Help for Diabetes

[pa & ma steel]

Just found out I am now a diabetic. Any suggestions as to what herbs might help with this?

 

Ma Steel (also aka ashu12)

still looking for lost Dragon

or is it just my mind that I lost?

[Dee]

Don't know about any herbs ma but my Dr. told me walking would help. I started walking daily, lost 30 lbs. and have been off medicine for 5 years now. I didn't go far at first but am now up to 3 miles.

 

ALSO please read this. If you DO NOT take medicine yet get yourself busy with the exercising, eating right, etc. if you plan to retire before the age of medicare. DH wanted to retire but because I took diabetes medicine for one year NO insurance company would take me when they heard the word diabetes. I found out that being diabetic is similar to being an alcoholic.....once a diabetic ALWAYS a diabetic. It turned out since he had Blue Cross Blue Shield at work they HAD to take us but we pay almost $600 per month just for me, his is $230. I don't know why but somehow Blue Cross has a plan that if you've been with them within the last 12 months you can't be denied.

 

Sooooooo, get your boots on and start

[Mother]

Dee is right, Ma. Exercise is very beneficial for Diabetes. I'm sure she can steer you in the right direction with that and with diet.

 

There is no herb that actually will cure diabetes though there is a lot you can do to help yourself. As she says, if you aren't taking meds for it, make sure you either have the insurance in order already or be prepared to tackle it with everything you have. Diet, nutritional support, exercise, and even mind/body work. (the mind has a lot to do with the functioning of the body)

 

I do not have diabetes but I do have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar which is often pre-diabetic) and my sister has insulin dependent type two diabetes so we've been around the block with the sugar issue. ( I also have no insurance so have to stay on top of my hypoglycemia constantly)

 

The first suggestion I have is to start researching diet and nutrition and not just those reccomended by the American Dietetic Association. Check out alternative views as you will find there is more than one way to approach this "disease". Unless you have a tumor or some other specific cause, this is a disease of the body failing to function properly and there are many ways to support the body while it's trying (which it always will) to repair itself.

 

There are supplements you can take to help, cromium being the one that comes to mind first as it helps regluate the usage of sugars in the system. But there are others too depending on your diet and lifestyle. Check with your doctor or dietitian if you are unsure after doing the research.

 

Stevia is the one herb that comes to mind with diabetes. It's used as a sweetener that does not affect diabetes or hypoglycemia. It is a plant from South America who's leaf has been used for centuries as a substitute for sugar or honey. It has recently been the subject of much research and it has been shown so far that it not only sweetens but actually has health benefits. I grow it myself but have to bring it in each winter as it's not cold hardy. It is extremely sweet and only a tiny amount needs to be used to get the effect. (about 1/4 teaspoon of the dried powdered leaf is plenty) You can find it as a purified white powder in health food stores and even in some grocery stores. You can cook and bake with it as well as use it to sweeten drinks and etc. Be aware though that too much and it can leave a bitter taste. If at first you don't like it, lower the quantities you use.

 

The diet for diabetes is not as stringent as it used to be, I understand, and they are more and more finding that it's timing and size of meals as much as specific foods. Legumes, though, are encouraged by most diabetic doctors now as they have been found to be very beneficial. My sister is fortunate in that the doctor she's sees is also a diabetic specialist who keeps up with the latest research so she gets the benefit of the latest findings.

 

Diabetes, caught in the early stages or as in my case in the hypoglycemia stage (I was diagnosed with it almost ten years ago), can usualy be controlled with diet and exercise and supplements but it takes attention to detail and not just for a while until it's under control, it's a lifetime job. I still take my blood sugar regularly and go very easy on the sweets and only as part of a balanced meal.

 

Hope some of this info helps. I wish there was a magic herb that I could say would cure diabetes. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if there were?

 

 

[Peaceful]

Ma, If you were just diagnosed as a diabetic has your doctor scheduled you for diabetic education classes and an appointment with a diabetes nurse/dietician? When I was diagnosed 3 years ago that was the first thing to happen. The nurse showed me how to use a glucometer (where you draw a bit of blood to put on the meter that tells you what your blood sugar level is). She also reviewed my diet and made suggestions. I am fortunate that I have never needed the medication or insulin and now only have to test my blood sugar two times a week. I've known people who have reversed their need for medication like Dee did.

Dee gave a lot of good information. The reason insurance skyrockets when you get that diagnosis is because of the diseases related to diabetes that are serious and expensive to treat. Walking is so important. I do 2 or 3 miles 5 days a week or more. Some people who have trouble walking on land can walk easily in a swimming pool.

Let us know how you're doing. Sounds like Dee has a good handle on things and can give great advice.

[pa & ma steel]

Thanks for the replys... No she just told me to go to the Diabetes assc web site to see what my diet should be. She did have me buy a meter to test my blood with, after reading the book. I can now test my blood, yuck.. dont like finger pricks. She also put me on Glyb/Metform1 1 time a day.

