Diabetes is an epidemic, it is a disease we have probably all heard of, and perhaps know someone who is diabetic.

Commonly known as diabetes, the full name is actually “diabetes mellitus”.  The word “diabetes” is derived from Greek to mean “that which passes through”, while “mellitus” has its origin from Latin to mean “honey”.  In other words, sugar “passes through” (or cannot be utilized by) a diabetic.

Essentially, diabetes is a condition in which metabolism of carbohydrates is problematic. After ingestion, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose which is then transported by the blood stream from the intestines to the rest of the body. Upon entry into cells, glucose undergoes a series of biochemical reactions, collectively known as glycolysis, to produce pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid is then sent into the mitochondria (the “power plants” of cells) to provide us with energy.

The entry of glucose into cells is controlled by a hormone called insulin. The presence of glucose in the blood stream triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas, signaling the cells to take it up.

With diabetes, one of two things can occur: either the pancreas does not secrete insulin (type I diabetes), or the cells do not respond to the insulin that is secreted (type II diabetes). The majority of diabetes cases are type II, which generally develops after the age of 40. Type I diabetes is often referred to congenital or juvenile diabetes, which is not the focus of this article.

The reason it is important to understand diabetes is because if it is left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications such as amputation, blindness and kidney failure.

Who is at risk of developing diabetes?

Diabetes is often associated with obesity and high blood pressure.  Having either one of these conditions predisposes you to diabetes, and having both would increase this risk even further. The good news is that obesity and high blood pressure are both preventable (in most cases) through a healthy lifestyle.

The predisposition to developing diabetes also has a genetic component. If one or both of your parents or grandparents is/are diabetic, then you have a greater chance of becoming diabetic. That being said, it is important to note that genetics are heavily influenced by environmental factors. Thus lifestyle is the key determinant of whether one actually develops this condition.

Signs and Symptoms of diabetes

Diabetes can have a number of different symptoms such as excessive thirst or hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue and irritability.  In the early stages it may not present any symptoms at all; this is why it is important to understand the risk factors and regularly screen for this condition.

Diagnosis of diabetes

The diagnosis of diabetes is a simple blood test, known as the fasting glucose test.  This test simply measures the concentration of glucose in the blood after a 12 hour fast.  A normal reading would be equal to or less than 7mmol/dL; so a value above 7mmol/dL would categorize one to be diabetic.

Prevention of diabetes

The key preventative measure against diabetes is healthy lifestyle – well balanced diet, regular exercise and good stress management.

Diet

The most important dietary focus on diabetes prevention is carbohydrates.  The goal is to slow down the release of glucose into the blood stream.  This way, the pancreas is not overwhelmed by a sudden, extreme increase of blood glucose concentration (or sugar spike).  The following are two rules of thumb to follow:

1) Choose complex carbohydrates over simple ones.

Complex Carbohydrates are minimally processed, or whole grains (brown rice, Kamut, Barley, steel cut oats etc.). The less processed a grain is, the more time it requires to be broken down by our digestive system.  Simple carbohydrates are those that have been extensively processed.  These include: white flour, rice flour, instant oats etc., which should be avoided as much as possible.

2) Combine carbohydrates with fibres, fats and/or proteins.

Fibres, fats and proteins, compared to carbohydrates, require more time to digest. By combining these groups with carbohydrates, we slow down the digestion of the meal to sustain a steady and slow increase of blood glucose.

Exercise

Type II diabetes results from a decrease of sensitivity of cells to insulin; exercise increases cells’ sensitivity to insulin.  Exercise also helps to achieve, as well as maintain, a healthy body weight, decreases cholesterol and decreases blood pressure.

In order to achieve weight loss through exercise, one should exercise at least three times a week, each time lasting approximately 30 minutes.  To lose weight, we need to target the heart rate to 60-70% of your maximum heart rate during exercise.

Stress management

When we are under stress for prolonged periods of time, the level of a hormone known as cortisol is raised. Increased cortisol levels have been found to induce diabetes.  Developing a healthy attitude toward situations beyond our control and good stress management skills can help with diabetes prevention.

We may not be able to control what kind of stressful situations are presented to us, we can control how we deal with these situations.

Treatment for diabetes

Although pharmaceutical drugs are available to help with the control of blood glucose, long term use can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, the liver and/ or the kidneys.  That being said, it is important to speak to your doctor if you are diabetic to discuss whether a pharmaceutical approach is suitable for you.  Short-term use or low dose anti-diabetic drugs may be necessary in cases of severe diabetes.

