As compared to non-diabetic that produces the constantly varying amounts of insulin necessary for obtaining energy from glucose, the diabetic can’t.

There is no need to disproportionately restrict the intake of carbohydrates in the diet of most diabetic patients. The key is to choose high-fiber complex carbohydrates instead of refined and processed foods that are loaded with simple carbohydrates.

Avoid Refined Sugar, Simple & Carbohydrates
Avoid all sugar and foods containing refined sugar, such as pastry, candy and soft drinks. Eat more complex carbohydrates - fiber-rich unprocessed foods that are now recommended for everyone. Vegetables are ideal.

Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, string beans, celery and whole grain cereals and brown rice can be generously included in the diabetic diet. These vegetables and grains provide a “buffering action” that slows down the body's absorption of sugars into the blood.

Avoid Oily & Fried Foods
Clinical research shows that one third of diabetic patients have hyper-lipidemia, indicating the need for dietary management. The most sensible approach is to limit the amount of fat in their diet and to substitute polyunsaturated fats (cold pressed vegetable oils) for the saturated type. Steamed fish and boiled poultry are recommended instead of fatty cuts of meat. Avoid high-temperature treated oils and fats, trans-fats and hydrogenated fats.

Eat Foods With Low GI (Glycemic) Index

Manage Your Weight
Charles Weller M.D. in his book The New Way to Live with Diabetes states that "Weight reduction and control can bring this incurable disease closer to complete remission than any medication." Sure enough, the overweight diabetic who successfully brings their weight back to normal usually experiences a dramatic improvement in their condition.

Observe 40-30-30 Ratio & Chew Slowly On Your Food
Keep your dietary intake of carbohydrates to 40% of your total calorie intake. Limit your fat intake to 30% of your daily calories. Proteins form the remaining 30% of your caloric intake.

Dietary Fiber Supplementation
Supplement dietary fiber before meal will have positive effect on your blood sugar level: reduced after-mealtime hyperglycaemia and delayed hypoglycaemia; increased tissue sensitivity to insulin; reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels with increased HDL-cholesterol levels; and progressive weight reduction.

More Frequent But Smaller Meals
Many diabetics have found it beneficial to eat smaller, more frequent meals, rather than the two or three big meals most people consume daily. Researchers have found that multiple frequent feedings tend to keep blood cholesterol levels lower, for the diabetic and non-diabetic alike.

Take Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Generally a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is one of the most important factors in the control of diabetes and prevention of diabetic complications.

Excessive urination experienced by the diabetic and the elevated glucose levels (160- 170mg/dl) tend to overwhelm the kidney's ability to reabsorb water-soluble nutrients, thus substantially losing nutrients such as vitamins B-1, B-6 and B-12 and the minerals magnesium, zinc and chromium. Consequently diabetes and its complications are as much a result of nutritional wasting as of elevated blood sugar.

In the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition where 247 studies were reviewed, it was found that Type 1 diabetics generally had deficiencies in zinc, calcium, magnesium and the more active form of vitamin D. Those with Type 2 diabetes generally were found to be low in zinc and magnesium and often low in vitamins B6 and C.

In a study conducted in 1978 by Dr. P. McNair entitled Hypo-magnesemia, a Risk Factor in Diabetic Retinopathy, it was demonstrated that diabetics with the lowest magnesium levels had the most severe retinopathy. By simply elevating the magnesium concentration with supplements would protect the eyes.

Researchers in London reported that vitamin D is essential for the islet cells in the pancreas to be able to secrete insulin properly. Their studies have shown that individuals with the lowest vitamin D levels experienced the worst blood sugar-handling problems and had a greater risk of developing diabetes.

Other researchers have found that the diabetic is unable to convert carotene into vitamin A. It is advisable therefore for the diabetic to ingest at least the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A from a non-carotene source such as fish-liver oil. Also recommended is a vitamin E supplement, ranging from 400-1200 IU per day and a vitamin C supplement ranging from 1000-4000 mg per day to help prevent small vessel disease of the extremities.

