Blood Sugar and Experiments

Gymnema - This supplement appears to bring my after meal blood sugar down, like a fast acting insulin. It is supposed to be taken 15 minutes before a meal.

Nopal Cactus - This needs further testing to know whether it acts fast or slow. The bottle says to take 2-4 tablets a day.

Cinnamon/Chromium - This mixture seems to act like a slow acting insulin. It doesn't make a huge difference, but it does make a difference.

Exercise - There is no denying that exercise not only helps with lowering blood sugar levels quickly, it also helps to lower every day sugars.

Some things I want to experiment with (I'm a skeptic):

Water - Drink two cups straight away. Then drink one more cup five minutes later. This is supposed to help lower blood sugar quickly by flushing sugar out of the blood.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Two tablespoons before eating or as a part of a meal. (It is supposed to dramatically reduce the blood sugar spike after a meal.) This may not be the safest option. It is supposed to be diluted in a cup of water or sprinkled on salads to help not burn your esophagus.

Green Tea -  May lower blood sugar as much as 30 points.

As part of a diet:
Eating peanut butter, almonds, and pecans. I already eat nuts. They seem to keep my blood sugar low.

Beans, generally help me get a lot of protein and give me the energy I need. I will go ahead and increase my intake of beans (particularly white beans.)

Spinach and broccoli are great to include in a diabetic diet.

Oatmeal is a diabetic super food and doesn't cost much money. It can be eaten more than once a day.

Egg whites are also pretty awesome in a diabetic diet.


Some other supplements to consider:
Propolmannan, Phseolus Vulgaris, Irvingia Gabonensis, Brown Seaweed Extract. Some of these are supposed to block sugar absorption.

I'm also looking into L-arabinose.

Managing Diabetes

So I have been trying to keep my diabetes problems to a minimum. I am planning on visiting my diabetes doctor and an eye doctor to help me determine my health and figure out what I can do to maintain optimum health and to live a long life.

I am trying to avoid prescription medications at all costs. The Metformin did not do me many favors and insulin stores sodium in the kidneys, possibly raising blood pressure. I am currently experimenting with some herbal supplements and a low carb diet.

I have this list to help me experiment with what will work for my regimen. Today I am experimenting with Gymnema.

The Blood Sugar supplements alone weren't working well. However, I should probably make sure that I am following supplement directions. So far, none of the supplements have given me big problems. 

I really should start documenting what I'm eating and what I'm taking as well as how much exercise I do. Recording all of that information could be frustrating though, but I think it will be worth it when I do. I'll just try not to be too rigid about it.

I really do need to allow treats in here and there too, because studies show that diabetics who have treats now and then are better able to maintain good blood sugar levels.