According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 15.7 million people in America have diabetes, and that figure is growing every year. Incredibly, with its complications, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Because of the nature of the disease, you can actually have diabetes and be completely unaware of it. Although the ADA recommends that everyone over the age of 45 have their blood sugar tested every three years, there are several warning signs that could make the test a good idea even if you are younger:

1. You suddenly feel tired all the time.
2. You seem to be almost continuously thirsty.
3. You have a constant need to urinate.
4. You are extremely hungry and feel a constant desire to eat, even if your stomach is full.
5. You experience weight loss without dieting.
6. Your vision blurs for no apparent reason.
7. You get frequent headaches.
8. You feel a numbness or tingling in your hands and/or feet.
9. You have dry, itchy skin.
10. After a period of losing weight, you start to gain weight rapidly.

All of these signs can be symptoms of something else not related to diabetes. Even if you display most ofthem, that is only an indication that you should see your medical practitioner for testing, not that you have actually developed diabetes. If you display most of these symptoms, your test results are within normal limits, and other related disorders have been ruled out (such as hyperthyroidism, hypoadrenia, etc.), you may be what is commonly referred to as being "borderline glucose tolerant", or "pre-diabetic". You may wish to follow the recommendations below to see if your symptoms improve or subside.

Type 1 diabetes (or insulin-dependent-diabetes mellitus) occurs when the pancreas loses its ability toproduce insulin, leading to excessive levels of glucose in the blood. Type 1 usually starts at an early age, and affects 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes:

Contrary to popular belief, type 1 diabetes doesn't just "happen", out of the blue. Type 1 is an autoimmune response in which your immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Usually the beta cells (the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas) are being destroyed slowly,over the course of several months or years. Which means that if the disease is detected early enough, in it's earliest stages, it may be possible to slow the progression of the disease and prevent complete beta cell burnout.

There are people with a genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. However, even people with no family history of the disease can develop it. "Something", either a viral trigger, an environmental agent, or even a highly stressful life event can trigger the destruction of insulin-producing cells in susceptible individuals.

Virulent Viruses

A major viral illness (such as measles, mumps, or chickenpox) can trigger the autoimmune response which targets and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas. (research)

Environmental Toxins

Exposure to various pesticides and chemicals in the environment have also been documented to either destroy beta cell function outright or trigger the autoimmune response. For instance, the nitrosamines in smoked meats and other cured foods have been linked to pancreatic damage. (research)

Contaminated Cow's Milk

Early exposure to cow's milk in genetically susceptible infants has been documented to trigger diabetes. The most current medical science indicates that it is a mycotoxin in the milk, not the milk itself that causes diabetes.(research)

Major Stress

Evidence suggests that a highly stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one, a sudden unexpected move, or difficulties at work or school, may precede the development of diabetes.(anecdotal)

There have been reports of patients who developed diabetes six months to a year following a major trauma, suggesting that stress does indeed alter the function of the immune system.

Solutions for Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a serious illness which requires extreme vigilance if major complications are to be avoided. By keeping blood glucose levels close to normal, by utilizing insulin therapy, and by closely following the recommendations in this report, such as proper diet, proper exercise, stress management and nutritional supplementation, your chances of managing this disease and minimizing the risk of serious complications have never been better.

For a step by step program on the best ways to manage this disease, please scroll down to the Ideal Health Program for Diabetes below.

Type 2 diabetes (or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) is by far the most common form of diabetes, affecting between 90 to 95 percent of people with the disease. It was commonly known to occur around midlife, but sadly is now reaching epidemic proportions among children and adolescents. It is a testimony to our inactive lifestyles, poor diets, and toxins in our environment that even our youngest children are now being affected.

Insulin Resistance - At the Core of Type 2 Diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, there is no defect in insulin production. Unlike type 1 diabetes, there is no insulin shortage here. Instead, there is a blockage in the cells' ability to utilize the insulin that is already present. Insulin allows the body's cells to take in glucose (sugar), which the body turns to energy. There is plenty of glucose, but it can't enter the cells, and begins to build up in the bloodstream. This is what is known as "insulin resistance".

