There are two types of diabetes. Type one used to be called juvenile diabetes, as it usually develops in young people. This type is completely insulin dependent; the pancreas does not make it. It is hereditary, so if you have a family history of type one, you need careful monitoring.
Some of the symptoms that may give you warning include increased hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination and (despite more calories) weight loss. The faster you see the doctor when these signs are present, the less damage the disease can do to your body.
Type two diabetes is also called adult onset diabetes. The children can develop it, it primarily strikes older people. It is not necessarily insulin dependent, but it can get that way over the course of the disease.
A lot of people have this type of diabetes and don’t know. While increased hunger, thirst and urination may happen, it is easy to ignore. One of the main causes of this type is obesity.
Once you’ve developed diabetes…for whatever reason…your life is going to be substantially altered. Monitoring blood glucose, counting calories, sugar and carbohydrates and medications are going to be needed. You may also have to learn to give yourself insulin shots.
Another way your life will be altered is in your choices of supplements. There are many popular supplements that could make you very ill without proper precautions. Some manufactured supplements may contain sugars or starches that have to be taken into account. Others can raise or lower your blood sugar, sometimes substantially.
If you diabetes has progressed to where there is kidney damage, that will limit you even more. Muscle building supplements such as creatine and protein powders/shakes may be too much for your body to handle.
Herbs that can present problems include cinnamon and licorice. Cinnamon may lower your blood sugar and licorice will almost definitely cause it to go up.
There is some good news about cinnamon. Three large and well developed studies have been done on it, and they indicate that it may be good for those who are having trouble regulating their sugar levels. These have not yet progressed to a point where dosages have been established, so I recommend waiting until that is done before using it.
I've studied herbal remedies since 1981 and have been a Master Herbalist since 2004. I've written five eBooks on various herbs and the conditions they can help, including one on gout.
Visit this link for more information on healing home remedies and home remedies for it. There are articles and posts on a variety of topics including stress, headaches, back pain and cholesterol.
While there, you can also download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. This discusses the uses, side effects, precautions and side effects of these popular products.
If you wish to contact me, you can e-mail: mary@healing-home-remedies.com.
Read More From Mary Bodel, MH
|
