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Diabetes: Avoid Leaky Blood Vessels
The introduction of refined sugar into the diet of western
civilization has created cavities, reduced immunity, and spurred
degenerative diseases such as diabetes. The average North American
consumes simple sugars as nine percent of his or her daily diet.
Primitive people only had honey and other natural sweeteners,
and only rarely at that. Not coincidentally, civilizations that
do not have a western diet have an extremely low incidence of
diabetes.
High levels of ingested sugars and carbohydrates stimulate
insulin release from the islet cells in the pancreas. Insulin
drives sugar into cells as well as amino acids and fats. Sugar
happens to be the primary form of energy for the brain. But with
excessive sugar, insulin supplies get exhausted (in adult onset,
or type two, non-insulin dependent diabetes). Diabetes also occurs
when our cells become resistant to insulin, or when the pancreas
cells are attacked as collateral damage from other illnesses,
which is often the case from juvenile, or insulin-dependent,
diabetes.
The symptoms of diabetes are thirst, sweating and frequent
urination. A blood test is more accurate than a urine test, and
insulin levels can be measured. Fluctuating sugar levels shock
the mural cells in capillaries. These then weaken, balloon and
leak. Sugar attaches to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells
(a reaction called glycosylation) and makes it more difficult
for your blood cells to transfer oxygen to the tissues that are
starved for it.
The eyes are a unique part of the body, because we can see
the blood vessels and the tiny capillaries. We know that these
oxygen-sensitive blood vessels can become abnormal and show ballooning
(microaneurisms), leaking of fat (exudate)
and leaking of blood (hemorrhages). So two of the
three types of diabetic conditions in the retina are caused by
scattered capillary leakage throughout the eye (background
diabetic retinopathy) or leakage in the central retina
(macular edema). You may have heard some of these
terms from your doctor.
The oxygen starvation can also cause a third and more severe
form, where new blood vessels grow uncontrollably on the surface
of the retina and may even bleed into the eye (vitreous
hemorrhage). This is known as proliferative diabetic
retinopathy.
When there are profound changes in blood sugar levels vision
may fluctuate, which is one reason undiagnosed diabetics may
come to medical attention. Cataracts also are more common in
diabetics who have poorly controlled blood sugar levels.
Animal studies have shown that good diet can maintain good
vision, or a poor diet may result in these complications that
can lead to vision loss.
Most diabetics will never get these conditions. But the important
thing is to be certain that you don't, by following several important
steps and living a healthy lifestyle.
- Take charge: Monitor blood sugar, and regularly check
your hemoglobin A1-C as instructed by your physician. Keep a
flow sheet of these blood levels, time of day and your medication.
- Diet: Watch your weight. Remember that insulin, whether
injected or stimulated by pills not only deposits sugar into
cells, but also fat. So minimize simple sugars. Diets such as
that by Dr. Robert Atkins are high in fat and protein and low
in sugar. This type of diet, alone, will lower blood sugar, reduce
craving for sweets and lower your glycosylated hemoglobin that
won't surrender the oxygen to the cells. So drink lots of water,
eat fish and vegetables. Soy not only has many healthful properties,
but has genistein and daidzein, which inhibit new blood vessel
growth.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners. They are toxic to nerves,
a condition to which diabetics are more susceptible. Try the
Asian herb stevia or d-xylose, available in most healthfood stores,
for sweetening. These will not raise your blood sugar.
- Exercise: Frequent and regular exercise is helpful
in burning fat and improving cardio-vascular health. This improves
circulation, thereby fighting other diabetes-related symptoms.
- Supplements: Take a multivitamin twice a day; 2,000
mg of Vitamin C (which makes collagen and keeps capillaries strong);
B vitamins and zinc are important in sugar metabolism; Vitamin
E and essential fatty acids are important to cell membrane stability;
alpha-lipoic acid, which not only protects nerves but decreases
insulin resistance; take quercetin, one of the most powerful
bioflavinoids that prevents capillary leakage - 1,000 mg a day.
There are three minerals that are known to lower insulin requirements:
chromium, 200 mcg (micrograms) a day; manganese (5-15 mg per
day); and vanadium (20 mg per day for two weeks, and then 2 mg
daily). A number of herbs like fenugreek have been demonstrated
to lower blood sugar. As always, consult your physician and
nutritionist when adding even innocuous vitamins to your regimen.
Research is continually leading to the development of new
medications and inhibitors of some of the side effects of diabetes.
But you will be the best and most important researcher for your
own body when you learn that controlling your sugar and reducing
your insulin and/or medication requirements makes you feel good.
The complications of diabetes in the eyes can be avoided even
(if you are dependent on insulin) by regulating your own blood
sugar.
Don't be surprised if, by judiciously altering your diet and
adding vitamins and supplements, you cut your medication requirement
in half.
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