Diabetes Type 1

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)

Do You Have These Symptoms?

• Fatigue

• Extreme thirst

• Constant need to urinate

• Excessive appetite

• Weight loss

• Cuts and bruises slow to heal

• Frequent infection

• Recurrent blurred vision

If you are you are experiencing a combination of some of the symptoms above, you may be suffering from Diabetes Mellitus.

What Is Diabetes Exactly?

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease, characterized by abnormally high blood glucose (sugar) levels, resulting from the inability of the body to produce or respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the movement of glucose into the cells of the body.

Type 1 Diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks the insulin releasing cells of the pancreas and destroys them. As a result the pancreas produces insufficient insulin and this must be administered daily. It generally manifests during childhood and accounts for 5-12% of the total number of Diabetes Mellitus cases.

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What Types of People Get It and What Are the Risk Factors?

• The presence of certain genes indicates an increased risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes

• Having a parent with Type 1 Diabetes (the risk is greater if a father has the condition)

• Having other autoimmune disorders such as Grave's disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (a form of hypothyroidism), Addison's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), or Pernicious Anaemia

• Being ill in early infancy

Of all the people with diabetes about 10% of them have Type 1 diabetes. In New Zealand about 15,000 people have Type 1 diabetes."

^{Diabetes New Zealand}

How It Starts and Develops

The exact cause of Type 1 Diabetes is unknown, but both genetic and viral factors are believed to be involved.

People with Type 1 Diabetes requires exogenous insulin (insulin from an outside source) to sustain life. The insulin must be injected daily, and often several times a day.

How Can You Get Over It?

Firstly, a diagnosis must be sought from a Registered Medical Practitioner.

Dietary Considerations

• Eat a rainbow assortment of fruits and vegetables including red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. You will be giving your body the full spectrum of pigments with powerful antioxidant effects which will help protect against cholesterol, eye conditions, nerve problems and poor circulation.

• Drink green tea - Green tea may lower elevated blood sugar levels (due to the epicatechin content) and may help to regenerate inactive beta cells of the pancreas.

• Dietary fibre - Fibre helps to stabilise blood sugar levels by slowing the release of sugar.

• Choose healthy foods that contain a low glycemic index (GI) and minimise foods containing a high GI.

• Eat smaller meals - it is difficult for people with diabetes to process large amounts of food at one time. Excessive food intake can cause blood sugar elevations. Smaller meals reduce the demand on an inadequate insulin supply system.

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Supplements

Chromium

Chromium deficiency may impair glucose tolerance and insulin response.  Adequate chromium can help improve glucose tolerance by reducing blood insulin as insulin binding increases, leading to normal blood glucose.

Quercetin

Quercetin helps to prevent many of the complications that arise from Diabetes Mellitus including the prevention of cataracts.

Vitamin C

Since the transport of Vitamin C into cells is facilitated by insulin, many people with diabetes do not have enough intracellular Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, critical to immune function and wound repair, needed to manufacture certain nerve-transmitting substances and hormones, and involved in the absorption and utilisation of other nutritional factors.

Herbs

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Korean ginseng may inhibit further degeneration of the Beta-cells of the pancreas in people with Type 1 Diabetes.

Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre)

Gymnema works by reducing elevated blood sugar levels.  It also assists in repairing and regenerating the cells of the pancreas which are responsible for the production and secretion of insulin.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Bilberry is often used in natural treatment of eye conditions (such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts).  The antioxidants in bilberry are also thought to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, as well as curb inflammation.

Studies conducted in Europe show that bilberry may prevent cataracts, and may even help to treat people with mild retinopathies (such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy).

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Ginkgo has been shown to improve the blood flow to peripheral tissues in the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. This is an important effect, as poor blood flow to the extremities is common in people with diabetes.

Note: All herbs should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, as there are many occasions when particular herbs should not be used.

Lifestyle advice

People with Type 1 Diabetes are encouraged to wear a Medical Alert ID bracelet or necklace that states they have Diabetes and that they take insulin.

Exercise has significant and particular benefits for people with Type 1 Diabetes. It increases sensitivity to insulin, lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, and decreases body fat.

Getting the Help You Need to Get Well

Let us help you achieve a better quality of life with Type 1 Diabetes.

If you would like help NOW with a treatment plan that is designed specifically to get YOU well, you can email us or phone 09 473 8283 to make an inquiry or appointment.

To book an appointment time that suits your schedule, visit our online booking page here NOW.

Improve your energy levels and manage your busy life easily, with natural solutions to excellent health.