 While type 1 diabetes is not as common as type 2 diabetes, it can be just as devastating. Unlike type 2, which is largely caused by weight gain, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and other controllable risk factors, type 1 diabetes is considered to be an autoimmune disorder and a person is born with it. The beta cells in the pancreas of a type 1 diabetic are not able to manufacture the insulin to control blood sugars in the body. As a result, blood sugars can get dangerously high or low - and quickly. Traditionally, type 1 diabetes is controlled with a combination of insulin injections or an insulin pump as well as careful counting of carbohydrates in regards to activity levels. However, this can be an extremely difficult way to live, especially for children. There, are, however, natural substances which have the potential to treat this condition. Read on to find out more. Arginine Arginine is an amino acid and is available in most health food stores as a nutritional supplement. In a 2007 study, it was found that regular use of arginine in laboratory animals was able to stimulate the pancreas to produce beta cells, the special kind of pancreatic cells which produce insulin. Goldenseal Goldenseal is an herb with a long history of medicinal use both in the East and the West. Modern science believes that part of its value as a treatment lies in the fact that it contains berberine, a bioactive compound. Berberine has been shown in studies on laboratory animals to, like arginine, stimulate the production of the pancreatic beta cells which the body needs to make insulin. Stevia This naturally sweet plant - now widely popular as a sugar substitute - is a good choice for diabetics for other reasons other than avoiding a lot of simple carbohydrates. It contains compounds which have been shown to rejuvenate pancreatic beta cells that have been damaged. Its actions are similar to an anti-diabetic drug called glibenclamide but without unwanted side effects. Red clover Red clover is traditionally thought of as a woman's herb because of its hormone-balancing properties, but it is great for type 1 diabetics as well. This is due to one of its active compounds, a substance called genistein which has been proven to help stimulate beta cell proliferation in the pancreas. Fig leaves Fig leaves contain compounds which have currently not be isolated but which are believed to have an anti-diabetic effect. Diabetics who take supplements made from fig leaves do not need as much insulin as those who don't. The substances discussed above offer hope for a treatment for type 1 diabetes that is natural and does not rely on synthetic insulin whether from injections or a pump. And these natural treatments could make a huge difference to young type 1 diabetics and allow them to have the kind of normal childhood which is difficult or impossible to have with current mainstream treatments. Sources: http://www.whfoods.com http://umm.edu http://www.medicalnewstoday.com http://www.herbwisdom.com About the author: Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. He currently writing for insurancetips4u.co . Read More articles from Sandeep: Top 5 Reasons Your Health Insurance Premium Will Rise in 2016 Top 5 Tips for Finding Affordable Health Insurance Policy 5 Must-Know Things about Car Insurance 