Life Saving (Natural) Treatment for Diabetes

Reduce mortality or the need for kidney transplants among diabetics with kidney disease by 50% by just changing diets. This is significant news even for diabetics who just want to prevent kidney disease in the future.

An Italian study has found that among diabetic patients with kidney disease who followed a Carbohydrate Restricted, Low-Iron, Polyphenol Enriched diet, only 20% needed a kidney transplant or died four years after starting this diet VS 39% of diabetic patients who followed the current standard advice of protein-restriction. Briefly, this diet means:

• Reducing carbohydrates from current consumption by 50%
• Replacing iron-rich meats such as beef with low-iron meats such as chicken or fish; as well as eating protein rich foods that inhibit iron absorption such as soy
  
• Elimination of all beverages except for tea and red wine. Tea is highly beneficial because black tea binds to iron to prevent absorption, while green tea is a good source of polyphenols. Red wine consumption is limited to 150 mL.
• Exclusive use of polyphenol enriched olive oil

The study says that except for carbohydrate restriction, other foods were allowed ad-libitum, meaning "at one's pleasure." Although I would always say to follow this within reason.

You can also view a nice summary of this study from the American Academy of Family Physicians website.