Limiting the Symptoms of Diabetes: Product 6

It is suggested that Bitter Melon helps support healthy blood
sugar levels with compounds called charantin and momordicin.  It
is further suggested that bitter melon helps maintain a normal
level of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver and blood. 
A member of the squash family, bitter melon is considered the
most bitter of vegetables.  It is native to South China and green
in color.  Bitter melon is claimed to be very high in quinine
though Wikipedia disputes this, and has been considered for
centuries to help fight against malaria in Asian countries. 
Rich in iron, bitter melon has twice the beta carotene of
broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of
bananas, and contains vitamins C and B 1 to 3, phosphorus and
good dietary fiber. It is believed to be good for the liver and
has been proven by western scientists to contain insulin, act as
an anti-tumor agent, and inhibit HIV-1 infection.  For a very fun
article amplifying these points, giving recipes and discussing
lots of other interesting things, see
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/bitterm.html ]

Besides China, bitter melon can be found in India, Southeast
Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.  In Panama, bitter melon leaves
are boiled and the tea is used to treat both malaria and
diabetes.  According to Wikipedia, A recent scientific study at
the Jawaharlal Institute
of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India, has
proved that bitter melon increases insulin sensitivity.  Also, in
2007, the Philippine Department of Health issued a circular
stating that bitter melon, as a scientifically validated
herbal medicinal plant, can lower elevated blood sugar levels.
The study revealed that a 100 milligram per kilo dose per day is
comparable to 2.5 milligrams of the anti-diabetes drug
Glibenclamide  taken twice per day.  Medicinal bitter Melon is
commonly sold under the trade name Charantia and widely marketed
throughout the world today.  The treatment given bitter melon in
Wikipedia is well worth reading and can be found at: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon ]

Two studies can be found at clinicaltrials.gov.  One involves
Metabolic Syndrome and has been completed.  The other is under
way and directly addresses the effects of bitter melon on
people with Type 2 diabetes.  See
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=bitter+melon.

There are many sources for bitter melon products.  One is 
http://www.herbalprovider.com/bitter-melon.html.  Herbal Provider
is inexpensive and right now has 60 caplets with 660 mg bitter
melon for $15.95 except it is on sale at the time of this writing
for $9.95.  It is also possible to purchase bitter melon for as
much as $53 for a 3-bottle pack of 250 mg for 60 capsules, see
http://www.ayurvediccure.com/bittergourd.htm.

Of the various possibilities I've researched in the past several
days, bitter melon has one of the more convincing stories to go
with it as far as web research is concerned.  It's very tempting
to consider using it.  There seems to be quite a bit of
convincing evidence that it really can help cure the effects of
diabetes as a natural nonpharmaceutical remedy.

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this and all other blog
postings is provided for informational purposes only, and is not
intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for advice
from your own physician.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. Consult a physician before taking any
nutritional supplement.

Limiting the Symptoms of Diabetes: Product 3

Konjac-mannan (glucomannan)

All's I can say at the outset of this post is:  "Thank God for
the worldwide web.  I would have been totally stumped about how
to proceed with this article otherwise.  But once again, Google
has come to the rescue even when Wikipedia proved very difficult
to use for initial research.  One of the greatest financial
mistakes of my life was not buying stock in Google long ago. 
But, that's a topic for a different post.  Let's get on with
konjac mannan.

No, it's not a kind of detectives' camera or spy show.  It's not
named after a town in a far-off land.  Rather, it's a highly
viscous dietary fiber thought by many to have significant
therapeutic value for people with diabetes.  Other names for
Konjac-mannan include:  Devil's Tongue; Elephant-foot Yam;
Glucomannan; Konnyaku; and Snake Plant.  An excellent source of
information about Konjac-mannan comes from a recent article in
the Houston Examiner which says in part:  "In parts of Asia,
individuals slice and fry fresh glucomannan tubers like potato
chips. More frequently, the tubers are shredded, dried, and
ground to make a grainy meal or a powdery flour, which is often
used to make noodles. Glucomannan meal or flour may also replace
part of the corn meal, wheat flour, or rice flour used in cooking
and baking. Mannose, a sugar extracted from glucomannan, is
sometimes substituted for sugar in products for individuals with
diabetes."  Source:  Konjac Mannan - Houston natural health |
Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/natural-health-in-houston/konjac-mannan. 
There is also an excellent and quite revealing article at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucomannan.

Each glucomannan plant produces a single large tuber that looks
rather like a beet.  The roots grow from the top of the tuber,
not the bottom as one might expect.  Tubers are unusually large
and can weigh up to ten pounds.  It is used in the United States
as a food additive for emulcifying and thickening.

