Diabetes and Dietary Supplements

Can dietary supplements really help control diabetes? If you are like many people with diabetes, you might wonder whether the ads you have seen or heard are true. Take a few minutes to learn how diabetes and dietary supplements can be a good mix — or a set-up for trouble.
Read more: http://goldeneramart-healthjunction.com/diabetes-and-dietary-supplements/

How the Blood Sugar of Diabetes Affects the Body

Diabetes mellitus leads to persistently elevated blood sugar levels. Over time, high sugar levels damage the body and can lead to the multiple health problems associated with diabetes.

But why are high blood sugars so bad for you? How much sugar in the blood is too much? And what are good sugar levels, anyway? WebMD takes a look at how your sugar level affects diabetes and your health.

Diabetes and Normal Blood Sugar Levels

At present, the diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes is based in an arbitrary cut-off point for a normal blood sugar level. A normal sugar level is currently considered to be less than 100 mg/dL when fasting and less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. But in most healthy people, sugar levels are even lower.

During the day, blood glucose levels tend to be at their lowest just before meals. For most people without diabetes, blood sugar levels before meals hover around 70 to 80 mg/dL. In some, 60 is normal; in others, 90. Again, anything less than 100 mg/dL while fasting is considered normal by today's standards.

What's a low sugar level? It varies widely, too. Many people's sugar levels won't ever fall below 60 mg/dL, even with prolonged fasting. When you diet or fast, the liver keeps sugar levels normal by turning fat and muscle into sugar. A few people's sugar levels may fall somewhat lower. Without taking diabetes medicine, though, or having uncommon medical problems, it's difficult to drop sugar levels to an unsafe point.

Sugar Levels, Diabetes, and Prediabetes

Sugar levels higher than normal mean either diabetes or pre-diabetes is present.

There are several ways diabetes is diagnosed.

• The first is known as fasting plasma glucose. A person is said to have diabetes if his or her fasting blood sugar level is higher than 126 mg/dL after not eating -- fasting -- for eight hours.
• The second method is with an oral glucose tolerance test. After fasting for eight hours, a person is given a special sugary drink. That person is said to have diabetes if two hours after the drink he or she has a sugar level higher than 200.
• The third way is with a randomly checked blood sugar level. If it is greater than 200, with symptoms of increased urination, thirst, and/or weight loss, that person is said to have diabetes. A fasting sugar level or oral glucose tolerance test will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

But diabetes is not like a switch that gets turned on and off -- healthy one day, diabetic the next. Any sugar levels higher than normal are unhealthy. A blood sugar higher than normal, but not meeting the above criteria for full-blown diabetes, is called prediabetes.

Fifty seven million people in the U.S. have prediabetes. People with prediabetes are five to six times more likely to develop diabetes over time. Prediabetes also increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, although not as much as diabetes does. It's possible to prevent the progression of prediabetes to diabetes, with diet and exercise.

Sugar and Your Body

Why are high blood sugar levels bad for you? It turns out, your body doesn't have much of a sweet tooth. Glucose is precious fuel for all the cells in your body -- when it's present at normal levels. But persistently high sugar levels behave like a slow-acting poison.

1. High sugar levels slowly erode the ability of cells in the pancreas to make insulin. The pancreas overcompensates, though, and insulin levels remain overly high. Gradually, the pancreas is permanently damaged.
2. All the excess sugar is modified in the blood. It becomes a form that sticks to and coats bloodstream proteins, which are normally "sugar-free." Thanks to this sugary film, the proteins don't function well, can be deposited in blood vessels, and can cause damage to them.

Because high sugar levels are everywhere, the body can be damaged anywhere. Damage to blood vessels, in particular, means no area is safe from too much sugar. High sugar levels and damaged blood vessels cause the multitude of complications that can come with diabetes:

• kidney disease or kidney failure, requiring dialysis
• strokes
• heart attacks
• visual loss or blindness
• immune system suppression, with increased risk for infections
• erectile dysfunction
• nerve damage, called neuropathy, causing pain or decreased sensation in the feet, legs, and hands
• poor circulation to the legs and feet, with poor wound healing

In extreme cases, because of the poor wound healing, amputation is required.

Keeping sugar levels closer to normal can prevent many of the complications of diabetes. The American 

Diabetes Association's goals for glucose control in people with diabetes are sugar levels of 70 to 130 mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL after meals.

