Vitamin B6 – this vitamin helps to increase the efficiency of insulin. It also helps prevent diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. The level of vitamin B6 tends to be low in people older than 50 years. Some food sources of vitamin B6 are fish, turkey, avocados, broccoli, potatoes, red peppers and walnuts.

Vitamin E – vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and also owns properties as an anticoagulant. It also helps metabolize sugars better. You can help prevent atherosclerosis and vascular complications common in people with diabetes. These complications are responsible for damage to the kidneys and eyes caused by diabetes.

Vitamin C – helps reduce the need for insulin, preventing vascular problems and maintain eye health.

Medicinal plants – there are several plants such as burdock and fenogreco who possess the ability to reduce glucose levels in blood. However, none is a substitute for the administration of insulin. The use of these plants in people with diabetes should be done only under professional care because they sometimes can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar level.

Moreover, there is a good number of plants that do not significantly alter the level of blood sugar but have properties extremely valuable for the prevention and treatment of complications of diabetes. Two of these are:

Bilberry (bilberry) – It helps prevent the destruction of small blood vessels of the eye known as diabetic retinopathy that causes vision loss in diabetic patients. (More information about the blueberry).

Ginkgo biloba – Increases circulation in small blood vessels, especially in the brain. In the case of people with diabetes circulatory problems in his legs are common and may even lead to amputations. The ginkgo helps improve the circulation in the legs, helping to prevent these problems.

Exercise: the exercise helps both prevent diabetes in people who are at risk as to avoid many of the complications in people who already have it. Research carried out at Tufts University in Massachusetts indicate that regular aerobic exercise reduces the risk of developing diabetes, even in cases that do not produce weight loss. Other studies showed that people with diabetes who exercise regularly have a have a lower risk of death than those who do not are exercised. One of the ways in which the exercise is to help increase the level of chromium in the tissues. Another is to improve the body’s ability to use insulin available.

The exercise with weights or resistance also helps. This exercise increases muscle mass. Since muscle requires more calories than fat, the result is an increase in metabolic rate. That means they burn more calories, making it easier to lose weight, something that is desirable for the vast majority of those suffering from diabetes. People with good muscle mass are also less likely to develop diabetes as a larger muscle mass least amount of insulin needed to carry glucose from the blood to tissues.

Relaxation and meditation

Any practice that helps control stress would be helpful both to prevent diabetes as to avoid damage caused by this. Meditation, yoga, hypnotherapy, and music are some of the patterns that can be practiced with great benefit. (More about relaxation and meditation and music therapy).

Increase consumption of vegetables intense colors such as broccoli, spinach, carrots and peppers because they are rich in antioxidants that help prevent damage to small blood vessels of the eyes.

Remove the consumption of refined sugar and products made from it. For example, candy, cookies and candy in general.

Avoid eating “junk” namely that contains many empty calories but few nutrients or fiber.

Reduce or eliminate caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes. Smoking is especially harmful for people with diabetes as these are susceptible to damage to small blood vessels that supply the eyes and peripheral nerves. The cigarette aggravates the damage. Alcohol increases the risk of damage to peripheral nerves.

Do not eat too much on a single meal. It is better to eat less at lunch or dinner and eating some light snack between meals.

Reduce the total number of calories

Supplements: In addition to the general recommendations on diet already outlined, there are some supplements that can help prevent Type II diabetes or prevent this condition worse.

Cromie – this mineral helps increase the activity of insulin. The chromium deficiency is extremely common. The high consumption of products made from refined sugar aggravates the situation because this type of sugar robs the body of its supply of chromium. There are studies showing that a deficiency of chromium in the diet adversely affects glucose tolerance. A study conducted at the hospital in Beijing in China showed that a group of people in the early stages of type II diabetes who received a dose of 100 milligrams of chromium twice daily for four months significantly decreased their level of sugar blood. This study used a form known as chromium picolinate. Good sources of chromium are seafood, whole grains, grape juice, brewer’s yeast, seafood and beans.

