Diabetes is a serious illness affecting America over the last decade.
Though it is a well-known disease, there is no cure for it; but only
management, to prevent worsening the condition and further
complications. There are two categories of diabetes.
Type I is known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In IDDM,
the lack of insulin stems from destruction of the beta cells that prevent the
body from producing insulin. It usually occurs early in life, during
childhood, and the young patient is made to live with a lifetime of insulin
injections.
Type II, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), makes up the
majority of diabetes cases, estimated that about 13 million people in the
US. Unlike Type I, the pancreas of Type II patients eventually wears out,
and no longer produces sufficient insulin that is recognized by the body. It
can creep along unnoticed for years, and is usually diagnosed when one is
an adult (25 years old above).
Based on the two types, it seems that only the administration of insulin is
the only solution to the management of the disease. However, recent
studies show that insulin is not alone in combating the diabetes. Here are
a few significant vitamins, minerals and supplements against diabetes.
Vitamin D & Diabetes
Vitamin D is a nutrient found in the body that contains calcium and
phosphorus, chemicals needed for bone growth and strength. It is formed
on the skin, when cholesterol at the subcutaneous level interacts with the
ultraviolet rays of the sun. Traditionally known as the nutrient to combat
osteoporosis (bones becoming brittle due to loss of calcium), Vitamin D has
been tested and found to prevent diabetes as well.
A research conducted in Finland, where people are exposed to very little
sunlight, proved that Vitamin D protected children against high blood
sugar, a first sign of diabetes. The experiment was conducted on 12,000
children who were administered Vitamin D from birth (1966). Researchers
published in 2001 that they have observed that 80% of the risks for
diabetes were reduced, mainly preventing high blood sugar, than that of
those that did not receive Vitamin D supplements. However,
Endocrinologists desire more validation for this result because they have
found no correlation yet between the efficacies of the Vitamin with the
nature of diabetes. They also caution that too much of Vitamin D is toxic,
thus the administration must be under the supervision of a doctor.
Vitamin E
Next up in the alphabet, Vitamin E. For the past decade, health and
nutrition experts have concluded that antioxidants help combat free
radicals, bad cells in the body that cause diseases like cancer and type II
diabetes, together with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Well, since type II
diabetes is a condition of voluntary cell dysfunction, antioxidants can help
in this aspect. Antioxidants include among others, Vitamin E.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found in milk, plant leaves and wheat
germ oil. It has been proven to aid reproduction in both lab experiments
and actual human experience. A widely used form of Vitamin E, alphatocopherol
is ingested into the body in the form of gel capsules. Though its
effect in diabetes prevention is real, an increase in the vitamin intake was
not proven to be proportional to the level of prevention.
Minerals & Diabetes
Minerals are inorganic nutrients that are essential in normal bodily
functions as well as combat diseases, like diabetes.
Magnesium and potassium are minerals that aid in carbohydrate and
protein metabolism. The proper breakdown and synthesis of carbohydrate
into simple sugars is a function that diabetics lack. With the aid of the two
minerals, it can help prevent the disease.
Chromium and zinc facilitate the recognition of insulin in the body.
Supplements
A third type of nutrient that fight diabetes is organic supplements.
Blueberry is a fruit that is rich in antioxidants, which can address free
radicals that cause body cells to malfunction. They particularly improve
sight, which can help alleviate diabetic blindness.
Mamordica Charantia (bitter melon) is a vegetable that is rich in nutrients
that enhance the production of beta cells, thus improving insulin production
by the pancreas. In the Philippines, where the plant originates, it is a
recommended supplement. Chinese herbal medicine also swears by this
plant and actually uses it traditionally to address sterility, skin diseases and
gastro-intestinal diseases. If one is able to tolerate the bitter taste, then it
promises a high chance of improving pancreatic activity (by as much as
54%).
Coupled with a sensible diet and healthy lifestyle, using vitamins, minerals
and supplements like the ones above, can help fight diabetes.
Protein & Diabetes
Do you know that the number of individuals acquiring diabetes, particular
Type 2 diabetes or adult onset diabetes is increasing? Makes this news
more alarming is the fact that diabetes nowadays is not only hitting adults.
There are even some reports suggesting that young people and children
are acquiring diabetes. Around sixteen million individuals in the country are
suffering from diabetes according to the United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Much has been said about the link between a high carb diet and diabetes
but very little is documented about the connection between protein and
diabetes. In fact, the role of protein in the diet of people at risk or suffering
from diabetes has been marred in controversy. According old studies, most
of the protein consumed was converted to glucose in the liver and raises
blood glucose level as it entered the bloodstream.
Like carbohydrate, protein is also converted into glucose by a process
called gluconeogenesis. And also similarly, the speed of this process
depends on the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas and the blood
glucose control.
According to the same old studies, diabetic individuals convert protein to
glucose very rapidly which can lead to a very negative effect on blood
glucose level. In healthy, normal individuals, the intake of protein can
stimulate insulin release as much as carbohydrates can. This has led
experts to believe that eating protein does not help avoid hypoglycemia.
However, new studies have shown that while and estimated 50% to 60% of
protein consumed is converted to glucose, it does not enter the
bloodstream and thus does not raise the rate of glucose discharge by the
liver. Nobody has yet to discover where the glucose goes. One theory
speculates that it is probably stored in the liver or muscles as glycogen. But
experts agree that it is least likely to affect blood glucose levels.
Now it is recommended hat people at with or at risk of acquiring diabetes
includes more protein in their diets. The suggested amount of protein is 15
to 20 percent of the daily calorie intake. The protein however should be
distributed throughout all the meals. In eating animal protein, one should
make sure to choose only the lean parts and combine them with nonanimal
protein like those found in vegetables.
The amount of protein intake must not increase 20 percent of calories
though as this may lead to the development of kidney disease. People with
kidney problems should reduce the amount of protein intake to slow down
or halt the progression of the disease.
One way to include more protein in your diet to prevent diabetes is to have
protein servings first during mealtime then have carbohydrate rich foods
served second.
An advantage of having protein serving first during mealtime is that it can
reduce the amount of carbohydrate intake of your body. The logic here is
that you would already fill full after the serving of protein so you would
have less inclination to consume carbohydrates.
Individuals who have diabetes or who are at risk of getting the disease do
not have the ability to process carbohydrates particularly sugars properly.
This is why a diet high in carbohydrates has always been linked to an
increased risk of diabetes. Individuals suffering from diabetes and those
who believe they are at a moderate or high risk of getting the disease must
carefully follow a diet regimen that is low in carbohydrates. This is to
ensure that their sugar levels would not be affected by an increase intake
of carbs.
One simple fact that people should remember about carbohydrates is that
they all break down into simple sugars. Whether you are eating complex
carbohydrates like brown rice or whole wheat bread or you are consuming
simple sugars like candies and white sugar, they would all end up as simple
sugars inside your body.
Complex and simple carbohydrates differ only in the rate at which they are
converted to basic sugars. Carbohydrates are converted to simple sugars
from five minutes to 3 hours after consumption. Complex carbohydrate
breaks down slower than simple sugars. This means that the impact of
simple sugars and complex carbohydrates in the blood sugar level of
individuals differs.
Individuals must therefore take note of their daily carbohydrate
consumption in order to prevent diabetes. This is a very important thing to
do if you really do not want to raise your blood sugar level. A good and
effective way to achieve this is to eat protein serving first during mealtime.
Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements & Diabetes 
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