The hidden dangers of standard diabetes treatments that you probably never hear about

Your diabetes medicine may be killing you instead of treating you. A study revealed that standard treatments for Type 2 diabetes, such as the synthetic insulin and oral anti-diabetic drugs, may worsen the condition and increase the risk of death. The study, which was published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, is an addition to the increasing number of research on the adverse effects of standard diabetes treatments.

In conducting the study, the researchers examined 6,484 individuals suffering from Type 2 diabetes who were eventually given progressed insulin monotherapy from the year 2000 onward. The researchers observed the participants for an average of 3.3 years.

It was found that among the participants who were treated with insulin, 1,110 died, 342 had major cardiovascular events, and 382 were diagnosed with cancer. For every one unit increase in insulin dosage, the risk for all-cause death rate increased by 54 percent, while the risk for major cardiovascular events increased by 37 percent. Moreover, the risk for cancer increased by 35 percent. These suggest that the insulin administered to the participants were both cardiotoxic and carcinogenic.

“There was an association between increasing exogenous insulin dose and increased risk of all-cause mortality, cancer and MACE [major adverse cardiovascular events] in people with type 2 diabetes,” the researchers wrote.

Synthetic and genetically engineered insulin for Type 2 diabetes are not similar to human insulin in form and function compared to pig pancreas-derived forms, which were off the market right after being introduced. The structure and subsequent folding pattern and function of synthetic insulin is originally made from genetically modified yeast. Moreover, another study revealed that synthetic insulin made from genetically modified organisms speeds up the progression of Type 2 diabetes. This contributes to “double diabetes,” which is a condition known as the development of Type 1 diabetes succeeding unsuccessful treatment of Type 2 diabetes. (Related: Diabetes Drug Found to Promote Cancer Tumors, But FDA Urges Diabetics to Keep Using it Anyway.)

Natural treatments for diabetes

Since standard diabetes medicines are harmful, people with diabetes are encouraged to opt for alternative medicines to manage their symptoms. Here are natural alternative treatments for diabetes that can help maintain normal blood sugar levels.

• Diet and exercise – Diet and exercise are essential in diabetes treatment because what a person eats and how active he is affects the blood sugar levels and health. Therefore, having a healthy diet and being physically active helps improve the disease. Exercise can lower blood pressure, enhance glucose tolerance, and decrease excessively high blood sugar levels. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a person is recommended to do resistance exercise twice a week, while those with Type 2 diabetes should exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity each week. Those with Type 1 diabetes are recommended the same, but must be more careful as they are more at risk for hypoglycemic episodes during exercise.

• Herbs and supplements – Before taking any supplement, it is important to consult a healthcare professional first. Some of the most popular supplements used for diabetes are aloe vera, alpha-lipoic acid – which is found in spinach, broccoli, and potatoes – chromium, cinnamon, garlic, ginseng, gymnema, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, prickly pear cactus, and vanadium.

To read more stories about diabetes and medicine, visit DiabetesScienceNews.com.

Sources include:

GreenMedInfo.com

Healthline.com