Diabetes and liver cirrhosis are two distinct health problems, although certain people may have both these health problems simultaneously. The American Diabetes Association states that 8.3 percent of the American population has diabetes, while New York Presbyterian Hospital reports that about 27,000 Americans die each year from cirrhosis and other chronic liver problems. If you have one or both of these conditions, speak with your doctor about the merits and drawbacks of natural treatment measures, including diet and nutrition.
About Diabetes and Cirrhosis
People with cirrhosis may be more likely to develop diabetes than others. Approximately 30 percent of people with liver cirrhosis also have diabetes mellitus, states Diego Garcia-Compean and colleagues in a January 2009 article published in the "World Journal of Gastroenterology." Common signs and symptoms associated with diabetes include fatigue, blurred vision and increased thirst and urination. Commonly experienced symptoms associated with cirrhosis include abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea and vomiting and fluid accumulation in your legs.
Dietary Practices for Diabetes
Diabetes is a health condition that requires the use of certain dietary practices to help manage your condition. In their book "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," naturopathic physicians Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno state that avoiding consumption of all simple, refined and concentrated carbohydrates is particularly important in treating your diabetes. Helpful dietary inclusions for this health purpose include high-fiber foods, onions, legumes and garlic. Fish and low-fat dairy products may be the most beneficial protein sources for diabetics.
Cirrhosis Dietary Approach
One of the most helpful dietary approaches in treating your cirrhosis involves increasing your consumption of carbohydrates while limiting your total fat intake to between 60 and 80 grams per day, states certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Helpful dietary additions in treating this condition may include almonds, brewer's yeast, seeds, grains, prunes, wheat bran, kelp, dulse and raw goat's milk. Consider reducing or eliminating your consumption of animal protein.
Disclaimer
Both diabetes and liver cirrhosis are serious conditions that require the care and attention of a qualified health care practitioner. When these conditions occur simultaneously, it is especially important to follow the treatment suggestions offered by your primary care provider. Avoid using diet and nutrition in place of other, more conventional treatment strategies prescribed by your doctor. Some foods that have traditionally been used in treating these conditions may require more rigorous clinical trials to prove their efficacy.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Statistics
- New York Presbyterian Hospital: Liver Disease Statistics
- "World Journal of Gastroenterology"; Liver Cirrhosis and Diabetes; Diego Garcia-Compean et al.; January 2009
- "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine"; Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.; 1998
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
