Type 2 Diabetes - Do Good Fats and Vitamin E Improve Insulin Sensitivity?

Diabetes is a complex disease in which the body does not metabolize carbohydrates and fats correctly. Up until now most efforts to control the condition have focused on carbohydrate metabolism. Investigators at B J Medical in Maharashtra, India, studied the effects of alpha lipoic acid, other omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, on Type 2 diabetes control.

Their study, reported in the Annals of Medicine and Health Science Research in July 2013, included 104 participants with Type 2 diabetes. Each diabetic was treated with:

• alpha lipoic acid,
• other omega 3 fatty acids,
• vitamin E, or
• a placebo.

After 90 days HbA1c percentages were lowered in all groups except the placebo group. Fasting blood sugars were also decreased slightly.

From these results it was concluded alpha lipoic acid, omega-3 fatty acid, and vitamin E could be used to improve insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism, producing better control of Type 2 diabetes.

Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha lipoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. These antioxidants are called essential fats because the body cannot make them from scratch.

Good sources of alpha lipoic acid include:

• broccoli,
• yeast,
• spinach,
• flax seed oil, and
• potatoes.

Alpha lipoic acid has already been approved for use in Germany - it is used in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, or pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet.

Alpha lipoic acid can be converted to either of the other omega-3 fats in the body, although factors such as high blood sugar or certain genes make this conversion unreliable Algal oil is a good source of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Fish are often recommended for omega-3 fats, but fish actually get them from algae. Eating algae provides omega-fats without the mercury.

Vitamin E is another antioxidant. Food sources include:

• fortified cereals,
• fruit,
• green leafy vegetables such as spinach, nuts, nut oils,
• vegetable oils such as corn, cottonseed, safflower, soybean and sunflower, argan oil, olive oil, wheat germ oil, and
• whole grains.

There is no established amount of omega-3 fats that people should get. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin E for people 14 years of age or older is 15 mg.

• many fortified cereals have more than 15 mg of vitamin E per serving. The exact amount can be easily obtained from the nutritional information on the back of the box.
• a spinach salad made with four cups of spinach provides 12 percent of the RDA from the spinach alone.. Toss in an ounce of sliced almonds for 36 percent. A tablespoon of olive oil will provide another 10 percent.

Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, it's possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate many of the complications you may already experience.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

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