How to Increase Beta Cell Production

The functional health of beta cells is critical in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In Type 1, beta cells are destroyed by a malfunctioning immune system, and in Type 2 either the beta cell function is impaired and they do not produce enough insulin, or they don't respond normally to the insulin that's been produced. Keeping beta cells healthy and productive prevents disease and improves the outlook for people with diabetes.

Instructions

• 1

  Keep your blood sugar levels close to normal. Writing for the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Dr. Marc Y. Donath and his team at the University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland, report that in Type 2 diabetes, having high blood glucose levels over time damages beta cells in the pancreas and impairs the body's ability to secrete insulin.

• 2

  Choose starches that are low in the Glycemic Index.The Glycemic Index is a ranking of foods based on how fast they raise blood sugar levels. Grains and beans tend not to spike blood sugar so much, and simple sugars and processed foods, like white bread, tend to cause higher spikes.

• 3

  Eat your antioxidants. Dr. R. Paul Robertson of the Northwest Pacific Diabetes Research Institute advises that antioxidants protect sensitive beta cells from damage by higher glucose levels. Foods rich in antioxidants include beans, berries and potatoes.

• 4

  Eat a low-carbohydrate diet. According to Dr. Guenther Boden of Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, he and his team found that eating a low-carbohydrate diet for two weeks improved insulin sensitivity by 75 percent, a substantial improvement of beta cell function.

• 5

  Eliminate toxins from your body. Disease prevention requires good cell function. Toxins like cigarette smoke have been shown to increase oxidative stress.