The Foundation

Every endeavor needs a good foundation on which to build. The foundation for a diabetic supplement program is the multi-vitamin/mineral. We do not always eat as we should fo rone reason or another, so the multi is insurance for those times. You are going to attempt to replace nutrients that may be short or missing in your diet; this is the logical place to begin.

FIBER

Fiber is the number one for the diabetic. There are basically two types of fiber, soluable and insoluable. Each has a different action on the body, and both are valuable to the diabetic.

Soluble fiber helps prevent drastic shifts in blood sugar levels making it an attractive weapon in the war against diabetes. At the University of Kentucky School of Medicine, diabetes expert James W. Anderson, M.D. has been very successful in treating diabetic patients with high fiber diets. Foods high in soluble fiber include fruits, vegetables, oats and dried beans.

Many studies show that increasing soluble fiber in the diet can lower total cholesterol. For most people, soluble fiber targets the “bad” LDL faction and leaves the “good” HDL alone. One study from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky found that soluble fiber added to the diet lowered total cholesterol by 19 percent and LDL by 23 percent. These fibers bind cholesterol in the intestine and prevent it from being reabsorbed. Cholesterol is simply excreted.

Diabetics have another problem that calls for our other fiber, the insoluble form. People with diabetes suffer more from constipation than the normal population. Insoluble fiber coupled with 8 glasses of water a day can solve this problem for most people.

It seems that all Americans, diabetic or not, have a fiber problem. The average American only consumes 13 grams of fiber a day. The recommendation is an astounding 30 grams a day or well over twice what most people now consume. I do recommend increasing fiber in your diet, but for many, to double their intake without supplementation is nearly impossible. We have two other problems: some people just do not like high fiber foods, and others do not have daily access to these foods. Also, food intake keys for a diabetic are number one, consuming the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal everyday, and number two, consuming these meals at the same time each day.

To help with the fiber problem, it is easier to add a good quality fiber supplement. This way only one food is being added to the diet, and it is easier to work in without upsetting the body chemistry too much. It makes it easier to figure because you are adding a known and measured amount to each meal. Along with your supplement slowly add in other dietary fiber sources, but monitor your sugar carefully as you do so.

EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID (EPA)

A particular group of fatty acids have been shown to have a beneficial effect on the vascular system so far as diabetic problems go. They are called omega-3 fatty acids with the tongue-twister names of eicospentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DHA). They are found in cold water fish such as mackerel, haddock, sardines, anchovies, and some salmon and tuna. The rule of thumb is the darker the meat, the more beneficial oil contained in the fish. The American Heart Association has urged us to add these fish to our usual diets.

So far as the vascular system goes, diabetics tend to have the following problems:

• They run higher levels of blood lipids such as triglycerides and cholesterol.
• Their blood platelets, which are responsible for beginning a blood clot, tend to be more sticky and bond together easily, thus interfering with blood flow. This is called platelet aggregation.
• Their red blood cells can become somewhat inflexible making it hard for these cells to enter very small capillaries. This reduces the oxygen supply to the tissues.
• Due to structural changes, small blood vessels become constricted.
• They also tend to have higher blood pressures.

As research progresses, we will hear more and more about the necessity of an adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids. The positive impact is just too important to ignore.

Since EPA has an effect on the blood clotting and blood flow similar to that of aspirin, it should be of help in early background retinopathy. The increased flow, and slowing of platelet clumping should allow more oxygen to get to the eye.

The only caution is if you have a retinopathy that has advanced to the stage of leaking capillaries, you should avoid aspirin and high levels of EPA. Consult with your ophthalmologist and ask if you have any of this sort of bleeding.

LECITHIN

This is another nutrient I would add. Lecithin contains choline, inositol, and essential fatty acids. The mechanism is poorly understood, but inositol has been reported to help some forms of neuropathy symptoms. If I had neuropathy problems I would give lecithin a 30 day trial. If it is going to work for you, you will know in 30 days.

Deficiencies is essential fatty acids are associated with dry skin problems. Diabetics are more prone to these skin problems than the general population. Lecithin should be helpful. Once again, try if for 30 days.

Lecithin has also been shown to have an effect on lowering cholesterol through an enzyme system called lecithin cholesterol acetyl transferase or LCAT for short. The effect is not dramatic, but in diabetes every little bit helps.

VITAMIN E

To better understand vitamin E, let’s get into the mechanics of the artery clogging process. Don’t forget, diabetics have two to four times the cardiovascular problems of the rest of the population.

