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Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr.

Jimmy Gutman

DIABETES

Diabetes mellitus or ‘sugar diabetes’ is the most common glandular condition in North
America. It affects 10 to 25 million people, most of whom have yet to be diagnosed.
Diabetics run an above-average risk of developing heart disease and stroke, the leading
causes of death in the USA and Canada. Given that most types of diabetes and its
complications are related to life-style and environment, this is for the most part a
preventable problem.

Diabetes mellitus is an insulin disorder that impairs the body’s ability to metabolize
sugar. The important hormone insulin is responsible for the absorption of sugar into cells
for on-demand energy and into the liver and fat cells for energy storage. There are two
principal types of diabetes mellitus.

In type 1 diabetes mellitus, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed. With
regular injections of insulin, the patient may lead a normal life. Without it, he or she may
lapse into coma and die.

In type 2 diabetes mellitus, pancreatic production of insulin is diminished or the body


gradually loses its ability to utilize it. This is by far the most common form of diabetes
and is usually linked to bad eating habits, obesity and poor life-style.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are generally characterized by high blood sugar
(hyperglycemia) but in cases of overmedication or illness/stress during medication blood
sugar levels can plummet (hypoglycemia). Both events are potentially serious.

Hyperglycemia produces excessive thirst and urination, fatigue, weight loss, and
dehydration. Occasionally, life-threatening illnesses (hyper-os-molar coma or
ketoacidosis) may result from excessive sugar levels. These are medical emergencies
requiring immediate hospitalization.

Some diabetics take insulin injections or pills to lower sugar levels and are susceptible to
the complications of low blood sugar levels. This may happen because they take too
much medication, miss a meal, increase their energy expenditures, become sick or febrile,
or suffer any sort of stress. This condition too must be treated immediately. Usually, a
sweet drink or food is enough and produces rapid results.

Apart from the emergencies resulting from such blood sugar imbalances, most diabetics
fall ill from complications of diabetes itself, of which there are two types: reduced ability
to fight infection and damage to the circulatory system, including both small and large
blood vessels. These complications can cause symptomatic problems with the eyes,
muscle, kidneys and bladder. They can also reduce energy levels, promote thirst, and
cause tingling in the extremities. Cardiovascular plaque buildup is another result of
diabetic complications.

For information on how to naturally raise GSH (glutathione) levels contact:


“The CellularHealth Foundation” at (866)728.8865 or visit the website:
www.CellularHealth.org
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman

DIABETES AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Diabetics should be considered immune-compromised because they are prone to many


more infections than they can normally resist. Their immune systems may be
overwhelmed by thrush and other fungal infections of the skin and even of the
bloodstream. Bacterial infections are more common and their consequences are serious –
gangrene (especially of the toes and foot) and sepsis. Diabetics with any sort of infection
must always be treated immediately and aggressively.

Most illness and death in diabetics is caused by circulatory damage. This can include
heart disease, myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, stroke, renal
failure, neuropathy, blindness and other effects of impaired blood circulation. In fact,
diabetic complications are the major cause of blindness in the USA. Diabetics are also
more prone to cataracts and glaucoma.

GLUTATHIONE’S ROLE IN DIABETES


GSH plays an important role in the fight against diabetes. We have seen that it can
prevent circulatory problems such as arteriosclerosis and stroke – the main causes of
diabetic death. GSH also enhances the immune system. Many visits to the doctor or
hospital could be avoided if diabetics were less prone to infection. Elevated GSH levels
may help by providing:

• Immune system support against infection


• Decrease of oxidative stress from hyperglycemia
• Decrease of platelet aggregation
• Prevention of vascular complications including:
• Atherosclerosis (including heart disease, stroke)
• Nephropathy (kidney damage)
• Retinopathy (retinal damage)
• Neuropathy (nerve damage)

In this way, GSH can help weakened immune system combat bacterial infection and
fungal infection, support compromised circulation against hardening of the arteries
(arteriosclerosis), kidney failure (nephropathy), visual loss (retinopathy) and neurological
problems (neuropathy). It also retards oxidative stress and anemia in dialysis patients.

It is clear that the small blood vessels of diabetics are subject to accelerated degeneration,
but the causes of this particular illness are still being identified. Recent studies
demonstrate that diabetics are more prone than others to oxidative stress and free radical
formation. In fact, the blood and tissues of diabetics are marked by critically low GSH
levels.