Brewer's yeast is another food supplement that is recommended for the diabetic patient. The yeast is a rich source of chromium-containing GTF (glucose tolerance factor) which is able to potentiate the insulin in our bodies. GTF also contains amino acids such as glutamic acid, glycine, and cysteine. Both brewer's yeast (9 gm/day) and trivalent chromium (150-1000 mcg/day) have been shown to significantly improve blood sugar metabolism when taken for several weeks to months. Brewer's yeast and chromium supplementation also lower elevated total cholesterol and total lipids, and significantly raise the levels of HDL-cholesterol, the beneficial or protective fraction of cholesterol.

Chromium is found in foods as both inorganic and organic salts. Brewer's yeast contains a form of chromium with high bioavailability. Chromium is also available from a variety of sources including whole grains, potatoes and apples with skins, spinach, oysters, carrots, and chicken breast.

A 1996 study of 180 Type 2 diabetics, carried out in China found that 500 mcg of chromium picolinate taken twice daily for four months lowered the fasting glucose level to an average of 129, compared to 160 in those taking a placebo. All of the effects of chromium appear to be due to increased insulin sensitivity.
Vanadium by mimicking insulin and improving the cells' sensitivity to insulin, it is able to lower blood sugar. Study shows that vanadium compounds, most notably vanadyl sulfate, consistently improve fasting glucose and other measures of diabetes.

Herbs for Diabetes
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)
Bitter melon, also known as balsam pear, is a tropical vegetable widely cultivated in Asia, Africa and South America, and has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. The blood sugar lowering action of the fresh juice or extract of the unripe fruit has been clearly established in both experimental and clinical studies.

The oral administration of 50-60 ml of the juice has shown good results in clinical trials.
Small children or anyone with hypoglycemia should not take bitter melon however, since this herb could theoretically trigger or worsen low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Furthermore, diabetics taking hypoglycemic drugs (such as chlorpropamide, glyburide, or phenformin) or insulin should use bitter melon with caution.

Onion and Garlic ( Allium cepa and Allium sativum)
Onion and garlic have significant blood sugar lowering action. The principal active ingredients are believed to be allyl propyl disulphide (APDS) and diallyl disulphide oxide (allicin), although other constitutents such as flavonoids may play a role as well.

Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that APDS lowers glucose levels by competing with insulin for insulin-inactivating sites in the liver. This results in an increase of free insulin. APDS administered in doses of 125 mg/ kg to fasting humans was found to cause a marked fall in blood glucose levels and an increase in serum insulin. Allicin doses of 100 mg/kg produced a similar effect.

Onion extract was found to reduce blood sugar levels during oral and intravenous glucose tolerance. Beneficial effects were observed even for low levels that used in the diet (e.g. 25 to 200 grams). The effects were similar in both raw and boiled onion extracts. Onions affect the hepatic metabolism of glucose and/or increases the release of insulin, and/or prevent insulin's destruction.

The additional benefit of the use of garlic and onions are their beneficial cardiovascular effects. They are found to lower lipid levels, inhibit platelet aggregation and are antihypertensive. So, liberal use of onion and garlic are recommended for diabetic patients.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the antidiabetic properties of fenugreek seeds.

Blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus)
A decoction of the leaves of the blueberry has a long history of folk use in the treatment of diabetes. The compound myrtillin (an anthocyanoside) is apparently the most active ingredient. Upon injection it is somewhat weaker than insulin, but is less toxic, even at 50 times the 1 g per day therapeutic dose. A single dose can produce beneficial effects lasting several weeks.
Blueberry anthocyanosides also increase capillary integrity, inhibit free-radical damage and improve the tone of the vascular system. In Europe, it is used as an anti-haemorrhagic agent in the treatment of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy.