In the meantime, aside from following the above lifestyle guidelines, a large number of natural supplements have been found to be effective with blood glucose control.  Some of the more commonly used ones are fenugreek, chromium, cinnamon and goji berry.

Higher than normal levels of blood sugar leads to tissue damage (which is what causes the serious consequences like nerve damage, visual problems and kidney failure), antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid help to minimize this damage.

Also, extra virgin coconut oil is a good source of healthy fat that can be incorporated into meals; not only will it help with preventing sugar spikes, it also is a healthy source of calories if you are losing weight as a result of diabetes. Extra virgin coconut oil does not lead to increased cholesterol.

It is important to remember that no matter what method you choose to control your diabetes, regular monitoring of blood glucose is crucial.  This is especially important when you are using both pharmaceutical drugs as well as natural supplements, as it is possible to have abnormally low blood glucose (also called hypoglycemia).  It is not recommended to alter or even begin your diabetic treatment using natural supplements without consulting a licensed health care provider such as a naturopathic doctor.

Dr. Lei Gu received her Bsc (hon) from U of T (double major – biological sciences & neuroscience) in 2002.  She is a 2007 graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and currently practices as a ND at Journey to Cure Naturopathic Clinic for Her in North York, Ontario.  Her special interest in diabetes stems from a strong family history of diabetes. She is also knowledgable in Traditional Chinese Medicine, clinical nutrition and herbal medicine.

Skin Cancer Prevention

It is official, summer is here! Certainly, as North Americans, summer time is to be cherished and not to be taken for granted. Even just for pure health reasons, we should be spending more time outdoors, to be more physically active, to be able to get more fresh air and also to get some desperately needed extra sunshine (vitamin D).

However, as with many other good things, too much sunshine can pose a problem- increased risk of developing skin cancer. This is not ground breaking  news to anyone, we are all aware of the importance of skin protection.   But did you know that depending on which sunscreen you are using, you might be increasing your chances even more.

If this is news to you, remember that it’s old research.

Professor Johan Moan of the Norwegian Cancer Institute found, in 1991, that a very strong correlation between sunscreen usage and the incidence of skin cancer. He published an article in The British Journal of Cancer stating that ozone depletion is not the cause for skin cancer. Further research supported Dr. Moans’ conclusions.

Many sunscreens that are on the market contain benzophenone or its derivatives (oxybenzone, benzophenone-3) as the active ingredient. These serve their “sun-blocking” properties by absorbing UVB rays (and to a small extend UVA rays as well, depending on the brand. It is important to note that UVB rays are a primary cause of sunburns, while UVA rays are the rays that are more likely to cause skin cancer. Further, the absorption of UV rays can cause these active ingredients (benzophenones and it’s derivatives) to become unstable, forming free-radicals. Free radicals can lead to DNA damage, and thereby cancer development.

This is certainly not to say that sunscreen is to be skipped in the summer, especially if you do spend extended periods of time outside. However to protect yourself, be sure to pick the RIGHT sunscreen. There are two major types of mechanisms of UV ray blocking, chemical or physical. Benzophenone is a chemical sunblock, while ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide block the sun by reflecting it away from the skin. Physical forms of sunscreen are safe to use, as they do not lead to free radical formation.

Lastly, it is important to keep in mind that one should not rely on the use of sunscreens to protect the skin. Other skin protection tips include wearing protective clothing such as hats and light coloured shirts and pants/skirts, and avoiding/minimizing sun exposure during hours when the UV index is highest (i.e. the few hours before and after 12:00pm).

Contact us today for a consultation.

Treatment: Address the heat in the body and to moisten the intestines. Three packages of an individualized chinese herbal formula.

Result: Child was able to have a bowel movement daily with no assistance and cankor sores cleared up. Follow-up after one year, still no problems with bowel movements.

Contact us today for a consultation.

Treatments: Regulate the sweat pores by supporting the lungs and calming the mind. Patient had 4 acupuncture sessions with a 2 week course of herbs and dietary changes.

Result: At the end of 3 weeks, patient reported that sweating was back to a normal type of sweating and that her clothes was no longer soaked in perspiration.

Contact us today for a consultation.

Treatment: Client came in for 10 treatments of facial rejuvenation acupuncture.

Results: Morning headaches and nasal congestion completely cleared after the 6th acupuncture treatment and by the 8th treatment, weekly headaches were no longer present.

Contact us today for a consultation.

Treatments: Warm the core of the body, regulate the pores and calm the nervous system. Patient underwent 15 acupuncture treatments, 23 herbal decoctions, 1 course of treatment with homeopathics and dietary changes.

