2000 Calorie Diabetic Diet - Lose Weight and Get Healthy

If you are diabetic and trying to lose weight a good start may be with the 2000 calorie diabetic diet. Although ideally you would like to consume 1500-1800 calories daily it makes sense to start with a goal that is easier to attain. Most doctors agree that a drastic drop in your caloric intake can be dangerous. Start with a modest drop to 2000 calories and work your way to a healthier weight and manage your diabetes at the same time.

The single most important thing you can do as a diabetic and as someone who wants to lose weight is to each three healthy meals each day. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to skip a meal or load up with snacks. If you portion yourself three meals and eat them at around the same time each day you will develop healthy habits that will go a long way towards your goals. Depending on your schedule establish three times every day that you can sit down and eat a healthy meal. Divide your 2000 calories between breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two small snacks.

You should also get in the habit of reading food labels. Since you have 2000 calories to work with each day make sure you know how what you are eating. You may find that simple choices like mustard instead of mayonnaise or wheat bread instead of white bread will allow you to eat more food while also lowering your caloric intake. If you are eating produce or other items that do not already have calories listed on the label a quick check online will reveal the nutrition value for just about anything you can imagine.

Also pay special attention to your portion sizes. Most people give little thought to how much of something they should eat. If the label says a portion is a tablespoon or an ounce get a good set of measuring spoons and cups to make sure you eat a proper portion. Piling several dollops on your plate is not correct measurement and will lead to overeating. Get in the habit of having single servings and you can still enjoy most of your favorite foods in moderation.

The 2000 calorie diabetic diet is really simple. You restrict yourself to no more than 2000 calories each day divided up among three meals and two snacks. Pay attention to labels for nutritional information and portion sizes. Eat healthy meals which consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grain breads, and limit your carbohydrates late in the day. If you do this you should see the weight fall off over time and keep your diabetes in check. As always consult with your physician before making any changes to your diet.

The Nutritional Benefits of Cabbage

The nutritional benefits of cabbage are instrumental especially for people that have diabetes as well as dealing with a weight problem. Cabbage is known to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and assist in weight loss along with many other leafy green vegetables, some of which include spinach and broccoli.

Studies have shown that a person that includes more than one serve per day of leafy green vegetables into their diet can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 15%.

Cabbage contains a rich source of vitamin C, which reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes; cabbage is also very low in calories and high in fibre, which in turn helps promote weight loss. Red cabbage has a natural pigment that can boost insulin production and is rich in anthocyanins. Be aware that sauerkrauts are high in sodium, but the fermentation of this cabbage has higher levels of anti-cancer compounds.

The nutritional benefits of cabbage are tremendous for all of us, but can be very helpful for people that have diabetes.

Following is a recipe that can be incorporated into your diabetes diet:

Sliced Apples with Red Cabbage

Ingredients:

1 apple cored and sliced

4 cups of red cabbage, finely sliced

1 small onion diced

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

1 chicken cube stock crushed

teaspoon of allspice

Sprinkle of pepper

cup of water

2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Method:

Combine all the ingredients except for the water and brown sugar into a saucepan, mix and then add the water. Cover and simmer for around 20 minutes or until the cabbage is tender, finally stir in the brown sugar until completely combined.

The other nutritional benefits of cabbage is that it has the capability to lower blood sugar levels which is one of the main objectives when you have diabetes.

A study conducted in women found that those that included cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli in their diet actually had a 45% lower breast cancer risk than women who did not include these in their diet.

If you need to lower the GI of a meal that you wish to prepare, simply combine cabbage with vinegar.

Cabbage is one of the best medicinal vegetables you can include in your diet. The remarkable medicinal compounds contained within cabbage, as we know heals cancer, however, it is also known to be a wonderful natural remedy for stomach ulcers.

The nutritional benefits of cabbage is recommended for diabetics and buy eating a handful of raw cabbage each day, adding cabbage to your salads, or by drinking a cup of cabbage juice will definitely help you to achieve good health and general well-being.

5 Simple Tips to Travel in Peace With Diabetes

Many say that it is not easy to travel overseas for holiday if you have Diabetes. From packing your insulin to food restriction, there are just too many things to look out for. This condition affects 8% of the American population and you will be surprise to know that many of them are enjoying the fun of traveling too! You just need to make sure you are discipline and know how to take care of yourself.

1. Pre-departure - Make sure that you take a short trip to your doctor first before traveling. Vaccinations is essential not only to protect you from foreign infectious diseases but also might be part of the travel insurance policies requirements. You should be able to get more information from your travel agent. It is always wise to let your travel agency know that you have diabetes so that he can offer you value advices based on their experience of the tour. If you need to take injections, and you have a kit for doing so, request a letter from your doctor stating that you have diabetes and also that the kit is required for insulin, if your doctor has not already provided you with one. It is also wise to carry your diabetes ID with you.

2. Packing - While you might like to pack and travel light, there are some important items that you cannot miss. Make sure that you have more than enough insulin and drugs, just to make extra sure that you will not lack anything. You can split your essentials with your travel partner just in case one bag is misplaced during tour. You should also carry extra medication in your hand luggage. This should be for emergency purposes only—sufficient for not more than three doses. Make sure that you have all your insulin on you because the aircraft hold can be very low, and since insulin has a high freezing point, it will freeze in extreme cases. Also, bring a simple first aid kit and enough food and drink in your handbag so that you have something to munch on if there are any delays. This is so that you can maintain your sugar level and your diet regime is not affected. Remember to bring glucose monitoring devices to check your sugar level as well.

3. The Journey - Get your diabetes specialist to make very accurate insulin doses and bring at least double this in different bags. You can make use of either your mobile phone or watch to monitor the local time in your destination. This will help remind you of your meals and insulin doses. Do not take in alcohol, at least not on the plane, and bring your own sugar-free drinks because you cannot expect the airlines to have sugar-free drinks all the time.

4. Foot care - Never ever walk barefoot, especially on sand. It is important to bring shoes that fit your feet well, especially for long walking trips. Design is not that important. Be reminded to check your feet everyday in the morning and at night before you sleep. If you happen to get a blister, cover it up with plaster right away and make sure to keep it clean.

5. Insurance - If you want to travel with a peace of mind, it is always wise to keep yourself updated with the latest insurance requirements.

Importance of Regular Blood Sugar Monitoring

Everybody wants to live a healthy lifestyle. Restrictions in the everyday lifestyle of diabetics can be greatly prevented. Learn how to manage Diabetes and detect complication as early as possible.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when a person's body doesn't make adequate insulin or can't use insulin properly. What happen is that, when a person have diabetes, the sugar builds up in his blood instead of moving into the cells. High levels of sugar in the blood damages your vital organs including the heart and blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, teeth and gums.

Symptoms and Complications of Diabetes

According to medical practitioners, primarily, there are three classical symptoms of diabetes: frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger.

People often than not neglect to control their blood sugar for various reasons. It could be because of pure ignorance of the disease or lack of knowledge. If diabetes is uncontrolled, serious medical condition can occur like: stroke, blindness, kidney failure, tooth and gum disease and pregnancy complications.

Importance of Blood Sugar Monitoring

Diabetes management will not be successful without the full cooperation of the patient. A person with diabetes should be aware of what contributes to his blood sugar's rise and fall. Many people with diabetes are encouraged to learn how to monitor their blood glucose as it gives them immediate feedback to facilitate in effective management of the condition. Therefore, regular checking of blood sugar can assist in making wise decisions about lifestyle changes and preference, and to adjust their medication as necessary.

Glucometers (Blood Glucose Monitor)

As mentioned, regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is critical in controlling diabetes. For many years, people with diabetes depended on blood glucose testing to monitor blood sugar levels. A Glucometer is a portable tool a person can use to monitor his blood glucose levels. In general, since several glucose meters are now available and each works differently, be sure to check the handbook or manual that comes will it. This will guide users on how to effectively obtain blood and measure it accurately. However, it is still best to seek medical advice before using such device.

How to Check blood Glucose Levels

1. Remember to wash your hands before the procedure to decrease the chance of contamination.

2. Use cotton pads to disinfect the area that you're going to prick. Most of the time, the fingertip is use to get a drop of blood. Other glucometers require you to use other areas of your body such as your forearm, thigh or the fleshy part of your hand. Consult with your doctor, what body area you will use with your glucometer.

3. To get a drop of blood, prick yourself with a sterile lancet.

4. Carefully place the drop of blood on the test strip.

5. Your glucometer's manual will guide you in the proper way of inserting the test strip into the glucose meter. So follow the instructions carefully.

6. The meter will give you a number for your blood sugar level.

7. Accurately monitor your findings.

Diabetes Prevention

If you want to live a normal lifestyle, follow your doctor's advice regarding diet and medication. Proper management of your diabetes today means avoiding other health related problems in the years to come. Collaborate with your health care team to devise the best care plan for you.

Type 2 Diabetes - Vestibular Balance and Falls!

According to a study published this month in the medical journal Otology and Neurotolgy, people with Type 2 diabetes need to protect their sense of balance and prevent falls even more than healthy people.

Researchers in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, looked at information taken from a National Health survey during the years 2001 to 2004. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a program begun by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the 1960's, and abstracts health information from 5000 representative adults and children per year. Type 2 diabetes is one of their diseases of interest.

What is vestibular function: Vestibular function is the ability to stay balanced using the inner ear and nervous system. People with vestibular problems often describe balance issues in terms of:

vertigo (a whirling or spinning movement)dizziness,lightheadedness, and motion sickness

But these symptoms are not always caused by disorders of the vestibular system.

