About two weeks ago, I started taking 1200 mgs of Alpha-Lipoic Acid. I purchased it from VitaCost.com. I have noticed a significant reduction in my BGLs fairly consistently. I take one 600mg capsule in the AM and PM, along with the other medications and supplements.
Below is some information I found on the internet that led me to try this supplement. I’m still going for a 24 hour insulin addition, but was suprised to see some results after taking this supplement. Again “I AM NOT A DOCTOR” and am only posting what has happened to me since starting Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
From: WholeHealthMD.com
In the late 1980s, scientists realized that alpha-lipoic acid … possessed potent antioxidant properties that could prevent healthy cells from getting damaged by unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. In fact, this vitaminlike compound has proved to be many times more potent than such old guard antioxidants as vitamins C and E. As a perk, it even recycles C and E (as well as other antioxidants), enhancing their effectiveness.
Because it dissolves in both water and fat, this so-called “universal antioxidant” is able to scavenge more wayward free-radical cells than most antioxidants, the majority of which tend to dissolve in either fat or water but not both. Alpha-lipoic acid can reach tissues composed mainly of fat, such as the nervous system, as well as those made mainly of water, such as the heart.
Also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid, alpha-lipoic acid is mainly derived from dietary sources (spinach, liver, brewer’s yeast), although scientists have discovered that the body does manufacture small supplies of its own. In order to get the concentrated doses needed to treat specific ailments, however, many experts recommend supplements.
In addition to functioning as an antioxidant, this hard-working nutrient assists the B vitamins in producing energy from the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats consumed through foods.
…
Studies indicate that alpha-lipoic acid supplements hold promise for treating various disorders, including HIV infection, liver ailments, and glaucoma. But it has been most intensively studied for preventing complications from diabetes.
Specifically, alpha-lipoic acid may help to:
- Treat symptoms of nerve damage in people with diabetes.
- Preserve brain function in aging adults.
- Prevent cancer.
- Lessen numbness and tingling.
- Protect the liver in cases of hepatitis and other types of liver disease.
- Combat chronic fatigue syndrome
- Reduce the incidence of cataracts
Further Links with Information:
The Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information Center
PDR Health
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
NewsTarget.com
More recently, alpha-lipoic acid has been reported to improve whole-body glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes, which if confirmed in larger studies, could help in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes along with other conditions associated with impaired glucose metabolism. Intravenous infusions of ALA have been used with outstanding results by physicians in Germany for more than 25 years to treat neuropathy, a common diabetic complication, and one that causes significant pain and discomfort.”
Leave a Reply