Protein’s Affect on Blood Sugar Levels

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Jan 272012

Much the same as fiber, eating quality protein with your snacks and meals can have a positive affect on your blood sugar levels. By combining protein and carbohydrates you will slow the digestions of the carbohydrates in your body. This slowing down will prevent your blood sugar from spiking as the result of too many carbohydrates in your system.

This does not mean that you should eat more protein than is recommended in one meal. Doing so can lead to other problems down the road. But if you are a diabetic, skipping protein in your diet is not a good idea. For diabetics who are vegetarians or that don’t eat a lot of any protein it is important to find a source that can be consumed on a regular basis.

There are many other sources of high-quality protein that does not include animal meats. Other protein sources can include:

* Tofu is a source of protein that can be prepared in a variety of ways including dessert tofu
* Nuts are an excellent source of protein but can be high in fat too. Read nutrition labels and enjoy in moderation
* Seeds such as flax, pumpkin, and sunflower can be eaten as a source of protein
* Beans and other members of the legume family. There are many ways to prepare beans from chili to cold salads
* Protein powders are available to sprinkle on cereals or to make into shakes for drinking
* Fish sources – be aware that large fish contain high levels of mercury and should only be eaten once or twice per week

When making protein choices, go for a lean cut whenever possible. Even though protein has a positive affect on blood sugars excessive fat can cancel out the benefit and turn it into a health risk. Enjoy high-fat meats or heavily processed meats on rare occasions and eat a wide variety of proteins. View more at http://www.diabeticdietbloodglucose.com/.

Posted by Admin at 10:19 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Diabetes and The Menopause

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Jul 012011

You might be thinking “What’s the connection between diabetes and the menopause?”

Well, for ladies reaching that certain age, it can be very traumatic – especially when some of the effects experienced can easily be mistaken for those we have to be aware of when managing our diabetes…

For a diabetic taking medication, keeping blood sugars at the right level is a balancing act. If sugar levels drop too low, because of not eating enough or at the right times, you suffer a hypoglycemia episode (sometimes called ‘hypo’ for short). For me, this usually manifests itself as shaking; irritability; sweating and a faint-headed feeling.

If you are diabetic and have ever had low-blood sugar you may recognize some of these symptoms, amongst others. A quick ‘glucose fix’ usually settles it within 5-10 minutes.

Now, compare that to some of the symptoms of starting the menopause; hot flushes [I call them 'power-surges' ;) ] – similar to the sweats of a hypo; mood swings – akin to the irritability you might experience during a hypo. It’s very easy to confuse the symptoms you are feeling.

When I first started the menopause, I frequently confused waking at 2 a.m. in the morning in a cold sweat as a hypo and took a quick sugar boost to settle myself. That pushed my blood sugar levels up when I didn’t need it. Not a good idea!

It was only after visiting my Doctor to talk about these frequent, unexpected hypos I discovered I was starting the menopause (I was in my late 40s, so it was rather unexpected, normally it doesn’t occur until early-to-mid 50s).

If you are a lady, with diabetes controlled by medication, and you are in your early 50s and you start having frequent, unexplained hypos – check your sugar levels before ‘treating the condition’. And get your Doctor to check your symptoms. You may be confusing symptoms of diabetes and the menopause.

And guys; if your lady normally has great control of her diabetes and suddenly seems to be showing the same symptoms when she was getting her diabetes into balance (if you knew her then) please be supportive and understanding, she’s going through one hell of an experience, but I promise, she will come through and be her normal, loving and charming self once again. Check out http://historyofdiabetes.org/.

Posted by Admin at 11:01 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Tips for Revamping Favorite Recipes

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Jun 302011

Everyone has their favorite dishes, ones that mom or grandma used to make or new ones that you have discovered on your own. Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may feel that you can never enjoy these dishes again (or not without harming your health). But there are ways that you can change old family favorites keeping the flavor but reducing or eliminating the amount of sugar or carbohydrates they contain.

For most substitutions that you are going to make to your recipes, you are looking for ways to reduce the fat content. Here are some standards that you can use. When your recipe calls for:

* Whole milk try substituting with 2% or 1% instead
* Whole eggs try substituting with an egg substitute or use 2 egg whites for every whole egg called for in the recipe
* Sour cream use low fat sour cream or plan yogurt
* Baking chocolate try using cocoa powder mixed with vegetable oil (3 tablespoons with 1 tablespoon of oil will equal 1 ounce of chocolate)

In addition to the above suggestions, always use light or lower fat versions of ingredients. Sometimes trial and error is necessary to get the recipe just right, but do keep trying the end result will be worth it when you create a cake or other dessert that you love and is diabetic friendly.

Alternately, you can purchase a diabetic cook book that is full of desserts to make that will work with your diet. This way you can create new favorites for you and your family to fall in love with. Don’t feel that just because you are a diabetic you cannot enjoy variety in your foods. Keep trying new things while keeping a close eye on your blood sugar levels to add new foods to your growing repertoire. Check out http://diabetesmenu.org/ for more vital details.

