Medications for Diabetes - Alternative Therapies

Alternative Therapies

People with chronic conditions often try alternative therapies, treatments that are considered to be outside the mainstream of medical practice. A study of diabetes educators in the western states found that nearly two-thirds recommend alternative therapies for their patients with diabetes. In addition to activity, diet, and self-help groups, those most often recommended were laughter and humor, relaxation therapy, prayer, imagery and visualization, meditation, massage, and music therapy. Megavitamin therapy was also recommended.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has published the following positions about alternative therapies used by diabetic patients:

Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief from chronic pain and is sometimes used by people suffering from diabetic nerve damage.

Biofeedback emphasizes relaxation and stress-reduction techniques to help people learn to deal with the body’s response to pain.

Guided imagery is a relaxation technique in which a person thinks of peaceful images or images that foster a sense of control over diabetes.

Herbs and MineralsHerbal and mineral products that are sometimes recommended:

• Chromium has been reported to improve diabetes control by enhancing production of glucose tolerance factor, which helps improve the activity of insulin.
• Magnesium is often recommended, since a deficiency of this mineral may hamper blood glucose control. Scientists believe that a magnesium deficiency interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin resistance. There is also evidence that such a deficiency may contribute to some diabetes complications.
• Vanadium, which is found in plants and animals, has been shown to normalize blood glucose levels in animals with diabetes. In a human study, people who took vanadium developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and were able to decrease their insulin requirements. However, vanadium, which is taken in the form of Vanadyl Sulfate, is toxic to the liver. The problem is that the optimum dose to take that is both safe and effective is not known.

Research into these and other compounds is under way to help determine how they work in the body to affect glucose control and also to established safe dosages and discover any side effects. None of these claims have been approved by the FDA.
If you are taking these or other dietary supplements, it is very important that you tell your healthcare provider.