In the National Health Survey, 2001 to 2004, it was found that those people in the survey who had Type 2 diabetes for the longest time, had the most likelihood of having vestibular difficulties. Type 2 diabetics with the highest HbA1c percentages, (the HbA1c determines the average amount of glucose which has been present in your bloodstream for the previous 3 months), were also associated with the highest prevalence of vestibular difficulties. Those with the poorest control of their Type 2 diabetes had the greatest chance of vestibular problems. Those with vestibular problems, not surprisingly, had the highest chance of falls. The falls were not related to numbness in the feet or visual difficulties.

The danger of developing a poor sense of balance and falling is another reason to do your best to control your blood sugar levels. Most falls do not cause serious injuries in younger and middle-aged people, but falls in the elderly can lead to serious injuries such as hip disorders which can lead to permanent disabilities. We would all like to spend our old age being as independent as possible and being able to walk without difficulty. Getting your blood sugar levels under control is not something to be put off, because the body appears to accumulate vestibular damage caused by poor diabetic control.

Have your hemoglobin A1c measured on a regular basis... a level greater than 7% indicates poor blood sugar control and a greater risk of developing diabetic complications. All Type 2 diabetics are advised to have their HbA1c levels tested at least every 6 months.

 

Type 2 Diabetes - A Dilemma to Everyone

Happiness is the ultimate goal of man. But how can we be happy if we are threatened with problems like diseases. Undeniably, one's life becomes miserable if one is suffering a disease like type 2 diabetes. It is known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity onset diabetes because in the past, it almost exclusively affected adults. But today this is no longer accurate because more kids and teens are being diagnosed with this type of diabetes because many of our kids or teens today are having problems with their weight.

Unlike type1 diabetes, the body of a person with type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin but it does not respond to it normally. There is an insulin resistance of the body in which the glucose is less able to enter the cells and do its job of supplying energy resulting to an increase of blood sugar level. In type 2 diabetes, the body has an adequate supply of insulin but there is a defect in the mechanism by which insulin enables the cells to make use of glucose.

Insulin injection is not necessary with this type of disease. The causes of this is problem includes the lifestyle of the patient and genetics. The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes are frequent urination (polyuria), increased thirst (polydipsia), increased hunger (polyphagia), weight loss and over fatigue. Obese individuals are more prone with this type of diabetes. Some of the risk factors of type 2 diabetes are family history, age, ethnicity, lifestyle and physical activity.

It has been estimated by some scientists that in the next twenty years the rate of type 2 diabetics would likely to double. However, the probability rate will be impossible if we have regular exercise and proper diet like eating the right kinds and amount of foods. Foods that are high in fiber are strongly recommended for diabetic patients. On the other hand saturated fats and sugar should be avoided or controlled. Dairy products like cheese, meat, cream and chocolate are high in saturated fat. Animal fat such as butter and lard are also high in saturated fat. In addition, the diet of diabetic person must be planned properly because majority of the foods we eat are high in fat.

According to the results of some scientific studies, bitter melon extract can help lower the blood sugar level of type 2 diabetes. This effect is attributed to its content of momordicin, a substance which is responsible for the bitter taste of bitter melons which is also known as plant insulin. This effect is noticeable regardless of how the leaves are prepared. However, diabetic patients are advised not to depend on such plants alone because all these researches were done in a limited number of human subjects and some of the variables involved in the study are not properly controlled.

Although it is not easy to have this kind of disease, it is still possible for you to live a normal life as if you are not suffering from a disease like this. It becomes possible if you only know how to manage yourself in relation to this problem. You should not forget to follow the proper ways of medication for this kind of disease.

Diabetes is a disease that has been triggered by several factors. You can immediately trace the reasons how did you get such ailments by knowing more about the types of diabetes. It is better to be aware with your health and maintain a healthy life. Click here for more details about the discreet symptoms of diabetes.

Type II Diabetes - Being Overweight Prevent Insulin Action

Type 2 diabetes does not usually appear without cause. The greatest reason people develop this disease is due to carrying too much weight and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Your body works in the right way when you are at an ideal weight and active. With a healthy system, the body turns food into glucose during the digestive process and directs it to the body's cells. The body's cells need this glucose for energy. All the same, in order for the cells to turn the glucose to energy, they require insulin. The pancreas discharges insulin as the body calls for it. The insulin goes to the cells and it helps to change over glucose into glycogen that the cells can expend.

In those that have Type 2 diabetes, this function has broken down. The cells of the body start requiring increasingly more insulin to convert the same quantity of glucose. This medical condition goes by the name of insulin resistance. For a short while, the pancreas steps-up synthesis to sustain the increased need. However, the pancreas cannot sustain the pace over time. That's when the blood glucose levels start to climb in the blood stream. After awhile, the body cannot contend with the elevated glucose levels.

The most prevailing reasons for type 2 diabetes are obesity and lack of physical activity. In reality, it is the cause for over ninety percent of cases diagnosed annually. If you are carrying any excess body weight, you are likely already forming the condition of insulin resistance. This means your glucose levels are likely starting to rise very slowly. At first, there are no real external signs, but they will appear over time. That is why diabetes is a silent killer. Did you know many people don't know they have it until unfortunately it's too late to stop it.

Why do overweight people have such a high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes? Recent research could have exposed one reason why obese individuals have such a high preponderance of the disease. In studies with mice, researchers discovered a new internal secretion developed by fat cells. They nicknamed this new hormone, resistin. In mice that were obese, the quantity of resistin in the blood climbed dramatically. In mice that were not, the quantities were far lower. Resistin seems to increase the body's cells immunity to insulin. Why or how this occurs is presently unidentified. Research is in progress at this point.

Type 2 Diabetes - How To Naturally Avoid This Disease

Understanding type 2 diabetes is the beginning of finding a natural way to manage it. First of all what is this disease? Type 2, or adult onset, diabetes happens when the body builds up a natural resistance to the insulin produced in the pancreas.

In somebody without this problem, the body produces insulin. Insulin moves throughout the body. As a cell needs to convert glucose into energy, it picks up the insulin from the bloodstream. The cell then consumes the insulin as it absorbs the glucose. In people that have this form of diabetes, the natural process is not working properly.

The amount of glucose in the blood stream continues to rise. And uncontrolled amounts of glucose can lead to damage in various tissues around the body.

One of the biggest factors for people to develop type 2 diabetes is lifestyle. People who have excess weight have a higher risk of developing this form of diabetes. While science is not completely sure why, the excess weight seems to build up the cell's resistance to using the body's natural insulin.

This causes the pancreas to start producing more amounts of insulin. However, at some point the pancreas cannot keep up with the insulin demand. That is when glucose levels begin to build and the patient start seeing the symptoms. Most people see increased urination, increased hunger, and increased thirst because of these high glucose levels.

How can you naturally deal with type 2 diabetes? One of the biggest ways is to get rid of the excess weight. Reducing your body weight to a normal level will substantially reduce your risk of developing this form of diabetes.

That means eating a healthier diet and exercising more. It also means avoiding saturated fats and trans fatty acids wherever possible. Another natural way to deal with this form of diabetes is to visit the doctor regularly. If you have a family history of the disease, make sure your doctor is aware of it.

The doctor can regularly check blood clues close levels to make sure you have not entered the pre-diabetic stage.

It is important to look for other ways to avoid with type 2 diabetes. There are natural supplements available that can help you regulate your weight and cholesterol levels.

Taking proactive steps can keep you away from this dreadful disease. It is also helpful to take these steps if you are in a pre-diabetes stage. It can help you avoid full-blown diabetes in the long run.

Understanding Weight Loss Diabetic Diet Plan

The statement 'diabetic diet plan for weight loss' can be quite vague. Is it a plan specifically for those that are suffering diabetes to lose weight? Or is it for those that simply want to lose weight to follow a diet plan that was designed for diabetic patients? Well, it actually goes both ways simply because well, it is indeed healthier to cut down on sugar and also because you would really lose weight if you maintain a careful diet regimen.

The basic diabetes plan entails patients having to eat specific food at specific times and in specific amounts. Thus, a good plan would easily fit into your schedule and your own eating habits. A good plan will also improve your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels, while putting your weight back on track and shedding those pounds.

Although this might sound very much like something you will have to put a lot of sacrifice and self-control into, it actually isn't as hard as normal body building practices. This is simply a matter of eating right. You can actually changing your eating habit, as to what you eat and when you eat, rather than starving yourself. Diabetic diet plans also help reduce the chances of some forms of cancer, hypertension, heart disease and other cardiac related problems.

The main foods that you will indulge in would be fresh vegetables and fresh fruits-which are in most diets; whole grains and pulses are also integrated to help eliminate toxins more effectively and efficiently, while also helping food to metabolize better. This is due to the high amounts of fiber found in these diets.

The main antagonists would be foods high in sugar, which is the main focus of these diets. GI carbohydrates are especially bad for diabetic patient, but then it is also pretty bad for everyone in general. You would usually have to go to a certified dietitian and request a diabetic weight loss diet plan, which would usually include the following recommendations:

Veggies: 3-5 servings a day
Fruit: 2-5 servings a day
Milk: 2-3 servings a day
Meat, fish and cheese: not more than 3 servings a day (although fish is the preferred meat)
Grain, beans and other starchy veggies: at least 6 servings a day
Fats and alcohol: drastically limited
Sugar: no consumption at all (whatever sugar needed would come from fruits)

However, the good part is that you are not supposed to eat less than 1200 calories a day, meaning that you should absolutely not starve yourself. In fact, you are advised to eat around 1800 calories a day, or 1500 for females, which is not that far from the norm of 2200. Another point to note for this diet is that you should not go without food for more than 3 hours in the day. This means that you will be munching most of the time, although in small quantities. It is recommended to spend 45 minutes to exercise; even walking is good enough.

