Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.
There are three major types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed when they are older than age 20. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It makes up most of diabetes cases. It usually occurs in adulthood, but young people are increasingly being diagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin.
Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise. Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes.
The immediate goals are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. Because type 1 diabetes can start suddenly and have severe symptoms, people who are newly diagnosed may need to go to the hospital.
The long-term goals of treatment are to:
Prevent diabetes-related complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs
These goals are accomplished through:
Careful self testing of blood glucose levels
Meal planning and weight control
Medication or insulin use
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Several CAM treatments have been used for diabetes, but the ones with the best evidence behind them are:
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)—this can include acupuncture, herbs, or bodywork to stimulate the body's energy ("chi") and lower blood glucose. Dozens of studies of TCM (mostly the use of herbs) showing benefit for diabetes have been published in China, but most Western docs aren't aware of them. You can read about some of these studies here.
Herbal medicines—in addition to Chinese herbal medicine, six or more Western and Ayurvedic (Indian) herbs have shown benefits in various studies. I'll post another blog entry about herbs later on.
Other CAM treatments may not lower blood glucose, but may help with symptoms and complications of diabetes:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) helps wounds heal. HBOT has greatly reduced the rate of foot amputations in several studies, such as this one. Yet it's rarely used.
Aromatherapy (sometimes called essential oils therapy or flower essence therapy) can help reduce stress symptoms and improve sleep.
Chiropractic and massage therapies can help reduce pain and improve mobility.