• What Is Diavan?
• What Ailments Does Diavan Work For?
• How Does Diavan Work?
• Does Diavan Work For Type I and Type II Diabetics?
• What Does The Latest Research Reveal?
• Can I Reduce My Insulin Intake By Using Diavan?
• Can I Eliminate My Need For Insulin?
• Can Diavan Help My Circulation?
• How Do I Know Diavan Is Working For Me?
• When Will I See Results?
• Can Diavan Make Me Hypoglycemic?
• Are There Any Side Effects?
• Should I Inform My Doctor That I Am Using Diavan?
• What is the difference between Diavan 1000 and 3000?
• What is the Price of Diavan?
• How Much Diavan Should I Take?
• When Should I Take Diavan?
• Where Can I Buy Diavan or Get More Information?

  ---

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
(December 1994, Vol. 4, No. 12)

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. (back to top)

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.   (back to top)

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."
(back to top)

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.   (back to top)

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)   (back to top)

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."   (back to top)

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.    (back to top)

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)   (back to top)

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.   (back to top)

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.   (back to top)

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.   (back to top)

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. (back to top)

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.   (back to top)

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.
(back to top)

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. (back to top)

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. (back to top)

[Diavan] is a trademark of [International Diabet Technologies]. Any other products mentioned are registered
  trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. 
Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to [imwall@direct.ca].
Copyright © 2000 [International Diabet Technologies]. All rights reserved.
Last modified: Sept.20th, 2000.