Blood Glucose Management With Simple Lifestyle Modifications

When you are diabetic, part of the responsibility bestowed upon you is that of understanding your blood sugar levels. Diabetes only manifests itself when you don't take part in controlling your blood sugar levels. So in essence, controlling your blood sugar levels is more about making lifestyle changes than anything else. Let's establish at this point that there are pills that can be taken to control your blood sugar levels. But that is not what is highlighted here. Rather, the tips and strategies that you could use to control your blood sugar levels are discussed.

The first most important thing is to become more active. Diabetes complications tend to surface when you lower your physical activity to near zero. Staying on your PC or watching movies all day doesn't help. You need to get your heart racing, so that glucose, which is really energy, can be expended. Join a gym and get into the habit of working out. Weights training is a highly recommended form of physical exercise, however depending on your preference, you can choose to do simple aerobics or cardio activities as long as you can sweat adequately. If you are overweight, joining a gym should become primal as you need to lose the extra weight to regain control of your blood sugar.

The second strategy to follow in controlling your blood glucose levels is by changing your eating habit, meaning what you eat and how often you eat. As a start, change the number of meals you eat from 3 to about 5-6, as in the three main ones, and healthy snacks in-between. Skipping a meal is highly advised against, and so is taking processed foods.

Understand your body's calories needs so that you know what to eat and how many servings you need. This will tell whether a high carb or low carb diet is suitable for you. Avoid a lot of carbohydrates in the morning as consuming them would increase insulin resistance, and that's undesired. Rather, spread this to your other mealtimes, and try to keep them starchy and complex all the time. If you take carbohydrates in abundance, you have to take in a lot of fiber as well, so that a balance can be created. Proteins are also needed, and so are fruits and vegetables in abundance as well. Continue to take healthy fats such as nuts and eggs and avoid saturated fats as far as possible.

Good blood sugar management also involves keeping a positive outlook in life. Having too much stress in your life tends to affect your blood sugar level. In most cases, when you are agitated, or distressed, your blood glucose is also high. Ensure you stay hydrated as well. No matter how many beverages there are in the market, there isn't one that can substitute water. No sodas, or other sweetened beverages are good if you are diabetic, but water always is.

To fully manage your blood sugar level, you have to understand them. It is advisable to get a glucose meter to monitor your glucose level over time. A physician can help you understand what times to measure your blood sugar, and what ranges to expect at a given time of the day.

Proper Nutrition - Making Sure You Get Enough Nutrients From Every Food Group

Proper nutrition is essential for everyone, and making sure you get enough nutrients from every food group is vital for your health, especially if you have diabetes. One aspect of managing your diabetes is through proper nutrition as well as regular exercise.

Following is a list for proper nutrition> as well as making sure you get enough nutrients from every food group:

Vegetables

Water is the only natural drink or food that contains no calories which in turn cannot make you gain weight. It is also important to note that leafy vegetables contain around 85 to 95% of water so they are nutritious and beneficial like water, these vegetables are low in calories and have the least effect on our body where fat is involved.

As the carbohydrate content of leafy vegetables is low, this means that people are not able to eat enough of these vegetables to significantly affect their blood glucose levels.

Other benefits of vegetables include the reduction of blood pressure and blood fats. Vegetables are also rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and B-Carotene.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are found mainly in plant foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes. It is important to remember that all carbohydrate foods end up as sugar in your blood stream; therefore it is vital that you monitor the intake of carbohydrate foods so that you can control your blood sugar levels and your weight.

It is also important to note that the type and quantity of carbohydrate determines the glycemic load in your meal, this is how your blood glucose and insulin levels are after eating.

The way you can reduce the amount of carbohydrate in each meal is to ensure that you select the best carbohydrate foods that are low in GI; these foods are known to help with your blood sugar levels.

The index rating for the Glycemic Index is as follows:

Low GI - Look for foods that have a GI of 55 or less

Medium GI - These foods are only good in small quantities and their GI is 56 to 69

High GI - These are foods that have a GI of 70 or more and should be avoided whenever possible

Proteins

The main sources of protein are found in animal products. They are also found in plant products, and combined with animal products are made up of building blocks called amino acids. The essential amino acids that are required by our bodies can also be found in plant sources.

We do not need more than 120 to 200 grams of protein each day; ensure that the protein should only cover 25% of your plate and that the protein chosen is lean meat. Eating fish at least twice a week can be beneficial also.

Fats

Not all fats and oils effect your cholesterol; saturated fats are known as the bad fats and you should make sure that you do not add more than 8% of calories to your diet. On the other hand monounsaturated oils are the good oils and a recommendation of around 10% of calories in your diet.

Proper nutrition is making sure you get enough nutrients from every food group so that you can manage your diabetes effectively and maintain good health.

Treatment For Diabetes Begins At Home - Know More About This Fact

Diabetes is one of the most well known degenerative diseases which come along with a number of associated symptoms such as feelings of tiredness, fatigue, unusual weight loss symptoms, severe craving for food and frequent urination. Most of the people around the world are diagnosed with diabetes and the related symptoms. As a result of which people have become more and more health conscious and are adopting several methods of treatment for diabetes begins at home.

People today have become a lot more careful about their eating habits and are taking out time for exercising from their busy schedules. The symptoms associated with diabetes and the effects of high blood sugar on the overall health are some basic information with which almost each and every one of us is armed these days.

However, there are some sections in the society who are yet not aware of the potential risk factors involved in the disease. This is definitely a matter of great concern. Since this has become a very common lifestyle disease, every one should be aware of the symptoms and take necessary precautionary measures to avoid any sorts of risk in the future.

Only with generation of consciousness can treatment for diabetes begins at home. Discussions with friends, colleagues, healthcare professionals will help you to develop better understanding about the disease and the ways in which you can protect yourself from such diseases. You must not ignore your health.

There are some basic principles like eating healthy diets and daily exercises which constitute the key to healthy life. It is the responsibility of the parents to educate their children about the healthy living practices from the very childhood. The healthy habits which children develop since childhood can be practiced even when they are an adult individual. It will not be easy for them to change their diets easily.

There are several instances when even the children today are diagnosed with diabetes at a very early age. Since treatment for diabetes begins at home there are different natural remedies which can be tried out in this case and these include herbal treatment and weight reduction plans. However, this does not mean that medications that are prescribed by doctors shall be discontinued. Along with necessary medications these are some vital natural remedies which must be followed.

Foods to Eat for Diabetics - Diabetic Foods

In managing your diabetes, you should also manage the foods that you eat. You should have a diet plan that includes the foods to eat for diabetics because they will help you control your blood sugar levels. Eating the wrong foods will put your health to a big danger, which can lead to bigger health problems in the long run; and much worse, to death.

Indeed, there are certain stuffs that you should avoid and there are stuffs that you can take in moderation. You should know how much of each food you can eat per serving. It is best to consult your doctor to know the blood sugar level that you should target before you eat your meals. The appropriate portions of the foods that you will eat will be based on that.

If you are under medication, you should be more watchful about your meals. You will also need to follow a stricter schedule. To be sure that you have the right guide, you can consult your physician. He might also refer a dietician to you who can help you create a diabetic meal plan. Aside from meal plans, you will also be advised on the activities that will be helpful to your condition. Moreover, you will be taught on how to monitor your own blood sugar level.

Foods to eat for diabetics include the following:

Low Glycemic Index - The glycemic index is the measurement that shows how certain foods raise our blood sugar levels. Low GI foods are slow in releasing sugar into your body; therefore, it will not be absorbed right away to your bloodstream and your blood sugar level will not rapidly increase. Foods included in this category are unsweetened muffins, green leafy vegetables, soymilk, beans and nuts.

Complex High Fiber Carbohydrates - Fiber slows down digestion. For this reason, they won't require the body to produce insulin rapidly. That will save the pancreas from being worn out and eventually suffer from low insulin production. When that happens, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is bigger. Some examples of complex high fiber carb foods are oats, wholegrain products, legumes, fruits, lentils, vegetables, peas, dried beans and so on.

Alpha Lipoic Acid - This nutrient in foods helps in repairing the damages caused by diabetes in your nerves. It will also enhance your glucose uptake. Foods such as spinach, broccoli, steak and liver are among those that are rich in it.

Omega 3 - Foods rich in omega 3 such as tuna, salmon, herring and mackerel protect the arteries from hardening. They also promote healthy heart; hence, they are highly recommended for diabetics.

Omega 6 Fatty Acid - It protects you from diabetes neuropathy, a kind of nerve disorder caused by diabetes. Some of the stuffs enriched in omega 6 fatty acid are borage oil, blackcurrant oil and primrose oil.

Foot Care for Diabetics

The feet are very vulnerable to infection in people who suffer from diabetes. If you have diabetes, pay careful attention to foot care. Consult your doctor about any foot problems, even minor ones such as corns and calluses. Avoid self help treatment and visit a podiatrist regularly.

When you have diabetes for a while, it can cause problems to your feet because of poor blood circulation and injury to your nerves in the feet. Due to the high glucose level in your body, your feet become less responsive or numb to soreness. Your feet become less sensitive to temperature, pain and vibration. Therefore, you may be more prone to accidents if you step on sharp objects, or hot surfaces during the summer months. Watch out for cuts and blisters.

