SUGAR alternatives for Diabetes patients

Here are some alternatives which can be used to sweeten your food instead of Sugar. These organic substances and wont affect your health.

1. Cinnamon.
In oatmeal, and even coffee, it adds a subtle sweetness, but studies show just the smell of it causes positive, stress and disease fighting gene changes in the brain.

2. Almonds / Almond Milk:
This subtle sweetener"tricks"our taste buds into thinking there is more sugar in the meal than actually there. Many health benefits with more minerals than any other nut.

3. Caramelized Onions.
To balance the acidity of savory foods like tomato pastes, soups, chili etc... sugar is often added to'balance'the flavors. But add some caramelized onions to the mix and you can let their natural sugars add balance and flavor to the meal.

4. Avocado.
Sweet and comes in it's own bowl! Enjoy in sandwiches, and even creative smoothies.

5. Roasted Vegetables.
Carrots, beets, squash and sweet potato are desert like sweet on a cold winter evening when roasted and loaded with healthy benefits.

6. Vanilla Bean Powder.
Looks much like dirt but taste like ice cream! Try it in yogurt and watch the flavors dance.

7. Coconut Meat.
Raw coconut sliced fresh is like nothing else. Add it to breakfast grains as a wonderful, nutritional bonus.

8. Berries.
Berries are fantastic when frozen and added to meals with natural sugars to entertain our taste buds

How to control Diabetes with Vit E

Break out that jar of wheat germ in the back of the refrigerator because it might help save your life

if you are diabetic.

Scientists are assessing research that suggests high dosages of Vitamin E - naturally found in wheat germ, vegetable oils, margarine, whole-grain breads, nuts and peanut butter -may help stave off the ravages of diabetes.

The complications from diabetes can be devastating,including heart disease, eye and nerve damage,leading to amputations and kidney failure.About 16 million Americans have the disease,which is caused by a deficiency of insulin,a hormone secreted by the pancreas and that is essential for converting sugar, starches and other foods into energy for cells.Lacking insulin, sugars build up in the blood rather than entering cells to fuel them. The result is that the body's cells literally can starve to death, causing the complications.

At the same time, the unprocessed sugar damages the weakened cell walls.

Some 798,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed annually in the United States.It is a chronic disease that has no cure and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Diabetes has two major subsets.

In Type 1 diabetes, most often occurring in children and young adults,the body does not produce insulin and

patients must take daily insulin injections to live.

Type 1 accounts for about 10 percent of all diabetes cases.

In Type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't properly use it to convert foods.

This is the most common form of the disease, comprising about 90 percent of all cases.

Weight loss and exercise can control many of these cases.

African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans,American Indians and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Scientists believe high doses of Vitamin E help diabetics on at least two levels.

First, the vitamin acts as an antioxidant, a kind of chemical shield that protects cells against free radicals -

potentially damaging byproducts of the body's metabolism.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., says that free radicals can cause cell damage that may

contribute to heart disease and certain cancers.

And diabetics have an abnormally large supply of free radicals triggered by the high level of

sugars, or glucose, in the blood.

Second, Vitamin E appears to arrest the effects of glucose.

Dr. George King, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and research director of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, explained that high glucose levels stimulate the development of an enzyme - known as PKC -

that is particularly dangerous to diabetics.

``For some reason that isn't clear yet, Vitamin E in high doses not only is an antioxidant but it also inhibits the enzyme PKC.When that is done, you reverse or stop or prevent many of the blood-vessel complications we

find in diabetes,'' said King, one the country's leading Vitamin E researchers.

Damage to nerves, eyes, kidneys and heart appears to be slowed or arrested in diabetics when they take large daily doses of the vitamin,somewhere in the range of 1,000 international units or more.

The typical over-the-counter supplement is around 250 to 400 IUs.

Vitamin E ``could have dramatic consequences if a larger clinical trial showed that this can be helpful,'' King added.Most of the studies showing a benefit have been conducted on small numbers of diabetics,usually under 200 patients.King said large pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to foot the bill for an expensive study with thousands of participants because no single company has a patent on the vitamin.

Likewise, the NIH tends to give vitamin studies low priority ``because it's not as sexy as other medical developments,'' King lamented.

Some of the strongest recent evidence for a benefit to diabetics comes from researchers at

the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where scientists found that Vitamin E

reduced the risk of heart failure in diabetics.Heart disease is one of the most serious side effects of diabetes.

Researchers showed that Vitamin E curtailed the inflammation in blood vessels of the heart. Left unchecked, the swelling of the vessels can lead to heart disease.Researchers studied 75 patients who had Type 2diabetes. Test subjects received l,200 IUs of Vitamin E daily,and all of the participants experienced a drop-off in inflammation.

 Dr. Sridevi Devaraj, assistant professor of pathology and a lead researcher on the study, said the results were very encouraging.

``The study showed that Vitamin E significantly decreases micro-vascular complications'' in diabetics, he said.

To get more details on diabetes cure and to know how to control it with Ayurveda and Yoga mail us at info@ayurwellness.in

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To know more about preventing Type 2 diabetes check out these E-Books

The Miracle Diabetes Cure

Cure Diabetes Naturally

Diabetes Guide

How to Fight Type 2 Diabetes & Win!

Tips to cure Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses, affecting
millions of people worldwide. It is a condition in which the body
either does not produce enough insulin (Type 1), or does not
properly process the insulin it is making (Type 2).

There are many differing causes for diabetes, including specific
viral infections, genetic predisposition, and personal diet. In
particular, Type 2 diabetes tends to manifest in patients whose
diet is poorly managed. Currently there is no known cure for
diabetes, meaning this is an illness that requires constant
careful management.

A diabetic's diet has a great deal to say about how the
condition will continue to affect them. Proper diet can help
prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes, but even in patients who
have been diagnosed with either condition, a healthy diet can
reduce the side effects and secondary illnesses that tend to crop
up. Here are five factors to consider when managing diabetes.

1 - the Glucose Cycle

The primary element that requires management in diabetic patients
is their glucose cycle. Glucose (a simple sugar) is brought into
the body, then processed by way of insulin and removed.
Diabetics' bodies cannot accomplish this second task properly,
which leads to glucose buildup and the development of secondary
illnesses such as kidney damage. This is why many diabetic
patients have to monitor their blood sugar.

A healthy diabetic diet must take sugar and glucose intake into
account. High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can cause kidney
damage, retina damage, or even a diabetic coma and eventually
death if left untreated long enough. Hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar) is equally dangerous, leading to potential brain damage or
fainting spells.

Being able to properly control glucose intake requires
understanding where it comes from. Not all carbohydrates have
glucose in them: while sucrose sugars have a high glucose
content, crystalline fructose does not. There are many resources
on the Web that list comprehensive breakdowns of glucose content,
and your dietician should have a primer or guide as well.

A very important part of this is record keeping. Similar to a
dietary journal for weight loss, a simple glucose journal is no
more than a list of the foods and portions you had throughout the
day. Kept up for a month or more and compared to your blood sugar
over time, this will allow you to track the contents of what
you're eating and measure their effects.

2 - Mushrooms, Mushrooms!

As we've discussed, keeping your blood sugar level in check is
an important part of diabetes management. Interestingly, there
are certain mushrooms that are noted for their ability to lower
blood sugar levels. The three most common are the reishi,
maitake, and the agaricus blazei varieties. If you enjoy adding
mushrooms to your recipes, consider including these with the
usual shitaki or canned variety.

3 - Water, Water Everywhere

Water is always a vital nutrient to the body, and is even more
critical for diabetics. Water promotes healthy bodily function,
flushes out toxins and accumulated wastes, and maintains body
temperature properly. When your body has the proper amount of
water intake, you feel better, operate more healthily, and your
system can adapt to greater strains, which include those brought
on by diabetes.

