HOW SERIOUS IS DIABETES ?

LET US BE HONEST. HOW SERIOUS IS DIABETES?

Very serious! The early signs of diabetes mellitus are related to the elevated blood sugar levels. Excess sugar in the blood in the end results in high levels of sugar being present in the urine. This increases the urine production, which leads to dehydration and augmented thirst. Other typical symptoms include extreme weakness, weight loss or gain, blurry vision, itchy skin and recurring minor infections such as boils and thrush.

Another sort of diabetes, identified as gestational diabetes, occurs in a number of women at some stage in pregnancy. It is a momentary condition caused by pregnancy and typically occurs in the later stages, when the baby has formed but is still growing.

Even though there is presently no absolute cure for diabetes, it can be controlled very effectively with a vigorous treatment plan. Furthermore, the probable benefit of pancreas transplants in type 1 patients is being investigated.

AND THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES ARE ...

Type 1 diabetes develops very fast. The classic symptoms of diabetes include:

1. Recurrent urination, because the body tries to get rid of the excess blood glucose.

2. Extreme thirst, because the body needs to replace the water lost through the urine.

3. Enlarged hunger, because the cells need nutrients and have not enough insulin or are insulin resistant.

4. Weight loss, because without the insulin, the body starts to starve.

On the other hand, the onset of type 2 diabetes is frequently very slow and may develop with no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, the diagnosis time and again is made only once a complication of the disease appears.

The traditional treatment consists of three basic steps: appropriate diet, exercise and nutritional supplements. If you start your treatment at early stages and do it wisely, you can reverse the disease and in some cases even defeat it. These three steps are mandatory, though there are other options which can help speed up the recovery process.

ONE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT: ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is a method of treatment in which a practitioner inserts needles into selected points on the skin. A quantity of Western scientists suppose that acupuncture triggers the discharge of natural painkillers of the body. Acupuncture has been shown to provide with relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture is occasionally used by people with neuropathy, the aching nerve damage produced by diabetes.

ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT: SELF-MASSAGE

I would recommend this book which shows you how to utilize treatments and techniques that have been shown to be effective and safe for diabetics. It makes it easy, convenient and pleasurable for diabetics of any age and physical condition to massage themselves, thus fighting complications such as poor circulation, neuropathy and pain. "The Diabetes Massage Method" targets the feet to heal and prevent ulcers and amputations.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE METHOD:

KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE POUNDS!

Your weight affects your health in many ways. If you are overweight, you can keep your body from producing and using insulin adequately. Overweight can cause high blood pressure as well. Scientific studies showed that losing just a few pounds can help you decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, because weight loss helps your body use the insulin more efficiently. According to the studies, people who lost between 5 and 7 percent of their body weight considerably reduced their probability of developing type 2 diabetes.

THESE ARE YOUR DIABETES TREATMENT OPTIONS

Many options are available to help keep an individual's blood glucose levels under control. If left uncontrolled, diabetes can result in blindness, amputation of limbs, and end-stage renal disease.

The Facts

1. Successful treatment involves lowering blood sugar levels to normal glucose blood levels, which usually fall in the range of 70 to 110 mg/dl before meals and lower than 180 mg/dl two hours after the start of the meal.

Diet and Exercise

2. Doctors recommend changing to a low-fat, low-calorie diet. Excess calories and fat trigger rises in blood sugar. Regular exercise is also important for controlling blood sugar. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-level exercise four days a week.

Anti-diabetic Medications

3. Diabetics may take one or many types of anti-diabetic medications in order to manage blood glucose levels. Such medications include oral remedies, such as Sulfonylurea, Metformin, and Thiazolidinediones or DPP-4 inhibitors, a new class of Type 2 drug that attempts to prevent the breakdown of GLP-1 in the gut.

Insulin

4. If diet, exercise and antidiabetic medications do not lower blood sugar levels to normal ranges, doctors recommend insulin shots and/or insulin inhalables to treat the disease.

Herbal Remedies

5. Herbal remedies lower blood sugar levels by improving the body's ability to metabolize insulin. Cinnamon has shown promise in managing blood sugar. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville Human Nutrition Center isolated insulin-enhancing properties in cinnamon that can alleviate or prevent glucose intolerances.

Article reprinted from http://digghealth.com/type-2-diabetes-treatment-options/

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION MAY AFFECT YOUR DIABETES TREATMENT

When people ask me if I can drink alcohol even when I am diabetic my answers are always a yes and a smile. I add, as well, that for type 2 diabetics it is important to eat something while you drink, although not too much of carbs. Often times it happens to me that if I have a glass of wine when I am dining out, I will forget how much I have already eaten.

However, if you are going to drink, you must make sure that you drink prudently, rather than in huge amounts, not only because of the potential damage to your health, but as well for the risk of driving in such a condition. Some people prefer mixed drinks when having a barbeque. If that is your case, make sure you get something that is sugar-free, for that will lessen the effects of the alcohol you might be drinking.

