Insulin, And Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, it helps the body turn sugar into energy. Insulin works by helping sugar enter body cells. Also, insulin helps us store energy that we can use later. Between meals, insulin helps us use the fats, sugar and protein we have stored. In type1 diabetes, the body does not make any insulin naturally. Type 2 diabetic often eventually need insulin as the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas die off as their disease gets worse. Without insulin, glucose cannot get into body cells and the cells will not work properly. Insulin dosage must be balanced against the amount and type of food eaten and the amount of exercise one does.Blood glucose can drop too low or rise too high if insulin dosage is not changed with diet and exercise patterns.

The most commonly used insulin is human insulin. It is identical to natural human insulin, but it is manufactured by semisynthetic DNA methods. Older products were made with animal insulin but had some impurities. Currently, no animal based products are available in the United States. Insulin is injected because in pill form it is destroyed by stomach acid.

Rapid acting insulin: Starts to work in 30-60 minutes, and lasts8-12 hours.

Insulin aspart, glulisine, and lispro are all very short acting designed to control mealtime blood sugar spikes in both type 1 and type 2. They begin to work in 15 minutes and last for 2-5 hours. Oral insulin spray is absorbed into the blood directly from the mouth and starts working within minutes. The spray is currently available only for those who cannot take insulin in any other way. Intermediate acting insulin NPH- starts working in 60-90 minutes and lasts for 12-16 hours.

Diabetes is a chronic health problem that involves elevated blood sugar levels.The metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats directly or indirectly leads to the production of the substance glucose, also known as blood sugar. Glucose is needed to supply energy to every cell in the body. If glucose levels become too elevated, then they become toxic to the brain and other body organs. With diabetes, two main problems can occur. One is a deficiency of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that transports glucose into cells. The second is the resistance of the cells to insulin so that blood sugar cannot enter the cells.

Diabetes is categorized into three main types:

Diabetes type 1 also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, the production and secretion of insulin by the pancreas are severely deficient. Type 1 diabetes is usually developed during childhood. Because insulin levels are absent or dramatically low, people with type 1 need to inject themselves with insulin and monitor their blood sugar daily. This condition is thought to be an autoimmune reaction, where the immune system attacks and damages its own pancreatic cells that produce insulin.

Type II is often called adult onset diabetes or non insulin dependent diabetes. This is by far the most common type of diabetes by probably 90%. It occurs in adulthood, very often in the elderly or obese people in their 50's. This is the type of diabetes that is associated with a diet high in refined carbohydrates and low in fiber, and can often be treated with diet, exercise, and specific nutritional supplements.

The third type of diabetes is known as gestational diabetes, this occurs during a woman's pregnancy and often cures itself after the birth of the baby.

Prevent and possibly reverse diabetes.

If you are overweight, go on a diet to to lose the extra pounds, that alone can cut the risk of diabetes by 65%, however, as you well know the cravings make healthy eating a huge struggle. To help curb those cravings supplementing with gymnema sylvestre 300 mg- 450 mg. daily of this brain-soothing herb curbs cravings in as little as 1 week. This can help one reach their ideal weight. This herb also improves insulin production in the pancreas, as well as insulin's ability to lower blood sugar levels.

If blood sugar is starting to rise...... take panax ginseng. A daily dose of 200 mg could lower blood sugar as 20% by assisting the pancreas produce a steady stream of sugar controlling insulin. This should be used intermittently, for a few months on and a few months off, because continued use of ginseng looses its effectiveness.

If you have pre-diabetes take magnesium. Taking about 400mg each day can cut your risk of diabetes in half. Magnesium helps cells absorb glucose rapidly, stopping blood sugar from spiking after big meals.

If you are already a type 2 diabetic, take holy basil. The hallmark of diabetes is the pancreas is producing a lot of insulin, but the cells have lost the ability to use this hormone properly. Taking 400mg - 900mg. of antioxidant-packed holy basil, which is gray green course leaves, not the bright green leaves sold in supermarkets. This may help control blood sugar by 25%.

Consuming 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon daily, and you may cut your blood sugar levels by 30%. Try using ground cinnamon to season buttered toast, soup and rice dishes. Cinnamon extract is known to improve insulin sensitivity and utilization.