Reviewed by John A. Seibel, MD on February 25, 2010

© 2010 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Diabetes in Men

Why should I care about diabetes?

After years of warning about an epidemic of diabetes, researchers are beginning to see clear signs that it's underway. The incidence of this devastating disease has doubled in the past 30 years, according to a 2006 report in the journal Circulation. And the biggest jump in diabetes diagnoses was among men.

The risk for type 2 diabetes typically climbs after the age of 45, although the disease is now showing up in younger and younger people. In fact, type 2 diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes because it usually didn't occur until middle age. No longer. "We're beginning to see type 2 diabetes showing up in people in their 20s now," says David Ludwig, MD, PhD, an endocrinology expert at Children's Hospital in Boston.

The risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

• being overweight or obese
• a sedentary lifestyle
• a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates and low in fiber and whole grains
• a history of type 2 diabetes in your immediate family (mother, father, sister, or brother)

African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Native Alaskans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders also have an increased risk.
Having diabetes, in turn, increases the danger of heart disease, as well as a range of problems associated with impaired circulation, such as eye disease and nerve damage.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body can't control blood glucose levels properly. Normally, the digestive tract breaks down food into glucose, a form of sugar, which is released into the circulating blood. The hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas, stimulates cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy.

Type 1 diabetes, which typically shows up in childhood, is caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes occurs when tissues in the body gradually become resistant to the effect of insulin. The pancreas responds by churning out more of the hormone. But eventually it can't keep up, and blood sugar levels begin to climb.

That's bad for many reasons. High glucose levels damage nerve and blood vessels, leading to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and gum infections. Advanced type 2 diabetes can result in blindness and the need to amputate limbs that no longer get adequate circulation.

One of the main causes of the current epidemic of type 2 diabetes, researchers believe, is the rise in obesity. Over time, excess weight makes cells in the muscles, liver, and fat tissue less responsive to insulin -- a condition called insulin resistance.

Another contributing cause -- to both obesity and the rise in type 2 diabetes -- is likely to be increasing consumption of sugar and highly refined carbohydrates such as white flour.

A third cause of type 2 diabetes, also linked to the others, is inactivity. Lack of activity increases the risk of obesity, of course. But a sedentary lifestyle may contribute directly to type 2 diabetes risk as well. Studies show that overweight or obese people who become active improve their blood sugar control, even if they don't lose weight.

An estimated 6 million people in the U.S. have this serious disease and don't know it. It's easy for doctors to check for diabetes using a simple blood test that measures blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, many people aren't tested because they either don't have symptoms or the symptoms are so mild that they don't notice them. If you are 45 and overweight, you should be tested for diabetes, regardless of symptoms. If you have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, no matter how old you are, talk to your doctor about being tested, especially if you're experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• increased thirst
• increased hunger
• fatigue
• frequent urination, especially at night
• unexplained weight loss
• blurred vision
• sores that don't heal

What can I do to prevent diabetes?

Plenty. Studies show that 90% of cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented -- or significantly delayed -- simply through a healthier diet and plenty of physical activity. The big proof of that came in a study of 3,234 people who were overweight and had elevated blood glucose levels, putting them in the crosshairs of diabetes risk. Those who followed a lifestyle change program of exercise and diet geared to losing weight -- in this case, an average of 15 pounds -- lowered their risk of diabetes by 58%. Those in the 60-and-older set cut their risk by 71%. And these were people who already had a high risk of diabetes. Keep your weight in the normal range and stay active, experts say, and you stand an excellent chance of never getting diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?

A diabetes diagnosis isn't the end of the world. In some cases, lifestyle changes can keep the disease entirely under control. Still, many people with diabetes need to take oral medications that lower blood sugar levels. When these aren't enough to do the job, insulin injections may be necessary, sometimes in combination with oral drugs. Several new drugs that work in combination with insulin to improve blood sugar management have been approved by the FDA.
While treatment has improved, however, controlling diabetes remains a challenge, which is why experts emphasize prevention.

What else do I need to know about diabetes?

Experts agree that a healthy diet designed to prevent type 2 diabetes should emphasize whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and small amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates. One controversial area is alcohol. Traditional advice for people with diabetes or at risk for it was to avoid alcohol. But recent studies suggest that alcohol may actually protect against diabetes. Combining data from 15 studies, researchers writing in the journal Diabetes Care found that moderate alcohol consumption reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by almost 30%. Excessive drinking, however, increased the risk. Here, as always, the word is moderation. For men, that would be a glass or two of wine or beer with a meal.