Hungry Muscle

When tissue, such as muscle, becomes insulin resistant, the body loses it's ability to utilize sugar effectively. The body responds by telling the pancreas to produce more insulin (hyperinsulemia).

Hyperactive Liver

The liver responds to the increased insulin being produced by the pancreas by overproducing sugar. This contributes to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

Burnt-Out Pancreas

Eventually, the pancreas "burns out" and can no longer compensate for insulin resistance. This reduces the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas. As a result, blood sugar levels rise in the blood.

Causes of Insulin Resistance:

Obesity

A too high a proportion of fat in body tissues has a major effect on the cells' sensitivity to insulin. In an obese person, even if insulin is injected, it will not work as it should, and larger and larger doses are often required.

Unhealthy and Acid-forming Diet

Excess saturated fat and refined carbohydrates are the major culprits here. They contribute to insulin resistance and weight gain, and are thus a major cause of diabetes. As well, these foods create an acidic condition in the body tissues, which also contributes towards insulin resistance and the development of diabetes. (research)

Inactivity

Very low levels of activity may bring on type 2 diabetes in some people. An exercise program dramatically increases insulin sensitivity and thus improves the diabetic condition.

Deficiencies of Vitamins and Minerals

Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals are known to contribute to insulin resistance, and targeted nutritional supplements are a powerful adjunct to improving the diabetic condition.(research)

Yeast Overgrowth

The presence of fungi such as candida albicans and their mycotoxins can damage the pancreas and interfere with insulin's actions. (research)

Environmental Toxins

Heavy metals, chemicals and pesticide exposure have also been linked to contributing to the breakdown of the pancreas.(research)

Solutions

Although type 2 diabetes is a serious illness, many people have been greatly helped by changing their lifestyle and by following the suggested recommendations below. You can dramatically improve blood sugar control, reduce - if not eliminate - reliance on medication, and decrease your risk of complications of diabetes, by following an ideal diet, exercise and supplements program.

For a step-by-step program on the best ways to manage diabetes, please scroll to the Ideal Health Program for Diabetes below.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy. For an in-depth discussion of gestational diabetes and how to help the condition go to www.even-better-now.org

Having a child with diabetes poses a unique set of challenges. For a discussion of diabetic children and how they can be helped go to:

Although I do not have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy, which statistically puts me at a 50% risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

To prevent this, I follow a lifestyle program that includes the ideal diet for blood sugar disorders, an exercise program, a stress management program, and I also take special supplements. The following is a list of recommendations for those who are insulin resistant, borderline-glucose tolerant, "pre-diabetic", and for those who have developed the full-blown disease.

The Ideal Diet is the foundation for any treatment plan for those with insulin resistance or diabetes. For detailed information on the Ideal Diet, and why it is so successful in eliminating blood sugar disorders visit www.evenbetternow.info for the Ideal Diet for Diabetes report.

Following the dietary recommendations in the Ideal Diet for Diabetes report will go a long way towards ensuring a return to health, and possibly even preventing the onset of diabetes entirely. You can speed up the process even more dramatically by adding alkalizing supplements to the diet.

It's Basic: Excess Acidity is Unhealthy

A number of researchers believe that acidosis, or too much acid in the body tissues, is a major contributing factor to insulin sensitivity problems that lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Over-acidity comes from consuming too many acid-forming foods and not consuming enough alkalizing foods to counteract them. In addition to consuming more alkalizing foods, over-acidity can be mitigated by taking alkalizing supplements.

The Rx for pH is Eze Dr. Robert O. Young, a world-renowned microbiologist and nutritionist, and author of the book The pH Miracle" and "The pH Miracle for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes" has achieved great success working with diabetics and those with blood sugar disturbances, by placing diabetic patients on an alkaline diet and giving them alkalizing supplements.

To remedy acidity, try taking a pure greens powder drink each day and alkalizing drops to increase the pH value of the water you drink.

Unbeknownst to many diabetics, candida yeast overgrowth is of special concern since elevated blood glucose levels encourage an overgrowth of these microforms. As well, candida yeast has been implicated in the development of blood sugar problems, resulting in a vicious cycle of: Too much candida = blood sugar problems = elevated glucose levels = even more candida.

