Health News
Alternative
Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease
that has a significant impact on the health, quality of life, and life expectancy
of patients, as well as on the health care system. Exercise, diet, and weight
control continue to be essential and effective means of improving glucose homeostasis.
However, lifestyle management measures may be insufficient or patient compliance
difficult, rendering conventional drug therapies (i.e., oral glucose-lowering
agents and insulin injection) necessary in many patients. In addition to adverse
effects, drug treatments are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia
and avoiding late stage diabetic complications. As an alternative approach, medicinal
herbs with antihyperglycemic activities are increasingly sought by diabetic patients
and health care professionals. Commonly used herbs and other alternative therapies,
less likely to have the side effects of conventional approaches for type 2 diabetes,
are reviewed.
Nutrient |
Effects | | Chromium |
Improves
insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance | | Magnesium |
Corrects
a deficiency | | Zinc |
Deficiency
causes insulin resistance | | Calcium |
Improves
insulin sensitivity in some populations | | Potassium | Deficiency
leads to insulin resistance | | Vanadyl
Sulfate | Improves insulin sensitivity |
| L-Carnitine | Improves insulin sensitivity after
IV infusion | | Taurine | May
improve insulin sensitivity | | L-Arginine | Improves
insulin sensitivity after IV infusion | | Vitamin
E |
Reduces glycosylation; provides antioxidant activity |
| Vitamin
C |
Reduces glycosylation; provides antioxidant activity |
| Vitamin
B6 |
Improves glucose matabolism and nerve function |
| Biotin
(a B vitamin) |
Improves glucose matabolism and nerve function |
| Glutathione | Improves
insulin sensitivity after IV infusion | | Omega
3 (EFA's) | Improves insulin sensitivity |
| Coenzyme Q10 | Improves insulin sensitivity
in some populations | | Lipoic Acid | Improves
insulin sensitivity; antioxidant activity | Source:
Lucy Dey, MD, Anoja S. Attele, DDS, Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD (Altern Med Rev 2002;7(1):45-58)
(Abstract)
|
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