The high glucose levels can also damage the blood vessels, thus stops blood circulation to the feet and legs. It will also cause the skin to be very dry as the sweat produced by the feet is reduced to the damage the nerves. This will lead to cracked feet.

Due to numbness in the feet, there is a potential danger of putting unnecessary pressure and friction on the feet. This will lead to the formation of calluses, which often occur on the ball of the foot, heel and the big toe.

Action steps that you can take to look after your feet:

? Monitor your blood glucose results regularly so that it is under control. By doing that, you will alleviate the impact on the nerves in the feet and maintain good blood circulation to the feet
? Wear well fitted shoes and appropriate socks. Make sure that your socks do not impede circulation
? Maintain a foot care routine. Wash your feet daily with warm water and apply a special foot moisturizer into your legs and feet afterwards
? Always make sure that you cut your toe nails straight across to avoid ingrowing nails
? Do not walk barefoot especially if you experienced numbness in your feet
? Avoid exposure to cold temperatures
? Regular use of a pumice stone after bathing can stop hard skin building up
? Visit the podiatrist at least once a year to check your general feet condition.

How to Live and Cope With a Diabetic Child

If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, there is no need for you to be in distress. Juvenile diabetes is caused by genetic reasons most of the time, which explain why the parents don't get it even if they keep to almost the same diet at home with the child. The good news about juvenile diabetes is that it is a manageable disease if the child gets the right treatment.

At this moment, learning how to manage the condition is most vital. You have already made the first step since you have got your child diagnosed with diabetes. Most children are affected by Type 1 Diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes. It's caused by insufficient secretion of insulin, leading the body to a state of insulin dependence.

One of the most important things to help manage your child diabetes condition is to understand the disorder better. Knowledge is of the essence, as it will help you manage your child's condition comprehensively. You should seek to understand both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia better and know how to react should either conditions happen. Learn the normal ranges of blood sugar and get a glucose meter for home use. It helps you get your child's blood glucose level reading fast. Plan trips to the doctor and let them explain to you everything you are needed to do as a parent with a diabetic child. Getting up to speed with the disorder should be the first thing to do on your list.

The first thing that you can expect to do is to administer insulin shots to your son, during intervals specified by the doctor. Usually, a dose is given during the day, and another one during the night. The insulin helps keep the blood sugar levels normal, and as long as the body gets it, the levels will remain optimum. Monitor their blood sugar levels regularly to ensure that a hyperglycemic state is not reached.

There is a need for you to track your child eating habit. Much of the concern will go to tracking their carbohydrate intake, as well as reducing, or better yet, ridding the intake of processed foods. Develop a healthy diet that is as child friendly as possible. It is hard for a child to resist a cookie or candy every now and then. A dietitian can be roped in to help create a plan that caters to your child's need in terms of sugar level management.

Try to get your child to be more physically active during the day. This helps lower the blood sugar levels, by using up stored energy, in the form of glucose. Find an interesting activity to perform together like bicycle riding and make it a regular thing. You can teach your child how to administer the insulin injections when he gets older.

If your budget allows, you should visit a pediatric endocrinologist periodically to make sure your child's diabetes management plan is on track. Diabetic children can enjoy life like any normal children. With proper treatment, the symptoms can also be delayed and eliminated in the long run. Remember, without management, the child can develop diabetic complications like DKA, and this is something you want to avoid completely.

The Gold Standard Test - Type 2 Diabetes - What Is The HbA1c That Doctors Measure?

When people first receive a diagnosis of Diabetes 2, they enter a whole new world of medical terms and testing. One of the primary tests they will undergo in the doctor's office is the one for HbA1c. What exactly is this oddly named test? HbA1c biochemical tests for the current levels of glycated hemoglobin in your blood. This form type of hemoglobin is synthesised when blood glucose attaches to hemoglobin. Determining this form of hemoglobin yields an accurate profile of how much glucose is in the blood. A normal HbA1c test result will come back with 6% or less of glycated hemoglobin. Borderline results land between 6-7%. If your results are over 7%, your diabetes may not be under control.

How do doctors perform the test on those with type 2 diabetes? For adults, the doctor will order blood drawn from a vein. In small children, the doctor may use a lancet to prick the skin and then collect the blood in a pipette. The blood goes off to the lab where they measure the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the sample. The results go back to the doctor for analysis. That is when you get the results. If your glucose levels are out of range, your doctor may require other testing. He may also prescribe some medications or changes in lifestyle to counteract the readings.

Testing for HbA1c is not for every day monitoring of blood glucose levels. The amount of HbA1c in the blood does not react to the everyday ups and downs. It does not show daily spikes or drops in glucose. Some people show elevated amounts of HbA1c if they have conditions such as kidney failure, alcohol abuse, or hypertriglyceridemia. Some people show decreased amounts of HbA1c if they have acute or chronic blood loss, thalessemia, or sickle cell disease. Those with type 2 Diabetes use this test to look at glucose levels over the past weeks or months.

HbA1c makes a good companion in monitoring your progress in getting your type 2 diabetes under control. Since it measures the long term levels of glucose in the blood, periodic testing will show if you have your glucose under control or not. For best results, getting it down below 6% is the best. Sufferers with Type 2 Diabetes must keep it under 7% to help delay the onset of the many severe health complications. Taking this reading will become routine in those with diabetes. It can be either a hindrance or a guidepost.

How To Improve Blood Sugar Levels Naturally - 3 Tips To Balance Your Blood Sugar Levels

As of 2007, over 23 million people suffer from diabetes and 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Up to 5.7 million of those people don't even know they have this devastating disease. Diabetes is a health situation where the cells in the body become insensitive to the action of insulin which results in high blood sugar levels.

High blood sugar levels are associated with health complications such as heart disease and stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and neuropathy. If you want to live a long healthy life, then getting control of this disease is paramount. If you are striving to have to depend less and less on insulin medication, then here are a few tips for managing your blood sugar levels naturally:

1. Follow a Low Glycemic Diet - The Glycemic diet focuses on consuming foods that have the least impact on blood sugar levels. Foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are absorbed into the blood stream slowly and do not require an aggressive insulin response as foods that are higher end of the Glycemic index. There are several books on the market that discuss the Glycemic diet and offer recommendations as to the exact foods you should eat.

2. Exercise - Quite possibly, the single best thing you can do to help manage your sugar levels is to start exercising. Not only will you lose weight, which will help bring your diabetes under control, but exercise makes your cells more sensitive to the action of insulin. This means, your cells will begin to absorb the sugars in the blood stream more easily. Your pancreas won't have to stress itself out as much to produce insulin which can prevent it from wearing out and crashing altogether. Be sure to get in a combination of cardio and weight-bearing exercises for maximum effect.

3. Take Supplements - There are several supplements on the market that have been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels naturally. Cinnamon, chromium picolinate, and ginseng have all been shown to help lower glucose levels in patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The advantage to taking supplements is that they generally produce little, if any, side effects.

Since every health situation is unique, before making any changes to your diet or ingesting any supplements, consult with your doctor to discuss how these things will impact your health. It is possible to manage your blood sugar levels naturally. Take the time to find the strategies that work for you.

Exercise and Control Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that can strike anyone. It basically is a disease related to the pancreas. Its onset means that the pancreas are not working at full capacity and the result is an excess sugar in the blood stream. This brings its own problems and at an advanced stage the only solution is to take a dose of insulin every day. This can be a tedious process.

However in case one follows a diet and exercise regimen right from younger days, the chance that you will be stricken by the disease becomes pretty remote. The clue to preventing diabetes is eating the right foods and more important doing exercise regularly. The exercise part is in my view the most important and just cannot be obviated.

Modern life style is fast paced and a lot many people just go to office, slog there and then hit the bar and eat up anything and then tired,they just plop on the bed. This life style has its repercussions and one of these is obesity. A combination of obesity and lack of exercise is a warning that you can be a prey to diabetes.

Obesity in particular is quite harmful as the extra weight on you body means that your body organs have that much extra work to do. In addition this fact of obesity is also directly related to lack of exercise and the food you eat. Out of these, exercise is the most important.

Exercise involves a vigorous work out. The effect is that the body is toned, the excess calories burned up and all the organs of the body work at optimum levels. The body metabolism responds favorably to exercise and a good work out will do wonders.The clue is to be fairly regular in your exercise regime. The question is how much exercise is required. This is really a personal equation, but it is a good idea to have a work out for at least 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week. You will have to find time for this activity.

In case you are fond of swimming or cycling or running on the treadmill,so much the better. Any of these exercises will keep you body fit and fine. As far as foods are concerned concentrate on cereals and fruits. Lean meats and fish will do you good. Avoid fried foods and in case feasible use pure desi ghee as a cooking medium or better still olive oil.

A combination of these activities from a young age will ensure that you remain fit and healthy for a long time into your golden years when you age. But even if you have not exercised from your young age, you can start exercise at any age. But build up momentum slowly so that the body gets accustomed to the new rigors.

What Are the Common Diabetes Misconceptions and Myths?

Diabetes is a life-long metabolism disorder where the body is unable to produce or manage insulin in the body. There are two types of diabetes, namely type 1 where the body is unable to produce insulin and type 2 where the body either does not produce enough insulin or the body cells simply ignore the insulin. Although diabetes affects up to 20 millions Americans today, there are still many misconceptions about the condition to be discussed in this article.

