The Range of Options
Currently, diabetes is most reliably managed by insulin injections along with diet management and exercise. There is a plethora of so-called "herbal" or natural treatments. However, there is little to prove that any of these treatments are beneficial and some may even be harmful. In the mainstream medical community, a variety of surgical options are rising along with genetic manipulation of the body's cells. But even these treatments present challenges. And there are so-called complementary treatments that alone have no proven effect on diabetes, but they may have in impact on the overall well-being of the patient, which in turn affects his diabetes management.
"New" Old Treatments
The herbal and dietary supplement industry have made substances like echinacea household names. But, there is little evidence to support that many of these "treatments" live up to their hype. Although many of these herbs have been around for years, some of them have never been approved for treatment of diabetes. But, WebMD says that there are no recommendations for the use of any of these supplements as diabetes treatments, and some have even been outright banned by the FDA.
Cutting Edge Treatments
According to the website, pancreas transplantation has become an option for diabetes treatment. As with any surgery, there are risks, and no guarantees. The Mayo Clinic reports that in some patients, pancreas function drops off after about 5 years.
An alternative to pancreas transplant is islet cell transplant. Islet cells are the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Instead of doing an entire pancreas transplant, the Mayo Clinic says that islet cells can be harvested from a donor and implanted into the liver. Islet cells are placed in the liver because it is more accessible than the pancreas and the islet cells can produce insulin in the liver as well as the pancreas.
According to the CDC website, a third high-tech alternative diabetes treatment involves genetic manipulation. It is possible to manipulate the body's fat and muscle cells to transform them into "pseudo islet" cells. Pseudo islet cells are tissue cells that are genetically converted to produce insulin.
There has been some success with each of , however, there are still many challenges with each. And, a cure for diabetes is still years away.
A Little Less Extreme
If you're not ready for major surgery, some patients with both type1 and type 2 diabetes believe that acupuncture has helped alleviate their symptoms. However, according to one article by Robin Parks, MS (health.yahoo.com) acupuncture and massage are considered "complementary therapies." There is no scientific evidence to prove that acupuncture, massage or herbal treatments have any measurable effects on diabetes. However, such treatments may help patients with stress reduction which can, in turn, alleviate some symptoms of diabetes.
What's the Best Approach?
There is still much research to be done on the treatment of diabetes. Many new treatments are on the horizon. But, currently the best options remain controlling your blood sugar levels with diet, exercise and insulin management. There are still many "complementary" treatments that may help reduce stress and improve your overall health, but as always, consult with your physician before undergoing any alternative treatments of any kind.
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