Diabetes is a world-wide epidemic that is especially prevalent in India, China and the United States. Within the US, diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases with more than 7% of the adult population affected. It is rapidly rising in occurrence in the pediatric population as well. It is even more common in the elderly, Latino, African-American, Asian and Pacific Island-American and Native American populations.
The cornerstone of diabetes management therapy consists of introducing a regular exercise routine along with a diet that emphasizes increased consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits and low glycemic impact complex carbohydrates, and a reduced consumption of saturated and tras-fatty acids. Along with diet and exercise regimes, there are a wide range of adjuvant integrative therapies based on nutrients alone. Many nutrients such as biotin, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, essential fatty acids, inositol hexaniacinate, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, manganese, n-acetyl cysteine, vanadyl sulfate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K are beneficial for the pre-diabetic as well as the diabetic individual.
In addition, individual plants, traditional plant formulations and single phytonutrients increase the number of treatment options. Chromium, a trace mineral, is one of the most well researched nutrients for its role in glucose metabolism as well as the possibility of improving diabetes. Chromium works to help escort glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. At the same time, chromium helps make the cells of the body more sensitive to the effects of insulin. Since 2000, three randomized controlled trials and one clinical study have demonstrated the potential blood glucose-lowering effect of chromium supplementation. Foods rich in chromium (turkey ham, grape juice, whole grain cereals and breads, broccoli, green beans and potatoes) are important to include in a diabetic diet. In addition, supplementation with doses of chromium from 25 - 400 ucg/day can be useful as well.
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