The first myth is that if you are overweight, you will eventually get diabetes. There is some truth in it since obese people are predisposed to Type 2 Diabetes. To say that an overweight person will be diabetic is not accurate at all. There have to be other factors playing for diabetes to be acquired as there are many people who are overweight and with very healthy blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is not contagious. Simply having a family member with it or interacting with diabetics for a long time will not 'transmit' the condition to you. On the other hand, diabetes can be inherited, especially if you have family history of diabetes. The likelihood of this happening is not high all the time, especially if your parents are free of diabetes.

Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. Perhaps this is one of the most widely known myths about the condition. Saying that someone with a sweet tooth will get diabetes is like saying someone with a backache will get arthritis; it's just plainly inaccurate. Stuffing on cakes will make you gain weight but not give you diabetes. Diabetes is caused by genetics mostly, and some unhealthy lifestyle choices like regular consumption of saturated fats. Even people with diabetes can enjoy something sweet every now and then, though not with as much freedom.

People with diabetes can't digest and eat foods high in carbohydrates. The truth is everyone needs to have carbohydrates intake as our body needs them and having a blood sugar problem does not mean you can't take carbohydrates. They simply need to adjust their servings, and include plenty of vegetables and fruits for fiber. In fact, some diabetic diets emphasize on the intake of carbohydrates.

If you are taking insulin shots, or some associated medications, it is a go-ahead for you to eat anything you want. This is totally a misconception as these insulin shots are only supposed to give your body more edge in keeping blood sugar levels at optimal ranges. If you decide to snack on junk food, and eat too many carbohydrates and sugars, you are adding insult to injury and the medications will not prevent your blood sugar levels from constantly rising.

Diabetes can be treated completely or you only have a little diabetes. If your symptoms are not serious, it does not necessary mean that your diabetes is going into remission. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, it won't go away as it doesn't have a cure. But diabetes is a manageable disease and as long as you keep your diet in check, exercise regularly and keep a happy lifestyle, then it will never be a problem for you.

These are only a few misconceptions about diabetes and the list is actually longer. If you are unsure of your diabetic condition, be sure to consult a doctor and seek professional advice.

Why You Should Start Exercising to Help Manage Your Diabetes Better

Following a strict diet regime and taking your medication on time are not the only treatment for diabetes. There are many good reasons why exercising and leading an active lifestyle is encouraged for everyone, including diabetic patients. On the other hand, if you are suffering from diabetes, there are certain things that you need to look out for in order to enjoy the full benefits of exercising and staying fit. These precautions will be discussed in this article.

A workout program for a diabetic is not much different from a person without the condition. Most of the time, the program should be structured depending on the end results to be achieved and existing medical conditions. In a hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic state, you should refrain from exercising until your blood sugar levels return to the optimum levels. If you have other conditions that complicate blood sugar control, then exercising is discouraged too.

It is important to speak with your doctor so that they can establish and confirm that you do not suffer from neuropathy, nephropathy or any other condition that can have its effects magnified following workouts. Wait for your doctor to give you the green light before you start to get involved with your exercise regime.

As a precaution before you start to exercise, it is good to keep some carbohydrate snacks by your side to replenish your energy as and when needed. This is to prevent your glucose level from falling below norm when you expend too much energy. You should be wearing comfortable shoes that fit your feet to avoid blisters from developing. When you first begin to exercise, try not to do anything too strenuous or over-engaging in one routine as this can trigger release of excessive adrenaline which counteracts the effects of insulin.

Once you have understood these and other precautions you need to take, you can begin exercising. Weight training is one of the many highly encouraged physical activities. It not only gives you a chance to build muscle but also improves your blood sugar controls. Developing muscles will hog a lot of glucose, which is a good thing, since you need the glucose in the blood to be used to keep it from rising.

Aerobic exercises like running on a treadmill will be good for your heart. The same effects of blood sugar level control are achieved with aerobics too. Ideally, your workout programs should start slow, with 30-40 minute sessions two to four times a week, and increase in both duration and intensity the more you get involved. Make sure you understand what exercise routines have on your glucose level and most importantly, get yourself hydrated all the time during exercising.

There are many benefits derived from exercising. For example, keeping to an exercise routine can actually help you reduce your dependence on diabetes medication. If you can incorporate a strict diet regime, managing your blood sugar will be even better. Lastly, you also get to achieve a healthier weight, which is important as far as managing diabetes is concerned. If you can keep to your exercise routine, the benefits that come along will stay with you too. Last but not least, you should always keep your doctor updated on your progress.

Out of Shape? Here's 5 Tips To Help Type 2 Diabetics Get Back Into Exercise Without Excuses!

Was last week's most intense workout was struggling to open that stubborn bag of chips? I'm not here to judge, but if you want to get back on the exercise wagon (as everyone with Type 2 diabetes should), you have to do it right.

Do you ever wonder why you alternate between couch potato and gym rat? Looking for your exercise regimen to get some traction?

Then follow these tips and watch your exercise plan stick like superglue:

1. Ease Into It: I see many out of shape people hit the gym for the first time in months and absolutely kill themselves with a 3-hour marathon session. The only thing this is going to do is make you too sore to walk the next day.

Instead, get back into exercise with a light activity like speed walking or hatha yoga and work your way up.

2. Try Interval Training: I'm a huge fan of interval training for people with Type 2 diabetes. Not only does it help burn away inflammation and insulin-resistance causing belly fat, but it takes less than half of the time of traditional steady-state cardio.

Of course, waltzing into your gym and interval training violates tenet No. 1: 'ease into it'. However, interval training should serve as a benchmark for you as you get into better and better shape.

3. Get Schooled: With gym sessions on your time... whenever it suits you to go, you're actually less likely to go. With a nebulous and ever-changing gym time, it's easy to say: 'I'll just go tomorrow'. On the other hand, with a class, like spinning or cardio kickboxing at a set time and place, you're more likely to pencil it into your busy schedule.

As you know, the guilt from a single missed session can derail your entire plan, so this tip is a crucial one.

4. Get The Word Out: Don't keep your new active lifestyle to yourself. Tell all of your friends that you're going to get into shape, the best shape of your life (don't have friends? Then post on the Internet or rent a billboard... just tell someone).

Studies show that when people are accountable for their lifestyle changes, they are much more likely to stick to them.

5. Mix Things Up Early On: Many people wait until their exercise routine bores them to tears before making a change. Or even worse, some let the boredom drive them away from the gym altogether... and towards their couch with a Sex and the City DVD boxed set. Not good.

Instead of waiting for the mind-numbing boredom to kick in, try mixing up your routine from the get-go. Mix in yoga, Pilates, weight lifting, walking, interval training, working out with friends, working out alone etc.

The more variety, the more you'll not just endure, but actually enjoy your workout.

So the next time you say to yourself: 'I need to get back in shape', follow these tips, so that this time, you actually will.

 

The 3 Top Most Warning Signs of Diabetes

The 3 top warning signs of diabetes is a must to have knowledge for everyone. It is something that must never be ignored by those who are at a higher risk of suffering from diabetes.

Why?

It is because diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death in United States of America. Every year more than 75000 people die from this chronic ailment. In United States of America there are around 25 million individuals suffering from diabetes. This makes around 10 % of the total American population. Diabetes has been declared as the fastest growing deadly disease of the modern days. Sadly the growth rate of diabetes is even more than it was predicted by World Health Organization.

There is a hidden danger in the bodies of diabetics. The pancreatic beta cells affect many vital body organs. The increased blood sugar level is also the result of destruction of pancreatic cells.

There are 3 major top warning signs of diabetes that must be in one's knowledge. It is important to listen to your body as it helps in saving your life.

Thirst is the first warning sign of diabetes. The persons who are suffering from increased blood sugar levels feel an unquenchable thirst. Their body is trying hard to filter the excessive sugar from the bloodstream by passing the surplus sugar in water and expelling it via kidneys. The passing out of surplus sugar with water results in recurrent trips to the rest room. These trips leave the person feeling thirsty. Imbalance in the body occurs as the body becomes dehydrated which leaves the diabetic body feeling thirsty.

Extreme Hunger is the next classical sign of diabetes. Extreme hunger stems out from the fact that the diabetic body is unable to utilize the blood sugar level properly as a source of energy in the cells. The sugar continues to circulate in the blood. The cells remain unable to absorb it to use it as fuel. This is also an explanation of why the diabetics often feel hungry even after having a full meal. Their body is unable to utilize meals of the nutrients. The sugar that should have been converted in the fuel remains in the bloodstream and cause damage to different body organs.

Excessive Urination is another warning diabetic sign. The kidneys go on passing the urine from the body for getting rid of surplus sugar. This dumping out of sugar causes the diabetics to urinate quite often.

Early Warning Signs of Type 2 Diabetes

The early warning signs of type 2 diabetes is essential to know so that you can treat this head on and avoid the onset of type 2 diabetes. Being able to identify the symptoms of type 2 diabetes is vital so that you can take control immediately.

If you start to experience any of the following symptoms you must contact your doctor immediately so that you can test and make sure that you do no have diabetes. If you in fact have diabetes you need to be able to know how to manage this disease effectively and achieve good health once more.

