Type two diabetes and metabolic syndrome can be reversed

Does nature have an answer for type two diabetes or metabolic syndrome?

The easy answer is yes. The reality is that just like an ATM, you have to put something in to get something out.

The simplest way to treat and even reverse type two diabetes mellitus as well as metabolic syndrome is diet and exercise.

Type two diabetes and metabolic syndrome can be reversed.

Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Irvine enrolled 31 obese men for the study. Thirteen subjects were diabetic, 15 had metabolic syndrome and three men had neither, but were overweight or obese. Participants took part in a 21-day residential programme at the Pritikin Longevity Centre, where they were allowed unlimited amounts of low-fat natural food. Protein was restricted to 15 to 20 per cent of caloric intake, and was limited to plant, non-fat dairy, fish and poultry sources. The men spent 45 to 60 minutes per day exercising on a treadmill.

After three weeks on the programme, the men were found to have lost two to three pounds per week, although they were still considered obese. Significant reductions in serum lipids, insulin, oxidative stress, inflammation, and leukocyte-endothelial interactions and adhesions were observed, with the percentage of men with metabolic syndrome decreasing from 48 to 19, and the percentage of those with type two diabetes decreasing from 42 to 23.

Lead researcher Christian Roberts of UCLA explained the findings: “The study shows, contrary to common belief, that type two diabetes and metabolic syndrome can be reversed solely through lifestyle changes. This regimen reversed a clinical diagnosis of type two diabetes or metabolic syndrome in about half the participants who had either of those conditions. The diet, combined with moderate exercise, improved many factors that contribute to heart disease and that are indirect measures of plaque progression in the arteries, including insulin resistance, high cholesterol and markers of developing atherosclerosis.

“The results are all the more interesting because the changes occurred in the absence of major weight loss, challenging the commonly held belief that individuals must normalise their weight before achieving health benefits,” Roberts added.

Five super supplements that help

Chromium, a trace mineral, is essential for carbohydrate and fat metabolism and is believed to act as an insulin-sensitising agent. Chromium deficiency has been associated with insulin resistance and diabetes (Suksomboon 2014; Anderson 1997). A 2014 study found chromium deficiency was common in people with prediabetes. The authors recommended screening for chromium deficiency in both prediabetics and diabetics, and supplementing if a deficiency was identified (Rafiei 2014).

Evidence suggests chromium supplementation may improve control of blood glucose, raise HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides in type two diabetes. Chromium has also been shown to significantly lower HbA1C in type two diabetics (Suksomboon 2014; Rabinovitz 2004).

Cinnamon has been shown to promote healthy glucose metabolism and improve insulin sensitivity (Anderson 2013; Couturier 2010; Sartorius 2014; Ranasinghe 2012). Studies that supplemented type two diabetics and healthy individuals with 1g – 6g of cinnamon reported lower levels of fasting glucose, HbA1C and after-meal glucose and insulin concentrations, as well as improvements in insulin sensitivity. These effects have been demonstrated even in those already taking glucose-lowering medication (Lu 2012; Davis 2011; Magistrelli 2012; Hoehn 2012).

Magnesium is involved in more than 300 metabolic reactions and plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism. Magnesium participates in insulin secretion and function, and low magnesium levels are correlated with insulin resistance (Gums 2004; Bertinato 2015; Paolisso 1990). Low magnesium levels are significantly more common in people with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance compared with the general population, and higher magnesium levels correlate with lower HbA1C (Hata 2013; Hruby 2014; Hyassat 2014; Galli-Tsinopoulou 2014; Azad 2014). Higher magnesium intake is associated with decreased risk of developing type two diabetes (Guerrero-Romero 2014).

Omega-3 fats are healthy fats found in fish and some nuts, seeds, vegetables and algae (Higdon 2014). Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to promote weight loss, enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce death from cardiovascular disease by reducing inflammation, improving lipid profiles, and reducing blood clotting. When omega-3 fats are incorporated into cell membranes, they make the cell surface more fluid and pliable and appear to enhance the cells’ ability to remove glucose from the bloodstream (McEwen 2010; Udupa 2013; Albert 2014; Franekova 2015). A large study in older adults demonstrated individuals with the highest blood concentrations of omega-3 fats, compared with the lowest, had up to 43 per cent lower risk of diabetes (Djousse 2011).

DHEA is the most abundant adrenal steroid hormone in healthy adults, and a precursor to the sex hormones (androgens and oestrogens) (Mayo Clinic 2017; Brahimaj 2017).

DHEA levels decline with age. However, youthful DHEA levels, as well as DHEA replacement therapy, have been associated with benefits for cardiovascular health, bone strength, mood and cognitive function (Samaras 2013; Weiss 2012; Kawano 2003; Jankowski 2006; Weiss 2009; Alhaj 2006). DHEA has also received attention for its potential to modulate insulin sensitivity. A two-year randomised controlled trial administered 50mg of DHEA, or placebo, to 125 men and women, aged 65 to 75. In those on DHEA, insulin resistance decreased significantly by 22 per cent compared with placebo. This effect was accounted for largely by the response of those with abnormal glucose tolerance (Weiss 2011). In another randomised controlled trial of 56 men and women aged 65 to 78 with age-related decreases in DHEA levels, 50mg DHEA daily for six months resulted in improved insulin sensitivity and decreased body fat (Villareal 2004).

(Information: Westwood Pharmacy – excerpts from an article in Life Extension Foundation)