© 2010 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Taking Care of Your Diabetes Every Day; 4 everyday tips

The four things you have to do every day to lower high blood sugar are:

1. Eat healthy food

2. Get regular exercise

3. Take your diabetes medicine

4. Test your blood sugar.

Experts say most people with diabetes should try to keep their blood sugar level as close as possible to the level of someone who does not have diabetes. This may not be possible or right for everyone. Check with your doctor about the right range of blood sugar for you.

You will get plenty of help in learning how to do this from your health care providers. Your main health care providers are your doctor, nurse, and dietitian. (A dietitian is someone who is specially trained to help people plan their meals.)

Bring a family member or friend with you when you see your doctor. Ask lots of questions. Before you leave, be sure you understand everything you need to know about taking care of your diabetes.

Eat Healthy Food

People with diabetes do not need special foods. The foods on your diabetes eating plan are the same foods that are good for everyone in your family! Try to eat foods that are low in fat, salt, and sugar and high in fiber such as beans, fruits and vegetables, and grains. Eating right will help you:

1. Reach and stay at a weight that is good for your body.

2. Keep your blood sugar in a good range.

3. Prevent heart and blood vessel disease.

People with diabetes should have their own eating plan. Ask your doctor to give you the name of a dietitian who can work with you to develop an eating plan for you and your family. Your dietitian can help you plan meals to include foods that you and your family like to eat and that are good for you.

Action Steps...

If You Use Insulin

• Give yourself an insulin shot before you eat.
• Eat at about the same time and the same amount of food every day.
• Don't skip meals, especially if you have already given yourself an insulin shot because your blood sugar may go too low. 

If You Don't Use Insulin

• Follow your meal plan.
• Don't skip meals, especially if you take diabetes pills because your blood sugar may go too low. Skipping a meal can make you eat too much at the next meal. It may be better to eat several small meals during the day instead of one or two big meals.

Get Regular Exercise

Exercise is good for those with diabetes. Walking, swimming, dancing, riding a bicycle, playing baseball, and bowling are all good ways to exercise. You can even get exercise when you clean house or work in your garden. Exercise is especially good for people with diabetes because:

1. Exercise helps keep weight down.

2. Exercise helps insulin work better to lower blood sugar.

3. Exercise is good for your heart and lungs.

4. Exercise gives you more energy.

Before you begin exercising, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure or eye problems, some exercises like weight-lifting may not be safe. Your doctor or nurse will help you find safe exercises.

Try to exercise regularly. Exercise at least three times a week for about 30 to 45 minutes each time. If you have not exercised in a while, begin slowly. Start with five to 10 minutes, and then work up to more time.

If you haven't eaten for over an hour or if your blood sugar is less than 100-120, eat or drink something like an apple or a glass of milk before you exercise.

When you exercise, carry a snack with you in case of low blood sugar. Wear or carry an identification tag or card saying that you have diabetes.

Regular exercise such as walking and bicycling can help keep your blood sugar in a good range.

Action Steps...

If You Use Insulin

• Exercise after eating, not before.
• Test your blood sugar before, during, and after exercising. Don't exercise when your blood sugar is over 240.
• Avoid exercise right before you go to sleep, because it could cause low blood sugar during the night.

If You Don't Use Insulin

• See your doctor before starting an exercise program.
• Test your blood sugar before and after exercising if you take diabetes pills.

Take Your Diabetes Medicine Every Day

Insulin and diabetes pills and injections (Byetta, Symlin, or Victoza) are the kinds of medicines used to lower blood sugar.

If You Use Insulin

You need insulin if your body has stopped making insulin or if it doesn't make enough insulin. Everyone with insulin-dependent diabetes (or type 1 diabetes) needs insulin, and many people with type 2 diabetes need insulin.

Insulin cannot be taken as a pill. You will have to give yourself shots every day. Some people give themselves one shot a day. Some people give themselves two or more shots a day. You need to take your insulin every day. Never skip a shot, even if you are sick.

Insulin is injected with a needle. Your doctor will tell you what kind of insulin to use, how much, and when to give yourself a shot. Talk to your doctor before changing the type or amount of insulin you use or when you give your shots. Your doctor or the diabetes educator will show you how to draw up insulin in the needle. They will also show you the best places on your body to give yourself a shot. Ask someone to help you with your shots if your hands are shaky or you can't see well.