The following are some of the early warning signs of type 2 diabetes:

Frequent thirst and urination - If you find that your are urinating more frequently than usual you are actually starting to dehydrate your body which leads to being more thirsty than usualHaving blurred vision - This happens when the lenses of your eyes start to swell and shrink because of your blood rising and falling. Your vision starts to blur because your eyes cannot adjust quickly enough to the changes in your lensesFatigue - Feeling tired is one of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and the reason is that your body's cells are not getting the glucose fuel that it requires. Although you have plenty of insulin, your body becomes resistant to it's actionsObesity - If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop diabetes compared to someone that maintains their ideal weightSlow healing of wounds - If you find that your wounds are healing slowly or you are getting gum and urinary infections. These are caused by the white blood cells not functioning properly when high glucose levels in your body surround it. Your white blood cells help with the healing and defends your body against infections, so unfortunately bugs that cause infections absolutely thrive in this type of environment, so having diabetes leaves your body open to infectionsNumbness in your legs and feet - The reason you experience numbness is because of the common long-term complication that is associated with diabetes called neuropathy. Neuropathy takes more than five years to develop in someone that has diabetesHeart Disease - Heart disease is more common in people with type 2 diabetes than in people that do not have the disease. Although, heart disease can occur in people that are glucose intolerant

If these early warning signs of type 2 diabetes are recognised and treated immediately you will be able to manage and control your diabetes and achieve optimal health once again.

Sue Kennedy is the author of the physician-endorsed e-book "Defeat Diabetes Now," and operates a membership channel devoted to health & wellness. Readers of her book also receive instant access to expert interviews, articles, diet plans and other resources designed to maintain optimum health and prevent disease. Learn how you can defeat diabetes now.

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How to Manage Your Blood Sugar Better With a Diabetes Diet Regime

With better control over one's dietary and lifestyle choices, one can successfully manage diabetes. Perhaps it's best to state at this point that these choices are not the easiest to live with or follow, but they do help control your blood sugar levels. The changes that will make a big difference are your dietary ones. Depending on what and how you have been eating so far, you may need a full nutritional overhaul so that your blood glucose is normalized. But managing diabetes is only one benefit; the other is you will get to lower and maintain a good body weight which is a plus.

So what makes up a healthy diabetic diet? Do you have to change your grocery shopping list completely? Do you need to give up meat? Hopefully, we can answer all these questions to your satisfaction. The reason for changing your diet is to have better control over your calorific needs. And this is usually where one starts.

You should understand your metabolism rate and roughly know how much calories your body needs to get through the day. Once you have established this, you can count how many calories you eat, so that most of what you eat is used up. The goal is to prevent glucose from staying in the blood.

How many times should you eat? It is recommended to eat five to six times a day on average. When you take three large meals, your glucose level will shoot up, then gradually decrease to a hypoglycemic state, and this is not good. To help manage the glucose level, you can try o snack in small quantity between breakfast, lunch and dinner. The snacks need to be kept healthy and light, since they are only meant to give you enough calories and glucose to get you through to your next meal.

The question on carbohydrates makes an entry at this point. How many servings should you have? Well, carbohydrates are good for you, diabetic or not, and your body uses them to get energy. Depending on your preference, you can opt for a high carbohydrate and fiber diet with an exercise routine or simply a low carbohydrate diet. These two work either ways, as long as you take complex carbohydrates that are rich in starch like potatoes, instead of simpler ones. If you can balance up your diet with other important foods such as fruits and vegetables, you should not have any major issue.

It is essential for a diabetic patient to increase the intake of fiber in his diet. Fiber is important as it moves things along in the digestive tract. Besides it reduces the speed at which glucose is absorbed into the body, and this is why it is so important. Your source of fiber will have to come from beans, leafy vegetables, brown rice, whole grains and not from any meat. It is important to consult a doctor or a dietitian to help in your diet formulation in order to get the desired results of controlling your blood sugar level.

Hypoglycemia - First The Truck Hits You, Then You Pass Out

Most of us know that our bodies create insulin to handle the sugary treats we eat. And most of us know we get diabetes if our insulin can't get the job done.

What few of us know is what happens when insulin does its job too well. It's hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, and it's the pits. I've been there and done that, and there's nothing I can say to recommend it.

Here's what happens: You eat some kind of starch, which your body converts to sugar. Your pancreas says, "You want insulin, do ya? Well, take this!" and dumps out way more insulin than you need.

At first, you feel fine. Maybe even get a little energy boost from what you ate. An hour or so later, though, you feel like a truck hit you. Tired like you can't believe. Brain asleep for the duration. Feeling as energetic as a wet noodle. To top it all off, you may even pass out. And the wipe-out lasts for six to eight hours.

What causes hypoglycemia?
? A high-carb diet-lots of bread, pasta, bagels, desserts-a pretty standard diet nowadays
? Vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Not giving our bodies the ammunition they need to fight the good fight takes us down a lot of dead ends, including hypoglycemia.
? Alcohol. Our bodies see alcohol as a poison-and a high-carb poison at that.
? Prescription drugs such as those given to treat infections.
? But most of all, endocrine problems. If your thyroid and/or adrenal glands get in a tizzy, you're kind of a sitting duck. That's how I ended up in hypoglycemic hell.

Testing for hypoglycemia:
Diagnosis comes via a fasting-blood-sugar test. First thing in the morning, after fasting for at least twelve hours, you give a blood sample, then chug down a big glass of what tasted to me like some vile kind of syrup. Then for the next four or six hours, depending on the test ordered, you give regular blood samples so they can track your body's reaction.

Normal blood fasting blood sugar ranges from 80 to 100, although they're monkeying around with the numbers of late. My blood sugar, at its lowest, was 46, so it's no wonder I slept through the whole thing. They roused me enough to stick my arm out for another blood taking as needed, but I don't think World War III could have awakened me.

Fixing hypoglycemia:
? Give up simple carbohydrates and limit all carbohydrates. My doctor put me on a diet of no more than 20 grams of carbohydrate a day-about half a peach, as I remember, if you want to blow the limit all at once.
? Start (or continue) treatment for your thyroid and adrenals.
? Start a good vitamin/mineral program for yourself. The endocrine system pretty much controls what happens in your body, and it's a nutrition hog. Most vitamins and minerals have specific functions in the endocrine system, and you need to help all of that happen.
? Don't fight yourself. Do what you can and get plenty of rest.

A warning:
Some doctors treat hypoglycemia with a recommendation that you eat and drink carbs to "give your body what it needs." Run-do not walk-away from advice like that. Simply put, it's wrong, and guaranteed to make things worse.

Every time your body reacts with too much insulin is a "hypoglycemic event." Research strongly suggests that each hypoglycemic event-which this misguided advice will cause-brings you closer to diabetes, aka hyperglycemia, and all its complications.

Don't go there.

 

Warning Symptoms of Diabetes - Two Common Symptoms

There are many symptoms attributed to the prevalence of diabetes. But, all the symptoms need not be felt or noticed simultaneously. It is also not mandatory that the occurrence of diabetes should follow after a symptom. This is because of the basic theory about diabetes that it is a silent visitor in any individual. Though you may experience a different condition of the body, it need not be related to diabetes. The new symptomatic experience may be due to some other reason in some cases. The symptoms could just be tentative complaints in your body. So, it may be consoling you that the noticed symptom need not be taken for acquiring diabetic condition. It is needless to get panic-stricken. But at the same time it is too risky for you to ignore any new symptoms and signs related to body's health condition.

Warning symptoms of diabetes:

Though there are some early symptoms of diabetes, some of them are not so serious to be taken for life threatening. Here we are concerned with common symptoms like numbness in hands and degenerated vision with the onset of diabetes. What you should do in such situation is to consult a doctor and get diagnosed thoroughly. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, starting treatment will be safe on your part.

Numbness in hands: A numbness or tingling sensation in your hands or feet is a warning sign of diabetes. When there is undue rise in blood sugar, the blood stream gets mixed with saturated blood glucose. Type 2 diabetes symptoms are felt slowly in which the sufferer is unaware of the same. Numbness rightly identified as sensory loss is a condition of high blood sugar. The elevated blood sugar in the circulation system affects the body or any part of the body. This is due to the central nervous system being affected by the increased sugar level. The damage to the nervous system naturally causes numbness or tingling sensation in hands or feet.

Blurring vision: When you allow your blood glucose to creep up, the saturated glucose spoils the purity of the blood stream. The blood supply to the retina behind the eye is thus interrupted resulting in retinopathy or degenerated vision. Blurred vision is a sign of extreme fatigue. But, the symptom threatens in a diabetic even just one hour after taking food. This is due to the condition of the consumed food being not burnt to energy either by non secretion or by insufficient secretion of insulin. However, early diagnosis and treatment may be good.

With warning symptoms of diabetes, controlling diabetes is an art with diabetes foods to eat. If you want to be hundred percent safe, enter into Click Here.

Diabetes Statistics: The Best Sources For Reliable Diabetes Statistics

Most Widely Cited Source For Diabetes Statistics In the United States

Most news outlets and diabetes organizations in the United States, including the American Diabetes Association, rely on the CDC for their diabetes statistics. CDC is an acronym that stands for the "Center For Disease Control and Prevention" and it falls under the Department of Health and Human Services which is a federal agency.

The CDC derives its diabetes statistics from several databases maintained by different departments of the federal government such as the National Institutes of Health and the Indian Health Service. They also rely on various grand scale health surveys funded by the federal government such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). They compile lots of other information too such as published research studies. You can basically think of the CDC as a federally funded clearinghouse for all diabetes statistics available in the United States.

I've noticed many news outlets and diabetes information sources on the internet incorrectly crediting the American Diabetes Association (ADA) with diabetes statistics compiled by and published by the CDC. If you read the ADA's literature and their website, it is easy to understand why this happens. It is written and re-packaged in such a way as the reader might think they generated the statistical data on diabetes themselves. This simply isn't true and I encourage all readers to very carefully consider the original source of any diabetes statistics you see.

