POPULAR BOTANICALS USED IN DIABETES The following is a group of botanical substances which are often used by patients with diabetes. I shall try to distil the important information, for your benefit. Cinnamon. This is an every day spice with an active ingredient called: hydroxychalcone. In a randomized trial with 60 type 2 diabetics, 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon were given 4 times daily or placebo (inactive ingredient). At 40 days, fasting blood glucose (FBG) had dropped from 209 to 157 with 1 g cinnamon, from 205 to 169 with 3 g, and from 234 to 166 with 6 g. All changes were significant when compared with placebo, and the effect lasted 20 days after cinnamon was stopped. This data is good enough to support the use of ½ to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon per day on cereal or other foods. Aloe. Aloe is a member of the lily family that is widely used in its gel component as a topical wound treatment. When used internally for diabetics, its mechanism is thought to be related to its high fiber content. In one single-blind, placebo-controlled study, FBG dropped from 250 to 142 in 40 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who took 1 tablespoon of aloe gel twice daily for 42 days, while in the placebo group it rose from 251 to 257. Data is too limited at this time to support Aloe’s use as a treatment for diabetes, however should you choose to do so, the dosage is 50-200 mg/day of the leaf gel, and not the cathartic (leaf juice) form.     SUPPLEMENTS WHICH MAY BENEFIT DIABETICS These are non-botanical complementary therapies which may have some benefit. Alpha-Lipoic Acid. This is a natural coenzyme found in the body, which is thought to reduce oxidative stress. Most experience with it has been in patients with diabetic neuropathy. It does not have any effect on blood glucose, and needs to be use over long periods of time. Practicably speaking, I don’t think it’s hit prime-time yet. Chromium. This metal seems to work as an insulin sensitizer. The main study published about it was done in China in an area known to be deficient in Chromium. In that study, Chromium was added to diabetics already receiving oral diabetic medication. Either 200 mcg or 1000 mcg were added and compared with placebo. In 4 months, the HbA1c dropped 2.8% among the 1000 mcg group vs. a drop of 1.9% in the 200 mcg group. The placebo group showed a drop of 0.5% only. Chromium appears to be a promising agent.
A NEW HORMONE Researchers at Stanford University announced the discovery of a new hormone which sharply reduced the desire to eat! The new substance is named Obstatin, is made in the stomach and in the small intestine, and sends a signal to the brain to eat less. Interestingly, the gene for this hormone is the same as for the hormone ghrelin, which makes people hungry. Nature works in mysterious ways where one gene can make substances with opposite effects. The pharmaceutical industry is obviously on high alert to produce drugs which will curb our appetite, and put a lid on the obesity epidemic. Let’s hope that this is indeed forthcoming.
DEVICES 1) Medtronic Guardian RT. This is a glucose sensor put out by the same company that manufactures the popular insulin pump – Minimed. It has been approved by the FDA, and can measure glucose every 5 minutes, and store up to 864 values. Similar to the pump, it too has a subcutaneous prob/sensor, which then transmits to a transmitter, which then communicates to a monitor. It needs, though, to be calibrated every 12 hours with a finger stick (ouch!), and the whole thing is waterproof. This is one more very significant step towards a closed-loop system, where the sensor and the pump are one independent unit. It’s coming! 2) The FootMate System. This is a foot massage system specifically designed for people with diabetes. This is shaped to cradle the foot, and is lined with brushes. One drops Gel into it, and manually rubs ones foot by moving it back and forth. Certainly can’t hurt! For details inqure at: 941-366-3668 or www.footmate.com. 3)DrinkUP. This is a beverage with less than 1 g of sugar and 4 calories per serving. It comes in four all-natural flavors, and has essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and calcium. Give it a try. Inquire at: 866-294-6789, or at www.drinkupbeverages.com.
MEDICAL LITERATURE CORNER In the October 2005 “Diabetes Care” issue there is an article titled: Smoking and Incidence of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults. The authors looked at 906 individuals at baseline and five years later, and collected information about their smoking habits, multiple metabolic parameters, and also assessed their diabetes or lack thereof. Of current smokers, 25% developed diabetes at 5 years, compared with only 14% in the never smokers group. The reasons are not clear, however multiple hypotheses are plausible. What’s clear is that in addition to the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks, smoking may now be implicated in the increased occurrence of diabetes. Smokers, you have been warned! The November issue of “Diabetes Care” has an article titled: Predictive Value of Silent Myocardial Ischemia for Cardiac Events in Diabetic Patients. This article tries to evaluate the presence or absence of silent (without symptoms) ischemia (lack of sufficient blood supply to the heart muscle) in diabetics who have no previous history of heart problems. They conducted stress testing (as we do in our office) in 370 asymptomatic patients, and followed them for up to 89 months. Their results showed that 35.4% of the patients exhibited silent ischemia on stress testing, and that individuals older than 60 where more at risk for major cardiac events. They concluded that silent ischemia is a potent predictor of cardiac events and should be assessed preferably in patients older than 60 years old. Please keep this study in mind when you refuse or cannot find time for a stress test.
VITA-BETIC SUPPLEMENT FOR DIABETICS The Litvin Centers for Diabetes is now offering Vita-Betic sugar-free multivitamins designed with diabetic nutrition in mind. Persons with diabetes need to safeguard their health. Vita-Betic is a multivitamin which in addition to all the standard/essential vitamins has other ingredients which have been found to be beneficial to the typical diabetic patient. Vita-Betic is specially formulated with essential Chromium and Vanadium which are helpful in improving insulin action and various herbs which promote anti-oxident activity. Many multi-vitamins contain sugar and do not include all the nutrients that may be valuable for diabetic's nutritional needs. Vita-Betic was specially made with the diabetic in mind, it supplies vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are essential for people with diabetes to achieve their optimum health. This is a special offer at a reduced cost. For more information, click here.
FREE DIABETES SUPPLIES FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS - WWW.DIABETES-DOCTOR.COM We recently added a new area to our web site called "Diabetes Supplies." Patients with Medicare coverage may be eligible to receive FREE DIABETES SUPPLIES through the LCD (Litvin Centers for Diabetes). We offer FREE Shipping anywhere in the U.S. and the convenience of no paperwork to process. To find out if you qualify, call or Enroll today and our professional staff will contact you.
READ DR. LITVIN'S NOVEMBER BLOGS If you haven't had the pleasure of browsing through Dr. Litvin's blogs, you're in for a real treat. Dr. Litvin provides us with his commentary on diabetes and diabetes in the news. The following are some of the Blogs Dr. Litvin has recently written: The Syrian Bride How The Obese World Can Save The Starving One. My Morning Walk The Tragedy of Dialysis Monkeys and Honey Veggies and Obesity Dizzy Gillespie The Ten Commandments for the Diabetic Olive Oil Darwinism vs. Intelligent Design

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