The general guideline is eight to twelve cups of water per day
under average conditions. If you perform greater exercise, you
will of course require more water. The trick is not to flood your
system at any one time, such as just drinking during meals. Drink
at a rate of a cup every two hours to keep your system operating
at peak condition, with more during meals. A bonus effect is that
water imparts a sense of fullness, reducing the urge to snack on
glucose-heavy foods.

4 - Whole Grain, No Pain

Fiber is a very important element in controlling blood sugar. The
soluble fiber found in whole grain foods is particularly
beneficial, since it slows digestion and allows your system more
time to even out the process of managing blood sugar. This means
insulin management is much more effective, making management of
your entire condition much easier.

Good sources of whole grains include breads, oat based foods, and
other sources. An additional benefit from the slower digestion
caused by whole grains is that you gain a sense of fullness and
feel full longer. This reduces the urge to snack between meals,
and lets you keep meal portions to more manageable sizes. So
consider replacing the afternoon snack with a whole-grain
sandwich.

5 - the Doctor's Orders

Before making any changes whatsoever to your diet, it is vitally
important that you speak at length with your physician and
dietician about your specific case. Diabetes is a highly
individual illness, manifesting in different ways in every
patient. Any changes to your diet should be checked for approval
with your doctor, so you can be sure you're going to get the
best possible results. You don't have to go it alone, so take
your physician's advice to heart.

A Final Word

Diabetes is a serious condition requiring diligent care. However,
making smart changes to your diet, under your physician's
guidance, may naturally help prevent or alleviate many
side-effects and promote your wellbeing.

Managing Diabetes Through Good Nutrition

Having diabetes means thinking differently about food and nutrition. This can seem challenging sometimes, but it becomes a bit more manageable once you learn the facts. Here is some information that may help.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), healthy eating can make it easier to stay within your blood-sugar target range. It also may delay and help manage the complications of diabetes.
To help you create a healthy eating plan, following are some key tips from diabetes experts. It’s also a good idea to see a registered dietitian who can help you with a food plan that’s right for you. Keep in mind that regular physical activity is important in managing your diabetes as well.

Smart carbohydrate choices

Carbohydrates are your body’s main energy source. Experts recommend that about half of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Tracking how many carbohydrates you eat—along with setting a maximum each day—will help you keep your blood sugar within the target range.
Here’s a quick look at the 3 types of carbohydrates and the best food sources for them:

Starch: Good sources of starch include vegetables such as potatoes, green peas, and corn. Grains such as oats, barley, and rice also are high in starch. These foods tend to be high in vitamins and minerals.

Fiber: To get the fiber you need, aim for foods such as beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products. Fiber can help slow the rise of blood sugar, making it easier to stay within your blood-glucose target range. Soluble fiber, the kind found in foods such as oats, apples, and citrus fruits, also may help lower cholesterol.

Sweets: The occasional sweet treat may be fine for special occasions, but in general you should keep these to a minimum. Sweets often have fewer vitamins and minerals than more healthful foods. A tip: Taking a brisk walk after eating a sweet snack may be a good idea.

Fat findings

Some fat in the diet is essential, but it’s best to go for the “healthy” unsaturated fats found in nuts, vegetable oils, olives, and avocados. Nonfried fish such as salmon, mackerel, and albacore tuna is another good source. It contains healthy omega-3 fat.

Then there are the unhealthy fats—saturated and trans fat. Experts recommend that less than 7% of your
total calorie intake should come from saturated fats. They are found in full-fat dairy products such as ice cream, sour cream, and cheese, as well as meats, chicken skin, and bacon.

Trans fats are present in margarine, shortening, and many processed packaged goods such as crackers and chips. A food-label tip: In packaged goods, trans fats can be listed as “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” fat, so look for those words when you’re reading the label.

Protein in moderation

People with diabetes generally should try to get the same amount of protein in their diet as those in the general population, which is 15% to 20% of total calories.

High-protein diets have been in the news a lot lately. But there’s no evidence they result in weight loss in the long term for people with diabetes or anyone else. Also, the long-term effects of a high-protein diet on kidney function in people with diabetes is unknown.
A word on alcohol

Alcohol is a source of extra calories with few nutrients. It’s best to get the OK from your health care professional on this. If adults with diabetes choose to drink alcohol, daily intake should be moderate. Moderate means 1 drink per day or less for women and 2 drinks per day or less for men.
Try this method at mealtimes

You can try a simple strategy for healthy nutrition from the ADA called “Create Your Plate.” This will help you figure out which foods to eat and how much—2 good things when it comes to managing diabetes and losing some weight. Here’s how it works.
1. Using a dinner plate, draw an imaginary line down the middle of your plate, then divide the left side of your plate once more into 2 equal sections. Now you have 3 sections on your plate—2 small and 1 large.

2. For every meal, try to fill the largest section with nonstarchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, lettuce, greens, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, or cucumbers.
3. In 1 of the small sections, place starchy foods such as whole-grain breads, rice, pasta, tortillas, peas, potatoes, corn, lima beans, low-fat crackers or chips, or pretzels.
4. In the other small section, put your low-fat meat such as a deck-of-cards-size piece of chicken, tuna, salmon, cod, lean beef, or pork; or go with high-protein meat substitutes such as tofu, eggs, or low-fat cheese.
5. Add a low-fat drink and a piece of fruit for dessert.
Getting in the habit of organizing your meals this way can help make healthful eating a little easier, which can make a real difference when it comes to managing your diabetes.

Spirulina's Nutritional Analysis

Proteins: The blue-green algae, and Spirulina in particular, have a primitive structure with few starch storage cells and cell membrane proliferation, but rich amounts of ribosomes, the cellular bodies that manufacture protein. This particular arrangement of cellular components allows for rapid photosynthesis and formation of proteins. The lack of hard cellular walls assures that Spirulina protein is rapidly and easily assimilated by consuming organisms.
Spirulina is approximately 65 to 71 percent protein, depending on growing conditions. These proteins are biologically complete, which means they provide all eight essential amino acids in the proper ratios. Most plant foods are not complete proteins because they usually lack one or more amino acids.

Unfortunately, the body cannot store amino acids in anticipation of deficient ones eventually arriving in subsequent meals. To synthesize protein for the body's repair and maintenance, all dietary protein factors must be present simultaneously or the amino acids are wasted.

Furthermore, even if complete protein is consumed, digestive difficulties can prevent assimilation of all needed elements. Spirulina provides all the required amino acids, and in a form that is five times easier to digest than meat or soy protein.

These eight essential amino acids are found in Spirulina:

    * ISOLEUCINE (4.130/o): Required for optimal growth, intelligence development and nitrogen equilibrium in the body Used to synthesize other non-essential amino acids.
    * LEUCINE (5.8001o): Stimulator of brain function, increases muscular energy levels.
    * LYSINE (4.000/o): Building block of blood antibodies, strengthens circulatory system and maintains normal growth of cells.
    * METHIONINE (2.170/o): Vital lipotropic (fat and lipid metabolizing) amino acid that maintains liver health. An anti-stress factor, it calms the nerves.
    * PHENYLALANINE (3.950/o): Required by the thyroid gland for production of thyroxine which stimulates metabolic rate.
    * THREONINE (4.170/o): Improves intestinal competence and digestive assimilation.
    * TRYPTOPHANE (1.1301o): Increases utilization of B vitamins,improves nerve health and stability of the emotions. Promotes sense of calm.
    * VALINE (6.0001o): Stimulates mental capacity and muscle coordination.