Good places on your body to give shots are:

• The outside part of your upper arms.
• Around your waist and hips.
• The outside part of your upper legs.
• Avoid areas with scars and stretch marks.
• Ask your doctor or nurse to check your skin where you give your shots.

You may be a little afraid at first to give yourself a shot. But most people find that the shots hurt less than they expected. The needles are small and sharp and do not go deep into your skin. Always use your own needles and never share them with anyone else.

Your doctor or diabetes educator will tell you how to throw away used needles safely.

Keep extra insulin in your refrigerator in case you break the bottle you are using. Do not keep insulin in the freezer or in hot places like the glove compartment of your car. Also, keep it away from bright light. Too much heat, cold, and bright light can damage insulin.

If your body makes insulin, but the insulin doesn't lower your blood sugar, you may have to take diabetes pills. Diabetes pills only work in people who have some insulin of their own. Some pills are taken once a day, some are taken more often. Ask your doctor when you should take your pills.

Diabetes pills are safe and easy to take. Be sure to tell your doctor if your diabetes pills make you feel bad or if you have any other problems. Remember, diabetes pills do not lower blood sugar all by themselves. You will still have to follow an eating plan and exercise to help lower your blood sugar.

Sometimes, people who take diabetes pills may need insulin shots for a while. This may happen if you get very sick, need to go to a hospital, or become pregnant. You may need insulin shots if the diabetes pills no longer work to lower your blood sugar.

You may be able to stop taking diabetes pills if you lose weight. Losing even a little bit of weight can sometimes help to lower your blood sugar.

If You Don't Use Insulin or Take Diabetes Pills 

 

Many people with type 2 diabetes don't have to use insulin or take diabetes pills. However, everyone with diabetes needs to follow their doctors advice about eating and getting enough exercise.

Ask your doctor when you should take your pills or insulin. Tell your other doctors that you take insulin or diabetes pills.

Test Your Blood Sugar Every Day

You need to know how well you are taking care of your diabetes. You need to know if you are lowering your high blood sugar. The best way to find out is to test your blood to see how much sugar is in it. If your blood has too much or too little sugar in it, your doctor may need to change your eating, exercise, or medicine plan.

Some people test their blood once a day. Others test their blood three or four times a day. Your doctor may want you to test before eating, before bed, and sometimes in the middle of the night. Ask your doctor how often and when you should test your blood sugar. 

 

How to Test Your Blood Sugar

 

To test your blood, you need a small needle called a lancet. You also need special blood testing strips that come in a bottle. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to test your blood. Here are the basic steps to follow:

1. Depending on your home glucose monitoring device, prick your finger or another area of your body with the lancet to get a drop of blood.

2. Place the blood on the end of the strip.

3. Put the strip into the meter. The meter will display a number for your blood sugar, like 128.

Pricking your finger with a lancet may hurt a little. It's like sticking your finger with a pin. Use the lancet only once and be careful when you throw away used lancets. Ask your doctor or nurse how to throw them away safely.

You can buy lancets, strips, and meters at a drug store. Some of these items are costly, especially the blood testing strips. Lancets do not cost very much, and meters are often on sale. There are many different kinds of meters available in drug stores. If you decide to buy one, ask your doctor or diabetes educator for advice on what kind to buy. Take your blood testing items with you when you see your doctor or nurse so that you can learn how to use them correctly.

Other Tests for Your Diabetes

Urine Tests

You may need to test your urine or blood for ketones when you are sick or if your blood sugar is over 240 before eating a meal. These test will tell you if you have "ketones" in your urine or blood. Your body makes ketones when there is not enough insulin in your blood. Ketones can make you very sick. Call your doctor right away if you find ketones when you test. You may have a sickness called "ketoacidosis." Ketoacidosis is serious. If not treated, it can cause death. Signs of ketoacidosis are vomiting, weakness, fast breathing, and a sweet smell on the breath. Ketoacidosis is more likely to develop in people with insulin-dependent diabetes.

You can buy strips for testing urine ketones at a drug store. Also, some blood glucose meters can detect ketones with specializes strips. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to use testing monitors correctly.

The Hemoglobin A1c Test

 

Another test for blood sugar, the hemoglobin A1c test, shows what your average blood sugar was for the past 3 months. It shows how much sugar is sticking to your red blood cells. The doctor does this test to see what level your blood sugar is most of the time.

