Archive for the ‘Diabetes’ Category

Preventing Diabetes — Are You At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes?

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

If you are like most people, you have a friend or loved one who has diabetes. Perhaps you know exactly how debilitating this lifelong, serious disease can be because you’ve watched someone you care for struggle to manage their condition. So it’s only natural that you may wonder, “Am I at risk for developing type 2 diabetes?”

The next question you may have is…

What exactly is type 2 diabetes?

People with diabetes are suffering from a disease in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal. They’re unable to properly convert the foods they eat into energy. After eating, food is broken down into glucose, which is carried by the blood to all the cells in the body. Once the glucose reaches the cells the hormone insulin, which is made in the pancreas, helps process blood glucose into energy.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the cells in the muscles, liver, and fats are unable to use this insulin properly. After a while, the pancreas fails to make enough insulin for the body’s needs. For this reason, blood glucose increases yet the cells are starved of energy. This is extremely dangerous because a high blood glucose level damages nerves and blood vessels which leads to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and sometimes amputation.

Is it possible to prevent type 2 diabetes?

Fortunately, yes. Research shows that people who are at risk for type 2 diabetes can indeed prevent or delay developing type 2 diabetes simply by losing a little weight and increasing physical activity. The results of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) proved this to be true.

Family history and being overweight are strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program were overweight and also had increased blood glucose levels, or pre-diabetes. Both pre-diabetes and obesity are strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. These participants also included minority groups, as well as women with a history of gestational diabetes, and people who were 60 years of age or older.

The DPP tested two approaches to preventing diabetes: lifestyle change — a program of healthy eating and physical activity — and the diabetes drug Metformin. Participants in the lifestyle change group exercised about 30 minutes a day five days a week, usually by walking, and decreased the amount of fat and calories in their diet. Those who took Metformin received information on physical activity and diet. A third group only received information on physical activity and diet.

The results showed that people in the lifestyle change group reduced their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 58%. In the first year of the study, people lost an average of 15 pounds. Lifestyle change was even more effective in those aged 60 and older. They reduced their risk by 71%. People receiving Metformin reduced their risk by 31%.

However, Metformin has been shown to have serious side effects – a condition called lactic acidosis is one of the most dangerous. In this condition, lactic acid builds up in the blood, which can cause serious damage.

Other factors that increase risk for type 2 diabetes

In addition to being older and overweight, there are other factors that can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. They include:

1. A parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
2. A family background that is Alaska natives, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian-American, or Pacific Islander.
3. A history of gestational diabetes, or giving birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
4. A blood pressure equal to or higher than 140/90 mm Hg or above.
5. A HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dL, or a triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL.
6. Inactivity — exercising fewer than three times a week.
7. For women only — polycystic ovary syndrome.

Pre-diabetes

Pre-diabetes means your blood glucose is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range. Having this predisease means you are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you are told you have pre-diabetes, have your blood glucose checked according to your doctor’s recommendations.

Take an all-natural supplement specifically designed to control blood sugar

Pre-Crea™ is an all-natural herbal supplement specifically developed for people with pre-diabetes or a higher than normal blood sugar levels. PreCrea™ is only available by doctor recommendation. If you take this powerful supplement two times a day, follow all of the strategies discussed above, plus your doctor’s recommendations on diet and exercise, you can substantially lower your risk of developing diabetes.

Pre-diabetes most always precedes the development of full-blown diabetes. A fasting blood sugar level between 99 — 126 mg/dl means you are in the pre-diabetes range. That’s why it’s so important to get a tight reign on your blood sugar levels now. Pre-Crea™ has been shown to lower blood glucose 20-30 points.

Preemptive Meds is a strong believer in treating the predisease state. Their supplements such as PreCrea™ are designed to attack predisease before more serious problems can develop. If you would like to find out more about PreCrea™ or any other of the Preemptive Meds’ natural supplements, you can find insightful information this website.

How To Prevent Diabetes – 11 Tips For Weight Control

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 180,000 people die directly from diabetes each year. As a matter of fact, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. While there are many risk factors for developing this life threatening disease, being overweight is among the top of the list.

