For the first time, a long-term health study has demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet may help diabetes patients control their blood sugar without the use of medication.

"A Mediterranean-style diet is a very important part in the treatment of diabetes," said endocrinologist Loren Greene of New York University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. "We knew that, but there just hasn't been a good study to confirm this before."

In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers assigned 215 overweight, adult residents of Naples, Italy, to adhere to one of two diets. Participants in one group were assigned to follow a Mediterranean diet — eating large quantities of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and certain healthy fats such as olive oil; favoring lean protein sources such as nuts, poultry and fish; and gaining no more than half their daily calories from carbohydrates. Participants in the other group were assigned to follow a low-fat diet similar to that recommended by the American Heart Association — with no more than 30 percent of its daily calories from fat and 10 percent from saturated fat; low in sweets and high-fat snacks; and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. (Of course I advocate I strict well-balanced vegetarian diet, but this story demonstrates that the closer you get to this type of diet the healthier you will be.)

All participants were instructed to limit their caloric intake to 1,800 calories per day for men and 1,500 per day for women. They were given regular nutrition counseling and urged to exercise regularly.

After four years, 56 percent of the participants in the Mediterranean diet group were able to manage their diabetes without drugs, compared with only 30 percent of those in the low-fat group. Participants eating a Mediterranean diet also maintained more weight loss and more improvement in levels of HDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides.

Greene noted that as most patients dislike taking medication, the new study might provide an incentive for more diabetics to watch their diets.

"If you are told, 'If you don't want to go on medicine, stick to this diet,' then that's a pretty valuable tool at least for patient compliance," she said.

Keith M Henry, N.D. is the Director of phase 3ministries, based in Orlando FL. He is medical missionary herbalist, and Naturopath . Download your free copy of his report, Emergency Herbal Medicine, HERE. It may very well save your life.

Natural News.Com

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The basis or forerunner of diabetes is insulin resistance.

Insulin Resistance:

At least twenty-five to 30 percent of all Americans 60-75 million people are insulin resistant. At least 5-10 percent of whom will develop type 2 diabetes.

However, insulin resistance is associated with more than just diabetes. It is also regarded as a fundamental factor in other serious medical conditions such as obesity, hypertension, abnormalities in cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, and increased risk of heart disease.

Fact: 90 percent of all diabetics (those with type 2 diabetes) have a pancreas that produces plenty of insulin.

Fact: Their cells resist the efforts of insulin and refuse to let the insulin in.

Fact: Research suggests that the root cause of insulin resistance is found in an intercellular breakdown in signaling. Insulin is a chemical messenger. It sends signals to proteins called GLUT- 4 transporters. These transporters reside within the cell. Upon receipt of the signal they are to rise to the cell’s membrane where they grab glucose and take it inside the cell. In those who are insulin resistant the GLUT-4 transporters don’t get the message.They can’t hear the knock of the insulin on the door.

Fact: The pancreas responds by churning out more and still more insulin…the knock becomes louder and louder on the door of the cells. The levels of glucose as well as the levels of insulin in the blood rise, sometimes significantly. In the earlier stages of insulin resistance the message eventually gets heard, and the glucose is let in this is called compensated insulin resistance.
It is called “compensated” because the pancreas responded by producing more insulin, and glucose levels eventually normalized. However, with the passage of time the pancreas is worn out by this over production glucose levels remain elevated for prolonged periods; this is identified as uncompensated insulin resistance, and is “the essence of advanced type 2 diabetes.”

Uncontrolled Diabetes Can Cause: Blindness: (#1 cause in of blindness in people 20-74), Kidney Failure diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure) Nerve Damage: (diabetic neuropathy effects 60-70 percent of all diabetics; nerve damage may also impair digestion and sexual function, especially in men, it may also cause a number of other complications.

Amputations: (Over 56,000 amputations are performed annually. In 2004, about 71,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes. Heart disease and stroke: (Heart disease and stroke account for about 65% of deaths in people with diabetes. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher and the risk of death from stroke is 2.8 times higher among people with diabetes). There are many other complications as well.

7 Herbs That All Diabetics Should Know About

The herbal aspect is only one aspect of a total program which includes lifestyle and eating habit changes. However the herbal element must not be overlooked. There are more than just seven herbs that are helpful but these are some of the good ones:

• Licorice: Acts like the hormone cortin and helps the blood sugar. Maybe the best single herb that you can take for this condition. Increases the effectiveness of glucocorticoids (adrenal hormones) circulating in the liver and mimics the action of those hormones. Eating this herb helping prevents the destruction of the pancreas.
• Bilberry: Helps control insulin levels, and helps with diabetic retinopathy.
  
• Wild Yam: Helps control insulin levels.
  
• Cedar Berries: Helps rebuild and rejuvenate the pancreas.
  
• Ginger Root: Works indirectly to the availability of dietary nutrients necessary for digestion and metabolism.
  
• Fenugreek: The seeds have been shown to lower blood sugar.
  
• Golden Seal: Golden seal has the ability to lower bleed sugar. Once in the blood stream it can also regulate liver functions.
  

In my herbal practice and ministry I am encountering more and more people that need help with diabetes. Diabetes has been, and can be reversed naturally…by combing lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, a herbal program, and maybe even some supplements.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20.

Keith Henry is DIrector of Phase 3 Ministries located in Orlando, Fl. He is a medical missionary herbalist and a Naturopatheic Doctor (Traditional).

Any claims made about specific products or remedies, have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided herein is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. As such, you should not substitute this information for medical diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.