Konjac-mannan is attributed with several medicinal possibilities
though it is used primarily as a laxative.  The fiber from it it
is believed to have the effect of blocking absorption of sugar
and may also reduce cholesterol.  Wikipedia and other sources
site a number of studies demonstrating its ability to lower
cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic high blood pressure.

However, Konjac-mannan is not without its controversies. 
Several companies including Vitacost, Pedialean, BioTrim, and
Obesity Research Institute have raised the ire of the Federal
Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration for
overclaiming the possibilities of Konjac-mannan.  The latter
company wound up agreeing to pay $1.5 million in consumer redress
due to unsubstantiated claims for their products containing the
fiber.

Konjac-mannan has been studied at least to some extent.  One
study from 2001 says the following:  "We have generated a
mounting body ] of evidence to support the claim that
rheologically-selected, highly-viscous KJM ... may be ] useful in
improving diabetes control, reducing associated risk factors such
as hyperlipidemia and hypertension, and ameliorating insulin
resistance."  For additional details, see Journal of the American
College of Nutrition
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/20/suppl_5/370S.  The same
author has published for the National Center for Biotechnology
Information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/guide/.  The NIH
relationship here is certainly a positive.  An NIH search on
Konjac-mannan reveals fifteen citations.  I looked at the titles,
threw up my hands in despair, and left the NIH site as quickly as
possible due to the highly technical nature of the titles and
abstracts.  At clinicaltrials.gov one finds three studies at this
time, two for obesity and one for childhood constipation.  So
even though a number of citations exist between Wikipedia and the
other sources cited above, it is clear that further study and
research would be helpful and should be undertaken.

Perhaps most notable is a study mentioned in a paper from the
Health Sciences Institute www.HSIBaltimore.com.  They say:  "in a
65-day trial, 72 patients with adult-onset diabetes who took
konjac saw their fasting blood sugar levels drop an average of
51.8 percent and their levels after eating drop 84.6 percent!" 
This sure seems significant to me.

It seems clear that Konjac-mannan could be a significant player
in the search for natural remedies to curb and/or cure the
effects of diabetes.  It is clearly on the radar of researchers
in this field and it is a curative factor that should be watched
over time.

Konjac-mannan is not with out its risks.  Should you ever decide
to try taking it, be mindful of the fact that it is considered a
choking hazzard and can block the asophagus if taken with
inadequate amounts of water.  A health advisory has been issued
in Canada regarding these risks, and many sources recommend
either taking Konjac-mannan in capsule form or diluting it in an
adequate amount of water before ingesting.

Personally, I don't plan to buy Konjac-mannan or to take it
directly as a supplement.  While it may be very useful, there is
so much disagreement about dosages and delivery mechanisms, it
just seems too complicated.  However, finding it as a part of a
broader solution strikes me as something to research and I would
certainly be interested if new research comes to light about this
intriguing fiber. 

Disclaimer. The information contained in this and all other blog
postings is provided for informational purposes only, and is not
intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for advice
from your own physician.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. Consult a physician before taking any
nutritional supplement.

Limiting the Symptoms of Diabetes: Product 2

Gymnema Sylvestre

When it comes to many food supplements or items that are
claimed to have curative powers, I usually have at least some
idea of what they are or have eaten them in the past.  This is
not the case though with gymnema sylvestre.  Heck, I can barely
write or say it.  It is also known as Australian cowplant, but
somehow that sounds pretty untherapeutic in my book. 

A quick search of the web though indicates that I could be in the
minority of those interested in such topics because there are a
greater number of and more varied sites for this herb than for
other diabetic remedies like fenugreek.  Maybe it's because
gymnema sylvestre isn't commonly found in food that it has passed
by my radar for so long.

For those of us who need some basic education about this herb,
let's start there.  Gymnema sylvestre is native to Tropical
forests of southern and central India and has been used in these
areas as a naturopathic remedy for diabetes for nearly two
millennium.  "Gymnemic acids have antidiabetic, antisweetener and
anti-inflammatory characteristics.  The antidiabetic array of
molecules has been identified as a group of closely related
gymnemic acids after it was successfully isolated and purified
from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre.  Later, the
phytoconstituents of Gymnema sylvestre were isolated, and their
chemistry and structures were studied and elucidated."  When used
for an extended period of time, the herb has been shown to lower
blood glucose levels.  It may also help reduce a person's craving
for sugar.  Besides diabetes, gymnema sylvestre has been
attributed to helping people with hyperglycemia, obesity, high
cholesterol, anemia and digestive disorders.  Studies in the UK
have shown that the herb greatly assists in insulin secretion. 
Active ingredients come from the leaves of the plant.  For all
the details, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnema_sylvestre#Description.

