Potassium and risk of Type 2 diabetes

[paymanz]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3197792/

Key issues

Experimentally induced hypokalemia has been associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and the development of impaired glucose tolerance in hyperglycemic clamp studies.
Use of thiazide diuretics is associated with increased risk of diabetes, and this association is most likely mediated by the hypokalemic effects of the thiazide diuretics.
Use of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) is associated with reduced risk of diabetes.
ARBs cause increases in serum potassium levels. Whether or not there is an association between the potassium-sparing effects of the ARBs and reduced diabetes risk has not been evaluated.
Low normal serum potassium, independent of the use of antihypertensive agents, is associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes in prospective cohort studies.
Low dietary potassium intake has not been clearly associated with increased risk of incident diabetes.
Higher intake of potassium-rich foods has been associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.
Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if potassium supplementation, either dietary or pharmacologic, will impact short-term measures of glycemia and long-term risk of diabetes.

 

[burtlancast]

Type 2 diabetics getting on the Gerson therapy see their glucose levels normalized in 2 to 10 days.
Each of the 12 carrot,apple and vegetable juices they drink daily contains a generous amount of added potassium salts.

 

[jyb]

Type 2 diabetics getting on the Gerson therapy see their glucose levels normalized in 2 to 10 days.
Each of the 12 carrot,apple and vegetable juices they drink daily contains a generous amount of added potassium salts.

What would be the theoretical explanation for why the Gerson therapy would work? It seems from what you're describing that it would be low calorie, easily digestible, lacking calories but at the same time providing essential nutrients for human life on a few weeks fasting period. You'd be getting the vital nutrients in an uncontaminated form, while using the fuel reserves (which has a well know pattern as the number of days increases) to survive like any fasting.

So I'm thinking it must be something to do with the fasting normalising the metabolism, a bit like having the battery empty out fully so that it can be recharged better. I think that wouldn't be a crazy explanation, but it wouldn't fit Ray's ideas.

 

[burtlancast]

What would be the theoretical explanation for why the Gerson therapy would work? It seems from what you're describing that it would be low calorie, easily digestible, lacking calories but at the same time providing essential nutrients for human life on a few weeks fasting period. You'd be getting the vital nutrients in an uncontaminated form, while using the fuel reserves (which has a well know pattern as the number of days increases) to survive like any fasting.

So I'm thinking it must be something to do with the fasting normalising the metabolism, a bit like having the battery empty out fully so that it can be recharged better. I think that wouldn't be a crazy explanation, but it wouldn't fit Ray's ideas.

Charlotte Gerson was never able to scientifically explain how her father's therapy works. Also, she likes to select their successes while avoiding mentioning failures, which attracts suspicion.

Ray has already explained the insulin-like properties of the potassium found in fruits.
He also pointed out that a fat-free diet induces hypermetabolism and increased nutritional needs.

If only he could write an article about Gerson's work;but we know he got embroiled with Charlotte on the subject of flaxssed oil.