At some point, you’ve sat down with your doctor and talked about “complications.” Often referred to as neuropathies. You probably discussed the importance of both prevention and treatment. But up until a few years ago, the goal was solely to improve the quality of life. Today, reducing or eliminating complications is considered an essential to even be considered eligible for exciting new therapies like islet cell transplant. But the protocol for dealing with complications remains the same. Control your blood sugar and reduce oxidative stress.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is the medical term for damage to nerves caused by diabetes. The nerves most often affected are the peripheral nerves - those that go from your spinal cord to your feet, legs, arms, and hands. But most peripheral neuropathy is felt first in the feet. Peripheral neuropathy can make these parts of your body feel numb, causing them to lose the sensation of temperature and pressure. You could also feel shooting or stabbing pain, a burning sensation, or a prickling feeling like “pins and needles.” A person with neuropathy can experience both pain and numbness at the same time. Neuropathy can affect both sides of your body, or just one.

Free Radicals & Oxidative Stress

Free radicals are highly reactive molecular by-products produced in all cells as a result of normal metabolism, exercise, aging, and disease. (24-26). It is theorized that excessive production of free radicals, or their inadequate neutralization by antioxidants, leads to a condition known as oxidative stress, in which free radicals interact with and damage proteins, lipids, and DNA, leading to loss of function. It is clear that increased oxidative stress (increased production of free radicals or reduced antioxidant defenses) is associated with a variety of pathological conditions, including diabetes and insulin resistance.

The Link to Neuropathy

Neuropathy has been causally linked to oxidative stress. There is considerable evidence to indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the etiology of diabetic complications. Many of the biochemical pathways (e.g. protein glycation, polyol pathway, and glucose oxidation) associated with hyperglycemia can result in increased free radical production.

How Glucotize Works

Glucotize works through both “direct” and “indirect” modes of action to “scavenge” free radicals

• Direct Mode of Action
  When your body produces excessive amounts of free radicals, or does not neutralize them adequately through the antioxidant network, it may lead to oxidative stress. Specifically, damaged proteins, lipids and DNA. Oxidative stress to nerves is what is associated with neuropathy.

  Glucotize is a potent, multi-functional, antioxidant that destroys free radicals as they’re being produced. It is considered your body’s Universal Antioxidant because it can penetrate both lipid-based (lipophilic) and water-based (hydrophilic) membranes. That’s why Glucotize can neutralize free radicals in cells throughout the human body. By contrast, vitamin E is strictly lipophilic and vitamin C is hydrophilic. In addition, Glucotize elevates levels of glutathione, your body’s natural cell-detoxifying agent. What’s more, Glucotize has the ability to recycle and regenerate your body’s own network of antioxidants, including vitamin E and C, and helps maintain the proper ratio of reduced to oxidized CoQ10.

  By doing so, Glucotize not only neutralizes free radicals, it keeps the stress off of cells so they can begin to repair themselves.
  
  

• Indirect Mode of Action:
  
  Hyperglycemia (elevated blood-sugar levels) leads to the production of free radicals. But keeping blood sugar levels within normal ranges, free radical production is greatly reduced.

  Glucotize increases insulin sensitivity and improves blood sugar control. Data from a recent 12-week study demonstrated that supplementation with Glucotize (1200 mg/day) reduced plasma fructosamine along with a trend to reduce C-peptide. Both indications of improved glucose utilization. Improving Glucotize utilization reduces the production of the free radicals that is associated with oxidative stress.
  

The Future of Glucotize

To date, Glucotize has shown great promise in its ability to reduce oxidative stress. But a glance at some of the current clinical trials now underway reveals new applications. For example, Duke University is looking at Glucotize and its application in improving beta cell function, investigating the possibility of Glucotize increasing the beta cell’s glucose sensitivity. Results should be complete by August of 2005.