Posted by Admin at 6:06 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

The Glycemic Index and Diabetic Diets

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Jun 302011

The glycemic index diet is one that many diabetics find useful. The diet is based on assigning foods a ranking that indicates that food’s effect on blood sugar levels. This can be a valuable tool for diabetics, especially ones that have been newly diagnosed as it can take some of the guess work out of meal planning and what foods to eat.

The glycemic index (GI) diet indicates foods that have a low GI value meaning they will take a longer time to have an affect on blood sugars and ones that have a higher value – they will act quicker to raise blood sugars. A diabetic is still going to have to use another means to decide what foods to eat though – such as the food pyramid or an exchange list as not all items on the GI diet are as healthy as they could be. Meaning a food that has a low index does not mean it is a better choice for you than some foods that are on the higher end of the scale.

Using the GI diet as your sole source of meal planning is not recommended not only because the values are not indicative of the healthiest choice but also because not all foods are listed. If you are basing your diet on this method and want to add other foods that do not have GI rating you are not going to be able to properly plan. Until more information is researched on the diet or it is made more comprehensive it should be used with an approved diet for diabetics such as the exchange diet or the carbohydrate counting diet.

If you want more information on how to incorporate the GI diet with your current meal plan, consult with your dietician or a diabetes educator. You can check out http://diabetesmenu.org/ for more facts.

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Controlling Blood Sugar In Type 2 Diabetes Without The Use Of Drugs

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Jun 292011

I was told in rapid succession that I was suffering from intermittent claudication (that’s blocked arteries in the legs), high blood pressure, Diabetes Type 2. and that I was overweight.

Not a lot of pleasure there! The intermittent claudication made it increasingly difficult to do much, so that in effect I had become a prisoner to my house and garden. Exercise was out of the question, my legs simply couldn’t cope, but it was hoped that angioplasty to each leg would cure the problem. It didn’t.

My high blood pressure, I was assured, could be treated by a cocktail of drugs and by weight loss. The cocktail of four different drugs worked, but I could not seem to lose weight.

So I was given a choice: the blood sugar levels could be controlled either by drugs or by diet. Since I was already taking four different drugs for blood pressure, I thought it best to try diet control. I was also hopeful that this might help me to lose weight. But where to start? My diabetic nurse provided me with a blood sugar monitor and said I should aim to stay under 9 as my reading. My Doctor said to stay under 7. Now she has reduced this to under 5. My current long-term reading is 5.3. A big drop from the high readings I used to produce.

So what did I do? At first I was taking blood samples three times a day and was truly astonished at how my blood sugar jumped about. Plain porridge and water, which I absolutely loved, would produce a reading of 16 and yet, being a slow release multigrain, I had always assumed it would be good for my health. A single apple, showed a reading of 12! Tea with milk but no sugar, 10. Obviously there was more to this than met the eye.

The first learning point was that the body needs water and lots of it. Out went sugared fizzy drinks and in came plain boiled water. The Swedes call it Silver Tea, I’m told, and it is very refreshing. Now a cup starts every day and two or three more follow. Low calorie tonic water is also useful (the quinine helps prevent cramps), mineral water (I especially like carbonated forms), low calorie Ginger Beer and cold filtered tap water.

The next, crucial, learning point: control your carbohydrate intake, in my case to under 40gms a day. Eliminate bread, cakes, sweets, pasta, rice, cereals, biscuits, sugars, fruit juice, potatoes, honey, jam, marmalade, baked beans. Reading the food labels is a real eye opener!

Instead, increase your intake of vegetables and low carbohydrate foods & fruits. All of the following are particularly good: Broccoli, cabbage, spinach, runner beans, brussels sprouts cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, swede, squashes, celeriac, green salads. Fruit can be very high in sugars, so use in moderation. Choose rhubarb, grapefruit, raspberries, loganberries, strawberries, blueberries, all of which are O.K. Do not add sugar, of course, so sweeten with cinnamon instead. Avocadoes are low in carbohydrates, but high in fat, so eat no more than half a fruit a day. Add nuts and seeds to your diet, again in small amounts.

As far as alcohol is concerned, all beers are out. One or two glasses of red wine a day are acceptable.

Avoid processed foods as much as possible and certainly do NOT eat hydrogenated fats of any kind. They are to my mind a food industry con. and of no use to any one other than manufacturers of processed food.

Buy only genuine, non-reconstituted lean meat, poultry, game and fish. Reduce your saturated fat intake by cooking on a griddle and cutting off any excess fat. Cook with olive and nut oils, as these unsaturated fats are good for you. Never use lard. Add game to your repertoire of ingredients, along with plenty of oily and white fish such as salmon, haddock, tuna, swordfish, mackerel & kipper.

I have never once felt hungry with this change in my eating habits to simple whole foods. I still find I miss eating plain yoghurt, vanilla ice cream and various cheeses. But then I occasionally do give myself a small treat – provided I stay within my allowance.

The results are good for my health:

My good cholesterol is high
My bad cholesterol is low
My type II diabetes blood sugar is well controlled by diet alone
I have lost 10 lbs in weight.