R.K. Sundaram’s studies suggest that this antioxidant deficiency precedes the subsequent
complications of diabetes. K. Yoshida and his research group have shown that low or
weak GSH synthesis leads to increased cellular damage and other complications. Going
one step further, Thornalley’s trials revealed a correspondence between low GSH levels
For information on how to naturally raise GSH (glutathione) levels contact:
“The CellularHealth Foundation” at (866)728.8865 or visit the website:
www.CellularHealth.org
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman

and higher diabetic complications. S.K. Jain & R. McVie suggest that the low GSH
levels characteristic of diabetes play a role in impaired insulin secretion in uncontrolled
diabetic patients.

Many researchers have established a link between low GSH levels and a higher
likelihood of endothelial damage, with increased platelet aggregation.

Other researchers have looked more specifically at the relationship of GSH to isolated
complications such as hypertension, diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy, with favorable
results. The role of GSH in protecting red blood cells from oxidative damage in the case
of renal dialysis is also very promising.

CASE STUDY
Deana was a motivated, positive entrepreneur who developed a wellness health center
even though she suffered from a serious case of diabetes. Increasingly fatigued, this 32
year-old Texan continued to run her center even after receiving and rejecting a kidney
transplant, failing eyesight and dialysis treatments. Eventually she developed a chronic
foot infection that required weekly debriding of dead tissue. Her doctor feared that
amputation might prove necessary. She began taking high doses of the whey protein
isolate Immunocal and found her energy levels increased over several weeks. Kidney
function tests and hemoglobin levels improved. Medication doses for her anemia and
hypertension were decreased or eliminated. Peripheral circulation was better. Five
months later the foot was healed. Deana has since married and continues to run her
clinic.

CONCLUSION
Circulatory damage contributes substantially to diabetic complications and GSH helps
fight the oxidative damage that contributes to this damage. In fact, the blood and tissues
of diabetics are marked by critically low GSH levels. These complications could be
avoided or minimized if diabetics were less prone to infection, and elevated GSH levels
may help accomplish that.

REFERENCES TO DIABETES

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CERIELLO A, CURCIO F, DELLO RUSSO P, PEGORARO I, STEL G, AMSTAD P,


CERUTTI P. The defense against free radicals protects endothelial cells from
hyperglycemia-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 over-production. Blood
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For information on how to naturally raise GSH (glutathione) levels contact:


“The CellularHealth Foundation” at (866)728.8865 or visit the website:
www.CellularHealth.org
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman

CERIELLO A, GIACOMELLO R, STEL G, MOTZ E, TABOGA C, TONUTTI L,


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KAKKAR R, MANTHA SV, RADHI J, PRASAD K, KALRA J. Antioxidant defense


system in diabetic kidney: a time course study. Life Science 60: 667-679, 1997

For information on how to naturally raise GSH (glutathione) levels contact:


“The CellularHealth Foundation” at (866)728.8865 or visit the website:
www.CellularHealth.org
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman

Kashiwagi A, Asahina T, Nishio Y, Ikebuchi M, Tanaka Y, Kikkawa R, Shigeta Y.


Glycation, oxidative stress, and scavenger activity: glucose metabolism and radical
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MURAKAMI K, KONDO T, OHTSUKA Y, FUJIWARA Y, SHIMANDA M,


KAWAKAMI Y. Impairment of glutathione metabolism in erythrocytes from patients
with diabetes mellitus. Metabolism 38:753-758, 1989

RUDICH A, KOZLOVSKY N, POTASHNIK R, BASHAN N. Oxidant stress reduces


insulin responsiveness in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. American Journal of Physiology
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SUNDARAM RK, BHASKAR A, VIJAYALINGAM S, VISWANATHAN M, MOHAN


R, SHANMUGASUNDARAM KR. Antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in type II
diabetes mellitus with and without complications. Clinical Science 90:255-260, 1996

THORNALLEY PJ, MCLELLAN AC, LO TW, BENN J, SONKSEN PH. Negative


association between erythrocyte reduced glutathione concentration and diabetic
complications. Clinical Science 91:575-582, 1996

VIJAYALINGAM S, PARTHIBAN A, SHANMUGASUNDARAM KR, MOHAN V.


Abnormal antioxidant status in impaired glucose tolerance and non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus. Diabetic Medicine 13:715-719, 1996

YOSHIDA K, HIROKAWA J, TAGAMI S, KAWAKAMI Y, URATA Y, KONDO T.


Weakened cellular scavenging activity against oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus:
regulation of glutathione synthesis and efflux. Diabetologia 38:201-210, 1995

For information on how to naturally raise GSH (glutathione) levels contact:


“The CellularHealth Foundation” at (866)728.8865 or visit the website:
www.CellularHealth.org

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