Diabetes Reverser - Alpha Lipoic Acid

This one is my favourite anti-oxidant, also known as ALA. Scientifically it is a fat soluble and water soluble antioxidant which means it can get into all parts of your cells to work its magic.  It also means it is one of the few substances which can cross the blood brain barrier.  Benefits for the brain may include providing some protection from stroke.

Most amazingly, it is understood to be able to bring back the liver from the brink of disaster - and we only have one liver for life!

Apart from processing alcohol - the liver has a large part to play in helping our immune system and also digestion of fats. Two very important functions.  In short, it's primary function is an organ of detoxification - this means with today's poor diet and exposure to environmental toxins daily - it has its work cut out for us.

The recent rise to fame of ALA and its use as a natural therapy seems to be aligned with Dr Burt Berkson who had an interesting experience in 1977.  He was asked to take care of a couple who had eaten poisonous mushrooms and were probably going to die due to acute liver damage.  Not being prepared to stand by and watch them die (since modern medicine could not assist them) he made some enquiries with some of his colleagues. He established that ALA had shown promise in the past with improving liver function.

He thus provided some large doses via IV to the two patients.  What happened next?  They made a full recovery and their liver function rapidly returned to normal with no permanent damage.

Anyhow my interest was sparked in ALA when I heard of this story.  This lead me down a path of research and further discovery which pointed towards ALA benefits with neuropathy (nerve damage) and also diabetes for blood sugar control.

What does the science say?  ALA appears to enhance insulin signaling, helping to bind it to its receptors and increasing the ability of the cells to take in glucose — possibly lowering insulin resistance (the signature feature of Metabolic Syndrome).

This action makes ALA a great tool for  managing blood sugar. It’s hardly coincidental that in Germany, ALA is an approved drug for diabetic neuropathy, the painful degeneration of nerves in the arms and legs

I referenced some ALA studies to a very close relative of Kate's, who has type 2 diabetes, insulin controlled.  He was provided with some ALA in capsule form and commenced a daily dosage of 200mg per day.  What happened next was rather astounding.

His blood sugar level typically was around 9 units with spikes up to 12 common after some types of meals.  Immediately after his first day of ALA he experienced a drop in his blood sugar which remained low after meals - when usually it would have spiked. Readings of his sugar levels reduced over following weeks down to as low as 4 which is getting unsafe due to it being too low.

It has now been about 3 weeks and he has had to halve his insulin dose not once, but twice.  He is maintining supervision with his doctor while waiting to see where it all leads.  It looks like the next step may be to cease insulin and go to medication only.  Beyond that - I wonder is a cure possible from one little antioxidant pill in standard sorts of doses??  Time will tell.

If you want to give it a try.  How much? 100 mg should do for a basic protective dose, though some experts recommend anywhere from 100-300 mg. If you’re diabetic, have blood sugar problems or liver disease, a dose of anywhere from 300-1200 mg is likely to kick start your health.

Another failed attempt at a short post - anyhow, until next time.

Cameron