Friday, October 1, 2010

Diabetes And Exercise - What To Do And What To Avoid

Exercise can mean the difference between being healthy and having major complications when living with diabetes. There are many reasons to exercise, besides the obvious health benefits such as,


*improving your body's use of insulin


*strengthening your muscles as well as bone density


*lowering blood pressure and improving circulation


*raising your energy and reducing stress


Exercise can also plays a key role in fat loss. When living with Diabetes we need to become vigilant to have or get a healthy body.


When I first was diagnosed with diabetes and was not put on insulin right away, I would exercise to lower my sugar. I was amazed when I discovered that just by moving my body I was able to bring my numbers to a normal level. I couldn't do this all the time. I needed insulin, but I was so excited by the benefits of exercise, it motivated me to continue. In the early days of my insulin therapy a new chapter in my life began. Hypoglycemia became part of my everyday experience and I needed to find a way to prevent the lows in order for me to enjoy movement.


There are many ways you can exercise as a diabetic, stay safe and become very healthy.


*check your sugar frequently. This is crucial because although exercise usually creates an "insulin effect", lowering your blood sugar without the need for insulin, prolonged, intense movement can cause a spike. It's imperative to learn how your body will react and take the necessary changes with your insulin or medication.


*Drink plenty of water


*Do something that excites you. This will help you stay on course. There are countless ways to exercise but if you don't like it, you won't do to it. If it's something you love, it won't feel like work and you'll see quicker results.


*According to Web MD, never exercise with your sugar over 250. Your body already has too little insulin and can cause a spike in your sugar. Drink plenty of water and adjust your insulin.


*Keep emergency carbohydrates with you always. This is in the event you end up with a low sugar reading. You can also eat some carbohydrates after your workout. This is a wonderful way to replenish the glycogen storage.


*Always check with your health care provider before implementing any new program. This way he can help you adjust your medication and/or insulin as needed.


*Exercise at least 3-4 days a week for an hour, but your goal should be close to everyday.


*Most important. listen to your body. If your body is telling you to stop, then stop. If you feel good and want to push yourself more, then go for it, but tuning into what your body is saying is essential for your health and fitness goals.


Do you struggle with Diabetes? Are you trying to lose weight and gain better sugar control? Are you afraid of losing your eyesight, limbs or end up with hypertension due to your constant high sugars?

Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Sugar Levels and High Blood Pressure - What Do They Do To Your Brain?

Keeping your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure under control, could be the way to keep your brain in good condition when you have Type 2 diabetes. This was shown to be the case in research results published in the Journal of Neurological Science, September 2010.


Both high blood sugar levels and elevated blood pressure are known for damaging blood vessels, and that includes those carrying oxygen and energy to your brain. Middle-aged women were studied to discover whether having both Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, or hypertension, could contribute to the decline in the workings of the brain.


Tests of brain function:

One hundred and thirteen women ranging in age between 49 and 63 with a diagnosis of both Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, were comparedWith 27 women aged 46 to 60 years with Type 2 diabetes but without hypertension

Eighty-seven per cent of the ladies with both diabetes and hypertension showed a definite decline in their mental function. Only 70% of these volunteers with diabetes, but with normal blood pressure, showed signs of mental decline. It was therefore concluded that having both Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure was associated with more mental decline than just having diabetes alone.


Type 2 diabetes and hypertension often coexist: The lesson from this study is that controlling both conditions is important to prevent mental decline.


Treat high blood pressure: Your blood pressure deserves every bit as much attention as your blood sugar if you have Type 2 diabetes, even if you have pre-diabetes. Actually high blood pressure may even be a bigger issue than your blood sugar level. Hypertension increases the risk of blocked arteries not just to the brain, but to the heart, lower extremities and is a major contributor to kidney disease and eye disease in people with both Type 2 and pre-diabetes.


When diet and physical activity are not enough, medications can be lifesaving.


High blood sugar levels: High blood sugars are also known to impair concentration and memory. It can make your thinking 'foggy' and make it difficult for you to think quickly. Recent studies have also shown that compared to non-diabetics of a similar age, diabetics are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. It is thought the combination of high blood sugar and blood vessel damage contributes to dementia.