The good news is losing even a small amount of weight can help prevent or delay diabetes. Here are the 11 ideas for making healthy food choices and getting rid of the extra pounds.

1. Start with less on your plate. Meat, poultry and fish portions should not be more than 3 ounces — about the size of a deck of cards.

2. Plan your meal and snack times to be at the same time every day.

3. It’s true what they say — breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast every day.

4. When you’re eating out, start with a big vegetable salad, and then split your entrée with a friend or take the other half home in a to-go box.

5. Stay away from fried foods. Instead, stir fry, broil, or bake using a low calorie, nonstick spray.

6. Drink a glass of water 10 minutes before your meal to take the edge off your hunger.

7. Chew your food slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to let your brain know you’re full.

8. Moderation is the key. You don’t have to completely cut out the foods you love. Just cut down on the amount and portion size.

9. If you must go to fast food restaurants, choose wisely. Rather than a cheeseburger, choose a grilled chicken sandwich. Forgo the french fries and choose fruit or a salad.

10. Eat foods made from whole grains such as whole wheat, brown rice, oat, and whole grain corn everyday.

11. Read food labels. Choose foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.

Following these tips for a low fat, healthy diet will go a long way as preventative measure against diabetes. But what you may not be aware of is that before type 2 diabetes develops, a condition know as pre-diabetes almost always exists. That means blood glucose levels are higher than normal but high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Since prediabetes contributes to a host of health risks, getting a handle on this condition is imperative for long-term health. The good news is there is a safe, inexpensive, 100% natural solution.

Natural supplements for pre-diabetes

PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, offers PreCrea™ — an all natural, twice-a-day herbal supplement specifically design for people with prediabetes or higher than normal blood sugar levels. The doctors at PreEmptive Meds realize the importance of fighting disease as early as possible. Their natural supplements treat predisease – which in turn prevents chronic disease. Most pharmaceutical drugs are indicated for full-blown disease; however, by that time the disease is usually irreversible.

PreCrea™ is 100% natural, 100% safe, and has been used by hundreds of doctors to treat thousands of patients in the pre-diabetes stage. With PreCrea™ blood sugar is lowered 20-30 points and as an added benefit many patients report a weight loss of 15-20 pounds.

Now this potent supplement is available to the general public. If you feel you’re at risk for developing diabetes, or you already have some of the symptoms, insightful information about PreCrea™ is available for you right here. Don’t wait until diabetes has had a chance to set in. Find out how you can naturally and effectively treat prediabetes with PreCrea™ now.

Metabolic Syndrome – Are You At Risk?

Friday, September 11th, 2009

While not all doctors agree on the definition or cause of metabolic syndrome, they do agree on one thing – it’s a condition that puts you at risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Your risk is greatest if you have the following underlying causes:

* Abdominal obesity
* Sedentary lifestyle
* High glucose levels

In addition, some medications may put you at risk because they cause weight gain or unhealthy changes in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels. Medicines commonly used to treat inflammation, allergies, HIV, and depression or other mental illnesses fall within this category.

Populations affected

Metabolic syndrome is more common in African American women than in African American men and in Mexican American women more than Mexican American men. It affects white women and men equally.

In the United States, some racial groups are most at risk for metabolic syndrome. Mexican Americans have the greatest incidence of this condition at 31.9% of the population. Caucasians (23.8%) and African Americans (21.6%) have the lowest rates.

You may also be at risk if you have a parent of sibling with diabetes, you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or you’re a woman with a history of ovarian cysts.

Members of certain ethnic groups, such as South Asians, have an increased risk as well.

What are the signs and symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome itself usually has no symptoms. Most of the risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome have no signs or symptoms, although a large waistline is a visible sign.

Some people may have symptoms of high blood sugar (if diabetes is present) or, occasionally, high blood pressure. Symptoms of high blood sugar often include increased thirst; increased urination, especially at night; fatigue (tiredness); and blurred vision.

Before the onset of type 2 diabetes, a condition known as prediabetes almost always exist. That means blood glucose levels are higher than the normal range but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. However, long-term damage to the heart may begin in the prediabetic stage.

