Bitter Melon (Kakarakaaya)

Another popular suggestion was to frequently consume bitter melon, also know as Bitter Gourd / Karela / Kakarakaaya.

Suggested remedies:

•     Take at least one tablespoon of karela juice as the first item in the morning 
•     Eat this vegetable as part of your daily meal
•     Take the juice of three or four bitter gourds daily in between meals for positive results.

Side effects: High dose leads to gastrointestinal discomfort.

Scientific name: Momordica charantia

Scientific reason to cure diabetes:

Compounds present in Bitter Melon, such as vicine, peptides, and polypeptide-p (plant insulin), work together to give Bitter Melon its potency.

The way it controls sugar is two-fold.

First, Bitter Melon acts as a mediator between the body's cells and insulin already produced by the pancreas. Type II Diabetics and most people with high blood glucose levels still produce insulin, but in many cases their bodies have become resistant to it. Bitter Melon blocks the formation of glucose in the bloodstream and breaks down the barrier that prevents cells from using their own natural insulin.

Second, this anti-diabetic supplement has been shown to help increase production of beta cells by the pancreas, thereby improving the body's ability to produce and release insulin, while at the same time it may increase the number and activity of insulin receptors.

Its proven in many scientific investigations that Bitter Melon can improve glucose tolerance and help the body process blood sugars it has become the most widely used traditional remedy for Diabetes. More importantly, this supplement is believed safe and effective in part because it is grown and produced naturally, with no artificial additives or preservatives.

Bitter Melon Produces Sweet Results For Diabetes
Bitter melon contains four bioactive components. These four compounds all appear to activate the enzyme AMPK, a protein well known for regulating fuel metabolism and enabling glucose uptake.

People with Type 2 diabetes have an impaired ability to convert the sugar in their blood into energy in their muscles. This is partly because they don't produce enough insulin, and partly because their fat and muscle cells don't use insulin effectively, a phenomenon known as 'insulin resistance'.

Exercise activates AMPK in muscle, which in turn mediates the movement of glucose transporters to the cell surface, a very important step in the uptake of glucose from the circulation into tissues in the body. This is a major reason that exercise is recommended as part of the normal treatment program for someone with Type 2 diabetes.

The four compounds isolated in bitter melon perform a very similar action to that of exercise, in that they activate AMPK.

There are well known diabetes drugs on the market that also activate AMPK, they can have side effects. The advantage of bitter melon is that there are no known side effects.
The results are published online March 27, 2008 in the international journal Chemistry & Biology.

Nutritional Benefits

Bitter gourds are very low in calories but dense with precious nutrients.  It is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, C, magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and has high dietary fiber.  It is rich in iron, contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and twice the potassium of a banana.

Additionally, the department of Health in the Philippines has recommended Bitter Melon as one of the best herbal medicines for treating diabetes.

Health Canada recommends Bitter Melon as a unique new fruit to try for good nutrition on their website under "Treat Your Taste Buds"- "Choosing Vegetables and Fruits"

Fenugreek (Methi) Seeds

As I mentioned in my last post, most popularly suggested remedy to treat diabetes is to use the Fenugreek / Methi seeds / Menthulu and it’s by products.

Suggested remedies:

• Take a table spoon of raw Fenugreek seeds, three times a day with meals.
• Take 2 table spoons of raw Fenugreek seeds along with water as soon as you wake up. Alternatively you can take it with yogurt/curd as well.
• Mix 2 table spoons of Fenugreek seed powder mixed with yogurt/curd and eat it as the first item in the morning.
• Soak 2 table spoons of raw Fenugreek seeds overnight and eat it as the first item in the morning.

Side effects: High dose my cause mild digestive distress.

Scientific name: Trigonella foenum-graecum

Scientific reason to cure diabetes:

The chemical compounds found in fenugreek have the ability to aid the digestive process. Consequently, when taken with meals it is believed that fenugreek is able to slow down the rate at which sugars are absorbed into the body, whereby regulating blood sugar levels. Additionally, studies indicate that 4-hydroxyisoleucine (an amino acid) found in fenugreek may induce or promote the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are elevated. The mechanism is thought to delay gastric emptying, slow carbohydrate absorption and inhibit glucose transport.

Several human intervention trials demonstrated that the anti-diabetic effects of fenugreek seeds ameliorate most metabolic symptoms associated with type-1 and type-2 diabetes in both humans and relevant animal models by reducing serum glucose and improving glucose tolerance. Supplements of fenugreek seeds were shown to lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride.

Fenugreek is currently available commercially in encapsulated forms and is being prescribed as dietary supplements for the control of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes by practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine. There are quite a few fenugreek extract powder (4 - Hydroxyisoleucine) capsule in the market these days.

My Diabetic journey so far

When I diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 8 years ago, I couldn't believe my self because I did not have any genetic background. I did the test again next day. There were no changes in results.

My Dr. prescribed the Metformin for me. I was little hesitant to start the medication, but the Dr. insisted that just use for a short period to get the blood sugar levels in control and suggested to attend the diabetic informative classes and suggested to know more about it.

I purchased LifeScan's OneTouch Ultra meter. It was awful to poke my fingers three times a day to check the blood sugar levels. This meter works great, simple to use, get the results within seconds and reliable. Touch wood, the meter works great even after 8 years of service. I highly recommend this for those who want to monitor their blood sugar levels at home.

It’s hard to digest having diabetes as a matter of fact hard to digest any health conditions. On top of it, medications and its side effects caused lot of discomfort (Metformin's common side effects gastrointestinal upset, cramps and nausea). In addition to the my medication, I started avoiding direct sugars, deserts, fruits and most importantly start going to the gym. Soon, my sugar levels started to be in control and eventually my body got used to Metformin and its side effect.

After year or so, when I did my scheduled lab test, my Dr. notified me that I have high cholesterol too and started medication for that as well. After discussing it with my Dr., I felt it like a ‘buy on get one free’ sale. Once diagnosed with diabetes, soon it will be followed by cholesterol.

I noticed that for a common person the LDL should be between 100 and 129, whereas for a person with diabetes the LDL should be below 100 because the diabetic patients are considered high risk of heart deceases.

I totally frustrated with my diabetic and cholesterol medications, so discussed the issue with extended families and friends. Every one suggested various remedies (which I am going to discuss here in my upcoming posts). Most popularly suggested remedy was to use the Fenugreek / Methi seeds / Menthulu and it’s by products.

I tried each and every remedy one after the other. I observed the best things that I liked and the things that are suited to my body. Now I follow mix and match of the ingredients I like the best and change the pattern when I get bored. It seems to working fine form me. BTW, remedies I am talking are nothing but food habits with those special ingredients.

Now my blood glucose levels are in control with life style changes (without any medications, but by just following proper diet and exercise). I still use the OneTouch meter to check levels once a week and do the lab tests once every three months.

Thanks to my wife who takes care of me and insist on a proper diet and workout for me, without her help, I couldn’t have done it.