No. 68

High Blood Sugar

Consult your doctor before beginning any nutritional or supplemental program.

Dietary—eat foods daily that are high in zinc. Include garlic in as many foods as possible. Use a low glycemic diet or paleo meal plan. “The Maker’s Diet” has also been very effective. Avoiding grains and starchy foods is basic when trying to lower blood sugar.  Avoiding sugar anywhere you can is critical.  Diabetes 1 is an autoimmune illness where the pancreas does not work properly. Diabetes 2 is considered a voluntary illness which can most always, be corrected with diet and supplements. If you are trying to reduce medications, you must work with your doctor and monitor your blood sugar through blood tests. If you are unable to reduce your medications, or if you are trying to avoid having to begin taking medications for high blood sugar, the following supplement can help you to protect and improve your health. It cannot be stressed strongly enough, you need both supplements and dietary changes in order to lower high blood sugar. Either alone, is not adequate. A high fiber diet is also, instrumental in lowering blood sugar.

Smoothie for Insulin Maintenance

Combine the following ingredients and drink each morning.  Change ingredients for variety with foods considered most beneficial in a low glycemic diet

• 6 oz. coconut water
• 2 handfuls of greens
• 1/2 avocado
• 1/2 green sour apple or 1/4 cup of dark berries
• 1 teaspoon psyllium husk powder or 1 tablespoon of whole psyllium husk
• 1 serving of nuts (soak overnight in water and add both nuts and water to the smoothie)
• ice
• add water if needed to thin the mix

*The anti-inflammatory powder can be added to any smoothie or juice combination. Cinnamon which naturally reduces blood sugar, can easily be added to juices or smoothies. Brewer’s yeast is always a winning ingredient for supplementing needed chromium. 

Juicing for Insulin Maintenance 

Use foods from a low glycemic diet and include plenty of leafy greens and green vegetables. If using fruits, they should be sour and low in sugar which include; lemon, lime, grapefruit, and tomato.  Kiwi is high in potassium and low in sugar.  Green apple is low in sugar and high in malic acid which will help to metabolize fat.  Ginger root can be added to any juice combination and benefits the entire body, including the brain, cardiovascular system and in the reduction of inflammation.  

*The anti-inflammatory powder can be added to any smoothie or juice combination. Cinnamon which naturally reduces blood sugar, can easily be added to juices or smoothies. Brewer’s yeast is always a winning ingredient for supplementing needed chromium. 

Chromium Picolinate

Recommended Daily Dosage-  200 mcg. capsule 1 x daily with a meal.

Best choice is to use the food source Brewer’s Yeast, but a chromium supplement is convenient and good for days when Brewer’s Yeast is not consumed.

Brewer’s Yeast & Nutritional Yeast

Recommended Daily Dosage-  1-2 Tablespoons per day

Best food source of chromium is Brewer’s Yeast.  Nutritional Yeast has chromium, but not as much as Brewer’s Yeast. Nutritional Yeast (large flakes) is excellent for making a vegan “chicken broth” seasoning mix. This powder can be added to smoothies. It doesn’t taste that good but many do not mind it.  To supplement Brewer’s Yeast powder instead of a chromium pill, use 1-2 tablespoons daily in a smoothie, dissolved in water or in juice. Brewer’s Yeast is also a food source for B complex. selenium, potassium, zinc, iron, and magnesium.

Enzymes

Taking a digestive enzyme pill, 20 minutes before each meal, will help to take the burden off of your pancreas.  Enzymes can be taken between meals to cleanse the system and improve veins and arteries.  Enzymes taken with foods are usually different than those taken between meals on an empty stomach. O1 is very good enzyme which is taken with food while serrapeptase or bromelain are excellent taken between meals.

O1-  take 1 pill with each meal

Serrapeptase- take 40,000 to 120,000 units once daily on an empty stomach with water OR take up to 1500 mg. of bromelain in a day- powder or capsule- with water. Some individuals with compromised circulatory systems or neuropathy, can benefit from taking an extra enzyme between meals called O3.  O3 is taken with water using 1-3 pills 1-3 times per day depending upon the seriousness of the condition along with either the serrapeptase or bromelain.

Vitamin E

Recommended Daily Dosage-  400 IU 1 x daily with a meal.

This nutrient helps to maintain circulation and is a preventative for neuropathy (pain and loss of feeling in the extremities such as feet which is very common).  If neuropathy is an issue or PAD, increasing to 400 IU twice daily is usually recommended. Always take Vitamin E with food.

