Diabetes

Diabetes affects tens of millions of Americans, and it is estimated that a third of all people who have diabetes are unaware of their condition. Diabetes accounts for nearly ten percent of all U.S. deaths for people 25 and older. It is also the main cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years old, and it is the leading cause of end-stage renal (kidney) disease. In addition, diabetes is the primary reason for amputations of the limb, and is a leading cause of heart disease.

Testing for Diabetes
Diabetes is generally tested for by measuring the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. There are three types of tests that can be used for this purpose. One is a direct measurement of blood glucose levels after an overnight fast, and the second is a measurement of the body’s ability to handle excess sugar after drinking liquid glucose. A third test method, the glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test, measures the number of glucose molecules attached to haemoglobin over a period of two to three months.

The conventional “gold standard” for diagnosis of diabetes is a recurring elevated blood sugar level after an overnight fast. A fasting blood sugar value above 126 mg/dl on at least two separate occasions is said to be indicative of diabetes (whereas normal values are between 64 and 110 mg/dl). However, neither glucose metabolism problems, nor the early stages of Type II diabetes can be easily diagnosed without a 4 to 5 hour Glucose Tolerance Test that checks both glucose and insulin levels.

The goal of diabetic treatment is to restore near-euglycemia (blood sugar levels close to normal range) and to correct related metabolic disorders. Successful treatment requires diabetics to be actively involved in managing their special dietary and lifestyle needs. While insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetics have to be very diligent in the caring of the disease, we can expect diabetics to be successfully treated with diet, nutrition, stress management, exercise, detoxification, and herbs in about 95 percent of all diabetes cases.

Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes: insulin-dependent juvenile diabetes, or Type I diabetes, and non-insulin dependent diabetes, more commonly known as Type II diabetes. Both Type I and Type II diabetes are characterized by chronic high blood sugar levels, as well as other disturbances in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. Type II diabetes is by far the most prevalent form of diabetes, accounting for between 90 and 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States.

People with Type I diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or do not produce any insulin at all in their pancreatic islet cells due to beta cell failure or destruction. In Type I diabetes, blood sugar rises because little or no insulin enters the bloodstream. Because insulin is needed to metabolize the sugars, the body’s cells cannot get the nourishment they need from glucose and the excess glucose just builds up in the bloodstream. Some glucose may be converted into fat, but most spills out into the urine.

Type I diabetes usually begins in childhood (juvenile onset), but it may also occur later in life if the pancreas is damaged because of disease or injury. It is conventionally considered a degenerative condition and is treated (but not cured) by conventional physicians by administering insulin injections with every meal to regulate blood sugar.

Type II diabetes is much more common than Type I diabetes and is often called “insulin resistance.” In cases of Type II diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but the insulin it produces cannot properly connect with fat and muscles to allow glucose inside the cells to produce energy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) an epidemic of adult-onset Type II diabetes is occurring around the world. Cases of Type II diabetes are increasing due to factors such as poor diet, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and longer life spans.

Gestational Diabetes is yet a third type of diabetes. It is hormonally-triggered and usually a temporary condition that occurs in pregnant women. Gestational Diabetes is generally a mild condition, and more often than not is manageable through proper diet and exercise. Only rarely does it require insulin injections. Despite its typically temporary nature, gestational diabetes should be carefully addressed because high blood sugar levels can be damaging to the foetus and can impair the baby’s immune defences.

Because Type I diabetes is so often due to hereditary factors, it is difficult to take preventive measures, yet there is much that can be done to prevent Type II diabetes, which is by far the most common form of diabetes. Adults who have a high-risk of Type II diabetes can prevent or delay its onset through lifestyle changes that include proper diet, high quality nutritional supplementation, stress reduction, and exercise. Once one’s diet has improved, cleansing and detoxification techniques can be utilized to further improve health.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, controlling your glucose levels is of primary importance in preventing or delaying complications. You will also need to control high blood pressure and to lower high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, you should seek alternative professional care for detecting problems in eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet. Proper foot care can reduce amputation rates by 45 percent to 85 percent. And the early detection and treatment of kidney disease can reduce the development of kidney failure from 30 to 70 percent. You also need to learn what constitutes good self-care and practice it diligently. The following natural cure approaches are very important in that regard.