By Patricia Bannon
Sep 14, 2005

Research and treatment at the Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center has found significant results and benefits for all ages from a naturopathic treatment regimen for diabetes.

According to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a federally sponsored program, diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in school aged children today. The American Diabetes Association has stated the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes is higher than virtually all other severe chronic diseases of childhood. Each year, more than 13,000 children are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Coincidentally, because 10 to 15 percent of children and teens are overweight, double the number of two decades ago, increasing numbers of young people are developing Type 2 diabetes. Today more than 19 million Americans overall have diabetes, and one in three is not even aware of it.  Diabetes is now the fifth deadliest disease in the United States. It has been estimated that the annual economic cost of diabetes has exceeded $130 billion a year, or approximately one out of every ten health care dollars spent in the United States. Diabetes can be life-threatening, as diabetics have 4-6 times the risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. Other serious complications of diabetes can include heart disease, vision loss/blindness, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, and limb amputations.

There are several types of diabetes: Type I, which is a quick onset auto-immune disorder where a person¡¦s own antibodies attack and kill the pancreatic cells that make insulin; Type 1.5 diabetes, also known as LADA (Latent Auto-immune diabetes of the adult), which is a slow onset auto-immune form of diabetes; Type 2 diabetes, which is related to insulin resistance--where the body cells do not respond to insulin¡¦s signals to take in blood sugar¡Xas well as obesity, lack of physical activity, nutrient deficiencies, and a diabetic family history; and, MODY, maturity onset diabetes of the young, which is a very rare genetic problem where with producing insulin in the pancreas or accepting it at the cell. All types of diabetes but LADA are seen in children.

In addition, there are over 40 million people in the United States, aged approximately 40 to 75, who are in a ¡§pre-diabetes¡¨ or ¡§metabolic syndrome¡¨ stage. They are insulin- resistant but their blood sugar levels have not yet reached diabetic status. This is also seen in children as there is now an epidemic of obesity among them, particularly, but not exclusively, in non-Caucasian races. Some recent research suggests that even in the pre-diabetes stage long-term damage to the heart and circulatory system is occurring.

While these statistics are dramatic, there are avenues for treatment that have shown some significant success, particularly in the area of naturopathic medicine.

Dr. Mona Morstein, ND, is Chair of Nutrition at SCNM and Supervising Physician at Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center, the out-patient medical clinic of the medical school. She has been focusing on naturopathic regimens for the treatment of diabetes and pre-diabetes in both adults and pediatric patients. Dr. Morstein initiates a comprehensive yet individualized course of treatment for her diabetic patients, no matter which type of diabetes they have. 

The basic treatment consists of introducing a low-carbohydrate diet that is not a low calorie diet. A great deal of evidence-based research supports the use of such a dietary program, even though it is contrary to what the ADA suggests, and this is a safe and nourishing way for growing children to eat. Dr. Morstein also prescribes various nutrients and anti-oxidants as a result of medical studies having shown that diabetics are lacking in a number of vital nutrients. Further, the research has shown that the problematic progression of their diabetes is considerably slowed by certain nutrients and special natural supplements. Of course in children, supplements are minimized and are used in forms that kids will happily take, such as low carbohydrate chewable multiple vitamins and fruit flavored fish oils for the very young. Children that can swallow pills can take many of the same natural medications Dr. Morstein prescribes for her adult patients, although in lesser dosages. Dr. Morstein uses various botanical medicines to help decrease insulin resistance and sugar cravings, which has the added benefit of aiding in weight loss. Aerobic exercise and weight lifting are necessary for the patient to regularly engage in thus ensuring weight loss is from fat and not muscle. In children, this typically means just having them put down their video game controls and go out and ride their bikes, play soccer, go for walks with their parents, take karate classes, or engage in whatever activity they are interested in, hopefully being active at least an hour a day most days of the week. For overweight kids in their teens, careful use of weights in encouraged, under proper supervision. For post-puberty and adult diabetic patients, adding more muscle into their body ensures a higher basal metabolic resting rate for them which also aids weight loss. And, if need be, stress relaxation and counseling become part of the overall regimen. This may involve family counseling if the home life is not conducive to the child healing, and to also encourage the parents to eat and exercise in a way that models the healthy regimen the child is put on.