Since prediabetes contributes to a host of health risks including metabolic syndrome, getting a handle on this condition is imperative for long-term health. The good news is there is a safe, inexpensive, 100% natural solution.

Natural supplements for prediabetes

PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, offers PreCrea™ — an all natural, twice-a-day herbal supplement specifically design for people with prediabetes or higher than normal blood sugar levels. The doctors at PreEmptive Meds realize the importance of fighting disease as early as possible. Their natural supplements treat predisease – which in turn prevents chronic disease. Most pharmaceutical drugs are indicated for full-blown disease; however, by that time the disease is usually irreversible.

PreCrea™ is 100% natural, 100% safe, and has been used by hundreds of doctors to treat thousands of patients in the pre-diabetes stage. With PreCrea™ blood sugar is lowered 20-30 points and as an added benefit many patients report a weight loss of 15-20 pounds.

Now this potent supplement is available to the general public. If you feel you’re at risk for developing diabetes, or you already have some of the symptoms, insightful information about PreCrea™ is available for you right here. Don’t wait until diabetes has had a chance to set in. Find out how you can naturally and effectively treat prediabetes with PreCrea™ now.

Metabolic Syndrome – A Natural Treatment To Combat One Dangerous Risk Factor You May Have Right Now

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Metabolic Syndrome, Syndrome X, and Insulin Resistance — three different names for one condition that greatly increases your chance of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Consider this. A person with metabolic syndrome is twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times as likely to develop diabetes as someone without this disorder. Currently, there are about 47 million adults in the United States (approximately 25%) who have full-blown metabolic syndrome and the numbers are growing. The chief factor responsible for the skyrocketing increase is the rising epidemic of obesity among adults. Experts speculate that metabolic syndrome may soon be the leading risk factor for heart disease, overtaking smoking as the number one cause.

Metabolic syndrome is frequently referred to as Insulin Resistance Syndrome because insulin resistance is a basic metabolic disorder, which affects the body’s ability to efficiently utilize insulin.

Five Risk Factors For Metabolic syndrome

An increased weight circumference — those who have increased abdominal fat or an “apple” shaped belly are at risk. When it comes to indicators of heart disease risk, belly fat is a much stronger indicator than fat in other areas of the body. The larger the waist circumference, the greater the risk. Women with a waist measurement of 35 inches or greater, and men with a waist measurement of 40 inches or greater are at the greatest risk.

High blood glucose levels — fasting blood glucose levels greater than 100 mg per deciliter (mg/dl) increase the risk of developing heart disease. And even slightly high blood glucose is an early warning sign of diabetes.

High triglyceride levels — triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. A triglyceride level greater than or equal to 150 mg per deciliter boosts chances of heart disease.

High blood pressure — blood pressure is reported in numbers, a “top number” and a “bottom number”, for example 115/80. The first number is called systolic blood pressure and it measures the pressure in the blood stream when your heart beats. The bottom number, the diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in the blood between heartbeats. A blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 millimeters of mercury (mg Hg) indicates an increased risk of heart disease.

Decreased HDL (good) cholesterol level
s — HDL is referred to as good cholesterol because adequate levels reduce the risk of heart disease. Low levels, on the other hand, increase the risk.

You may develop any of these individual risk factors alone, but they tend to occur together; that’s why the disorder is referred to as a syndrome. In order to have a metabolic syndrome diagnosis you have to have at least three of the above risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing diabetes, heart disease, or a stroke.

Natural supplements for one dangerous risk factor of metabolic syndrome – how to substantially lower and help eliminate your risk

The good news is that it’s possible to prevent or even delay metabolic syndrome, mainly by adopting healthier lifestyle habits. Making healthy choices, such as managing your diet, controlling your weight, and consistent exercise is a lifelong commitment.  If you are prediabetic or have frank diabetes, you know that’s true.

PreCrea™ is a completely natural supplement specially formulated for people who currently have prediabetes or higher than normal glucose levels. Designed by PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, its formulation is based on the philosophy that fighting disease in its early stages (or prediease stage) is critical to prevent the development of full-blown disease. PreCrea™ gets to the root of the problem before diabetes has a chance to develop fully.

