LevelStat Naturally Helps Maintain Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Elevated blood sugar levels and diabetes is mostly preventable through proper diet, exercise and other lifestyle choices. LevelStat is formulated to provide ingredients to help the body’s natural mechanisms control and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. LevelStat contains ingredients that promote insulin secretion, stimulate glucose transport into cells and improve insulin sensitivity. LevelStat also contains insulin potentiators—compounds known to increase the potency of insulin, binding insulin to cell membrane receptor sites. LevelStat also includes a full spectrum of high potency antioxidants with specific scientific support in reducing oxidative stress caused by high blood sugar. LevelStat is a good choice in helping to maintain optimal blood sugar levels.

According to the Center for Disease Control over 20 million people in the United States have diabetes, with an additional 1.5 million new diagnoses every year. In addition, over 40 million people have the prediabetic condition of high blood sugar levels. Such statistics confirm that prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes have reached epidemic proportions in this country. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels). People suffering from type II diabetes have developed insulin resistance, the inability to utilize insulin, a necessary hormone which mediates tissue glucose uptake. Insulin utilization is critical to maintaining healthy blood glucose balance and preventing diabetes‐related complications such as coronary heart disease and stroke, obesity, nerve damage, kidney damage and blindness. Increased blood glucose levels are often seen in people well before the actual onset of diabetes. These individuals gradually develop a resistance to insulin. Studies show that most people with elevated blood glucose levels go on to develop Type II diabetes within 10 years. The term “prediabetes” has been used do describe this condition and modest lifestyle improvements can delay or prevent the onset of Type II diabetes in these people.

Research Supporting the Ingredients in LevelStat

The information below highlights some of the scientific evidence supporting the use of ingredients found in LevelStat for optimal maintenance of blood glucose levels. The ingredients help control blood sugar through various mechanisms and are combined to complement a healthy diet. The ingredients also include an antioxidant defense system to help protect against oxidative stress caused by high blood glucose levels.    The following material is for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as making any claim for the product or for the amount of any ingredient used. We hope you enjoy the information presented, along with the cited studies, to increase your knowledge of these natural substances.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a vitamin‐like compound which has antioxidant potency greater than Vitamins E and C. The antioxidant activity of ALA has been particularly beneficial in patients with diabetes since hyperglycemia causes increased oxidative stress in the body. Studies have shown the antioxidant activity of ALA reduces this oxidative stress in diabetic rats,1 reduces cardiovascular complications of diabetes,2 and slows down the effects of diabetic neuropathy,3 a nerve disorder which is the most common complication of diabetes. Studies have also shown that ALA improves insulin sensitivity by stimulating the signaling of insulin.4

Antioxidants are a critical component of blood glucose control. People with diabetes and prediabetes produce more oxygen free radicals in their bodies, which are believed to contribute to cataracts, microvascular problems, neuropathy and other complications resulting from diabetes. LevelStat contains a number of high potency antioxidants, including Tumeric Extract, Bilberry Extract and Rose Hips Extract (which contains high levels of naturally occurring Vitamin C). This antioxidant defense system works to neutralize free radicals and may help prevent many complications resulting from oxidative stress. Quercetin and other flavonoid antioxidant compounds such as those found in extracts of Bilberry, Green Tea, and Blueberry Leaf have also been found to be particularly beneficial in promoting insulin secretion, protecting blood vessels, preventing cataracts,5 and supporting the immune system6 – all of which are valuable to individuals with diabetes.

Banaba Leaf Extract (Lagerstroemia speciosa) has long been used in Philippine folk medicine for blood sugar control. Animal studies have shown that extracts of banaba leaf have anti‐diabetic effects.7 The active compound in Banaba Leaf Extract is a triterpenoid called corosolic acid which appears to stimulate glucose transport into cells therefore regulating levels of blood sugar and insulin in the blood. Recent human studies support the use of corosolic acid from Banaba Leaf Extract in lowering blood glucose levels.8

Bitter Melon Extract (Momordica charantia) is the unripe fruit of a plant found in tropical locations such as East Africa, Asia, The Caribbean and South America. Bitter Melon has been used as an antidiabetic remedy in China, India and the West Indies. Bitter melon has been shown to improve glucose tolerance and reduce fasting blood glucose levels without increasing blood insulin levels.9 Researchers in India found that patients with Type 2 diabetes who were supplemented with bitter melon had significant reduction in both fasting and after‐meal serum glucose levels.10

