Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (100 page)

Take vanadium.
Vanadium helps to move glucose into cells without raising insulin levels. Vanadium ascorbate, citrate, fumarate, malate, glutarate, and succinate are much better utilized than vanadyl sulfate. Take 250 mcg daily.

Take gymnema sylvestre.
Try this to improve your body’s ability to use insulin effectively and stimulate insulin production. In type 1 diabetics it lowered insulin needs and hemoglobin A1c levels. Take 400 to 800 mg daily in divided doses. Look for a product that has been standardized to 25 percent gymnemic acids.

Take carnitine.
Low blood levels of carnitine, a nutrient needed for burning fat and proper functioning of heart muscle, have been found in children and teens with type 1 diabetes. Take 500 to 3,000 mg daily. Dosage can also be determined through testing.

The treatment goal for children with type 1 diabetes is to minimize the amount of insulin needed and prevent long-term complications by prolonging pancreatic islet beta cell functioning for as long as possible, maintaining good glucose control, and maximizing helpful lifestyle changes. It is unlikely that you will need to use every suggested healing option.

Consider autoimmunity.
Autoimmune antibodies against the thyroid, parietal cells, adrenal glands, and endomysium have been found in adults with type 1. People with one autoimmune disease are more likely than other people to develop another. Checking for autoantibodies could prevent damage to other organs and glands. If they are high, you’ll know to be more aggressive about allergy reduction in your environment and foods.

Take digestive enzymes.
Research shows that people with type 1 diabetes often lack pancreatic enzymes. Use of digestive enzymes can enhance digestive function. Take one to two capsules with each meal or snack. Dose depends on the type of enzyme product and the size of the meal.

Use nicotinamide.
Nicotinamide has been shown to reduce progression of the disease in newly diagnosed children. It can put some children into remission, improve glucose control, and help preserve some of the beta cell function. Children should take 25 mg per kg body weight daily (1 kg = 2.2 pounds).

Take folic acid.
Folic acid can protect against vascular damage. Take 800 mcg daily.

Take thiamine.
Thiamine can reduce numbness and tingling, protect beta cells, and help normalize megoblastic anemia. The dosage varies; typically it is between 50 and 200 mg daily.

The treatment goal in type 2 diabetes is to maximize lifestyle changes and minimize medication use.

Use a glucose-control supplement.
These supplements help regulate blood glucose levels with a combination of vitamins, minerals, and herbs. These products commonly contain B-complex vitamins, chromium, vanadium, bitter melon, and gymnema; they may also contain biotin, vitamins E and C, magnesium, CoQ10, lipoic acid, and/or carnitine. Ask at your local health-food store for recommendations. Use as recommended on the bottle.

Try holy basil.
Holy basil is used to help regulate blood glucose levels. When I lived in Hawaii, my diabetic clients swore that eating three leaves of holy basil daily helped normalize their blood glucose without medication. Hairy basil seed has been used for the same purpose. Nontoxic and tasty—you can even make pesto out of it.

Eat bitter melon.
Bitter melon is a food that helps regulate blood glucose levels. This is a common food in the Philippines. It’s pretty bitter and is an acquired taste. It can also be used as a tea, 1 to 2 cups daily. If you purchase this in a supplement, use as directed.