My next task is to lose another 30 lbs. I know now that this is achievable. The more weight I lose, the more able I am to increase my activity levels – and the more incentive I have to control my calorie intake. At last I feel that I am taking back control of my body and discovering that you really are what you eat! You can learn more information with regards to this condition at http://diabetes-type-2.com/.

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Diabetes Symptoms: The Various Kinds Of Symptoms To Deal With

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Jun 292011

Diagnosing diabetes symptoms can be difficult in identifying at first, as manifestation of the disease is gradual. Sometimes, because symptoms can also be common to other illnesses, the real illness may be overlooked. Diabetes symptoms may vary, the list may go on and on but not everybody (diabetes patients) has them. There are even some cases that no symptoms may show on some patients.

Diabetes occurs when the body’s ability to react to insulin gets affected. The insulin is your body hormone that allows your blood sugar (glucose) to enter body cells. When too much glucose enters the blood, this leads to the elevated amount of blood glucose, which it can cause glucose spillage towards the urine. This is the primary reason why one of the most classic diabetes symptoms, frequent urination, plagues the patient.

Because elevated glucose level is beyond normal, your body cells are energy-starved and consequently leading to the damage in your nerves, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and your heart. The increased amount of glucose appears when the sugar of your body falls too low. It then increases production of sugar. This process starts when the pancreas releases the hormone called glucagons. The stored glycogen will be converted back into the glucose by your liver and muscles.

How are diabetes symptoms diagnosed?

Diagnosing diabetes patients may vary, and is based according to the duration and range of the high blood sugar levels. Patients with type 2 diabetes are often diagnosed relatively slowly as compared to people with type 1 diabetes, to which it may take only after weeks or some months. Symptoms may also progress slowly and mildly.

Some of the most specific and common early diabetes symptoms are:

- Skin irritation and diseases
- Skin infections
- Poor skin healing
- Athlete’s foot
- Sexual problem
- Unusual vaginal dryness
- Erectile failure (to male patients)
- Premature menopause (to female patients)
- Absence of menstrual periods
- Paresthesias
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Urinary tract infection
- Blurry vision
- Malaise
- Drowsiness
- Numbness of the hands
- Weight loss or weight gain

Other more extreme diabetes symptoms are:

- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirstiness
- Dehydration
- Weight loss even with an increased appetite
- Tiredness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting
- Excessive hunger
- More bladder, skin and vaginal infections
- Serious blurry vision
- Headache
- Muscle aches, weakness and cramps
- Acne
- Increased sexual problems because of erectile failure for men, and vaginal dryness for women
- Cessation of menstrual periods

Other diabetes symptoms:

- Gums are bleeding
- Unusual noise or buzzing in the ear
- Feet numbness or tingling
- Skin itching
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
- Depression

Complications associated to diabetes symptoms:

- Kidney diseases
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Sciatica
- Heart diseases and
- Stroke

As those mentioned symptoms might occur at a later time for a patient, the usual situation is delayed scheduling of the check-up. This is not a good idea as complications may increase over time, making it even harder to treat and manage the disease. In this case, it is extremely important to check with the doctor in as early as possible to prevent more damage to the body. Another, it is important to note that diabetes is one of the lifelong diseases, and one that does not infect other people upon contact. More information can be read at http://signofdiabetes.org/.

Posted by Admin at 4:17 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms and Its Care

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Jun 292011

Diabetes is a medical condition where the body is unable to control blood sugar levels. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which controls the sugar levels in the body. In a diabetic, the insulin levels drop or completely stop being produced thereby increasing the glucose levels leading to many complications. The sugar level fluctuations, if not checked, may result in a variety of health complications. There are many types of diabetes including Type1, Type2, gestational diabetes and juvenile diabetes. Gestational diabetes symptoms are many and can be easily identified with a series of tests.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Many women may not normally have diabetes before pregnancy but may develop this condition during their term. This is called gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes may decrease or completely disappear after childbirth. Here, the woman’s blood sugar levels are very high during pregnancy. Certain gestational diabetes symptoms can be easily identified through a series of tests, which your gynecologist will prescribe. It is always necessary to undergo the entire range of tests prescribed in order to have a safe pregnancy. Pregnant women must take care not to get into any medical issues related to diabetes in order to ensure a safe delivery.

Gestational diabetes occurs in non-diabetic women when insulin produced by the pancreas stops being utilized in an improper manner. About three to six percent of pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes. It begins in the fifth or the sixth month of pregnancy and generally disappears after childbirth. Gestational diabetes symptoms are easily identified with the help of your doctor. In gestational diabetes, the effect of insulin is partially blocked by various other hormones produced during pregnancy. This process is known as insulin resistance. As the placenta grows in the womb, more hormones are produced increasing insulin resistance.