Also, most people with Type 2 diabetes have high insulin levels. Too much insulin in the body leads to excessive inflammation which also contributes to brain damage.


Prevention is better than cure: The risk factors for both high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels relate in one way or another to being overweight. So the good news is... this is in your control. Control your weight and you will find both your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure will be lower, along with your risk of developing any type of brain dysfunction.


To help you with your Type 2 diabetes, I would like you to claim your Free E-Book when you click on Answers to Your Questions


There you will find answers to the many question diabetics are asking.


When you click this link you will see how you can: Beat The Belly Fat Blues Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

The Rapid Rise In Diabetes - Why It Should Scare You and Why You Should Take Action

I wear many hats. I am a writer, a scientist, and a researcher among other things. I seek the truth on all matters of importance ...

I'm sure you've already heard that there is a rapid rise in diabetes all around the world. In fact, the numbers boggle the mind when you start to really study them. First of all, type 2 diabetes didn't even exist before the 1920's and did not exist until artificial oils were introduced into the food supply on a grand scale. Doctors were totally perplexed with it started showing up and there is a full discussion of this when you start digging into the literature. The political discourse about this before World War 2 is also very telling. By the end of the 1930's, type 2 diabetes had risen a staggering 1000%! Now, only about 90 years later, we are told by the CDC that approximately 23.6 million people have diabetes in the United States. Another 57 million have "pre-diabetes" which is just another way of saying that their blood sugar levels are just below the official mark for diabetes.


By several accounts, one third to one half of the American population is expected to have diabetes in the next few decades. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 7 million more people develop diabetes every year. Wow! Shouldn't this be front page news in every major newspaper worldwide? Most of these cases of diabetes are of the type 2 variety and remember that type 2 diabetes didn't even exist before 1920.


There is no doubt we live in a scarier world than our Grandparents grew up in. Almost every time you turn on the news you hear about someone getting shot, raped, or otherwise violently attacked. We are constantly bombarded with news about terrorist attacks, school shootings, and serial killers. This no doubt accounts for why we are so much more vigilant than our Grandparents had to be when they were kids. It's a totally different world as they say. But... are we being as vigilant as we should be about our current health crisis? Have we become desensitized when it comes to our health?


What I don't understand is why there isn't more of a public outcry about the rise in diabetes and other serious medical conditions that are skyrocketing completely out of control. Why do we sit back and so passively accept this rise in diabetes? Shouldn't we do something about it? I truly believe people need to wake up to reality and begin to question why diseases like diabetes have risen so much and why they are rising even faster now than they did only a few decades ago.


So much of what is going on with the rising rate of diabetes can be tracked to the artificial foods and other crazy things that are going on with our food supply. Why aren't citizens demanding that our government take appropriate action to prevent this? Why does the USDA allow these artificial substances to be added to our food without them being thoroughly tested? Artificial foods are totally taking over the grocery shelves. Our bodies are not at all designed to handle this artificial food and it's no wonder that we are developing diabetes and other serious diseases at alarming rates. If you buy pre-packaged or processed of any kind, you are almost certainly eating this artificial food. If you eat out, you are almost certainly getting it too. Even some of the food that is marketed as being extra healthy is actually artificial food. You could almost think of it as a grand scale experiment and the results do not look good for the human race.


If you or someone you care about has diabetes or pre-diabetes, you really need to learn more about what's really causing diabetes and how to reverse it. I have completely reversed my diabetes by knowing what foods to avoid, what foods to eat, and by making other important changes in my lifestyle. I am no longer on any diabetes medication and all my blood tests come back normal... and I even eat ice cream with no spikes in my blood sugar. If you would like to learn more on how to reverse diabetes, please visit my website, Reverse Diabetes Naturally.



Type 1 Diabetes - A Life Threatening Disease

One of the biggest problems that continuously threaten the lives of most of the people is diabetes. It is one of the killer diseases of men not only today but even before. Once diabetes is established in the body it will persist throughout life and may lead to life-threatening complications.