Clinical studies show that using PreCrea™ to treat prediabetes actually lowers blood glucose levels 20-30 points. As an added bonus, a weight loss of 15-20 pounds is entirely possible – which also contributes to getting the predisease state under control.

Don’t gamble with your health – or your life. If you are prediabetic right now, or you are at risk for developing prediabetes and insulin resistance, you can find knowledgeable information about PreCrea™ here.

Prediabetes – Understanding The Risk

Friday, August 14th, 2009

According to the American Diabetes Association, 54 million people in the United States have prediabetes. Are you at risk for developing this predisease?

In order to understand your risk for developing prediabetes, it’s impotant to know how your body processes blood sugar or glucose.

Your body depends on glucose for energy. As a matter of fact, you must have glucose in order to develop muscles and other tissues. Glucose comes from the food you eat and also from your liver. After a meal, glucose enters your bloodstream. Your pancreas supplies the insulin necessary for the glucose to enter your cells and do its job.

When your pancreas releases insulin, it lowers the glucose level in your blood stream. Once this happens, your pancreas automatically slows down the release of insulin.

Glucose is manufactured and stored in your liver. If it’s been a while between meals and your insulin level is low, your liver releases stored glucose so that your blood sugar level stays in a healthy, normal range.

However, with prediabetes, the above process doesn’t work as smoothly as it should. Glucose doesn’t move into your cells. Instead the sugar stays in your bloodstream. The reason this happens is because for some reason, your pancreas isn’t manufacturing enough insulin or your cells become insulin resistant. This may be due to extra abdominal fat and lack of exercise.

Who is at risk for developing prediabetes?

Here are some risk factors for developing prediabetes. If you have them, you may be a candidate for prediabetes. They include:

Being overweight. The more fat you have — especially belly fat — the more likely your cells are to become resistant to insulin.

Lack of exercise.
The more physically active you are the better control you have over your weight. Also exercise uses glucose for energy and also makes your cells more success to success to pull to the effects of insulin.

Family history
. If diabetes runs in your family your chance of developing prediabetes rises.

Age.
As you get older, especially older than 45, you’re more likely to develop prediabetes. That could be because most people become more sedentary and put on extra pounds as they get older.

Race.
Hispanics, blacks, Asian Americans, and American Indians run a higher risk of developing prediabetes.

In addition to the above symptoms, people who have high levels of “bad” cholesterol, low levels of “good” cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides, often have a resistance to insulin.

How to substantially lower – or even eliminate – your risk

PreCrea™ is a completely natural supplement specially formulated for people who currently have prediabetes or higher than normal glucose levels. Designed by PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, its formulation is based on the philosophy that fighting disease in its early stages (or prediease stage) is critical to prevent the development of full-blown disease. PreCrea™ gets to the root of the problem before diabetes has a chance to develop fully.

Clinical studies show that using PreCrea™ to treat prediabetes actually lowers blood glucose levels 20-30 points. As an added bonus, a weight loss of 15-20 pounds is entirely possible – which also contributes to getting the predisease state under control.

Don’t gamble with your health – or your life. If you are prediabetic right now, or you are at risk for developing prediabetes, you can find knowledgeable information about PreCrea™ here.

The True Cost of Chronic Disease

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Right now, chronic disease accounts for 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States and affects the quality of life of over 130 million Americans each year. As well, 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care in the US in 2006 was on people with one or more chronic illnesses. That translates to $1.58 trillion of taxpayer’s hard-earned money. And while these numbers are indeed alarming, what is more astounding is that up to 90 percent of chronic diseases are actually preventable.

Many chronic diseases are caused by a simple lack of proper nutrition. Sadly, 3 out of every 4 Americans are now overweight, with 33 percent considered obese. Given these numbers researchers also predict 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes (33 percent of all boys and 39 percent of girls). Add to this a general lack of regular exercise and other poor lifestyle choices we make on a daily basis and it’s not surprising the US ranks only 24th on the list of the world’s healthiest countries. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average life expectancy of a US male born in 1999 is only 67.5 years. Females rank only slightly better, averaging 72.6 years.

