Type 1 Diabetes

The prevalence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing over the years and is now approximately 0.2% of U.S. youth.¹ Symptoms of type 1 diabetes may include:

• Very thirsty
• Frequent urination
• Lethargic or drowsy
• Difficulty thinking
• Labored breathing
• Sweet odor on breath
• Increased appetite
• Vision changes

As with all the other autoimmune diseases, the exact cause of type 1 diabetes has not been found. Observations made around the world by investigators have discovered that a number of factors besides genetics are associated with a higher risk of developing this disease, such as early childhood introduction of cow’s milk in the diet, C-section delivery, preeclampsia in the mother, viral infections during pregnancy or in the child after birth, increased birth weight, and increased rate of growth after birth.² These observations strongly suggest that the health of the mother as well as the diet of the young child are very important factors. Adopting a Nutritarian lifestyle as a pregnant mother or as a young child may be protective, and for those already with type 1 diabetes, a Nutritarian eating style will help lower insulin requirements significantly.

Diet

Prevention is important, and a Nutritarian eating style adopted before and during pregnancy may be helpful at lowering the risk of having a child with type 1 diabetes. Also, although not conclusive, avoiding childhood dairy intake may be protective.

A Nutritarian eating style is critically important for a Type 1 diabetic because it can not only lower their need for insulin, preventing highs and lows, but reduce the later life complications of diabetes that occur from more conventional eating which requires the excessive use of insulin. It is not only the high glucose levels that increase later life complications and heart disease but also the overuse of insulin in Type 1 diabetics is lifespan unfavorable and increases risk of both heart disease and cancer. My contention is that a Nutritarian diet will allow a type one diabetic to live a long healthy life without the morbidity and premature death resulting from conventional eating patterns. I have cared for hundreds of type 1 diabetics over the years, and the results have been rewarding and lifesaving.

I also have had the rewarding opportunity to work with young children right after the initial diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and some of these children were able to make complete recoveries of their type 1 diabetes with superior nutrition.

In general, a Nutritarian eating style drops blood glucose much lower, which allows for less than half the typical insulin dosing for the average person with type 1 diabetes. Small adjustments may be considered to help lower the glucose even more such as:

• Limit dried fruits, very sweet fruits such as tropical fruits
• Limit the overall daily intake of fruit to 2-3 servings, making berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc.) the primary fruit choice

• Reduce all flour and potato intake, and eat more legumes (especially beans), nuts, and seeds in their place. Beans have been shown to provide health advantages over whole grains in diabetes, and nuts provide healthy fats and are very low-glycemic calorie source.^{1, 2} Intact whole grains such as wheat berries, steel cut oats and quinoa are preferred, even over whole grain flours.

• Combine your higher glycemic foods ( fruit, etc.) with raw vegetables (such as a salad) at the same meal
• Meal plan: Diabetes Reversal

Supplements

• Dr. Fuhrman’s general supplement protocol for adults (see Vitamin Advisor for details) includes:
  • Multivitamin (without beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, copper), such as Women’s Daily Formula +D3,  Men’s Daily Formula +D3, or Gentle Care Formula.
  • Omega-3 DHA and EPA, such as DHA+EPA Purity.
• If blood glucose is not controlled well, many with diabetes may benefit from extra supplementation with certain nutrients. Talk with your doctor to see if these or other supplements are appropriate for you:
  • Thiamin and chromium: People with diabetes are at risk of low thiamin (vitamin B1) and chromium levels, and additional supplementation may be appropriate.
  • Cinnamon: Many human trials have suggested that cinnamon powder or supplemental cinnamon extract can support healthy blood glucose levels.^{3, 4} Discuss taking purified cinnamon extract with your doctor, as it may require an adjustment medication.⁵
  • Green tea extract: A meta-analysis of 17 trials using green tea extract as a supplement concluded that green tea extract reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c (a long-term indicator of blood glucose levels).⁶
  • Aloe vera gel: In people with either diabetes or prediabetes, supplementing with aloe vera gel powder resulted in decreases in fasting blood glucose.⁷
  • White mulberry leaf, banaba leaf, gymnema leaf, and fenugreek seed phytochemicals may also be helpful, according to preliminary studies ^8-11

Exercise

Exercise daily, even multiple times a day, as a strategy to lower blood glucose, such as after meals. Be sure to carefully calculate your lowered requirement of insulin as you adopt higher levels of exercising.

Read

The End of Diabetes contains the scientific information and full program to most effectively enable you to treat your type 1 diabetes, prevent complications, and reduce the amount of insulin you require.

Other Considerations

It is very important that you work with your doctor as you make changes to your diet, as medication adjustments may be necessary. For example, blood glucose levels may go down too low while eating a low-glycemic Nutritarian diet, which would require lower doses of insulin.