Any woman can develop gestational diabetes. However, certain women are prone to high risk:
• Women who are pregnant above the age of thirty.
• Obese women and women with a family history of diabetes are at high risk.
• Women who have had previous complications during childbirth.
• Excess amniotic fluid present in the woman can cause gestational diabetes.
• If the previous pregnancy was also a gestational diabetic condition.
• Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Pregnant women who experience excessive weight, excessive hunger, thirst, recurrent vaginal infections and excessive urination are prone to gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is detected with the help of a test called glucose tolerance. This test is conducted from week 24 up to week 28 of the pregnancy. If the doctor has any suspicion that the pregnant woman is at a risk of developing gestational diabetes symptoms, he may consider prescribing the test in the thirteenth week itself. Glucose test includes drinking a sugar solution and giving your blood from the vein after an hour. If the test proves positive and shows sugar levels, more than the normal levels, then the concerned woman may have to be treated for gestational diabetes. With proper care and support, this condition can be overcome and you can be ensured of a safe delivery. You can view further information about it at http://gestationaldiabetessymptoms.org/.

Posted by Admin at 2:52 AM Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Diabetes: Breast-feeding May Help Babies and Women Against Diabetes

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Jun 292011

Babies and women may be protected against developing diabetes disease through breast feeding, according to new research. This current study states that the longer women nursed, the lower their risks of developing diabetes.

Diabetes as a medical disorder characterized by varying or persistent elevated blood sugar levels, especially due to eating, is a serious disease which symptoms are very similar for all types of diabetes.

Breast feeding is when a woman feeds a baby or a young child with milk produced from her breasts. The best thing for feeding a baby is breast milk, as experts say, if the mother does not have transmissible infections.

Although study findings are not conclusive, researchers explain that breast-feeding may change metabolism of mothers which may help keep blood sugar levels stable and make the body more sensitive to the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin.

This theory is based on some evidence that show that in rats and humans that are breast-feeding, mothers have lower blood-sugar levels than those who did not breast-feed.

According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who breast-fed for at least one year were about 15 per cent less likely to develop diabetes type 2 than those who never breast-fed. For each additional year of breast-feeding, there was an additional 15 per cent decreased risk.

A total of 157,000 nurses participated in the new study. They answered periodic health questionnaires and were followed for at least 12 years. During the study, 6,277 participants developed type 2 diabetes. Check out more at http://gestationaldiabetessymptoms.org/.

Posted by Admin at 2:44 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Common Knowledge About Gestational Diabetes

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Jun 292011

I did not become familiar with gestational diabetes until recently when my sister-in-law and my best friend were both diagnosed with it within a week. Many women I know, myself included, have made it through pregnancies without having any serious problems like gestational diabetes.

Basically, gestational diabetes is a disease that can come on during pregnancy but that usually disappears once the baby has been born. In some women, pregnancy results in their blood sugar levels getting out of balance. A pregnant woman might realize that she is having blood sugar problems on her own or it might take a doctor to determine that her levels are not normal. Regardless of how it is discovered, gestational diabetes is a serious issue that needs to be handled with caution and care throughout a woman’s pregnancy and after.

When my sister-in-law and my closest friend were struggling with feeling abnormally up and down during their pregnancies, their doctor took blood tests and determined that their blood sugar levels were being affected by their pregnancies and their food choices. They were both diagnosed simply by having this blood work done. At first they were hesitant and scared because gestational diabetes sounded huge and they didn’t know how relatively simple the treatment process could be.

Gestational diabetes, because it is primarily an imbalance of blood sugar, can often be regulated by changes in diet and levels of exercise. The amount of changes that are necessary are dependant upon how poor of habits the women have to begin with. My sister-in-law and my friend had to make different levels of changes to their diets, but neither had to make such significant changes that their lifestyle was radically altered. Mostly their changes consisted of going on a low-sugar and low-carb eating plan. Gestational diabetes brings a risk of the baby getting to large during its gestational period and needing to be delivered early or by c-section. The more the pregnant mother cuts down on sugar intake, the less likely it is that the baby will get too large to be delivered vaginally.

If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant in the near future, take some time and learn about ways to prevent gestational diabetes. It is the best for you and your baby. Prevention is always a better option than having to find a solution to high blood sugar levels. Be wise with your food and exercise choices from the start and you should be able to avoid dealing with gestational diabetes in your pregnancies. Talk with your doctor and take every possible precaution. Check out http://gestationaldiabetessymptoms.org/ for more facts.

Posted by Admin at 2:38 AM Tagged with: , ,

Meal Planning for an Active Diabetic

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Jun 292011

Physical activity is recommended for any person to stay healthy. But for a diabetic it now only increases energy levels and can help maintain an ideal body weight it also helps to control blood sugars. But an active diabetic needs to take extra care and precautions to ensure they are getting enough fuel for their body so their blood sugars do not drop dangerously low – known as hypoglycemia.

The amount you exercise is going to determine how much you are going to eat on your diabetic meal plan. The more physically active you are the higher your nutritional
requirements and the higher your risk is for developing hypoglycemia. The best practice when you are just starting out is to monitor your blood sugars before and after working out and during if you feel it is necessary. It is important to listen to your body and stop if you are feeling light-headed or are experiencing any of the other signs associated with low blood sugar.