This rise in chronic disease accounts for close to 75 percent of the overall increase in health care spending in the last two decades. And statistics show the majority of current spending goes to treat people with one or more chronic conditions. Presently, 96 cents of every Medicare dollar is spent on people with chronic illnesses. As well, 83 percent of every Medicaid dollar goes to treat people with chronic illnesses. As bad as these numbers are, they only begin to touch on the indirect cost chronic disease has on our economy.
Millions of work days are missed every year due to illnesses, which ultimately affects our ability to effectively compete in the global market. According to a 2007 study, chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, indirectly cost businesses and the economy, through things like absenteeism, lost productivity and substandard work efforts, a whopping $1 trillion a year.

Chronic illnesses account for 99 percent of all doctor’s visits, 92 percent of all in-patient hospital visits and 79 percent of all home health care visits. As well, 82 percent of all prescriptions are written for chronic illnesses.

If we continue along the same path, this scenario is only expected to get worse. By 2023, researchers predict chronic disease to rise by 42 percent, affecting over 230 people throughout the US. Cancer rates are expected to soar 62 percent; diabetes is predicted to rise 53 percent and cases of heart disease are expected to increase another 41 percent. And by the year 2015 (a mere 6 years from now) an unbelievable 75 percent of all Americans are expected to be obese, a huge risk factor for chronic disease. When all is said and done, researchers predict if nothing is done to halt this trend now, chronic disease will ultimately cost the U.S. economy over $4.1 trillion a year by 2035.

The irony of the situation is that we already know the majority of chronic diseases are indeed preventable. We don’t have to sit back helplessly and watch as our family and friends fall prey to things like diabetes and heart disease. We can take steps now to assure our health. Prevention has never been more important than it is right now.

Nutrition is probably one of the most important factors in whether you will eventually succumb to chronic illness. Proper diet and nutritional support through clinically proven vitamins and supplements are key factors. Studies repeatedly show that simply making these nutritional changes alone can significantly decrease your risk of chronic illness. In fact, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates diabetes rates can be cut by as much as 80 percent when dietary changes and other simple behavioural changes are made. Heart disease rates could drop another 80 percent while cancer rates could drop by as much as 40 percent.

Right now, thousands of doctors across the US are using clinically proven nutritional supplements as an effective preventative measure against chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. As studies show, when it comes to chronic disease, the best intervention is prevention and considering the grim outlook for today’s Americans, there is no better time than now to assure you remain healthy long into the future.

Prediabetes – Understanding The Symptoms

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

You go through your day and find yourself making several trips to the water fountain. Not only that, you’re visiting the restroom more frequently. Even though you’re eating the same amount you usually eat, you find you’re extremely hungry. Or perhaps without dieting, you’ve somehow managed to lose weight. You’re more tired than you’ve ever been, your vision is fuzzy, and sometimes you have frequent infections or a sore that is won’t heal.

What’s going on? If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms for a period of time, you could have a condition known as prediabetes.

If you’re prediabetic that means your blood glucose is higher than it should be. It hasn’t reached the level that classifies you as type 2 diabetic, but still you are at risk. That’s because the dangerous consequences of frank diabetes may have already started. The bad news is that if you don’t do something about it, in as little as 10 years you could find you have full-blown diabetes.

The good news is that full-blown diabetes can be preempted or significantly delayed. While doctors have always known about pre-disease such as prediabetes, today they are definitive guidelines to make the determination. In prediabetes, the fasting glucose level falls within the range of 99-126. Greater than 126 indicates diabetes.

Treating prediabetes

It’s been said that diabetes may be one of the worst diseases you can have. The unsettling fact is that more and more people are developing this disease — as a matter of fact it’s almost an epidemic in America. The dangers associated with full-blown diabetes include heart disease, kidney failure, sexual dysfunction, and blindness. What is so disturbing is that these complications can actually start developing in the prediabetes stage.

Perhaps one of the best modes of treatment is lifestyle modification. That means you should eat healthy foods, exercise more, lose excess weight, and take any necessary medication.