Ma Steel

[Momo]

Alot of insurances do not cover any nutrition or information classes about diabetes. I had to do alot of research(on my own) for my DH when he was diagnosed. The only help we got was when the pharmacist showed us how to use the testing machine when he picked it up. Our insurance only allows him one test strip a day.

[Peaceful]

Ma Steel, I was taught to do the blood prick more on the sides of my fingers and to change which finger you prick each time. They started me out testing first thing in the morning (fasting blood sugar) then an hour after breakfast; hour before and after lunch; hour before and after dinner and again at bedtime. The readings you get will tell you if what you ate effected your blood sugar negatively - for example you might find eating potatoes keep your blood sugar high after an hour and you might want to limit the amount. It's important to keep your blood sugars in the "goal range" which is:

pre-meal glucose (mg/dL) 80-120

post-meal glucose: under 180

Bedtime glucose: 100-140

 

These ranges may have been lowered since I got my log book so go by what the diabetes website or your doctor tell you.

 

In the education classes I went to everyone was different. I am able to eat almost anything (except lots and lots of sweets as at Christmas) but some of the people were more sensitive and eating things like baby carrots or popcorn would elevate their blood sugar so they had to cut way back or avoid those foods. Using your glucometer will give you more information.

They said it is very important to eat 3 regular meals a day with healthy snacks. Eating at regular times helps keep your blood sugar at more even keels. Eat balanced meals-protein, veggies/fruit, whole grains are best. Interestingly my blood sugar tends to go low in mid-morning so the diabetes nurse told me to use 2% milk instead on nonfat because it would help carry my blood sugar levels longer during the morning.

Stress and illness can effect your blood sugar. If you are sick or under a lot of stress, check more often.

I hope this helps.

Momo: I think it's horrible they aren't giving education. The insurance I had was not that great but they did cover most of the cost of the 12 classes. I notice our hospital only has quarterly diabetes support group meetings now so I wonder if the insurances here have cut out paying for them. One valuable thing about going was you saw people like me (or your dh or Ma Steel) who were just diagnosed and you saw some who had more serious levels and were insulin dependent or on medication. One thing that sticks with me is a woman who had to use a walker because of the neuropathy. She told us she had stepped on a kernel of popcorn but because she couldn't feel or see it she didn't know it was there until she had a very serious infection. Yikes! We were told to check our feet. I have a little thread thing that I'm supposed to have DH test my feet once a month to see if I'm losing any feeling in my feet.

[Bluechip]

You can also check you blood on the fatty part of your thumb, it heals very fast and isn't quite as pokey I was lucky that my insurance paid for nutritionist visit.

[suzyq322]

It sure helped me for the first few months, to keep a food journal. That way I could compare it to my log book and see what affected my sugar.

 

 

Suzyq

[pa & ma steel]

Wow Thanks for all the great input. Every time I check my blood it reads between 75-80. Except the 1 time I broke down and had a Dr. Pepper, just could not resist... I am addicted to them, it went to 105. Other than that 1 Dr Pepper I have been sticking to the diet. I was only told to test my blood first thing when I wake up. My hours rotate from over night shift 3 nights to day shift 2 days that it is hard to keep my meals straight. I have been told in Sept they will try and move to a straight day shift so that should help.

[Mother]

Strange but those numbers don't seem diabetic to me but then I'm not a doctor. You must be doing something really right to have readings like that with diabetes.

 

Hugs

[pa & ma steel]

Friday the Doc now thinks he might be over medicating me. So now he has dropped the dosage down some. Will start keeping a log and test my blood before and 1 hour after my meals. My DH thinks they made a mistake and I do not have Diabetes so I guess I will just test and wait and see what turns up.

[Dee]

I was over medicated at first too ma and my blood sugar would drop down in the 70's. Boy, could I tell when that happened. I'd be very lighted headed and nauseated and have to drink a bit of DH's Pepsi or something very sugary quick. He had me start cutting my pill in 1/2 and that worked perfect. Sometimes it just takes time getting the correct dosage.

 

Good luck!

[Peaceful]

Ma Steel, I think I've had one "high reading" in the 3 years since I've been diagnosed and at times I've had that same thought - did they misdiagnose? But my doctor explained you get the diagnosis when you've had 2 high readings. My mother and one of her brothers had diabetes and I wonder if my half-brother has it. There are a whole bunch of "skinnies" in the family. The "chubbies" are the ones who had it.

[Granny]

Ma, here is site that might help you.

 

online diabetes class

http://onlineclasses.joslin.org/ape/default.asp

 

Diabetes runs in my family. Cousin stayed in denial and wouldn't get checked until almost blind and host of other problems now. Still doesn't always eat right or take meds like should

[pa & ma steel]

cool site