Diabetes mellitus type 2 is an excess of blood sugar that your body cannot use because of an increased resistance of insulin on your cells receptors. Basically, your cells have become tired of all the insulin that it’s constantly been bombarded with and is just not going to deal with it anymore, therefore starving your cells of glucose (“blood sugar”).

The extra blood sugar that is floating around in your arteries causes oxidative stress to your blood vessels and other cells^1,2. Repeated oxidative stress causes damage to your cholesterol  molecules (lipid peroxidation) making them more unstable and possibly disease causing.

Research studies have shown higher levels of oxidized cholesterol molecules, most interestingly OxLDL, are found in higher amounts in diabetics than healthy controls³. The same study monitored the OxLDL numbers as these patients went through a 3 month course of glucose-lowering treatment. After the duration of therapy, the participants (both men and women) equally decreased their levels of OxLDL³. This indicates that decreasing your blood glucose level and thus lowering your oxidative stress can prevent damage to your blood vessels, keeping your heart free of disease!

There are many natural ways you can regulate your blood sugar levels. Two well researched ways include:

Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) supplementation over 12 weeks was shown to increase insulin secretion and decrease insulin sensitivity.⁴

Chromium has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity on the cell receptors and enhances enzyme activity which increases the amount of glucose the cell can take up.⁴

References:

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15650413
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3632026/
3. Nakhjavani M, Morteza A, Meysamie A, et al. Serum heat shock protein 70 and oxidized LDL in patients with type 2 diabetes: does sex matter? Cell Stress and Chaperones. 2010;16(2):195-201. doi:10.1007/s12192-010-0232-8.
4. Heer M, Egert S. Nutrients other than carbohydrates: their effects on glucose homeostasis in humans. Diabetes/Metabolism Research & Reviews [serial online]. January 2015;31(1):14. Available from: Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File, Ipswich, MA. Accessed August 18, 2016.

Dr. Cassie Wilder

Dr. Cassie Wilder is a registered Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) and founder of MIMC. Her passion is empowering her patients through education, understanding, and support through their healing journey. After graduating from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and Health, Dr. Wilder earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, a fully accredited and nationally recognized institution in Phoenix, AZ. During her clinical training, she received extensive hands-on training with many leading experts in the field of functional medicine and developed a passion for treating hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular concerns, and adrenal fatigue.