See your doctor for a hemoglobin A1c test every three months. To do the test, the doctor or nurse takes a sample of your blood. The blood is tested in a laboratory. The laboratory sends the results to your doctor.

If most of the blood sugar tests you do yourself show that your blood sugar is around 150, the hemoglobin A1c test should be almost near optimal levels. If most of your tests show high levels of blood sugar, then the hemoglobin Alc test is usually high. Ask your doctor what your hemoglobin A1c test showed.

 
Keep Daily Records
 

Write down the results of your blood tests every day in a record book. You can use a small notebook or ask your doctor for a blood testing record book. You may also want to write down what you eat, how you feel, and how much you have exercised.

By keeping daily records of your blood and urine tests, you can tell how well you are taking care of your diabetes. Show your book to your doctor. The doctor can use your records to see if you need to make changes in your insulin shots or diabetes pills, or in your eating plan. Ask your doctor or nurse if you don't know what your test results mean.

Things to write down every day in your notebook are:

• if you had very low blood sugar
• if you ate more or less food than you usually do
• if you felt sick or very tired
• what kind of exercise you did and for how long

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 28, 2011

© 2010-2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Diabetes: Eating a low glycemic diet

Using a low glycemic index diet is one tool to help keep your diabetes under control. The glycemic index is a rating system for foods that contain carbohydrate. It helps you know how quickly a food with carbohydrate raises blood sugar, so you can focus on eating foods that raise blood sugar slowly.

 

Key points

• Over time, high blood sugar can harm your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
• Foods that raise blood sugar slowly have a low glycemic index. Most of the carbohydrate-rich foods that you eat with this plan should be low or medium on the glycemic index.
• Eating low glycemic foods is most helpful when used along with another eating plan for diabetes, such as carbohydrate counting. Counting carbs helps you know how much carbohydrate you're eating. The amount of carbohydrate you eat is more important than the glycemic index of foods in helping you control your blood sugar.
• People respond differently to the glycemic content of foods. The only way to know for sure how a food affects your blood sugar is to check your blood sugar before and after eating that food.
• High-glycemic foods are rarely eaten by themselves, so the glycemic index might not be helpful unless you're eating a food by itself. Eating foods together changes their glycemic index.
• Look at the overall nutrition in foods-and not just their glycemic index-when planning meals. Some low-glycemic foods, such as ice cream, are high in saturated fat and should be eaten only now and then. And some high-glycemic foods, such as potatoes, have nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
• You can still have high glycemic foods on this diet. Just try to eat small amounts of them to limit their effect on your blood sugar. Eating low glycemic foods along with high glycemic foods also can help keep your blood sugar from rising quickly.

What is a low glycemic diet?

The glycemic index is a way to tell how quickly foods that contain carbohydrate may raise your blood sugar.
On a low glycemic diet, you eat foods that raise your blood sugar slowly. This helps you keep your blood sugar from getting too high. This diet plan is sometimes called a "low GI" diet.

• Low glycemic foods break down slowly in your body and release sugar into the blood slowly.
• High glycemic foods break down quickly and make blood sugar rise quickly.

In general, carbohydrate raises blood sugar more quickly than other nutrients like proteins and fats. But some foods that have carbohydrate raise blood sugar more slowly than other foods with carbohydrate. For example, white bread raises blood sugar more quickly than whole-grain bread.
Foods in the index are given a number from 0 to 100. The higher the number, the higher the glycemic index. Foods are compared to glucose, which is sugar. It has a rank of 100.

• Foods that raise blood sugar quickly are high. They are rated 70 or more.
• Foods that raise blood sugar moderately are medium. They are rated 56 to 69.
• Foods that raise blood sugar slowly are low. They are rated 55 or less.

Most of the carbohydrate-rich foods that you eat on this plan should be low or medium on the index. A dietitian or certified diabetes educator can help you pick foods that you like that are low on the index. You also can look at materials from the American Diabetes Association or go to its Web site at www.diabetes.org.
Low glycemic foods include:

• Dried beans and legumes like lentils.
• Nonstarchy vegetables, such as broccoli and peppers.
• Some starchy vegetables, such as yams.
• Some whole grains and cereals, such as oatmeal and whole wheat bread.
• Many fruits, such as apples, berries, dried apricots, and cherries.

