Almost every diabetic knows what the term HbA1c refers to. That is glycosylated hemoglobin, which gives information about the level of blood sugar over the past few months. Recent studies have demonstrated the anti-glycation effect of carnosine.

What is actually glycation?

The whole organism is in a constant process called glycation (glycosylation). This reaction involves binding of protein molecules to molecules of sugar (glucose), with accompanying the formation of damaged, dysfunctional structures. Glycation changes the structure of proteins, thus reducing its biological activity. Proteins involved in this process accumulate in affected tissues and become responsible for the complications that diabetes brings. Glucose is an engine which drives glycation and the result of compounding glucose and proteins is the formation of free radicals and glycation end-products (AGEs). These products have a highly toxic effect on proteins. Diseases which are associated with aging, such as hardening of the arteries, cataracts and some neurological disorders are, to some extent, a consequence of glycation. In addition to preventing glycation, carnosine helps remove glycosylated proteins.

A much larger quantity of AGEs is created in diabetics, than in healthy people. This process changes the physiological functions of the organs and destructive consequences follow. One of the consequences is 50 x more forming of free radicals. Diabetes is a disease that accelerates aging, then AGEs affect the arteries (along with myocardial infarction, the occurrence of arteriosclerosis in diabetic patients is 3 times more likely than in non-diabetics), ocular lens and retina, peripheral nerves and kidneys. By preventing glycation, a reduction of inflammatory and degenerative changes is achieved. Carnosine is a kind of protective shield that removes damaged, unnecessary and often harmful proteins.

Karnozin Extra is suitable for all diabetics since it reduces the risk of developing diabetic complications, particularly heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, renal failure and ocular complications. It is suitable for pregnant women with diabetes because it reduces the risk of diabetes in children.