Hi Birdboy, "Also we learned about milk thistle and its protective properties on the liver during amanita mushroom poisonings, but the professor never said what part of the plant was used. I am looking for the plant on the trade page, but I would like to know what part to use. I'm assuming small amounts taken as a tea would just have good general liver benefits." I buy Milk Thistle in capsules at the grocery store. Using it in capsule form is said to be the most effective use of this product. "The active ingredient, or liver-protecting compound in milk thistle is known as silymarin. This substance, which actually consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed by these same substances, reduces inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has potent antioxidant effects. Most milk thistle products are standardized preparations extracted from the fruits (seeds) of the plant. Most preparations are standardized to contain 70% to 80% of flavonolignans (silibinin, silychristin, and silydianin), collectively known as silymarin. " Here's a link about Milk Thistle: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm As an aside to naysayers who claim only an MD can treat diabetes, my stepmother had a severe case of diabetes and was able to modify her diet and exercise (over two years) to the point that she now is back to the "pre diabetes" stage of health. Her MD, previously against using anything "unverified" is amazed and constantly asking what she did. Will it work/is it for everyone? No. Is it possible to alter one's habits to the point of reversing "un-curable" disease? YES!!! Regarding beans: I don't know what secondary compounds are found in beans, but it's the soluble fiber in the beans that make them effective. It does depend on the type of bean you are ingesting, not all beans are equal. You can achieve the same benefits by drinking psyllium husk or eating other foods high in soluble fiber. Here are a couple of links that may be interesting: http://howtoprevent-heartdisease.com/fiber.php http://www.aaccnet.org/cerealfoodsworld/samplepdfs/CFW-51-0016.pdf http://www.medicinenet.com/fiber/page3.htm http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=408538&showpars=true&fy=2004

Hello, I have been a Diabetic II for about ten years. I am 59 and weigh about 143 pounds. Dream/need to get down to and maintain around 110. I am just a little over five feet tall, so this is probably a little more than I should weigh. I take three types of pills for diabetes, two types of anti-depressants, a cholesterol lowering drug (Vytorin) and Femara, an anti-cancer drug for five years after five years of Tamoxifen I already finished. Lots of pills to take! I have tried many diets and have some success with each, but have a devil of a time staying with anything long term. Like to cook and eat. Am a nervous eater and like to eat all the time. I've heard that many people with diabetes people die of some kind of heart disease. The South Beach diet was written by a cardiologist and is supposed to be great for diabetes patients. Wow, the first two weeks sound brutal. Can't even get the guts to start! Getting off most of the medicine is a goal, and the best way to do that is to lose weight and be active. Anyone heard of anyone getting off all/most of the diabetes medicines? Any encouraging advice?

just fyi, The "transitions" diet post here sent me searching out low glycemic diets which say they control diabetes - hth - sounds interesting, but I would not buy the diet foods they sell Here is a link that might be useful: low glycemic diet link

I had a cat that was the love of my life he turned 11 in September 2014. I noticed he was drinking and urinating great volumes in February 2014. I brought him to our vet and they took his blood sugar level and it was 480. They sent me home with a script for insulin and told me cats can go into remission and it may be possible if he lost some weweight. They never recommended an at home glucose testing kit and when i asked they said they didn't recommend them to pet owners 2units of insulin wouldn't hurt him and if he seemed sluggish to rubb maple syrup or honey on his gums. Optimistic that my love for this cat would be enough to save him I truly believed he would go into remission. Come end of April went from 17lbs to 14lbs and it seemed he was no longer symptomatic. I brought him back to the vet and they said he went into remremission. I stopped insulin continue him on special md diabetic food the vet told me to give him. September I went away for a week i wish i didnt because when i returned he was skin and bones ketoacidosis i suspect. I brought him back to the vet he weighed 10lbs at this time. they said he was diabetic again and recommended 1unit insulin with meals... November 2014 He had a violent hypoglycemic seizure I ran him to emergency animal hospital paid 3000 to save him. He was in recovery and observation 24hrs. When he came home he continued to have mini seizures or trimmers for 3weeks. Then they stopped and i finally got my stupid vet to give me a glucose monitor everytime i took his blood his sugar was 83 the kit said 100 to 150 was nomal. I thought finally maybe he might be in remission again and he will be better. Dec 2014 He started having anal leakage i thought he had anal gland infection or just fullness. But when i bought him to the vet they said he lost control of his bowels and it was time to put him down he suffered enough. I listened after being left in a room crying for almost 2hrs with my two yr old and my now 7lb cat. Dec 19th 2014 will be a day i regret for the rest of my life as the day i put my best friend to sleep even though he had no organ failure his sugar was normal he stopped seizing and he could have just had diarrhea dehydration or even possible infection. Moral of the story get informed before its to late, get a vet that understands feline diabetes, feed them wet food low carbs, and try to do all you can not to live with regret.