Diabetic Studies References Link Directly to Pubmed Abstracts

1.  Bioflavonoids, especially those from bilberry and grape seed extracts, as well as pine bark based pycnogenol, were found to normalize blood vessel permeability and reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic patients, and not only significantly reduced the risk of diabetic retinopathy, but actually improved retinal health in 79% of the patients who took them.  Urios, P., et al. Eur J Nutr. 2007 Apr;46(3):139-46. Epub 2007 Mar 13  Valenci, et al. Diabet Med 1996 Oct;13(10):882-8.  Detre, et al. Clin Physiol Biochem 1986;4(2):143-9  Pinent M, et al. Endocrinology. 2004 Nov;145(11):4985-90. Epub 2004 Jul 22  Zhang, FL, et al. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006 Aug;48(2):47-53.   2.  Pycnogenol, one of a class of nutrients called OPC's known to improve capillary resistance and reduce leakages into the retina, was tested in five clinical trials with 1289 patients.  In all of the studies Pycnogenol was effective at reducing progression of diabetic retinopathy and often improved angiographic findings and visual acuity.   Schonlau F, Rohdewald P.  Int Ophthalmol. 2001;24(3):161-71. Spadea L., Balestrazzi E.  Phytotherapy Research  Vol 15, Issue 3 , Pages 219 - 223, 8 May 2001  Cesarone MR, et al.  Angiology. 2006 Aug-Sep;57(4):431-6   3.  High ORAC (antioxidant capacity) mixed berries were found to be potent inhibitors of angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) by reducing VEGF expression, which is the same mechanism of action of the new drugs Lucentis and Avastin.  (This study suggests that a simple dietary supplement may be effective, instead of requiring regular injections into the eye!)  Roy, et al. Free Radic Res. 2002 Sep;36(9):1023-31  4.  Several studies showed that American Ginseng stimulates insulin production, reduces pancreatic beta cell loss and helps control of Type II diabetes.  It can also help to reduce obesity.   Xie JT, et al.  Pharmacol Res. 2004 Feb;49(2):113-7   Luo JZ, Luo L Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006 Sep;3(3):365-72   Xie JT, et al. Am J Chin Med. 2002;30(2-3):187-94  Vuksan V, et al., Arch Intern Med 2000 Apr 10;160(7):1009-13 5.  In one study all 38 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes were required to lower their insulin dose to avoid hypoglycemia after taking  200mg of Gymnema Sylvestre extract twice daily.   In another study Type II diabetics taking it had better control, and 23% were able to discontinue medications altogether.  This study indicates that gymnema may help to regenerate some damaged insulin-producing beta cells.  Shanmugasundaram ER, et al. J Ethnopharmacol 1990 Oct;30(3):281-94   Baskaran K, et al.   J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct;30(3):295-300 6.  Alpha Lipoic Acid significantly reduces diabetic cataract formation and neuropathy, and would seem to be an ideal neuroprotective substance in the treatment of all oxidative brain and neural disorders involving free radical processes.  It also increases insulin sensitivity in Type II diabetics.  Packer, L., Ann N Y Acad Sci 1994 Nov 17;738:257-64  Packer, L. Free Radic Biol Med 1997;22(1-2):359-78   Kamenova P., Hormones (Athens). 2006 Oct-Dec;5(4):251-8  7.  73% of type I and II diabetics who took niacin-bound chromium (esp. nicotinate, polynicotinate or picolinate) and biotin supplements improved glucose tolerance and reduced their requirement for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.  This type of chromium also reduces the vascular inflammation which leads to diabetic complications and improves blood lipid levels.    Singer GM, Geohas J.  Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 Dec;8(6):636-43   Balk, E. et al. Diabetes Care. 2007 May 22    Broadhurst, CL, et al. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 Dec;8(6):677-87    Tuvemo, T. Pediatrician 1983-85;12(4):213-9    Jain, et al.  Free Radic Biol Med. 2007 Oct 15;43(8):1124-31. Epub 2007 May 18.  8.  Chromium, magnesium, glucomannan (a soluble fiber) and vanadium lessen the risk for macrovascular disease (retinopathy) and reduce blood sugar fluctuations in diabetics.  Vanadium mimics the action of insulin to lower blood sugar.  McCarty, Med Hypotheses 1997 Aug;49(2):143-52.  McCarty, MF, Med Hypotheses. 2002 Jun;58(6):487-90.   Diabetes 1978 Nov;27(11):1075-7  Beliaeva NF, et al Vopr Med Khim. 2000 Jul-Aug;46(4):344-60 9.  Supplements containing DHA and EPA from omega 3 fish oils not only help prevent Type 2 diabetes and reduce death rates from it, it may prevent choroidal neovascularization (which may lower the risk of blindness from diabetes) and lowers C Reactive Protein, which is implicated in heart disease.  Barre, DE, J Oleo Sci. 2007;56(7):319-25.  Koto, T., et. al.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Sep;48(9):4328-34 10.  Low serum levels of carotenoids were associated with increased risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes.  Long term dosage of multiple antioxidants were found to inhibit early stages of diabetic retinopathy.   Ford, et al. Am J Epidemiol 1999 Jan 15;149(2):168-76   Kowluru RA, et al.  Diabetes 2001 Aug;50(8):1938-42