Anyway, beverages with a high sugar content, such as sweet wines and sherries and liqueurs should be strictly limited. Choice mixer drinks could be diet or sugar-free colas or diet tonic water. In line with your recommended daily diet guidelines, moderate alcohol consumption can be beneficial for your health, especially for your heart. In particular, red wine may be more beneficial than beer or spirits.

If you need to have a drink before eating, also have an appetizer such as crackers or bread sticks. When dining out in a restaurant, ask for a breadbasket with your drink or before it.

Note: do not forget to include this food you eat with or before your drink as part of the meal plan for the occasion.

Find out if your alcohol beverage poses a risk. Some people with diabetes can safely drink alcohol in moderate amounts, while for others any amount of alcohol will have serious negative consequences for their health.

Frequently I forget the meaning of moderation when it comes to alcohol. When I am out, for example, I like to test my blood sugar level and inject my insulin as needed. But after a few glasses of wine or beer I've forgotten I've already done and so I test again. Then, I often check my glucometer the next day, to find that once into the early hours I had been testing every fifteen minutes.

I love to drink a little at night, with microwave popcorn, but this causes extreme low levels for me in my sleep, so I cannot enjoy some hard alcohol, unfortunately.

That is why I would recommend you to keep an eye on your blood glucose levels at bedtime, and not to forget to eat something when waking up as well. And also remember that drinking alcohol does not necessarily mean sabotaging your diabetes diet.

LOW CARB DIETS vs LOW GI DIET

I have been hearing of low carb diets for a while, as almost everyone. Examples: the Atkins and the South Beach diets. But in the diabetic diet scene the low GI diet (GI stands for glycemic index) is a fairly new name. The former restrict the quantity of carbohydrates, while the low GI diet focuses on the quality of the carbohydrates that one consumes. It promotes the consumption of foods that are "low" in the glycemic index, the ones that keep you full longer and have a gently effect on your blood sugar.

In the beginning, a typical low carb diet has a restrictive phase, where your carbohydrate intake is severely limited. On the other hand, you can eat all the meat you want, including unlimited fats. Later on, you can gradually add in more carbohydrates.

Although the low GI diet sounds like another fad diet, it has actually been around for almost 40 years! It is being used in European countries to help manage diabetes. Moreover, this diet has gotten a lot of attention as a great healthy way to lose weight. The low GI diet focuses on the "good carbs", foods that have a low glycemic index, and prompts you to eat plenty of them. By the way, these foods are also the ones that we know to be good for us, like vegetables, whole grains and fruits. On the other hand, "bad carbs", which have a high glycemic index, should be eaten in moderation and, if possible, mixed with the low GI carbs, to lower the overall glycemic index of the meal. By the way, it is very easy for vegetarians of any type to adopt the low GI diet since this diet focuses only on carbs.

Other low carb diets can be limiting in fruits and vegetables, which are high in vitamins, enzymes and minerals, as well as fiber. They are commnonly associated with a license to eat as much saturated fat as you want. This is a misconception. Nevertheless, the low GI diet is full of vegetables, fiber, fruits and low in fat, though it emphasis the "good fats" found in nuts. It encourages eating moderate quantities of lean meats.

We all know that fats and meats are no carbohydrates, and leafy vegetables are low carb. That is why some may not be aware of what foods have a low GI. Most vegetables have a very low GI, except beets, pumpkin and potatoes. Most fruits have a medium GI value, except citrus, apples, peaches and plums, which have a very low glycemic index.

The question now is which diet is best ...

A low-GI diet is useful for people with diabetes, as either their bodies' insulin production is deficient or their bodies are insulin resistant, restricting their ability to metabolise glucose. Thus a low GI diet causes less variation in blood glucose levels which makes the condition easier to manage.

Many people in the health profession in general, and in the nutrition field in particular, consider a low carb diet to be unhealthy. Studies have shown saturated fats to be sometimes worse than carbs for the diabetic. On the other hand, almost everyone would consider a low GI diet to be very healthy. It is widely accepted that eating lots of vegetables and the adequate fruits and fiber can help to bolster your immune system, thus allowing you to fight disease. That is a side effect, besides the main effect of helping you control your blood sugar level and thus avoiding the complications of diabetes. On the other hand, following a simple low carb diet and eating high fat meats, for example, may adversely affect your health and help contribute to heart disease in the long run.

Low-GI diets have benefits for non-diabetics also. A high-GI diet results in peaks and troughs of energy throughout the day, whereas a low-GI diet results in a good level of sustained energy. Low-GI foods also tend to have a longer satisfaction period per calorie given the slow energy release, which is useful in maintaining a healthy weight loss/control diet.

