Diabetes and the Drugs to Control It Could Shorten Your Life

By Shane Ellison

I'm often asked, "How can I live to be 100 years old?" My answer is simple, "Just say no to prescription drugs and learn how to control insulin and blood sugar."

Why? Because the populations that live the longest are naturally highly sensitive to insulin. Conversely, those who die the youngest from conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer are grossly insensitive to insulin or are taking a prescription drug.

In the US, the biggest threat to longevity is type II diabetes caused by high levels of blood sugar and insulin resistance. It has become a nationwide epidemic that can steal 11 to 20 years from a person's lifespan.

To curb the threat, physicians are madly prescribing anti-diabetic drugs like Avandia and Actos. With so many people using them, scientists have learned two valuable lessons about longevity.

First lesson: You cannot use these drugs to increase lifespan.

In addition to eliciting a moderate drop in blood sugar, anti-diabetic meds damage the cardiovascular system.

According to a recent study, Avandia users had a whopping 30-40% increased risk of heart attack and other heart-related adverse events (heart failure) compared to patients treated with placebo.(1) This risk is due to the drug's effect of lowering vital hemoglobin levels.

Hemoglobin is used by the body to transport oxygen throughout the entire 100,000 miles of veins, arteries, and capillaries in the adult body. Without hemoglobin, a condition known as ischemia sets in. This is a fancy term for "suffocation." Clinically, heart attack or heart failure can be the result.

The prescription drug Actos has the same mechanism of action as Avandia -- they both work to reduce insulin resistance. Not surprisingly, it also carries the same risks. Health Canada sounded the alarm about this class of drugs as early as 2001! But unfortunately, the warning has not yet reached the American public.

Commenting on this unannounced danger, the U.S. Congress stated that, "the FDA's apparently callous disregard for the safety of diabetics taking Avandia is very reminiscent of the Agency's failure to move on Vioxx when substantial safety signals first became known. Like Vioxx, Avandia may have unnecessarily risked the lives of tens of thousands of Americans."(2)

Second lesson: You can fix insulin receptors naturally to increase lifespan.

This simply means that insulin receptors found on individual cells have the ability to be "re-tuned" to the insulin message. We learned this from anti-diabetic drugs that can increase insulin sensitivity by jump starting inactive or dying cells. But this benefit from drugs doesn't outweigh the risk of heart attack. Fortunately, if a drug can do it, so can Mother Nature. This is a little-known fact in medicinal chemistry.

Mother Nature always provides the "lead" in the meticulous process of drug discovery. Meaning, before there is a man-made drug for a given ailment, there is a natural substance that will do the same thing.

In the process of designing anti-diabetic drugs, Big Pharma surveyed a myriad of natural products to find a lead compound that re-tuned the insulin receptor. Among them was a substance called corosolic acid, derived from the banaba plant(3) grown in Southeast Asia.

Corosolic acid has proven safe and effective for increasing insulin sensitivity. Remarkably, users have been shown to not only lower blood sugar and insulin levels but also melt fat and build muscle in the process. But what's really important is that by taking corosolic acid instead of anti-diabetic drugs you will lower the risk of heart attack and naturally improve insulin sensitivity. That means years may be added to your life!

Of course, lifestyle habits such as regular exercise and minimizing sugar intake are pre-requisites to the success of increasing insulin sensitivity and significantly extending your lifespan.

(You can find corosolic acid as an ingredient in several natural products sold in health food stores for glucose control and weight management.)

1. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01636.html
2. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2007/05/21/congress-steps-up-scrutiny-of-fda/
3. Katsuji H, et al. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences Vol. 93 (2003), No.1, pp. 69-73.

[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is known as "The People's Chemist." He holds a Master's degree in organic chemistry and has first-hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. He is the author of Health Myths Exposed and The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs.]

Alternative Eating : Chromium: An Essential Mineral for Diabetes and Weight Loss By Melanie Segala

If you're overweight and worried about diabetes as a health risk, you may be surprised to learn that a common nutrient can help both.

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that has been shown to decrease elevated glucose levels and also enhance the action of insulin. In one study, 78 diabetic patients received either a chromium supplement or brewer's yeast, a rich source of natural chromium.(1)

Both groups significantly reduced blood glucose levels. In fact, several of the test subjects in both groups were able to cut back on their anti-diabetic drugs. Others were even able to stop taking insulin.