These are the non-essential amino acids supplied by Spirulina: Spirulina supplies ten of the twelve non-essential amino acids. "Non-essential" does not mean that these amino acids are not needed by the body, but merely indicates that the body can synthesize them itself if it needs to do so, provided the appropriate nutritional building blocks are available. Nevertheless, the body is better served if these excellent protein components are readily and totally available in dietary sources, since all the amino acids must be on hand as the cells manufacture enzymes, proteins, hormones, brain chemicals and the other products of metabolism. Of the thousands of biochemical substances acting and interacting in the human body, not one is derived from a vacuum; the body is ultimately dependent upon nutrient intake for all of its functions.

    * ALANINE (5.820/o): Strengthens cellular walls.
    * ARGININE (5.98%): Important to male sexual health as seminal fluid is 80 percent arginine. Also helps detoxify the blood.
    * ASPARTIC ACID (6.340/o): Aids transformation of carbohydrates into cellular energy.
    * CYSTINE (0.670/o): Aids pancreatic health, which stabilizes blood sugar and carbohydrate metabolism. Has been used to alleviate some symptoms of food allergy and intolerance. >
    * GLUTAMIC ACID (8.940/o): With glucose, one of the principal fuels for the brain cells. Has been used to reduce the craving for alcohol and stabilize mental health.
    * GLYCINE (3.5%): Promotes energy and oxygen use in the cells.
    * HISTIDINE (1.08%): Strengthens nerve relays, especially in the auditory organs. Has been used to reverse some cases of deafness.
    * PROLINE (2.970/o): A precursor of glutamic acid.
    * SERINE (4.00%): Helps form the protective fatty sheaths surrounding nerve fibers.
    * TYROSINE (4.60%): Slows aging of cells and suppresses hunger centers in the hypothalamus. Can be synthesized from phenylalanine. Involved in proper coloration of hair and skin, including protection from sunburn.

Minerals: Although proteins are the building blocks of life, many trace minerals can profoundly effect health and metabolism.
The waters Spirulina favors are so saturated with minerals deposited from ancient soils and mountains that no other plants can live there. Because Spirulina thrives in such alkaline waters, it incorporates and synthesizes many minerals and derivative compounds into its cell structure.

Transformed into natural organic forms by Spirulina, minerals become chelated with amino acids and are therefore more easily assimilated by the body. Many times people have ingested large amounts of inorganic minerals without benefit to health because the body does not know what to do with these incompatible forms. In fact, evidence is accumulating that the inorganic minerals can block absorption of the organic forms, leading ultimately to mineral deficiency diseases.

Spirulina contains essential minerals and trace elements absorbed from its growth medium into chelated, easily absorbed forms:

    * POTASSIUM (15,400 mg/kg): A crucial mineral that regulates body electrolyte balance. Deficiency can cause heart arrest, hypertension, adrenal exhaustion and muscular collapse.
    * CALCIUM (1,315 mg/kg): The most abundant mineral in the body, it is especially important to bone and dental health, but is also involved in neural transmissions to the muscles. Spirulina supplies about as much calcium, gram for gram, as milk.
    * ZINC (39 mg/kg): The pivot point of over thirty vital enzymatic reactions, with profound effects on mental health, skin tone, prostate function and healing capacity.
    * MAGNESIUM (1,915 mg/kg): Deficiency can lead to spasmodic muscle disorders, including cardiac irregularities. Helps assimilation of vitamin C, B vitamins and protein.
    * MANGANESE (25 mg/kg): Activates enzyme systems, along with zinc. Promotes activity of neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and helps stabilize blood sugar.
    * SELENIUM (0.40 ppm): Originally believed to be a toxic heavy metal, but now known to be necessary for health. It retards aging, harmful oxidation and free radical formation, reduces the toxic effect of carcinogens, and improves cardiac efficiency.
    * IRON (580 mg/kg): Promotes formation of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying blood pigment found in healthy red blood cells. Iron deficiency is most common among women in their reproductive years.
    * PHOSPHORUS (8,942 mg/kg): The second most abundant mineral in the human body, it is found in practically every cell. Functions with calcium to maintain bone density. Helps to digest carbohydrates and the B vitamins niacin and riboflavin.

Vitamins: Spirulina supplies several of the vitamins that all living beings need to carry on metabolic processes:

    * PYRIDOXINE or B6 (3 mg/kg): Involved in breakdown and assimilation of protein. Protects cardiac health, reduces edema and stabilizes female hormone levels. Dr. Carl Pfeiffer has demonstrated that B6, together with the mineral zinc, can cure some forms of schizophrenia.
    * BIOTIN (0.4 mg/kg): An enzyme that carries CO, during certain biochemical reactions involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Also acts as a co-enzyme in the assimilation of other B-complex vitamins. Biotin is destroyed by eating raw egg whites and some kinds of raw fish.
    * COBALAMIN or B12 (2 mg/kg): The most difficult of all vitamins to obtain from vegetable sources. A B12 deficiency results in pernicious anemia, nerve degeneration, premature senility, pronounced fatigue and mental illnesses resembling schizophrenia.
    * PANTOTHENIC ACID (11 mg/kg): The "stress" vitamin, used by the adrenal glands, along with cholesterol and vitamin C, to manufacture cortisone and other steroids in response to physical and mental stress. Deficiency encourages sensitivity to allergy, infection and degenerative diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism. Ulcers and hypoglycemia have also been associated with shortage of this vitamin.
    * FOLIC ACID (0.5 mg/kg): Essential to proper hemoglobin formation in red blood cells. Deficiency results in anemia, poor growth, skin pigmentation disorders and premature graying of the hair.
    * INOSITOL (350 mg/kg): Vital lipotropic nutrient that sustains liver health and helps detoxify carcinogens, particularly excess female hormones. Helps normalize blood cholesterol levels. With choline, inositol is used by the liver to manufacture lecithin. Inositol is the second most abundant vitamin in the body, after niacin. Recent studies indicate that inositol, with biotin, reduces loss of scalp hair.
    * NIACIN (118 mg/kg): Also known as nicotinic acid and niacinamide, which is an alternative form, niacin is essential to mental health. Dr. Abram Hoffer, a renowned pioneer in orthomolecular psychiatry, has completely relieved schizophrenic symptoms using niacin. The Physicians' Desk Reference, a pharmaceutical text used by doctors when prescribing medication, recognizes niacin as an effective cholesterol lowering agent.
    * RIBOFLAVIN or B2 (40 mg/kg): The most common vitamin deficiency is that of riboflavin and results in cataracts, failing vision, watery eyes and uncontrollable eczema.
    * THIAMINE or B 1 (55 mg/kg): A co-enzyme in the breakdown of dietary carbohydrate. Maintains levels of glucose in the blood. Deficiency results in weakness, cardiac damage, abdominal distention and poor oxygenation. Severe shortage results in death; critical toxemia develops from unmetabolized carbohydrate fragments.
    * TOCOPHEROL or vitamin E (190 mg/kg): Spirulina contains more vitamin E per gram than pure wheat germ. This nutrient protects heart and vascular health, promotes oxygenation of cells, and retards aging.

Carotenoids: Some substances in plant foods are not true vitamins, but provide the precursors from which the body can then synthesize the appropriate vitamins. The carotenoid compounds of Spirulina are of this nature, since they are used to produce vitamin A.

True vitamin A is found in the pre-formed state only in animal sources, such as liver. This is the form of vitamin A sometimes associated with toxicity and overdose, since it is fat-soluble and is not readily excreted from the body.
In contrast, the carotenoid complexes found in vegetable foods are converted to vitamin A only as it is needed, thus minimizing the dangers of toxicity. Spirulina and other algae are a primary source of vitamin A precursors - it is from algae carotenoids that fish livers derive and concentrate vitamin A.