Moderate glycemic foods include:

• Apricots (fresh).
• Pineapple.
• Shredded wheat cereal.
• Spaghetti.

High glycemic foods include:

• White bread.
• Sticky rice.
• Some fruits, such as dates and watermelon.
• A few vegetables, such as some types of potatoes.

People respond differently to the glycemic content of foods. The only way to know for sure how a food affects your blood sugar is to check your blood sugar before and after you eat that food.

High-glycemic foods are rarely eaten by themselves, so the glycemic index might not be helpful unless you're eating a food by itself. Eating foods together can change their glycemic index.

Choosing a low glycemic diet doesn't mean that you can't eat any high glycemic foods. Some high glycemic foods, such as potatoes, have lots of nutrients. Just try to limit how much of these foods you eat.

You should combine a low glycemic diet with another eating plan for diabetes, such as carbohydrate counting. The glycemic index can help you know the kind of carbohydrate you're eating. Carbohydrate counting can help you know how much carbohydrate you're eating.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

Reversal of misfortune; can diabetes be reversed?

Reversing diabetes is a top of mind subject for anyone who has ever suffered from the onset or daily threat of this disease. While the debate continues on about whether or not the disease can be reversed, here’s what I have found (resources listed within of this blog) through various resources including an interesting article written by CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/28/reverse.diabetes/index.html) reporting on a middle aged man who found a way to “stave-off” the onset of Type II diabetes. 

What is diabetes?

Diabetes means simply one thing: Your blood sugar (glucose/sugar) levels are too high.  Glucose comes from the food we eat, is stored in our muscles and liver and is used by our body to slowly supply us with the energy we need throughout the day. The pancreas produces insulin, which in turn helps the glucose transfer from our blood into our cells, converting the glucose into energy. Diabetes occurs when our pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or our body doesn’t use the insulin produced effectively or well. When glucose builds up in our blood it can’t get into our cells. If our blood sugar/glucose levels stay too high damage can occur to our eyes, heart, kidney’s and nerves.

 

Type I versus Type II Diabetes

Type I Diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood, defined as “insulin dependent”, and rarely (unless a miracle occurs) reversible. Simply put, your body no longer makes insulin and requires medical intervention. However, just because you are using medicine to produce the insulin you need doesn’t mean you eat or drink anything you want and/or not exercise. Maintaining a balanced diet and exercise regiment is vital for those who suffer from this disease.  The best methods to help your body handle this disease are: Avoiding processed food, refined sugar, fatty and starchy foods, while increasing lean protein, complex carbohydrates and daily exercise, along with the assistance of medicine and professional/medical advice from a diabetic specialist. Each proactive step you take will help you avoid the complications caused by this disease.   

Type II Diabetes is very different from Type I: With Type I your body doesn’t produce insulin versus Type II your body’s fat, muscle and liver cells do not use insulin properly. Type II occurs when there is too much glucose or sugar in the blood, making the body “resist” or become “insensitive” to the cells that produce insulin. In other words, our body is producing insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas) but not at a rate that is required to breakdown the sugar/glucose in our blood which comes through the food/beverage in our diet.  When our body doesn’t produce the insulin we need to break down the sugar we’ve consumed our body suffers the consequences from the build-up of sugar in our body, which can eventually lead to loss of eye sight, limbs, etc. (http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/what.aspx)

Body shape/contour is a good indicator of those who are more susceptible to Type II diabetes but is not the only defining factor. Mid-section weight (belly weight) greatly affects the onset of Type II diabetes.  However, don’t think that if you aren’t overweight you aren’t susceptible to acquiring this disease.

Pre-Diabetes

The onset of diabetes is called “pre-diabetes”, typically found in Type II diabetics. The good news is this: you can help stop the progression of this disease during the initial stage/onset through nutrition and exercise. The following nutritional/exercise tips will help you get started in your process. Always seek medical/professional advice from someone who specializes in diabetes.

Proper nutrition

Type II can be a reflection of lifestyle (poor diet and exercise) but can also be a genetic pre-disposition (http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html.) In other words, your pancreas might not function properly to produce what your body needs. If caught before it becomes full blown diabetes, Type II can be treated through proper diet and exercise, possibly allowing our body to “reverse” the disease. Avoiding fatty foods, processed food, refined sugar, alcohol, etc., and choosing fresh produce (fruits, vegetables), lean protein/seafood, healthy grains, legumes, and a regular/daily exercise program can help the body become balanced, avoiding the strain on our insulin to balance excessive glucose levels. 

