A Happier Diabetic Christmas with Atrient C and Alpha Lipoic Acid

If you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic, Christmas requires a hefty dose of willpower, which isn’t always readily available! Discover how supplements like Liposomal Altrient C and Liposomal Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) can offer essential support during this tricky time.

Diabetic dilemmas

The party season inevitably brings lots of temptations and the majority of us have a hard time resisting the sugar-laden Christmas treats. But for diabetics the consequences are far more serious than a few extra pounds. Controlling blood sugar levels is a daily battle with this condition and it certainly doesn’t get any easier over the Christmas holidays.

Insulin info

People with diabetes either can’t make enough insulin or the insulin they do produce is ineffective which results in increased sugar in the blood. Constantly elevated blood sugar levels trigger glycosylation, a cascade of reactions that damages proteins in the small blood vessels in the eyes, nerves, kidneys and larger blood vessels in the legs, heart and brain. This process can lead to some very serious health issues for diabetics so managing blood sugar levels helps to reduce the risk of complication such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, stroke, neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney disease, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Vitamin C and diabetes

Diabetes increases oxidative stress and free radical damage which consequently damages the body’s antioxidant defences. Vitamin C is a primary antioxidant and research shows that type 2 diabetic patients have at least 30 per cent lower levels of vitamin C than those without diabetes. These statistics suggests that vitamin C supplementation could be of great benefit for diabetics. Altrient C contains a highly absorbable and bioactive liposomal form of vitamin C making it one of the best supplements of vitamin C currently available. Further research shows that supplementing with high doses of vitamin C (1000mg/d), helps reduce the risk of diabetic complications in several ways including:

improving insulin sensitivity and blood vessel health in patients with coronary heart disease.
preventing sorbitol from accumulating in cells, which can damage tiny blood vessels in the eye.
reducing the development of type 2 diabetes by inhibiting insulin resistance and reducing oxidative stress.
improving the synthesis of collagen, an important component of cartilage, skin tissue and blood vessels.

Alpha Lipoic Acid and diabetes

Alpha lipoic acid, also known as ALA, is used in Europe to help support and prevent complications associated with diabetes such as cataracts, macular degeneration and neuropathy. Researchers have found that ALA enhances sugar uptake and may help diabetics reduce their reliance on insulin. In fact, supplementing with ALA has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity by 18-20 per cent and improve acute symptoms. In fact, in some European countries like Germany Alpha Lipoic Acid is medically approved in Germany for as a clinical protocol for adult onset type 2 diabetes.

Choose liposomal forms of vitamin C and ALA

Give yourself an extra happy Christmas and get started on Altrient C and Altrient R-ALA. The technology behind these dynamic liposomal nutrients makes them the most bioavailable supplements on the market delivering maximised absorption. Now you can sail through Christmas knowing that you have the most powerful antioxidant protection on your side.

Mitochondria re-charge

It has been suggested that insulin resistance and high blood sugar - the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes - are caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Research shows that combining ALA with Acetyl L-Carnitine brings even greater benefits as this dynamic combination helps improve mitochondrial function.

Healthy blood sugar balance

Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and controlling blood sugar levels is extremely important. This careful approach is equally important during Christmas, but needn’t completely ruin your festive fun, so long as you don’t throw caution to the wind! Here are some diabetes dietary do’s and don’ts to help you manage your blood sugar this Christmas, alongside supplementing with Altrient C and Altrient ALA.

Diabetes Dietary Do’s	Diabetes Dietary Don’ts
Plan ahead Eat lots of veggies at meals Eat berries rich in antioxidants Eat wholegrains - brown rice, oats, barley etc. Enjoy a slice of Christmas turkey Eat healthy fats - nuts, seeds, avocado, salmon, tuna, mackerel	Eat too many refined carbs or starchy veg – white rice, potatoes, sweetcorn, peas, parsnips, pumpkin, butternut squash etc. Eat dried fruit - it's high in sugar! Drink sugary soft drinks Drink more than 1-2 glasses of wine a week Eat fatty meats - sausages, bacon, ham and steak Eat lots of Christmas cake, mince pies and marzipan!

By Jacqueline Newson BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy

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