Home Doctor: Practical Medicine for Every Household
ALPHA LIPOIC ACID This supplement is very beneficial in the case “gloves and stocking anesthesia.” Using it for three months has shown excellent results in partially recovering sensitivity. It also has a minor effect on increasing tissue sensitivity to insulin. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) capsules 300mg, Dosage: 2 capsules daily for 3 months Lifestyle changes have beneficial effects on the diabetic patient and can reverse insulin resistance. Losing weight and exercising daily improve the sensitivity of tissues, especially muscle, to insulin so glucose is better metabolized. Reducing carbohydrate consumption is important since during the digestion process, carbohydrates are converted into glucose. A colleague once taught me a technique for remembering the best foods for diabetes: “If it grows above ground, it can be consumed. If it grows under the ground, it should be eaten in moderation. If it is white, it should be avoided. And if it walks, flies, swims, or crawls, it can be eaten.” Another important point is to get used to reading labels and not to buy the product just because it is special for diabetics. Many times these types of foods compensate for the decrease in sugar by adding fat to maintain the flavor, so they are still harmful to your health.
3. Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a group of diseases that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular complications. If a person has three or more of the following characteristics, metabolic syndrome is diagnosed: • • • • •
Abdominal obesity: Waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men, and 35 inches in women Triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or greater HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women Systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or greater, or diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg or greater Fasting glucose greater than 100 mg/dL
Each of these conditions is a risk for cardiovascular disease, but when they are part of a group, the risk increases dramatically, putting the patient’s life at risk. Metabolic syndrome can be reversed if lifestyle changes are made. If you lose weight and exercise at least 30 minutes a day, your blood pressure values will drop and your tissues will become more sensitive to insulin, lowering your blood glucose value. Obesity is measured by the value of the body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using the formula weight (kg) x height (meters)2. 260