Good Source For International Diabetes Statistics

The International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) publishes very detailed international diabetes statistics. The IDF pull their data from many sources. They are actually an umbrella organization for more than 200 diabetes organizations from more than 160 countries. They have non-profit partners, academic partners, and commercial partners.

Diabetes Statistics From Universities and From Other Academic Studies

Studies conducted by academics at universities and in other academic settings are a mixed bag from the perspective of reliability. Before accepting the results of an academic study, it is important that you very carefully study how these studies were funded. It used to be the case that most health related academic studies were funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nowadays, however, academic studies are increasingly funded by industry interests. In fact, some industries have set up their own research facilities that sound so much like an academic institution that many people get fooled by their cleverly but deceptively named organization.

You also have to look very closely the detailed results of an academic study. The popular press often over simplifies a complex and mixed result in an effort to make it more digestible for their readers. They also sometimes, unfortunately, only pick out one part to create a more sensationalistic headline. Sometimes the details are necessary to understand what is really going on.

Be Wary of Diabetes Statistics Obviously Derived From Commercial Interests

If a study is funded by a pharmaceutical company that produces diabetes medications for massive profit, you probably want to take the results of such a study with a grain of salt to say the least. You need to also consider how various diabetes associations that on the surface might seem like an advocate for diabetics are actually funded. Do their publications contain ads for pharmaceutical companies and diabetic supply companies? Does their website also contain these types of commercial advertisements? If so, be wary. They also might be using diabetes statistics simply as a method to "scare" their members and others into donating more money.

List Of Foods For Diabetics To Eat - Ultimate Cure For Diabetes

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Diabetes treatment is not only conducted with the help of medicines. List of foods for diabetics to eat plays a critical part in controlling the blood glucose levels. The healthy diabetic plan is critically important for controlling diabetic medication.

It is good to note that mild cases of diabetes can be easily controlled with the help of combining healthy diet plan with regular physical activity. Regular exercise and healthy food list for diabetics is enough to kick the diabetic medications out of the picture.

List of foods, for diabetics to eat, aims at keeping the body weight of the person in the required range. It also provides necessary nutrition thus keeping the person healthy. Generally such plans vary with the weight, height, age and level of physical activity of the person. The dietary requirements also vary with the variation of the stage of diabetes. These diet plans also take into account the requirements of the person like those suffering from blood pressure or disturbed cholesterol levels.

The dietitians select the healthy food items from the list of foods for diabetics to eat taking into account the calorie requirement that keeps the person away from accumulating loads of fats in the body.

It is never good to spend the bank balance lavishly but when the point comes of spending the energy it is good to do it lavishly.

While selecting the items from the list of foods for diabetics to eat it is good to keep in mind the famous myths. It is better to avoid sugar; however it is not essential. Sweet foods could be made the part of a healthy meal plan provided they are combined with the workouts. Further the myths that say that protein rich and carbohydrate free diet is best are also wrong. Excessive animal protein causes insulin resistance. Further eliminating carbohydrates from the diet plan is not good for the health. A healthy diabetic diet is the balanced diet that contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates in a good proportion.

A healthy meal plan is a diabetic meal plan and there is nothing special diabetic diet. Here are few tips for diabetics.The sweets could be consumed after interval of days; however the carbohydrate components must be minimized on those days. It is better to reduce the amount of cereals, rice, potatoes and corn.It is good to substitute empty carbohydrates with simple carbohydrates.Food items that carry dietary fiber like nuts, beans, seeds, whole grain and fruits are good for the patients of diabetes.The major portion of food should contain of soup that do not contain plenty of additives like salt and sugar.Non starchy vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, peppers, broccoli and mushroom should take around 1/3rd of total vegetable consumption.

How To Keep Normal Glucose Levels And Avoid The Highs And Lows!

Keeping normal glucose levels is not as difficult as you may think especially if you have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The hardest part is to create an awareness of your diet and not to eat without giving some thought as to the make up of the food.

Sweet foods such as chocolate, tend to be eaten for sensory pleasure as they yield little nutritional value. The days of eating piece after piece without realising that you have polished off an entire bar are gone. This does not mean to say however, that you cannot have chocolate, just in controlled moderation and in conjunction with other foods in order to avoid any sugar surges.

A good way to retain normal glucose levels in the blood is to take particular notice of carbohydrates. In today's society, the general trend in foods is towards carbohydrates e.g. sandwiches, jacket potatoes, burgers in buns etc. The presence of too many carbohydrates in the body can trigger a surge in blood sugars. The body should respond by releasing insulin to break down this sugar however, for the diabetic, the bodies insulin levels simply cannot cope.

Not only should you be looking to limit your intake of carbohydrates and obvious sugary foods and drinks, you could also look at increasing your intake of foods that help the bodies task of keeping normal glucose levels in the blood. Foods like meat, eggs and green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of zinc which is a vital mineral to aid the break down of glucose.

Instead of accompanying your meal with vegetables such as potatoes and sweetcorn which are predominantly carbohydrates and high in sugars, substitute with low glycemic vegetables instead. Examples of these are broccoli, spinach, celery and tomatoes. Desserts can be easily made by using sugar substitutes instead of sugar itself. The substitutes are so good these days that there is little, if any, difference in flavor to the real thing and are an excellent way to keep normal glucose levels.

First Signs Of Diabetes

Are you suffering from first signs of diabetes? Are you at higher risk of suffering from diabetic complications?

If your answer is yes then it is better to read the following passages. Diabetes is a life threatening ailment. It is a serious medical condition. It is important to be aware of the signs of diabetes especially if you have a family history of diabetes. It is better to go for the routine medical check ups and stay away from wrong food choices. Bad eating habits adversely affect the health.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Both types have more or less the same signs and symptoms. Type 1 diabetes is the result of the inability of pancreas to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes onsets when the cells of the body start to ignore the provided insulin. This ignoring behavior of the cells makes it difficult for the body to control levels of blood sugar.

However it is good to note that the first signs of diabetes are not the diabetic symptoms. These are the side effects of elevated blood sugar levels. The most critical part of the ailment is that the problem could not be diagnosed by a naked eye. It means a person cannot detect whether he is suffering from elevated blood sugar levels just by looking at himself. It is important to talk to the health care professional if you suspect you are suffering from signs of diabetes.

Unquenchable thirst is the first sign of diabetes. If a person feels that he is extremely thirsty and his thirst is not being quenched even after drinking plenty of water then it is better to have your blood sugar levels checked. If there is no other external cause of this excessive thirst like direct exposure to elevated temperature, working out in long hours, eating salt rich foods then it is better to discuss the symptoms with your doctor.

Next classical sign of diabetes is extreme hunger. If you feel that either you are eating more frequently or you are over eating then it means that you are suffering from sign of diabetes. The main reason behind overeating is that your body is unable to maintain correct blood sugar levels. The body is unable to utilize the provided food as energy and thinks that it is hungry.

Excessive urination is the next classical sign of diabetes and it is the result or kidney infection, urinary tract infection and bladder problems. It is another most commonly ignored sign of diabetes. Most people ignore this diabetic symptom unless they notice they are getting up at night for using the rest room.

Extreme tired and exhaust feelings are another diabetic symptom. If even after having a full night's uninterrupted sleep, when you are not stressed or ill, you feel that you are tired then it is a sign that you are suffering from signs of diabetes. If these exhausted feelings are more prominent soon after eating the meals then it indicates that your glucose blood levels are not correct.

Pregnancy and Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy is one of the happiest moments of women's lives because this is the time when the most precious gift of God which is life is given to both husband and wife. However, to some women this stage is very critical because this is the time when gestational diabetes can possibly occur. It is one of the several types of diabetes that happens during pregnancy. It strangely affects the health of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes usually begins in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy and will usually disappear after delivery.

Diabetes is a kind of disease in which the pancreas is no longer able produce insulin in the proper way which resulted to high sugar level in the blood. Moreover in the normal case, the pancreas will produce the right amount of insulin which can accommodate the quantity of sugar in the blood, but in the case of a diabetic patient, the pancreas will only produce little insulin or none at all. In the case of this type of diabetes, the pancreas of a woman is producing enough amount of insulin but it is partially blocked by some hormones like progesterone, estrogen and cortisol. This scenario is then called resistance to insulin.

Causes of gestational diabetes may include gestational diabetes in the previous pregnancy, age of the patient and her family background about diabetes. The size of the child during the previous birth is also a factor that can trigger this kind of diabetes to occur. Obesity during pregnancy is also one of the obvious causes of this disease.

Generally, the symptoms of this type of diabetes are very much difficult to diagnose during the early months of pregnancy. However, there are cases when the symptoms of such disease can be easily observed. These symptoms usually include increased body weight, repeated vaginal infections, feeling hunger or thirst and excessive urination. If you are a pregnant woman who experienced the symptoms of this disease, it is very important for you need to immediately consult your doctor to avoid future complications. In most cases, symptoms of this kind of diabetes occur in the 20th and 28th week of pregnancy.

Moreover if you have already experienced the symptoms of this kind of disease, it is necessary for you to choose the foods that you are going to eat. You must avoid yourself from eating foods that are rich in sugar and saturated fats. You should also start eating foods that are rich in fibers. You also need to have a regular exercise in order for you to maintain a healthy weight. You must not forget to monitor your blood sugar every now and then.

Pregnant women should not panic about the idea of gestational diabetes during pregnancy because it can happen to anyone. However symptoms of gestational diabetes must be taken seriously because it can put the life of the mother and her child into great danger when not properly managed. Pregnant women should always be careful with their health because whatever happens to them will also affect their babies inside their tummies.

