Thinking outside of the square, not for the faint hearted

All the best for the New Year to all diabetics (and non-diabetic!) friends.
I haven't been active here of late, have been, however, active in research on diabetes and some interesting results on a personal nature, into 5th year as a type 1 and the learning experience has been incredible.
Nothing to do with doctors, drugs (on none, medicos would have had me on a few if I had listened to some of them).
A lot to do with getting off every possible source of processed foods, town supplied water with chemical cocktails, and changing to home growing organic herbs, vegetables with moderate doses of lean beef, chicken and sea foods.
I have tried just about every supplement, vitamin and mineral known to mankind, some work, most don"t show much effect, Vitamin D and E seem to star here and fish oil of the wild salmon variety showing results.
Garlic, ginger, cinnamon, various mints, chili (especially cayenne pepper) has been proven, in my opinion, beyond reasonable doubt to improve circulation with no side effects of some drugs with funny names!

My insulin levels/needs have decreased during the last four years by 70% of the recommended dosage upon leaving hospital.
I hope to put all these experiences in PDF format and share with folks here during the next few weeks.
It will probably not be suitable to the folks who rely on traditional thinking in the diabetes field. It will be of interest to the open minded, the positive thinker, and to those who think out side of the square and take interest in how food, lifestyle, exercise affects our health.
To learn by independent knowledge gained is very rewarding and can minimize the effects of diabetes if applied with discipline and determination.

Happy New Year to you, Robert, and everyone here at TuD.
I'll be looking forward to your stats and story, Robert. Rock On ! Everyone should take control of their own health. Sure, it's a huge undertaking, but the results can be remarkable. Even taking baby steps can make an amazing difference.
I'm finding that as I get older, I'm trying harder and harder to simplify my life... in all aspects. My diet, my surroundings, my thinking. Simplify is my New Year's resolution. Simple, whole, natural, raw. Easy,slow,breathe,enjoy ! Peace

Thank you Judith, all the best.

I am so in your corner and live as you do. No processed food, exercise and some supplements. Most of all I find food selection to be the most important for me. I only shop the periphery at the market and eat nothing out of a box. Since becoming diabetic 3 years ago (T1), I have reevaluated the way I eat and find eating real food makes such a difference. I am not as much into the supplements as you, although I do take vitamin D and Iron. Anyhow, kudos to you and your approach. I find we are our own best doctors when it comes to this disease.

Would love to see what and how you tried those things. Here is what I posted on another thread today.

I am currently using, what I suspect, is an ayuverdic method. You may have seen this guy on blogs and stories posted online. His name is SB, and I think he lives in India. Anyway, he gave me this method which uses Fennugreek, Holy Basil (tulsi), Bitter Melon, Neem, and Turmeric. I am using this idea as a base and am ramping it WAY up. Thinking overdose will be very hard with this stuff. I am also adding raw garlic, some special exercise, and a capsaicin formula I made up. I will do this for a month or up to 3. Right now it has made a difference in some odd ways. The other day I had a 405 sugar that came down to 45 within 1.5 hours. I have never experienced a drop that quickly so was a bit of a challenge to manage.
I think the thing with Ayuverdic medicine is it takes a long time, this is a therapy approach. Positive mental outlook will be a big part of it as well.
If one takes time to think about it, what would a "cure" look like anyway? Seems to me, it would begin looking like increased insulin sensitivity, which we have all experienced at one point or another it sounds. So perhaps that is part of a cure, we just haven't figured out the added "push" that would take us into actually producing insulin ourselves. I do believe that nature carries an answer, just need to find the correct combination of things!!

I am currently using, what I suspect, is an ayuverdic method. You may have seen this guy on blogs and stories posted online. His name is SB, and I think he lives in India. Anyway, he gave me this method which uses Fennugreek, Holy Basil (tulsi), Bitter Melon, Neem, and Turmeric. I am using this idea as a base and am ramping it WAY up. Thinking overdose will be very hard with this stuff. I am also adding raw garlic, some special exercise, and a capsaicin formula I made up. I will do this for a month or up to 3. Right now it has made a difference in some odd ways. The other day I had a 405 sugar that came down to 45 within 1.5 hours. I have never experienced a drop that quickly so was a bit of a challenge to manage.

I think the thing with Ayuverdic medicine is it takes a long time, this is a therapy approach. Positive mental outlook will be a big part of it as well.

