Diabetes Can Lead to Obesity and Impact on Knee and Joint Pain

Diabetes is rapidly becoming of epidemic proportions in the United States . We believe there are several causes among the obvious: increasing sedentary population dependent upon technology; increasing lack of nutrient content of foods; increasing reliance on processed foods; and, lack of nutritional education especially for children.

In fact some experts are now calling this trend the diabesity epidemic, combining the fattening of the population with the diabetes increase. Not only does this trend foretell major health issues occurring at earlier ages, but predicts chronic joint, especially knee and back problems, to be also of epidemic proportions. To complicate the issue, we’ll see an increase of treatment (Rx Pain Meds and surgeries) to address the symptoms rather than the cause which is nutritional deficiencies.

Dr Ray Strand is on the leading forefront of Nutritional Medicine and he addresses the concept of cellular nutrition where high doses of quality anti-oxidants and vitamins/minerals give the body the nutrients it needs to combat oxidative stress which is the root cause of degenerative disease such as arthritis, non-specific knee and joint pain, and diabetes to name a few.

The latest Health Nugget from Doctor Strand.

Antioxidant Supplementation May Reduce Risk of Diabetes:

In a new clinical trial, 48 overweight young adults that had signs of pre-diabetes were given a cocktail of antioxidants for 8 weeks. This cocktail included Vitamin E (800 IU), vitamin C (500 mg), and beta-carotene (10 mg). After eight weeks the patients had a significant increase in insulin sensitivity along with decreased oxidative stress. Their arteries also functioned much better with less inflammation.

Whenever I see studies that combine several different antioxidants rather than just looking at one particular one, I see much better results. This is why I always recommend the concept of cellular nutrition. Cellular nutrition is defined by taking a wide variety of antioxidants along with their supporting nutrients at these optimal levels that have been shown to provide a health benefit in our medical literature.

Vincent HK, et al. Effects of antioxidant supplementation on insulin sensitivity, endothelial function, and oxidative stress in overweight young adults. Metabolism, 2009 Feb;58(2):254-62

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Knee Pain - Can't Sleep

MyAchingKnees.com received another question on sleeping with chronic knee pain. Joyce from Eugene, Oregon asked: "I have knee pain, and at night it is at it's most severe when I try to go to sleep. Do you have any recommendations on sleeping with knee pain?"

I e-mailed Joyce back basically telling her this, which I am posting here because there have got to be more people with this chronic knee pain - not sleeping problem.

You have got to treat the causes of knee pain and not the effects,...insomnia or trouble sleeping. Although Rx Pain Meds may be a viable solution to some, I would suggest starting with high doses of pharmaceutical quality nutritional supplements (multi-minerals and anti-oxidants) and add an alike quality optimizer such as Glucosamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids - this is what I do.

I also have used on our products called "Pure Rest" which is a pharmaceutical grade Melatonin at 2 mg per tablet. Pharmaceutical grade means, of course, that the product receives a U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) label for meeting USP laboratory standards for potency, uniformity and disintegration.

I very rarely use Melatonin, but when I do I just let a 2 mg tablet dissolve under my tongue and 15-20 minutes later I drift off to sleep. I have tried 4 mg (2 tablets) and boy do I rack out hard! Nothing wakes me, but if you do not get seven to eight hours of sleep (at least for me) you'll wake drowsy.

Anyway Joyce, to give you an idea of the cost. A bottle of 56 tablets cots $17.94 retail, $16.61 wholesale and 10% off of that for scheduled orders.

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Comment on Hydrocodone and Vicodin

MyAchingKnees.com received a comment from Tom on the post concerning the "Reader Question on Nuraflex for Joint Pain Relief":

Tom's comment: "This product should not be taken as it lacks the resquisitos needed to be taken as it has no certificate. Would recommend taking medicines known as hydrocodone and vicodin."

MyAchingKnees response: While Rx Pain Meds such as hydrocodone and vicodin may be the only way for some with chronic joint pain to receive relief, these medications onlt treat the symptom of pain and may/will have some adverse side effects.

As I have written several times in the past year, I would just think a prudent person suffering from chronic joint pain would first try a regime of high quality nutritional and optimzers such as Glucosamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids. If they do not find substantial relief then maybe more risker solutions such as RxPain Meds and even surgery may be the only way to diminish the pain enough to add quality to their life.