It will happen if one's blood has a high content of glucose or blood sugar than the normal rate. One of the types of diabetes is called Type1 diabetes. In this type, the pancreas of a person is no longer able to make insulin, a hormone which is produced by the beta cells in the islets of the pancreas.


It will help the glucose to enter the cells to produce energy. If there is no insulin, the glucose will accumulate in the blood resulting to serious problems in the nerves, heart, kidney, gums, eyes and teeth. Children of diabetic parents have a greater chance in developing diabetes than those children of non-diabetics. This hereditary factor causes the children to be more susceptible than others.


Type1 diabetes is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), childhood-onset diabetes and juvenile diabetes. Type1 diabetes was traditionally called juvenile diabetes because it represents a majority of diabetes cases in children and young adults but it can happen at any age.


Type 1 diabetes is further classified as immune-mediated or idiopathic. Majority of the patients with Type1 diabetes have lower immune system compared to other patients. Some of the physical symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are blurred eyesight, frequent urination, dry and itchy skin. A person with type1 diabetes often feels hungry and thirsty at all times. This type of disease is also characterized by constant tiredness and weight loss. Severe symptoms of type1 diabetes are tingling in the feet, and sores that heal slowly. Currently, there is no known total prevention for this illness.


It is considered as a chronic condition since there are no exact treatments for this kind of illness. However, pancreas transplants have been tried to help cure Type1 diabetes but the success is very limited. This type of diabetes can be managed by keeping the blood sugar levels to be as close to normal as possible through dietary management, exercise and use of appropriate medications with insulin.


Proper education of patients, willingness, and participation are vital because the complications of diabetes are far less severe to the people who have well-managed blood sugar levels. Smoking, drinking of alcohol, stress, elevated cholesterol level, obesity, high blood pressure, lack of regular exercise and irregular medications are risk factors that could trigger this disease to reach its complicated level.


What you should do if you noticed any sign or symptom of diabetes? Of course, you must immediately see a physician so that you will be given an advice on how to manage yourself to avoid the complication of this life threatening disease. Most of all stay positive. You should always remember that the good habits you could adopt today can help you enjoy an active and healthy life of tomorrow.


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 the two 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.

Lower Carbohydrates Intake, Top 5 Low Carb Fruits and Vegetables

There are many reasons to lower carbohydrates intake in your daily diet. If you are a diabetic, to help you lose weight, to increase endurance and decrease fat storage in your body. What ever the reason, the amount of carbohydrates intake play an important role in living a healthy life.

Overeating carbohydrates can prevent a large amount of fat from being used for energy. Not taking any carbohydrates is not good either. It is important to keep the amount of carb intake in check for a proper nutrition.

Here are the top 5 Fruits and Vegetables that will help you to lower carbohydrates intake but, still are a good source for the carbs your body needs to function properly.

Note: to give you an idea of the amounts in grams, a 50 gram portion equals to 10 grapes, or 3 medium size strawberry or ? cup chopped celery or 2 extra long spears of asparagus. All the reference below is for a 50 gram portion.

Fruits:
Watermelon contains 4g
Strawberry contains 4g
Cantaloupe melon contains 4g
Avocado contains 4g
Honeydew melon contains 5g

Vegetables:
Arugula contains 1g
Cucumber (peeled) contains 1g
Broccoli Raab (cooked) contains 1g
Lettuce (iceberg) contains 2g
Celery contains 2g

It is not easy to keep track of all that you eat, weather is healthy or not. Including these fruits and vegetable as a snack or part of your daily meal, will help you live a healthier life. Having a lower carbohydrates intake in your daily diet will help you feel more energy and burn more fat. Good carbs is better than no carbs at all.

How To Reverse Diabetes - The All Natural Way To Reverse Diabetes

I see so many more people searching out "how to reverse diabetes" on diabetes forums these days. It seems like everyone either has diabetes or someone in their family has it. Almost no one has gone unaffected by this disease.

The rate of diabetes is rising at an alarming rate. According to a study conducted by the University of Chicago and reported on CNN, the number of Americans with diabetes will actually double in the next 25 years. This includes an increasing number of children. It is an epidemic of alarming proportions.