Spirulina contains the yellow/orange pigments cryptoxanthine and beta-carotene from which vitamin A can be made. Two units of carotene will normally yield one unit of complete vitamin A, if required by the body. Spirulina contains 4,000 mg/kg carotenoids in these forms:

    * Alpha-carotene -- traces
    * Beta-carotene -- 1,700 mg/kg
    * Xanthophylis -- 1,000 mg/kg
    * Cryptoxanthin -- 556 mg/kg
    * Echinenone -- 439 mg/kg
    * Zeaxanthin -- 316 mg/kg
    * Lutein -- 289 mg/kg

Enzymatic pigments:     While the protein, mineral and vitamin value of Spirulina is impressive, this minute organism is also rich in pigments that are bio-chemically important to life. Without pigments, organisms could not synthesize many of the enzymes necessary for balancing metabolism.

Chlorophyll
The most visible pigment in Spirulina is chlorophyll, a green molecule common to plants. It releases ions when struck by the energy of sunlight. These free ions proceed to stimulate the biochemical reactions that form proteins, vitamins and sugars.

Chlorophyll is sometimes called `green blood" because of its similarity to the hemoglobin molecule found in human blood cells. In fact, both are constructed of almost identical molecular structure called pyrrole rings, and both substances are chemically known as "porphyrin pigments" by scientists.

The difference is that chlorophyll contains a magnesium ion at its core, while hemoglobin contains an iron molecule. Magnesium imparts a green color to the chlorophyll molecule and is involved in synthesis of other materials, while iron gives hemoglobin a red coloration and changes the function of the porphyrin molecule to respiration and breakdown of materials.

It is believed that if chlorophyll is ingested with sufficient iron, the magnesium can be displaced to yield a hemoglobin molecule. Experiments in Japan have demonstrated that Spirulina has a marked positive effect on anemia, possibly due to the conversion of chlorophyll into hemoglobin. Of course, the high nutrient density of Spirulina, especially the blood-building vitamins B12 and folic acid and the amino acids, are also useful in treating cases of anemia.

Chlorophyll has other positive benefits to the body. It increases peristaltic action and thus relieves constipation, and also normalizes the secretion of digestive acids. It soothes the inflammation and reduces the excess pepsin secretion associated with gastric ulcers.

During World War 11, the drying action of chlorophyll and its antiseptic qualities made it a common first-aid measure to prevent festering of wounds. In addition, chlorophyll soothes swelling and promotes granulation, the process that regenerates new tissue over injuries.

Chlorophyll appears to promote regeneration of damaged liver cells, and also increases circulation to all the organs by dilating blood vessels. In the heart, chlorophyll aids in transmission of nerve impulses that control contraction. The heart rate is slowed, yet each contraction is increased in power, thus improving the overall efficiency of cardiac work.

Phycocyanin
The pigment which gives Spirulina its blue cast is phycocyanin, found in concentrations of about 7 percent, compared to the I percent chlorophyll content most commonly found. Phycocyanin is related to the human pigment bilirubin, which is important to healthy liver function and digestion of amino acids.

Porphyrin
Another important pigment is porphyrin, a red compound that forms the active nucleus of hemoglobin. Related to this structure is the polypyrrole molecule of B12, which is essential to the formation of healthy red blood cells.

These and several lesser pigments such as phycoerythrin, tetrapyrrole, phytonadione and the carotenoids are not just the "color" of living organisms, but are used to carry on metabolic processes throughout the body. Without them, enzymatic reactions would be reduced until cellular disintegration occurred.

Fats, sugars, salts and calories: It is probably hard to imagine that a concentrated source of nutrients such as Spirulina is not also loaded with fats, starches and calories. Amazingly, Spirulina is only 7 percent lipid, and most of that is in the form of essential fatty acids that promote cholesterol normalization. The essential fatty acids sometimes called vitamin F, include linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acid. They are used by the body to manufacture Prostaglandins, the hormonal regulators of blood pressure and capillary resilience.

The essential fatty acids are involved in respiration in all the cells, and are especially important to oxygen transport. They affect the health of the hair, skin and nails, and help break up cholesterol in the blood stream. They are not dangerous fat but are absolutely vital to health.

Spirulina contains very little starch or sugar. What carbohydrate it supplies, roughly 10 to 15 percent, is primarily in the form of rhamnose and glycogen. These two polysaccharides are easily absorbed by human cells with minimal intervention by insulin. Hence, Spirulina sugars provide speedy energy, without taxing the pancreas or precipitating hypoglycemia.

From a caloric standpoint, Spirulina nutrition is economical. There are only approximately 3.9 calories per gram of protein obtained from Spirulina. You would have to consume about 65 calories of beef to obtain a gram of protein. The average 500 mg tablet of Spirulina contains only one to two calories!

Some people are concerned about sodium in their diets, and have therefore avoided seaweed foods such as nori, wakami and kombu. These kelp foods are very nutritious, but they do contain significant sodium amounts. Spirulina avoids the sodium problems of algae that grow in the sea, yielding only .206 mg of sodium per tablet. Most hypertension patients are restricted to 2,000 mg or less of sodium per day; Spirulina has such small amounts of sodium that no danger is presented to persons on a salt-restricted diet.

for more doubts and how to use Spirulina for various disease and weight loss contact at dr.ayur@yahoo.co.in

Spirulina - The Super food

What is spirulina?
Spirulina belongs to a class of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae that grows in warm, alkaline, fresh  water. The name spirulina is derived from the Latin word for ‘helix’ or spiral, which describes the  swirling characteristics of this algae.  Blue-green algae is believed by anthropologists and biologists to be the oldest living plant on the planet  and a kind of primitive food, as they have been around for more than 3.5 billion years. As a single cell  food form at the lowest level of the food chain, algae is believed to supply 90% of the world’s oxygen and  possibly 90% of its food.   Ancient records show that human beings have been using blue-green algae as an important food source  for the last four thousand years. While the Chinese utilise it as a herb to treat vitamin deficiencies, the  mayans, Aztecs and African natives eat it freshly harvested or as algae cakes.   Spirulina started to gain popularity only in the last thirty years as a high-nutrient food supplement.
What makes spirulina so special?
Spirulina’s deep green colour comes from its rainbow of natural pigments - chlorophyll (green),
phycocyanin (blue) and carotenoids (yellow and orange).  These pigments harvest the sun's energy at different wavelengths for the process called  photosynthesis.   What makes spirulina different from other plant forms is its tendency to absorb high amounts of sunlight,  as it usually grows in very hot climates at high altitudes. As a result, it contains high energy levels from  the sun. This is why some traditional practitioners refer to spirulina as a life force energy with a powerful   healing and rejuvenative effect on the human body, mind and spirit.