I know that I will never, ever again take Rx Pain meds even NSAIDS. I have found a solution that not only treats the cause of my joint pain (knee and back pain), which is now non-existent, but has positively impacted my overall health and quality of life, but does not do so by putting me at risk with side effects. Again, I don't know for you, but it works for me.

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Reader Question on Nuraflex for Joint Pain Relief

MyAchingKnees.com received this question: "My friend was telling me she heard about an all natural product for chronic joint pain and osteo-arthritis called Nura-Flex. Have you heard about it and what do you think?"

No, I have not heard of Nuraflex, but did some research. This is one of many Off the Shelf (meaning non prescription) products that advertise to stop arthritis and joint pain. This particular product advertises 7 "Amazing Ingredients",.. ....Hyaluronic Acid, Nanomeds Collagen II, Devil's Craw Root Extract, Bromelain, Bosweilla Serrata Extract, Glucosamine and the last "Amazing Ingredient" is Chondroitin. "Amazing" is their terminology - not mine....and yes, I'm being sarcastic. I just have no faith in food grade, off the shelf products.

Nowhere on the website do I see a U.S. Pharmacopoeia certification or a guarantee for potency, purity and dissolution. The website advertises clinical trials, but does not elaborate.

I say let the buyer beware. If you are taking Joint Pain or Arthritis prescription drugs like Celebrex, Prednisone, Lyrica, Mobic or Prednisone then I would think this Nuraflex would have less side effects, but beware the products that 1- have no guarantee or are not manufactured to Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices.

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Lady Doesn't Believe Joint Supplements Work

I recently had a conversation with a woman in her early 50's who had just finished getting micro surgery on her knees. She told me she was still in alot of pain, four weeks after the surgery and still have very limited range of motion.

I asked her if she had tried nutritional supplements and optimizers to see if she can get some relief from the chronic joint pain. Now, considering this women is a teacher so she is educated and presumably well read to a large degree, her reply practically stunned me:......"Oh, I don't believe in those things. If the Doctor doesn't prescribe it for me, then it won't work."

Usually, I just disengage myself from such ignorance, but I continued on with her telling her that the pharmaceutical grade supplements that I take for my health and knees/joints wasn't prescribed to me, but they are every bit as pure and potent as any pain reliever or anti-biotic that a Doctor can prescribe and without the side effects. And have given me great results,....knee pain gone and I haven't been sick at all in over 5 years.

I told her, probably wasting my time, but told her nonetheless that she ought to read "What Doctor's Don't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You", and, "Death by Prescription", both by Doctor Ray Strand of the leading Nutritional Medicine experts in the United States. Available from Dr Strand's website, www.drraystrand.com or through the link at the right side of this site.

Anyway, this woman, who is much too young to be crippled up as she was, is an example of what I call "self handicapping community". These are people who don't don't take their health into their own hands and do many things to alleviate their own disabilities and suffering. For a start she could begin to educate herself and take steps to protect her health and minimize chronic joint pain through high quality pharmaceutical nutritional supplements. Some of these same people will think nothing of spending $50 a week on eating out but think $50 a month is much too much to spend on optimizing their health. Unbelievable!

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The Chair of Health

Alot of people ask me why I am so healthy and what do I do to remain that way. It is really a combination of things and I equate a person's health to a four legged chair,.....shorten too much of one leg and you'll be off balance, or remove one of the legs all together you'll tip over.

I do not advocate being a "Health Nazi". I eat garbage sometimes, .......because it taste good. I drink a very small amount of alcohol these days,.....maybe just a sip or whiskey or an occasional beer,.....although I would be much better off switching to red wine with ti's very high levels of the anti-oxidants resveratol.

I expose myself to some toxins and can to a better job of avoiding them, but compared to where I was years ago, my toxin exposure is fairly minimal. And, I do not work out like I used to. 50+ years of age have gave me other priorities rather than a svelt body and biceps,...but I am physically active and do two short weight training circuits a week.

But you have to do something to protect your health. A little bit of good is a whole lot better than nothing at all. You'll not only feel much better, but BE much better if you can incorporate what you can of the four legs of healths:

Eating As Well As You Can. The best foods for you are Low Glycemic and foods low in saturated fats. Fast food is not only not good for you,..it is actually bad for you. Get it? Not good, but Bad!

