Cellular metabolism and insulin dependent diabetes

[ron45]

While I am aware of there being problems with cellular metabolism I don't yet know much of the story. I have been encouraging my wife to walk with me when her glucose readings are high. This is frequent and the number swings can be the poster child for brittle. Try 975 on the ER's equipment. Consumer testing stuff stops often at 600. I have no medical education I have just been around her and her condition since maybe three years before the discovery of diabetes in her system in 1974. So I feel like I know enough to be dangerous. I hope this isn't just some tweety, twitty social network and that there some people with medical knowledge about celular metabolism and if it can be bump started into action again by exercise or substances that claim to cause the mitochondria to move into a higher rate of activity - cordyceps mushrooms grow at high altitudes in the Hymalayas as many of you might already know.

Some mushrooms are grown in a controlled environment in Nevada, that mimics the air pressure and temperature and humidity. They claim it is more potent than the stuff in the mountains. I'm going to begin taking it to see what happens. Not sure how I will know and I am skeptical about such stuff. They sell it by the u s pound or in little bottles. I haven't yet found out how they know it increases mitochondrial activity in the cell. There are many such products making the same claim. I like the fact it's produced in the U S. And that it may stave off the extinction of the native variety.

Does anyone know of other substances that increase cellular mitochondria and more importantly will it do that for long term diabetics. Hope someone is interested in this sort of thing [ intervention in cellular metabolism ] I think one of the things working in Jennifer's favor is we have been taking suppliments since the 80's.


Ron


Edited to remove links and named companies

 

[Freema]

hey welcome here very interesting questions you ask and maybe hard to get answers to

hope you´ll enjoy this forum, there are peole in here with a more advanced knowledge than I have hope some of them will have some good inputs for you

I think what you ask for is knowledge on a very advanged level, and that this "knowledge" is mayby only at the moment at a theory , maybe even sometimes guesswork , and on a trial error level where not much is know as knowledge in a widespread population , not even among diabetics, maybe I am wrong...

mitochonadria is in every cell... , and the condition of the mitochondrias well maybe is of importance and what to do to help that I don´t know..

I have read somewhere that capsaisin that is in chilli can make the telomeres in the chromosomes last longer or keep them long longer time, when they are shortened so is the persosn lifespan as I have understood it..but if that plays a role in the harmony and preventing anything in diabetes I dont know...

hope someone have some good inputs here for you anyway

 

[Indy51]

I personally doubt that any supplement will work as well as diet and exercise to improve the outcome for Type 2 diabetics, with the possible exception of magnesium and Vitamin D3. The single most important thing IMO is controlling insulin and blood glucose to within the normal range as much of the time as possible. While there's excess insulin and blood glucose floating around in the body that will compromise cellular metabolism more than other factor, I'd assume. Hyperinsulinemia is probably the most dangerous factor for long term health of Type 2's.

 

[chalup]

This forum tends to be very focused on diet control for type 2 diabetes. There are many different ideas on just what that diet is but most agree it is highly individual. Low carb is the most common but others are vegan, vegetarian, low calorie, intermittent fasting, or variations. For almost all, eating to your meter is a technique that is invaluable. I will tag @daisy1 for the newcomer info. Most of it is basic but it is still worth a careful read. I brought my A1C down from nearly 100 to 37 in about 6 months using low carb and the help, ideas, and support from the folks on this forum. I have also lost nearly 50 pounds. Welcome to the forum, I hope to see more of you and also your wife is welcome here.

 

[daisy1]

@ron45

Hello Ron and welcome to the forum Here is the Basic Information, mentioned above, that we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 147,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

 

[ron45]

hey welcome here very interesting questions you ask and maybe hard to get answers to

hope you´ll enjoy this forum, there are peole in here with a more advanced knowledge than I have hope some of them will have some good inputs for you

I think what you ask for is knowledge on a very advanged level, and that this "knowledge" is mayby only at the moment at a theory , maybe even sometimes guesswork , and on a trial error level where not much is know as knowledge in a widespread population , not even among diabetics, maybe I am wrong...

mitochonadria is in every cell... as I know only one in each , and the condition of the mitochondrias well maybe is of importance and what to do to help that I don´t know..

I have read somewhere that capsaisin that is in chilli can make the telomeres in the chromosomes last longer or keep them long longer time, when they are shortenes so is the persosn lifespan as I have understood it..but if that plays a role in the harmony and preventing anything in diabetes I dont know...

hope someone have some good inputs here for you anyway

Thank you Freema, I appreciate your thoughts. I realize how difficult it is to separate wishful thinking from fact or worse intentionally misleading or partially ture statements in this field. Here in New Mexico capsaisin and it's parent plant chili, are almost a daily part of our diet. But I don't know how long my telemeres are yet. 73 next month and still kickin'

Ron