The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    CAM and diabetes: An update of recent studies

    The World Health Organization has predicted a 39% rise in the worldwide prevalence of diabetes by 2030. And an article in The Lancet indicates this might be an underestimation.

    Since November is Diabetes Month, here’s a round-up of CAM options for people with diabetes from 2006 through March 2007.

    Zinc
    No evidence that zinc can prevent type 2 diabetes

    Vegan diet
    Improve blood sugar and cholesterol control in patients with type 2 diabetes

    Trans fats
    Some substitutes actually raise blood sugar levels and lowers insulin in humans

    Ginseng
    Improved fasting blood sugar levels and hemoglobin A 1C (A1c) values

    Ayurvedic
    Improved A1c and fasting blood sugar levels

    Milk thistle
    Improved A1c and fasting blood sugar levels

    Soy yogurt
    Limited data that it improves blood sugar levels

    Pycnogenol
    A complementary option for treating diabetic ulcers

    Chromium picolinate
    Adding chromium picolinate to a sulfonylurea drug (glipizide) improved insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.

    Cinnamon
    No change in A1c

    Psychological support
    Might be useful in certain patients with type 2 and type 1 diabetes

    DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
    Lacks supporting data for the claims

    Whole-grain cereals
    Lower risk of death among men who ate at least one serving of whole-grain breakfast cereal per day vs those who rarely ate whole-grain cereal.

    Beberine
    Preliminary positive evidence

    Coffee drinking
    You have to drink a lot of coffee for any preventive effect

    Remember, these are complementary options. They do not replace diet, exercise and drug treatments prescribed by a physician. And fraudulent claims abound.

    Illustration: Diabetes Toolbox

    3/3/07 10:08 JR

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