The Ideal Diet, greens drinks and alkaline water will go a long way to balance your body chemistry, normalizeyour blood sugar, and eliminate candida and other harmful pathogens from the body. However, if you have had problems following dietary recommendations in the past and just can't seem to "stick with the program" no matter how hard you try, you may have more candida than you realize and may need a little extra support.

All of us are exposed to countless numbers of chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals, all of which can accumulate in the body and contribute to ill health, including blood sugar disorders. An obvious example of toxins is cigarette smoke. If you are a smoker or if you are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke, there is a product on the market that has helped many people remove toxins from the body associated with cigarettes and tobacco, and testimonials also relate to people quickly and easily stopping the smoking habit.

Exercise is a powerful therapy for diabetes. Everyone with blood sugar disorders, regardless of age or condition, should be on an exercise program. For those with type 1 diabetes, exercise can dramatically lower insulin requirements. For those with type 2 diabetes, regular exercise can mean the difference between dependency on medications and drug-free blood sugar control. If you are insulin resistant, you may stave off the development of type 2 diabetes completely, with a regular exercise program.

Exercise reduces blood glucose levels. Working muscles have greater energy needs, and they have developed a way to extract glucose from the blood more efficiently than resting ones. In addition, exercise is essential for weight loss, it protects the cardiovascular system, it improves blood flow and thus helps to prevent diabetic complications, it elevates HDL (good) cholesterol, it lowers triglycerides (fat molecules in the blood), and it strengthens the heart.

A Word of Caution - Proper exercise is an exceptionally powerful therapy and will significantly improve the diabetic condition. However, always begin an exercise program under a doctor's supervision. Exercise is so effective in lowering blood glucose levels that if you are on insulin or glucose-lowering drugs, you may actually lower your glucose levels too much, because of the action of the drugs.

According to Dr. Julian Whitaker, M.D., founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, CA and author of the book "Reversing Diabetes", nutritional supplements are not an option for those with blood sugar disturbances - they are a must. Vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and herbs are naturally occurring substances that if used correctly, can have a profoundly positive effect on blood glucose levels.

The following supplements are the best-known and well-studied that benefit people with diabetes:

Chromium, vanadyl sulfate, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipoic acid, B complex vitamins, essential fatty acids, gymnema sylvestre, banaba leaf, bitter melon, garlic and fenugreek.

Please Note: If you are taking any of the above-mentioned supplements whose primary action is to lower blood glucose levels,(vanadyl sulfate, lipoic acid, gymnema sylvestre, banaba leaf or bitter melon), you should monitor your blood sugar levels carefully. these substances have the potenital of driving blood sugar too low, especially if you are taking insulin or insulin-lowering drugs. Please work with your doctor if you are giving these supplements a try, since decreases in blood sugar may be dramatic.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that stress may be a contributing factor to blood sugar disorders such as diabetes. According to Dr. Julian Whitaker, M.D., some of his patients who have type 1 diabetes reported that a very stressful life event occurred six months to a year before they developed diabetes. Some had lost a close family member, others had moved abruptly and still others had gone through a particular stressful time at work or school. Recent studies confirm that stress can indeed alter the functioning of the immune system.

To avoid immune system burnout and to avoid triggering a major illness such as diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals, it is important to practice some form of relaxation or stress management daily. Activities such as yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and massage therapy, bodywork or healing energy work can all help, as can talking with a trusted friend or therapist.

These simple steps have the ability to help many of you with diabetes or blood sugar disturbances reclaim your health.

I wish you much success on your healing journey,

Sincerely,

Andrea Nichols, M.S.W. (Community Health)
Natural Health Consultant

Please note that these recommendations are meant to be used under the supervision of a qualified health care professional. Diabetes is a serious illness - please do not attempt to self-treat! The combination of healthy diet, nutritional supplements and exercise may result in dramatic changes in blood glucose levels, which could cause problems if you are already taking insulin or glucose-lowering drugs. It is important to let your health care provider know of any changes you are making, especially if you are taking any medication.

Please consult a healthcare professional regarding the applicability of any opinion or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition. The materials on this evenbetternow site are for informational and educational purposes only.

No statement on the www.evenbetternow.net website should be construed as a claim for cure, treatment or prevention of any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.