The number of complimentary and alternative care medical treatments that are sold to cure or prevent diabetes and its complications are enough to full up a whole book- but in reality there are only a handful that are beneficial. The internet is inundated with sites selling cures for diabetes with powerful ads, astonishing claims, but very few scientific data. For the consumer the alternative health care market is a maze because each claim is stronger than the one before. There are thousands of anecdotal reports, which attest to the fact that these supplements cure diabetes, prevent heart attacks, improve sex life, and even restore memory.
Unfortunately, the alternative health care market is flooded with charlatans whose only ambition is to make money off desperate people- offering false promises.
The few alternative health care supplements that have been shown to be of benefit both in diabetics and those with heart problems are the following:
- alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
- chromium
- Coenzyme Q10
- garlic
- Magnesium
- omega-3 fatty acids
Of these six, only omega 3 fatty acid has lived up to expectations. The data on the other five supplements are not reproducible nor can they be verified. Some people say these supplements do wonders and others say the exact opposite. Until controlled clinical trials are held, the status of these supplements will always be questionable.