If one takes time to think about it, what would a "cure" look like anyway? Seems to me, it would begin looking like increased insulin sensitivity, which we have all experienced at one point or another it sounds. So perhaps that is part of a cure, we just haven't figured out the added "push" that would take us into actually producing insulin ourselves. I do believe that nature carries an answer, just need to find the correct combination of things!!

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i don't think a cure, IMO, means an increased sensitivity level, I'm very insulin sensitive, most T1's are, especially newly diagnosed...means nothing in terms of managing my diabetes other then I may need less than someone else (i'm petite too)..but I still need insulin or I'll die. I need insulin whether I eat or not..I need it when I wake up in the morning, we all do. If you're 405 (that is way too high) and dropping to 45 (that is way too low) there are huge adjustments I'd think you'd want to make.

A cure for me is finding someway to get our islet - beta - alpha cells back to make insulin, doesn't matter how sensitive or resistant we are to insulin if we don't make any.

While we are waiting for a cure for diabetes, we may have to make our own plans as I really thing the system is gearing up big time to make us part of their plans, with the major emphasis on looking for a new cash cow, sorry to be cynical, however we may find that nature has many answers for us and more accessible than a magic cure.
These breakthroughs all seem to be "5 years away", some never heard of again after 10. 15 or even 20 years passing.
If you think you can you are correct , if you think you can't, you are correct.

Hey Robert! Thanks for adding me as a friend!

I have added baking soda to my routine due to recently coming across many stories about it helping with cancer. Has to do with raising the bodies pH, though I honestly didn't think one could do that because the body has its own regulation for that sort of thing. I have so much to learn still!!!

Issue is those sorts of drops don't happen all the time. As soon as I rely on that to happen it most likely won't!!

I think the pancreas wants to heal. Seems to me whatever got it down in the first place is keeping it down. Got to stop that and the pancreas/beta cells will likely regenerate.

I guess I look at sensitivity a different way. There could be so much more going on to make that happen. If one conceeds that islet cells are still producing some, though not enough to make a difference, insulin. Perhaps a brief "ramping up" of natural insulin production is part of the "sensitivity" aspect. If so, then something that could create that more often would be beneficial and possibly lead to a cure. Just thinking out loud here!!

Pleasure Dean, the learning process never stops, so interesting in results we may experience along the journey. Yes, baking soda, is seen by some as a hidden miracle, perhaps a more natural explanation may be present.

Answering your May 11th post, it seems folks in the West when using or discovering the wisdom and health methods of the Asian and Eastern have discovered something new, we really haven't, it is knowledge that is common there but has been hidden, suppressed or forgotten by the medical systems that we have in our cultures.
I really get a little aggro sometimes when trying to openly discuss a natural method,herb food or supplement that I have proven beyond doubt to help manage, or improve my diabetes situation.
Proven recently when I was compulsory required to have another sight evaluation for my drivers licence , after passing one on a 2 year required check up with flying colors.
The specialist who did the test was looking into some amazing machine that looks deeply into the eyes and his exact words were " Amazing, simply amazing " you have absolutely no indication of nerve or capillary damage to your eyes whatsoever.
Nice chap however I did not discuss the natural regime I have been following for eye maintenance including excercise, palming, Blackmores Lutien and herbs and vegies researched.
I will be using the same mindset on other parts of the anatomy that may require some maintenance and TLC and until the folks holding up, stalling, monopolizing cures for diabetes for the sake of profit change their ways will continue on my fascinating journey of discovering the healing powers and capabilities of the human mind and nature.

I have not heard of Blackmores Lutien or palming. Heading to do some research. I do know that if I find something that works for me I intend to share it with as many with T1 as I can. Just hope they will listen when the time comes. I have run into much resistance when I talk about T1 and T2. I think the way I word things comes across as off-putting even as the message rings true. Got to work on my tact. LOL!!

I too had an issue with my eyes. A few years ago there was some minor hemorraging (sp?) in my capillaries. That was about the same time I had started eating and living much healthier. It was also the sort of thing they told me they usually see earlier on in people with T1 (and this was about year 27 for me).The next visit, the damage had all cleared up. They were quite impressed and told me to just keep doing what I had been. So I too have seen the benefits of my hard work and research. It also shows me that what I am doing is having a positive effect.