People who have diabetes are looking beyond traditional medicine for natural ways to not only control diabetes but actually reverse it. In fact, people want a cure for diabetes and since there isn't one to be found in traditional medicine, more and more people are turning to alternative medicine looking for methods on how to reverse it.

Diabetes is BIG business. You might have noticed an increasing number of ads for diabetic supplies on TV and in magazines. In fact, diabetes is now so prevalent that advertisers are happy to advertise to a general audience, not just in targeted diabetes magazines, because they know that even in a general ad, they'll hit a lot of people that either have the disease or know someone who does. In other words, diabetics are no longer a niche market. There are so many diabetics in the United States now that just throwing out an ad about diabetic supplies or diabetic pharmaceuticals to the general population will make the advertiser's investment pay out many times over. They also know that diabetics are often repeat customers for life as they try to manage their disease. Additionally, they try to sell them other diabetic supplies once they have them in the door.

The University of Chicago study also reported that the cost of treating diabetes will triple in the next 25 years. This means that medical companies that make pharmaceuticals, treatments, and supplies for diabetics will be chomping at the bit to get a piece of this quickly growing multi-billion profit pie. To companies and individuals hoping for a bigger profit from the increasing rate of diabetes, finding a cure or a natural way to reverse it doesn't help their bottom line. In other words, finding a way to reverse diabetes isn't really profitable. It is far more profitable for diabetics to continue suffering over the course of their entire lifetime.

Living a life of learning how to "control your diabetes" or "manage your diabetes" isn't as high a quality of life as learning "how to reverse diabetes" and living a totally normal life. Who really wants to take insulin or take pharmaceuticals that make your blood sugar go on roller coaster rides. For those of us inflicted with diabetes and not attempting to profit from it, we need to know how to reverse it right now.

I am happy to report that I have reversed my diabetes using natural methods and no longer take any diabetic medicine. Starting with an AC1 reading of 10.6, it has now dropped below 6. I also find my blood sugar does not spike when I eat a reasonable amount of carbs, and in fact doesn't even spike when I indulge on ice cream occasionally.

Celebrity Influence on Diabetes & Healthy Living

Diabetes can sometimes make you feel alone or singled out; however, it's important to understand that all types of people have diabetes and many suffer through the same hardships you do, even celebrities. Reading about others' hardships with diabetes and their efforts to give back to the diabetic community can be inspirational. Celebrities have a tremendous impact on societal views in many ways; which can be both positive and negative. However, in the case of diabetes education and exposure, we have found some celebrities who use their status to educate and promote healthy living.


Mary Tyler Moore is one celebrity that's constantly in the spotlight who works hard to tightly control her diabetes and dedicates her personal time to the diabetes community. According to an article titled "Mary Tyler Moore tells how she took control of diabetes," written in USA Today,"few viewers knew that around the time The Mary Tyler Moore Show launched, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes." This was in the 1970s, and Moore was 33 years old. Since then, Mary has worked to live a healthy lifestyle in order to keep her career and life on track. Her management of healthy foods and insulin injections has kept her as healthy as possible. Today, Moore is the international chair woman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the author of Growing Up Again, a powerful story that offers her personal account of living with diabetes. She has spent endless amounts of time advocating for diabetes and educating people on the subject. She is truly an inspiration for healthy living with diabetes.


Another celebrity who lives with diabetes is Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. Nick is notorious for his role in the pop-rock band that he formed with his brothers Joe and Kevin. He has touched even more lives through his positive influence and public speaking about life with diabetes. In 2007, the Jonas Brothers performed at a Diabetes Research Institute fundraiser in New York. According to Kidshealth.org, Nick asked everyone in the audience to raise their hand if they had diabetes and included himself to publicly announce for the first time that he too had diabetes. During the concert, Nick encouraged kids to be positive about their condition, and explained that his positive attitude is what helps him combat his personal struggles with diabetes. With a hectic touring schedule, Nick has to work extremely hard to maintain a healthy diet and effective diabetes management regimen, and he is a constant reminder that even superstars are not invincible. His personal story gives hope to those struggling with diabetes.