Nix Diabetes-Related Nerve Damage

What Diabetes-friendly treats did you enjoy this Thanksgiving? Tell us on our Facebook wall.
Wednesday December 1, 2010
In This Issue: Nix Diabetes-Related Nerve Damage Is Your Morning Coffee a SECRET WEAPON Against Disease? Fast Food for Breakfast! How Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes Featured Recipe: Roasted Carrots with Rosemary Nix Diabetes-Related Nerve Damage If you're doing everything you can with diet, exercise, and medical treatment and you're still suffering from diabetic-related neuropathy, or nerve damage, it may be time to look into other options. While there is some debate about what causes it, one popular theory is that neuropathy begins when nerve cells swell. Not surprisingly, this begins with high blood sugar, which is why it specifically affects people with diabetes. If you trace back the reasons for swelling several steps, it appears that glucose teams up with an enzyme to draw water into cells and not let it out. Thus, the cells swell in size to incorporate the water and cause damage to the surrounding nerves, and you get that tingling or "pins-and-needles" feeling. That's where alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA, comes in. This powerful antioxidant blocks the troublesome enzyme that leads to swelling. And because it's an antioxidant, it also protects cells against the damaging effects of free radicals, destructive molecules that are also thought to play a role in nerve damage. Researchers have looked into ALA more rigorously than they have most other alternative therapies, and the general consensus is that it CAN help people with nerve damage feel better. If you suffer from nerve damage, you know it's more than just tingling sensations in your extremities. It affects many aspects of your health including your sense of touch, pain, sexual function, and digestion. It can be debilitating. And that's why it's so important to treat it, and even more, to prevent it. ALA isn't as exotic as it sounds. Your body actually makes a little, and you also get some from eating foods such as spinach. But these forces don't provide enough to do battle against neuropathy. For that, you need a supplement. If you try it: Some of the best studies have used injected ALA, but there's evidence that pills can help control neuropathy, too. Suggested doses range from 100 to 600 milligrams. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment method. He will tell you if it's suitable for your lifestyle and condition, and the appropriate dosage to take. SPECIAL OFFER Is Your Morning Coffee a SECRET WEAPON Against Disease? YES! Breakthrough research has found there's phenomenal healing power in every cup – especially when it comes to lowering the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's, depression AND high cholesterol. What's more, you can now unlock the incredible healing power of everyday food to treat everything from colds to cancer in the most natural, most safe and delicious way possible! Get all the answers, the research-validated treatments and successful remedies you need to live pain free, disease free and worry free right now... Fast Food for Breakfast! Even when you're busy and eating on-the-go, it's possible to have a balanced, diabetes-friendly breakfast. These four combinations are just right: They contain the three key components of a healthy breakfast (protein, healthy carbs, and a fruit serving), and deliver the right calorie levels (roughly 300 calories) for a healthy start to the day. Pick one and make it a daily habit, or rotate through them as you wish. Either way, these breakfasts are super fast, yummy, and terrific for your health. • 1 hard boiled egg + 1 small low-fat bran muffin + 1 banana • 1 ounce low-fat string cheese + 1 whole-grain English muffin + 1 apple • 8 ounces low-fat yogurt + 1 ounce box whole-grain cereal + 1 orange or peach • 1 ounce walnuts + 1 whole-grain cereal bar + 1 pear or plum    SPECIAL OFFER How Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes Seeing spots? Double vision? It's not just the stuff of cartoons, these things can actually happen! Keeping your eyes healthy is essential if you have diabetes – especially as research confirms that people with diabetes are 60% more likely to develop cataracts. Discover nutritional tips to keeping your eyes safe, learn how eye health relates to your general well-being, and find out how often you need an eye exam… keep reading Roasted Carrots with Rosemary Roasted carrots are delectable, but what makes this recipe even more special is the shape of the carrots. Slicing into matchstick-like pieces creates a terrific texture and crunch you just don't get with larger carrot pieces. Ingredients 1 pound large carrots, peeled and cut into 2 x 1/4-inch sticks 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled Serves 6 Preparation 1    Preheat the oven to 400°F. 2    Mound the carrots on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the salt and drizzle with the oil, then toss gently. Spread into single layer. 3    Roast for 10 minutes. Stir in the rosemary and roast until crisp-tender and lightly browned in spots, 7 to 10 minutes. Per serving: 45 cal, 1 g fat (0 g sat), 8 g carbs, 1 g protein, 2 g fiber, 0 mg chol, 136 mg sodium Until next issue, here's to good health! Neil Wertheimer Editor in Chief, Reverse Diabetes In the Next Issue: The Extraordinary Powers of Papaya 90% of All Heart Attacks Can Be Avoided The Magic Number for Weight Loss Say Good-bye to Dieting for Good! Featured Recipe: Greek Spinach, Egg, and Lemon Soup
Become a Fan: Reverse Diabetes on Facebook      | Reverse Diabetes on Twitter
Reverse Diabetes is a newsletter that offers trusted advice and information to help you maintain stable, healthy blood sugar levels. You'll also get delicious diabetes-friendly recipes, valuable tips and much more. Unsubscribe | Subscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. If you have questions or comments, email the editors. Reader's Digest Association Reader's Digest Road Pleasantville, NY 10570-7000 Copyright © 2010 Reader's Digest Association, Inc. All rights reserved.