Magnesium – magnesium deficiencies can alter glucose metabolism and contribute to the damage caused by diabetes. Some of the results of a deficiency of chromium are chronic high blood pressure, bone loss, vascular disease. Some researchers suggest that even low levels of magnesium in the diet may be a factor that precipitates both types of diabetes in susceptible individuals. Good sources of magnesium are apricots, Guineans, whole grains and wheat bran.

Potassium – potassium helps increase production and efficiency of insulin. Foods rich in potassium are Guineans or bananas, potatoes, dairy products and whole grains.

The symptoms of diabetes: Both types of diabetes produce a variety of symptoms which include constant thirst and hunger, and excessive production of urine. In type I diabetes also can produce a significant weight loss.

The Cause of Diabetes: Apparently there is a strong hereditary factor that predisposes to both types of diabetes. However, as with many hereditary factors the presence of environmental factors can provide the right conditions so that this becomes apparent predisposition or on the contrary can help prevent the condition occurring. Obesity and excessive consumption of fats are precipitating factors in type II diabetes. It is suspected that both types of diabetes, but particularly in diabetes type, I can be involved autoimmune processes. These are processes that immune system cells that should be aimed at attacking viruses or bacteria, attack our own body.

Natural alternative Against Diabetes: The goal in treating diabetes is to reduce and maintain an adequate level to the level of blood sugar. The food is a primary factor in achieving this goal. The exercise, certain nutritional supplements, and the practice of relaxation and meditation also exert positive effects on diabetes control and to prevent damage caused by it.

Food: Reducing fat intake – In a study published in the journal Diabetes Care January 1994 found that a moderate increase in the percentage of calories derived from fat (38 to 43 percent) was sufficient to significantly increase the number of people with impaired glucose tolerance that develop diabetes. On the other hand has been found that eating 40 grams of fat each day can make additional six times more likely that a person with a predisposition to diabetes develops. The typical diet is usually too high in fat. But not all fats are equal. Saturated fats are those which cause more problems and these are precisely those that many people consume too much. It is advisable to reduce the overall consumption of fat so that they do not represent more than 20 percent of total calories. The fat must be ingested preferably not saturated.

Other recommendations food: Some dietary recommendations that may be useful for all people with diabetes or are at high risk of suffering are:

Increase consumption of complex carbohydrates, namely those derived from vegetables, whole grains and although to a lesser extent, fresh fruit. These carbohydrates take longer to digest that simple sugars and release their natural sugars in a more slow and controlled products made from refined sugars.

The term diabetes technically refers to any disorder of metabolism that causes excessive thirst and a significant increase in urine output. So there is a rare disorder called diabetes insipidus caused by a deficiency in the production of a hormone vasopressin which regulates re-absorption of water in the kidneys and which is produced by the pituitary gland. This disease causes a constant thirst and disposal of large volumes of dilute urine.

But in general when using the term diabetes is made to refer to the condition known as diabetes mellitus. This is a disorder of the metabolism of sugars or carbohydrates caused by a lack of production of the hormone insulin or an inability of the body to use effectively. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the level of blood sugar. Diabetes causes carbohydrates cannot be used by the body to produce energy. As a result these accumulate in the blood. This is known as hyperglycemia and may be causing numerous health problems such as diseases of the kidneys, vision loss and cardiac and vascular problems. As the body cannot effectively use carbohydrates uses fat as an alternate source of energy. The result is an alteration in the acid-alkaline balance of the body as if it perpetuates may occasionally produce seizures and diabetic coma.

Two Types of Diabetes: There are two main types of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Type I or insulin is usually begins in childhood or adolescence although there are cases where because of damage to the pancreas is presented to other ages. Those who suffer from this condition have little or no ability to produce insulin and are dependent on these hormone injections to survive. This addition to lead a strict diet in terms of sugars ingested. The type one diabetes is usually more severe than the other type of diabetes.

The type II diabetes is much more common and usually begins after 40 years of age. In this type of diabetes the pancreas retains at least some ability to produce insulin. But either this is not enough or the body does not use it in an efficient manner. Many of these patients can control their diabetes with diet only, while others require in addition oral medications that reduce the level of glucose in the blood. In some cases diabetes control and exits are necessary, at least temporarily, insulin injections.