Why is spirulina called Superfood by the World Health Organization?
The modern diet is far less nutritious than before. Excessive farming methods over-processing of foods  strip them of their natural nutrients even before they reach our dinner table. Growing   dependence on fast and processed foods, which are nutritionally empty, also leave us vulnerable to poor  health and low energy levels.   Even before scientific data was available, spirulina had been used since ancient times as a powerful    source of nutrients and as an energy booster, antioxidant, antiviral, weight loss aid and lipid-lowering   agent.   Sprulina is now referred to as a Superfood because scientists have discovered it to contain all the   important sources of nutrients such as:

• The full spectrum of vitamins and minerals 
• Over 2000 enzymes
• All the essential amino acids in the correct proportion
• Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids
• Antioxidant beta carotene
• Glycolipids and sulfonolipids
• High levels of iron and magnesium

As spirulina is 60% vegetable protein, it is easily digestible. It is believed to contain 20 times more  protein than soybeans and 200 times more protein than beef.  Spirulina is also second only to mother's milk in concentrations of natural gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and   also contains natural substances called phycocyanin and long-chained sugars called polysacharrides,   which strengthens the immune system.   In short, it contains all the important nutrients necessary for good health and vitality, making it a  Superfood

Who should take spirulina?
Almost everyone will benefit from taking spirulina as a wholesome food supplement, to increase general  health and prevent disease. For some people, there is a stronger need than others, possibly due to:
1. Unhealthy lifestyles- Long-term effects of a poor diet due to stress, lack of time or heavy workload
2. Recuperation from surgery or illness- When the body needs more nutrients to return to its normal  condition
2. High energy output- These include athletes, frequent travelers, highly stressed people, students
facing exams and others
3. Pregnancy and breastfeeding- Helps prevent iron deficiency and builds milk supply
4. Old age- Spirulina is easily digested and absorbed into the bloodstream
5. Vegetarian diets- High protein content is a great substitute for meat and diary protein
6. Weight-watching- Ensures sufficient nutrient intake when the body is abstaining from high fat and  high calorie foods
7. Travelling- A valuable source of greens when fresh vegetables are not safe to be consumed or easily  available

One of the oldest foods on the planet is now perfect for the high-tech future.
Spirulina is now accepted as such a nutrient-dense super food, it has been approved as space food by   NASA and other long-term agencies for space travel and long-term space living.
Now one of the oldest foods on the planet is proving to be perfect for the high-tech future. And, because   it is a single-celled plant, it assimilates with almost no work from your digestion. In fact, your body   begins to assimilate it right in your mouth and into your bloodstream.
Spirulina is one of the many blue-green algaes (single-celled plants); named after its spiral shape. Algaes   are incredibly old life forms, responsible for producing and sustaining our oxygenated atmosphere. They   are the basis of the food chain and the primary source of food for the great baleen whales. Spirulina is  not a salt-water algae; it grows in fresh inland waters. Due to being a prehistoric plant it is rich in  nutrients and gives huge amounts of energy. The spirulina in Superfood is potentially one of the most  concentrated, nutritious foods on this planet. It is the highest natural source of complete protein. The  spirulina we use is very special and comes from Hawaii and is not found in many places in the world.  Dr. Schulze's spirulina is grown in confined ponds, free from any other species of algae. This confinement   means that no cross contamination from other species can take place this ensures that no microtoxins can contaminate the spirulina. The water in which this spirulina grows is drawn through a deep pipeline   from its origins 2000 feet below water level. The water is kept free of anything that could pollute the   spirulina and therefore problems that have arisen in lake grown spirulina are simply not encountered.  The high amount of sunshine makes the spirulina high in Beta Carotene. It is a rich source of B vitamins,   especially B12 and it is also one of the richest sources of minerals. One of the oldest types of algae, it  has a soft cell wall making digestion and assimilation exceptionally easy.  Spirulina contains chelated versions of potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, phosphorous, and  iron. In addition to these beneficial minerals, you can get your B-complex, A and E vitamins from  spirulina.  Spirulina also has all nine of the essential amino acids, as well as nine more nonessential ones.  Spirulina contains compounds like phycocyanin, polysaccharides and sulfolipids that enhance the immune  system. In fact spirulina contains the most remarkable concentration of functional nutrients ever known  in any food, plant, grain or herb. No other algae, blue-green or chlorella, has been the subject of such  intense research over the past 30 years - there have been thousands of scientific studies. Spirulina contains the major long-chain omega-3 fatty acid found in the brain.  It is the primary building block of the gray matter of the brain and the retina of the eye.  Spirulina is a rich source Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), which is the "miracle" ingredient of Spirulina. GLA is an essential fatty acid that has been shown very helpful in the relief of arthritis. GLA also helps lower  high blood pressure and blood cholesterol. It eases such other conditions as premenstrual pain, eczema  and other skin conditions.  It is 58 times richer in organic iron than raw spinach and 28 times richer than raw beef liver!  Phycocyanin, which is the natural blue pigment of Spirulina, is not found in any other food on the plant.  Phycocyanin has shown promise in treating cancer in animals. It also stimulates the immune system.

Spirulina is Alkaline and Helps Balance your Body's pH
It is important that we maintain a balanced body pH of ideally around 7.2-7.4, which is roughly neutral. A  diet of junk food to include fast food, over-cooked, processed foods, (especially soft drinks (the worst is  cola), which have a pH of 2.7) creates a body that is several thousand times more acidic than our bodies.  This is important because all diseases start and live and thrive in an acidic environment and do not live  well in an alkaline environment. Thus it follows that to keep ourselves as alkaline as possible creating a  healthy body. (Becoming too alkaline is rare but not unheard of.) The rise of fast, junk and processed  foods match those of rising cancer rates. Thirty years ago, cancer in children was almost unheard of. Now  they have entire hospital wards given over to children with cancer. We are too acidic! This is one of the  many reasons why we are getting sick!

Ganoderma in curing Diabetes Melitus

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that many people throughout the world fall victim to. The general definition of diabetes is described as the body’s inability to process blood sugar in an effective way. There are many medications, such as insulin or prescription pills, that sufferers can utilize to offset the side effects that uncontrolled diabetes can cause a person. Even with the access of prescription medications, many sufferers of the disease have elected to find different means to control their diabetes symptoms by more natural methods.Diabetes is considered as root of all disease.Once a person is affected by diabetes then he is susceptible all kind of diseases.
Diabetes happens when blood sugar level constantly stays at a higher level. This leads to many other diseases such as:
    * high blood pressure
    * kidney failure
    * stroke
    * blindness
    * food ulcer
    * and even impotence

Conventional treatment for diabetes uses drug medications to suppress blood sugar level. Before taking any herbs for diabetes, you too must begin your treatment with medication.It helps to quickly reduce blood sugar level and maintain it. However, medication doesn't cure it. It only controls this disease and prevent other associated health problems.

Medication side effect
There are 2 groups of diabetes medication.
The first type mainly forces the already weakened pancreas to produce more insulin hormone to reduce blood sugar level.The second type mainly suppresses sugar absorption in intestines, thus maintaining blood sugar at a safe level.
However, long term consumption of diabetes medication causes two main side effects. One is the hardening of blood vessels, causing stroke and heart disease. The other side effect is the interference with fats metabolism, causing a patient to become fatter.

As you might have seen, some diabetes patients under long term medication are still affected with kidney failure and stroke. This shows that conventional medication alone is not the complte answer to treating diabetes.

Ganoderma for Diabetes
Ganoderma Lucidum is a naturally occurring, organic herb. Also known by other names such as Reishi or Lingzhi, Ganoderma Lucidum is a fungus grown from rotten wood. Derived from Chinese medicine, the fungus is known for its healing properties. In addition, Ganoderma Lucidum assists with better circulation, nervous system, and immune system function, which makes it a perfect to tool to help combat chronic conditions such as diabetes.
This herb helps to boost body energy and improve blood circulation. Therefore, Ganoderma Lucidum is one of the important herbs for diabetes.The constitutes in Ganoderma lucidum that reduce blood glucose are Ganoderma B and C. The principle is by enhancing utilization of blood glucose by body tossues. Ganoderma lucidum serves as a substitute to insulin to inhibit release of fatty acids. It thus improves symptoms in high blood glucose and high urine glucose patients. Blood glucose will be reduced from 173 to 116, cholesterol from 233 to 179, beat-protein from 580 to 465. Water-solubility polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum suppresse insulin-independent diabetes.
Ganoderma Lucidum has been shown as a well known treatment for lowering blood sugar levels in sufferers of diabetes. Ganoderma Lucidum can serve as an insulin substitute for insulin-dependent diabetics. Since Ganoderma Lucidum is known to assist with overall improved health of the body, it also eliminates many of the known complications that a person with diabetes might have to contend with over time.

