How do you battle Diabetes?

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I've noticed that several of you have posted that either your spouse or yourself is diabetic, How do you battle it?

My sugar was 294 this morning and for the life of me I can't figure WHY. I've been eating less and doing more. I have tried GTF Chromium and several other herbs. None seem to help.

I have avoided taking the shots as my skin is ultra sensitive. Its now became a intense issue. So tell me your battle plan and methods of controlling this monster.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001

Answers

I don't have diabetes, but I have talked to a mountain of people that do.

Here's the key: diabetes is a lack of insulin. You need insulin to control the carbohydates you eat. If you eat no carbohydrates, you don't need insulin. Carbohydrates is the one macro-nutrient that your body does not need.

Don't take my word for it. Research it.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), February 12, 2001.


Kenneth, I have found that the book "Protein Power" by Michael R. Eades,MD and Mary Dan Eades, MD, to be very informative and it makes a great deal of sense to me. Very much on the order of what Kenneth is talking about. It is the first thing I would try if I were running a high blood sugar, what have you got to lose? My friend has done it, the suggested diet plan, and has lowered her blood sugar, triglycerides, colesteral and blood pressure. It offers some theories as to why this is such a "modern man's syndrome".

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 12, 2001.

My daughter is a diabetic. She is 6 1/2 and has been a diabetic since she was 18 months old. Morning highs are a think we deal with constantly. The doctors call it a dawn phenomenon. Your sugar levels rise during the night for no explainable reason. It is nothing you did or didn't do. My daughters skin is also very sensitive and we use an ultra fine needle that she hardly even feels. You may or may not be aware of the hazzards ( major health concerns ) that you could incur by not keeping your sugar levels under tight control. I strongly urge you to get in contact with a good endocrinologist who can help you. The library also has a great many books reguarding the subject.

-- Robin Frontz (frontzfarm@1st.net), February 12, 2001.

I have hypoglycimia, which is the opposite of diabites, low blood sugar. I find that I need as much as twice the amount of protein as 'normal' people. I also cannot eat nearly as much sugary stuff. This means that I can control this through diet as long as I stick to it. By eating what I produce out of my garden and chickens and rarely having dessert I don't have problems.

Check out what sort of diet, (high protein, whatever) works for diabetics. You may have other problems that effect this as well. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), February 12, 2001.


There are two types of diabetes; type I that is insulin dependent and type II, which may not be. Type I is generally when you are younger and type II when older. Look them up for more complete definitions.

I am type II and it sounds like you may be also. It can b controlled with oral medication, if bad enough, and diet. You may not produce enough insulin or what you do produce may not be effective. As far as I know they can not tell the difference by testing and try different treatments. I take a small pill once a day to increase the production of insulin and a pill with each meal to make what I do produce more effective. When mine was diagnosed, blood sugar was over 300 after a 12 hour fast and now, four years later, test from 90 to 110.

I do a major amount of control through diet. NO, absolutely none, simple carbs like pasta, bread and potatoes, sugar, etc. I eat all the complex carbs I want, like green beans, cabbage, some kinds of dry beans, etc. Also a very low caloric diet, about 1500 per day, little fat (olive oil mainly). You may email me for more discussion, if you wish.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), February 12, 2001.



Kenneth, I think you need to see a doctor. Have you gone through an educational program for your diabetes? I have a friend who was just diagnosed type II and her young daughter was diagnosed a few weeks later with Type I juvenile onset. They went to the Children's Hospital for a week of education on both of them. It's a complex problem, and not one easily fix with a few herbs and good thoughts. I wish you the best.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001.

Ken,

"Chromium picolinate is a nutitional supplement that can help control diabetes" From my book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Drs. Balch. It describes the supplement then suggests consulting a nutritionally oriented physician. This book also has a big section on diabietes. It is sold in most book and healthfood stores so I'm sure it's also in the library.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), February 12, 2001.