While Wikipedia refers to additional studies, only one can be
found at clinicaltrials.gov:  "Double Blind Randomized Trial to
Compare Gurmar (Gymnema Sylvestre) With Metformin in Type 2
Diabetes".  This certainly sounds like a promising source of
information, but recruitment of participants has not yet begun,
so it would be a while before any results become available to the
general public.  Even more unfortunate is the fact that this
study was entered into the system in late 2006.  Source: 
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00396851?term=gymnema+sylvestre&rank=1

As far as purchasing gymnema sylvestre is concerned, it's a piece
of cake.  You can buy one bottle and get two free from Puritan's
Pride for $6.90 for 90 400 mg. tablets.  Capsules are more
expensive for some reason at $12.76 for 60 capsules. 

Another source is Herbal Providers.  Their prices look generally
similar.  Source:  http://www.herbalprovider.com/gymnema-sylvestre.html?src=ggl&w=gymnema-sylvestre&gclid=CNbd_9jt7qMCFU1B6wod9zn11w

If you don't like any of these, try Best Nutrition Products. 
They have a nice website with lots of easy-to-read material and
their prices aren't too bad either.  See: 
http://www.gymnema.com/ for details.

Clearly, from a study perspective, there seems lots to be learned
about gymnema sylvestre.  Will it cure diabetes?  I never saw
that claim in all the websites visited and materials read. 
Still, it seems to have promise and sure has had sticking power
among naturalistic medical types.  I'm not writing it off as a
potential therapeutic aid for diabetes.

Disclaimer. The information contained in this and all other blog
postings is provided for informational purposes only, and is not
intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for advice
from your own physician.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. Consult a physician before taking any
nutritional supplement.

Limiting the Symptoms of Diabetes: Product 1

Nopal (prickly pear) Cactus

The nopal cactus is grown in the high mountains of Mexico and to
a much lesser extent the southwestern United States.  It has been
used as a food and medicine by native tribes for at least
twelve centuries, perhaps longer.  In the last 10-20 years,
increasing
attention has been paid to the possible medical benefits
attributed to nopal cactus.  it is claimed both to lower blood
glucose levels and the resistance of the body to insulin. 

One promoter of nopal cactus claims:  "A controlled group of
hyperglycemic diabetes Type II patients were given only Nopal for
breakfast and within 1 hour, their higher blood sugar index was
reduced to normal values. Individuals with healthy blood sugar
values that were not given the Nopal prickly pear dose did not
experience this reduction in blood sugar levels." Reductions of
LDL cholesterol levels are also mentioned as well as reduction of
inflammation leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease.  See
the full article at: 
http://www.nopalexport.com/healthbenefits.htm.

Granted, the study mentioned is not specifically cited and one
has to realize that this information is coming from Oro Verdo
Exports, a company selling nopal powder, nopal juice and whole
nopal for eating.  Clearly, some further exploration about nopal
cactus is warranted.  However, other studies do exist and I'll
get to them in a moment.

Wikipedia has an excellent treatment of nopal cactus describing
both its edible and medicinal attributes.  The cactus contains a
variety of vitamins including A, C, K, b6.  It also contains a
number of dietary minerals including iron, potassium, and copper. 
Wikipedia indicates that the addition of nopales, fruit from the
cactus, to the diet reduces the glycemic index of a mixed meal. 
According to Reuters, some 10,000 farmers cultivate nopal in
Mexico, producing around $150 million worth of it each year. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nopal ]

In one study, thirty-six volunteers with Type 2 diabetes were
studied by adding nopales to the daily breakfast of some
participants.  Results show that those having nopales added to
the breakfast showed a significant reduction in blood sugar
levels over those without the addition. 
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/5/1264.full.  A
number of other studies have been performed in Mexico which
support and even expand on these findings. 

For example, here is the description of a study by Laura
Shane-McWhorter, PharmD, BCPS, FASCP, BC-ADM, CDE.  I mention all
of her credentials as a validation for the following remarks. 
"One trial, published in a 1988 issue of ] Diabetes Care, (vol.
11, issue 1, pp. 63-66), was done with three groups of type
2patients in Mexico who were treated with diet alone or in
combination with sulfonylureas. Oral medications were
discontinued 72 hours before nopal was administered. After a
12-hour fast, one group of 16 patients received 500 grams of
broiled nopal stems; a second group of 10 received only 400 ml of
water; and a third group of six received three tests: one with
500 grams of broiled nopal stems, a second with 400 ml of water
and a third with 500 grams of broiled zucchini. Subjects had
blood drawn at 60, 120 and 180 minutes after receiving the nopal,
water or zucchini. The nopal group had a significant decline from
222 mg/dl fasting to 203, 198 and 183 mg/dl, respectively, at 60,
120 and 180 minutes after receiving the treatment. This group
also experienced a significant decrease in blood insulin levels.
Researchers speculate that this points toward a nopal effect of
increased insulin sensitivity. Larger studies need to be
conducted."  http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2005/04/01/4260/nopal/ ]

No studies were available from clinicaltrials.gov.  The only
mention I could find at the National Institutes of Health was the
food group to which nopal cactus belongs;  interesting but not
particularly helpful.

