#10: Tonya Cameron, RN | How Integrative Medicine Can Transform Diabetes Management… With Supplements?

Welcome to the 10^th episode of Real Life Diabetes Podcast with guest Tonya Cameron – She’s a dear friend and mentor of Amber’s from her days of slinging pasta and chatting at Joe’s Taverna in Norman, OK. Tonya is a full time registered nurse, certified mirco-pigmentologist, lover of all things flora and fauna and a professional student according to her mother. Passionately devoted to a healthy lifestyle, her value in an Integrative Medicine Clinic is unquestioned. This gal can talk kale smoothies, load an IV, or give a botox injection while blowing your mind with her wealth of knowledge and opinions on all things health transformation. She’s the perfect DDG guest!

• Integrative Medical Treatment – diet, supplements, IVs, adjunct therapy, amino acid complex

Supplement Recommendations:

• N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine – Retinopathy
• Probiotics – Helps with gut biome
  • Ryan mentioned this study on the connection between a type 1 diagnosis and the gut microbiome
• Multivitamin – Douglas Labratories
• Zinc

American Lifestyle

• Eating dead food
• Sugar Addiction
• Macronutrients
• Glycemic Index – The glycemic index, or GI, measures how a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose. – American Diabetes Association 

Recommended Reading: 

• Glucose Revolution the Author by Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller

Tonya embodies health – she shares a few thoughts. 

• Knowledge is Power
• Have conversations with farmers about the process
• No one is a super hero, just do your best.  

Glucose Tablets – Must HAVE.

The Power of Food

Amber: What would you tell someone who is interested in upping their game at the grocery store?

Tonya:

• Check out what’s in season
• Load up on nutrient foods
  • You’ve done your research…
• Diversity in your food choices

Supplements:

• Chromium
  • Love to hear from T1D’s who have used this supplement
• Omega 3
• Vitamin D3
• Carniscence
• Kyolic – aged garlic
• Bitter Melon Extract – Here’s some very non-conclusive research supporting a possible fat oxidation function

* Goal of supplement use: Prevent complications, limit inflammation and increase blood flow.

Check out the post about diabeetus.