Before you work out, have a snack that is going to sustain you for a long period of time without spiking your blood sugar levels. A granola bar eaten with a handful of nuts is a good choice as it combines a carbohydrate that is high in fiber and a high-quality protein. The food that you eat before working out should have a high-fiber content, this will slow down the breaking down process of the carbohydrates in your system and you will be sustained for a longer period of time.

Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) when you are working out to stay hydrated. In case of an emergency, carry glucose tablets with you at all times or some hard candy that will quickly raise your blood sugar. At other times of the day, eat balanced meals to maintain your energy. You will be able to get more facts at http://diabeticdietzone.com/.

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Interesting Fact about Diabetic Diet

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Jun 292011

There is a misconception that a diabetic diet means a sugar-free diet. People suffering from diabetes usually resort to refined sugar or natural sweeteners in the diet. It is not possible to eat non-sugar free food on a long-term basis. In order to eliminate any misconceptions regarding diabetic diet, it is essential to know everything about this condition, the fundamentals of nutrition and the essential requirements for an effective diabetes management.

Diabetic diet insights – It is important for diabetes’ patients to follow the right diabetic diet. The diet must be based on the blood sugar level and help maintain and keep it under control. It is essential to follow a balanced and nutritional food diet by a diabetic patient in order to ensure good health. Diabetic patients must take the help of an expert dietician to create an effective nutrition plan. This will help them manage their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart related diseases. It will also help them maintain their weight and keep them in good health and spirits.

Energy needs of a diabetic patient – The energy that we get from food is measured in calories. There are three main types of nutrients namely:
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Fats
Foods that provide calories will increase the blood sugar level and when it is digested it gets broken down into glucose. This glucose is then absorbed in the blood stream and this is what is known as blood sugar. For a person with diabetes, the insulin released by the pancreas allows the glucose to get into the cells as energy and be burnt. If this process does not happen then the glucose level increases in the blood and creates a high blood sugar level and this condition is referred to as diabetes.

All foods have calories which are converted into glucose but certain foods that are fatty get digested gradually. In fact, they take up to 6 to 8 hours to get converted and release the glucose into the blood stream. Proteins in food take about 3 to 4 hours to get converted into glucose and carbohydrates get converted within half an hour after the meal. This essentially will raise the glucose level faster. This is the reason why the patient with diabetes must be careful about carbohydrate content in the food. For a good diabetic nutrition management, you must ensure that the carbohydrate intake is restricted to a great extent.

Nutrition Plan – An effective diabetic nutrition plan must include a mixture of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in every meal with the appropriate calorie level. The diabetic diet must provide an essential nutrition value and ensure that there is an even release of glucose into the blood after the meal. A dietitian will be able to assess the nutritional needs of the patient and work out a diabetic diet plan that includes the necessary ingredients. Another aspect that has to be worked out includes the number of times the patient must eat during the day. This essentially depends on the lifestyle of the patient and many other factors. More can be read at http://diabeticdietzone.com/.

Posted by Admin at 12:35 AM Tagged with: , , , , ,

Could You Have Diabetes And Not Even Know It?

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Jun 282011

Almost one third of all people with diabetes don’t know they have it. The symptoms seem so harmless, like symptoms of just getting older. This article goes into the different types of diabetes and some of the common symptoms of each to help you understand diabetes a little better.

In this article we’ll go over the three main types of diabetes. They are Type 1, Type 2, Gestational diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

This type of diabetes has also been called insulin-dependent and immune-mediated diabetes. It occurs when your body can’t produce insulin. The immune system attacks insulin producing cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes increases the risk of other serious complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney damage.

Some of the symptoms include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss even with increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, and absence of menstruation

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type that fails to be diagnosed. It progress slowly and causes symptoms such as skin infections, poor healing, kidney problems, and vision problems. It is ordinary that neither these complications nor the diabetes is diagnosed after years of mild symptoms.

The problem is usually that people have no severe symptoms and do not seek medical care at all. They just think of the symptoms as simply getting older. For this reason it is important to get regularly tested for diabetes in the most common age group (over 40′s). Less commonly a doctor may treat other diseases, without realizing to test for diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs during a woman’s pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy are said to have it. It affects 4 percent of all women during pregnancy.

Symptoms include Increased thirst Increased urination Weight loss in spite of increased appetite Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin Blurred vision.Gestational diabetes can be missed in pregnancy. It usually starts with mild symptoms that often can be attributed to other things. It’s important to get tested during pregnancy because the high blood sugars from gestational diabetes can do harm to the baby and sometimes lead to other complications.

Even if you’re not pregnant, you should make it a priority to get tested. Many women have gestational diabetes and think about their symptoms as being usual during pregnancy. You never know, maybe it is, but it’s always a good idea to get tested.

If you’re having any of the symptoms for diabetes, it’s important to see your doctor. Even if you think it’s absolutely nothing. It’s better to be safe than sorry. More can be read at http://diabetes-info.org/.

Posted by Admin at 1:24 PM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Diabetes and Your Heart

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Jun 282011

Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, even though in its early stages it doesn’t hurt, or cause inconvenience, or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake, because the blood sugar imbalance we diabetics live with can cause a variety of complications, even leading to other serious health conditions.

