Natural Remedies For Diabetes-ALA, Chromium Picolinate and Cinnamon

     I know this may not be the most exciting thing to be writing about, but unfortunately, this is a subject we, as diabetics, need to be informed about.  Foot problems are common in people with diabetes and they can be serious.  Neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the feet or legs.  Do natural remedies for neuropathy work?

     According to Diabetic Connect's Community Advocate, Susan Sloane, they can be beneficial and can help decrease the dose of some prescription medications that can have debilitating side effects at higher doses.

     Topical treatments for neuropathy that include capsaicin and hypericum....and/or essential oils can be soothing for patients.  Another treatment option for neuropathy that has been shown to be beneficial is alpha-lipoic acid (ALA).  ALA is a potent antioxidant shown in a study at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms of neuropathy.  The ALA supplements that can be bought contain a racemic mixture of two isomers of lipoic acid, the R form and the S form.  The R-form is the only form of lipoic acid that occurs naturally and is the only form that can be readily recognized and used by cells in the body.  Recently it has been discovered, that the R-form provides all of the beneficial effects of the ALA, while the S-form has little beneficial and may actually hinder the effects of the R-form.  For example, a recent study has shown the R-lipoic acid treats all the major effects of insulin-resistance, while the S-form may make things even worse.  This is why pharmaceutical companies have developed a more effective lipoic acid supplement that contains only the R-form of ALA which appears more effective.

     Chromium picolinate is a popular mineral supplement that helps the body metabolize blood sugars, proteins, and fats.  It improves the action of insulin and can reduce the risk of insulin resistance.  Some lab results even suggest chromium may be able to slow down the progression of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics and in some cases begin to reverse the progression all together.

      As little as a half a teaspoon of cinnamon has been shown to lower blood sugar an average of 20% more than a control group and decrease the prevalence of complications in diabetics.  In order to ensure the highest level of care for diabetic patients, all avenues of treatment must be explored including supplements used in conjunction with prescription medication.