TREATMENT OF DIABETES WITH NATURAL THERAPEUTICS
Introduction:
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and disturbances in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. These metabolic abnormalities result in part from a deficiency of the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin or from "insulin resistance" (a defect in the body's capacity to respond to insulin).
Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), usually begins in childhood and is thought to be a result of autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells (the cells that produce insulin; also called islet cells). Destruction of the beta cells results in a complete or almost-complete loss of insulin production, thereby necessitating insulin injections to maintain blood sugar control.
Type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), is usually diagnosed after 40 years of age. Type 2 diabetes is frequently associated with insulin resistance and normal or even elevated levels of insulin, although subnormal insulin levels are also seen in some type 2 diabetics.
Gestational diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar) during pregnancy and usually disappears after the child is delivered. However, even though gestational diabetes may be relatively short-lived, it can compromise the health of both mother and fetus.
Diabetes is associated with a number of significant medical problems.
Severe hyperglycemia may result in coma or even death. Milder hyperglycemia, if present for many years, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which can manifest as a heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, gangrene of the extremities (necessitating amputation in some cases), or kidney failure.
• Atherosclerosis accounts for up to 60% of all diabetes-related deaths.1
• In addition, as many as 33% of all cases of kidney dialysis and 50% of all amputations in the United States and...