Healthy Metabolism and Diabetes
With a healthy metabolism, the human body seeks an equilibrium that allows biological systems to perform at their optimal levels. Equilibrium is a balance of the substances the body needs for health- not too much, and not too little. Equilibrium can be measured by levels of important blood components such as sodium and glucose. When diabetes occurs, high glucose levels are an indicator that equilibrium is canceled. The human body can respond to high glucose levels in many different ways. When the human body is unable to respond effectively to high glucose levels, illness or death may occur. Pharmaceutical companies have supplied different drugs to help swing the glucose balance back into equilibrium, but none of these drugs is sufficient alone to completely treat the consequences of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. At the Hope4Diabetes Medical Center, we offer a combined strategy of complementary and alternative methods to help your body regain and maintain a healthy equilibrium.

Role of Pharmaceuticals
Type 2 diabetes can be treated by five different classes of pharmaceuticals. Simplified, each type intervenes on one of the five currently-understood aspects of the blood sugar control system. However, this system apparently has more than five different ways of maintaining itself -when a particular drug is used, the system itself sometimes adjusts to actually counteract the effect of the drug! This is one reason there is currently not a pharmaceutical cure for diabetes, and why there are five different types of drugs competing to treat diabetes (and more drugs on the horizon). What can a diabetic patient do, under the current pharmaceutical regime, to relieve the symptoms that are left untreated by drugs? Click here to talk to one of our specialists about what your current diabetic medication is doing for you.

The most severe complications of Type 2 diabetes involve decreased circulation (increased heart disease, risk of heart attack, decreased circulation to the extremities, particularly the feet) and reduced kidney function or kidney failure ( both causing increased toxins in the bloodstream, particularly sodium and other salts, and fluid build-up). If you get a sense that the two complications are interrelated, you are right. For more information on the complications of diabetes, click here In the event of severely compromised kidney function, or kidney failure, dialysis is required to filter toxins from the blood. However, there are alternative and complementary methods to aid your circulation and decrease toxins in your blood. GlucoSense -  Barley Max.

Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is one factor that contributes to the symptoms of diabetes. Oxidative stress causes hardening of tissues such as arteries, decrease of naturally-occurring healthy chemicals, increase of calcium in cells, and impairs insulin action in Type 2 diabetics. Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals in the blood. Free radicals are highly-reactive molecules that are produced by the body to remove unwanted chemicals. However, when the body’s natural equilibrium is lost, such as through diabetes, free radicals can be overproduced. When this happens, free radicals can cause unintentional cell and tissue damage. This is known as oxidative stress.

How free radicals work in the body

Free radicals are highly-reactive molecules designed to destroy other specifically-targeted chemicals. When they are in balance, they do their job without destroying healthy cells or tissues. When they are overproduced, or when they are not removed correctly, they will react with individual cells, causing cumulative damage. One example of free radicals working can be seen when you cut open a piece of fruit like an apple. If you let it sit, it turns brown. This damage is caused by free radicals.

Free radicals cause cumulative damage to your body, like rust eating away at a car. When you wash your car with water, you clean the surface and actually prevent corrosion. This is similar to when free radicals are in balance with your body- they help maintain cell health by keeping your system clean of corrosive chemicals. But now imagine you leave your car outside, and it rains for weeks, even months or years. The cumulative action of the water will start to rust the car, eventually completely destroying it. If free radicals are not controlled, the same thing can happen to your body.

Oxidative stress occurs in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, directly as a result of high blood sugar levels. Carefully monitoring your blood sugar levels can help decrease this type of oxidative stress. (Glucosense)

How high glucose levels can cause oxidative stress, and how it can be clinically monitored

Free radicals are formed when glucose is chemically combined with proteins in the bloodstream (due to the excess of glucose), and mechanisms the body uses to remove the glucose. Oxidative stress in diabetic individuals can be clinically identified and monitored using chemicals in the body that indicate problems: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione and vitamin levels, lipid peroxidation, nitrite concentration, and levels of glycosylated proteins. If you are interested in being tested for oxidative stress, contact one of our counselors or schedule an appointment for testing. For more information, see (Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology 2003, 17 (1):24-38)

Oxidative stress can also be triggered by an imbalance of certain metals in your bloodstream. Some metals, such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) exist in the body and bloodstream in equilibrium, and perform valuable metabolic functions. However, other metals, such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and arsenic (As) have been shown to have toxic effects by dramatically increasing the production of free radicals. For more information on metal toxicity and oxidative stress, see (Curr. Med. Chem. 2005; 12(10):1161-208).

