Type 1 Diabetes Blog

And here is yet another drug that is getting some heat from the blogosphere and traditional media outlets for improper marketing and overlooking serious side effects that the drug is actually supposed to prevent. The final resolution is that GlaxoSmithKline’s Avandia will receive a “black box” warning label on the bottle stating that it might increase the risk of congestive hear failure, something that diabetics are seriously at risk for in the first place.

If only there was more sensationalism for things like Pomegranates which have recently shown to have anti-atherosclerosis properties. A vast majority of the drugs I read about on the market today attempt to lower cholesterol, reduce atherosclerosis and generally slow the progression of something like that. But to actually reduce it is unheard of, and there was a great study done in Israel showing that is exactly what Pomegranate Supplementation can do.

While some of these drugs might have their place for people in serious conditions, a majority of diabetics should get on this supplement to prevent and reverse what damage has been done so far. It just really gets me that doctors usually don’t talk about a very powerful aspect of good diabetic care which should be preventing damage done to the body by having elevated blood glucose.

In an amazing study done by Dr. Michael Demetriou at the University of California Irvine, a glucosamine like dietary supplement has suppressed the damaging autoimmune response that causes Type 1 Diabetes in a mouse model. The study delves deeper into how sugars such as the N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) used in the study, interact with the surface of T-Cells. It is believed that changes to these sugars on the surface of T-Cells give rise to autoimmune disease, such as Type-1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis. Here is the complete story- Glucosamine-Like Supplement Inhibits Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes.

Studies such as this one simply amaze me because they are so ground breaking and yet there is no press for such studies. I am going to keep a very close eye on any more developments in this area of research because it is so important to find a way to heal the misguided T-Cells that cause Type 1 Diabetes that attack the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. One of the most promising areas of research for a cure, in my opinion, is in first treating the core of the disease- misguided T-Cells and then allowing the islet cells to heal themselves. One of my favorite Diabetes researchers, and one who is closest to having a cure is Denise Faustman at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research into Islet Regeneration demonstrates that once you can retrain T-Cells to stop the autoimmune response that causes Type 1 Diabetes in the first place, then you can allow the islet cells to naturally regenerate. The mechanism for regeneration is still under study, but it is thought to be related to stem cells coming from the spleen. Now Denise Faustman is busy trying to get her clinical trials underway, which should start in the fall of 2008 if us Diabetics are lucky.

It is amazing sometimes what research goes undiscovered for diseases that kill so many people. To a large degree, that is the sole reason that I started this blog. I wanted to create a place where people can see the actual research. Too many supplements and herbs are over hyped on the Internet with the promise of cures and miracle results. While that kind of marketing is misleading, what people need to realize is that there is real hard science behind certain claims about supplements, vitamins and herbs.

While at my local healthfood store the other day my friend there told me about Pomegranate Juice and atherosclerosis, which is something that all diabetics should be concerned about. The hardening of the arteries really causes problems to diabetics, as high blood sugars can lead to atherosclerosis. At least that is my current understanding.

The study was done in Israel in 2004, and demonstrated an actual reduction in carotid intimamedia thickness by up to 30%. That is astounding research that needs more investigation and more exposure in the media. An actual reduction in the thickness of the arteries really gives me hope that the debilitating and deadly side effects of arteries becoming clogged can not only be prevented but reversed. And it is all done by a common fruit!

The Scientific American has an interesting article about exercise and glucose tolerance.

The study demonstrated a 25-30% improvement in glucose tolerance after just 3 months of strength training. Type 1 diabetics that regularly work out such as myself probably inherently know this because you can see such a noticeable difference in sugars after a good workout. Personally, I know that my sugars go down for about 2 days after a really good workout. The study also briefly mentions the importance of high quality protein which is all related to a good diabetic diet.

It is good to see studies such as this one that underline how diabetes really should be treated which is primarily through diet and exercise, and then secondarily with medication.