AIM GlucoChrom ™
Blood sugar (glucose) problems are becoming increasingly prevalent
among industrialized nations. A Western diet that is low in dietary
fibers—and rich in processed sugars, fats and simple
carbohydrates—contributes to an imbalance in the body’s ability to
manage glucose levels.
AIM GlucoChrom™ contains natural herbs and trace minerals to help
support stable blood sugar levels and provide better balance for this
aspect of your health.
Blood sugar
Blood sugar is the amount of sugar (glucose) we have in
our blood. When we eat, the body breaks down the carbohydrates in foods
to produce sugars. The sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, which
carries it to every cell in the body. Blood sugar fuels the cells,
providing them with the energy they need to keep us healthy. It is
extremely important that glucose levels in the blood remain consistent
and not be too high or too low. How insulin works
The amount of glucose in the blood is largely controlled
by insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas.
When the level of glucose in the blood permeating the pancreas is
elevated, insulin secretion is increased. When it is low, the rate of
insulin secretion is low. Healthy individuals secrete
enough insulin to efficiently metabolize glucose. Any unused sugar not
accepted by the cells is turned into glycogen and is stored in the liver
or muscle tissue for future use as energy when the body needs it.
When the body is unhealthy, the pancreas secretes too much insulin, and
the cells are unable to accept and efficiently use glucose. Elevated
glucose and fats remain in the blood and may result in abnormally high
cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which over time, can damage the
vital organs, causing heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
Inefficient insulin production and the inability to efficiently use
insulin can lead to adult onset (Type II) diabetes mellitus and its
related complications. An estimated 16 million adults in the United
States and Canada suffer from Type II diabetes. Another six million
adults may have diabetes but do not know it.
In recent years, children and adolescents have become at increased risk
for the disease (as never seen before) due to dramatically rising rates
in adolescent obesity. (Journal of Pediatrics May 1996)
Metabolism and diet
As we’ve seen, the body needs a constant level of
glucose in the blood, but a careful balancing act must be achieved for
proper metabolism to take place. Dieting is the most obvious way to
maintain insulin.
With reduced amounts of insulin in the blood (within normal limits), fat
cells are less inclined to store fat, and weight loss may become easier.
By contrast, those who are overweight may have insulin resistance, or
the inability of the cells to accept and efficiently use glucose. Fat
cells respond to increased levels of insulin in the bloodstream by
storing even more fat. Quite simply, high insulin levels build fat,
while low insulin levels break down stored fats and sugar. For those
attempting weight loss, the management of glucose levels becomes a
challenge. The problem becomes further complicated when
we consume a diet high in simple carbohydrates, fats and processed
sugars that the body cannot easily assimilate into beneficial glucose
(energy) for cells.
“A healthy diet and modest physical activity can help people cut their
risk for developing” diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. “Studies show that the progression of
prediabetes to diabetes can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle
changes,” states the CDC. (Koplan 2003) Chromium
Chromium is considered an essential trace element that
improves the body’s response to efficiently use insulin. It plays an
important role in the biological process by regulating the movement of
glucose out of the blood and into the cells, thus maintaining stable
blood sugar levels. Chromium also aids in the synthesis
of fats, cholesterol and proteins in the blood, thereby reducing the
risk of cardiovascular disease. Here, it is interesting to note that,
among other symptoms such as increased thirst and weight-gain,
prediabetics often show signs of elevated triglyceride and cholesterol
levels prior to full onset of the disease. (Healthwell 2004)
How does chromium react with insulin?
Scientists think that chromium becomes a “cofactor” to
insulin to gain access to the cell membrane, thus allowing glucose to
enter the cells. With increased sensitivity to insulin, the cells of the
body absorb glucose out of the blood. As the level of insulin in the
blood falls, fat cells are less inclined to store fat, and weight loss
therefore, becomes easier. Because of chromium’s close
relationship with insulin, chromium has been studied as a supplement for
use in diabetics to help regulate abnormalities in blood sugar levels.
Numerous studies indicate that abnormal glucose levels in prediabetics,
and Type II (noninsulin-dependent) diabetics can be managed successfully
through diet, exercise and nutritional support. When used in combination
with exercise, chromium provides even greater benefit by helping to
regulate the body’s use of glycogen, or stored sugar. (Mindell and
Hopkins 1997) Chromium is a naturally occurring substance
found in drinking water and soil. Concentrated sources are also found in
food substances such as whole grains, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, sugar
and molasses, but when processed, many of these foods are stripped of
their natural chromium. Modern farming practices have
further reduced natural forms of chromium found in our food, since many
crops today are grown in nutrient-depleted soil. A
chromium deficiency can produce diabetic-like symptoms, such as high
glucose levels and decreased insulin-binding. When we consume a diet
high in processed grains and sugars, deficiencies in chromium are
exacerbated because metabolizing these foods requires more chromium than
they provide. (Healthwell 2004) Vanadium
Vanadium is an ultra-trace mineral found in very small
amounts in seafood; grains such as oats and buckwheat; radishes;
cabbage; carrots; dill; parsley; corn; vegetable oils such as olive,
sunflower and safflower; and in soy. Increasing evidence
suggests that vanadium is an essential micronutrient needed for cellular
metabolism, and it may play a role in reducing cholesterol.