Free radicals can also cause oxidative stress when they are not removed from the body sufficiently. This causes the same problem as overproduction of free radicals discussed above- the excess free radicals react with cell proteins and lipids. Excess free radicals can be removed by the addition of antioxidants to the diet. You can think of antioxidants as the exact opposite of free radicals: they completely destroy free radicals. We offer several diet supplements that provide antioxidant protection, such as (4 Healthy Heart) and (Simple Trim Plus).

Antioxidants and diabetes

Many naturally-occurring chemicals have anti-oxidant properties. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene have been shown to decrease indicators of oxidative stress, yet their effects alone have not been clinically indicated to treat the less specific effects of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Vitamin E has been shown to increase blood circulation in Type 1 diabetes patients, but not in Type 2 diabetic patients. However, use of another antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid, demonstrated benefit in diabetic patients with neural degeneration. For more information, see: (Cardiovascular Diabetology 2005, 4:5) For more information on how you can increase the levels of antioxidants in your diet, click here.

Chelation Therapy
Pharmaceutical drugs play an important role in controlling diabetes, yet the untreated consequences of having diabetes also have to be confronted. Oxidative stress, heart and kidney disease, and decreased blood flow to the extremities (particularly the feet) can be aided by chelation therapy. Chelation therapy introduces a chemical into the blood stream that is able to remove harmful metals. Chelation therapy is fully approved by the FDA, and is now being fully investigated for its effects on treating Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). For more information on the study, visit: (http://nccam.nih.gov/chelation/chelationstudy.htm)

Chelators have a simple effect: they remove harmful metals from your blood. The most effectively and widely-used chelator is known as EDTA, a synthetic amino acid that is able to “grab” four metals at once, and is then excreted by the kidneys along with its four metals. How does removing unwanted metals from your blood improve circulation and health? Chelation therapy can have an affect on hardened arteries. When an artery is stressed from poor circulation or the effects of diabetes, plaques can start to form. These are initially built up by fatty deposits including cholesterol, then calcium is incorporated, thus “hardening” the arteries. EDTA can help reduce the calcium in plaques, allowing the fatty substrate to redissolve into the bloodstream and be removed.

Chelation therapy can also have an effect on peripheral circulation, allowing blood flow to be improved, and allowing increased mobility. Remember, exercise and mobility are key factors to maintaining a healthy metabolism. If you are starting to slow down, now is the time to fight back. In its most advanced form, decreased circulation to the feet can cause ulceration. You will find many palliative methods of treating foot ulcers, such as wound dressings, artificial skin, and others. But if you had the choice, wouldn’t you prefer to treat the cause itself -poor circulation? Click here to learn more about the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Chelation Procedures
There are currently three ways to receive chelation therapy:

• I.V. (intravenous) Chelation. A patient undergoes approximately 20 to 30 sessions as an outpatient. A needle is inserted into a vein and a solution of EDTA is administered (typical dosage 300mg in 100mL normal saline at 25 mL/hour). The advantage of this method is that it delivers the EDTA directly into the bloodstream. The disadvantages are that the patient must undergo multiple 3- to 4-hour sessions.
• Oral Administration. Chelators can be taken in pill form. While this might be the simplest method, it is possibly not as effective as the other two methods. When administered orally, EDTA must pass through the digestive system, where EDTA might inadvertently chelate nutrients, not metals.
• Detoxamin® chelation treatments. Detoxamin is a suppository-based chelation system that is less invasive, 70% less costly than IV treatments, and much easier to administer. A suppository is simply used at bedtime, and three Detoxamin treatments are the equivalent of one I.V. chelation therapy. At the Hope4Diabetes Medical Center, we provide Detoxamin as a simple, easy-to-use detoxifier for home use. Detoxamin is the only suppository that is scientifically proven to show absorption superior to even I.V. chelation therapy. For more information about Detoxamin, visit their website (http://www.detoxamin.com/) or contact our staff for more information.

Infrared Sauna
The health benefits of traditional steam saunas have been touted for centuries. As body temperature rises, a series of physiological effects occur, leading to relaxation of the vascular system, decrease in blood pressure, and of course, sweating. The benefits of these effects are discussed below. However, in a weakened physical state, it is often difficult if not impossible for a diabetic patient to receive these benefits of traditional sauna. The infrared sauna offers an alternative that may be used with less physical stress than a traditional sauna.

A traditional sauna uses steam from heated rocks to warm the air in a sauna chamber. Infrared saunas utilize the energy in long-wavelength light to actually heat the body of the person, not the air in the sauna chamber. Long-wave radiation (5.8 to 1000 micrometers, about 10 times the wavelength of visible light) penetrates up to 1.5” into the body. Unlike ultraviolet (UV) rays, infrared does not have harmful effects on the skin. As the infrared energy is absorbed by water molecules in the body, body temperature rises.

