| Frequently
Asked Questions
Dr.
Julian Whittaker produced an article
relating to diabetes and vanadium
in 1994. In his article,
Whittaker indicates that a certain level of vanadium could be beneficial
to diabetics. while he recommended higher levels of vanadium, we have
chosen to be more conservative and maintain our formula according to Dr.
McNeil. Whitakker's article does however, add support to the argument
that vanadium can have a beneficial effect in assisting diabetics with
blood sugar levels and the amount of insulin they must take.
View
the details Whittaker's article here.
Article
taken from Dr. Julian Whitaker's Health & Healing
What
Is Diavan?
Diavan is a mineral supplement containing Vanadium
(Vanadyl Sulfate), Selenium, Chromium and Vitamin C. Diavan contains no
sugar, salt, starch, yeast or artificial preservative. The formula was
designed by Dr. John McNeill, dean of Pharmaceutical Sciences at The University
of British Columbia. He found that the three minerals worked in unison
to lower blood sugar levels. This work was started in the 1980's and Diavan
was introduced in 1990. Today, clinical tests are being conducted with
Diavan.
What
Ailments Does Diavan Work For?
Diavan may assist in lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics
and thereby may help in the prevention of complications experienced by
diabetics, such as poor circulation, developing blindness, extremity problems
and lack of energy.
Diavan
also assists people who are hypoglycemic and individuals with circulation
problems. Diavan has also been shown to assist in weight loss by improving
carbohydrate metabolism.
Y.
Schecter of the Weizmann Institute states,"Thus, under optimal conditions,
oral vanadium treatment . . . is able to restore tissue response to insulin
without any apparent signs of toxicity."
How
Does Diavan Work?
Diavan mimics the effects of insulin.
The ingredients in Diavan can assist the body in utilization
of glucose and storage of glucose as starch, for future use. Insulin is
normally required for the body to store energy.
Insulin itself is known to act by attaching itself
to a specialized structure on the muscle, fat and liver cells known as
the insulin receptor. In much the same way as a key fits into a lock and
can be turned to open the door, the attachment of insulin to its receptor
"opens the door" of the cell and increases the amount of glucose
that can enter the cell. Activation of the receptor also results in the
activation and inhibition of a great variety of enzyme systems in the
cells. The final result is that glucose is stored in the cell in the form
of an animal starch called glycogen. Insulin also aids in the storage
of fats and proteins. It prepares the body for a time when it does not
have food and makes it possible for us to survive without having to eat
continuously. When insulin levels fall, the reverse of the above occurs.
Glycogen is made into glucose, fat breaks down to triglycerides and protein
is broken down into amino acids. These products can then be used as energy
by the cells of the body.
Vanadium
does not work at the insulin receptor site, but at a location in the cell
beyond the receptor. The net effect is the same. The enzymes that are
inhibited by insulin are also inhibited by Vanadium and those that are
stimulated by insulin are stimulated by Vanadium. Glucose is taken up
more rapidly by cells when Vanadium is present just as when insulin is
present. Amino acids are converted to protein, and fat is stored rather
than broken down. Vanadium appears to produce very long acting effects
in cells of the body so that the effects persist long after Vanadium has
been excreted from the body.
In
summary, Vanadium prevents the liver from making glucose and increases
the storage of glucose in cells This has resulted in a normal blood sugar
level in studies done on experimental forms of diabetes. Of course, a
major difference is that Vanadium produces its insulin-like effects as
an oral agent.
Does Diavan Work For Type I and Type II Diabetics?
The effects of Diavan are more noticeable with Type II
diabetics than Type I. While some positive effects may be experienced
by Type I diabetics, such as the development of an insulin buffer zone
(see below), the product was primarily developed for Type II diabetics.
Buffer
Zone
The Buffer Zone provides additional latitude in the
range of safe blood sugar levels for diabetics. (i.e. if your insulin
intake is balanced and you cheated a little by having a chocolate bar,
the buffer zone created by Diavan may allow the body's blood sugar level
to remain stable with no complications or further demand for insulin)
What Does The Latest Research Reveal?
Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver,
Canada, along with scientific research centers in the U.S.A., France and
elsewhere, have identified in laboratory experiments with animals that
the ingredients found in Diavan can have "insulin-mimetic" effects
and can restore blood glucose and lipids to normal. In addition, their
studies indicate a noticeable decrease in the secondary complications
of diabetes such as cataracts, heart problems, kidney disease and poor
circulation in animals.
In
Dr. Julian
Whitaker's Health & Healing (December 1994, Vol. 4, No 12),
he says:
In experimental animals, sufficient doses of the vanadyl
sulfate form of vanadium have completely eliminated diabetes and certain
forms of high blood pressure, and once it has done that, the condition
does not come back. That's right, the condition does not come back-even
after the vanadyl sulfate was stopped! One of the primary researchers,
John McNeill, Ph,D., at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver,
demonstrated that when the same dose of vanadyl sulfate was given to rats,
they maintained their normal blood sugars and blood pressure, but their
body needed only half the amount of insulin that was necessary before
the vanadyl sulfate treatment. Since too much insulin in your blood is
considered a "risk factor" for artherosclerosis, maintaining
a normal blood glucose level and blood pressure with less circulating
insulin is a definite plus."
Can I Reduce My Insulin Intake By Using Diavan?
