Glucosamine – The Arthritis Cure?

Glucosamine sulphate has been around a long time now and as each year goes by more and more claims are made telling us about this miracle joint lubricant. Are all the claims true? Will it cure Arthritis? What is Glucosamine anyway? And what about Chondroitin?

Glucosamine is a naturally produced amino sugar which is found in small amounts in foods. It plays an important role in maintaining the cartilage gel-like material between our joints. The body also produces a carbohydrate called Chondroitin, which is thought to promote water retention and elasticity as well as blocking the enzymes that break down cartilage.

As we get older the body’s ability to manufacture and synthesize Glucosamine and Chondroitin decreases. This probably contributes to the joint problems we have all come to associate with growing old, a fact that health food companies did not take long to latch on to.

Although studies have been carried out in numerous countries to try to prove conclusively that Glucosamine is effective in treating arthritis and joint problems there have been an equal number of questions raised about the methodology of many of these studies. One such study, in Europe, took X-rays to measure the size of the gap in the knee joint before and after taking Glucosamine. Even though the results showed that the size of the gap was significantly larger, in a group of people taking Glucosamine compared to a group taking NSAIDs, critics said that the study was not large enough to draw firm conclusions. They also claimed the X-ray evidence was too difficult to interpret.

High Blood Pressure in Diabetes

Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is a common problem in people with diabetes.

Along with elevated cholesterol and obesity, it is one of the major risk factors for heart disease.

Although there is some controversy regarding blood pressure(BP) goals in people with DM, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended a goal BP of <130/80.

The top number is the systolic BP. This is the pressure exerted on the blood vessel walls when your heart is beating.

The bottom number is the diastolic BP. This is the pressure when your heart is relaxed.

The BP goal is lower in diabetics due to the high “background” risk of heart disease in diabetics. This risk is further increased once BP levels rise.

Make sure that your pressure is measured correctly.

You should be seated with your arm at heart level when the measurement is obtained.

Ideally, you should sit for five minutes before a measurement is obtained.

If you are overweight, ask for the large cuff. A regular-sized cuff will not be accurate.

Falsely elevated measurements may be caused by anxiety, “white coat hypertension” and/or improper technique.

It is thus important to confirm elevated measurements with a second office-based reading.

If the average systolic value is 130-139 mmHg, or if the average diastolic value is 80-89 mmHg, the ADA recommends a three month trial of “lifestyle therapy”.

This typically includes a recommendation for weight loss (5-7% if overweight), exercise (30 minutes per day once cleared by cardiologist), salt restriction (<1500-2000 mg daily), and alcohol restriction (<2 servings per day in men and <1 serving per day in women).

This is otherwise known as the “Dash” diet: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.