Diabetics are deficient in a key hormone involved in regulating blood sugar levels. The hormone, called amylin, is normally secreted by the pancreas to help regulate the interaction between blood sugar, insulin, and glucagon.

It plays a critical role in minimizing post-meal blood sugar spikes through three main mechanisms. Mimicking the effects of amylin is a potential new strategy to reverse diabetes. The following nutritional strategies target the effects of amylin and may help reverse diabetes:

Prevention of glucose production

The liver produces glucose when energy supplies are low. Amylin normally inhibits glucose production after eating. However, diabetics continue to produce glucose because they lack amylin. This excess glucose production raises blood sugar levels.

The following suggestions may help mimic the inhibitory effects of amylin on glucose production:

1. Supplement with 5 grams of soluble fiber 10 to 20 minutes before eating a meal A fiber shake made with beta-glucans and cocoa polyphenols (antioxidants) is an excellent combination for inhibiting glucose production in the liver. Beta-glucans are soluble fibers found in oat bran. They help control sugar spikes by limiting the absorption of carbohydrates. Cocoa polyphenols potentiate the effects of blood sugar by preventing the digestion of soluble fibers.
2. Drink 1-2 ounces of apple cider vinegar 10-20 minutes after eating a meal Apple cider vinegar has been shown to optimize carbohydrate metabolism, eliminating the need for the liver to produce glucose. The exact mechanism is unknown.

slow digestion

The faster you digest carbohydrates, the greater the spike in blood sugar will be. Amylin slows down digestion and helps control blood sugar levels. Amylin-deficient diabetics quickly digest carbohydrates and experience sharp spikes in blood sugar.

The following strategies can help slow digestion and limit blood sugar spikes:

1. Drink 3 large glasses of water or unsweetened tea with each meal. Drinking fluids with meals decreases the rate of gastric emptying (the rate at which the stomach passes food into the small intestine).
2. Add 1-2 ounces of extra virgin olive oil to salads or whole grain breads with each meal. The healthy fats found in olive oil take longer to digest, mimicking the effects of amylin.

remove hunger

Hunger is the result of a complex interaction between brain chemicals and gut hormones. It drives food-seeking behavior in response to cellular energy demand. Hormones such as amylin and leptin are supposed to inhibit hunger once the energy demand is met.

But an amylin deficiency promotes overeating and disrupts normal sugar metabolism. The result is devastating for diabetics as blood sugar rises and body fat accumulates. The following suggestions may help suppress hunger:

1. Eat complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates fill you up. Eat plenty of whole grains, oat bran, and oatmeal.
2. Relieves systemic inflammation. Inflammation interferes with chemical signals originating in the intestines that are supposed to inhibit hunger. Adding the turmeric spice to your diet and supplementing it with fish oils can dramatically ease inflammation and curb hunger.
3. Supplement with Irvingia gabonensis, a plant from West Africa. A 2008 study showed an average weight loss of 28 pounds in 10 weeks with 300 mg/day of Irvingia. A preliminary publication in the magazine. Nutrition concluded that this West African plant could significantly inhibit hunger.

what you need to know

There is a good chance that diabetics have amylin deficiency. This leaves you at risk for higher blood sugar levels and excess body fat. Mimicking the effects of amylin is a new strategy to reverse diabetes.