Diabetes is practically epidemic today in the U.S., with 1.5 million new cases diagnosed each year in people over age 20.  Worldwide, it is a leading cause of death and blindness.  The studies above are but a few of the hundreds of studies showing that diabetics may be helped by nutritional intervention.   A combination of diet, regular exercise and nutritional supplementation should significantly improve your chances of maintaining your eyesight and health by reducing diabetic complications. One caveat: taking the nutrients in the study may (hopefully!) result in the need for less medication to control blood sugar, so be sure to check with your physician and monitor blood sugar carefully the first week!  It is also important to consistently take your supplements, just as one would take medications, to reduce blood sugar fluctuations.  (One reason blood sugar drops unexpectedly in some diabetics is that they occasionally consume foods containing these nutrients, which temporarily improves their insulin sensitivity.)  Please share these studies with your friends, family and doctor who, of course, should be consulted before instituting nutritional support for medical conditions. The supplements in the above studies may be purchased at most local healthfood stores, but it can be overwhelming to decide between hundreds of products.  Beware of cheap, less potent products that are sold in box stores.  Many people cannot digest pills well enough to break them down, much less absorb the nutrients. For optimum absorption we recommend a new form of nutrients which helps assure maximum bioavailability.  Isotonic-capable vitamins match the osmolarity of the body's fluids and tissues.  When mixed with water, they are taken on an empty stomach where they bypass the digestive processes, and promptly empty into the small intestine for much more efficient absorption. Statements on this page have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your physician before taking nutritional supplements, but be sure he is aware of the legitimate studies on this page.

After Careful Investigation of Products on the Market, we Recommend the Following for Diabetic Support: These brands are not available in stores, if you would prefer to purchase these items from your own doctor, please email us his name, address and phone number (eyedoc @ bellsouth.net) ADVANCED LEVEL 90:  Contains, in a 3 capsule daily dose, Gymnema sylvestre (400mg), alpha-lipoic acid (600mg), Chromium nicotinate (200mcg), Magnesium (200mg), Vanadium chelate (45mcg), American Ginseng (100mg), Glucomannan (1200mg), zinc and biotin.   Recommended Serving:  Consult The Doctor Who Referred You Here. To Read More About This Product,  Click Here and then the "Blood Sugar Maintenance" tab ISOTONIC MAXIMUM ORAC FORMULA:  An isotonic-capable  antioxidant formula with over 3000 ORAC units per dose, including 650mg of extracts from blueberry, elderberry and cranberry, plus vitamin C, E, and selenium.  Recommended Serving:  Consult The Doctor Who Referred You Here. To Read More About This Product,  Click Here and then the "Antioxidants" tab HEART HEALTH Essential Omega III:  The most potent Omega 3 formula on the market, two capsules a day provides 900mg of EPA and 600mg of DHA.   Recommended Serving:  Consult The Doctor Who Referred You Here. To Read More About This Product, Click Here and then the "Heart Health" tab We recommend ordering a three month supply of the above products to determine if they work for you and requesting AutoShipments every 3 months to save money on shipping/handling charges and assure you don't run out prematurely.