Art (California) on 12/28/2021

This new meta-analysis (MA) of RCTs( December 2021) of the use of Berberine for T2DM is very enlightening and clearly illustrates that Berberine is a very good adjunctive treatment or possibly even a primary treatment option for T2DM :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8696197/

Here is an important quote from the full MA :

>>> ' Forty-six trials were assessed. Analysis of berberine applied alone or with standard diabetic therapies versus the control group revealed significant reductions in HbA1c (MD = −0.73; 95% CI (−0.97, −0.51)), FPG (MD = −0.86,95% CI (−1.10, −0.62)), and 2hPG (MD = −1.26,95% CI (−1.64, −0.89)). Improved insulin resistance was assessed by lowering FINS (MD = −2.05,95% CI (−2.62, −1.48)), HOMA-IR (MD = −0.71,95% CI (−1.03, −0.39)), and BMI (MD = −1.07,95% CI (−1.76, −0.37)). Lipid metabolisms were also ameliorated via the reduction of TG (MD = −0.5,95% CI (−0.61, −0.39)), TC (MD = 0.64,95% CI (−0.78, −0.49)), and LDL (MD = 0.86,95% CI (−1.06, −0.65)) and the upregulation of HDL (MD = 0.17,95% CI (0.09,0.25)). Additionally, berberine improved the inflammation factor. ' <<<

This multitude of positive health enhancements including reduction of inflammatory mediators IL-6 and Tnf-alpha as well as positive heart and kidney effects accompanied by a very good safety profile make Berberine a "must consider" option for people with diabetes. The added lipid improving effects are just the icing on the cake.

It seems likely that pulsing of Berberine dosing may prolong the effectiveness of Berberine over the longer term, helping to prevent the body from becoming resistant to its effectiveness.

Art

Replied By Art (California) on 12/29/2021

Hi Betty,

I am currently working with a friend who has type 1 diabetes. Blood sugar levels were out of control and hba1c was at a new all time high. This can only mean damage elsewhere in the body as well as beta cell damage. That is a cycle that has to be broken as quickly as possible.

I mentioned about Xylitol, straight Berberine and I.F. and the glucose numbers have come down dramatically to almost normal in about a month. A blood panel is scheduled for early February so we will get to see how the new levels are doing soon. My friend is very happy as the current glucose readings haven't been seen for years.

Art

Replied By Art (California) on 12/29/2021

Betty,

I forgot to discuss your brother.

The berberine complex is fine, but you probably want to make sure you use additional straight berberine to make sure he is getting equivalent dosing to equal effective dosing used in studies.

Melatonin is protective of the pancreas and at just 30% function in conjunction with the elevated inflammatory mediators associated with diabetes 1 & 2, melatonin is worth discussing with his doctor.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15683461/

High Dose Melatonin (HDM) is beneficial for diabetes itself via improvement in many of the markers and parameters associated with people with diabetes. Here is a study that illustrates the rapid effects of HDM of 250 mg/day in just 8 weeks :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7995760/

Intermittent Fasting (IF) should also be quite useful, but it may be worth waiting until his pancreas function has improved a bit. This combo of supplements is likely to improve insulin resistance which is going to be very important in the long term.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6194375/

Another good adjunctive will be fermented foods and I highly recommend that you read P. Raghavan's posts on that subject on Earth Clinic here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/kefir-for-type-ii-diabetes.html

There are many others, but these are relatively safe and once your brother has better pancreatic function, you can add some of those such as chromium and vanadium among many others.

As always, I am not a doctor, I am not giving medical advice, I am not giving dosing advice, I am giving ideas for your brother to discuss with his doctor to see if they can be helpful in improving his diabetes and to make sure these are compatible with all that your brother is taking, especially with the glucose numbers you mentioned as even the improved numbers are still very high.

Art

Replied By Betty (CA) on 12/30/2021

I look forward to the update on your friend.

I will add xylitol to my brother's regime.

He told me last mnth what his A1C was and I want to say it was in the 30's maybe. He said he was almost in a coma and had to go to the hospital.

Thank you!

Replied By Betty (CA) on 12/30/2021

Thank you, Art!

Kefir is now on the list. I have not heard of it before now.

He also takes NAC and melatonin (20mg B.I.D) but need to up the melatonin dose for sure.

We will also add straight Berberine and stay on the complex to since it seems to be working also.

I really do thank you for all your knowledge shared!

Replied By Art (California) on 12/31/2021

Wow, Betty, that number is really high!

Normal range is 4% to 5.6% and he is 30 something!

He is lucky to have you to help guide him back to a healthier path!

Art

Replied By Art (California) on 12/31/2021

Betty,

He can use the xylitol in place of sugar such as in coffee or tea. It comes closest to the taste of sugar, has a much lower glycemic index and acts as a prebiotic in the gut to help increase short chain fatty acids such acetate, butyrate and propionate. This will help improve the gut microbiome which is needed because gut dysbiosis goes hand in hand with diabetes.

As his blood glucose level comes down, his A1C will come down also and then he can add in IF as it is also very useful in lowering the glucose level as well as his elevated inflammatory levels and this will improve insulin sensitivity and relieve the burden being placed on his pancreas and beta cells to produce insulin.

If you notice, in that high dose melatonin study, melatonin improved many parameters toward heart protection and some of the parameters that lead to diabetes itself. These are important for the long term health of your brother as diabetes is very hard on the heart and kidneys, which melatonin in studies has shown the ability to help protect both. In general, diabetes increases oxidative stress levels in many of the bodies organs including eyes and skin which melatonin offers protective benefits to all of them in varying degrees.

Art

Replied By Jgny (Ny) on 12/31/2021

Please make sure if he has pets to keep them away from Xylitol! It can kill them.

Replied By Betty (CA) on 12/31/2021

Thank you very much, Art! He was in a dangerous critical position but came thru is why I got involved. I had no idea how bad it was, he kept it from us, smh.

He finally believes me that SOC will probably kill him if he doesn't advocate for himself and find high potency supplements to help. Proof is in the bloodwork.

I will find out what his A1C is as of now. I forgot to ask last time I talked with him.

Replied By Betty (CA) on 01/01/2022

Ah yes, I did read that. He has no animals.

Thank you for the information.