One major cause for concern is adverse effects on our hearts. Our unstable blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation—a big step on the road to heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.

Hypertension

Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure, or hypertension. In fact, your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the general population, we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It’s all part of the battle against possible heart disease.

Blood fats

Cholesterol and tryglycerides, or blood fats, also need to be kept lower in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer packaged or fried foods are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying pan!

Blood sugarBlood sugar levels need monitoring too, as consistently high levels damage blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.

Weight level

And of course you know it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Why is that particularly important for us diabetics? First, if you are overweight your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system. This weakens your blood vessels, which are then more susceptible to damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It’s a vicious cycle you don’t want to create.

Your heart is the main engine of your whole body, so you need to do everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy heart, take control of your diabetes. More details can be read at http://diabetes-info.org/.

Posted by Admin at 12:27 PM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Traveling with Diabetes: 11 Tips to Make it Easy For You

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Jun 282011

Traveling with diabetes requires preparation both before and during your trip. Here are 11 tips to help you make sure your diabetes doesn’t interfere with the pleasures of travel.

1. Visit your doctor at least a month before you leave to make sure your diabetes is under control. If you need to do any stabilizing, a month will give you enough time. The same month should let your body settle down after any necessary immunization shots, so get those at the same time.

2. Get a letter from your doctor certifying that you are diabetic, and listing the various medications and supplies you must carry with you. Without this, you might have difficulties passing through Security at airports and international border crossings.

3. Also get a prescription for your insulin or other diabetes medication. Even though you should have enough syringes, strips and medication to last for the duration of your trip, it’s always good to have a prescription in case you lose them, they become spoiled because of extreme weather conditions, or your trip lasts longer than you original planned.

4. Wear an ID bracelet announcing your have diabetes, and also carry a small card saying so in the local language of the places you will be visiting.

5. Learn to express specific diabetic requirements in the local languages. Since you probably won’t know how to pronounce the words, the easiest way is to carry them on a printed card and simply point to what you want to say.

6. Pack at least twice as much medication and supplies as you think you’ll need. Put half in your suitcase, and half in a special bag that never leaves your possession. The container for these supplies should be sturdy, preferably hard sided, for protection.

7. Carry a sealed pack containing hard candies or glucose tablets in case irregular eating makes your blood sugar drop too low. Your pack should also contain emergency snacks, such as crackers, cheese, fruit, juice — in case you must wait too long between meals, which can happen when we are traveling.

8. Insulin can lose its strength in extreme temperatures, so carry your supply, as well as pills and other medication, in a thermally insulated bag.

9. Carry bandages and first-aid cream, comfortable walking shoes and protective beach shoes. Your feet neet extra special care while you’re traveling.

10. While on your trip, check your blood sugar more often than usual. Many factors, such as fluctuating temperatures and changing time zones, can cause wild swings in your blood sugar levels. If you check often, you’ll be better able to take corrective action as needed.

11. Finally, contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at 417 Center Street, Lewiston, NY 14092. They can provide you with a list of English speaking doctors in the countries you’ll be visiting.

As long as you take sensible precautions to care for your diabetes, there’s no reason why it needs to stand in the way of a happy travel experience. Bon voyage! Find out more about the metabolic condition at http://diabetes-type-1.org/.

Posted by Admin at 4:06 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Diabetes Type 1 - Introduction

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Jun 282011

Diabetes is a medical condition where your blood glucose or blood sugar levels shoot up due to various reasons. There are two main types of diabetes namely Type 1 and Type 2. In Diabetes type 1 the pancreas stops producing insulin. Insulin is very essential for the body, as it helps glucose get in to the cells. When pancreas does not produce insulin, glucose stays in your blood, resulting in serious health problems. Diabetes type 1 normally affects children, teenagers and young adults. Diabetes type 1 is also known as Juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes.

There is no specific cause for diabetes Type 1. Research shows that Type 1 diabetes has something to do with genes. Genes are not solely responsible for this type of diabetes. Actually, genetic causes in combination with certain viral infections can causes type 1 diabetes. Diabetes type 1 cannot be prevented. It is very difficult to determine who will get it and who will not. When you detect diabetes for the first time, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Eating a lot: You tend to eat a lot because you do not get the necessary amount of energy.

• Drinking a lot: Frequent thirst makes you drink a lot of water.

• Frequent urination: The body tries to get rid of the excess amount of blood sugar through the urine.

• Fatigue: As the body cannot use sugar for energy, you tend to feel tired and exhausted all the time.

• Lose weight: As the body cannot use sugar for energy it starts using up fat and muscle for fuel.

The best way of getting rid of these symptoms is to take proper treatment for diabetes Type 1. Before taking any treatment, you have to find the level of blood sugar to determine whether you are affected by diabetes type 1. Parents of a suspected diabetic child can approach a pediatric endocrinologist, to know and learn more about this type of diabetes.

