What is your opinion on homeopathy for diabetes?

My mom wants me to go to this homeopathy guy on march 10 to see if something can be done about my type 1 diabetes. I know there is no cure for it, should I refuse to go? (March 10 is my 19th birthday, too.)

My opinion is that it can't hurt, but it likely won't help. And it certainly won't cure you. Sorry to say, but there is NO evidence of homeopathy doing anything for Type 1 diabetes, nor for any other disease for that matter. The best tools diabetics have are insulin pumps and the new insulin analogues. You can spend money on what you KNOW will help you, at least somewhat, or you can risk losing your money and getting nothing. There is NO miracle cure for Type 1 diabetes, sorry. Anybody who tells you otherwise either does not understand what Type 1 diabetes is (most people), or they just want your money and could care less about your life.

Think about it...if we had a cure for Type 1 diabetes, people would be talking. Nobel Prizes would be given out. And ER doctors would be sending babies with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes to the homeopath ASAP. But that doesn't happen, and homeopaths still practice their form of "medicine" in small clinics in basements of strip malls and sell their products on the internet.

First of all, before I get thumbs downed, I respect those who want to try complimentary alternative medicine. But I think that it makes sense to use methods that have some evidence. Using supplements like benfothiamine, Vitamin D, bitter melon, and Omgea 3 EFA have all been found to help diabetics. They will not cure the disease, but they may help with control or complications. There is valid science behind nutritional research.

As long as you know you won't be magically cured, then you know enough to run if someone claims this. Legit alternative practitioners will NOT claim they can cure Type 1 diabetes. Some naturopaths can suggest herbs and supplements that may be beneficial, but only a quack would claim they can cure you with NO evidence to suuport their claim.

You might want to go out of interest, or curiousity. If you think it can't hurt, fine. I agree here. But I would not waste the money on something that you KNOW will not LIKELY really help, unless you can afford to throw that money away anyway.

Whatever you do, don't stop taking your insulin. A homeopath in Quebec (Canada) was charged with the death of a 9 year old girl after she told her mother to stop her insulin. She went into a coma and died in 3 days.

You might want to have an informed discussion with your mother about all of this.

type 1 diabetes requires insulin...there is no homeopathic remedy that can replace insulin!

cant hurt.

ps: doctors dont know everything even though they claim to...

good luck!

Homeopathy is not a good idea for insulin dependent diabetes.

Type 1 requires insulin...there is no other option.

I somewhat understand and respect homeopathic medicine. However, there has to be a line somewhere. Yes, some condtitions may respond to it. At the same time, there are others (such as IDDM) that will not.

I think your mother is being overly-optimistic and not very realistic. It sounds as if she is hoping for some miracle cure. Unfortunately, there isn't one...in fact, there is no cure at all (outside of a pancreatic transplant).

One final point...you are over 18 and legally an adult. You have the right to refuse medical care. If you don't want to see this homeopathic doctor, then don't. You have that right...exercise it.

EMT

its all a bunch of %&#^*. insulin is the only treatment

type one= insulin everday
type two= overweight and may require insulin depending on the person,but usually pills

With type-1 Diabetes your immune system has already attacked and wiped out the islet cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Therefore, you need outside sources of insulin to regulate your glucose and lipid levels. Without effective treatment you will die. Or, at best in a few years you will be blind, have a heart attack, not be able to feel your extremities, watch your limbs rot off and then die. Sorry, you won't watch your limbs rot off because you'll be blind. Someone will have to tell you your limbs have rotted off. Untreated diabetes can get really nasty short term and long term.
Homeopathy will not help or delay this. If YOU really want to test the homeopathy guy then continue to take you insulin and give it a try. Homeopathy doesn't do anything anyway, so you will notice that your glucose readings continue to be related to the insulin you inject.

Believe me the only help we T1's have is insulin and the insulin pumps. We would die without it. Saying that there are somethings that ppl take that they swear by but they still take insulin. If it makes your mother happy play along with it. It probably won't hurt you. Especially if she will pay for it. When were you diagnosed? Have a great life and live it well.

I am a type II and still take my Metformin as well as homeopathy based diet supplement. I cannot say that I would eliminate my metformin, but I would not eliminate my diet supplement either.

I give my diet supplement credit with reducing effects of some complications from my diabetic condition. So I recommend an open mind. Don't expect miracles, but it could help. Don't wander far from your doctor's advice.

Best Wishes.

I almost died trying crap like that. You require insulin. I went into a coma. Tell your mom to go ahead, it's not her life

Your MOM wants you to do this? That concerns me. I say that because a lot of homeopaths do not understand the difference btw Types 1 and 2, and they will try to prescribe herbal remedies and other treatments to take the place of insulin. Some recommendations like exercise and eating well are beneficial, but do not follow any advice that deals with reducing your insulin without careful BG monitoring. Your mom and this guy must know that you will have Type 1 until they find a cure, you need insulin all day long, even when you're sleeping, and there is no substitute for it. Have you already seen a diabetes educator through your doctor? They are the best...they will work with you to fine tune your numbers and help teach you to manage your diabetes. I've had Type 1 for 24 years and my A1C is 6.5, so show this to her if she does not believe it can help. Be very careful and talk with your MD about what the homeopath tells you so he can make sure it works with his advice. Your MD needs to rule over the homeopath, because Type 1 is a "modern medicine" disease...insulin was only discovered in the 1920's!

It's great as long as you don't mind suffering renal failure and painful death!!