Zinc

This should be derived from foods high in zinc rather than a supplement.  Top 10 foods high in zinc include;

• Lamb
• Beef
• Shrimp
• Seafood
• Oysters
• Spinach
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Squash
• Cashews, Pine Nuts, Pecans (these are higher than other nuts)
• Dark Chocolate
• Pork
• Chicken
• Beans;  Mung being highest, followed by Adzuki, Garbanzo (chick peas), Kidney
• White Mushrooms being highest followed by Portabella

Organic Sulfur (Post 28 under the Wellness Tab)

Because you cannot produce sulfur in your body, nor can you store it, supplementing this nutrient due to depleted soils, is always a good example. Taking even 1 teaspoon per day is better than none.  Sulfur is used by the body for repair and maintenance of tissues and keeps the tissue in the liver soft. The body uses the supplemental sulfur every 12 hours, so taking sulfur twice daily, 12 hours apart is ideal. Sulfur, taking 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon twice daily, will generally first be noticed within 3 days, with a change in the firmness of skin. Sulfur will strengthen hair, skin and nails. Nails and hair will grow quicker and strengthen, while skin will become more firm and tighten.  The advantages of supplementing Sulfur are long and detailed. For reading more about Sulfur and its benefits, see Post 28 on this site.

Insulin IQ

Recommended Dosage–  1/2 heaping tablespoon in 2 doses AM and PM. Dissolve in water, juice, or tea, on an empty stomach, do not eat for 30-40 minutes. If this bothers your stomach, reduce dosage.  You can also add this supplement to smoothies, especially the smoothie recipe mentioned in this material. 

Insulin IQ–  This formula is an exclusive formulation produced only by Organica.  It has been developed based on a couple decades of experienced use of herbal medicine and the effects customers have had while using these ingredients in specific amounts over time. If this formulation is too expensive, default to the Herbal Blend for High Blood Sugar.

The most comprehensive Herbal Blend specific to improving insulin resistance;  organic spirulina, organic ginger root, organic Ceylon cinnamon, organic black seed, organic olive leaf, Siberian ginseng, bitter melon, cedar berry, barberry, brewer’s yeast.  There will also be post specifically on Insulin IQ which will discuss the contents in detail as they pertain to lowering high blood sugar.

Second Option:  Herbal Formula is also an exclusive formulation produced by Organica and is designed specifically for High Blood Sugar;  organic fenugreek, organic Ceylon cinnamon, organic turmeric, cedar berry

Anti-Inflammatory Powder

Recommended Dosage–  1 rounded teaspoon 1 x daily in the evenings, 2 hours after dinner on an empty stomach. If preferred, this product can be consumed twice daily. 

This is a pleasant and comforting product that not only tastes delicious, but is highly effective to overall health and in the reduction of inflammation throughout the body. Each ingredient is specific to this formulation.  The effects to each, as it applies to high blood sugar is as follows;

• fenugreek- lowers blood sugar, reduces inflammation of nerves throughout the system
• Ceylon cinnamon–  lowers blood sugar, will NOT be toxic to the liver as cassia types of cinnamon.  This is the most effective and healthy type of cinnamon to use for long term ingestion as a supplement
• cedar berry- lowers blood sugar
• turmeric-  lowers blood sugar, lowers inflammation, and prevents lesions in the brain.  Turmeric crosses the blood brain barrier and is a spice with so many attributes that it needs a full page of data on its own merit.

To Prepare:  Heat unsweetened almond milk on the stove and dissolve product stirring continuously. Serve hot. Add stevia, xylitol, or erythritol if sweetener is desired. These natural sweeteners will not raise your blood sugar, decay your teeth, and are considered calorie-free.

Contains:  turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, fenugreek, and ginger root.  If you are not allergic to black pepper, add some black pepper to increase the activity and benefits of this product.

Vitamin C

Recommended Dosage–  1/3 teaspoon of powder 1-2 times daily or 1 (1000 mg) capsule 1-2 times daily, with food.  If vitamin C bothers your stomach, take with food always, or if taking on an empty stomach, use 1/3 teaspoon of vitamin C powder + 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda.  You can use more baking soda if needed, up to 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon doses.

By combining C with baking soda (non-aluminum) you are creating Sodium Ascorbate, the same as a supplement you would buy in a store which is “buffered” or “easier on the stomach”.  After combining the powders in a glass, add a small amount of water. It will fizz.  When fizzing stops, then fill the glass with 8 oz. of water. This type of vitamin C is alkalizing. If you are on a diet of sodium restriction, be aware that baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and does contain sodium. Vitamin C is plentiful in citrus fruits. Lemon and lime are good fruits to include in your diet because they provide vitamin C and are naturally low in sugar.