Kenneth, I truly hope you are seeing a good doctor, but it makes me wonder if you are. Diabetes is a very serious illness, high blood sugar is very hard on your body and can permanently damage your kidneys and your eyes as well as other organs. Type 1 diabetes is where your body does not produce any insulin and type 2 you produce insulin but it is sporadic. the oral medication stimulates your body to produce enough insulin to break down the sugars in your food. A good diet is very very important and should be done with your age and lifestyle considered, and should be done by a registered dietician who specializes in diabetic diets. If you must take the insulin injections, use the ultra-fine needles and try it around the "belly-button" I have been told by diabetics that it is easier to tolerate and little to no pain involved. Please be very careful in how you treat this illness and pay special attention to your feet, toes, hands and fingers as diabetes affects your circulation and the smallest of injury to your toes and fingers can cause infection and/or gangrene. Good luck and please take care of yourself.

-- karen (kansasgoats@iwon.com), February 12, 2001.

Oopps Ken, I missed that you tried it already. Sorry.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), February 12, 2001.

Ken, a couple more comments. I tried chromium picolinate and it about killed me. It is the only thing I added at that time and there was no doubt it was the culprit. It is my understanding once you start on insulin injections there is no stopping or changing to oral meds.

This is not an easy sickness that you get over in a few weeks -- it is for life. The better you take care of yourself the longer you live.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), February 12, 2001.



Ken, I don't post much anymore, but in your case I will make an exception. GO SEE A GOOD DOCTOR!!! And don't wait about it. As you can see from lynn(sp?) you may be able to control this w/o insulin injections. Diet and exercise can do wonders for this condition. I know many people who have excellant results w/o meds at all.(early onset typeII)

I also see folks every day at work who don't take care of it w/ DEVASTATING results. Diabetes destroys every system in the body if left unchecked. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to get good medical advice from someone you trust.

Something to keep in mind or maybe motivate you with....The Viagra won't help w/ diabetic disfunction. One of the earliest problems associated w/ diabetes no one ever talks about. E mail me if I can help w/ anything. John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001.


I am diabetic and manage to control it with dite and exercise. At least up to this point. The disese will progress and get worse untill I have to go on insulin if I live long enough. It is giving me problems with my heart and nerve damage to my feet and hands. No one is a little diabetic, you either are, or not. If your sugar levels are that high you need to see a doctor now. Don't try to treat yourself. This is not a do it yourself project. You are in serious danger.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), February 13, 2001.

Ken...Diabetes is an awful thing to live with everyday my 17 yr. old son is diabetic.You need to take better care of your levels.!!!!I'm assuming 294 is like 29.4 in Canadian counts.Have you talked to somebody about finer needles ?We had been given improper info at first and boy! when you get another caregiver to instruct you life is so much nicer.Try everything and keep trying.Thanks to good care and insulin Diabetes does not have to b a drag.My son's counts were horrific this year he ran between 16 and 24 for a year (normal for non-diabetics would be 4-6.9)we finally got him on a pump through our insurance company.What a difference in his counts and his attitude.Maybe you could see about that Ken it's one needle every 3-4 days.When my son takes vitamin C in ascorbic acid form his blood runs very very low.I wish I could be of more helpPlease don't avoid your shots if little kids can do it so can you.Keep trying ask your pharmacist too,for shorter and finer needles.If you can't get em I will send you some....teri

-- teri murphy (mrs_smurf2000@yahoo.ca), February 13, 2001.

Ken, I am sorry, when I made my response about the book, I was ASSUMING,(there's that word again) that you were under medical care and having problems controling your sugar with oral meds and were hoping for one more try at something before having to go to injectable insulin. I should have been more clear on the facts since if your body is not producing any insulin, the recomended diet would only make it easier to control with medication. If you are not currently under a good doctor's care, than you should be. John was not just whistling dixie when he said diabetes out of control will cause distruction in all areas of the body. Please let us know how you come out. Again, sorry for my previous assumption.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 13, 2001.