Recently, my chem panel showed elevated levels of liver proteins. These proteins are usually markers of liver damage, though I needed to know WHAT exactly these proteins do in the body. I have found research that suggests they may play an anti-microbial role. So could be a positive thing for now, as I have also seen some suggest taking lots of additional enzymes to help clear up scar tissue on the pancreas. At this point it is all conjecture as I still use insulin. I have another month and half to go with my current therapy I am using. Take care and hope to hear from you soon!
Dean

Very Interested to hear more about it.

Hi Are you a T2?

My 13 year old son is the person in my life with T1. If I had more knowledge when he was diagnosed. I would have put him on the alternative treatment nicotinomide and have him tested for coxsackie b. If he had an enterovirus (likely, as viruses are significant triggers of T1) I would have insisted on an antiviral protocol.

My son does not like me interfering, but I hope when he is older he will not place so much blind faith in conventional medicine.

Anyone out there using nicotinomide?

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Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19382275

Antiviral effect of nicotinamide on enterovirus-infected human islets in vitro: effect on virus replication and chemokine secretion.

Moëll A, Skog O, Ahlin E, Korsgren O, Frisk G.
Author information

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by the selective destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Enterovirus (EV) is the prime candidate to initiate this destruction and several inflammatory chemokines are induced by EV infection. Nicotinamide has been shown to protect isolated human islets, and to modulate chemokine expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nicotinamide on EV replication and EV-induced chemokine secretion and cytolysis of human islets. Two EV strains were used to infect human islets in vitro, one lytic (Adrian) isolated from a child at onset of type 1 diabetes, and one non-lytic (VD2921). Secretion of the chemokines IP-10 and MCP-1, viral replication, and virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE), were measured at different time points post-infection. Addition of nicotinamide to the culture medium reduced viral replication and virus-induced islet destruction/CPE, significantly. Both EV strains increased secretion of IP-10 and MCP-1, when measured days 2-3, and days 5-7 post infection, compared to mock-infected control islets. IP-10 was not produced by uninfected isolated islets, whereas a basal secretion of MCP-1 was detected. Interestingly, addition of nicotinamide blocked completely (Adrian), or reduced significantly (VD2921), the virus-induced secretion of IP-10. Secretion of MCP-1 was also reduced in the presence of nicotinamide, from infected and uninfected islets.
The reported antiviral effects of nicotinamide could have implications for the treatment/prevention of virus- and immune-mediated disease. Also, this study highlights a possible mechanism of virus-induced type 1 diabetes through the induction of MCP-1 and IP-10 in pancreatic islets.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17239967

Abstract

Enterovirus infections of the pancreatic islets are believed to trigger or precipitate the near total destruction of beta-cells that constitutes type 1 diabetes (T1D).

This study investigated the ability of an anti-picornaviral compound, pleconaril, to block the replication of two beta-cell tropic Coxsackie B4 virus (CBV-4) strains in isolated human islets. The two strains, VD2921 and V89 4557, with demonstrated abilities to cause non-lytic persistence or lytic infection, respectively, in islets, represented two different potential mechanisms behind virus-induced T1D.

The virus replication in the islets was studied with and without addition of pleconaril. In addition, islet morphology was studied every day. To test the effects of pleconaril and/or DMSO on the beta-cells' insulin secretion, glucose perifusions were performed on treated and untreated islets. Virus titrations showed a clear reduction of the replication of both strains after pleconaril treatment. The VD2921 strain was inhibited to undetectable levels. The V89 4557 strain, however, showed an initial reduction of titers but virus titers then increased despite the addition of a second dose of pleconaril.
This incomplete inhibition of viral replication suggested the existence of a resistant subtype within this strain. Pleconaril treatment reduced the beta-cells' insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation in some experiments and induced slight morphological changes to the islets compared to untreated controls. In summary, pleconaril reduced the replication of the two beta-cell tropic CBV-4 strains in human islets. However, genetic differences between these strains influenced the effectiveness of pleconaril treatment. This stresses the importance of using multiple viral strains in antiviral tests

Yes! Beyond the field of right and wrong there is a meadow.

I was taking it for cholesterol but stopped after my cardiologist suggested it can cause liver damage. My cholesterol was good anyway so I didn't really need it. Here is a link. We do have to be careful with supplements etc. because they can also cause problems just like some drugs can. I do still take a lot of other supplements but I have phased some out too.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/924.html