Diabetes Alternative Therapy
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The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
part of the National Institutes of Health, defines complementary and
alternative medicine as a "group of diverse medical and health care
systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered
to be part of conventional medicine." Complementary medicine is used
with conventional therapy, whereas alternative medicine is used
instead of conventional medicine.
Some people with diabetes use complementary or alternative
therapies to treat diabetes. Although some of these therapies may be
effective, others can be ineffective or even harmful. Patients who
use complementary and alternative medicine need to let their health
care providers know what they are doing.
Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies are discussed below.
For more information, talk with your health care provider.
Acupuncture is a procedure in which a practitioner inserts needles into designated
points on the skin. Some scientists believe that acupuncture triggers the release
of the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief
from chronic pain. Acupuncture is sometimes used by people with neuropathy,
the painful nerve damage of diabetes.
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Biofeedback is a technique that helps a person become more aware of and learn
to deal with the body's response to pain. This alternative therapy emphasizes
relaxation and stress-reduction techniques. Guided imagery is a relaxation
technique that some professionals who use biofeedback do. With guided imagery,
a person thinks of peaceful mental images, such as ocean waves. A person may
also include the images of controlling or curing a chronic disease, such as
diabetes. People using this technique believe their condition can be eased with
these positive images.
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The benefit of added chromium for diabetes has been studied and debated for
several years. Several studies report that chromium supplementation may improve
diabetes control. Chromium is needed to make glucose tolerance factor, which
helps insulin improve its action. Because of insufficient information on the
use of chromium to treat diabetes, no recommendations for supplementation yet
exist.
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Several types of plants are referred to as ginseng but most studies of ginseng
and diabetes have used American ginseng. Those studies have shown some glucose-lowering
effects in fasting and post-prandial (after meal) blood glucose levels as well
as in A1C levels (average blood glucose levels over a 3-month period). However,
larger and more long-term studies are needed before general recommendations
for use of ginseng can be made. Researchers also have determined that the amount
of glucose-lowering compound in ginseng plants varies widely.
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Although the relationship between magnesium and diabetes has been studied for
decades, it is not yet fully understood. Studies suggest that a deficiency in
magnesium may worsen blood glucose 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. Evidence suggests that
a deficiency of magnesium may contribute to certain diabetes complications.
A recent analysis showed that people with higher dietary intakes of magnesium
(through consumption of whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables) had
a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.
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Vanadium is a compound found in tiny amounts in plants and animals. Early studies
showed that vanadium normalized blood glucose levels in animals with type 1
and type 2 diabetes. A recent study found that when people with diabetes were
given vanadium, they developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and
were able to decrease their insulin requirements. Currently researchers want
to understand how vanadium works in the body, discover potential side effects,
and establish safe dosages.
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http://nccam.nih.gov/
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bydisease.htm
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