In another study, researchers tested 29 overweight adults with a family history of diabetes.(2) At the end of 4 months, the group given a daily dose of chromium picolinate reduced insulin resistance by a remarkable 40% compared to the placebo group.

But there's even more good news about chromium. It also provides additional benefits for weight loss. Because chromium increases insulin sensitivity, carbohydrate metabolism also improves. This means that glucose can be used as an energy source instead of being stored as fat.

While chromium is found in foods such as meat, whole grains, and cheese only about 3% of our intake is absorbed into body tissue. The USDA estimates that 90% of adults are in fact deficient.

A supplemental dose of 50 to 100 mcg daily will correct a chromium deficiency. Individuals trying to reduce insulin resistance will need to take a higher dose under a doctor's care.

1. Bahijiri SM et al. Saudi Med J, 2000 Sep;21(9):831-837.
2. Clinical trial conducted by William Cefalu, MD, Director of Diabetes Comprehensive Care and Research at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, 1997.

[Ed. Note: Melanie Segala is the Managing Editor of Total Health Breakthroughs.]

Mind/Body/Soul: When the Diagnosis is Diabetes Dr. Matthew Anderson

What do you do when your doctor tells you that you have diabetes?
Here are some tough-minded and effective guidelines that will help you face the "bad" news with strength and a new and more positive attitude about yourself and life.

1. Be upset. Yes, it is OK to be upset. Feel whatever feelings you have about this unpleasant news. You might feel angry, afraid, discouraged, confused, sad... be as emotional as you want to be... for 24 hours. Take a day to be upset and then follow the additional guidelines below. They will make all the difference.

2. Get educated, not depressed. Most people do not know much at all about diabetes, its treatment, symptoms and especially how to live with it. Education will give you power, take away your fears and help you stay healthy.

3. Get support. Do not be a Lone Ranger. Attempting to handle diabetes alone is lonely, sometimes dangerous and just plain dumb. There is an enormous amount of support available from all kinds of sources. Go to www.diabetes.org to begin your search for help.

4. Decide that this diagnosis is a WAKE-UP CALL. Your body wants you to take better care of it. If you do then your overall life will get better, not worse. Pay attention.

5. Do not go into denial. If you try to live as if you do not have this condition, you could become seriously sick or die. No kidding.

6. Get spiritual. Assume that difficult things have a purpose and a meaning and that there are lessons (and yes, even gifts) in this condition. Make an effort to learn the lessons and the gifts will become evident.

7. Lose weight. You probably already know this one, however, you should not ignore it. Weight loss can make a gigantic difference in managing or even overcoming diabetes.

8. Wake-up Call #2. This diagnosis is often a sign that you need to make major changes in more than one area of your life. Take this time to stop and do a self-evaluation. See if you can discover how you could make needed changes in your work, relationships and self-care.

[Ed. note: Dr. Matthew Anderson is an author (The Prayer Diet), counselor (35 years) and national columnist/expert on weight loss, motivation, self-management and relationships. To find tough-minded, outside-the-box guidance for taking charge of your life and/or your weight including eating, click here.]

Healthy Healing: Why Fish Oil May be the Best Therapy for Aching Joints By Joseph McCaffrey, MD, FACS

Part 2 of a 2-Part Article on Nutrients that Relieve Joint Pain

If your joints ache, you know what inflammation feels like.

Inflammation hurts. An inflamed area is red, swollen, hot -- and most of all -- tender.

Inflammation is part of the body's response to infection or injury. In the right amount, inflammation serves a vital purpose. But in excess it becomes a problem itself, causing pain and even damaging healthy tissue.

The two most common forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis both share excess inflammation as the source of much of the misery they cause. Toning down the inflammation eases the pain.

Traditional medicine tries to do this by doing what it always does. It throws drugs at the problem.

The two broad classes most commonly used to treat pain caused by inflammation are NSAIDs such as Motrin and steroids like Prednisone (not the steroids of athletic infamy). They do suppress inflammation, but at a huge cost. Taken in excess, they are both dangerous leading to many thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year.