Cinnamon Extract contains water soluble polyphenols which have been shown to be excellent insulin potentiators, enhancing the activity of insulin to reduce blood glucose levels. These polyphenols may also function as antioxidants as well.11 European researchers demonstrated the effect of cinnamon extract in a double‐blind clinical study. A significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels was seen in patients with Type 2 diabetes.12 In addition to lowering blood sugar levels, a USDA study also showed cinnamon reduced cholesterol and decreased triglycerides in patients with Type 2 diabetes,13 which is another critical function since diabetes and uncontrolled blood glucose levels are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

Chromium is an essential nutrient required for insulin activity in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chromium is needed for glucose utilization by insulin in normal health. Chromium polynicotinate is the most bioavailable and safest form of chromium Chromium polynicotinate consists of pure niacin‐bound chromium, identified by researchers as the active component of true GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor). GTF is responsible for binding insulin to cell membrane receptor sites. Supplementation with chromium in patients with a high‐risk of Type 2 diabetes (moderately obese and a family history of diabetes) was shown to reduce insulin resistance by 40 percent after four months of treatment.14 A recent human clinical study demonstrated that chromium complemented the antidiabetic drug sulfonylurea in improving insulin sensitivity and glucose control in Type 2 diabetes pa‐ tients.15 These studies suggest the chromium may be helpful for patients with prediabetes conditions as well as full‐blown Type 2 diabetes.

L‐taurine is an amino acid often found to be deficient in diabetics. Animal studies suggest supplementation with taurine modifies insulin signaling enzymes and may be beneficial in overcoming insulin resistance.16

*  %DV (Daily Value) not established

References

1. Bhatti F, et al. Mechanisms of antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid in the diabetic and nondiabetic kidney. 2005. Kidney Int. Apr;67(4):1371-80.
2. Yi, X et al. Alpha-Lipoic acid prevents the increase in atherosclerosis induced by diabetes in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed high-fat/ low-cholesterol diet. 2006. Diabetes. Aug;55(8):2238-44.
3. Ametov AS et al. The sensory symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy are improved with alpha-lipoic acid: the SYNDNEY trial. 2003. Diabe- tes Care. 26, 3:770-6.
4. Konrad D, et al. Utilization of the insulin-signaling network in the metabolic actions of alpha-lipoic acid-reduction or oxidation?" 2005. Antioxid Redox Signal. 7, 7-8:1032-9.
5. Head, KA et al. Natural therapies for ocular disorders, part two: cataracts and glaucoma. 2001. Altern Med Rev. Apr;6(2):141-66.
6. Dias, AS. et al. Quercetin decreases oxidative stress, NF-aB activa- tion and iNOS overexpression in Liver of Streptozotocin-Induced diabetic rats. 2005. J. Nutr.October. 135:2299-2304.
7. Kakuda T, et al. Hypoglycemic effect of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves in genetically diabetic KK-AY mice. 1996. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. Feb;60(2):204-8.
8. Fukushima M, et al. Effect of corosolic acid on postchallenge plasma glucose levels. 2006. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Aug;73(2):174-7.
9. Raman, A., et al. Anti-diabetic properties and phytochemistry of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae). 1996. Phytomedicine, Vol. 2 (4), 349-362.
10. Ahmad N et al. Effect of Momordica charantia (Karolla) extracts on fasting and postprandial serum glucose levels in NIDDM patients.1999. Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin. 25, 1:11-3.
11. Anderson RA et al. Isolation and characterization of polyphenol type-A polymers from cinnamon with insulin-like biological activity. 2004. J Agric Food Chem. Jan 14;52(1):65-70.
12. Mang B et al. Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, HbA, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2. 2006. Eur J Clin Invest. 36, 5:340-4.
13. Khan et al. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. 2003. Diabetes Care. 26, 12:3215-8.
14. Cefalu WT et al. Effect of chromium picolinate on insulin sensitiv- ity in vivo. 1999. Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine. 12:71-83
15. Wang MJ et al. Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. 2006. Diabetes Care. Aug;29(8):1826-32.
16. Nandhini AT et al, Taurine modifies insulin signaling enzymes in the fructose-fed insulin resistant rats. 2005. Diabetes Metab. Sep;31:337-44.