| Alternative therapies are treatments
that are neither widely taught in medical schools nor widely practiced in hospitals.
Alternative treatments that have been studied to manage diabetes include acupuncture,
biofeedback, guided imagery, and vitamin and mineral supplementation. The success of some
alternative treatments can be hard to measure. Many alternative treatments remain either
untested or unproven through traditional scientific studies. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a procedure in which a practitioner inserts needles into
designated points on the skin. Some Western scientists believe that acupuncture triggers
the release of the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief
from chronic pain. Acupuncture is sometimes used by people with neuropathy, the painful
nerve damage of diabetes.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique which helps a person become more aware of and learn
to deal with the body's response to pain. This alternative therapy emphasizes relaxation
and stress-reduction techniques. Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that some
professionals who use biofeedback do. With guided imagery, a person thinks of
peaceful mental images, such as ocean waves. A person may also include the images of
controlling or curing a chronic disease, such as diabetes. People using this technique
believe their condition can be eased with these positive images.
Chromium
The benefit of added chromium for diabetes has been studied and debated for
several years. Several studies report that chromium supplementation may improve diabetes
control. Chromium is needed to make glucose tolerance factor, which helps insulin improve
its action. Because of insufficient information on the use of chromium to treat diabetes,
no recommendations for supplementation yet exist.
Magnesium
Although the relationship between magnesium and diabetes has been studied for
decades, it is not yet fully understood. Studies suggest that a deficiency in magnesium
may worsen the blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that a
deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin
resistance in the body's tissues. Evidence suggests that a deficiency of magnesium may
contribute to certain diabetes complications.
Vanadium
Vanadium is a compound found in tiny amounts in plants and animals. Early
studies showed that vanadium normalized blood glucose levels in animals with Type 1 and
Type 2 diabetes. A recent study found that when people with diabetes were given vanadium,
they developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and were able to decrease their
insulin requirements. Currently researchers want to understand how vanadium works in the
body, discover potential side effects, and establish safe dosages.
To learn more about alternative therapies for diabetes treatment, contact the National
Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicines Clearinghouse at (888) 644-6226.
Additional Information on Alternative Therapies for Diabetes
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse collects resource information on
diabetes for Combined Health Information Database (CHID). CHID is a database produced by
health-related agencies of the Federal Government. This database provides titles,
abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education
resources.
e-text posted: 17 March 1998 |