Asian Ginseng & Goji (Wolfberry)
Asian ginseng and Goji are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes. It has been shown to enhance the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of insulin receptors. It also has a direct blood sugar-lowering effect. A study found that 200 mg of ginseng extract per day improved blood sugar control as well as energy levels in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM).

Bilberry
Bilberry may lower the risk of some diabetic complications, such as diabetic cataracts and retinopathy.

Stevia
Stevia has been used traditionally to treat diabetes. Early reports suggested that stevia might have beneficial effects on glucose tolerance (and therefore potentially help with diabetes), although not all reports have confirmed this. Even if stevia did not have direct antidiabetic effects, its use as a sweetener could reduce intake of sugars in such patients. There are instances that regular drinking Stevia tea (using dried Stevia leaves as tea) has got significant effect on the levels of blood sugar and can be used as complimentary treatment for diabetes.

Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba extract may prove useful for prevention and treatment of early-stage diabetic neuropathy.

Cinnamon triples insulin's efficiency

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
One of the mildest and best liver tonics known. According to an Iranian study in 2006, an extract made from milk thistle seeds containing the active ingredient Silymarin may help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, Iranian researchers say.

Sports and Exercises
Exercise improves circulation at blood and interstitial levels, it improves the body ability to carry nutrients to cells and to dispose of metabolic wastes from cells. It strengthens bones and muscles and reduces the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Exercises also better response to insulin and better blood sugar control. Exercise makes insulin work better in the body, which helps diabetics keeping their blood sugar levels in a healthier range.

Weight Management
To reach and maintain a healthy weight, eating right isn't enough - people need to exercise. Exercise burns calories and builds muscle, which in turn helps the body burn more calories. And in people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, having too much body fat keeps insulin from working as well to control blood sugar levels.

What If You Have Gangrene?

Gangrene is a common complication of diabetes, a secondary effect of atherosclerosis or severe frostbite. Despite of the conventional hearsay, the condition is reversible. You can avoid a foot or leg amputation - a debilitating, risky surgery most doctors tend to recommend - by preventing, halting and then reversing the progression of dry gangrene, by restoring impaired circulation in the limbs due to decreased blood flow (vascular ischemia). All these can be accomplished nutritionally. Period.

First thing is to bring back the natural pH balance of your body fluids: blood, lymphatic and interstitial fluids. The following measures are doing just this. Because, the pH balance of your bodily fluids determine whether your inner terrain is the bleeding ground for the bacteria that cause the infection or not...

AVOID:

• All forms of Sugar. This is very critical!
• Aspartame: a form of neurotoxin
• Trans fatty acids (all fried foods and margarine)
• MSG - artificial chemical (may not be listed in ingredients)
• All artificial preservatives and chemicals, if possible
• ALL fruit juices - fresh and bottled, there are some fruits are good however, it’s best to avoid all first then read on…

Eat Less Sweet Fruit:

• Sweet fruit (fresh and dried), such as grape (red and green), raisin, plum, fig, date, pineapple, apricot. All these are high in sugar

• Melons, such as cantaloupe and honeydew are high in sugar. However, water melon is okay, it has low glycemic index together with roughage which is essentially a dietary fibre

• Banana, orange, grapefruit (red and white) to be avoided. High in carbohydrates.

• Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, lemon, lime - OK, in moderation

Eat More Vegetables:

• Kale, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, spinach

• Dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, green and red cabbage, broccoli

• Red and green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, endive

• Chinese cabbage, bok choy, fennel, celery, cucumbers

• Cauliflower, escarole, zucchini, brussel sprouts

• Onions, tomatoes, peppers, parsley

AVOID:

• Iceberg and head lettuce: low nutritional value

• White or red potatoes (if you were to eat, eat together with the skin), beets - high in sugar

• Corn: popcorn, chips

• Most refined grains - especially wheat, rye, barley.

• However, unpolished brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet if eaten moderately is okay. Make sure eat together with healthy fats. Brown rice is best to soak for few hours before cooking to soften the fibre for better digestion.

