Over the last several years, alternative and complementary therapies—from herbs and supplements to massage—have become increasingly popular for treating a variety of ailments. Though widely used, many alternative and complementary therapies are not well studied, and some have more evidence in their favor than others. If you're considering an alternative or complementary treatment, it's important to talk to your doctor about how it fits into your diabetes treatment plan, as well as to understand the treatment's potential benefits and risks. The articles in this section can help you learn about potentially helpful alternative and complementary therapies.

Antioxidants by Robert A. Jacob, Ph.D.

Oxygen is a Jekyll and Hyde element. We need it for critical body functions, such as respiration and immune response, but the element’s dark side is a reactive chemical nature that can damage body cells and tissues. The perpetrators of this “oxidative...

Meditation and the Art of Diabetes Management by Joseph B. Nelson, M.A., L.P.

In our fast-paced society, the idea of taking 20 minutes a day to sit quietly and focus on your breathing may sound like a novel concept. In fact, the practice of meditation is thousands of years old and is still practiced today by people of many...

Also inside: Meditation Resources

Mindful Eating by Megrette Hammond, M.Ed., R.D., C.D.E.

A diagnosis of diabetes changes everything. It frequently changes a person’s perception of himself and of his health. The demands of diabetes care can also change a person’s daily routine. A diabetes diagnosis is almost always accompanied by...

Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes: by Ralph Pascualy, M.D.

The epidemic of diabetes in the United States is being fueled by multiple medical, social, and demographic forces. Among those forces is sleep apnea, which is now recognized as a major contributor to the development of diabetes. In sleep apnea, people...

Spiritual Self-Care and the Use of Prayer by Jacquelin Deatcher, A.P.R.N., B.C., C.D.E.

Diabetes self-management has evolved over the past few decades from relatively simple instructions to “avoid sugar” and take one’s medicines on time to a much more comprehensive system that includes exercise, stress reduction, and meal plans as well as...

Therapeutic Massage by Mary Kathleen Rose, C.M.T.

As more and more Americans incorporate alternative therapies into their program of health care, people with diabetes, too, are looking to the usefulness of different therapies to complement their lifestyle measures and medical care. One such alternative...

Also inside: Further Reading About Massage

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