Chronic high blood glucose. Diabetes mellitus type 2
What raises blood glucose?
Hyperglycaemia doesn’t just happen.. There must be underlying factors driving the blood sugar levels to rise consistently. Contributing factors and possible causes:
excessive intake of calories?
high processed food intake (poor quality calories, sugar, fats), obesity, sedentary lifestyle (taking in more than burning), excessive alcohol.
increased endogenous production by the liver?
Chronic stress - Cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline antagonize insulin through various mechanisms. One key example is their ability to stimulate the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver, thereby increasing blood sugar levels.
disruptions and inefficiencies in glucose metabolism and uptake within the body such as insulin resistance.
Glucose requires insulin (produced by pancreas) in order to enter the body's cells. However, the insulin receptors located on the surface of these cells can develop resistance to insulin's effects. As a result, glucose is unable to enter the cells efficiently and instead begins to build up in the bloodstream, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. It triggers a pancreatic response releasing more insulin at first, but this over-activity can lead to pancreatic beta cell damage and reduced insulin in later stages. Insulin receptors can be negatively affected by obesity, metabolic syndrome and can have a genetic weakness.
How does the body respond to high blood glucose?
When the body cells are consistently oversupplied with an excessive amount of glucose, they initially respond by storing it as glycogen.
However, over time, this constant surplus overwhelms the cells, causing glucotoxicity characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation leading to cell damage and dysfunction and the activation of stress response. This glucotoxicity can damage various tissues and organs - blood vessels, neurons, pancreatic beta cells. The body can no longer cope it needs support!
Step-by-step approach in supporting hyperglycaemia naturally.
Recognize signs and symptoms and get tested. Early signs & symptoms may be subtle.
Excessive thirst, urination, hunger. Fatigue. Slow or poor healing of wounds, frequent infections, particularly fungal infections. Blood shot eyes, blurred vision, irritated eye lids, dry and sandpaper like feeling in the eyes, darkened circles and/or swollen tissue /(bags) underneath the eyes. Darkened skin in other areas of the body, armpits, neck. Skin tags. As blood sugar rises and ketosis begins to develop, body fluids can turn acidic. One of the body's mechanisms to manage this acidity is to expel carbon dioxide (CO2) by increasing both the rate and depth of respiration, causing breathing to become more rapid.
Optimize your diet and lifestyle by making sustainable changes. Consider incorporating intermittent fasting, which has been scientifically shown to improve insulin response. Emphasize whole foods and home cooking and a high-fiber diet, as it positively influences blood sugar control and overall metabolic regulation. Eliminate processed foods and maintain regular meal times to prevent sudden spikes in blood glucose levels. avoid snacking between meals and refrain from eating late at night. Include essential fatty acids (EFAs) in your nutrition.
Engage in moderate exercise consistently, as it is a crucial component of health management.
Identify and carefully eliminate obvious exposures to common toxins, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, household chemicals, contaminated drinking water, heavy metals. Taking steps to minimize contact with these harmful substances can significantly support your overall health.
Consider supplementing with vitamins and minerals to support your body's needs and address any potential deficiencies.
Review any medications you are currently taking, as certain drugs—such as corticosteroids and some antidepressants—can cause or worsen hyperglycaemia. Make sure to discuss with your doctor the potential side effects of your prescription medications and how they might impact your blood sugar levels.
Look back on your medical history - some viral infections, pancreatitis, hormone imbalances? As they may have contributed to the issue. Can be supported with herbs.
Gut health is crucial, and close attention must always be paid to any gastrointestinal issues. Without maintaining good gastrointestinal tract (GIT) health, the body’s ability to heal becomes impaired. Herbs are used to help support digestive health. Additionally , the composition of microbiome and its disorders are related to insulin resistance and the onset of diabetes. Probiotics and herbs may help support the gut microbiome
Stress management - adaptogenic and nervine herbs to help with stress response, can be safely used long term.
How can Herbs Help Hyperglycaemia?
Herbal medicine aims to support the body in dealing with hyperglycemia by
Addressing oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby helping to minimize glucotoxicity and its associated damage. This approach can be implemented safely for an extended period using herbal therapy. The primary focus is on supporting vascular and circulatory health, kidneys, the immune system, and optimizing antioxidant levels throughout the body.
Crataegus spp berry, Vaccinium myrtilus, Astragalus membranaceus, Panax ginseng, Rehmannia glutinosa, Tinospora crdifolia, Curcuma longa, Ginkgo biloba, Reveratrol, Quercetin, Bromelain.
Support of the liver and pancreas, which are crucial in blood sugar and cholesterol regulation.
Allium sativum, Cyanara scolymus, Commiphora mukul, Carduus marianus, Berberis aquifolium, Arctium lappa, Taraxacum offcinalis, Urtica dioica, Berberis spp., Berberine, Gentiana lutea, Aloe barbadensis miller
Support nervous system and improve the body’s stress response, contributing to overall balance. At the very center of herbal support are adaptogenic and nervine herbs, which play a crucial role in helping the body manage stress and restore balance. They can be safely used long term.
Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Astragalus membranaceus, Withania somnifera, Ocimum tenuiflorumm, Codonopsis pilosula, Schizandra chinensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps.
Support metabolism of glucose. The use of hypoglycaemic herbs carries potential risks; therefore, it is essential to closely monitor both blood and urine glucose levels to prevent episodes of hypoglycaemia. These herbs should only be incorporated as part of a comprehensive DMT2 support protocol that is specifically tailored to the individual needs of each client.
Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Cinnamomum verum. Galega officinalis, Marrubium vulgare, Capsicum annum, Berberis spp
Gut health is crucial, and close attention is always paid to any gastrointestinal issues. Without maintaining good gastrointestinal tract (GIT) health, the body’s ability to heal becomes impaired. Herbs are used to help support digestive health. Additionally , the composition of microbiome and its disorders are related to insulin resistance and the onset of diabetes. Some herbs may help support the gut microbiome
Symptomatic relief – addressing issues such as neuropathic pain with topical herbal preparations.
Additional info
GLP-1 is a natural hormone that plays a key role in regulating blood sugar and appetite. It is produced in the intestines in response to eating, and it stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, which lowers blood sugar. GLP-1 also slows digestion, reduces appetite, and increases feelings of fullness, which can contribute to weight loss
Herbs and herbal compounds to support GLP- 1 levels: Bupleurum falcatum, Berberis vulgaris or Berberine, Curcuma longa or Curcumin, Resveratrol
SGLT2 stands for sodium-glucose cotransporter 2, a protein in the kidneys that reabsorbs glucose back into the bloodstream.
Rosa canina fruit may potentially help. Scientists are still researching other natural products for their potential SGLT2 inhibitory activity to find new therapeutic agents.
DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) is an enzyme that plays a role in the body's glucose metabolism. DPP-4 is an enzyme on cell membranes that inactivates incretin hormones, primarily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), by breaking them down. `
Trigonella foenum-graecum, Resveratrol, Curcuma longa or Curcumin, Quercetin and Kaempferol, Lentinula edodes, Stevia, Aloe vera, Ginkgo biloba, Rosmarinus officinalis, Levisticum officinale, Foeniculum vulgare, Coriandrum sativum leaves, Origanum vulgare.