Natural supplements for prediabetes

PreEmptive Meds, a predisease therapeutic company, offers PreCrea™ — an all natural, twice-a-day herbal supplement specifically design for people with prediabetes or higher than normal blood sugar levels. The doctors at PreEmptive Meds realize the importance of fighting disease as early as possible. By integrating lifestyle changes with supportive therapies it is possible to prevent serious disease. Their natural supplements treat predisease – which in turn prevents chronic disease. Most pharmaceutical drugs are indicated for full-blown disease. By that time the disease is usually irreversible.

PreCrea™ is 100% natural, 100% safe, and has been used by hundreds of doctors to treat thousands of patients in the pre-diabetes stage. As a matter of fact, blood sugar is lowered 20-30 points with PreCrea™. Not only that, an added benefit is that many patients report a weight loss of 15-20 pounds.

Now this potent supplement is available to the general public. If you feel you’re at risk for developing diabetes, or you already have some of the symptoms, insightful information about PreCrea™ is available for you right here. Don’t wait until diabetes has had a chance to set in. Find out how you can naturally and effectively treat prediabetes with PreCrea™ now.

How To Choose Cost Effective Supplements

Monday, August 10th, 2009

There is no doubt natural supplements, vitamins and herbs are less expensive than prescription medications, but even these more natural alternatives can quickly become expensive when you start taking more than one at one time.

One of the reasons people turn to natural medicine is because of its holistic approach to health and wellness. Natural medicine looks to treat the whole body and not simply the symptoms of a specific disease. Proponents of natural health believe the body will naturally seek to restore internal balance, healing itself when faced with illness or disease, a state known as homeostasis. Natural remedies are therefore used more as a means to support this process than an actual cure for symptoms that result from a diseased state. Each remedy serves a specific purpose whether it be to boost immunity or to support the organs for example, so it is common when someone is facing an illness that they are prescribed more than one remedy. The problem however, is that while each of these remedies may in fact be useful and even highly effective, when you must take them each 2-3 times a day, it can become not only overwhelming, but also expensive. It is at this point, that many people simply opt to go back to a medication that is geared to relieving symptoms. Despite the risk and the inevitable side effects most medications come with, they are usually easier to deal with than having to remember to take numerous supplements several times a day.

For those who don’t give up and continue to look to the natural approach, some will opt for combination supplements. These products offer remedies that contain numerous ingredients geared to treating a much broader range of issues. While in theory, these supplements may be easier to take simply because you no longer need to take an array of different pills to achieve the same result, the problem then becomes the efficacy of the product itself.

Clinical studies are typically done to determine not only the actual effectiveness of an herb for example, but also the most effective dosage. The therapeutic properties of each herb will be examined, and the specific medicinal chemicals analyzed to determine the safest manner in which to take (or not take as the case may be) the remedy. So, when you buy a product, hopefully it contains the exact ratio of therapeutic ingredients so the remedy works as it should. While you would think this would be the case of all natural supplements, the truth is, it is still a very unregulated industry so in many cases, there are no real laws that state a product must contain the ideal ratio of medicinal ingredients. This is especially true in the case of “all in one” remedies.

When herbs are combined, they can either help or hinder each other. While each herb may have specific therapeutic properties, when they are combined with other herbs, these same chemical properties can be enhanced or in some cases, cause adverse reactions. It becomes even more important therefore in cases of combined remedies, that the herbs used have not only been tested individually, but that they have also been tested together. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, which is why you will often hear about products that have been suddenly pulled from the shelves because people have had severe reactions.

There is no question the most cost effective way to take natural supplements is in these combined formulas. Taking this type of remedy can significantly reduce the overall cost of treatment. The trick however, is to find a product that has also been clinically tested to work synergistically within the body. Each herb and or nutrient must be tested to determine its effectiveness and safety when used in that specific formula. So, before you purchase a combination product, do a little research yourself to see if the company has also done their research. In the end, it can save you money and ultimately make the difference in whether or not the product will be effective.