Take High Quality Nutritional Supplements. You just cannot eat well enough and in the necessary quantities in order to get all the required nutrients in the necessary high doses your body needs. You need to take a high dose of quality, and I don't mean off the shelf products, but actually products that are guaranteed for purity, potency, dissolution and efficacy. You can piecemeal your supplements either. You need them in ratios to each other and with supporting compounds or other nutrients so they can work synergistically to provide you with the required nutrients for optimal health.

Stay Physically Active. You don't need to work out like a Mad Man or Woman. In fact too much exercise creates it's own unique stressors to the body and depletes your store of nutrients more rapidly. Some type of moderate exercise to increase your heart rate and provide moderate stress to your major muscle groups. Time is the most common excuse to lack of an exercise program. But really that's just an excuse. You can get alot of exercise done, and good accomplished, in three to four 30 minutes sessions a week. Fast walking, stationary bicycling, stepping, weight circuit training are all quick types of exercise. When you get used to your routine change it up or do it at a quicker pace.

Keep Exposure to Toxins at a Minimum.It's crazy the amount of toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Most people aren't concerned about them since they are in such very small amounts,....but you add those amounts, day by day, week by week, and year by year and you see some problems associated the exposure. Paint fumes, gas engine exhaust, airborne pollutants, plastic by products from microwave cooking in plastic containers, daily household cleaners, your car's heater and air conditioning unit,....too many to account for.

Don't try to sit your life on a three legged stool,.....build your four legged chair of health.


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More Research on Vitamins B1, Vitamin C and Vitamin D

More Health Nuggets from one of America ’s leading experts on Nutrition Medicine. Doctor Ray Strand, author of several books, including

What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You” and Death By Prescription publishes weekly Health Nuggets passing the latest in research on how nutrients (vitamins, mineral and anti-oxidants) not only is essential for optimal health, but helps protects against degenerative disease. Dr Strand web site is wealth of information concerning Nutritional Medicine, click here to go to his site.

MyAchingKnees.com stands by the view that Chronic Joint Pain is a degenerative disease and caused or facilitated, in many cases, by a lack of nutrients provided to the body to combat oxidative stress which is the root cause of degenerative disease. We have made the decision to publish Dr Strands Health Nuggets even though there is a risk that people will try to “piece meal” their nutritional needs rather than take a supplement that is complete and has the nutrients in sufficient doses and in a pure and potent formulation so that the supplement can work synergistically to provide the body with the essential nutrients for optimal health.

Vitamin B1 Helps Reverse Early Kidney Disease in Diabetics

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) has been shown to reverse early signs of kidney disease in diabetics in a recent study reported in the journal of Diabetologia. Diabetes significantly increases the risk of kidney disease. Forty diabetic patients that had signs of protein in their urine, which is an indication of early kidney disease received vitamin B1 in supplementation. The researchers observed a 41% decrease in protein being excreted by the kidney and 35% of the participants saw their kidney function return to normal. Dr. Rabbani stated, “This study once again highlights the importance of vitamin B1 supplementation in our diabetic patients.

Vitamin C Supplementation Lowers C-Reactive Protein

Gladys Block, PhD, and her associates looked at nearly 400 participants who received vitamin C, vitamin E, or placebo for 2 months. They measured the amount of inflammation in the arteries by looking a blood test called C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Inflammation or elevated CRP is known to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. There was no effect for vitamin C in patients who had normal CRP levels; however, in those who had an elevated CRP, vitamin C users lowered CRP by .25 mg/L. This is the same level of reduction seen with statin drug treatment. Much of the clinical effectiveness of statin drugs is the fact that it lowers inflammation (CRP). Now simply supplementing with vitamin C accomplishes the same thing.

Block G, et al. Vitamin C treatment reduces elevated C-reactive protein. Free Radical Biol Med. 2008 Oct 10.

Vitamin D Deficiency is a Risk Factor for Heart Disease

A recent study review published in the American College of Cardiology details the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) in patients who have vitamin D deficiencies. They point out that vitamin D deficiency can lead to high blood pressure and thickening of the heart and blood vessels.

Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized, emerging cardiovascular risk factor, which should be screened for and treated,” stated study co-author Dr. James O’Keefe. You want to have your physician run a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level on your blood and you want that level to be at least greater than 50 and ideally greater than 60.

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