The Use Of Alternative Medicine In The Treatment Of Diabetes
By: Mohammed Saleh
Despite advances in modern medicine, many people believe strongly in the use of both complementary and alternative medicine and this is no less true in the case of diabetes than it is for many other conditions.
Complementary and alternative medicine involves the use of a range of practices and products that are not currently considered to be part of the mainstream system of healthcare and the principal difference between the two is that complementary medicine is used alongside conventional treatment while alternative medicine is used instead of it.
Many forms of complimentary and alternative medicine are believed to produce beneficial effects but others can be extremely harmful and, in the case of potentially serious conditions such as diabetes, neither should be used without the knowledge of your physician. Indeed, you should consult your doctor about all forms of complimentary or alternative medicine which you wish to try so that he at least has the opportunity to offer his opinion and advise you of the possible medical consequences of such treatment.
There are many different forms of complimentary and alternative therapy for diabetes including:
1. Acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into various parts of the body and is often used to trigger the release of natural chemical painkillers. It can therefore be particularly useful for people suffering from often painful nerve damage (neuropathy) as a result of diabetes.
2. Guided Imagery. Guided imagery is relaxation technique which uses peaceful images to relax the mind and body and to develop an awareness of, and an ability to deal with, the bodys response to pain. Again, this can be useful for people suffering from nerve damage as a result of diabetes.
3. Magnesium. The precise role of magnesium in controlling diabetes is not well understood but it is known that magnesium (a mineral contained in green leaf vegetables, whole grain foods and nuts) plays an important role in many functions within the body including functions of the heart, muscles, bones and nerves. It also plays a role in the bodys handling of glucose and low levels of magnesium are often seen in people with diabetes. For this reason, magnesium is frequently taken as a dietary supplement by diabetes sufferers.
4. Chromium. Like magnesium, chromium (an essential trace mineral found in meat, fish and whole wheat and rye breads) is often taken as a dietary supplement by diabetes sufferers. In this case however the link between chromium and diabetes is far less clear and there is considerable debate about its use. The theory is that chromium helps improve the action of insulin, but there is no good scientific evidence to support this.
5. Ginseng. Ginseng has grown in popularity in recent years for a whole range of different conditions and is widely marketed. There is some evidence from studies using American ginseng that it can lower glucose levels, but there is still insufficient evidence at this stage to say just how effective it is as a form of therapy. One problem with ginseng is that there is a huge variety of different forms and strengths of ginseng available and the amount or strength needed to produce a therapeutic effect has yet to be determined.
These are just some of a wide range of complimentary and alternative medicines which might be considered for the treatment of diabetes and the list goes on to include commonly know items such as garlic and less well known compounds such as vanadium.
Whatever form of complimentary or alternative medicine you wish to try the important thing to remember is that you are dealing with a serious and potentially life-threatening condition and that you should therefore not use any form of therapy without the full knowledge of your doctor.
For more information on diabetes treatment try visiting http://diabetes.personal-health-guide.com, a website that specializes in providing information on diabetes prevention, diabetes type 1 and type 2 and some lists of diabetes diet tips.
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