• CHEW SLOWLY: 40 times per mouthful of food or until the solid turn into liquid

• Lower other grains intake: rice (brown, short grain, and white), millet, spelt, kamut, oats, quinoa, teff, amaranth

• White bread

• After the meal, go for slow walk for 30 minutes

Healthy Fats:

Have More Omega-3 Fatty Acids, DHA and EPA:

• Cod liver oil - especially during the winter, early spring and late fall months

• High quality fish oil - preferably in capsules (standardized to 720 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA per 1000mg)

• Organic flax seed oil (Udo’s 3-6-9 oil is preferable) mixed with salads or vegetables

• Coconut Virgin Oil

AVOID:
ALL vegetable seed oils (especially the denatured, refined, dedorized and high-temperature treated ones) - have LESS omega-6 fatty acids, with the exception of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil for salads only (for cooking or stir-frying use cold pressed grape seed oil or coconut virgin oil

Beverages:

Drink Water Only:

• Spring water or filtered

• Drink water at room temperature, not chilled or iced (shuts down the digestive system!) and it is also hurt the internal organs: lungs and kidneys.

• Lemon and lime juice can be added for flavor change

• Amount needed: ideally, 40ml for every 1kg of body weight. For a 75kg individual, it’s about 3000ml per day. A mouthful of water every few minutes.

Drink Vegetable Juices

• Freshly processed vegetable juice, particularly Breuss juice (consists of beetroot, celeric root, potato, carrot and black radish), unsweetened lime and lemon juices, water melon juice with the roughage

• Green tea (very limited amounts as high fluoride content may cause problems)

• Raw potato juice (juiced together with skin) is good for the condition, however, avoid cooked potato

AVOID:

• Tap water

• Softened or distilled water

• Coffee, tea, colas, diet drinks, store bought fruit juices (reconstituted with large amount of sugars)

• Skim milk and dairy products

Eat Protein

• Meats, grass fed (not grain fed) REAL beef, poultry (chicken, turkey, ostrich, game meats (venison, buffalo, lamb)

• Fish - with caution due to possible mercury contamination, preferably summer flounder, wild Pacific salmon, croaker, sardines, haddock, tilapia

• Eggs - organic only, not scrambled (2-3 times per week)

• Seeds - raw only: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, flax

• Nuts - raw only: cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, pecans (but in limited quantities)
  

AVOID:

• Pork: ham, most bacon, pork roast and chops

• Shellfish: shrimp, lobster, crabs, clams

• Peanuts - and any food that has peanuts
  

Eat Beans and Legumes

• In limited quantities - not complete protein source, high in carbohydrates

• Soak beans (not lentils) for 48-72 hours

• Rinsing every 12 hours

• Cook them for 8-12 hours in a crock-pot

• If canned - on occasion only (less nutritional value), from a health food store
  

AVOID:

• All soy, unless fermented or sprouted

• Tofu, isolated soy protein (ISP) - soy milk, soy protein powder, soy flour

• Only miso and tempeh (fermented soy), and soy sprouts are acceptable - available in a health food store.

To achieve significant improvement of your circulation, you might want to do sea salt / Himalaya crystal salt food bath* twice per day, once in the morning and once before bedtime (use shrink film and rubber band to cover the part affected by gangrene.

Alternatively, you might want to use a FIR apparatus to improve the circulation (the good quality FIR application will dry the wounds very quickly). For FIR apparatus, please click here…

* Sea Salt Foot Bath: fill a pail (about the height from you feet to your kneels) of warm water (about 40 degrees Celsius), dissolve one bowl of sea salt or Himalaya Crystal Salt (don't use table salt). Place both feet into the pail (water level should be up to the kneels) and soak for 30 minutes. Do it everyday for 2 weeks followed by once in 2~3 days.

Sleep:

8 hours of sleep. Timing: before 11pm to 7am. This is in accordance with the bio clock of the body.

De-stress:

Stress affects the hormonal balance and it hurts meridian channels of kidneys and liver.

Edwin Low