One of the most common ailments that diabetes sufferers contend with is poor circulation and neurological issues. People diagnosed with diabetes commonly suffer from poor circulation which feeds neurological pain or numbness. This medical issue is a direct result of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is caused because of injury caused to blood vessels that provide blood sources to neurological paths. This phenomenon can affect all of the peripheral nerves in the body, which is why diabetics who aren’t in control of their diabetes often lose sensation. This is also a direct cause of body part amputations, such as feet, being a prime example. In addition, since the body has poor circulation, the diabetic often doesn’t heal as well as a person without the disease because this lack of circulation decreases the ability to heal productively.

In fact, not only can Ganoderma Lucidum be used as an insulin replacement; it can often help a diabetes sufferer to regain functionality of their pancreas, which is part of what causes diabetes in the first place. This naturally occurring fungus has been shown to cure some of the effects of renal disease, which is an unfortunate side effect of diabetes. In addition to these attributes, Ganoderma Lucidum has been shown to also combat such ailments as hypertension, high blood pressure, ulcers, strokes, and impotence; which are all side effects of not only diabetes itself, but also some of the medications prescribed to control diabetes. It is in this way that Ganoderma Lucidum not only helps to control, combat, and on some level cure diabetes, but also assists in improving the overall health of the person ingesting it.
Herbs such as Ganoderma Lucidum can help a diabetic not only with lowering their blood sugar, but with producing a clean bill of health. Derived from China, Ganoderma Lucidum has long been used in the aid of complete health and body function, either alone or in conjunction with other natural holistic herbs and supplements.
Ganoderma can be taken has a daily herbal supplement and can also be found in some food and beverages such as hot chocolate, coffees, and teas.
Ganoderma Lucidum can be used in addition to prescription drugs, in correlation with other herbal remedies, or by itself, to promote increased function and well being in not only diabetics but in everyday people wishing to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
The polysaccharides found in Ganoderma are also proven to help insulin to transfer sugar into body cells.

Lifestyle changes
Even with the mentioned herbs, you must also strictly control your diet and emotional health if you want to improve your diabetes. Remember the following important points:

   1. Reduce sugar and sweet food intake
   2. Don't get angry and stressful
   3. Exercise regularly

With the above lifestyles kept in mind, taking herbs for diabetes can certainly improve this common disease in the long run.
for more doubts and how to use Ganoderma for various disease and weight loss contact at dr.ayur@yahoo.co.in

Wonder Drug - Ganoderma

Hello readers,
I just want to explain something about a great herb that i came to know about recently.I also tried it on a number of my patients with a number of complaints.I have got good results from it,that no other drug has given me.
I just want to introduce this herb to all my readers.Just check it out.
If anyone needs to know more about it and to cure your problems with it just mail me at dr.ayur@yahoo.co.in

A small introduction of the herb

Ganoderma is a genus of polypore mushrooms which grow on wood and include about 80 species, many from tropical regions. Because of their extensive use in traditional Asian medicines, and their potential in bioremediation, they are a very important genus economically. Ganoderma can be differentiated from other polypores because they have a double walled basidiospore. They are popularly referred to as shelf mushrooms or bracket mushrooms.

Several species of Ganoderma have been used in traditional Asian medicines for thousands of years. Collectively, the Ganoderma are being investigated for a variety of potential therapeutic benefits:

    * anticancer effects - Best herb in treating cancer
    * immunoregulatory effects - useful in AIDS
    * antioxidant activities - Keeps you young always
    * liver-protecting effects -for liver cirrhosis
    * hypoglycemic effects - Best herb in treating Diabetes Melitus
    * antibacterial effects - Boost your Immunity
    * antiviral effects
    * antifungal effects
    * reducing blood cholesterol - reduce risk for cardiac complaints
    * inhibiting blood vessel regeneration (angiogenesis)
    * antifibrotic effects
    * protection against radiation-induced damage
    * reducing lower urinary tract symptoms and increase sexual performance
    * increasing endurance for vigorous exercise

I will be posting more information in this wonder drugs ..
so visit daily for updates.....
for more info on this herb mail me dr.ayur@yahoo.co.in

Artificial venom aids fight against diabetes in UAE

 
By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter
Published: February 19, 2008, 17:29

Abu Dhabi: A lizard’s venom helped to give birth to a new Type 2 diabetes drug, which is now available in the UAE.

The drug, Exenatide (Byetta), is an artificial version of the venom found in the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum).

The saliva of the two-feet long pink and black lizard, native to the US , contains a chemical exendin-4, similar to a human hormone to help regulate blood sugar.

Byetta has proven effective in the control of Type 2 diabetes in humans.

Scientists from drug companies Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals worked together to develop Exenatide, an artificial version of exendin-4 that can be injected into patients and stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin in response to raised blood sugar. It also influences digestion and appetite.
A significant effect of the drug is weight loss, which is a major benefit for Type 2 diabetes patients, who are often overweight.

It helps with glucose (blood sugar) management in several ways: It signals the pancreas to create additional insulin when glucose levels are too high; it regulates the liver so that it doesn't produce unneeded glucose; and helps slow the rate of sugar entering the bloodstream.

According to Dr Eisa Al Mansouri, Director of the Drug Control Department, Ministry of Health, the combination of blood sugar regulation and weight loss give Byetta an additional punch in the battle against diabetes.

"Our aim is to make available the best treatments for patients in the UAE. We give high importance to all that relates to the diabetes field, as we know that diabetes is one of the major conditions threatening our community. Byetta is a new class of treatment for diabetes. We are one of the first countries in the Middle East to make Byetta available," said Al Mansouri

Byetta has been available in the US since 2005. It is now offered in more than 23 countries and used by more than 700,000 diabetes patients worldwide.

Diabetes Research

I read three interesting recent studies published in the international jouyrnals. I have sumnmarised the essence of the studies. I hope you will find of use.

First study focused on "Patient Knowledge of Coronary Risk Profile Improves the Effectiveness of Dyslipidemia Therapy".The goal was to determine whether showing physicians and patients the patient's calculated coronary risk can improve the effectiveness of treating dyslipidemia in a primary care setting, patients were randomized to receive usual care or ongoing feedback regarding their calculated coronary risk and the change in this risk after lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, or both to treat dyslipidemia. Two hundred thirty primary care physicians enrolled 3053 patients. After 12 months of follow-up, 2687 patients (88.0%) remained in the study. Significantly greater mean reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were observed in patients receiving risk profiles vs usual care but the differences were small . The authors conclude that discussing coronary risk with the patient is associated with a small but measurable improvement in the efficacy of lipid therapy. The value of incorporating risk assessment in preventive care should be further evaluated.

The second study focused on Dietary Carbohydrates, Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-aged Chinese Women as much uncertainty exists about the role of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in populations that traditionally subsist on a diet high in carbohydrates. Authors observed a cohort of 64 227 Chinese women with no history of diabetes or other chronic disease at baseline for 4.6 years. In-person interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary habits, physical activity, and other relevant information using a validated questionnaire. Incident diabetes cases were identified via in-person follow-up. Authors identified 1608 incident cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus in 297 755 person-years of follow-up. Dietary carbohydrate intake and consumption of rice were positively associated with risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Authors conclude, high intake of foods with a high glycemic index and glycemic load, especially rice, the main carbohydrate- contributing food in this population, may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese women.

The third study, Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health as pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity. From a search of 2246 citations; 26 studies with a total of 2767 participants met inclusion criteria Pedometer users significantly increased their physical activity by 2491 steps per day more than control participants Overall, pedometer users increased their physical activity by 26.9% over baseline. An important predictor of increased physical activity was having a step goal such as 10 000 steps per day Authors conclude that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.

