Jo’s Cafe

*Note*Diabetes in the News will be posted later in the week.

On this post someone comments about an alternative treatment for diabetes.  I posted a warning that I don’t recommend anything outside of normal, tested treatments.  Sounded like a FDA alert I did. 

Blah 

But I don’t want anyone to try something, find out it doesn’t work and blame me for allowing someone to post it on my blog.  Shit — fear of being sued really kicks in a lot doesn’t it? 

Anyway - the next day after responding to that comment, I get this in my email from the Mayo Clinic: “Alternative Diabetes Therapies — It’s Not All Voodoo“. 

Groan … okay, let’s check it out and see what they are saying.

“Natural Remedies for Type 2 Diabetes”

Diabetes treatment can include many elements, including traditional medications, alternative medicine, and natural remedies.

Alternative therapies encompass a variety of disciplines that include everything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes. Examples of alternative therapies include acupuncture, guided imagery, chiropractic treatments, yoga, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, relaxation exercises, herbal remedies, massage, and many others.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, defines complementary and alternative medicine as a “group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.” Complementary medicine is used with conventional therapy, whereas alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine.

Some people with diabetes use complementary or alternative therapies to treat diabetes. Although some of these therapies may be effective, others can be ineffective or even harmful. Patients who use complementary and alternative medicine need to let their health care providers know what they are doing.

Here are the sub-titles to further information in the article. Go to the link to read about each one.

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Chromium
• Ginseng
• Magnesium
• Vanadium
• Coenzyme Q10

The article goes on to page 2 with more information, very helpful and some that I already have investigated since becoming a diabetic.   However, the alternative treatment recommended by the noted commenter at the beginning of this post was not listed here.  Like anything else that is advertised anywhere, investigate before you jump. 

Additional Reading:  “10 Diabetes Diet Myths“