Can Immunocal help with diabetes?

Improve your Immune Function by Raising Glutathione

How are diabetes and glutathione related for your health?

Diabetics are generally considered immunocompromised, or deficient in their immunity by definition. They are prone to more infections than they can generally resist.

When a bacterial infection takes over, it is generally more serious for the diabetic since gangrene and sepsis can set in. For this reason, it is important to prevent and treat infections right away.

Even more importantly, for how to prevent diabetes in the first place, keep your immune system strong. If you are less prone to infection, then you are less likely to suffer some of the above complications of diabetes.

Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of elevated glutathione (GSH) levels in the following conditions:

• Immune system support against infection
• Decrease of oxidative stress from hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels)
• Decrease of platelet aggregation
• Prevention of vascular complications including :
  • Atherosclerosis (as well as heart disease and stroke)
  • Nephropathy (kidney damage)
  • Retinopathy (retinal damage)
  • Neuropathy (nerve damage)

It is well known that diabetics have an above-average risk for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death. So it would make sense that in a discussion on diabetes, we would also discuss how to prevent heart disease and stroke.

According to Dr. Jimmy Gutman in his book, “Glutathione, Your Key To Health” , in his chapter on Diabetes, “Most illness and death in diabetics is due to circulatory damage from 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. Diabetics are also more prone to cataracts and glaucoma.”

Regarding heart disease, we can see that poor circulation is the most common cause of illness and death among diabetics. Why is that true?

Poor circulation may be caused by a number of factors. This affects all of our organ systems, since they all depend on an adequate blood supply to receive necessary nutrients.

One of the main causes of poor circulation is the oxidation of fats, or lipid peroxidation. When fats are oxidised in our system, they become sticky and stick to our arterial walls. This in turn leads to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, which is a major risk factor for heart attacks and stroke.

Interestingly, there was a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found when you increase glutathione levels, your risk for a heart attack goes down. This is accomplished by a related enzyme named glutathione peroxidase.

When you raise your levels of glutathione, you also raise glutathione peroxidase, which this study shows prevents lipid peroxidation, which leads to heart attack and stroke!

Best ways you can prevent diabetes and its complications:

First, know your blood glucose levels, and if they are high, take preventive steps to bring them back into the normal range. This can be accomplished through proper nutrition and diet, regular moderate exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Additionally, since diabetics are immuno-compromised, you should keep your immune system strong by taking a glutathione enhancer.

Additionally, since diabetics suffer from poor circulation, attention must be given to preventing heart disease and stroke, as well. Much research has shown that raising glutathione levels does much to reduce lipid peroxidation, thus forming a very protective and preventive role in how to prevent diabetes.

Note how this medical journal summed up the role of glutatione in how to prevent diabetes here:

“Diabetics are prone to infections and circulatory problems leading to heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness. Glutathione protects against the complications of diabetes.“

– Clinical Science 91: 575-582, 1996