Extending the Time
While the air temperature in a typical steam sauna is around 180 degrees Farenheit, because the air itself is not heated, a typical infrared sauna is around 130 degrees, allowing the user to remain for a longer period of time. This is particularly important when age or advanced disease reduce the capacity of a person to tolerate the environment of the sauna.

Benefit of Sweat
During a sauna, the skin perspires. Sweating can have several benefits, particularly to the diabetic patient that suffers from general circulatory problems, including heart and kidney disease. Sweat, while more than 90% water, also has the benefits of excreting components of the bloodstream that diabetics otherwise have difficulty handling.
Sweat contains almost one gram of sodium in each liter. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for sodium is 2.4 grams, about one teaspoon of table salt per day. Sweating away one liters (about 2 pounds) in a sauna can remove about 1/3 of your normal daily sodium intake. Sweat also often has a higher concentration of nickel, cadmium and mercury than urine, which can cause oxidative stress.

Effect on Blood pH
Sweat also removes excess acidity from the blood- the pH of sweat can be from 4 to 6.8. While normal blood pH is 7.4, sweat is approximately 10 to 1000 times as acidic as blood. When you remove the acids from your body, your blood pH has a chance to recover closer to normal levels. The effects of diabetes on causing blood acidosis (low blood pH) are discussed further here.

Blood Circulation Benefits
Other clinically-known benefits of sauna are enjoyed by heart disease patients, arthritis sufferers, cancer patients, and athletes alike. These include:

• reduced systolic blood pressure
• increased blood plasma volume (beneficial proteins in the blood)
• increased blood circulation

Infrared sauna offers clear benefits to the diabetic and pre-diabetic patient. It has also been suggested that long wave infrared is able to dislodge toxins from the fatty tissues in the body, allowing them to be excreted by the liver and kidneys. At the Hope4Diabetes Medical Center, we offer state-of-the-art Infrared Saunas. Our saunas are constructed with preservative-free natural wood interiors that do not leach toxins into the room. Our infrared light sources are specifically designed to provide the wavelengths that are most beneficial for saunas, unlike some lamps used in infrared saunas that are the same as used for industrial purposes. For information on how to receive infrared sauna treatments at the Hope4Diabetes Medical Center, click here. In addition, we can offer scientific tests that monitor your loss of toxins through sauna treatments. These tests are non-invasive sweat samplings that follow your detoxification as the therapeutic benefit of repeated saunas progresses. The tests can are as simple as dabbing your arm with an indicator to reveal pH levels, or we can run laboratory tests to monitor your levels of  heavy metal excretion and other toxins. Either test only requires a painless sweat sample.

Lymphatic Massage
Did you know that you have two circulatory systems in your body? Everyone knows about blood circulation, but did you know that there is a system of tubes in your body that are used by the immune system to circulate lymph? Lymph is a fluid that transports the infection- and toxin-fighting cells of the body to target locations throughout the body. Unlike the blood circulation, there is no “heart” to pump the lymph. Instead, normal muscle contractions and movement help squeeze the lymph through the lymph system. To learn more about the immune system and how it affects diabetic sufferers, click here.

However, if you are experiencing a decrease in physical activity due to obesity or the effects of diabetes including poor circulation, pain, and loss of energy, you might benefit from a non-invasive procedure known as lymphatic massage. Did you know that the swelling known as edema (caused by impaired kidney function) is caused by a buildup of lymphatic fluid? Lymphatic massage helps to stimulate proper flow and draining of edema by unblocking lymph passageways and allowing fluid and toxins to be removed from the body. For more information about lymphatic massage or to make an appointment, click here.

Healthy Dentistry
Did you know that amalgam dental fillings contain mercury (Hg)? Mercury is known to cause nerve damage, or neuropathy, as well as many other symptoms. Mercury is particularly difficult to eliminate naturally from your body, and tends to accumulate in all living organisms. It is well known that mercury accumulates in fish such as tuna, and the FDA recommends limiting your diet of such food items to avoid excessive exposure to the toxic effects of mercury. Recent studies in Sweden showed that dental fillings release an estimated four times more mercury into your system than environmental sources such as eating contaminated fish. With a diabetic already susceptible to neuropathy, it is essential to avoid exposure to all potential toxins with as much care as possible. At the Hope4Diabetes Medical Center, we will provide you with an evaluation for potentially toxic dental work. We will refer you to natural dentists who will evaluate your dental work for potential toxicity. Most dental work can be replaced with hypoallergenic fillings consisting of porcelain or space-age ceramics that do not leach toxins into your system. Your system’s natural tolerance for replacement materials will be carefully tested before any corrective measures are taken. For more information on natural dentistry, click here.