The Effects of Stress on Diabetes

Stress and blood sugar levels

Diabetes Type 2 severity is dependent on blood sugar levels in the body. The amount of stress you are under can have a lot to do with that. Are you badly stressed, and, more to the point, are you handling your stress properly? It could be a bigger problem than you imagine.

What is Stress?

You may not know the particulars of this stress but I'm sure you know what it feels like. However, there is good stress as well as bad stress and they both affect the body in different ways. In this article we are mainly talking about bad stress, but we will begin by discussing the good form to avoid confusion.

In general terms, when we feel stressed it is the only the body's reaction to particular situations. It could be losing ones job, a family bereavement, a very noisy or antagonistic neighbour, or any other number of things. Our response to these situations is what determines the amount of stress and the type of stress we experience.

Good stress is experienced when a situation brings about a positive response to something in your life. For example a first parachute jump may be a type of good stress, providing it's for pleasure of course. Your body feels under stress when it pushes itself further to help you do something where you want to succeed. However, good stress does not have the same effect on blood sugar levels as bad stress does, so let us now look at bad stress more closely.

Bad stress is the outcome of a situation which culminates in a negative effect to your body and life. A trauma such as a family bereavement or serious loss of income may lead to bad stress that can be very difficult to overcome. This can often end up with you suffering from headaches, poor diet, unusual behaviour patterns, and more.

Is it flight or fight?

When you are first confronted by a bad or dangerous situation, your body gets ready to react. Pupils dilate, your heart is suddenly pounding like it is going to burst, and adrenaline increases dramatically. Your body is now ready to do one of two things - flight or fight. These changes are necessary to enable the body to do either of these things.

Now, when the body cells secrete extra adrenaline, it is also likely that it is allowing extra glucose to enter the bloodstream which is made immediately available for the extra energy required for flight or fight. That saturation of adrenalin may be the reason that a person can seem to have super strength when faced with a life-threatening situation.

When bad situations seem to get worse and worse the bloodstream can become inundated with too much sugar and all of that sugar can not be used by for energy. This results in a prolonged exposure to high sugar levels which, over time, can cause organ and other tissue damage.

Eventually all this unused sugar in the body can lead to insulin sensitivity and that is a condition that can lead to diabetes Type 2. This means that the body may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to move the excess sugar to where it is needed.

We must accept that stress is a part of everyday life, however, if the effects of stress in your life are not controlled, you can end up putting yourself at risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes. That is why learning to manage your physical and mental stress can be crucial to keeping your blood sugar levels at the proper level can help prevent diabetes.

As always, if you have any fears or worries regarding diabetes, your first port of call should be to seek medical advice. Keep safe.

Suitable Diabetic Foods That A Diabetic Patient Can Take

Who hasn't heard of diabetes? It has become a very common lifestyle disease today. Most of us seem to suffer from diabetes due to increase in level of sugar content in our body. Diabetes generally is of two types the type I and the type II diabetes. The food habits which you follow tend to have a direct bearing on the level of sugar in your body. Apart from this since most of us these days lead a sedentary lifestyle; we are more prone to these kinds of diseases. Adhering to diabetic foods is a must in this case so that you can continue to live a normal and active life free from diseases.

While creating the diabetic foods chart there are basically two aspects which need to be kept in mind.
The kind of foods to be includedThe kind of foods which are restricted or can be consumed in moderate amountsFollowing the dietary chart can help you to keep down the level of insulin in your body. If you are suffering from Type 1 diabetes, you will not have to take insulin injections. You however, need to be very cautious about the kinds of foods you are taking. Diabetes must not be neglected, for if unattended it can lead to serious implications in the future. There are several cases when the patients with high blood sugar levels suffer from blood circulation problems and vision problems even leading to blindness.

The diabetic foods chart includes foods which are rich sources of minerals, vitamins and fiber. Fresh fruits and vegetables are nutritionally very rich and help in fighting against diseases and strengthening the immune system. Green leafy vegetables, arugula and spinach must be taken regularly. Whole grain products and the fiber rich foods are the best option for protecting yourself from sudden fluctuations leading to fall or rise of blood sugar levels.

There are quite a number of foods which are to be avoided in diabetes and these include the processed and canned foods that are said to be high in contents of refined sugar, nitrates and sodium. Due to low levels of natural fiber content you can experience sudden fluctuations and rise or fall of blood sugar levels. Get in touch with dieticians who can prepare a customized diet diabetes chart for you. Make sure you are seeking help from professionals so that you can continue to live a decent life.

 

Control Diabetes With Diet Plans and Food Strategies

Controlling your diabetes with diet plans and food strategies is an integral part of managing your diabetes effectively and achieving the ultimate goal of optimal health.

Your health and vitality depends on the types of food that you feed your body. Along with carbohydrate, proteins and fats, your body needs vitamins to help your body convert the food into fuel, the minerals help to carry oxygen in your blood, and the antioxidants will boost your defence system and the phytochemicals to help prevent disease.

Following are 10 recommendations to consider for diet plans and food strategies:

Ensure that you choose nutritious carbohydrate foods that are low in GI as your main ingredientsEnsure that you get plenty of fibre in your dietTake note of the amount of carbohydrate you eat - too much is dangerousEat plenty of fruit and vegetables each dayLimit your alcohol intakeLimit your salt intakeLimit foods that are high in saturated fatUse monounsaturated fats like olive oilMake sure you eat fish once or twice a weekEat lean protein foods that suit your appetite

Controlling diabetes with diet plans and food strategies is very important; following are some nutritional guidelines about protein, carbohydrates, fats and low GI diets.

Protein

Protein is found in plenty of plant and animal foods. The foods that contain the most protein include meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken) as well as fish and shellfish. Other foods that are rich sources include dairy products like cheese, milk, and yoghurt. When your blood glucose levels are high there is an increase in your protein turnover, so this increases your body's protein needs slightly.

People eat more protein that is needed by the body, so eating more protein is not recommended. If you have diabetes you should stay with your regular protein intake, which would provide you about 15 to 20 percent of your total energy intake. What this means is that eating enough protein to provide about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of your healthy body weight.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate is the body's main source of energy and is an essential source of fuel for the brain. The recommended amount of carbohydrate is to aim to meet 45 to 65 percent of your energy requirements with carbohydrate foods. Keep in mind that a person's total energy will depend on their gender, body size, and age and activity level.

Fats

The minimum recommendation for men is to get at least 15 percent of their energy (kilojoules) from fat and women of a reproductive age group should look to get at least 20 percent.

The maximum recommendation for adults is 35 percent, which translates to around 50 to 60g of fat per day.

Low GI Diets

Low GI diets have many benefits one of which is that it can help you feel fuller for longer while at the same time help you to eat a healthy well-balanced meal. Other benefits include improving your insulin sensitivity, reduce blood glucose spikes, and help you to prevent weight gain over a long-term period.

Controlling diabetes with diet plans and food strategies is a vital component of managing your diabetes so that you can achieve optimum health.

Sue Kennedy is the author of the physician-endorsed e-book "Defeat Diabetes Now," and operates a membership channel devoted to health & wellness. Readers of her book also receive instant access to expert interviews, articles, diet plans and other resources designed to maintain optimum health and prevent disease. Discover how you can defeat diabetes now.

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Diabetes In Pregnancy And In Later Life - Facts and Prevention

Pregnancy is not an easy time for the diabetic patient. It puts greater stress on the prospective mother's diabetic condition and increases risk for the baby. Fortunately, these facts are now well recognized by obstetrician and by physicians who care for diabetics. The key to prevention of many complications during pregnancy lies in close co-operation between obstetrician and other physician and the pregnant woman. She may need very frequent visits to the doctors to regulate insulin dosage. Insulin requirements change during pregnancy.

Babies of diabetic mothers are at higher risk than other babies are. Usually, a pregnant diabetic will have to be admitted to the hospital several weeks before the expected delivery time so her diabetes can be kept under rigid control before delivery and the decision can be made about possible need for delivery by cesarean section. After delivery, the mother needs to be watched carefully for changing insulin requirement. Babies born of diabetic mothers have tended to have more congenital defects than those of non-diabetic mothers. This may be the result of inadequate control of the diabetes in the early months of pregnancy. It is another reason why a prospective diabetic mother should notify her doctor the mother suspects she may be pregnant. Then she should work out a clear arrangement: will he or the obstetrician take the responsibility for control of the diabetes throughout the pregnancy?

Later life diabetes
Maturity-onset diabetes, which most commonly sets in at age 50 or later, though it may occur earlier, is generally less severe than juvenile diabetes, and rarely leads to acidosis. The symptoms are the same for both types. Maturity-onset diabetes often controlled without medication. The doctor usually will try, unless the case is very severe, to treat the patient with low-sugar diet. He will also try to bring weight down to normal or even somewhat below the accepted normal. If diet and weight reduction do not have the desired effect on symptoms and blood and urinary sugar, the doctor then will generally prescribe one of the oral hypoglycemic medicines rather than insulin.

Medicines taken by mouth are not usually effective in replacing insulin in younger diabetics but do work well in maturity- onset diabetes. Sometimes oral agents supplemented with small amounts of insulin. As the population lives longer, more and more people develop maturity-onset diabetes, from which the main threat is atherosclerosis. For the prevention, the diabetic, we think, would do well to keep his weight down to normal levels, get regular exercise, and emphasize foods containing unsaturated fatty acids and low in cholesterol, avoid cigarette smoking, reduce emotional tensions, and make sure blood pressure is normal.