At A Glance:
- May be autoimmune, dietary, or occur from birth onward
- Characterized by chronically high blood sugar
- Has three (3) main types: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational
- Can be effectively treated by dietary and lifestyle modification or by insulin therapy depending on type and severity
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Is this you?
You sleep, and sleep, and sleep, and sleep, but you swear you're still tired. And THIRSTY!!! Holy crap, are you thirsty!!! But your body won't retain it. Why won't it hold the fluids??? It seems like all you do is go to the bathroom -- day and night. And sleep. And drink more liquids. And go to the bathroom...
It is possible for these symptoms to be related to other causes, but this combination of effects is a well recognized sign of diabetes.
"Oh lord, could it be?!? I've heard so many bad things about diabetes... it can't be me... can it??? I mean, I'm a bit overweight, but who isn't these days? And I've got to have my sodas to keep me awake, but everyone drinks sodas, right?"
Well, it sounds like it's time to start figuring out what your body is trying to tell you!
What it is:
As the seventh (7th) leading cause of death in the United States, diabetes is fast becoming one of the most common afflictions we face in society today. It is rare to not know at least one person who has it, and it is characterized primarily by fatique, excessive hunger, and unusually high thirst and urination levels.
Make it Go AWAY!
There can be quite a few nasty side-effects to having diabetes (poor circulation, loss of limbs, vision impairment) so it's not surprising we would like it to go away as rapidly as possible. Interestingly, with each year that passes, it is becoming more apparent diabetes is a disease of affluence, and this is really good news because it means it is possible to stop the associated negative behavior. If we do, we are likely to get ourselves back under control. To do this, we need to recognize that we are all built pretty much the same in our inabilities to tolerate high levels of processed "foods." By using what sound like unconventional methods, there are those among us who seem to have reversed diabetes in themselves.
Education: What happens when you have diabetes -
I have never liked the stigma our society applies to many of our "diseases" -- that being a perception of, "once we have a 'chronic disease', we always have that 'chronic disease', and it cannot be cured." It is rather like saying, "once you have brown eyes, you always have brown eyes. You cannot be cured of them." Really? This is a genetic part of us. What is there to cure???
So, the first thing in understanding diabetes lies in recognizing it is a part of who we are -- it is part of our uniqueness just as our eye and hair colors, the shapes of our mouths, and so on are all part of what make us special and unique. And all of this craziness we have gone though is actually a good thing -- a very good thing -- because it gives us a chance to learn more about ourselves and grow powerful as individuals and ultimately triumph over one of the more difficult aspects of life!!!
Now, how do we get diabetes? Well, with type 1, we may have been born with a non-functioning pancreas, and there is new evidence that it may be autoimmune related, though it may also be that environmental factors make it more or less likely to show its ugly head depending on circumstances. When it comes to type 2 and Gestational, it seems to be all environmental.
A likely scenario is that we build toxins in our bodies from at least two different sources, primarily: 1) the digestion of foods that are really not proper foods for us, and 2) the digestion of harmful additives found in what we eat. These toxins, for some reason, begin to inhibit proper insulin production -- maybe by settling in or around the pancreas causing our immune systems to mount an attack which begins to destroy the pancreas itself. Since the toxins are accumulating faster than the levels our normal channels can handle to eliminate them, our bodies view them as antigens, and the immune system sets to work attacking. Unfortunately, the zealousness of the immune system would be what damages the pancreas causing some major problems in our bodies from that point forward.
Can this be what really happens with diabetes? At present the complexities of the human body make it difficult to know entirely. It does seem quite plausible, but the only way to really test our theories is to eliminate things we should not be eating and observe our insulin response seeing it gradually return to normal once we hit on the correct eliminations.
Treatment: how to stop it -
This actually follows a process naturopaths have recognized for centuries -- that autoimmune and diet dependent conditions like diabetes are a physiologically programmed response to something we are doing wrong to ourselves so the key to reversing diabetes is to eliminate the triggers (providing we still have a pancreas capable of functioning -- which many people do if they have developed diabetes later in life). Basically, we need to bring our bodies back into balance with their environments so they can focus fully on healing themselves!
Since the affliction and triggers are different in all of us, this is no simple task, but the process can be made as easy as possible by recommending a simple type of fasting which entails first eliminating nearly everything but the most benign of foods (it is only for a little while to start) and eating as much raw food, like vegetables, as we can. Once the diabetes starts vanishing, we know something(s) we were eating is the primary trigger in us. This process would be continued until the diabetes signs are completely gone at which point foods would be gradually added back to see what happens.
As these are normally considered harmless foods to everyone, the ones recommended to eat initially are:
- proteins: cod, sardines, walnuts (omit for known allergies to tree nuts)
- fats: olive oil
- greens: beet greens, broccoli, collard greens1, kale1 (raw is optimal)
- fruits: blueberries, cherries, figs, pineapple, plums (raw is optimal)
- spices: ginger root, fresh or dried parsley, onions (raw is optimal)
- drinks: water (pure and filtered, spring water preferred)
All others would be removed from the diet temporarily including grains and starches which are quite often part of the problem. (Believe it or not, breads and pastas are often a huge problem for a lot of people, not just because of allergies, but because they are very inflammatory to the body and generate high spikes in blood sugar (high glycemic index).)