Studies Link Depression and Type 2 Diabetes

The studies, presented at the meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes here, add to a growing body of evidence linking depression and other mental disorders to diabetes risk. Symptoms of depression or psychological stress were associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes in men, but not in women, Swedish researchers reported A team from Canada said surveillance data suggest that "people with diabetes had a higher prevalence of all mental illnesses compared with people without diabetes."
The rate of affective and anxiety disorders was more than 30% higher in people with diabetes who were younger than 50 men with the highest level of depressive symptoms had a nearly four-fold risk for type 2 diabetes, In the Canadian study, Lauren C. Brown, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and colleagues,found people with diabetes
had a higher prevalence of all mental illnesses compared with people without diabetes, and this
finding was consistent over the examined time period." People with diabetes also had a more than a two-fold higher prevalence of non-organic psychoses than people without diabetes Given the increased rate of mental illness in people with diabetes, "research should focus on strategies to minimize complications and mortality in this population with comorbidity, " the authors wrote.

Criteria for diagnosis of diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disorder caused by the inability of the body to either produce or properly utilise insulin, the hormone responsible for sugar metabolism. As a consequence, the blood sugar levels rise and persistent elevation affects blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves etc. Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease in which the body's immune system produces antibodies, which destroy the cells producing insulin in the pancreas. It has an acute onset and is usually seen in children. Due to absence of insulin, patients need lifelong insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes, in contrast, begins as a resistance of the body to the action of insulin. This necessitates increased insulin production but finally this decreases and diabetes develops. Type 2 diabetes is usually seen in adults and people who are overweight. But with increasing obesity, this is occurring more often in young people.

Criteria for diagnosis of diabetes:
Random blood glucose > 200 mg/dl* with symptoms (increased thirst, increased urination and unexplained weight loss)
Fasting blood glucose > 126 mg/dl*
2 h blood glucose > 200 mg/dl* following an oral challenge with 75 g glucose
* This should be repeated on another day to confirm
Treatment aims to maintain:

Hb A1C <> 40 mg/dl Women > 50 mg/dl

Triglycerides <>

Diabtes Treatment and Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, Prameha is of 20 types. Diabetes is one among them called Madhumeha. All the diseases that come under Prameha are characterized by polyurea.

According to Ayurveda the treatment of Diabetes can be divided as follows...
1. Regular exercise-
Ayurveda has said that one should do regular and suffer hardships. Ayurvedic texts say that diabetes patient should do hard works like digging a well and pond, walking long distance and doing asana.
From this we can understand that from ancient time onwards it was known be a disease of lazy people and they knew the importance of exercise in this disease.
So it should be understood that only medicines will not have any effect on Diabetes

2. Contolled food habits-
Diabetes patient should control their food. They should not eat food and fruits which are sweet. They should also keep away from tender fruits of those fruits which become sweet on ripe. They should also avoid foods that are rich in starch content

3. Medicine-
The role of medicine comes only last according to Ayurveda. Ayurveda mentions many medicines like Chandraprabha vati,Nisha Kathakadi kashayam are very effective here.
However there are some single drugs which will be very effective in diabetes. I will mention a few here
       Curry leaves - Leaves are taken, dried and powdered and taken after food, morning and evening.
       Fenugreek (Methi) - Methi is a good medicine for diabetes. It can be taken by the following ways.
* 1 teaspoon of powder taken in empty stomach early morning.
* The fenugreek which is kept in water overnight is taken along with the water.
       Gooseberry (Amalaki) - Drinking 15ml of Amalaki along with 5g of turmeric powder (Haldi) can cure Diabetes soon. It can be taken twice a day in empty stomach.
      Bilwa (Aegles marmelos) - * Take 5-6 leaves in early morning in empty stomach
                                                       *The leaves are dried and powder is taken early morning
It should be noted that these medicines will have varied results in different individuals.
Results will be seen after taking it for 2-3 months. It is advised that you don’t stop your medicines while taking these

3. Knowledge about Diabetes-
All diabetic patients should have knowledge of their disease. This knowledge will help them to keep them selves away from factors that increase their disease. They should also keep in track of the latest development in treating diabetes. A good knowledge about diabetes and its complication can help them from future troubles. Chronic Diabetes can affect Eyes (Diabetic retinopathy),Nervous system(Diabetic retinopathy),it also lead to delayed wound healing.
So know Diabetes and its nature.

Depression linked to neglect of diabetes

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In patients with type 2 diabetes, the adult on-set variety, depressive symptoms -- even if they do not meet criteria for major depressive disorder -- is associated with poor adherence to self-care, according to results of a study published in Diabetes Care.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Gonzalez, of Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , and colleagues compared the effects of depression on 879 diabetic patients from two primary care clinics. The participants were surveyed using the Harvard Department of Psychiatry/National Depression Screening Day Scale (HANDS), the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and self-reported medication adherence.

Overall, 19.3 percent of the patients met HANDS criteria for probable major depression (HANDS score at least 9) and 66.5 percent reported at least some depressive symptoms without meeting the criteria for probable major depression.

Only 14.2 percent of the subjects reported no depressive symptoms.
Of those with probable major depression, 59.4 percent had depression listed in their medical records, and 48.8 percent had been prescribed an antidepressant agent.

A significant association was observed between major depression and poorer adherence to diet, exercise, and glucose self-monitoring regimens after controlling for other health risk factors. Patients with major depression had a had 2.3-fold increased odds of missing medication doses in the previous week compared with the other subjects.

Among the 709 subjects who did not meet the criteria for major depression, "increasing HANDS scores were incrementally associated with poorer adherence to self-care behaviors," the investigators found.

"The presence of symptoms of depression in type 2 diabetes may hinder a patient's ability to adhere to their self-care routine," Gonzalez said in an interview with Reuters Health. "Depressive symptoms such as diminished interest, fatigue, concentration difficulties, and feelings of hopelessness could each interfere with the hard work that's involved in diabetes self-management. "

"These patients might benefit from extra support or from a referral to psychological services, especially when their symptoms are impacting functioning or causing distress," Gonzalez added. "Since we know that depression in diabetes is associated with higher risks of complications, poorer diabetes control, and even increased mortality, it's really crucial to evaluate patients and offer appropriate treatment when necessary."

More generally, Gonzalez concluded, "Our findings suggest that decreased ability to adhere to one's medical regimen may be an important explanatory pathway through which depression affects health outcomes. Treating depression in the context of chronic illness may be an increasingly important role for mental health providers as rates of chronic illness continue to increase and evidence mounts for the harmful effects of depression in patients with chronic illness."

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, September 2007.
http://news. yahoo.com/ s/nm/20071008/ hl_nm/depression _diabetes_ dc_1;_ylt= ApFI.k_b17poJUj5 0QmdeC1kMfQI
__._,_.___

Depression linked to neglect of diabetes

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In patients with type 2 diabetes, the adult on-set variety, depressive symptoms -- even if they do not meet criteria for major depressive disorder -- is associated with poor adherence to self-care, according to results of a study published in Diabetes Care.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Gonzalez, of Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , and colleagues compared the effects of depression on 879 diabetic patients from two primary care clinics. The participants were surveyed using the Harvard Department of Psychiatry/National Depression Screening Day Scale (HANDS), the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and self-reported medication adherence.

Overall, 19.3 percent of the patients met HANDS criteria for probable major depression (HANDS score at least 9) and 66.5 percent reported at least some depressive symptoms without meeting the criteria for probable major depression.

Only 14.2 percent of the subjects reported no depressive symptoms.
Of those with probable major depression, 59.4 percent had depression listed in their medical records, and 48.8 percent had been prescribed an antidepressant agent.

A significant association was observed between major depression and poorer adherence to diet, exercise, and glucose self-monitoring regimens after controlling for other health risk factors. Patients with major depression had a had 2.3-fold increased odds of missing medication doses in the previous week compared with the other subjects.

