Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Metformin is often the first treatment option given to type 2 diabetics. While it has many advantages, this prescription medication can also deplete several nutrients that are essential to proper functions within the body.
Green tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, but did you know that it contains powerful nutrients that can help support people with diabetes? Learn more about the powerful benefits of this drink from Amanda Williams, MPH.
vitamin e
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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Did you know that one out of every ten Americans is a diabetic and one out of every three Americans is a prediabetic? Those numbers are incredibly alarming and there are a variety of different reasons as to why those numbers are so high. We can certainly look at the dietary implications and that direct correlation to poor diet and the onset, as well as the true development, of metabolic syndrome, prediabetes and leading into Type 2 diabetes. Today, I want to talk about an under-reported vitamin that can really be quite beneficial for those who are dealing with diabetes, as well as those who fall into that category of prediabetes.†
We have a really interesting formulation and that is our Tocotrienols with Pine Bark Extract. The tocotrienol is a special, unique form of Vitamin E. Generally speaking, when we talk about diabetes, prediabetes or metabolic syndrome, we’re usually focused on different nutrients that can help to enhance insulin sensitivity, which is certainly very important. But I want to talk about recent findings on Vitamin E in the setting of diabetes.†
There was a recent article that came out in the Journal of Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome where they were talking about antioxidant effects of vitamins in Type 2 diabetics. They did a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials looking at different vitamins and essential micronutrients, including minerals, and the impact that they could have on the glycemic index of Type 2 diabetics. Interestingly enough, a lot of the primary focus was on things such as B vitamins, Vitamin C and Vitamin D, but they also addressed Vitamin E in this particular study. The researchers said that Vitamin E was related to significant reduction of blood glucose, as well as hemoglobin A1c, compared to placebo. This was an interesting study in which they were able to really determine the impact of each individual vitamin in terms of how it was impacting someone’s blood sugar levels.†
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When we think about supplementation of Vitamin E, this is oftentimes one of those very overlooked vitamins and it really helps to enhance that antioxidant capacity. We know that Vitamin E is incredibly strong when it comes to being able to fend off oxidative stress, but now we also recognize that it can also target that glycated hemoglobin. We know that it’s that glycation that creates such significant problems within the entire body. I want to talk in detail about why it is that Vitamin E can have this beneficial role in the control of those who are dealing with metabolic syndrome, as well as Type 2 diabetes.†
Another study that came out was in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, talking about that very significant role that Vitamin E can play. What they concluded within this was that there was a beneficial development for diabetic patients. Those patients who were on Vitamin E supplementation had a delayed development, as well as a slowing progression of the complications of diabetes. The researchers concluded that Vitamin E supplementation was really an integral component to the support of diabetics because of the fact that they could recognize how it could actually slow down that progression and the significant complications that go along with diabetes.†
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This particular study was looking at both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics who had been diabetic for over five years, so they could see some of those longer, chronic issues that arise in diabetics. Through doing this, the researchers were able to assess different complications that can arise in the cardiovascular system, renal system and eyes, as well as different ulcers that can occur. Through doing this particular series of tests, what they actually were able to determine was that the Vitamin E treatment significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death. We know that diabetics have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease because of that chronic inflammation, as well as the destruction that actually occurs within the blood vessel lining. They found that diabetics who were actually taking Vitamin E had decreased markers of inflammation, including things such as C-reactive protein.†
Hear about more research relating to Vitamin E and diabetes by tuning into the full podcast episode.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
Diabetes is a plague on our society. For years, clinical studies have focused on the link between cocoa and healthy blood sugar levels. Here’s what you need to know.
People with Diabetes are prone to plaque in the arteries. Grape seed extract is safe and beneficial for people with Diabetes. Here’s what you need to know in the last part of our Diabetes and Grape Seed Extract podcast series.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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This is Episode 2 of our Grape Seed Extract for People with Diabetes! If you missed Part 1, click here to listen now. In today’s episode, we will be discussing the number of things Grape Seed Extract can do for you if you have diabetes, including studies that show it to be beneficial for blood pressure and for vision health.
In part 1, we discussed a study from The University of Alberta, published in the Journal Phytotherapy Research – a review of 50 human clinical trials. It is a meta-analysis of 50 studies. Grape seed extract was shown to have a significant impact; improving fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, reduced bad cholesterol, reduce triglycerides. and reduced inflammation in the heart in people with Metabolic Syndrome.
Blood Pressure Studies
Published in The British Journal of Nutrition (a center for nutrition research) from researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of California Davis, studied participants that had Metabolic Syndrome (a cluster of issues including, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, obesity, high triglycerides and more). Grape seed extract was shown to improve their blood pressure. But it also improved measures of blood sugar control within just six weeks. This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, human clinical trial. Some participants took Grape seed extract – 600mg per day – while other took placebo. Results showed the extract improved systolic blood pressure within 5-6% and reduced diastolic blood pressure 4-7%. This is a real winner!
Systolic blood pressure is when the heart is actively pumping out blood. It does that a little over 100,000 times per day. Diastolic blood pressure is when the heart is getting a little rest in between beats and the heart is refilling with blood. Now, mind you, the heart is pumping every three quarters of a second. So, if that bottom figure is elevated, it puts a terrible load on the heart; it inflames the heart, puts it under a lot of stress, increases the risk of a heart attack and builds up plaque in the arteries, damaging your blood vessel walls. So lowing that bottom figure is extremely important and this has been shown in a number of studies. In one study, four weeks after stopping Grape Seed extract, participants blood sugar went back to being elevated. The Grape Seed extract was shown to also improve their fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity within just six weeks.
At Invite Health, we use Indena Grape Seed Extract from a French-Italian Consortium. It is from the pip of the white grape, which has more OPCs in the correct form. When researchers from Gabriel Dianunsa University in Italy performed a study at the San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, participants were given Grape seed extract. Within four months, 93% of the participants saw their blood pressure restored back to normal – just using Grape seed extract.
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Vision Benefits with Grape Seed Extract
Diabetes is a leading cause of damage to the eyes and overall vision. One of the things that occurs in Diabetics, is Diabetic Baby Cataracts (sorbitol cataracts) and Grape seed extract has been studied in the reduction of the risk of that. More importantly, it helps with something called Diabetic Retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy causes vision loss, as it damages the blood vessels in retina. About 80% of people with Diabetes at the 10 years mark (10 years after being diagnosed) develop some level of Diabetic Retinopathy. So it is rather common, especially since so many Americans have Diabetes today. The retina is where you see, where you distingush color, and the difference between light and dark. Behind that are these numerous, tiny little blood vessels, called capillaries. They are so narrow, they are only the width of one red blood cell. In Diabetic Retinopathy, these blood vessels become fragile, break, scar and can lead to vision loss. But you also develop something called Hard Exudates. These are a build up of fatty deposits in the eye.
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In the Journal Medicine, a randomized multi-center trial was published reviewing 124 patients with Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) between the ages of 40 and 78. Participants were prescribed a drug Calcium Dobesilate (the number one drug prescribed for DR). They were given either Grape Seed extract (150mg a day) or Calcium Dobesilate (500mg three times a day). All of the patients had retinal damage, thickening of the retina and Hard Exudates. Grape Seed extract was actually superior than the Calcium Dobesilate in this study. It reduced the total macular volume, the swelling in the eyes was decreasing, it significantly improved the number of Hard Exudates and its severity, it helped the permeability and the fragility of the capillaries, and it was extremely safe.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
