Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 is a risk factor for heart disease and it tends to develop particularly when we don’t cope with stress, don’t sleep enough, don’t eat nutritional diets and don’t exercise regularly. Diabetes Type II is completely preventable.  Adequate prevention requires regular exercise, weight management, dietary changes and smoking cessation.

Taking nutritional supplements helps your body better regulate its blood sugar.  The heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys and nerves are susceptible to damage from diabetes. Vitamins, minerals and herbs can protect organs that become over worked or damaged with poor blood sugar metabolism.

First, a review of the Vitamins and minerals that help prevent Diabetes Mellitus type II.  Chromium improves the processing of glucose in people with pre-diabetic glucose intolerance.  Double-blind research shows that chromium supplements improve glucose tolerance in people with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and can increase cell sensitivity to insulin. Magnesium tends to be low in people who have diabetes. This can be problematic because the secretion and action of insulin require magnesium. Taking magnesium can help prevent a deficiency that would lead to problems with blood sugar regulation. Biotin is a B vitamin that is needed to process glucose. Clinical trials have shown a drop in fasting blood glucose levels in diabetics when they take biotin. Vitamin C lowers sorbitol in diabetics. Sorbitol is a sugar that can accumulate and damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys of diabetics.Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that helps prevent damage from free radical oxidation. Vitamin E prevents blood from clotting too fast and has other effects that protect diabetics’ blood vessels from damage. 

Two important antioxidants can be taken to address free radical damage associated with poor blood sugar metabolism.  Coenzyme Q10 is needed for normal carbohydrate metabolism. This is important because carbohydrates get transformed into glucose and when they are not broken down properly. Coenzyme Q10  acts as a potent antioxidant which helps address tissue damage from high blood sugar.   Lipoic Acid improves the cells’ insulin sensitivity which helps take glucose from the blood into cells; an example would be muscle cells. It is a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to slow the progression of kidney damage in people with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. 

There are several botanical medicines that are effective in preventing Diabetes Mellitus Type II.  Gymnema improves the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar. It may stimulate the pancreas to produce in people with Type 2 diabetes.  It is not a substitute for insulin, but insulin amounts may need to be lowered while taking Gymnema to avoid hypoglycemia. Fenugreek seeds are high in soluble fiber which helps lower blood sugar by slowing down carbohydrate digestion and absorption. Animal research suggests that Fenugreek may also contain a substance that stimulates insulin production and improves blood sugar control.  Supplementing with Psyllium has been shown to be a safe and well-tolerated way to improve control of blood glucose and cholesterol. In one double-blind trial, men with type 2 diabetes who took psyllium daily lowered their blood glucose, their total cholesterol, and their LDL (bad) cholesterol. Asian ginseng is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes. It has been shown to enhance the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of cell receptors for insulin. A recent study found that taking ginseng extract daily improves blood sugar control as well as energy levels in people with Diabetes Mellitus Type II. Bitter Melon in the form of a food, juice or a water extract may improve blood-sugar control in people with Type 2 Diabetes. Bitter melon can usually be found in Indian Grocery stores.

It is often ideal to have one product that includes many of these other ingredients, DB-7 is such a product.

Dr. Liz and Dr. Erin are happy to help you navigate the numerous supplementation choices when it comes to preventing Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. The take-home message here is that Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 can be prevented.  Even if you already have Diabetes don’t despair, there are many naturopathic healing techniques that can be used to help you attain good health. Take the time to take care of yourself.  Adopt lifestyle and dietary changes that support healthy function of your cells, tissues and organs.  If patients feel they need more help with diet specifically, we typically review the patient's dietary record, known as a "diet diary", over one-to-two weeks and then offer specific suggestions.