5 Alternative Medicine Choices for Diabetes Sufferers

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes that account for an estimated 90-95% (http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/) of all diagnosed diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes is also referred to as adult onset diabetes because it is typically diagnosed in middle aged adults; although it can be found in children. Diabetes can lead to a variety of health complications and death if not treated by medication and a change of diet. Although many sufferers of diabetes need to take oral medication to treat the condition there are some alternative treatments and medication to help control the disease. This article should not replace the advice from a medical professional that knows you best, nor should you stop taking prescribed medications in place of these alternative treatments.

Magnesium Supplement

Magnesium supplements have started to gain popularity in diabetes treatment as it helps the body release insulin. Overweight diabetes sufferers have been reported to have lower magnesium levels than that of normal weight diabetes sufferers. Magnesium supplements are supposed to help the diabetes sufferers by helping the pancreas produce insulin.

Weight Loss

Weight loss is not a form of alternative medicine for diabetes right? Wrong. The majority of type 2 diabetes sufferers has some form of obesity or is overweight; changing diet along with exercise actually helps the body fight diabetes. Changing diet and increasing exercise levels is one of the best alternative treatments for type 2 diabetes, some foods such as broccoli actually help the insulin abnormalities caused by diabetes. Some diabetes victims actually turn to gastric bypass surgery to help control weight loss.

Herbs

Diabetes sufferers have started to turn to herbs for alternative medicine and treatment for diabetes, but are they really safe? According to webmd.com herbal treatments that are used in weight loss for diabetes patients are not really an effective treatment form. There are a variety of herbal remedies that offer relief in the form of helping block fat and curbing appetite, but there are only a select few herbs that actually work well for a majority of patients. Consult with a doctor about what herbal remedies to try before taking any herbal supplement since many are ineffective or dangerous.

Testosterone Treatments

Low levels of testosterone have been closely linked to type 2 diabetes in men. Testosterone treatments help by raising the levels of testosterone in obese men that have type 2 diabetes. This method works well at treating the disease, but should be discussed with a doctor first since only some diabetes patients have low levels of testosterone.

Diet

Foods rich in fiber and low in saturated fat have been shown to help control diabetes. As mentioned earlier weight loss is one of the best alternative methods in preventing and fighting diabetes, but it has to start with a good diet. Limiting sugars and processed foods help prevent the type 2 diabetes disease and also help control patients with the disease. Limiting processed foods, excess sugars, soda/sweet drinks, and excessively fatty foods is highly effective at treating diabetes.

Sources:

http://www.youngerthanyourage.com/13/diabetes.htm

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/index.php?option=com_content&view-article&id=2324

http://www.magnesiumforlife.com/diabetes.shtml

http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/alternative-medicine

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type-2_diabetes