Diabetes Information Sheet

Diabetes Information Sheet

Definition:

Type One or “childhood onset”: a disease in which the pancreas does not manufacture adequate insulin for the body to regulate and transport glucose in the blood into individual cells. It results in excessively high serum glucose levels.

Type Two, insulin resistance or “adult onset diabetes”: an acquired disease in which the pancreas still produces insulin, but unhealthy and high levels of glucose remains in the blood stream, unable to be transported to individual cells. This, the most common form of diabetes has a strong relationship to diet and life style.

Serum or blood glucose levels: a snapshot measurement of the level of glucose in the blood at a given time. Diabetics are encouraged to do morning glucose tests (monitoring) to assure that diet or medications maintains a level in the normal range. This range is typically from 70-110 as a mg measurement in a cubic centimeter of blood.

HgA1c, hemoglobin A1c or glycocylated hemoglobin: a blood test which measures saturation of red blood cell walls with glycogen. It indicates whether blood sugar has been well regulated over the past 3 or more weeks.

Primary health risks of diabetes: Uncontrolled blood sugar, sustained at a high level is an inflammatory condition that damages the cardiovascular system and through impaired circulation often leads to nerve damage and neuropathies. This may lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, neuropathies that require amputation and eventually kidney failure.

Simple Nutritional Considerations: It is important that people with diabetes limit foods that have a high sugar content or a high glycemic index. White sugar and high fructose corn syrup are two of the most harmful foods for the diabetic. Honey, maple syrup, white refined flour, white rice, pasteurized fruit juices and other foods that contain sugar or corn syrup (like soda pop, alcohol) are all to be limited in the diabetic diet.

The ADA (American Diabetes Association) diet seeks to limit simple sugars but is primarily concerned with counting carbohydrate levels (sugar) to make certain that medical control with insulin or hypoglycemic medicines is sustained. Dr. Neil Bernard, an endocrinologist from George Washington University advocates a vegan diet and has research that shows a much better long term outcome for diabetics than that achieved by the ADA recommendations.

Whole foods, use of raw vegetables and fruits and limited simple sugars are the simple guidelines for controlling diabetes. Trace minerals (especially chromium) and B-vitamins are also helpful in reversing insulin intolerance.