Archive for December, 2009

Prediabetes is Nature’s Early Warning System of Type 2 Diabetes!

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Type 2 diabetes is a debilitating disease that creeps silently up on the sufferer like a thief in the night. Left undetected, it can do terrible damage to the human body. Identified in time, it can be easily managed by simply adopting a healthy lifestyle… the trick is to catch it early. If you have any reason at all to suspect that you might be susceptible to type 2 diabetes, then you need to have a good appreciation of nature’s prediabetic warning system.

The following conditions can convert a type 2 diabetic predisposition into a prediabetic state where signs or symptoms are not yet apparent:

  • achieving middle age
  • eating large amounts of the “wrong”foods
  • watching television for many hours during the day instead of taking moderate exercise
  • putting on weight, especially around your waistline
  • smoking tobacco
  • abusing alcohol
  • developing resistance to insulin also known as insulin resistance

Because type 2 diabetes can do such terrible damage it is important to be on the look-out for the following symptoms in yourself, and your loved ones:

  • more frequent urination as your body tries to flush the excessive sugar away
  • frequent thirst due to the resultant dehydration of body cells
  • a sense of tiredness caused by ongoing sugar deprivation to your body’s cells
  • increasing and unexplained appetite within a short period of eating
  • a permanent state of feeling slightly unwell due to chemical imbalances
  • intermittent or ongoing blurred vision
  • genital infections, or thrush
  • slow healing wounds or sores

If any of these things are happening to you or somebody else you know, then this is a warning sign from nature that needs to be heeded. If you are still prediabetic your condition can probably be reversed by following this healthy lifestyle:

  • adopting a healthy eating plan that includes a lot of low-glycemic (low-GI) carbohydrates, is low in fat and high in fiber
  • not smoking or abusing alcohol
  • exercising moderately to keep your body trim and to help lower your blood sugar levels after eating a meal

Your main objective must be to shed excess weight. This is because being overweight and carrying fat around your abdominal area, is the primary cause of insulin resistance, and reversing this trend is the only way to avoid developing full-blown type 2 diabetes.

It is important that you remain alert to prediabetic signs and symptoms, because if you ignore them you could be letting yourself into a lifetime of trouble. You could also avoid type 2 diabetes and a whole raft of other health issues in the first place, simply by following the healthy lifestyle your body was created for.

Facts About Diabetes Mellitus

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Diabetes Mellitus is a deficiency in which not enough insulin is produced by the body. Insulin is actually referred to as the hormone that is generated or secreted in the pancreas of our body. Generally it makes cells to take up glucose in which it converts into energy.

When we are affected by this disease, our body does not properly take action to produce insulin. This results in the failure of glucose to gather in the blood, frequently leading to different problems.

Types of Diabetes: 1. Failure of the body to generate insulin: The first type is, when the body is not capable to produce sufficient insulin. From a survey it is predicted that 10-15% of people of America have first type of diagnosis. At the moment, almost everyone having the first type of diagnosis should get insulin injections.

2. Failure of the cells to utilize insulin properly: The second type is the condition in which the cells fail to use insulin correctly. Nearly all of the Americans who have this deficiency disease have the second type of diagnosis. These people mostly suffer from pre-diabetes. It occurs when the glucose level that present in a body is higher than normal other than not sufficient for a diagnosis of type 2. In a survey it is said that about 65 million Americans have this type of disease.

3. Gestational diabetes: Mostly pregnant women’s are suffered by this type. This type of deficiency is caused – when one have not had this diagnosis earlier but have high glucose levels during the time of pregnancy are supposed to be ill with gestational diagnosis. In recent studies undergone world wide this type of disease affects about 7% of all pregnant women in the world.

Symptoms: The typical symptoms are polyuria and polydipsia. The term polyuria refers to numerous urination and high thirst and it results in improved liquid drinking. These kinds of symptoms may grow bit faster within a week or month in first type, mainly it affects the children. But, in the second type the symptoms generally increase much more slowly and may also be slightly or entirely absent.

The first type can also roots to quick however significant weight loss. These signs excluding loss of weight may also noticeable in the second type in the affected people where their diagnosis level is badly restricted, but also there is somewhat weight loss may occur at the start of the disease.

The second type of diagnosis is due to the lapse of blood glucose absorption. When the glucose absorption in the blood is raised from its actual renal threshold, it leads to incomplete reabsorption of glucose in the renal tubuli, and the glucose gets deposited in the glycosuria. This may increase the osmotic pressure of the urine and it leads to kidney failure.

The affected people may also suffers from odor of acetone while breathing, a fast and deep breathing called Kussmaul breathing, vomiting and severe stomach pain. When this occurs severely, coma may take place which leads to blindness and also even death. Conclusion: These deficiencies are treatable if we take the insulin properly. Not only insulin, but also we should not smoke and drink. With these things if we maintain a fit, healthy and strong body weight, it may decrease the dangerous hazards from most of the unending complicated sufferings.

Control Signs of Diabetes With the Help of These 10 Healthiest Foods

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

It is a hard truth of life to be diagnosed with diabetes. It is a single moment that changes the whole life of the person. In order to manage and control this chronic condition and signs of diabetes one must keep the level of blood sugar in control. The most critical part of the treatment of diabetes is to make healthier and smarter food choices.

So if you are in search of some best diabetic meal plan then the below mentioned 10 healthiest foods will be worth reading for you to control signs of diabetes. The following passages will also help you to design a perfect meal plan for diabetics.