Ok let me add a little more info. I am on Oral Meds. (Avandia, Glucotrol XL, GlucoVance) and Norvasc for hypertension. I have been to 6 doctors so far.

I first found out I was diabetic in 1977. I've tried all kinds of meds including diabeta, glyburide, glucophaugh, and prandin. I have not YET started on the shots.

I've tried the herbs most often suggested for diabetes. They haven't helped yet. I know herbs work for some things. In 1980 I had a minor stroke I was told that my condition would not improve. Things I thought in my head seemed normal but I couldn't get them out. I spent 14 ten hour days researching vitamins & herbs I came up with my own treatment plan. My doctor told me just to accept my situation. I did not listen to him. After 30 days of self treatment New pathways were formed and my communication skills returned. The doctor was amazed. He still won't admit that vitamins, herbs and amino's were responsible for my recovery, BUT I know they were.

I also know that somewhere out there is the Mormon Doctor that was perscuted in California for giving home remedys to patients. He treated my grandmother and CURED her diabetes. She was a diabetic for 60 years taking 80cc per day. After 21 days of treatment she no longer needed insulin shots and her sugar never raised above 165 again. She lived 8 more years after the treatment. She died peacefully in her sleep in 1996 on Valentines day. I truly wish I could locate the doctor. I can't find his name in my notes so I guess unless by chance I'll never meet him.

I truly appreciate all the suggestions and concern here on this forum.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), February 13, 2001.



Go to www.shawneemoon.com & ask about ESSIAC.It is a multi-herb combination that I have seen help quite a few people.

-- Sparrowhawk (sparrowkiak@yahoo.com), February 14, 2001.

I hate to contradict you but Diabetes is never cured it is controlled. I come from a father and grandfather who both have/had it and cousins also.

My father was diagnosed in about 1970 with a BS of 900, it was found at Army Reserve Camp and they actually let him drive the 300 miles home - God was his copilot for sure. He was in the hospital locally for a few days and put on Oranase for the next 20 years. His BS averaged about 200 and his doctor just said, "Need to get it lower", during his annual exam. Finally I got him to see a doctor at the diabetes clinic where I worked. He was changed to Diabeta and then to shots. I am sure they hurt but he never complains. His BS now runs about 70 but he is nearly blind at age 70. He has had the max laser trmts for his eyes so what he has is what he must live with.

My grandfather was diagnosed at about age 70 and put on oral than shots. He eventually got it under control using diet but in the end he was back on the shots. A person is never cured, just controled for a while.

My favorite cousin became a brittle diabetes at age 5. He actually went into a coma duing a family reunion so I remember it vavidly. He always took his shots while living at home but got tired of them when on his own, so he stopped them. Today, at age 40 he has lost both legs and the slight in one eye. He has had 2 kidney transplants and has been "brought back" more times than anyone can count. He has made his peace and actually feels good for the first time in his life.

When people tell me they are "a little bit diabetic" I tell them that Diabetes is not Pregnancy, you either are or you are not - no middle of the road.

NOTE: Did you know that during the Great Depression new cases of DM were rare? People did not have the food with which to overeat and they were not seditary.

NOTE: If you go in for surgery take 1/2 of your usual insulin doseage before surgery to keep your BS from going too high. Then take the rest as normal with food. This is per one of the doctors at the diabetes clinic. Since my father has done this he has had no problems, before his BS would get up to 700 quickly and his mood, etc. would change to ugly.

-- Viv in TX (kudzu1@webtv.net), February 14, 2001.


VIV in Tx

Nope She was cured. She never took another insulin shot or any oral medication. She checked her sugar daily because she was afraid it would go back up. It never did in the 8 years after treatment. She often ate candy, ice cream, potatoes basically anything she had a mind to.

When she died she was still licensed to drive, no vision problems. I can't explain it and neither could the 6 specialist brouught in by Rutherford County Hospital.