Instead of drugs, how would you like to know about a way to sooth inflamed joints that has "side effects" such as reducing your risk of heart attack and cancer? I have two words for you: fish oil.

Although, you may not have heard about fish oil for arthritis from your doctor yet, that may soon change. In an editorial published in the Journal of Rheumatology, commentators conclude that "dietary fish oil supplements should now be regarded as part of standard therapy for rheumatoid arthritis."(1)

Fish oil is high in a type of fat known as omega-3 fatty acids. Inflammation results from a chemical chain reaction. These fats interrupt this chain reaction in at least three different ways. Increase omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and you'll reduce inflammation.

Eating fish is an obvious way to increase your intake of fish oil. However, some people just don't care for fish. And there's another concern that's more worrisome... Fish today often contain dangerous levels of contaminates such as mercury and PCB.

These poisons concentrate most in long-lived fish whose diet is mainly smaller fish. Therefore, I can't recommend frequent consumption of these fish. Women of childbearing age and young children should be especially cautious.

For a lot of folks, fish oil supplements make more sense.

The recommended dosage of fish oil varies from two to ten grams per day and supplements are generally safe. Because of concerns about contaminates, it is important to use purified, quality fish oil from a reliable source. A label with USP certification indicates a brand has been tested and is safe from contaminates.

Some people worry that high doses might affect blood clotting. However, studies show that reasonable doses of fish oil are safe, even in people on aspirin or blood thinners.(2,3) Naturally, anyone on blood thinners should check with their physician any time they take a new medicine or supplement.

Although fish oil supplementation helps most people, like all nutritional supplements, it may take a little time for the full benefit to kick in. Give it 12 weeks as a fair trial.

1. Cleland Leslie G. and James MJ. Journal of Rheumatology, Vol. 27, October 2000, pp. 2305-06 (article and editorial).
2. Bays, HE. American Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 99, No. 6A, March 19, 2007, pp. 35C-43C.
3. Harris, WS. Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 99, No. 6A, March 19, 2007, pp. 44C-46C.

[Ed. Note: Joseph F. McCaffrey, MD, FACS is a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in alternative medicine, including certification as a HeartMath Trainer. His areas of expertise include mind-body interaction and cognitive restructuring. Dr. McCaffrey strives to help people attain their optimum level of vitality through attention to all aspects of wellness. For more information, click here.]

Exercise and Fitness: The Best Way to Lose the Belly Fat? Forget the Crunches By Craig Ballantyne

Despite what you see on late night infomercials, there are only three ways to lose belly fat and strengthen your ab muscles, and none of them requires $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

First, you need a diet that allows you to burn the belly fat. Start by improving the quality of the food you eat. No more processed carbohydrates, no more sugar, no more deep-fried foods, no more fast food, and no more sodas or juices. Simply making these changes will help you lose stomach fat fast, and you'll drop your body fat percentage in just days.

Second, stop doing crunches, sit-ups, ab lunging or ab rocking. Take that exercise time and instead spend it on interval training. Doing hundreds of crunches won't get you results, and while sit-ups work, they are hard on the low back.

According to Australian researchers including Professor Steve Boucher, an authority on physical training, the only way to spot reduce belly fat is to use interval training. Intervals destroy belly fat. So spend your exercise time wisely.

Third, use basic resistance training exercises and specific abdominal exercises to condition your abs. You don't need to be on your back for any exercise in this program.

Here's what you need to know, and this will surprise you!

Beginners should stay the heck away from situps and crunch-type movements and instead, spend time doing the plank, side plank, and bird dog exercises. These are yoga-like movements that add endurance to the ab muscles. According to Dr. Stuart McGill, one of the world's foremost experts on low back pain, the more ab endurance you have, the lower your risk of back pain.

If you are more advanced, try the plank with your arms on the ball. According to research quoted in Men's Health, this exercise works your abs 30% harder than the regular plank -- all without messing up your low back.

The big message I like to get across to clients is that they can build six-pack abs without ever doing a single crunch while lying on their backs. This news shocks people, but it's true.

If you want to lose belly fat fast and achieve six-pack abs, focus on your nutrition, total body strength training, and interval training before you even consider adding more reps to your current ab workout.

[Ed. Note: Craig Ballantyne is an expert consultant for Men's Health magazine.]

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 01-11-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/

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