In many cases, a strict vegan diet for one or two years works wonders to improve energy levels and clear a bothersome medical condition. Some people even maintain that course for life -- truly a very healthy path though I personally feel after a two year or so cleansing period, it is likely a person could add back some non-vegan foods in small quantities (fish or fowl, for example) without suffering further negative effects. Again, changes would need to be carefully tested.
Herbs and Alternatives -
After narrowing the diet down to the above list for a period of time, hopefully you begin to find some relief. At this point, there are some things you can add in, one at a time, to see if they have an added positive and, perhaps, healing effect. Keep in mind that while many medicinal herbs are safe and side-effect free, not everyone can safely take all herbs. Some herbs may not be right for your body, some herbs can be very potent and potentially dangerous, and if you are pregnant or nursing, you should ask a medical doctor if you have any questions. The following may be helpful to you and should be tested individually to mark your reaction:
- Beta carotene: (from carrots, pumpkin, beets) is an antioxidant which helps reduce cancer risk (except in current smokers where lung cancer risk is actually increased). It also improves vision characteristics when it converts to vitamin A which is stored in the eye in large quantities. This can be highly beneficial to the diabetic.
- Bilberry: may help improve vision (as reported by RAF pilots in World War II) -- especially night vision, and may help reduce macular inflammation
- Cod liver oil: has wonderful anti-inflammatory effects on the body but does contain significant amounts of Vitamins A and D
- Copper: is beneficial primarily in the sense that it offsets zinc intake since zinc and copper compete in the body. If supplementing with zinc, a 7:1 ratio of zinc:copper should be maintained; however, copper is not normally something we need to add to our diets. Good sources of copper are: black beans, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pinto beans, portabella mushrooms, pumpkin and squash seeds, seaweed, sesame seeds, shrimp, and walnuts
- Echinacea: increases the quantity of immune system cells, particularly NK ("natural killer" or anti-tumor) cells, and elevates their activity level in the body, but its biggest benefit to the diabetic may lie in its promotion of new tissue growth in damaged area. The diabetic must use caution though as noted below under complications.
- Fish oil: has some incredible anti-inflammatory effects on the body
- Gingko biloba: helps the body improve blood flow which can be restricted in the diabetic body
- Ginger: is a potent anti-inflammatory which has been shown to dramatically reduce inflammatory markers in the intestines.
- Leutine: (from spinach, egg yokes, zucchini) seems to play an important part in keeping the eye healthy and even preventing macular degeneration
- Turmeric: is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory root
- Vitamin C: the eye stores massive quantities of vitamin C in both the vitreous humor and in the retina. Having the right levels is important to eyesight as well as to the body in general
- Vitamin E: is a strong antioxidant which also helps dilate blood vessels. Good sources are: almonds, avocado, broccoli, brown rice, dandelion greens, green olives, hazel nuts, pine nuts, sardines, spinach, and sunflower seeds
- Zinc: is is used by the body to create numerous enzymes and is found in the retina in extremely high concentrations compared to the rest of the body. This can help protect the diabetic eye. High zinc intake depletes copper in the body; therefore, if supplementing with zinc, a 7:1 ratio of zinc:copper should be maintained. Good zinc sources include: beef, black beans, brown rice, cashews, eggs, flax seeds, mozzarella, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pinto beans, pumpkin and squash seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, venison, walnuts, and white beans
One MD has actually done a great deal of research in this area over the past few years, and he has had significant success reversing diabetes by having his patients follow a strict vegan diet for the remainder of life. This is truly a very healthy path though I do feel after a two year or so cleansing period, it is likely a person could add back some non-vegan foods in small quantities (fish or fowl, for example) without suffering further negative effects. Again, test for the results in yourself carefully.
Questions:
What about acupuncture? -
I am a strong supporter of acupuncture having seen positive effects first hand. When acupuncture is used, more than two thirds (2/3) of the patients having been studied report substantial improvement of their diabetes conditions as well as with cholesterol and triglycerides. Acupuncture seems to allow the body to heal itself more readily and restore normal function in ways we cannot always do alone. Clearly it can be seen as a recommended treatment for diabetes.
Question: What if I don't eat those foods or don't know how to eat those foods? -
Given that what you have been doing up to this point is not working out for you, it seems change is in order. There are plenty of recipes available with an easy search online, and they can help you learn how to prepare new foods.
Another question: Um... that's a pretty short list. I can't limit myself to only this list, can I? -
Ask yourself, "do I want to live???" Remember, this is your health we're talking about -- your life! It's well worth doing everything you can to get on top of it! And, it is only for a short time at first.
Next question: Can changing my lifestyle and diet really improve my health and make me feel better? -
Absolutely!
