Diabetes

see also Obesity and PrediabetesNov, 2013 – An educational video about diabetes – Hi Roc, I’m Dr. Mario Trucillo, Managing Editor of The American Recall Center. I’m reaching out in hopes to help raise awareness for National Diabetes Month. On my site we’ve put together an infographic called Life with Diabetes – a piece put together from the advice of diabetes bloggers around the globe. Because there are more than 8 million Americans that are unknowingly living with diabetes, I wanted to get this conversation outside of just the diabetes blogosphere. Your nutrition blog is the perfect example of a place where this information could be shared – as proper nutrition was a common theme in much of the feedback we received!
Aug, 2012 – See also an alternative to pharmaceutical treatment that may be safer and more effective

See this link for a research poster about reversing diabetes

NOTES ON NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES

Comparison of abdominal adiposity and overall obesity in predicting risk of type 2 diabetes among men Youfa Wang et al

“Conclusions: Both overall and abdominal adiposity strongly and independently predict risk of type 2 diabetes. WC waist circumference is a better predictor than is WHR waist to hip ratio . The currently recommended cutoff for WC of 102 cm for men may need to be reevaluated; a lower cutoff may be more appropriate.”

Waist Circumference Quintile

Waist in cm. Age adjusted risk of diabetes

73.7=86.4 1
87-91.4 2
92-96 2.7
96.5-101 5
101.6-157.5 12

Cocoa, diabetes, and hypertension: should we eat more chocolate? Cesar G Fraga

“With respect to cardiovascular health, one class of flavonoids, the flavanols, is receiving increasing attention (2). Cacao, tea, grapes, and grapefruit are examples of edible plants that are rich in flavanols… the consumption of dark chocolate improves glucose metabolism and decreases blood pressure…The polyphenol contents of the dark and white chocolate were assumed to be 500 and 0 mg, respectively …The authors found that the dark chocolate supplement was associated with improved insulin resistance and sensitivity and decreased systolic blood pressure, whereas white chocolate had no effect… Cocoa is rich in flavanols,… the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) production by the flavanols present in dark chocolate could explain its effects on both insulin sensitivity and blood pressure…”

CARBOHYDRATE TYPE AND DIABETES: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/4/1043

Conclusions: Our results suggest that high intakes of fructose and high glycemic foods are associated with higher C-peptide concentrations [Roc’s comment: a harmful sign of progress toward having diabetes], whereas consumption of carbohydrates high in fiber, such as whole-grain foods, is associated with lower C-peptide concentrations. Furthermore, our study suggests that these nutrients play divergent roles in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. [Roc’s comment: in other words, a high fiber diet is beneficial. Artificial sweeteners used in soda and snacks are dangerous and contribute to diabetes],

VITAMIN C RISK WITH DIABETES: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/5/1194

A study of 1923 postmenopausal women followed 15 years. Vitamin C intake was unrelated to mortality from cardiovascular disease in the nondiabetic subjects at baseline. Conclusion: A high vitamin C intake from supplements is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in postmenopausal women with diabetes.

Note from summer, 2003 conference. Caught early, adult onset diabetes may be reversible.

Attached are two legitimate, peer-reviewed articles on nutrition and diabetes. It is noteworthy that the one published in 1996 states that 25% of diabetes may be related to low magnesium levels, while the one in 1997 does not mention magnesium as a useful nutrient for diabetics. The bottom line is that nutrition and health maintenance are in their infancy as sciences, and it is useful to show a high degree of skepticism about any statements not documented by carefully-controlled clinical trials.

Below are some popular nutrition books, which a professional nutritionist colleague describes as 1/3rd fact, 1/3rd speculation, and 1/3rd hype.

  1. Giller, R., and Matthews, K. “Natural Prescriptions”, Carol Southern Books, NY, 1994 [physician, radio talk show host]- gives specific recipes to take in addition to 1000 mg vit C, 400iu vit E, 10-25K beta-carotene, 200 mcg selenium

[MaxEPA] is fish oil

  1. Gottlieb, B., (Editor-in-chief, Prevention Magazine), New Choices in Natural Healing, Rodale Press, PA, 1995
  2. Boardroom Classics, Healing Unlimited, Boardroom Classics, CT, 1997
  3. The Doctors Book of Home Remedies, Tkac, D., Bantam Books, NY, 1991, by editors of Prevention Magazine (useful for comparing changes in advice in past 6 years)
  4. The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals, E. Somer [Health Media of America, publishes monthly “Nutrition Report”, Harper Paperbacks, NY, 1992 – this is a pretty good book

diabetes nutrition recommendations

  1. A, B, C, E, chromium, magnesium, potassium, vanadium, zinc- pg 5; pg 295 – chromium;
  2. avoid fish oil – omega-3 fatty acids raise blood glucose; do take chromium GTF, niacin, inositol, anthocyanic acid or blueberry extract, vit C, zinc, magnesium, B6, B1, garlic, acidophilus
  3. need vitamin E, C; chromium

Aug, 2003