Diet and diabetes

Diet and Diabetes

When the pancreas is unable to manufacture a hormone called insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, diabetes is the result. For more than half a century, most people assumed diabetes was effectively treated with insulin injections. Actually, supplemental hormones like insulin can cause many other complications. Insulin treatment may simply leave the diabetic healthy enough to suffer some of the secondary conditions associated with diabetes. The most dangerous side effects of insulin - treated diabetes come from the thickening of the tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, which nourish all tissues and organs. If the capillary systems in the eyes and kidneys are affected, blindness and kidney disease may result. Loss of circulation also can cause gangrene in the legs and feet. A condition known as ketoacidosis is caused by a loss of fluids in the blood and if unchecked can lead to coma and death.

The good news for diabetics, however, is that the need for insulin and the potential for dangerous side-effects is greatly reduced by following a carefully regulated diet supplemented with regular exercise.

If you do have diabetes, remember that by helping your body. your body can help you. If you supply it with the correct balance of nutrients that break down sugar, you will not have to be dependent on as much insulin. You need to maintain a diet that provides the eight essential amino acids, high fiber and certain vitamins. This, together with a good exercise program worked out by you and your doctor may lessen or even eliminate your need for insulin.

While all 22 amino acids are necessary to sustain life, there are eight which cannot be synthesized by the body and are accordingly termed essential. These must be supplied to your body in adequate amounts either from your dietary intake or with supplements. The eight are: phenylanine, tryptophan, methionine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine and lysine. Foods rich in all of these substances are fresh milk, liver, brewer's yeast and soybeans. Complete protein sources such as eggs, fish, poultry and milk also should consititute a good portion of your diet. When your body has to manufacture fewer amino acids itself, more metabolites are available to break down the sugar in your blood. The breakdown of proteins to amino acids in the pancrease helps stimulate the production of glucagon, another pancreatic hormone, which helps to raise blood sugar levels if they get too low.

When you eat, your blood sugar levels increase dramatically. High fiber foods are an especially good way to stimulate this increase. The two types of fiber are water-soluble and water-insoluble. Water soluble fiber is preferable because it is lower in cholesterol and triglycerides. The best sources of this type of fiber are whole grains, particularly the bran and the germ, vegetables, seeds, rice polishings and milled comfrey. These foods should be eaten raw whenever possible. Temperatures over 118 [degree] break down digestive enzymes and vitamins in foods, forcing the body to produce the enzymes that were lost. If you have a hard time getting enough fiber, alfalfa tablets and psyllium husks are good "on the go" supplements. The importance of fiber in the diet of a diabetic cannot be stressed enough, since studies have shown that a high fiber diet lowers the needed dosage of insulin. It is also important to consume eight to 10 glasses of water per day to facilitate fiber's action.

This brings us the the third major area of dietary regulation, the vitamins. An adequate supply of vitamins, particularly vitamins B6, C and E, are necessary for proper biochemical functioning of the body.

Diabetes seems to produce a deficiency in vitamin B6. This vitamin, which plays an important role in food metabolism as well as DNA and RNA synthesis, also helps with insulin production. It is also the catalyst in the detoxification of homocysteine, a byproduct in the breakdown of methionine. By inhibiting B6 formation, diabetes causes a buildup of toxic homocysteine, which results in the severe cardiovascular complications associated with the disease. Dietary sources of B6 include brewers yeast, leafy green vegetables, kidney, liver, egg yolk, legumes, nuts, whole grains, wheat germ and blackstrap molasses.

Vitamin C is required for correct insulin and glucose metabolism. Severe deficiencies of vitamin C can result in the degeneration of the cells in the pancreas which secrete insulin. Diabetes also can prevent the transport of vitamin C to tissues. Coupled with a B6 deficiency, this can lead to blockage of the arteries feeding tissues, and ultimately to tissue death. Megadoses of vitamin C can prevent and even reduce these diabetic complications, as well as lower the amount of supplemental insulin needed by the body. Dietary sources of vitamin C are: citrus fruits, rose hips, potatoes, berries and green vegetables.

The third vitamin helpful to diabetics is vitamin E. While it can lower the requirements for insulin, vitamin E's strongest point is its ability to combat the cardiovascular effects of diabetes. Its properties include an anticlotting factor, which prevents blockage of the blood vessels, and a vasodilatory effect which opens more vessels to carry blood to starved regions such as the eyes, kidneys and legs.

If you think you may be diabetic or are diabetic, you need to consult your doctor before altering your eating habits.

REFERENCES: 1. Cantu. Robert C. Diabetes and Exercise. New York

E.P. Dutton. 1982. 2. Gormican, Annette. Controlling Diabetes with Diet.

Springfield, III: Charles C. Thomas, 1971. 3. Jovanovic, Lois (ed.) Nutrition and Diabetes. New

York: Alan R. Liss, 1985. 4. Mirsky, Stanley. Diabetes: Controlling It the Easy

Way. New York: Random House, 1981. 5. Philpott. William and Dwight Kalita. Victory Over Diabetes.

New Canaan, Conn: Keats Publishing Inc.

1983. 6. Rosenthal, Helen. Diabetic Care in Pictures Toronto:

J.B. Lippincott Co., 1960. 7. Finsand, Mary Jane. Diabetic High Fiber Cookbook

New York: Sterling Publishing Inc. 1985. 8. Longstaff, Roberta S.R.D. and Jim Mann, M.D. The

Diabetics' Cookbook New York: Arco Publishing Inc.

1984.

PHOTO : Eating plenty of high-fiber foods can lessen the need for insulin.

Eric Sessions is a master's candidate in biochemistry at Georgia State University, and a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in Better Nutrition.

COPYRIGHT 1989 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group