I see many messages about diabetic neuropathy on the boards and should have said something earlier. Antioxidant formulas are important and should be taken religiously. This should include selenium and vitamin E, both of which work together. My wife is a brittle diabetic with severe hyperlipidemia (at one time Chol=795 and triglycerides were 6625). She has had a triple bypass, and one occluded within three months. Last april she was given three months to live. She is now nearly normal, no longer on statins, and works on the house and in the yard. I prayed to God so many times and learned one thing. When Jesus spoke and said that his father cared for the birds, he did not say he rolled the rocks over for them to find their food. I researched for ten months and now have my wife on several available drugs that have astounded her cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and primary care doctors. One is aminoguanidine hcl which stops the diabetics production of glycated end products. These, and free radicals destroy the linings of the arteries and lead to neuropathy. I am writing a summary of my research that will be in layman's terms, and I will eventually post it or send it to the ones that E-mail me. My source of aminoguanidine is now gone, and I am looking for another. But there is vitamin B6. B6 is converted into several strong antioxidants, and a compound called pyridoxamine, which is superior to aminoguanidine. Unfortunately it takes a considerable amount of B6 to make enough to pyridoxamine to totally stop glycosylation (The production of advanced glycation end products). However, about a gram of B6 will help greatly to stop neuropathy and angiogenesis, the cause of diabetic retinopathy. If you wish to E mail me, I will send you a copy of my wife's regimen, and where I source from. This is an interim posting until I finish my summary in order to help those that I can. God did not mean for me to keep it for myself. However, do not ask me for the supplements I give her, as I do not sell anything, nor do I charge anything. God guided me, and in so doing, saved my wife's life as I prayed for him to do. I only rolled the rocks, He told me which ones. Miracles still happen and this is his gift to you. At least understand that B6 is the most important supplement you can take for now... My E is bobtravis@hotmail.com. God bless you all, I am a very greatful...

Oldguy

Changed angiopathy to agiogenesis. This is the proliferation of new, and upsizing of existing arteries. In the eyes, this occurs just behind the retina, and tends to leak blood into the vitreous humor that fills the major globe of the eye. It also causes damage to, and sometimes detatches the retina. leakage leads to episodes of blindness which can become permanent, and the last is generally permanent blindness or blind spots.

[This message has been edited by Oldguy (edited 02-12-2001).]

Thank you for sharing this, oldguy!

Selenium isn't really necessary in the US. As stated below.

Lack of selenium may lead to changes in fingernails, muscle weakness, and heart problems.

Selenium deficiency in the United States is rare. Patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for long periods of time may need selenium. Selenium deficiency is a problem in areas of the world where the soil contains little selenium.

Although selenium is being used to prevent certain types of cancer, there is not enough information to show that this is effective.

-Mark

Oldguy, you mentioned that gylcated end products are a contributer to arterial damage. Aren't glycated end products formed from glucose (bloodsugar)? So, another way to reduce glycated end products is to reduce the glucose in the bloodstream right? Glucose is produced primarily in response to the consumption of carbohydrates. So, if you severely restrict carbohydrate consumption then you would naturally lower blood glucose levels and hence reduce the amount of glycated end products floating around in the bloodstream and it would also reduce insulin requirements for the diabetic. This type of very low carbohydrate diet is specifically what Dr. Bernstein recommends in his book "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution". It is worth reading.

Alan S.

Concerning B6. The average diet supplies adequate quantities of vitamin B6. Large doses of vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders and numbness. Deficiency of this vitamin is not common in the United States.

-Mark

Ouch, the bombs are dropping all around me.... I'll say this about that:

Alan, You are 100% right. In fact, I can introduce you to a doctor in West Columbia, SC who is a type II, (I hate that term) insulin resistant diabetic who takes no meds and no insulin...None. This is because he follows the glycemic index and uses no foods with an index over 0.4. Unfortunately, this is discipline that few people have, including me. If I have to give up what I love, why should I live? So I live in moderation, and treat these infringments on good health and common sense with meds. If a person is normal, he needs no meds. There's also glycation, and glycosylation, both of which I often get mixed. Glycation requires only high blood sugar and no enzymes or catalysts; Glycosylation takes place all of the time due to the presence of copper and free iron in the blood through catalysis. Of course, if the sugar level is high, it's faster. If you eat the bread,,up goes the sugar...very fast...it takes time for the pancreas to release the insulin even in normal people...Bang goes glycation, even for a short time. The glycemic index is the rate at which the carbs are assimilated and converted to sugars. This is why people that are old also get neuropathy despite not being diabetic....it's cumulative over time. It's also the reason that the Hba1c test also reflects any value even in nondiabetics. There's more involved in this, but this is the main thing. But it's why I say, butter your baked potatoes, it slows its assimilation and lowers the glycemic index.

And now Mark, Selenium is not plentiful in soils that have been planted over and over...have you ever eaten a home grown tomato and compared to one from the store grown in the sandy spaces of mexico with only nitrogen given for fertilizer? Your taste says somethings missing. I'm not saying it's selenium,,,,but it's something. Also, you get enough niacin in everyday meals, but why do people respond to heavy doses of time release niacin in cases of hyperlipidemia? Are there enough B vitamins in what old people eat? Not really, because the older you get, the less you can pick up. Diabetics are not normal. and today they are not curable. They can only be treated, and the supplements I gave come from some very deep study in many clinical papers and journals that are treatments. In fact, I just finished with one from: http://www.nsd.uib.no/yngve/helse/neuropat.shtml concerning a "Multidisciplinary Approach to Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment and they don't mention B6. The B6 comes from several papers concerning aminoguanidine and pyridoxamine. What I state on these boards is from studies such as these, and are only suggestions. If you don't care to believe what I say, it's your right. You're not my patient. God bless and keep you, Oldguy

I've been a Type one diabetic for over 10yrs now. I was diagnosed when I was 22. I am 6'6" 190 pounds. One of my problems is that I am never hungry. Never have been actually. Plus I have other illnesses to contribute to my problems. Now I forgot what I was going to say. I have no idea why I go off on tangents. But I wasn't trying to say anything. I just like to include other facts. This way people can come to there own conclusions.

By the way I need to gain weight. Have any ideas?

-Mark

Oh also, My blood sugars are high even without food. They average about 350 but I can go 600+ in only a few hours. I know part of the reason is that I have a absolute deficiency of insulin. Probably need the pump.

Theres a little more info about my diabetes. I also have hypo-thyroidism'hashimotos'.

whew, It does feel good to talk about my health problems. I just wish I felt better.

-Mark

[This message has been edited by PlaXibo (edited 02-15-2001).]