A website devoted to information on a variety of health issues
and health products has this to say about nopal cactus:  "Nopal
is the only plant among tens of thousands of botanical species
that contains all 24 of the known ] betalains, which are potent
anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Although some grocers sell Nopal
fruit, it tends to be pricey, and few people know about or buy
it. Thus, betalains are almost entirely absent from the average
diet (the only other common source is the red beet, which
contains only a few betalains)." Source: 
http://www.suite101.com/content/antioxidant-nopal-cactus-reduces-inflammation-a128517

One final website you may wish to consult regarding nopal cactus
is http://www.jonbarron.org/diabetes-program/04-01-2005.php. 
I'll come back to John Barron after discussing the other 6
natural remedies in this series.  

I wasn't able to find any serious mentions of side-effects to
eating nopal cactus or drinking juice made from the cactus except
for the possibility of some short-term gastro-intestinal issues
if you eat a lot of it.  About the only serious comment seems to
be that it is not advisable to take medication until at least two
hours after eating the cactus because nopal cactus can hamper the
ability of the body to absorb the medicine as taken.

There are lots of sources from whom you can purchase nopal cactus
for eating, taking as a supplement or drinking as a juice. 
Besides Oro Verdo Exports, you might want to check out
http://www.suite101.com/content/antioxidant-nopal-cactus-reduces-inflammation-a128517
and Proven Vitamins at
http://www.provenvitamins.com/nopalcactus.html ]

Speaking strictly for myself, I couldn't help but wonder what the
cactus tastes like.  Given that I live in a strongly Hispanic
neighborhood of San Francisco, it was very easy to procure a
large jar of pickled nopal just a few blocks from the house. 
Even pickled, it is remarkably bland in flavor.  This particular
specimen comes cut into narrow long strips.  They are relatively
soft
in texture and not at all unpleasant to eat.  The texture and
outer surface reminds me a lot of eating okra because the surface
is slightly slippery.  However, the overall texture is softer
than most okra products. 

As for juices or extracts, I plan to wait, see what else I might
find in researching the cactus, and what other articles come to
light in future months.  This is certainly a very intriguing
product however and bears continued notice and scrutiny. 

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this and all other blog
postings is provided for informational purposes only, and is not
intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for advice
from your own physician.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. Consult a physician before taking any
nutritional supplement.

Limiting the Symptoms of Diabetes: Introduction

I am working on a series of reports to be made available by Bay
Area Digital http://www.bayareadigital.us regarding a variety of
health conditions.  Because one of our main focuses at Bay Area
Digital is assisting people with diabetes, this first post
focuses on this topic.  Today, I'm just going to give you a
glimpse of where we will go with this in the blog so you'll know
what to expect for the next week or two.

First, I focus on seven natural products that are claimed to
lower blood sugar and in some cases decrease insulin resistance. 
For those who don't know it, the current thinking on diabetes is
that it is caused by a combination of the body making less
insulin to absorb blood sugar, and the body becoming more and
more resistant to allowing the insulin that does exist to absorb
blood sugar.  NOt a very nice combination.  At least in theory,
finding herbs, spices, foods, and vitamins that either lower
blood sugar, decrease resistance to insulin or both are very
desirable.

So each day I'll focus on one of "Seven Natural Products that May
Lessen the Symptoms of Diabetes".  Ultimately this will be made
available as an informational pamphlet from Bay Area Digital. 
If you read my post about turmeric last Thursday, I'll try to
follow that format as much as possible for these elements. 
Please understand that these seven elements may not be examined
in seven consecutive days.  But each will be labeled at the top
just like the post today.

Once each of the seven natural products is examined, I will tell
you how I came to choose these particular seven. After all,
claims of natural products that assist with diabetes are numerous
and sometimes not very well documented.  For example, ayurvedic
medicine, the ancient tradition of India, offers 44 different
natural remedies for diabetes. Other traditions offer dozens
more.  So, it's important to bring some order to all the noise,
and I'll try to do that.

Stay tuned in the coming days and weeks for this exciting series
to unfold.  As already mentioned, I'll probably intersperse the
series with timely notes about health issues that come my way.