| Alternative medicine is a health-related treatment that | | | | before you introduce significant increases of these |
| is not formally classified as a western medical practice. | | | | items into your diet. |
| Also known as complementary medicine, alternative | | | | Weight Management.Weight and diabetes are often |
| medicine can include dietary and lifestyle changes, and | | | | linked, so weight management is frequently a |
| includes everything from acupuncture to supplement | | | | corner-stone of diabetes treatment. Many diabetics |
| use. In some cases, alternative treatments are | | | | turn to alternative therapies to help with weight loss. |
| unproven or even dangerous, so it is important to | | | | Some possible (though unproven and potentially |
| identify the treatments that are safe and those which | | | | dangerous) weight loss supplements include chitosan, |
| pose a potential treat. Always consult a physician | | | | momordica charanta, sauropus androgynus, aristolochic |
| before including alternative treatments into your | | | | acid, camsogia garcinia (hydroxycitric acid), pyruvate, |
| diabetes management routine. | | | | germander, momordica charanta, chromium, pyruvate, |
| To illustrate this point, it is important to recall the | | | | germander, and momordica charanta. ALWAYS |
| Ephedrine (aka ma huang) ban in early 2003. It was | | | | discuss weight management with your personal |
| the first herbal stimulant ever banned by the FDA. A | | | | physician prior to introducing any of these into your diet. |
| popular component of anti-obesity medications, | | | | Plant and Natural Foods. Brewer's yeast, buckwheat, |
| ephedrine was found to cause more harm than good, | | | | broccoli and other related greens, okra, peas, |
| with side effects including insomnia, high blood pressure, | | | | fenugreek seeds, and sage are all examples of plant |
| glaucoma, urinary retention, and stroke. For this reason | | | | foods believed by some to help with diabetes |
| it is strongly recommended that you always consult a | | | | management. The vast majority of plant foods are |
| doctor before introducing alternative therapies into your | | | | high in fiber which is certainly helpful in controlling both |
| health regimen. | | | | glucose levels and appetite. Likewise, a recent report in |
| Supplements. Perhaps the area in which you should | | | | the Archives of Internal Medicine found that individuals |
| take the most care is in the arena of supplements. | | | | who drank 3 to 4 cups of coffee (decaf or regular) |
| There are many snake oil salesmen out there, happy | | | | had a 25 percent lower risk for diabetes than those |
| to exploit your desire for better health. Here is a quick | | | | who did not. Further studies are required, but there |
| reference list of the supplements that are most | | | | may be a link between the coffee bean and diabetes |
| frequently associated with diabetes management. | | | | prevention. |
| - Magnesium has been a subject of interest in medical | | | | Alternative Physical Therapies. Exercise is truly the |
| circles for its potential for improving glucose levels, as | | | | only FDA-approved physical therapy, and even with |
| a lack of magnesium has been correlated with | | | | exercise, it is important to consult a physician before |
| abnormalities in insulin secretion. | | | | implementing drastic changes to your exercise |
| - There have been several studies that support the | | | | regimen. In addition to exercise, some alternative |
| use of chromium use for diabetes control, though there | | | | treatments include meditation, acupuncture, yoga, |
| are no formal medical recommendations for its use in | | | | aromatherapy, massage, and even hypnosis. Again, |
| diabetes management. | | | | discuss these practices with your doctor before |
| - A few studies have suggested that vanadium, a | | | | including them as they can be expensive and are not |
| plant derivative, can increase a person's sensitivity to | | | | proven diabetes management tools. |
| insulin. | | | | Note: This information is not intended to supplement or |
| - Some other supplements believed by some to | | | | replace advice from a medical professional, or to |
| manage diabetes include garlic, ginger, ginseng, | | | | diagnose or treat any condition. |
| hawthorn, and nettle. ALWAYS talk to your doctor | | | | |