Managing My Type II Diabetes

First of all, I'd like to mention Gymnena Sylvestre and Fenugreek for improving blood sugar levels. They are the two that I've been using in my own treatment in addition to my prescribed medications. Also, I've just read that having "Green drinks": on a daily basis in your diet can be very beneficial by protecting the pancreas and insulin producing cells. I would like to especially recommend a book written by Suzy Cohen, RPh called DIABETES WITHOUT DRUGS. Since Suzy Cohen is a pharmacist she explores many aspects of helpful herbs for the diabetic to utilize, but she also gives a very interesting "5 step program to control blood sugar naturally."

Another very worthwhile book that gives a thorough discussion of diet was written by DeWayne McCulley titled DEATH TO DIABETES -The 6 Stages of Type 2 Diabetes Control and Reversal. It also discusses the importance of using greens in your diet - but he stresses actual greens such as lettuce, green peppers, spinach, brocooli, cabbage and other green leafy plants. Besides this, though DeWayne McCulley's book goes into many aspects of diet, exercise, and wellness activities centered around his own heroic journey of how an ex-diabetic beat diabetes, despite a one time blood glucose level over 1300.

One other book which I had been using as a helpful guide in my quest for the right combination of herbs, vitiamins and diet is titled THE DIABETES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM -
A Doctor's Handbook for Using Food and Supplements to Slow and Reverse the Complications of Diabetes written by Patrick Quillin PhD., RD, CNS. - a very excellent explanation of how to "normalize blood sugar naturally."

Just to start out with I'd like to share some of the herbal treatments hat I have been trying for the last few years hopefully to show my own personal journey on how I have tried to supplement my diabetes medications which today consist of Actos, Glucovance (glyberide-metaformin), and enalapril or as it is also called vasotec. My latest AiC test taken around a month ago was 6.7. One of the herbs that I had been using for the longest time - at least 6 or 7 years - has been Gymnena Sylvestre - this herb has a reputation for helping to repair and heal the pancreas. .Then, also there are some other herbal formulas which comibined various herbs that I have tried also. I'd rather not at this time name the brand names but may in a later discussion. Other herbs that I have been using in the last year include: Nopal, Konjac Mannan, Cinnulin, Bitter Melon, Corosolic Acid extract from Banaba Leaf, Cinnamon and
Mulberry..

Of course, a person with diabetes type II also has to consider all aspects of their nutrition in their diet which has been the real challenge for me. First, I worked on altering some of my old habits of eating sugary items such as donuts and cup cakes every night and then I began applying myself and learning all the finer points of the really essential elements of fruits and vegetables. Also, trying to learn about carbohydrate values and calories has proven to be a little difficult. I would also say the same about all the vitamins and minerals that I have been taking. There is a lot of controversy about the value of taking vitamins and minerals from different persons in the medical and nutrtition health fields.

Lastly, one thing that I would like to mention in this brief dicusssion is my own way of working in exercise into my diabetes therapy program. Exercise is equally important as diet, nutrtition and supplements,. Physical activity is helpful in getting the blood sugar moving out of the blood and into other parts of your body. My favorite form of exercise is walking. What I do is simply go walking every chance I get. At least once or twice a week, sometimes even more often, I go walking at a nearby park where there is a regular walking track especially for walkers like myself. Not only, do I enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, but walking also helps me feel better. It is very good for lifting my mood.

I felt it was very important to share my experiences about ways of improving my diabetes Type II so that it may serve as a beginning of a dialogue with others who have a similar health background.   

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