We know cholesterol, specifically LDL cholesterol is the culprit. Here is how it all works. Certain cells in the body are garbage disposals. They line blood vessels and when something that does not belong in the blood vessel floats by, they grab it and eat it. These cells are called macrophages. “Macro” means big and “phage” means eater. These cells consume LDL and become stuffed. Once full of fat, these “chubby” cells migrate into the lining of the blood vessels, causing the artery to bulge out into the lumen. This protrusion attracts other cell debris, and we have the beginning of a fibrous bulging “plaque” that can cut of the flow of blood.

Nutrition Today reported a study for three years two groups of monkeys were fed a heart disease-producing diet. One group was also given a vitamin E supplement. At the end of three years, the monkeys without the protection of vitamin E had 70 percent more artery blockage that the monkeys protected by vitamin E. Also one group of monkeys was started on supplementation after the disease had been established. Before supplementation they had 30 percent artery blockage. After two years of vitamin E treatment, this blockage regressed to 15 percent. They cleared their arteries a phenomenal 20 percent by just adding the simple nutrient, vitamin E!

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C may have a very important role in the prevention of heart disease by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol into an even more deadly form. This remarkable vitamin protects and preserves vitamin E. As you have now learned, E is one of the most valuable of the vitamins for a diabetic.

B COMPLEX

The B complex is another important set of vitamins for the diabetic. The whole complex is intimately involved in sugar metabolism and energy release.

Some member of the B complex have been reported to increase glucose utilization in diabetics. This would be especially helpful in type 2 diabetics. The complex has also helped those with leg ulcers. They help cure the ulcer and also help prevent its recurrence. Certain forms of diabetes seem to be related to deficiencies of B6. In fact, diabetics may have a much higher requirement for B6 than the normal population. This vitamin is necessary for the normal metabolism of an amino acid called tryptophan. Abnormal metabolism of this amino acid has caused a form of diabetes. When B6 is supplemented, diabetes in some cases improves significantly.  Also B6 supplementation may reverse some forms of diabetes that are associated with pregnancy.

I mentioned a single “B” above, but always be sure to take the whole complex.  Each B vitamin depends upon the other for best action.  Taking large amounts of a single B vitamin can cause you to be deficient in some of the other B vitamins.  Alway take the whole complex unless under the supervision of a health care professional.

ZINC

Zinc is a most valuable mineral to diabetics.  Insulin contains an amazing amount of zinc.  Diabetics tend to have higher zinc requirements.  There seem to be several reasons for this.  One, because so much is lost in the urine, diabetics need more replacement.  Second, a diabetic pancreas contains only about half the amount of stored zinc of a normal pancreas.  This means a diabetic has a lower storage capacity than is usual.

The skin contains about 20 percent of the body’s total zinc.  It is there for a good reason.  Zinc aids in the process of healing woods.  A number of studies have shown zinc to aid in healing ulcers and surgical incisions.  Diabetics tend to be plagued with skin ulcers, and optimal zinc is essential for their healing and prevention of recurrence.

CALCIUM/MAGNESIUM

Cutting down on fatty dairy products tends to reduce our calcium intake.  The average American only consumes about 450 mg. a day, the the daily value is 1000 mg.  Because of our epidemic of osteoporosis some are recommending 1200 mg. a day.

The diabetic condition itself may cause a reduction in magnesium levels.  Also, elevated sugar levels cause an increase in urination which can wash out magnesium.  Whatever the multifaceted reasons, the diabetic condition predisposes the patient to a magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is involved in too many areas of vital interest to the diabetic for its intake to be left to chance.  Use a calcium/magnesium supplement.

GARLIC

This amazing herb can dramatically lower the blood levels of both cholesterol and triglylcerides.  It has a tendency to think the blood and is an immune system enhancer.

Garlic is a natural non-toxic antibiotic.  This is good news for the diabetics, because they are more prone to bacterial invasions than the general population.

Ideally, garlic should be taken daily to help prevent bacterial problems. 

SUMMARY

To some degree, diabetes eventually affects all the organs and systems of the body.  Many of the medical problems of diabetics are not different from those other people have, but they occur more often, earlier, and seem to progress more rapidly.  Some seem to simply accelerate the natural aging process, especially in the large blood vessels.  But others are quite specific to diabetes, particularly those in the smaller blood vessels and the nervous system.

Information obtained from Dr. Bruce B. Miller, A Better Health Series, Diabetes – Nutrition Help

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