Diabetic Neuropathy & Retinopathy
Diabetes is becoming much more common in our culture today, most probably because of the increased (and still increasing) amounts of processed foods and sugar intake.
There are two very serious side-effects to diabetes, or rather to poor control of the blood sugar (glucose). Neuropathy, and Retinopathy. Of these, neuropathy is worse, simply because it can cause death. It does this by "clotting", or more accurately "clumping" of red heme cells in the blood. This clumping affects the red blood cells ability to get thru the very small and thin capillaries. This leads to a lack of oxygen in these cells. This in turn leads to loss of nerve cells (feeling) hence the name "neuropathy" (nerve death).
One answer is better control of glucose. But, this is never easy, as who among us doesn't "cheat" with a bit of sweet. The most careful man I ever knew recently found that he was in serious trouble, and he hadn't even known it. My late wife tooks her glucose level four times a day, and she still has problems with glucose control, varying from too low to too high.
The problem is further complicated by drugs invented by Big Pharma companies that are not safe. An example is Avandia, a controversial diabetes medicine. The New York Times reported February 19, 2010 on government reports that 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failures were caused by Avandia. One such report from two FDA researchers stated that Avandia should be removed from the market. But because the FDA is still controlled by Big Pharma, and Avandia is profitable, the attitude still is "to hell with the public".
When my wife and I met, some 25 years before her death (by medical malpractice in 2010), she had been an insulin dependent (Type I) diabetic for 8 years, and had already developed some serious neuropathy on her right foot and right hand. There was a spot about the size of a silver dollar on her right foot that was completely numb, and partial numbness extended up to just above her ankle. On her right hand, the numbness was in the first joint of her index finger and thumb, and partial numbness back to her wrist.
I recommended the vitamin/mineral regime to her, with the addition of 1200 IU of vitamin E. She started it immediately. Six months later, the numbness was nearly gone, and at her death, while she had "numbness" in her feet, she was in no danger of amputation. This is not the "usual" experience of diabetics, as they often go from where she was to infections becoming gangrenous, and amputation is the only "cure" at that point.
She also noticed that her hair had two distinctly different appearances. As her hair grew out, it was shown by a clear line just where the vitamin mineral regime had started. The "new" hair growing out was glossy and looked very healthy. The older hair was dull, and didn't look nearly as good. At death, 25+ years later, she was much better than she would have been not taking the vitamin regimen. She would have possibly died several years earlier (if she hadn't married her "doctor".
Why the 1200-1600 IU of vitamin E? If you read my book "The Health Revolution", you will find that vitamin E helps to "unclump" the red heme cells, as well as being a strong antioxidant and doing lots of other things vital to good health.
I became a Type II diabetic in 1999, and it started with poor feeling in my feet. It was controlled until 2009 by Metformin pills. I switched to pure insulin in 2009 when I found out that Metformin can cause liver damage used for long periods. The neuropathy I experienced initially was mostly reversed, and I had fair feelings in my feet. I had been taking smaller amounts of vitamin E, and with uncontrolled glucose, it took me a while to realize that I even had diabetes. It's all too easy to just blame "older age".
Retinopathy affects the vision. Because of the glucose being too high in the blood, it affects the tiny capillaries that feed cells and nerves in the eye in somewhat the same way as neuropathy. It can destroy the retina and eye nerves. Before laser surgery it all too often resulted in blindness for diabetics. But, it also seems to be affected positively (for the patient) by the vitamin/mineral regime recommended. Many diabetic persons who have tried the regime have reported less vision problems, including my late wife.
There's a good minimal supplement program at Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Add 1200 IU of vitamin E, and 4000 IU of vitamin D3 to that for diabetics.
One other major effect of the vitamin/mineral regime recommended in my book, and outlined on the vitamin/mineral page listed above is that with this regime, infections seem to clear up quickly, not the usual case with diabetes. I do not know if this is due solely to the vitamins C and E or to a synergistic effect of all the vitamins, but it seems to work for all the diabetics that I have recommended it to. Seems like pretty good (and relatively cheap) insurance to me. If you are diabetic, look into it carefully. It could save your life or limb.
In addition to all the above, I've recently come across a formula for making one of the most effective antibiotics ever - colloidal silver. While it should be used with caution internally (as with all antibiotics), it seems to be very effective for keeping cuts and abrasions free of bacterial infection even where neuropathy is present. This can also be of use in preventing gangrene. For instructions on how to make this very effective antibiotic cheaply Antibiotics
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