If our bodies cannot tolerate a so-called "food" on the inside, then it is a poison to us, and a poison is a poison no matter how small the quantity. When we stop poisoning ourselves, we start feeling better. I have seen the difference in my life, and countless others have seen the differences in their lives, but don't just take someone's word; try it yourself -- really try it!
Shouldn't I just follow the standard scientific approach to healing? -
You may if you wish; it is an option; however, you should also be aware of the pitfalls with this approach toward health and healing, and the number one pitfall is how it takes the "innocent until proven guilty" viewpoint in saying, "there's no proof." This is great for the legal system, but it's not so great when ignorance is traded for potentially vast damage to the body. A prime example of this is smoking of tobacco which, despite being linked to cancer by German scientists as far back as the late 1920's, was not proven in popular culture and the medical and legal communities to be detrimental to health until the last decade or so. Yet, it was still causing ill effects to health the entire time.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is another example. In the 1980's protocol to help prevent SIDS was to place babies to sleep on their backs. By the '90's, the science world had realized the error of its ways and now proclamied babies should sleep on their stomachs. But in the new millenium, the "safest" method was again to place them to sleep on their backs. Such capriciousness is a clear indication of a lack of understanding how to handle the problem.
A final point though is, why re-invent the wheel? In many ways, we already have what we need. A myriad of herbs and various plants along with other techniques that have evolved over the centuries are often already sufficient to solve today's health problems.
This sounds awfully good! Why don't I hear about these options from regular doctors? -
You're right! It is good, and to some extent, we do hear from them about diet as a treatment for diabetes, but usually only as a small part of the treatment. The big reasons for this are money, licensing, and legal protocols. In general, a licenced medical practitioner cannot prescribe a treatment to a patient if it isn't FDA approved nor completely neglect a "viable" treatment that is approved. Under current standards, an herbal and/or natural treatment plan will never be submitted to the FDA for review and subsequent approval because large drug companies and medical organizations cannot profit from them since they cannot create a unique or proprietary patent on herbs or natural treatments. Luckily, many foreign countries such as Germany have seen value in alternative treatments so they have gone ahead with research in these areas.
Examples and Success Stories:
Examples: success stories -
While it may seem common sense that a healthy diet would help reverse type II diabetes, some of us like to hear stories of others who have had success in such endeavors. In present society, several medical doctors including noted MD, Neal Barnard, have had a great deal of success with numerous patients or with research in reversing type II diabetes using strongly vegan diets.
Complications and Links to Other Diseases:
Complications: other things to consider -
Echinacea - this herb is a strong immune system stimulant. It is normally not recommended to combine autoimmune conditions with an immune stimulant due to the likelihood of aggrevating the condition, diabetes in this case. However, there may be some instances throughout the diabetic life where the immune system does need the boost echinacea can offer. For example, echinacea promotes the growth of new tissue in damaged areas (e.g. ulcers, cuts, scrapes, and so on). Caution and balance should be used here.
Sugars (added) - refined, and even unrefined cane sugars, along with corn syrup, and molasses are very inflammatory to the body and should be avoided. In the diabetic, sugar is of particular sensitivity. Now, fruits and vegetables are normally very healthy and should be eaten, especially in cases of vegan diets; however, some fruits and vegetables are higher than others in natural sugars so the diabetic needs to monitor even these sugar intake levels until (s)he reaches a point where insulin levels are consistently stable. Finally, sugars also support candida overgrowth which can have a negative impact on health.
Fatigue - this is a significant factor in cases of diabetes when insulin levels are off, and there are several herbs which may be of benefit. Both ginger and turmeric are recommended because of their anti-inflammatory effects as well as their ability to improve alertness. Gingko biloba and ginseng can also help improve energy levels since gingko dilates blood vessels and ginsing has a distinct stimulating effect.
Conventional Treatments:
Conventional treatment of diabetes is aimed primarily in one or more of three directions: - diet
- oral medications
- insulin therapy
In version one, diet, the main goal is to keep caloric intake limited so as not to overload the body with excess blood glucose. A carefully balanced diet of foods with a low glycemic index are usually the dietary goal.
Version two, oral medications, makes use of pills to help control the body's blood sugar levels. People who take diabetes pills are usually type 2 diabetics who still manufacture some insulin -- just not enough. There are several different types of pills, and usually the pills are effective only for awhile after which these diabetics will require insulin therapy.
The third option, insulin therapy, may be the only option available for type 1 diabetics. The goal is to replace the body's missing insulin through insulin injections. There are different types if insulin used. Some act quickly and last for shorter durations while others act gradually and for longer time periods. Lifestyle plays a part in developing the most effective insulin strategy.
No one of these approaches is perfect because no one of them solves the underlying problem -- the lack of insulin output -- much of which may be caused by a powerful immune system correctly attacking by-product toxins in the body resulting from improper habits and diet and located in places toxins should not be located -- somewhere in the pancreas. While type 1 diabetics may never get proper pancreatic function, type 2 and gestational diabetics should strongly investigate diet as an underlying cause.
Footnotes:
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