Fruits

1) Apple: It is well known that diabetics are prohibited to eat white foods however apples are exception here. Apples are helpful in reducing the insulin requirement of the body. Apples have a higher content of pectin. It is an agent which aids to detoxify the body. The pectin content and the detoxification property have made apple one of the best foods for diabetics.

2) Pomegranate: This fruit is being largely consumed in Middle East, Balkans and Caucasus. Now the popularity of this fruit is also spreading in North America. The basic reason of its popularity is that in spite of being sweet it does not affect the level of blood sugar. Studies have revealed that daily consumption of pomegranate juice reduces the risk of atherosclerosis.

Spices

3) Cinnamon: It is a wonderful spice for controlling diabetic symptoms. It has a higher content of MHCP. This content helps the fat cells to effectively respond towards insulin. This better response towards insulin of fat cells helps in reducing and then maintaining the level of blood sugar.

4) Garlic: Garlic is a herb which helps in diabetes control. Research studies have revealed that it can significantly lower down the level of blood sugar.

Breakfast Food

5) Oatmeal: Though it is a carbohydrate but it is one of the types of carbohydrates a person can consume. It is high in its fiber content so it is absorbed in the bloodstream slowly. It prevents the formation of spikes after having breakfast.

Vegetables

6) Spinach: Green and leafy vegetables like spinach are best vegetables for diabetics

7) Green Beans: It provides the best combination of been content and green vegetable content.

8) Broccoli: Another best example of leafy green vegetable is broccoli. It is rich in dietary fiber and low in carbohydrate. This has made it the best choice fir diabetics.

Proteins

9) Poultry: Any form of poultry is good but still it is suggested to select the lean proteins.

10) Nuts: It is important to note that diabetic diet plan must contain a large portion of proteins. The bed time snack should also be in the form of protein. The protein snack enables the body to maintain the blood sugar level throughout t night. The best choices are nuts of any kind.

Blood Sugar Control – How to Lower Your Blood Sugar Levels With Alcohol

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Alcohol may be able to lower your fasting blood glucose

This is an interesting topic as many people who have gone for their fasting glucose test are determined to bring their blood sugar levels down.

So here it goes, drinking alcoholic beverages can lower your fasting blood glucose levels. Nevertheless, do not take this as a treatment and don’t let this lull you into irresponsibility.

How alcohol works in the body

Today, many medical sources say that the ethanol in alcohol inhibits gluconeogenesis, which is the new (neo) making (genesis) of glucose (gluco). So, Gluconeogenesis occurs primarily in the liver and is one way your body supplies glucose to tissues during an overnight fast. If you have gone in for your fasting blood glucose test and you were diagnosed with pre diabetes or diabetes, make sure you follow proper treatment as prescribed by specialists. Even though alcohol may appear to lower your blood sugar level, always drink this with moderation and with the authorization from your personal doctor.

In other words, if when you abstain from food intake over a given period of time, your body uses its liver stores of glucose/glycogen for energy. Once this reserve is depleted, the liver begins to search for glucose from other sources. Alcohol in this case stops the liver from making glucose, so if you haven’t eaten, you run the risk of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). The glucose lowering effect of your alcohol intake has been documented to last for a whole day. The most common misconception about alcohol is that it eventually turns to sugar…this is 100% false. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol can actually lower your blood glucose as explained above.

Nevertheless, a few words of caution are necessary at this point:

1. Always speak to your doctor before taking any action in regards to alcohol. Your personal condition always has exceptions.

2. If you do consume alcohol, be sure to check your blood glucose levels before and after consumption

3. Never consume alcohol with an empty stomach and DO NOT take alcohol as a replacement for your medication, your exercise and your proper die

4. If you are going to consume alcohol, then it should be ONE drink. One drink is defined as: 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of spirits. According to the ADA (American diabetes Association) women should consume no more than one alcoholic drink a day and no more than 2drinks/day for men.

Diabetes During Pregnancy – What You Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes

Monday, December 14th, 2009

If you are pregnant, and you are trying to mind map all the prenatal tests that you have to undergo, then, I am sure you have considered diagnosing for a gestational diabetes test. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed through a glucose tolerance test. Typically, this glucose tolerance test should be taken between weeks 24-28 of your pregnancy. It is important that you speak to your health care expert about diagnosing this condition during your pregnancy. Ask your doctor about the kind of tests that are used for this diagnosis and how they apply to you. All you need to do is to learn what this test entails, and get more information about when you will need to have it done.

How to diagnose Gestational Diabetes

When you talk about gestational diabetes, then you need to understand that it mostly occurs in pregnant women who have never suffered from diabetes, and don’t have a personal family history of diabetes. The number of pregnant women who are diagnosed with this condition is estimated to be around 5-7 percent. Developing this condition can prove to be quite dangerous, as it can cause severe complications for you and your baby. Basically, when you are diagnosed positive, it simply means that your body is not properly managing its glucose levels. Most health experts advice to test for gestational diabetes when the placenta starts producing hormones that could eventually cause resistance to insulin. This usually takes place approximately between weeks 23-29 of your pregnancy. Check with your doctor for more details.

Here are the steps to follow for your diagnostic:

1. Schedule an appointment with your doctor, and tell him that you would like a diagnostic for gestational diabetes.

2. Once you go in for your glucose screening test, as they call it, you will need allocate about 2 hours for this test. The reason is that you will need an hours interval between your glucose intake, and the drawing of blood to measure the blood glucose level.

3. After a few days you will receive the results of your diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with a blood sugar level above 140 mg/Dl, then you will need to go in for another test called the Oral glucose tolerance test. If your blood glucose level is under 140mg/DL then you can rest assured that you do not have gestational diabetes.