Dr. Morstein has found that the diabetic naturopathic treatment regimen she teaches and utilizes in her practice has other significant benefits. The use of oral hypoglycemics and blood pressure medicines can oftentimes be eliminated as the patient becomes healthier. For those Type I diabetics that require insulin, a unique way of prescribing the insulin is prescribed which enables the blood sugar levels to be very tightly controlled without causing frightening low blood sugar episodes. It¡¦s notoriously hard to have pediatric Type I patients be well controlled as so little insulin can have such a massive effect on their blood sugars, but the unique insulin prescribing methodology Dr. Morstein follows, based on the work done by Dr. Richard Bernstein, MD, is helpful in helping blood sugars levels get into much better control.

Success has been demonstrated with patients by monitoring their hemoglobin A1C  levels. The A1C test is used primarily to monitor the glucose control of diabetics over time and has a range from 4.5-14; the lower the number, the better the blood sugar is controlled. The American Diabetes Association wants diabetic patients to have an A1C count less than 7, yet 57% of diabetics have an A1C count exceeding 7. At SCNM the targeted A1C goal is between 5-6 and Dr. Morstein¡¦s comprehensive treatment regimen has often led to attaining that remarkable target.

Further, medical studies have proven that such low A1C numbers significantly decrease the risk of diabetics developing cardiovascular disease, and eye, kidney and nerve damage. Dr. Morstein remarks, "It's very rewarding working with people with pre-diabetes and diabetes and see them able to prevent being put on medications and reduce or remove medications they were on when they first came in. Particularly with overweight, potentially pre-diabetic kids, it¡¦s great seeing them make relatively simple changes in diet and lifestyle, take a couple of supplements, and come back healthier, having lost weight and having better attitudes and self-esteem. Combining that with significantly lowering their A1Cs, and oftentimes their lipid panels and other important indices is exciting for patients and me. Patients are self-empowered having themselves gotten ahead of a terrible illness, and I know I've helped them lower their risk for developing diabetic complications in the future." 

Parents play an important role in their children¡¦s lives and will need to take a more proactive role in supporting their children¡¦s road to health by helping them choose healthier foods to eat, as well as by encouraging them to be more physically active. Take that walk, bicycle ride or swim with them. Take a group to a park with a soccer or kick ball and join them. Show them that exercise can sometimes be fun! These kinds of efforts in conjunction with the naturopathic treatment regimens as ascribed to by Dr. Morstein offer the highest potential for success in combating the incidence of diabetes in children.

Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center is conducting leading edge efforts and work in the treatment of diabetes and the results are healthier, leaner patients of every age who are taking fewer medications and having more positive health outlooks for the future.

About Dr. Morstein

Dr. Mona Morstein received her B.S. summa cum laude in Foods and Nutrition from Arizona State University, in Tempe, Ariz., and her ND, naturopathic physician degree, from National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Morstein has a successful family practice focusing on acute and chronic diseases. She is recognized in the naturopathic profession as an expert on diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and gastroenterology. Dr. Morstein treats patient using the modalities of nutrition, western botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, nutraceuticals and naturopathic manipulation therapy.

About Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Medical Center

Located in Tempe, Ariz., and founded in 1993, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine is an accredited higher learning institution. The Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center is located in Scottsdale, Ariz. The College offers a four-year medical program that trains students to become primary care physicians. Naturopathic medicine emphasizes the body¡¦s innate ability to self-heal. It draws on a rich history of natural, nontoxic therapies in combination with current medical advances. The scope of practice includes all aspects of family and primary care using integrative and complementary treatment modalities such as acupuncture, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, manipulation, and pharmacology. For more information, visit www.scnm.edu.

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