The cause of diabetes is the removal of essential fats and oils from our food, and their replacement with toxic substitutes. Diabetes Drugs merely treat symptoms, while the underlying cause is uncorrected.

It is well known that the only way to avoid the agonizing complications of diabetes is to bring the body's blood sugars back into balance. Let's take a brief look at the claims and the side-effects of just four of the major drug types: Acarbose, Sulfonylurea Drugs, Metformin and Rezulin to see if they achieve this balance.

Acarbose, the latest type of diabetes drug, works by slowing carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine which reduces the amount of sugar released into the blood after eating by blocking enzymes that naturally break down the carbohydrates. Acarbose is intended to lower blood sugar levels but it can cause cramps, gas and diarrhea and damage kidney function. It has also been linked to cancerous kidney tumors in rats.

Sulfonvlurea drugs tackle the blood-sugar imbalance by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin. They decrease the liver's production of glucose and improve the use of insulin and sugar for energy. However they can also cause hypoglycemia by removing too much sugar. In addition, they tend to cause weight gain, and they increase the risk of heart disease. Less serious but frequent side effects include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, gas, diarrhea and constipation.

Metformin is another oral diabetic drug which lowers blood sugar by suppressing the liver's glucose production and increasing the sensitivity of the cells to insulin. Unlike the sulfonylurea drugs, it does not stimulate insulin production, so there is less chance of hypoglycemia, and it tends to cause weight loss instead of weight gain. The downside risk is increased digestive problems. It can impair kidney and liver function and cause lactic acid buildup in the blood which can be fatal. It also decreases B-12 absorption which can lead to a long list of problems, including elevated homocysteine levels and it can increase your chances of dying from cardiovascular problems by 250%.

Rezulin had been used by over a million diabetics before the FDA pulled it from the market. Experts estimate that 4% of those patients can expect to have significant liver damage (about 40,000 people.) And no one knows how many of those people will die from damaged livers. Thirty-three people in all have died due to liver damage after taking this drug. As with all diabetes drugs, there's no proof that it reduces the complications of diabetes or prolongs life.

Drugs are made by removing the active ingredient from herbs and leaving behind the wisdom; hence the unpleasant side effects. As alternatives, you may wish to consider using herbs with few if any side effects. See Diabetes Diet and Cure.