In 1899, it was found that vanadium could decrease blood sugar levels,
but it was not until the late 1970s that vanadium’s insulin-like action
was first described. Vanadium is thought to activate
insulin receptors—making the cells more receptive to insulin—and through
this, exert insulin-like action. Vanadium improves
insulin sensitivity. (Cohen et al. 1995) It is also useful as a
supplement for Type II diabetics, resulting in modest reductions of
blood sugar and hepatic (liver) insulin resistance (Boden et al. 1996)
Vanadium also decreases hypersecretion of insulin.
(Head 1997) Hypersecretion, or the excessive secretion of insulin from
the pancreas, sometimes occurs as the result of poor diet and it can be
associated with the metabolic disorders associated with aging.
Bitter melon
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a tropical fruit
that grows in parts of Asia, East Africa, and South America. It has been
used for ages as a folklore remedy for diabetes mellitus, and has gained
recognition in recent years for its polypeptide properties.
Bitter melon may help to lower blood sugar levels by increasing the
activity of hexokinase and glucokinase, the enzymes in the body that
convert sugar into glycogen, which is then stored in the liver and used
later for energy. In this way, bitter melon was found to
reduce blood sugar by improving glucose utilization by the liver. (Sarkar
1996) The authors of another study suggest that bitter
melon may cause a renewal and recovery of the insulin-producing beta
cells of the pancreas. (Ahmed et al.1998) Other research found that 100
ml of bitter melon juice was found to improve glucose tolerance by 73
percent in a standard glucose tolerance test. (Welihinda et al. 1986)
Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre—also known by the Hindi name Gurmar
which literally means “the destroyer of sugar”— is a woody climbing
plant native to the tropical forests of central and southern India.
Today, G. sylvestre is known to stimulate insulin secretion while
lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and is favored for
long-term use as a supplement for bloodsugar stabilization.
G. sylvestre has been used with success in patients suffering diabetes,
and is noted for reducing insulin requirements and lowering fasting
blood glucose levels. (Shanmugasundaram and Rajeswari et al. 1990)
G. sylvestre may also improve the health of the pancreas by regenerating
beta cells. (Shanmugasundaram and Gopinath et al. 1990)
How to use AIM GlucoChrom™
Q & A
Who should use AIM GlucoChrom™?
-
Anyone who is at risk for high blood sugar or Type
II (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes may benefit from using AIM
GlucoChrom™. Those who want to promote fat-loss and maintain
healthy, fat-free mass should consider using AIM GlucoChrom™. Anyone
interested in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the
blood may find AIM GlucoChrom™ helpful as part of a healthy diet
program.
Is there anyone who should not use AIM GlucoChrom™?
May I take AIM GlucoChrom™ with other supplements or
medication?
Are there any side effects?
References
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Ahmed, I., et al. “Effects of Momordica charantia
Fruit Juice on Islet Morphology in the Pancreas of the
Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rat.” Diabetes Res Clin Pract 40, no. 3
(June 1998): 145-51.\
-
Baskaran, K.; B. Kizar Ahamath; K. Radha
Shanmugasundaram; and E.R. Shanmugasundaram. “Antidiabetic Effect of
a Leaf Extract from Gymnema sylvestre in Noninsulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus Patients.” J Ethnopharmacol 30, no. 3 (October
1990): 295-300.
-
Boden, G.; X. Chen; J. Ruiz; G.D. Van Rossum; and S.
Turco. “Effects of Vanadyl Sulfate on Carbohydrate and Lipid
Metabolism in Patients with Noninsulin- Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus.” Metabolism 45, no. 9 (September 1996): 1,130-5.
-
Cohen, N.; M. Halberstam; P. Shlimovich; C.J. Chang;
H. Shamoon; and L. Rossetti. “Oral Vanadyl Sulfate Improves Hepatic
and Peripheral Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Noninsulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus.” J Clin Invest 95, no. 6 (June 1995): 2,501-9.
-
Head, K.A. “Type I Diabetes: Prevention of the
Disease and Its Complications.” Alt Med Rev 2, no. 4 (1997):
256-281.
-
Koplan, J.P., M.D., M.P.H., “Diabetes: Disabling,
Deadly and on the Rise,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, March 2003.
-
Mindell, Earl L, R.Ph., Ph. D. What You Should Know
About Herbs, Supplements, Trace Minerals, and Homeopathic Remedies,
2000.
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Sarkar, S., et al. “Demonstration of the
Hypoglycemic Action of Momordica charantia in a Validated Animal
Model of Diabetes.” Pharmacol Res 33, no. 1 (January 1996): 1-4.
-
Shanmugasundaram, E.R.; G. Rajeswari; K. Baskaran;
B.R. Rajesh Kumar; K. Radha Shanmugasundaram; and B. Kizar Ahmath.
“Use of Gymnema sylvestre Leaf Extract in the Control of Blood
Glucose in Insulin - Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.” J Ethnopharmacol
30, no. 3 (October 1990): 281-94.
-
Shanmugasundaram, E.R.; K.L. Gopinath; K. Radha
Shanmugasundaram; and V.M. Rajendran. “Possible Regeneration of the
Islets of Langerhans in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats Given Gymnema
sylvestre Leaf Extracts.” J Ethnopharmacol 30, no. 3 (October 1990):
265-79.
-
Welihinda, J., et al. “Effect of Momordica charantia
[Bitter Melon Fruit] on the Glucose Tolerance in Maturity Onset
Diabetes.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 17, no. 3 (September 1986):
277-82.
AIM GlucoChrom in Canada
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