Naturopathic Pre Diabetes Control Strategies

How Diabetic Control Supplements And Diet Can Improve Blood Sugar Levels

As many as 54 million people in the US are believed to have pre diabetes, a precursor to diabetes that is marked by high blood sugar levels, which are not high enough to be classified as full blown diabetes.

Unfortunately, most people who have it go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years.

Some people may know this condition by the names insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, or impaired fasting glucose. It was renamed by the American Diabetes Association to better reflect its' relationship with diabetes proper.

Some of the other symptoms that go with it include weight gain that may develop into obesity, especially on the stomach, and blood sugar swings.

The best way to remedy pre diabetes is to increase exercise levels, and make changes to the diet. Both herbalists and doctors follow this same basic strategy, although herbalists may offer diabetic control supplements designed to help some of the symptoms, such as the weight gain. There are also some herbs that are believed to help control blood sugar swings.

What are the characteristics that often lead to pre diabetes, and then diabetes itself?

• moderate weight gain
• an inactive lifestyle
• poor eating habits

Fortunately, these characteristics are under our control. And studies have shown that losing weight, combined with a daily exercise program, not only stopped the progression from pre diabetes to the disease itself, but actually helped restore the blood sugar levels of many to normal.

The level of weight loss to aim for to get these benefits, is around 5 to 10%. With a moderate level intensity of exercise for half an hour a day, the majority of people in the study (58%) reduced the incidence of diabetes developing. Thus diabetic nutritional supplements that help people lose weight can be very effective.

The basics of a healthy eating plan to help control pre diabetes are:

• more fruit and vegetables
• reduce or eliminate simple sugars and starches
• eat good quality proteins and fats
• include more fiber

The latter point, fiber, is intricately associated with eating more fresh fruit and vegetables. They are rich sources of soluble fiber. But complex carbohydrates are also important sources of insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to fecal matter and regulates the transit time through the colon. Both types of fiber are important in a healthy diet. And insoluble fiber has the added advantage that it helps you feel full, and therefore less likely to snack on sugary foods that will negatively affect blood sugar levels.

Nutritional supplements like flaxseed, psyllium, and gum arabic are good sources of fiber that may thus help in diabetic control. Another good herbal supplement is alfalfa. Alfalfa is highly nutritious, containing chlorophyll and many vitamins and minerals, and it's a source of fiber as well.

When trying to control diabetes or pre diabetes, it's important not to rely exclusively on carbohydrates, however. Protein and fats help us feel full, and keep blood sugar levels more balanced throughout the day.

All carbohydrates are not 'evil' however. And they are certainly not created equal, and neither is their effect on blood sugar levels the same.

Complex carbohydrates, like brown rice, whole grain bread, basmati rice, and other whole grains, are actually very beneficial. It's only the simple carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and white rice that tend to pose a problem. Because they metabolize so quickly, they pass very quickly into the bloodstream, much like sugar does. This is what causes a spike in blood sugar levels after eating them.

Combining weight loss diabetic control supplements, such as hoodia and green tea, with a diabetes friendly diet, can do a lot to help normalize blood sugar levels in a lot of people.

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