Result: Treatments lasted for about 5 months with patient reporting 6 consecutive weeks of being “sweat free”, no more coldness felt and no swelling of hands and feet. Patient was still learning how to best deal with the daily stresses that she is exposed to.

Contact us today for a consultation.

Treatment: Improve blood circulation by warming up the body and help move any qi stagnation and alleviate pain. 4 acupuncture treatments on a weekly basis and 15 packages of an individualized herbal formula along with dietary changes.

Results: Patient reports not needing to take Ibuprofen and no longer felt the chest pain, the coldness or the lump in the throat when swallowing. There were other health issues that the patient continue to seek treatment for and after 2 months, the chest pain, coldness and lump in the throat has not returned.

Contact us today for a consultation.

Constipation can be defined as difficulty to pass stool, even if one is having a bowel movement everyday, having less than 3 bowel movements per week or having a sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation. Constipation can be caused by many diseases (hypothyroid) and medications (anti-depressant drugs, opiates).

In my practice, I tell my clients that they should have a least one bowel movement a day, with formed solid stools that are not difficult to pass. Below are some cases I have seen in my practice. If any of the cases sounds like what you, a family member or a friend is experiencing then you should seek medical help with a licensed Naturopathic Doctor.

Case 1

Middle aged lady with previous diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Currently medicated with replacement thyroid hormone and blood levels indicated all thyroid hormones to be within normal limits. Patient’s constipation described as having one bowel movement per week, stools were pellet-like brown with some mucous.

Treatments used prior to constipation treatments at Journey To Cure included colonics (gave relief from constipation while treatments were carried out but constipation would return once colonics were stopped), fiber supplements and changing her diet to include fiber rich foods.

Treatments: The patient was given 4 bags of a herbal formula that was designed specific to her symptoms (these not only include her constipation but also other symptoms that she reported. Since the human body is a whole, all symptoms are taken into consideration to formulate the herbal decoction). Dietary changes that were recommended included increase fibrous foods (which patient had already started), decrease foods that are considered goitrogenic ( eg. turnips, cabbage, cauliflower etc. because of history of hypothyroidism), and no raw uncooked foods. The herbal formula helped to provide the body with the energy to move the stools in the intestinal tract and soften the stools. Dietary changes provided long term care for the digestive tract.

Results: One year follow up, client reports bowel movements are still normal.

Case 2

Constipation for the last 20 plus years. Stools are hard but not dry and only able to have a bowel movement if more than 2 litres of water is consumed otherwise constipation would set in. Other symptoms reported included hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating), nightly leg cramps, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Treatment: 3 acupuncture treatments and 13 bags of herbal decoctions were prescribed, the formula was altered once after the first 3 bags of herbs were consumed as the client already reported having daily bowel movements. The last 10 bags of herbs were to support the body’s own ability to defecate and to increase the client’s overall energy. The other symptoms reported gradually improved. Patient reported after the first acupuncture treatment, there was a very large amount of stool evacuated and felt “cleaned” out.

Result: Patient continue to have bowel movements after 3 months after treatments.

Case 3

Patient was experiencing abdominal pain which included bloating and gas and had bowel movements two times a week. Blood tests came back within normal limits. The client requested to recieve only acupuncture treatments and declined to use any herbal treatments.

Treatment: After 2 treatments of acupuncture, client reported that she was no longer feeling constipated ie. having one bowel movement a day. Treatments are still ongoing as there is still a sensation of incomplete evacution reported by the client. Dietary recommendations included increasing fibrous rich foods and decreasing spicy foods.

Constipation should be a concern for any one that experiences it. We need to be removing waste from our body on a daily basis. If we are not removing waste, similar to a drainage system where waste gets washed down our pipes and into some sanitation plant, it can get backed up. The backing up of waste can cause a number of problems. Some common symptoms that people may experience is gas (usually odorous), cramping pains, bloating, sluggishness and fatigue, irritability etc. As mentioned above constipation can be indicative of other diseases or indirectly be related to a disease. Here is an example of what I mean by constipation being indirectly related to a disease. If diet is a factor in constipation then it means that there is usually a lack of fiber in the diet. This also means that if there is a lack of fiber we maybe have issues of high cholesterol, hormonal imbalances ( cysts, PMS, fibrous breast, weight gain) or even immune related diseases.

Contact us today for a consultation.

Once our liver is compromised we lose a major component in our body’s detoxification process including other liver functions such as glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis and bile production. All of which is essential to the healthy functioning of our body.

