The Role of Nutrition on Diabetes 2024

By Dr Frank Yap, MD -

1. What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which the blood glucose level is too high. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is found in children. The problem is that the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Insulin injections are needed.

Type 2 Diabetes is also called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and develops in adults. People develop this condition when their insulin does not work properly (insulin resistance). Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include being overweight, family history of diabetes, and lack of exercise. 


2. Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

  • My weight puts me at risk (Asians BMI ≥ 23; Others BMI ≥ 25) 
  • I have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
  • I had diabetes when I was pregnant or I gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
  • My blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher or I have been told I had high blood pressure 
  • My cholesterol levels are high. 
  • My good cholesterol is <40mg/dl (men) and <50mg/dl for women, and my triglyceride level is 250 mg/dl or higher 
  • I exercise fewer than 3 times a week


3. How to Prevent Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 41 million people in the United States, ages 40 to 74, who have pre- diabetes.

Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes. Research has also shown that if you take action to manage your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing.


Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. The good news is that the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program study (1), conclusively showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity. They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range.

(1) Knowler WC. Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al entitled "Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with life style intervention or metformin." N Engl J Med 2002 Feb 7,346(6):393-403.

While the DPP also showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes.

Lose weight. Losing as little as 10 pounds can greatly reduce your risk. Be active 30 minutes of exercise, 5 times a week


4. The Role of Nutrition on Diabetes

A healthy diet to prevent diabetes similar to all healthy eating plans. The right meal plan will help you improve your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers and also help keep your weight on track. Whether you need to lose weight or stay where you are, your meal plan cant help.

A healthy diet includes low fat, plenty of good grains, high fibre and one with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Eat low glycaemic foods and watch the amount of carbohydrates. People with diabetes have to take extra care to make sure that their food is balanced with insulin and oral medications, and exercise to help manage their blood glucose levels.

Conventional medications and insulin works to lower the elevated blood sugar. However. cardiovascular disease and other diabetic complications occur even in patients with controlled blood sugar levels. Hence other nutrients are needed to prevent the complications of diabetes on top of your usual medications.


a. Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Grapeseed oil)

Important to prevent oxidation of the bad cholesterol and also insulin damage to the arterial walls. Important to prevent nerve damage and cataracts with diabetic patients


b. Vitamin C

People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) have low vitamin C levels. Vitamin C lowers sorbitol in diabetics. Sorbitol is a sugar that can accumulate and damage the eyes, nerves and kidneys of diabetics. Vitamin C improves glucose tolerance in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM)


c. Vitamin E

A vitamin E deficiency results in increased free radical induced damaged, particularly in the lining of the vascular system. 

Supplemental vitamin E helps prevent diabetic complications through its antioxidant activity, the inhibition of platelet-releasing reaction and platelet aggregation, increasing HDL-cholesterol levels and its role in fatty acid metabolism. Vitamin E helps prevent from diabetic cataracts. 

Double blind studies show that vitamin E improves glucose tolerance in people with Type 2 diabetes (NIDD).


d. Safflower Oil and Cod Liver Oil

Powerful antioxidants. It has been used to improve diabetic neuropathy, and improve damaged nerve function which is common in diabetics.


e. Immune Stimulants (Chromium)

High glucose suppresses the immune system and diabetics are prone to infections. Starting in the 1960's reports have shown that Chromium helps cells respond properly to naturally produced insulin. Current estimates show that 90% of adults are lacking in this essential mineral nutrient.


f. Zinc

Contributes many factors in correct insulin function. 

Zinc is necessary for the pancreas to produce insulin and allows insulin to work effectively, it also helps protect the insulin receptor cells. When zinc levels are low, the pancreas may not secrete enough insulin, so glucose levels remain high, and the insulin that is released cannot work as efficiently as it could. When this happens, glucose cannot enter the cells properly causing high levels in the blood.


g. Cobalamin

B vitamin needed to process glucose. One study showed that Type 1 diabetics given 16mgs of Biotin for one week cut their fasting glucose by 50%. A type 2 study showed similar results. There is also some indication that Biotin helps relieve pain from diabetic nerve damage.


h. Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich foods. People with diabetes have low taurine levels that leads to "thickened" blood condition which increases the risk of heart disease. Supplementing taurine restores taurine levels to normal and corrects the problem of blood viscosity within three months.


i. Carnitine

Carnitine is a substance needed for the body to properly use fat for energy. When diabetics are given carnitine (1mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight), high blood levels of fats both cholesterol and triglycerides dropped 25-39% in just ten days. In addition, carnitine improves the breakdown of fatty acids, possibly playing a role in preventing metabolic ketoacidosis


j. Manganese

Manganese is an important cofactor in the key enzymes of glucose metabolism. Diabetics have been shown to have only one-half of the manganese of normal individuals.


k. Magnesium

Magnesium levels are significantly lowered in diabetics and lowest in those with sever retinopathy. Studies suggest that a deficiency in magnesium may worsen the blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin resistance in the body's tissues.

Supplementation with magnesium leads to improved insulin production in elderly people with Type 2 diabetes. Elders without diabetes may also produce more insulin as a result of magnesium supplements. Insulin requirements are lower in people with Type 1 diabetes who supplement with magnesium.

Diabetes-induced damage to the eyes is more likely to occur to magnesium deficient people with Type 1 diabetes. In pregnant women with IDDM who are magnesium deficient, the lack of magnesium may even account for high rate of spontaneous abortion and birth defects associated with IDDM. 

Low magnesium levels appears to be a significant risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary artery spasm.

Many doctors of natural medicine recommend that diabetics with normal kidney function supplement with 300-400mg of magnesium per day.


l. Selenium

Selenium's control of free radical production has been postulated to also be of benefit in preventing glucose intolerance and the complications of diabetes.


m. Spirulina

Spirulina is a rich source of nutrients, containing up to 70% protein. B-complex vitamins. phycocyanin, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and numerous minerals. A study of people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus reports that spirulina may reduce fasting blood sugar levels after two months of treatment. (2)

(2) Manu, 5 et al. Studies on the effect of spirulina supplementation in the control of diabetes mellitus. Cyanobacternal Biotechnolgy. USA. Science Publishers Inc, 1998.301-304.


n. Quercetin

Enhances insulin secretion, protects the pancreatic beta cells from free radicals, and inhibits platelet aggregation (clumping together). (3) It can also decrease the accumulation of sorbitol, a sugar, in the eye, which can delay the onset of cataracts.

(3) Biochem Pharmacol. 1983:32:1141-1148.


5. Battle Plan for Diabetes

a. Insulin Resistance / High Blood Sugar

Chromium, Zinc, Manganese, Selenium Magnesium, Quercetin


b. Metabolic Imbalance / Ketoacidosis

Carnitine, Taurine


c. Damage to blood vessels & nerves / Circulatory problems

Vitamin E, Vitamic C, Colabamin, Grapeseed oil, Safflower oil, Cod liver oil, Quercetin


d. Suppressed immune system / Infections

Vitamin C, Spirulina, Propolis


References

1. Knowler WC. Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al entitled "Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with life style intervention or metformin." N Engl J Med 2002 Feb 7,346(6):393-403.

2. Manu, 5 et al. Studies on the effect of spirulina supplementation in the control of diabetes mellitus. Cyanobacternal Biotechnolgy. USA. Science Publishers Inc, 1998.301-304.

3. Biochem Pharmacol. 1983:32:1141-1148.


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The Role of Nutrition on Cardiovascular Diseases

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