Diabetes and Antioxidants

Diabetes Information Network

Diabetes and Antioxidants II

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a unique antioxidant that has shown promise for treating diabetes in some early studies. In Germany and France injections of ALA have effectively reversed diabetic neuropathy which is no small accomplishment since American doctors have no effective treatment for diabetic neuropathy.

Unfortunately the most convincing ALA studies used injections of ALA, not pills. But since ALA is both inexpensive and almost entirely non-toxic, taking from 100-600mg per day seems very sensible.

In the world of antioxidants ALA stands alone in one regard. All other antioxidants can be divided into one of two classes. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E and Vitamin A belong to the “fat-soluble” antioxidants which help protect the fatty tissues of the body.

Antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin B-6 are in the other class – the “water soluble” class. ALA belongs to neither of these general classifications. Instead it protects tissues of both types. It can permeate and protect fatty membranes as well as the watery elements within any human cell. While other antioxidants protect only certain tissues in a single area of the body, ALA is much more versatile and can actually protect tissues and organs throughout the entire body.

ALA has another positive health effect. Studies have shown that ALA increases insulin sensitivity anywhere from 30-50% which means it acts to reverse the very root cause of diabetes. In this way it’s a mild hypoglycemic agent that can lower your blood sugar level so be careful to monitor your blood sugar level carefully to avoid slipping into low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Because ALA increases the effectiveness of insulin and promotes the normal flow of sugar from the bloodstream into the muscles, in response the body automatically reduces it’s insulin production slightly which is a good thing as excessive insulin is dangerous as it triggers the production of harmful free radicals. Studies have shown that ALA can reduce insulin levels anywhere from 15-17% on average.

You should also be aware that the latest research has found that various antioxidants work together synergistically. When ALA is present in the body, the healthful effects of both Vitamin E and the potent antioxidant Glutathione are increased. For this reason, for maximum effect ALA should be taken along with Vitamin E.

For the reasons discussed above ALA may well be the single most important supplement a diabetic can take. For prevention purposes a dosage of 50-200mg per day should do nicely. But if you’re having problems with diabetic neuropathy dosage levels of from 300-600mg may be required. Or you might want to speak to your physician about getting larger doses of ALA by injection or IV as they do in Germany.

Fortunately ALA is essentially non-toxic. Side effects are rare even when ALA is taken in extremely high doses. And ALA capsules are not terribly expensive. (at least when compared to prescription drugs) At current prices, taking 600mg per day might cost you somewhere around $30 per month.

Bilberry (vaccinium myrtillus)

Back during the darkest days of World War II, British spitfire pilots noticed something very strange. Those who ate Bilberry jam each morning instead of raspberry or strawberry could see better at night. This was critically important as they went out on night missions and flew low looking up at the pitch dark night sky attempting to locate and shoot down German bombers. The bombers had their bellies painted dark blue so you can understand why a pilot with razor sharp vision would be much more effective.

When Winston Churchill heard about this, a crude experiment was conducted which confirmed the effect and only Bilberry jam was served to the pilots from then on.

I’m sure Americans are now going to ask – so what’s a Bilberry? It’s a British cousin of our good old American Blueberry. It contains a uniquely effective antioxidant that can improve vision markedly. It also protects various fatty membranes in other parts of the body. It’s exact effects aren’t well understood now but in a few years we predict that our understanding of it’s wonderful powers will be much better documented.

Bilberry contains extremely powerful antioxidant flavonoid compounds (anthocyanosides) that can improve and protect the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in our eyes from diabetic damage. It has also been shown to prevent cataracts and boost visual acuity (the ability to see tiny or faint images).

Bilberry also reduces thickening of capillaries caused by diabetes, helps prevent diabetic retinopathy, reduces permeability of capillaries and the tendency of capillaries to hemorrhage (as in retinopathy). It has been widely used in France since 1945 to treat and prevent diabetic retinopathy.

Any well-stocked health food store should have a Bilberry product standardized for an anthocyanidin content of 25 percent with a dosage of from 100mg-480mg/day. If you have a sensitive stomach, you should know that Bilberry capsules might cause some minor stomach irritation. So start with a single capsule and slowly work up to a higher dosage. It might also help if you took your capsule at mealtime.

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