Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (98 page)

People with type 1.5 diabetes have anti-insulin antibodies and are typically obese and insulin resistant.

Type 3 diabetes occurs when people have insulin resistance in the brain. Insulin is probably the most inflammatory molecule in our bodies. When insulin levels increase in the brain, we have accelerated oxidative stress, nerve damage, cell damage, and early death. This can cause memory loss as well. There is a growing body of research that calls Alzheimer’s disease “insulin resistance in the brain.”

Certainly do all of the regular medical testing for diabetes, including fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels.

Blood sugar levels: Buy a glucose monitor and monitor your blood sugars daily or more often.

One- and two-hour postprandial insulin testing: This is done one or two hours after a high-carbohydrate meal or with a glucose drink.

Anti-insulin antibodies test.

Salivary cortisol: Cortisol levels are often high in diabetes.

Vitamin and mineral assessments, especially B-complex vitamins, RBC zinc, magnesium, and antioxidant status.

First morning urine pH testing.

Food sensitivity testing.

Celiac testing.

If you are taking medication for your diabetes, it is critical to use it
consistently and exactly as prescribed
. If you need an insulin pump, you’ll need specific instructions on its use from your physician or diabetes educator.

Historically, people worldwide have used various natural remedies to control blood sugar levels: glucomannan fiber, young barley shoots, prickly pear cactus juice, fenugreek—the list is long. As we integrate this sort of information, many more options may become available. You can find many of the herbs and nutrients in the following list in products that combine them to help with glucose regulation.

Buy a glucose monitor.
Monitoring your glucose levels is essential. Keeping your glucose levels normalized and having a hemoglobin A1c level below 7 will help to prevent much of the damage caused by high insulin levels.

If you are overweight, normalize your weight.
Obesity puts an enormous burden on the body. Losing weight can go a long way toward normalizing insulin and glucose levels.