Some diabetics using Diavan report they have reduced their
required insulin intake, but it should be noted that anyone attempting
to use Diavan for this purpose should consult their physician.
In
experimental studies with animals, the ingredients in this oral mineral
supplement have been shown to lower the insulin requirements necessary
to keep blood sugar levels normal.
Can I Eliminate My Need For Insulin?
Some diabetics report that they have reduced or eliminated
their need for insulin after taking Diavan for some time. This should
only be attempted after consulting a physician. (see below - How Do
I Know Diavan Is Working For Me)(see below - How Do I
Know Diavan Is Working For Me)
Can
Diavan Help My Circulation?
Diabetes can cause circulatory problems leading to the
loss of extremities. Diavan can assists in addressing these circulatory
problems. Some patients have reported Diavan helping to restore body circulation
and feeling to hands, feet and toes that was previously shut down by Diabetes.
How
Do I Know Diavan Is Working For Me?
Users will notice the effectiveness of Diavan by
one of two methods:
1)
You will sense an increase in energy and euphoria as a result of the sugar
and glucose in your blood, which normally would be urinated out due to
the lack of insulin, allowing the body to absorb it. The Diavan formula
allows the excessive sugar and glucose to be absorbed by the body as energy
(intra-cellular meaning the cells absorbed) rather than discarded as waste.
2)
The second way you can tell if Diavan is working for you is more complicated.
You must watch your blood sugar level and keep the amount of Diavan consistent.
By holding the Diavan intake constant, decrease the insulin intake by
10% for five days. During these five days, measure your blood sugar level
to see if it remains constant at the original level. If it does, Diavan
is probably acting as a buffer for the insulin. If successful in holding
the blood sugar level with the drop in insulin, decrease the insulin by
another 10% for five more days, checking to see that the blood sugar level
still remains constant. Repeat this step until your blood sugar level
begins to rise. At this point, increase the insulin level 10% so that
your blood sugar level returns to a consistent level. This is the limit
of Diavan acting as an insulin buffer zone for you, relative to the amount
of insulin and Diavan you are taking.
According
to Whitaker, some people have been able to reduce their insulin intake
by between 25 and 70%. Some, by watching their diet closely, have removed
their dependency for insulin altogether. These individuals had medium
diabetic conditions. Some, who are taking
two or three needles per day, have been able to eliminate one of the injections.
Most
diabetics, test their blood sugar level several times per day so the accuracy
of your individual readings is important. Most importantly, always notify
your doctor before attempting any reduction of insulin.
When
Will I See Results?
Many people experience results within a week. While this
is not the case for everyone, most find some benefit within a month.
Can
Diavan Make Me Hypoglycemic?
If your diabetes problems are balanced with insulin,
Diavan cannot reduce your blood sugar level to a hypoglycemic level. Diavan
may even help regulate persons suffering from hypoglycemia. Like Chromium,
Vanadium has normalizing effects on blood sugar levels. Plus Vanadyl Sulfate
appears to spare the pancreas from insulin exhaustion due to chronic exposure
to high blood sugar. This is a concern in the insulin over-reaction o
f hypoglycemia. In it's insulin-sparing activity Vanadyl Sulfate reduces
the demand for insulin needed because of high blood sugar. Consequently,
this may spare the hypoglycemic person from fatigue and mood swings. In
addition, Vanadyl Sulfate's mimicking action encourages the storage of
glucose as glycogens. This results in greater glucose endurance, lessening
the susceptibility to voracious hunger typical of low blood sugar states.
Are
There Any Side Effects?
One side effect noted with Diavan is appetite loss.
This, of course, may be a desirable side-effect for some. A mild case
of upset stomach or diarrhea may occur in the initial stage of taking
Diavan.
Should I Inform My Doctor That I Am Using Diavan?
If you have a close relationship with your doctor,
and he or she has helped regulate your insulin intake, you should inform
them that you are taking Diavan. By sharing your Diavan experience with
your doctor, you may help others with problems similar to yours.
What
is the difference between Diavan 1000 and 3000?
Diavan 3000 is 3 times the strength of Diavan 1000.
It is suggested that people new to Diavan take the 1000's then move to
the 3000's as they need more potency.
What
is the Price of Diavan?
Diavan 1000 - $22.95 US per bottle (plus S&H)
Diavan 3000 - $25.95 US per bottle (plus
S&H)
Both products contain 90 capsules.
How
Much Diavan Should I Take?
We suggest that people new to Diavan purchase one
bottle of Diavan 1000 and one bottle of 3000. The initial recommended
intake is 1-2 capsules of Diavan 1000 per day for the first two days.
After two days, if you are not experiencing nausea or diarrhea, slowly
increase the intake to 9 capsules per day. When you have finished the
bottle of 1000's, start taking the 3000's. Since Diavan 3000 is three
times as strong, you need only take 3-4 capsules per day.
Some
people taking Diavan have been able to increase the amount of 3000 capsules
beyond the suggested levels, thus increasing their buffer zone and further
decreasing their insulin intake.
When
Should I Take Diavan?
Take Diavan just before or with meals.
Where
Can I Buy Diavan or Get More Information?
Diavan
1000 and Diavan 3000 can be purchased- directly from IDT. See our Company
contact info on our home page or call -1-800-882-3213
Or email us at
info@diavan.com
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