Some of the ways in which you can help your body to naturally heal and/or balance itself are as follows:

*Exercise – 30-45 minutes a day of aerobic exercise (walking, running, swimming, anything that requires a consistent breathing with some exertion). Cross training, body building are also helpful in restore/rebuilding the body. If you haven’t been exercising, start with what you can do now! Avoid making excuses and think of your daily 30-45 minutes of routine exercise as a gift you’re giving yourself.

*Nutrition – One way to determine what you should/shouldn’t eat to balance your glucose levels is to monitor your food/beverage intake. An easy way to do this is to monitor the Glycemic Index value for the foods you eat. Below are some resources for the GI values and charts.

*Antioxidants – Increase your daily intake of antioxidants through consuming more plant food (i.e. fruits, vegetables). Sometimes, supplements are required to meet the demand of your body’s needs. However, when possible, eat your antioxidants first through nutrition.

*Glycemic index – Monitor the food you eat using a GI chart. A helpful online resource is http://www.glycemicindex.com/. This resource allows you to input your food/beverage to determine its GI value.

GI values can be interpreted intuitively as percentages on an absolute scale and are commonly interpreted as follows: (resource http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index)

Classification	GI range	Examples
Low GI	55 or less	most fruits and vegetables, legumes/pulses, whole grains, nuts, fructose and products low in carbohydrates
Medium GI	56–69	whole wheat products, basmati rice, sweet potato, sucrose, baked potatoes
High GI	70 and above	white bread, most white rices, corn flakes, extruded breakfast cereals, glucose, maltose

 

*Foods to eat – Oats, barley, whole grains, red and sweet potatoes, fresh fruit/vegetables (limit your “watermelon” intake), Basmati and Brown rice, salads (limit the dressing to olive oil/vinegar or vinaigrette dressings), lean protein/fish (oily fish at least twice a week), low fat butter (I Can’t Believe It’s Not butter Light), olive/flax/sunflower oils.

*Foods to avoid – Fast food/preservatives, alcohol, bottled/canned juice, energy drinks, sodas (if it’s been reproduced/processed it’s not worth eating). Enriched and/or bleached bread (usually white bread but also some grain bread). Most breakfast cereals (many have hidden ingredients and added sugar and/or corn syrup). 

*Water – Half your body weight in ounces each day. Example: 150 lbs = 75 oz. Purified, distilled, or mineral water are good choices when it comes to water. Aqua Fina is my personal choice for bottled water.

*Labels – Learn to read the label on food. The USDA provides the following resource on learning how to read labels and understand what your body needs and what you are consuming through the food and beverage you consume. (http://www.fda.gov/food/labelingnutrition/consumerinformation/ucm078889.htm)

 

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Types 1 and 2 Diabetes Awareness

Diabetes mellitus more commonly referred to as Diabetes, belongs to a group of related diseases in which a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal. This occurs either because the body cannot produce enough insulin, or the insulin being produced is not efficiently used by the body. Glucose is used by the body to provide the energy which enables us to perform all of our regular bodily functions. It is manufactured by the liver and derived from the foods we eat, particularly: pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, milk and fruit. The hormone insulin is produced by the pancreas and enables the cells of the liver, muscle and fatty tissue to extract the glucose from the blood and store it in the liver and muscles. When the body does not produce enough insulin, or if the insulin does not function the way it’s meant to, the glucose remains in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells. Your blood glucose level then becomes elevated resulting in pre-diabetes or diabetes.

TYPE 1 DIABETES (Insulin Dependent Diabetes, or Juvenile Diabetes)

                           

Type 1 diabetes can be acquired at any age, often appearing in children, teenagers, or young adults. The exact cause of the disease has yet to be determined but it is believed that a virus or environmental toxins damage the pancreas or causes the body's immune system to attack the beta cells of the pancreas (autoimmune reaction). Insulin dependent diabetes is an apt way for describing this type of the disease, once the beta cells have been destroyed, the pancreas’s ability to produce insulin is limited or completely eliminated, making the afflicted completely reliant on insulin administered through artificial means. It’s a lifelong disease and is neither preventable nor curable. Symptoms may develop rapidly within weeks or months.

