Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (96 page)

Alkalize, alkalize, alkalize.
Follow the recommendations in
Chapter 17
.

Try Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Several studies looked at the combined effect of Chinese herbs with Western treatment for pancreatitis. Patients who received traditional Chinese medicines had better outcomes. Miltiorrhiza, known as red sage, Chinese sage, tan shen, or dan shen, was given to rats and people with pancreatitis with protective effects. There are lots of other studies coming out of China on pancreatitis and herbs. I recommend finding a doctor of oriental medicine to help you with this.

Cystic fibrosis is covered well in
Digestive Wellness for Children
.

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic that’s increasing fast. In 1985 30 million people worldwide had diabetes. Today, one billion people have diabetes and a third of the children born each day are expected to have diabetes later in life. In the United
States, 23.6 million people, 7.8 percent of the population, have diabetes. Diabetes rates are highest in Native American populations, where the incidence of childhood diabetes can be up to 45 percent in some communities. Overall, the incidence of diabetes in Native American populations is 17 percent. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians are also more likely to develop diabetes than whites. Most people with diabetes have never been diagnosed. If you’ve never had your blood sugar levels looked at, do so.

You may recall that glucose is the main energy source for most of our cells; when blood glucose levels rise, the pancreas normally secretes the hormone insulin, which acts as a transporter, allowing glucose and amino acids to leave the bloodstream and be taken into the cells for use. This process, however, can go awry. Diabetes occurs when the body:

Doesn’t produce insulin

Or makes insufficient amounts of insulin

Or is resistant to insulin

Diabetes is a common chronic illness that runs in families, so children with parents or grandparents who have diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes than other children are.

Blurred vision

Darkened and velvety areas of skin, most typically in the armpits and neck folds

Fatigue

Frequent infections

Frequent urination

Increased appetite

Increased thirst