Non Insulin-Dependant Diabetes Mellitus

What you need to know

Of course you need to control diabetes mellitus with conventional medicine. However natural approaches can work alongside with professional guidance.

In type 1 diabetics (child onset/insulin-dependant), the pancreas cannot make the insulin needed to process glucose. Natural remedies cannot cure type 1 diabetes, but they may help by making the body more receptive to insulin medication. Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition that requires strict medical supervision. Please consult a doctor before employing any of the recommendations below, as insulin doses may need to be altered.

In type 2 diabetes (adult onset/non-insulin dependant), the pancreas often makes enough insulin, but the body has difficulty in using it. Natural remedies can be very useful in type 2 diabetes and there is much research to support this, but as with any form of diabetes, blood sugar levels must be carefully monitored and you must work closely with your doctor. 

See also Diabetic Neuropathy, Diabetic Eye Disease (Retinopathy)’

The most useful Supplements:

Research has shown that there are some nutrients that are deficient in people with diabetes. It may be useful to supplement the diet daily with a good multivitamin and mineral to ensure these deficiencies are addressed.

Supplements, which may help insulin response include:

The most useful Herbs:

Many herbs can positively affect insulin response. 

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

• It’s no good trying to take an easy way out - in recent years all the dietary advice for diabetics has pointed to looking at overall general health rather than relying on specially-produced ‘diabetic foods.’
• A diet rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre instead of refined sugars is generally recommended to avoid sudden rises in blood sugar level, however modern naturopathic thinking also involves looking at the glycemic index of foods.

The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a food affects blood sugar levels. The table below shows the glycemic index of various foods, the higher the number, the faster the release of sugars into the bloodstream. Generally scores ranging from 0 to 54 are considered low and scores above 55 are considered as high gylcemic foods. Consuming protein-rich foods at the same time as carbohydrate-rich foods is a simple way of slowing down the release of sugar into the bloodstream.

Wheel of Health - a simple balanced approach:

Ensuring you get the best food available - and, incidentally, if you’re living on a tight budget, this is cheaper, too - you need our Wheel of Health. It’s divided into three equal segments, one of which is then split into two smaller equal segments and a third much smaller still. Plan your shopping and eating around these proportions and you’ll be amazed at how simple it is.

Segment A

Include all the wonderful fruits, vegetables and salads, get at least five portions (500 g) a day and a good mixture. Fruit or vegetable juice counts as a portion. An apple, pear or orange, a small bunch of grapes, an average portion of any cooked or raw vegetable, a small bowl of salad, all count as one portion. So, a glass of orange juice with breakfast, an apple midmorning, a pitta Bread stuffed with humous and mixed salad at lunchtime, broccoli and carrots with your evening meal and a bunch of grapes and a pear during the evening, gets you up to seven!

Segment B

These starchy foods should provide half your daily calories. Have plenty of wholemeal Bread, rolls, chapatis, breakfast Cereals, particularly muesli, porridge, Cereals with no added added salt and sugar. Include, too, pasta, rice, noodles, Potatoes - steamed, boiled or baked and sweet Potatoes - and lots of Beans, chickpeas and lentils - canned are fine, but rinse well to remove salt. Contrary to old-fashioned dieting ideas, and even the latest gimmick slimming books, these starchy foods aren’t fattening.

Segment C1

This should consist of protein - lean beef, pork, lamb or Poultry, all types of Fish, offal, Eggs, more Beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts (not salted or chocolate covered - sorry), seeds and vegetarian Meat substitutes like textured vegetable protein, Quorn, tofu and other soya products. These, like the Dairy foods in segment C2, should be taken in modest quantities and should be eaten steamed, baked, grilled or roasted on a rack to reduce fat content.

Segment C2

This should be Dairy products - milk, Cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais. They’re all available in low and very low fat versions, but it’s worth remembering that even full fat milk is just under 4 per cent fat - a pork sausage is 32 per cent fat. Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk should not be given to children under five. Although these Dairy products form a small portion of your total food, they’re important sources of Calcium.

Segment C3

This is by far the smallest group and should represent the lowest contribution to your total daily calories. These are the high-fat, high-sugar foods, which are often the treats we all enjoy. Don’t cut them out, unless you’re a diabetic you’ll be miserable, just be a bit mean. Butter, margarine, low-fat spreads, cooking oils, mayonnaise, and other oily salad dressings should all be used sparingly. But our advice is always to avoid margarine of any sort. After all, how can something made in a factory compare with the natural flavours of real butter, preferably organic and unsalted? Watch out, too, for anything labelled vegetable oil as this is almost certain to contain either coconut or palms oil, which are both high in saturated fats, the sort which clog your arteries and raise your cholesterol.

Other useful advice:

• Smoking is not a healthy practice and for a diabetic it is a habit you should really try to give up. Research proves that it increases the risk of diabetic eye disease, kidney damage and circulatory disorders. Smokers are more likely to develop diabetes in the first place.
• If you are overweight then generally you are less sensitive to insulin, discuss with your doctor on how to get to your ideal weight.
• Exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity and weight loss. An appropriate exercise programme is vitally important in any diabetes treatment plan. This should be a graded programme, related to the individual’s fitness level and interest, yet which elevates heart rate by at least 60% of maximum for half an hour three times per week. Always discuss with your doctor.
• Research suggests that Acupuncture may be helpful at controlling diabetes and helping with the related complications such as bladder problems and neuropathy.

Always ensure you go to a registered practitioner; contact The British Acupuncture Council - +44 (0)208 735 0400 to locate a qualified acupuncturist in your area.

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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk). The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.