Diabetes: So Far So Good
There was this guy who jumped off the 37th floor of a tall
building. As he fell, people at each floor inside the building
heard him say as he passed them, "So far, so good...so far, so
good..."
Diabetes is a disease which cannot be "trusted." I know that's
an odd way of putting it, but bear with me for a moment here. As
a medical professional, I have dealt with countless cases of
diabetes. I have always been amazed people will plan for the
future as they build lives, careers, families, dreams...creating
and pursuing commitments for the long term... And yet, one issue
stands out consistently. People with diabetes tend to hope the
disease will just "maintain itself," that it will just stay at
status quo for the long term.
Diabetes cannot be trusted to stay anywhere...much less at
status quo. Like the guy falling from the 37th floor, people
with diabetes tend to keep telling themselves... "So far, so
good...so far, so good...so far, so good..." Folks, hope is NOT
a strategy. It is a necessity, but it is NOT a strategy in
dealing with a disease like diabetes.
Diabetes: The "fall out" is too great to ignore...
As I said earlier, I am amazed how well people can plan for the
long term, creating and pursuing future commitments but do NOT
plan long-term for diabetes. Of course, the natural question is:
"What are the long term issues with diabetes?"
With diabetes, a person is two to four times more likely to
develop cardio-vascular disease. Being a cardio-vascular
surgeon, I saw this particular problem constantly in my field.
And I saw it consistently in young and middle aged people with
diabetes.
With diabetes, people are TWENTY-FIVE times more likely to
develop retinopathy (deterioration of the retinas). Because of
diabetes, 24,000 people lose sight every year!
With diabetes, 60-70% of those afflicted suffer nerve damage
which can lead to non-traumatic lower limb amputations. This is
due to the fact that open sores that do not heal, accompany
diabetes. As they become ulcerated, the diabetic faces
complications which can lead to amputation of limbs.
People with diabetes are AT RISK for kidney failure.
Diabetes is responsible for the increased risk for strokes...two
to six times more likely because of their condition.
Diabetes: the good news or the bad news...
Well, which do you want...the good news or the bad news first?
As a doctor, having dealt with diabetes in many patients, it's
always best to know the BAD news up front. Why? Complacency is
harmful to your health. The danger with diabetes is people get
complacent. Nothing seems to happen until, suddenly, it seems to
sneak up on you with its complications...
The bad news can be REALLY bad if you are someone who has any of
the following conditions which terribly complicate diabetes.
Complicating factors are: 1 smoking, 2 high cholesterol, 3 high
blood pressure, 4 obesity, 5 physical inactivity
With these factors, predicting the progress of diabetes is very
problematic. Simply put, they MUST be brought under control, if
possible. Diabetes thus becomes very unpredictable.
By keeping your blood glucose under control, you can reduce the
risk of complications of diabetes up to 76%. That's good news.
More good news: By healthy eating, responsible dietary weight
loss, regular physical activity, monitoring blood sugar... you
can reduce risk in diabetes.
Bad news: Status quo again. You're still "stuck" with diabetes.
Diabetes: Being hit by "friendly fire."
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are auto-immune conditions. In
type1 diabetes, the immune cells are mis-instructed to attack
islet cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
Mind you, there is nothing wrong with the islet cells. There is
MIScommunication by the immune system of the body. In other
words, immune attack cells can get faulty messages and destroy
healthy tissue. Isn't it just awful that your diabetes can be
caused by "friendly fire?" (Military terminology here. The good
guys are hitting their own good guys with artillery fire.)
MIS-communication .... hum. Sounds like what's needed is a
healthier communication system at the cellular level so the body
isn't attacking its own healthy cells.
Now, for some really good news...
Glyconutrition is the nutritional provision which provides the
body with healthy CELLULAR COMMUNICATION. In other words, for
diabetes, this means less "friendly fire."
A study published in the 1997 issue of the Proceedings of the
Fisher Institute for Medical Research showed people with type 1
diabetes who were given glyconutrients "...reported a dramatic
improvement in their health, including a decrease in vision
problems, better wound hearing, less infections, and lower blood
pressure." (Miracle Sugars, by Rita Elkins, M.H., Woodland
Publishing, p. 26 -Excellent quick reference incidentally!)
Remember, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are auto-immune
conditions. Read carefully, this next statement by medical
researcher, Dr. Neecie Moore:
"Glycobiology has achieved critical breakthroughs in the medical
field, primarily by addressing what could be the greatest plague
in health care today -- auto-immune diseases. Multiple
sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn's disease and colitis are
just a few of these diseases."
Research on glyconutrition is growing wonderfully. For example,
the Ophthalmology Department of Harvard University in 1995
reported that one of the glyconutrients (mannose) can be an
energy source for diabetes (instead of the damaging glucose),
providing energy without risk of eyesight damage. (Miracle
Sugars, p.27).
Also, mannose can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin
"...thus lowering the amount of insulin needed to control this
disease." (Miracle Sugars, p. 27. I told you this was a good
book! In case you're wondering, I receive no remuneration from
it whatsoever. Remember, I'm a physician. Doctors "make money
the old fashioned way"...they charge you.)
Oh yes. Glyconutrients are NON-prescription. Anyone can get them
and they are non-toxic (they're food!) Safe, NON-prescription,
effective...That's the stuff real medical discoveries are made
of. Diabetes may very well become a scourge of the past.
Think of it. No more friendly fire.
No more diabetes "status quo."
...So far, so good...