D3

Recommended Dosage–  5000 mg. 1 x daily with a meal, at the same time you take fish oil  

Vitamin D3 can be stored by the body, but it cannot be produced in the body.  When you begin taking Vitamin D3, using 5000 mg. per day, it will take about 30 days to begin to see results.  What you will first notice is a sense of just feeling better.  Vitamin D is responsible for over 2000 chemical reactions in your body that need to take place everyday. A shortage of this supplement will hinder the effectiveness of a cascade of other positive effects you are seeking. If you had to take only one supplement and nothing more, this is likely the supplement you would want to take. Vitamin D and fish oil are synergistic and should be taken at the same time with a meal each day. Being synergistic means that you will derive more benefit from both supplements when they are taken together

Fish Oil

Fish Oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and benefits the circulatory system, which is important for a wide spectrum of health problems. Fish oil has an anti-inflammatory effect and is important for health of the brain, vision, hearing, and nerves.

Recommended Dosage–  1000 mg. with each meal, 3 x daily

B50–  Recommended Daily Dosage-  1 capsule with meals 3 x daily plus take an additional B12 Sublingual–  1000 to 5000 mcg. anytime during the day

B Complex and B12 are important to improving the metabolism of glucose. Vitamin B’s support the nerves and flow of information from the brain to the rest of the body. It is an important supplement in the prevention of atherosclerosis and improves circulation to the extremities.

ALA– Recommended Daily Dosage-  600 mg. 1-2 x daily with water on an empty stomach

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a supplement which is important to the prevention of peripheral nerve damage in diabetic patients. It benefits the liver in the metabolism of fats and helps to reduce blood sugar.

Quercetin–  Recommended Daily Dosage-  300 to 600 mg. with water, 2 x daily

Quercetin protects the lens of the eyes in those with diabetes. High blood sugar causes an accumulation of polyols in the membranes of the lens.  Quercetin reduces this effect.

Quercetin is a natural antioxidant found in foods like

• green tea
• apples
• onions
• chili peppers
• red lettuce
• kale
• capers (one of the highest)
• dark red and blue fruits (such as cranberries, blueberries, black currants, choke cherries)
• asparagus
• spinach

CoQ 10–  Recommended Daily Dose-  200 mcg. daily with a meal

This important enzyme helps to stabilize blood sugar and improve circulation throughout the body. It helps to protect your cells and remove waste from your system.

Psyllium Husk Fiber–  Recommended Daily Dose-  The WHOLE husk is easier to take than the powder.  Whether using the whole husk or the fine ground powder, both are REQUIRED TO BE SHAKEN AND NOT STIRRED.  1 heaping teaspoon to 1 heaping tablespoon twice daily – depending upon whether you are using powder or whole husk. 

Fiber such as psyllium husk, is excellent for reducing blood sugar. It is a fat mobilizer and cleans the gastrointestinal tract. It is a gelatinous fiber which helps with both diarrhea and constipation. Extra fiber can also be increased by taking psyllium husk pills with each meal. Take the powder or whole husk supplement in the morning and late day on an empty stomach. Do not take psyllium with supplements or medications because it will absorb them and render them ineffective. Wait 2 hours after taking psyllium fiber before taking a vitamin or medication. If you have taken a medication or vitamin, wait 1 hour before taking psyllium fiber. Always drink plenty of water when taking psyllium fiber.  When taking either the husk or powder, follow immediately by drinking a 2nd large glass of water.

• Powder– 1 heaping teaspoon twice daily, shaken into water, tea, coconut water, or juice, or add to a smoothie
• Whole Husk–  1 heaping tablespoon twice daily, shaken into water, tea, or juice, coconut water, or add to a smoothie

Magnesium–  Recommended Daily Dosage-  250 to 700 mg. per day.  Magnesium loosens the stool. If you have loose stools from taking magnesium, extra psyllium fiber will help, or take a supplement with calcium and magnesium.  Calcium binds the stool while magnesium loosens, together it may help to reduce diarrhea. Apple pectin can also reduce diarrhea using between 15 to 30 grams per day dissolved in cold water. 

Magnesium is important to the body’s pH balance. It reduces the risk of coronary artery spasm in those with arteriosclerosis.  Persons with diabetes are usually low in magnesium. Magnesium is important to protecting vision and reduces complications in a variety of eye diseases.