HBV transmission is via blood or body fluids with an infectious rate nearly 100 times greater than that of the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) virus. Infection is usually through unprotected sexual contact, IV drug users who share needles or other paraphernalia (tattoo, body piercing), and vertical transmission from mother to fetus during childbirth or breastfeeding.

The signs and symptoms of a hepatitis B infection include some or all of the following:

Dark urine
Light stools
Weakness, Fatigue and drowsiness
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Headache
Abdominal discomfort
Irritability
Itching
Diarrhea
Joint pain and Muscle Pain
Yellowing of skin and whites of eyes (Jaundice)

For some people they may be asymptomatic (showing no signs or symptoms of the infection) such that it is imperative to have a blood test done if you believe you have been exposed to the virus. Signs and symptoms usually appear 4-6 weeks after an infection ranging from mild to severe. Chronic hepatitis is considered if the body is unable to rid the virus in 6 months.

Conventional treatments include the use of interferon and anti-virals (lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil) for HBV. Unfortunately, these medications do not come without side effects. These include such symptoms as cough, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, muscle pains, depression, and decreased production of red blood cells.

Naturopathic Treatments for Hepatitis:

The therapeutic goals in Naturopathic treatments are to support liver function and prevent further liver damage. Treatments may involve the use of herbs such as Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Artichoke (Cynara scolymus), Tumeric (Curcuma longa) and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Dietary recommendations are made to eliminate foods that may be irritants to the liver such as deep fried fatty foods and foods low in fibre content.

At Journey to Cure Naturopathic clinic we have treated many cases of Hepatitis B with success. In our cases, liver function tests (ALT, AST) return to normal levels and the patient no longer experiences the above mentioned symptoms related to hepatitis. We use individualized herbal formulas and dietary recommendations and not the shot gun approach i.e. the same supplement to treat all Hepatitis B patients. These formulas are based on your presenting signs and symptoms. As your symptoms and signs change, our formulas change accordingly. This is one of the major reasons for our success in treating Hepatitis B. If you are unable to drink herbal decoctions (as for some these formulas may be bitter) and do not have the time to cook the herbal decoctions then this may not be a suitable treatment for you. Results may vary from person to person depending on the prognosis of the disease.

Contact us today for a consultation.

The cases we have seen at Journey To Cure Toronto Naturopathic Clinic are mainly due to overactive eccrine sweat glands and is associated with an emotional stimuli causing armpit (axillary) or hands/feet/facial (volar) sweating. The medical name for this is Hyperhydrosis (also spelled as hyperhidrosis).

At Journey To Cure Toronto Naturopathic Clinic we address the root cause of the sweating by:

Identifying the situations or stimuli that causes the profuse sweating.
Develop an individualized herbal formula
Acupuncture treatments (10 sessions or more if sweating is very chronic)
Develop an individualized dietary regiment that is supportive of the individuals body type.

The herbal formula that we give is to address any imbalances in the body and the cause of the hyperhydrosis (hyperhidrosis). Acupuncture is used in conjunction because it is an effective method in influencing the nervous and endocrine systems which play a role in hyperhydrosis (hyperhidrosis) patients. Dietary recommendations are also given because we all know that diet can play a role in our health and influence many aspects of our body. For instance, we may be eating foods that induce a lot of sweating, or we may be doing the opposite and that is, we may have a nutritional deficiency from what we are not eating.

Treatment results vary from person to person based on how long they have had the hyperhydrosis (hyperhidrosis). We have seen many good results here (results seen with 6 treatments of acupuncture alone for excessive armpit (axillary) sweating) at the clinic from cases of armpit sweating, to hands, feet and trunk of the body, cases where the beads of sweat can be seen by the naked eye, to facial sweating and chronic night sweats.

Additional information– allopathic treatments

Allopathic treatments include some of the following:

Focal Injections: Injection of Botulinum toxin Type A to prevent nerve signals to the sweat glands. Sweating will recur and possible side effects include sweating in other areas and pain at injection site.

Topical Treatments: application of an antiperspirant containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate. The outcome of treatment is highly variable and the duration of effect is short. One concern of using topical treatments the link between aluminum toxicity with alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. The studies are still inconclusive but why take the chance when there are other options.

Iontophoresis: application of low-intensity electric current to affected areas (used for hands and feet sweating only) but is limited by the duration of the effect –lasting only a few weeks and the time need for the initial treatments are long (30 minutes per area).

Surgery: this is usually the last option that most people consider for the treatment for hyperhydrosis. The nerves stimulating the sweat glands are severed. This is a very invasive treatment and only manages the sweating for several years and is not a cure.

If you are looking for an alternative and a solution to your chronic sweating please Contact us today for a consultation.