Kids affected by diabetes Type 1 need to be careful and take extra care in their diet. To be on the safe side they are advised to do the following:

• Check blood sugar levels at regular intervals
• Keep blood sugar levels under control by following a healthy eating plan
• Exercise on a daily basis
• Learn to use insulin pumps and insulin shots
• Go for a regular check up with the doctor in order to stay healthy.

Kids affected by diabetes Type 1 are not like normal children. They have to take extra snacks during a long bus journey and need to carry snacks with them all the time to avoid complications. Wherever they are, they should eat their breakfast at the right time to keep their blood sugar levels under control.

New products and equipment are available to make the task of children affected by diabetes Type 1 easier. Scientists are working hard to find easy ways of checking blood sugar levels and simplify the process of giving insulin. With extra care, kids and adults affected by diabetes can definitely lead a normal life. More can be read at http://diabetes-type-1.org/.

Posted by Admin at 3:05 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

How To Stop Diabetes From Stealing Your Vision!

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Jun 282011

In the past, diabetes was never such a big epidemic like it is today. People often thought of diabetes as simply a body condition where one must reduce one’s sugar and fat intake. Little did people know that diabetes could end up causing blindness!

Now that diabetes is reaching epidemic levels in most of the western world, this problem is becoming more and more serious. Vision is one of our most critical senses and in this “need for speed” information era, over 70% of our sensory information comes through our eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, diabetics are 25 times more likely to lose vision than those who are not diabetic.

With diabetes already being the number one cause of blindness in the United States, it’s no wonder eye care professionals are predicting a devastating increase in vision loss as the diabetic epidemic grows alarmingly.

People newly diagnosed with diabetes often have nothing more than minor vision fluctuations which settle when blood sugar levels improve with treatment. Early on it’s easy to believe everything is fine. After some years though, continuing high blood sugar can gradually damage the blood vessels at the back of the eye in the retina. This causes a problem called diabetic retinopathy and the longer you have diabetes the more likely you are to have retinopathy. The risk increases further when there is poor control of blood sugar levels. More than 70% of diabetics develop some changes in their eyes within 15 years of diagnosis.

Now, what exactly is retinopathy? There are 2 types of retinopathy. Retinopathy is graded as Non-proliferative or Proliferative. Non-proliferative retinopathy is the common milder form, where small retinal blood vessels break and leak. There may be some mild retinal swelling but it rarely requires treatment unless it causes hazy central vision or straight lines appear bent.

On the other hand, proliferative retinopathy is the less common, but more serious form where new blood vessels grow abnormally within the retina. If these vessel scar or bleed they can lead to potentially serious vision loss including blindness. Early laser treatment can seal leaking vessels and slow the progress of diabetic retinopathy, but can’t reverse existing vision loss.

Although there is no real cure or method to eliminate the risk of diabetic eye damage, you can do two important things to help prevent the more serious complications. The critical first step is making sure you stabilize and control your blood sugar with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The second step is to make sure you have a yearly diabetic eye examination.

Diabetes is a disease that mostly affects blood vessels and in it’s extreme forms can lead to serious heart disease, stroke and kidney damage. Clearly these life threatening diabetic vascular diseases deserve priority attention, but high on the critical list for diabetics is the risk of serious eye disease and loss of vision. Make sure you check up with a qualified doctor to prevent diabetes-related eye problems! An experienced eye care professional can pick up subtle diabetic eye changes long before you notice any vision change, and more importantly, early enough to do some good.

If you suspect that you or a close one has diabetes – or if diabetes is already present – now is the time to seek a doctor for a detailed eye check up before it’s too late! Don’t let diabetes claim another person’s vision! You can read more at http://diabetes-type.org/.

Posted by Admin at 1:36 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

When you are Hungry in Between Meals

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Jun 272011

There are going to be times when you have finished your meal or snack and you are hungry again long before your next meal is scheduled or right before bed. Depending on how much time you have to go before you are supposed to eat again and what your blood sugar levels are at you may want to move your meal time up or indulge in some free food.

If this happens frequently it is time look at your eating schedule and meal plan. If you have recently added more physical activity to your daily routine, you will also have to increase your food intake to compensate for the extra energy your are using up. If this isn’t the case and you are unsure why your appetite has increased or your current meal plan is no longer working, speak to your dietician to see if there are some revisions that can be made to prevent this from happening.

When you have gestational diabetes, it is recommended that you have a snack before bedtime to tide you over until the morning. It will also be important to have a bedtime snack if you are taking an insulin injection prior to bed so that your blood sugar does not become too low overnight. If neither of these scenarios applies to you, you can have some free food before bed if you are finding that you are hungry at night time. A bouillon (beef or chicken broth) might stave off hunger pangs and allow you to fall asleep.

If you are hungry at night time and your blood sugars are low, do have something to eat to raise your glucose level. If this is a frequent occurrence, you may not be eating enough food at dinner time. Try adding a protein or carbohydrate to see if this makes a difference. More diabetic meal plans can be read at http://diabetesmenu.org/.