Among the 709 subjects who did not meet the criteria for major depression, "increasing HANDS scores were incrementally associated with poorer adherence to self-care behaviors," the investigators found.

"The presence of symptoms of depression in type 2 diabetes may hinder a patient's ability to adhere to their self-care routine," Gonzalez said in an interview with Reuters Health. "Depressive symptoms such as diminished interest, fatigue, concentration difficulties, and feelings of hopelessness could each interfere with the hard work that's involved in diabetes self-management. "

"These patients might benefit from extra support or from a referral to psychological services, especially when their symptoms are impacting functioning or causing distress," Gonzalez added. "Since we know that depression in diabetes is associated with higher risks of complications, poorer diabetes control, and even increased mortality, it's really crucial to evaluate patients and offer appropriate treatment when necessary."

More generally, Gonzalez concluded, "Our findings suggest that decreased ability to adhere to one's medical regimen may be an important explanatory pathway through which depression affects health outcomes. Treating depression in the context of chronic illness may be an increasingly important role for mental health providers as rates of chronic illness continue to increase and evidence mounts for the harmful effects of depression in patients with chronic illness."

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, September 2007.
http://news. yahoo.com/ s/nm/20071008/ hl_nm/depression _diabetes_ dc_1;_ylt= ApFI.k_b17poJUj5 0QmdeC1kMfQI
__._,_.___

Red Wine Compound May Curb Diabetes

But Chinese Scientists Warn You'd Have Drink Quite A Bit To Make A Difference(WebMD) Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, may counter type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, a new study shows. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. When the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, that's called insulin resistance, a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes. Resveratrol curbs insulin resistance in mice, Chinese scientists report. They included Cheng Sun and Qiwei Zhai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai. If the findings apply to people, it might be possible to create new resveratrol drugs that could be a "valuable new strategy for treating insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes," write the researchers. But don't count on a glass of wine to do the same thing. It would take quite a bit of wine to reach the same level of resveratrol. "According to our findings, people might need to drink about three liters of red wine each day to get sufficient resveratrol -- about 15 milligrams -- for its biological effects," Zhai says in a news release. The researchers aren't recommending that anyone rely on wine to help their insulin sensitivity. Resveratrol Research Resveratrol is found in grapes (especially in red wine), raspberries, peanuts, and other plants that use resveratrol to defend against threats such as disease. Sun's team found that insulin-resistant mice become more sensitive to insulin when given resveratrol. How does that work? The scientists' experiments with cells in test tubes show that resveratrol spurs a gene called SIRT1 to become more active, boosting insulin sensitivity. The findings appear in October's edition of the journal Cell Metabolism.

Discovery Supports Theory of Alzheimer's Disease as Form of Diabetes

Normally, insulin receptors are abundantly distributed on the surface of nerve cells in the brain. Northwestern scientists have found that ADDLs (green dots), which bind to specific nerve cells, induce a striking loss of insulin receptors (red dots) from the surface of these cells. Neurons with bound ADDLs show a virtual absence of insulin receptors. Reciprocally, neurons with no ADDL binding show abundant insulin receptors. (Credit: The FASEB Journal)EVANSTON, Ill. --- Insulin, it turns out, may be as important for the mind as it is for the body. Research in the last few years has raised the possibility that Alzheimer's memory loss could be due to a novel third form of diabetes.Now scientists at Northwestern University have discovered why brain insulin signaling -- crucial for memory formation -- would stop working in Alzheimer's disease. They have shown that a toxic protein found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's removes insulin receptors from nerve cells, rendering those neurons insulin resistant. (The protein, known to attack memory-forming synapses, is called an ADDL for “amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligand.”)With other research showing that levels of brain insulin and its related receptors are lower in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, the Northwestern study sheds light on the emerging idea of Alzheimer's being a “type 3” diabetes.The new findings, published online by the FASEB Journal, could help researchers determine which aspects of existing drugs now used to treat diabetic patients may protect neurons from ADDLs and improve insulin signaling in individuals with Alzheimer's. (The FASEB Journal is a publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.)In the brain, insulin and insulin receptors are vital to learning and memory. When insulin binds to a receptor at a synapse, it turns on a mechanism necessary for nerve cells to survive and memories to form. That Alzheimer's disease may in part be caused by insulin resistance in the brain has scientists asking how that process gets initiated.“We found the binding of ADDLs to synapses somehow prevents insulin receptors from accumulating at the synapses where they are needed,” said William L. Klein, professor of neurobiology and physiology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, who led the research team. “Instead, they are piling up where they are made, in the cell body, near the nucleus. Insulin cannot reach receptors there. This finding is the first molecular evidence as to why nerve cells should become insulin resistant in Alzheimer's disease.”ADDLS are small, soluble aggregated proteins. The clinical data strongly support a theory in which ADDLs accumulate at the beginning of Alzheimer's disease and block memory function by a process predicted to be reversible.In earlier research, Klein and colleagues found that ADDLs bind very specifically at synapses, initiating deterioration of synapse function and causing changes in synapse composition and shape. Now Klein and his team have shown that the molecules that make memories at synapses -- insulin receptors -- are being removed by ADDLs from the surface membrane of nerve cells.“We think this is a major factor in the memory deficiencies caused by ADDLs in Alzheimer's brains,” said Klein, a member of Northwestern' s Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center. “We're dealing with a fundamental new connection between two fields, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, and the implication is for therapeutics. We want to find ways to make those insulin receptors themselves resistant to the impact of ADDLs. And that might not be so difficult.”Using mature cultures of hippocampal neurons, Klein and his team studied synapses that have been implicated in learning and memory mechanisms. The extremely differentiated neurons can be investigated at the molecular level. The researchers studied the synapses and their insulin receptors before and after ADDLs were introduced.They discovered the toxic protein causes a rapid and significant loss of insulin receptors from the surface of neurons specifically on dendrites to which ADDLs are bound. ADDL binding clearly damages the trafficking of the insulin receptors, preventing them from getting to the synapses. The researchers measured the neuronal response to insulin and found that it was greatly inhibited by ADDLs.“In addition to finding that neurons with ADDL binding showed a virtual absence of insulin receptors on their dendrites, we also found that dendrites with an abundance of insulin receptors showed no ADDL binding,” said co-author Fernanda G. De Felice, a visiting scientist from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro who is working in Klein's lab. “These factors suggest that insulin resistance in the brains of those with Alzheimer's is a response to ADDLs.”“With proper research and development the drug arsenal for type 2 diabetes, in which individuals become insulin resistant, may be translated to Alzheimer's treatment,” said Klein. “I think such drugs could supercede currently available Alzheimer's drugs.”Klein, Grant A. Krafft, formerly at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and now chief scientific officer at Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Caleb E. Finch, professor of biological sciences and gerontology at the University of Southern California, reported the discovery of ADDLs in 1998. Krafft is a co-author of the FASEB Journal paper. Northwestern and USC hold joint patents on the composition and use of ADDLs in neurodisorders.The patent rights have been licensed to Acumen Pharmaceuticals, based in South San Francisco, for the development of drugs that treat Alzheimer's disease and other memory-related disorders.In addition to Klein, De Felice and Krafft, other authors on the paper are Wei-Qin Zhao, a former visiting scientist at Northwestern, now with Merck & Co., Inc. (lead author); Hui Chen, from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health; Michael Quo, from Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute; and Sara Fernandez and Mary Lambert, from Northwestern University.The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Human Frontier Science Program and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico, Brazil.Editor's note: William L. Klein is a founder of Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and serves as a member of its scientific advisory board. In January 2004, Merck & Co., Inc. entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with Acumen to investigate ADDLs as a drug target.