For more information about clinically tested and proven all natural supplements, visit: http://www.predisease.com

Get a Jump on Rising Blood Sugar Levels

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

As of 2007, the International Diabetes Federation estimated over 246 million people worldwide were diagnosed with diabetes. Sadly, like most chronic diseases, diabetes rates are only expected to rise in the next few decades, reaching 380 million by 2025.  Right now, approximately 10 percent of all women and 11 percent of all men over 20 in the US are diagnosed each year with diabetes. As well, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), diabetes was the fifth leading cause of death from disease, costing taxpayers $174 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2007 alone. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning since statistics further show another 57 million Americans are currently suffering from prediabetes, a condition that is dangerously close to becoming full-blown diabetes.

People with diabetes can no longer effectively metabolize sugar. Instead, sugar normally used to feed the cells and provide energy to the body, builds up in the blood where it eventually causes irreversible damage to the kidneys, nerves, eyes and heart.  Diabetes is also the most recurrent cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. Research further shows people who are diagnosed with the disease essentially have an average life expectancy of 15 years less than those without diabetes

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 33 percent of all people with diabetes are not even aware they have the disease. At this point, there is no cure for diabetes and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates it could take until at least 2030 before such a discovery is made.  Apart from daily insulin injections, which translates to approximately 1,460 needles a year (based on four per day) and 2,190 finger pokes yearly to test blood sugar levels, the most permanent medical treatment for diabetes is a pancreas transplant, which doctors can only hope will eliminate, if not, reduce the need for insulin injections and help lower blood sugar levels.

In cases of pre diabetes, blood glucose levels are abnormally high, but still not high enough to cause full-blown diabetes, yet, if the condition is left unchecked, statistics show over half of people with pre-diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 8-10 years.

Essentially, there is no medical treatment for pre-diabetes. And in all likelihood, most people who suffer from this condition are not even aware they have it or are at risk for developing such things as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and or stroke as a result of their chronically elevated blood sugar levels. In fact, if we continue down the same road, making no changes to our current lifestyles and health regimes, by the year 2050, it is estimated 1.46 million U.S. adults will be unable to work, another 597,000 will be considered work disabled and 780,000 will have work limitations, all attributed to diabetes.[1]

Research shows the best intervention at this point is simple lifestyle changes, which some studies show can actually reduce the risk of developing diabetes by up to as much as 71 percent in some cases. Things like exercise, diet and proper nutrition are key factors in whether someone will ultimately develop diabetes. In order to prevent prediabetes and eventually diabetes, we need to become more aware and proactive in our healthcare. Regular checkups to test glucose levels are essential, especially if you are to determine if you are at risk or currently suffer from prediabetes.

Once you determine your blood glucose levels, you will be able to establish whether you fall into the prediabetes range and are at risk for developing diabetes or even other conditions such as metabolic symdrome, a group of metabolic risk factors that essentially predispose someone to heart disease and diabetes. Typically, someone who is at risk for metabolic syndrome will have high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, excess stomach fat, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high triglycerides (another type of fat). So, if you suffer from any of these, it is even more important to have your blood sugar tested routinely.

Fortunately, there are ways to help lower your blood sugar levels naturally. Many studies show various herbs and nutrients are an effective way to treat rising blood sugar. For example, cinnamon has been shown in numerous studies to increase glucose metabolism, prevent free radical formation and it may also be useful in cases of insulin resistance.

Another well documented herb is gurmar, commonly referred to as the sugar killer. This well known plant has been used worldwide to lower blood sugar naturally by essentially supporting the vital cells in the pancreas. Bitter melon is another plant clinically shown to help naturally lower blood glucose levels and in some cases, it is even proven as effective as prescription medications without the side effects these drugs often cause.[2]

Pterocarpus marsupium (also known as Indian Kino) is another clinically proven natural remedy that can not only help protect, but also facilitate regeneration of the important insulin producing beta cells found in the pancreas. In fact, to date, no other drug or even natural remedy has been shown to do this.

When choosing a natural remedy, it is extremely important to find one that is clinically tested and synergistically proportioned to contain the proper ratio of active ingredients. There are countless all natural products on the market today, but sadly the majority have not been widely tested.  Always look for a reputable company that can provide you with supporting evidence. This will assure you not only get a highly effective and safe product, but also that you are not throwing your money away on something that simply doesn’t work.


