WELL BEING
Supplement those drugs
DR HIRAMALINI SESHADRI
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Simple things that you can do at home to help manage your health better.
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One in three to four urban Indians is diabetic. Most people are upset because this means becoming a patient lifelong. And then the doctor orders tests to check eyes, heart, kidney function, blood flow to the limbs, nerves functioning ... When they ask why, they are told that there could be other complications. Naturally, as can be expected, the diagnosis of diabetes itself drives many into depression.
Ideally, seven steps — diet, supplements, exercise, proper sleep, a positive attitude, being right weight and getting out of addictions like smoking — should be the first steps to treatment. But more often than not, these areas seldom get the priority they deserve and anti-diabetic drugs and/or insulin become the mainstay of treatment.
Invariably therefore, complications set in; and we have queues for laser eye treatment, cardiac by-pass surgery and so on. However, the good news is that those who follow the lifestyle changes and take supplements not only see better sugar control but also fewer complications too.
Natural ones
A few dietary supplements merit mention. Soy isoflavones contain genistein that improve natural insulin secretion; they also help reduce abdominal fat. Both have a salutary effect in diabetics. Allicin, an extract from garlic, has been researched extensively in the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Its lipid and blood sugar lowering effects make it a good supplement for diabetics; added benefits are its antimicrobial action and anticancer action.
Green tea is another wonderful supplement. Epicatechin from green tea and other sources can help prevent or delay kidney complications in diabetics. They also reduce stroke and cardiac risk, correct LDL-HDL ratio, reduce abdominal fat by increasing levels of adiponectin. A further bonus is a reduced risk of poor memory-related problems. When combined with theaflavins, again derived from green tea, these effects are more marked.
Anti-oxidants are another group of supplements present in vegetables and fruits that prevent oxidative damage, which can otherwise cause retinal problems, atherosclerosis etc. Omega-3 fatty acids are also helpful in lowering blood fats, preventing ischemic heart problems and strokes besides improving bone, joint and skin health and boosting immunity.
Benefits
Depending on affordability, time challenges, whether one eats at home or outside, whether one has a touring job, one can opt for marketed supplements or try to consciously ensure adequate natural sources in diet. One benefit is that invariably one is able to manage with a smaller dose of drugs. Besides, unlike with drugs, with these natural foods, there is no risk of side effects.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So if you are diabetic, take your medicines exactly as your doctor advised. But try supplementing your diet with these simple ingredients along with the lifestyle changes recommended. Have a check up, say, six months down the line and you may well find cause to celebrate.
The writer is a Senior Consultant, Holistic Internal Medicine and Rheumatology based in Chennai. E-mail: hiramalini@yahoo.com
Try these
Soy isoflavones contain genistein that improves natural insulin secretion
Allicin, an extract from garlic, has lipid and blood sugar lowering effects
Epicatechin from green tea can prevent or delay kidney complications in diabetics.
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