SYMPTOMS:

• Decreased mental sharpness
• Being very thirsty and/or hungry
• Constant feelings of tiredness
• Loss of weight despite an increased appetite
• Dry, itchy skin
• Wounds which heal slowly
• Blurred vision (rapid onset)
• Urinating very often
• Rapid, deep breathing
• Fruity breath odor

Presently there are no known cures for this ailment. Once afflicted , the only available form of treatment is insulin shots, which in all likelihood must be taken indefinitely. Other suggested options for managing this disease are: to eat healthy and be physically active.

TYPE 2 DIABETES (Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes, Adult Onset Diabetes)

Type 2 diabetes can appear at any age and unlike type 1 diabetes the body does produce insulin but the quantity produced is less than required or the liver, muscle and fat cells do not process insulin properly (Insulin resistance). The level of glucose therefore rises in the blood stream.It is not being absorbed by the cells and no additional energy can be produced (hyperglycemia).  For the most part it is believed that type 2 diabetes is due to genetics and lifestyle (diet, weight and lack of exercise). The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are not easily discernible if they do appear at all; the disease is often only diagnosed when it’s in an advanced stage.

SYMPTOMS:

• Tingling or loss of feeling in the feet
• Constant hunger and thirst
• Dry, itchy skin
• Cuts/sores which heal slowly
• Blurred vision (gradual onset)
• Urinating very often
• Frequent bladder and vaginal infections
• Erectile dysfunction

If diagnosed early it’s possible to reverse the effects of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) through the use of medications which can improve one’s sensitivity to insulin or restricts the production of glucose by the liver. In the event that the disease is at a more advanced state, the treatment can then include insulin, pills, a proper diet (as recommended by a doctor or dietician), and physical activity. Additionally you’ll need to take personal responsibility for managing the disease by: managing your weight, controlling your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, checking and keeping your blood glucose level within the target range, quit smoking (if you do) and paying regular visits to your doctor, dentist, eye care specialist and podiatrist.

People who suffer with high blood pressure, overweight/obesity, have a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle, stand a greater risk of contracting the disease Should you be diagnosed with diabetes, it is vital that it not be left untreated since it can lead to: heart disease, kidney problems, nerve damage (possible amputation), blindness and erectile dysfunction among other serious illnesses.

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Visit http://www.goldeneramart.com/blood_glucose_monitors/ for all of your diabetes supplies: blood glucose meters, lancets, test strips and control solutions Goldeneramart is an online store providing products for the ailing and infirm. At http://www.goldeneramart.com you'll also find blood pressure monitors, mobility aids, incontinence supplies and much more.

A safe learning environment for kids with diabetes

Unless you have a child with diabetes, you probably don’t think about this disease very often.
But for parents raising children who deal with monitoring glucose levels, life can be unpredictable.
School-age children with diabetes face unique challenges and sometimes dangerous situations because of fluctuations in these levels.To help teachers, principals and others ensure the safety of youngsters with diabetes during the school day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program has recently updated their guide, Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel.

The NDEP committee notes that everyone, from bus drivers to teachers to administrators, has a role in helping students with diabetes succeed, and that they  hope this guide helps to explain the critical role that school staff members at every level can play.

Diabetes management remains an evolving science. The guide’s latest edition, the first update since 2003, describes the most current recommendations of leading health care experts for developing a diabetes management plan to handle diabetes-related emergencies.

Training is recommended for all school staff members who have responsibility for students with diabetes. The training should provide a basic understanding of the disease, the needs of a child with diabetes and the symptoms signaling a diabetic emergency.

Also, a few staff members at every school should be trained in student-specific routine and emergency diabetes care tasks so that at least one staff member is always available for younger, less experienced students and for any student with diabetes in case of an emergency.
The guide urges parents to notify school officials that a child has diabetes and to work with the child’s personal diabetes health care team to develop a diabetes medical management plan.
It also recommends that parents permit sharing of relevant medical information by the school and the child’s health care team.

Diabetes facts:

• Diabetes is a group of diseases in which the body does not produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone the body needs to convert sugars, starches and other food into energy.
• Although most prevalent in older adults, it is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents
• About 19,000 young people are diagnosed with diabetes annually.
• The vast majority have type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease resulting from defects in the pancreas.
• A smaller number of children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the type of diabetes that typically shows up in adulthood.
• As obesity rates have increased among youth, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents also is rising, especially for children in ethnic and racial minorities.
• Children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of serious complications, including heart disease and stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations.

NDEP is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.