If your religious you could say the Creator made a house call. Either way she always considered it a miracle.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), February 14, 2001.


re;Diabetes can not be curedThere are two types of diabetes related only by symptoms not genetically.Type one that kids get cannot be cured because their pancreas has kapput,finished ,....ceased producing insulin.and so they need to have insulin artificially.Diabetes diagnosed after 40 is type 2,and can be cured,because the body still makes insulin but cannot use it efficiently.The pills people with type two are given are often referred to as insulin pills and that would be inncorrect,they merely help the body to use what insulin it does produce,more effectively.TYpe 2 diabetes can be controlled and yes cured by diet and excercize and drugs where needed.

-- teri (mrs_smurf2000@yahoo.ca), February 14, 2001.

I thought I would make a positive comment. One of my coworkers who is fifty-four was diagnosed five years ago. She controls hers totally by diet. But she is very vigilant about pricking her finger and doing the blood test every day so she knows exactly how she is doing. She has experienced none of the side effects. The day she was diagnosed she heard one of the nurses in the doctor's office tell another nurse as she went by. She'll be back in a year with all sorts of complications. She decided to prove them wrong. And she has succeeded.

My brother on the other hand, thought the complications were inevidable and did not control his. He would check his blood about twice a year. He now has lost all feelings from his thighs down which make it hard for him to walk because he weighs 450 and cannot feel where his feet are under him. He is starting to get better about it now but is still nowhere near where he should be because he eats too much of what he feels like eating.

The bottom line is that I just wanted you to know that if you are very vigilant about what you eat SOME people can control the disease. Hopefully, you are one of the lucky ones. Please do not give up trying to find out what you need to do to control this disease. The alternative is not good. God bless you.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), February 16, 2001.


I have type 2 diabities and take 2 differnt oral meds. I was sent to a clinic for diabitics and where everyone has said not to eat patotoes or breads or sugars. Well they told me that i had to have them because they turn into sugar and your body runs on sugar. Carbs are 100% sugar meat turns into 60% sugar and fats are 10% sugar. The key is to balance them and eat them in moderation. You can get a copy of the diabetic diet at a doctor and if you cant get one you email me and i will get you one. Now about the feet the one thing that they stressed was to wash your feet daily and dry them completely and to put lotion on them but NOT between your toes. They said to cut your toe nails straight across and not to close. If you have a calouse on your foot let the doctor remove it or he may be removing your foot later. I dont know about the Herbs that will help you. My mother has taken the Calcium Pri--- stuff and it seem to help her control hers with out the medication. good luck dale

-- dale (dgarr@fidnet.com), February 16, 2001.

I recall there was a thread earlier about the use of mulberry leaf tea and the search for it in this country. My sister just sent me the following, because we have diabetes in both sides of our family (juvenile and late onset). I have no experience in this, I just got the information myself, however, in light of the large number of diabetics on the forum, and our searches for 'do it yourself' remedies, I offer the following:

http://www.beanpodtea.com/index.htm Beanpod Tea is an all natural, mild and pleasant tasting tea which is very beneficial for diabetics. This tea is a natural detox tea that detoxifies the pancreas and other related organs. Beanpod Tea is comprised of a combination of the pods of kidney, white, navy, great northern and baby lima beans. Beanpod Tea contains the following amino acids: tyrosine, trytophan, arginine plus the B vitamin choline and the enzyme betaine *************************************

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), February 17, 2001.


I think everyone needs to read The Diabetes Solution by Dr. Bernstein..also Protein Power, also books by Dr. Atkins. There is some very bad information given to diabetics by doctors and nutritionists. Read the research. Why in the world would they tell people to eat refined carbohydrates, which are the cause in most type II cases..and many type II have plenty of insulin...their bodies just don't have anywhere else to store the fat...they have reached capacity. Find a doctor who believes in weaning you from whatever medications you are on while you follow a diet high in vegetables (green, non-starchy), meats and natural fats and oils. If you are being told by medical professionals to eat lots of starches, look for other professionals. Read Syndrome X by Dr. Gerald Raven. mg

-- mary garvey (mgarvey@pacifier.com), October 04, 2001.

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