Insulin is a hormone produced by small groupings of cells called the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin regulates the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood. Diabetics generally suffer from one of the two main forms of diabetes; either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the cells are resistant to insulin and unable to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. In both cases, it is not a matter of restoring insulin production, you must manage the available insulin. The primary method of supporting the pancreas and insulin production is a two-pronged approach -- diet and exercise.
Step 1
Consult your doctor and dietitian regarding a weight-loss plan. If you are overweight, losing weight helps your body utilize the blood sugar available in the bloodstream as well as reducing the cells' resistance to insulin.
Step 2
Break your meals into smaller meals spaced through the day. Rather than breakfast, lunch and dinner, enjoy six small meals at 2- to 3-hour intervals. By spacing your meals through the day, your body has time to break down and absorb the nutrients, proteins and carbohydrates. This maintains an even level of glucose in your bloodstream, taking some of the stress off of your pancreas.
Step 3
Add 1 hour of exercise to your daily routine. Walking 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes at lunch and 30 minutes after dinner is an easy way to incorporate exercise into your life. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise helps lower your blood sugar and reduces your cells' resistance to insulin.
Step 4
Reduce your blood sugar by incorporating complex sugars, or carbohydrates, in your diet. Complex sugars include fiber-filled foods such as beans, grains, legumes and fresh fruits and vegetables. Your digestive system breaks down and absorbs complex sugars slowly, allowing your pancreas to produce insulin at an even rate.
Step 5
Add brewer's yeast to your diet plan. Brewer's yeast is rich in chromium and B-complex vitamins. Chromium may help reduce blood sugars while B-complex vitamins work in the body to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins for energy.
Step 6
Sprinkle cinnamon over your desserts or in beverages. The December 2003 issue of "Diabetes Care" published the results of a study from NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan, showing that patients who took in 1, 3 or 6 g. of cinnamon daily had a small reduction in their fasting blood sugar.
Step 7
Drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Keeping your body hydrated helps all your organs function properly, especially if you have incorporated an exercise program into your daily routine.
Tips and Warnings
- Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Keeping your body in balance with a combination of diet, exercise and prescribed medications is essential to supporting your pancreas and insulin levels. Test your blood sugar regularly. As you lose weight, your body is able to use the available insulin more efficiently. Some patients are able to avoid using insulin by maintaining a healthy weight. Take oral medications as prescribed by your doctor. Diabetes caused by insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes, may respond to oral medications. Avoid alcohol and simple sugars which are absorbed directly into your bloodstream, taxing the pancreas' ability to produce enough insulin to control the excess sugars.
- Discuss all supplements with your doctor, including vitamin, mineral or herbal remedies. Some supplements may interfere with your medications and insulin. Do not substitute complementary and alternative treatments for your doctor's treatment plan. Failing to follow your treatment plan may result in amputation, blindness, heart attack, kidney disease or stroke.
Things You'll Need
- Brewer's yeast
- Cinnamon
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Diabetes - All Information; David Zieve, MD, MHA, et al.; May 2009
- Immunition Report; Diabetes -- An Epidemic with Hope; Frank M. Jordan
- Mayo Clinic; Diabetes management: How Lifestyle, Daily Routine Affect Blood Sugar; June 2011
- National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Diabetes and CAM; June 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Brewer's Yeast; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; March 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids ...; Khan A, et al.; December 2003
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