Posted by Admin at 2:06 PM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Carbohydrate Counting Diet

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Jun 272011

Carbohydrates a very big impact on blood glucose levels as they are converted to sugar by the body in the process of turning the food into energy. Too many carbohydrate servings can increase blood sugar levels. It is important for a diabetic to control the number of carbohydrates that are eaten at each meal and balance the carbohydrates with protein while limiting fat intake.

In this type of meal plan foods are grouped into three different categories: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The majority of foods that you eat contain carbohydrates and this will be the largest food group. Foods in this group include:

* Grains – breads, crackers, rice, cereal, pasta
* Dairy – milk, yogurt
* Vegetables that are considered starchy – corn, peas, and potatoes
* The rest of the vegetable family
* Fruit, including fruit juices
* Desserts and other treats – chosen in limited amounts

This diet will require you to measure your foods for serving sizes and read food labels to determine how many servings are carbohydrates it should be counted as. It is standard to consider 15 grams of carbohydrates as one serving. For instance, if you are having crackers as a snack and are allowed one serving of carbohydrates you would look at the food label to figure out how many crackers you can have. If the serving size is 20 crackers and that equals 30 grams of carbohydrates, for a diabetic that would be considered two servings. In this example, you would half the serving size and eat 10 crackers to equal 15 grams of carbohydrates.

After some time and experience you will become adept at counting carbohydrates and knowing what foods work well with your blood glucose levels and what ones don’t. No two diabetics respond the same way to every food, you will need to learn what your own ideal diabetic diet is. Find out more information on http://diabetesmenu.org/.

Posted by Admin at 11:49 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Sopranos Star Takes Control Of Diabetes

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Jun 272011

Aida Turturro, the actress who plays Janice Soprano on the HBO series “The Sopranos,” is one of the more than 20 million Americans who have diabetes.

Turturro was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (where the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not use the insulin properly) in 2000. For more than a year after her initial diagnosis she was in denial and did not take the proper steps-such as diet and exercise-to manage the disease.

Finally, her doctor told her that her blood sugar levels were too high and if she did not learn how to manage the disease, she would suffer serious complications.

“As soon as I started learning more about the potential complications of the disease, I realized I should have taken action sooner,” said Turturro. “It is scary what can happen to you if you do not take control of your diabetes.”

Turturro was among the more than 50 percent of diabetes patients whose A1C levels are above the target goal of 7 percent as established by the American Diabetes Association. Patients with diabetes should know their A1C level. It is a simple blood test that assesses glucose levels over a two- to three-month period.

In addition to her diet and exercise routines, Turturro worked with her doctor to develop a treatment regimen that was right for her. At first she was taking oral medications but was still unable to get her blood sugar levels under control. About two years ago, Turturro and her doctor added Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection), the once-daily, true 24-hour basal insulin, to her treatment plan.

With a treatment regimen that includes Lantus and other diabetes medications, Turturro achieves good blood glucose control with an A1C level below seven percent.

“Managing diabetes is not easy. What I have learned is the best way to manage the disease is by becoming educated, motivated and an advocate for yourself,” said Turturro. “It is a 24-hour disease and you have to put in a real effort to keep your blood sugar levels under control.”

Note to Editors: Important Safety Information for Lantus

Lantus is indicated for once-daily subcutaneous administration, at the same time each day, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes mellitus or adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who require basal (long-acting) insulin for the control of hyperglycemia. Lantus must not be diluted or mixed with any other insulin or solution. If mixed or diluted, the solution may become cloudy, and the onset of action/time to peak effect may be altered in an unpredictable manner. Lantus is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to insulin glargine or the excipients. Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of insulin, including Lantus. As with all insulins, the timing of hypoglycemia may differ among various insulin formulations. Glucose monitoring is recommended for all patients with diabetes. Any change of insulin type and/or regimen should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.Concomitant oral antidiabetes treatment may need to be adjusted. Other adverse events commonly associated with Lantus include the following: lipodystrophy, skin reactions (such as injection-site reaction, pruritus, rash) and allergic reactions. More information can be gained from http://diabetes-info.org/.

Posted by Admin at 11:11 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Diabetes and Your Heart

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Jun 272011

Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, even though in its early stages it doesn’t hurt, or cause inconvenience, or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake, because the blood sugar imbalance we diabetics live with can cause a variety of complications, even leading to other serious health conditions.

One major cause for concern is adverse effects on our hearts. Our unstable blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation—a big step on the road to heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.

Hypertension

Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure, or hypertension. In fact, your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the general population, we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It’s all part of the battle against possible heart disease.

Blood fats

Cholesterol and tryglycerides, or blood fats, also need to be kept lower in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer packaged or fried foods are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying pan!

Blood sugarBlood sugar levels need monitoring too, as consistently high levels damage blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.

Weight level

And of course you know it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Why is that particularly important for us diabetics? First, if you are overweight your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system. This weakens your blood vessels, which are then more susceptible to damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It’s a vicious cycle you don’t want to create.

Your heart is the main engine of your whole body, so you need to do everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy heart, take control of your diabetes. More details can be read at http://diabetes-info.org/.

Posted by Admin at 10:25 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
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