[1] Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Volume 83, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages e23-e25

[2] http://www.gmanews.tv/story/35962/Ampalaya-tablets-out-soon-for-diabetics

Integrating Medicine for Optimal Health

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic disease now accounts for 70 percent of all deaths in the United States. In fact, statistics show as many as 133 million, or an astounding 45 percent of all Americans, currently suffer from at least one chronic disease such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer or diabetes, with 53 percent of those suffering from two or more these illnesses. While these statistics are staggering, what is even more alarming is that we now know up to 90 percent of these illnesses are actually preventable.

The question then is why, if the majority of these diseases are indeed preventable, are so many people still developing chronic illnesses? The answer is simply that traditional medicine alone has no way of treating something that has not yet happened. Traditional or conventional medicine as it is often termed is based on removing and treating symptoms. If there are no real and treatable symptoms, modern medicine is at a loss. There are no drugs or surgical remedies for something like pre-diabetes for example. When a patient comes to their doctor with a general complaint of “just not feeling well”, without a specific diagnosis, in all likelihood and based on their training, the doctor will either order a whole battery of often unnecessary and costly tests in order to identify a disease that can then be treated, or simply tell the patient to go home and come back in a few weeks if things don’t improve. The bottom line is that modern medicine is not equipped to deal with a patient who is in a “pre-disease” state (somewhere between optimal health and diseased) and it isn’t until they have actually reached a diseased state, when they are beyond the prevention stage, that they are finally treated.

For this and many other reasons, people are now turning to alternative or complimentary medicine. Practitioners such as naturopaths, chiropractors and herbalists for example can suggest a variety of holistic and less invasive approaches to treat illness. And while many people will find improved health with these natural approaches, there are still those who aren’t 100 percent comfortable with the lack of clinical evidence many of these approaches provide. Fortunately, a third option now exists.

Integrative medicine, an incorporation of both traditional and alternative medicines, offers all the benefits of a more natural approach that so many Americans are now turning to, backed up by substantiated evidence based on clinical trials and ongoing research. In essence, it provides people with the best of both worlds.

Like alternative approaches to healthcare, integrative medicine promotes prevention and healing of the whole individual. Conventional medicine on the other hand, typically seeks to treat specific symptoms. As well, integrative medicine looks more to the body itself as a mechanism for healing whereas conventional medicine tends to look outside the body at such things as medications and surgery as a way to heal the individual. Interestingly, the key tenet of integrative medicine stems from the beliefs of such ancient healers as Hippocrates, known today as the Father of Medicine. As a medical visionary, Hippocrates and other physicians of his time, taught that given the proper tools (things like optimal nutrition and exercise), the human body has the innate ability to heal and balance itself. Integrative medicine promotes this natural equilibrium known as homoeostasis and strives to support the body in the best way possible so it can use its own resources to induce healing.

One of the key resources in integrative medicine is the use of standardized nutritional supplements. While the body is indeed designed to heal itself, when it is in a weakened and unbalanced state, natural plant-based formulations are often the best way to enhance the body’s ability to restore balance. These formulations are also effective when used in concert with prescription medications in cases of progressive disease. Integrative medicine further promotes supplementation as a preventative. Simply living in today’s fast-paced world with its various stresses, pollutants and toxins can eventually drain the body’s immune system. Scientific evidence has shown various plants contain healing compounds that help reduce such things as inflammation and oxidative damage, both of which lead to many chronic illnesses. And while they are also shown in many cases to significantly bolster the immune system, many people make the mistake of waiting until they feel fatigued or sick before they turn to supplements. The truth is, by the time your body shows symptoms of illness, it is already overwhelmed.  If you continue to ignore these often minor warning signs, as most of us do, they eventually result in chronic disease.

The best way to assure your health in the future is to become proactive now. This often entails making lifestyle changes and includes such things as drinking plenty of water, getting regular exercise and sleep, eating properly and when necessary, taking clinically based and standardized nutritional formulations before symptoms become critical.