Archive for September, 2009

What Are the Foods That Lower Blood Sugar and Keep Signs of Diabetes at Bay?

Monday, September 21st, 2009

It is frustrating to know that you or your loved one is suffering from diabetes. However if you just sit in the corner of the room, cry and feel sorry knowingly that t is a threat to your health and life then this will not be of any help.

Certainly you have to do something about it. There are many ways of treating diabetes the most preferred one that should be adopted initially is natural treatment. There are many foods that lower blood sugar level. Why not take the start by incorporating those foods that lower blood sugar in your meal plans.

There are meal plans that are specifically designed for diabetics. Either you can get these plans or design your own incorporating the foods that lower blood sugar level. Lot of free information is available in the internet that will help you to design your meal plan. The main idea behind the diabetic meal plan is to control the blood glucose level.

The best foods that must be incorporated in the diet plan are the foods that are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The best examples of such foods are garlic and onion. The right dosage of fresh vegetables and foods also help to lower the blood sugar.

It is better to avoid the processed foods as much as possible. It is not only as they contain large amount of sugar content but they may also contain preservatives and MSG which is harmful to health. It is advisable to eat fresh foods but not the ones that are packed in tetras, cans and tins.

While planning the diabetic meal plan you must be also careful about what you will drink. Soft drinks and sodas will only worsen the condition. It is better to avoid these drinks as they contain carbon, glucose and other chemicals that may harm the body. You must only drink healthy juices made fro, carrots, coconuts and other health vegetables. Drinking green tea also enables to lower the excess glucose from the body.

Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet – Treatment Based on Avoidance and Cutting Back

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet, is in essence a diet that consists of eating up to 5-6 small meals throughout the day, and each meal shouldn’t be spaced more than 3 hours apart. This makes certain that your sugar levels remain stable and don’t drop drastically.

But hold on a minute, what is Hypoglycemia and Reactive Hypoglycemia ? Hypoglycemia alias low glucose level, is a condition where an individuals blood glucose drops beneath normal level. Glucose is a significant source of vitality for humans and without it, the body can’t operate properly. Therefore, when blood sugar levels fall below normal level, hypoglycemia symptoms will set in.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, hunger, mental confusion, dizziness, sweating, and so on. Exceedingly low blood glucose level could even result in seizure, coma and even death.

Reactive hypoglycemia is a specific case of hypoglycemia that happens to non-diabetic people. Reactive hypoglycemia is also about depleted blood sugar level, but the symptoms are activated 2-3 hours after food. The reason being due to the pancreas discharging insulin well beyond the digestion period of the meal. This surplus insulin is the chief culprit for making low blood glucose in a person with reactive hypoglycemia.

Treatment for reactive hypoglycemia ought be based on two main aims. Avoid “overloading” the pancreas and cutting back insulin output. To accomplish this objective, sufferers are typically advised to abide by a particular diet plan and avoid food consisting mainly of simple carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are split in to two types, simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are foods that are easy to convert into glucose, in order to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This speedy absorption of glucose will stimulate a sudden spike in blood sugar and this frequently is the prime cause of reactive hypoglycemia.

Therefore, avoid food with simple carbohydrates. Some examples would be: white rice, white bread, sweets, chocolates, ice cream, cakes, and so on. In general, extremely processed foods are also foods that are high in carbohydrates.

Complex carbohydrates, as opposed to simple carbohydrates, are harder to digest and breakdown. So, the transition and absorption of glucose is also slowed up. Because of these reasons, complex carbohydrates are particularly advantageous to reactive hypoglycemia. A a few examples of food high in complex carbohydrates are – brown rice, whole grain bread, oatmeal, vegetables, etc.