Some common natural remedies for diabetics are cinnamon, turmeric, fenugreek and apple cider vinegar. Many people claim that diluting 1-2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in water and drinking this with meals has reduced their blood sugar levels post-meal. These spices and foods are beneficial in increasing circulation and in lowering blood sugar levels.

Exercise is also widely accepted as an effective natural remedy in controlling Diabetes. Experts recommend 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least four times per week to stabilize blood sugar levels and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Even walking for just thirty minutes each day has been shown to help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels.

Other effective natural remedies for diabetics are vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements. These have been proven to protect against infections, help cellular regeneration, increase insulin sensitivity and more. In a recent study by two universities in North Carolina, doctors discovered that a daily vitamin and mineral supplement made a big difference in decreasing the frequency and number of infections suffered by Type 2 diabetics.

Choosing an Herbal Supplement for Diabetics

There are many herbal supplements and natural remedies on the market for diabetics, although few do more than treat the symptom of high blood sugar levels. Diabetics should look for herbal supplements and natural remedies that increase immune system function, aid in anti-inflammation, cause cellular regeneration, battle oxidative stress and help repair the cardiovascular system. If left unmanaged, Diabetes and its complications can be extremely dangerous; nowadays, proper management means more than just managing high blood sugar levels.

My Recommended Herbal Supplement for Diabetics
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