Remember also that being overweight is a major health risk for many diseases, including especially diabetes. Anyway, the best diet is probably one that works for you ...! Some prefer a low carb diet, some respond better to the low GI diet. Either way, it makes sense to make healthy food choices, and living a healthy lifestyle, including excercise.

You may want to read a review on the low GI diet at the web site below:
http://low-gi-diet-breakthrough-review.blogspot.com/

or just go to the "Low GI diet breakthrough" ebook web site.

SWITCHING TO A VEGETARIAN DIET

There are several reasons why people choose vegetarian diets: an indisposition to eat meat, an aversion to killing animals, or a simple choice of a different lifestyle and a special diabetes diet.

There are a number of dissimilar vegetarian diets. None of them need to be a really strict diet. The point here is the avoidance of all red meat (lamb, beef, pork, etc.)

The most common types of vegetarian diets allow vegetables and:
+ Vegan - Eats no food sourced from animals
+ Lacto-ovo - Same as the above but includes milk and eggs.
+ Lacto - Allows milk but will not eat eggs.
+ Ovo - Eats eggs only - but no other animal foods.
+ Pesco - Eats fish but no other animal foods (pescetarian)
+ Pollo - Allows chicken
+ Fruitarian (sub-set of vegan - includes only fruiting portion of plant).

These diets, being based on consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains, are high in fiber. Other advantages are that they are low in calories, refined sugars and saturated fat. With careful planning and the right knowledge, any type of the common vegetarian diets can provide adequate nutrition for the diabetic. Remember that some nutrients must be emphasized: protein, calcium, zinc, iron, and the B complex vitamin.

+ Lacto/ovo diets provide protein by means of egg white and milk.
+ On the other hand, on a vegan diet protein needs are met by legumes (peas, nuts, beans, lentils, etc). By combining legumes with various dishes, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein can be attained.

To keep in mind: because of its high estrogen levels, a factor in the physical maturing process, soy milk could be undesirable for the vegan child, even though it is an excellent source of protein.

Could switching to a vegetarian diet cure diabetes?

Switching to a vegetarian diet will not probably cure your diabetes. But it will surely offer several benefits over a non-vegetarian diet. Among them: making your body more responsive to insulin (probably the most important advantage), reducing your risk of some diabetes-associated complications (quite important as well) and helping you better control your weight.

All this, of course, depends on the particular food choices you make when following the type of vegetarian diet you selected. There is not a unique vegetarian eating plan.

The vegan diet is the strictest of all vegetarian diets. Vegans eat neither animal meats nor foods that come from animals, such as eggs and dairy products. Other types of vegetarian diets may allow dairy products and eggs. A strict vegan diet is generally low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free.

Vegetarian diets that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes in generous amounts are high in fiber and phytochemicals. Generally speaking, vegetarian diets are lower in calories than are non-vegetarian diets.

Bottom line: good vegetarian diets benefit people with diabetes.

Vegetarian diets generally lead to significant weight loss, which in turn can improve type 2 diabetes in people who are obese. This is true of similar weight loss from non-vegetarian diabetes diets as well.

A vegetarian diet makes your body more responsive to insulin, some studies say, and that is very important if you have diabetes. According to a 2006 study published in a scientific journal, 43 percent of people who ate a low-fat vegan diet reported a reduction on their need for diabetes medications.

The risk of diabetes-associated complications, such as kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, is also reduced with vegetarian diets. But again, all this depends on the specific kind of foods you choose.

Notwithstanding, before you switch to a vegetarian diet, it is always best to talk to a dietitian or doctor, if you have diabetes. They can help you create an eating plan that provides all the nutrients for your body and the right amount of calories to maintain the healthy weight.

INTERESING ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER:

1. A balanced and more enjoyable diet might be one including other foods. You might want to read a review on the eBook "How to play the diabetes diet game and win" or directly go to the author's web site.

2. Another kind of diet, based on the kind of carbohydrates you eat, is the low GI diet. Before taking a decision, you might want to read a review on the eBook "The low GI diet breakthrough"

DIABETES DIET: Your Healthy-Eating Plan

Your diabetes diet should be no more than a healthy-eating plan to help you control your blood sugar and your weight in a safe and comfortable fashion. You do not need to start eating special foods or follow complicated diet plans just because you are a diabetic.

A diabetes diet, for most people, simply translates into eating moderate amounts of a variety of foods, and sticking to regular mealtimes. A diabetes diet must emphasize vegetables, whole grains and fruits. Coherence is key as well. Your body responds to excess calories and fat by raising your glycemia levels. Rather than a strict standardized diet, a good diabetes diet is a healthy-eating plan, low in calories and fat and naturally rich in nutrients. It should be the best eating plan for everyone, in fact.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR MEALS

Your meal plan is your eating guide to help you:
+ Choose the right amounts of the healthiest foods at each meal
+ Set up a routine for eating meals

Watching your serving sizes and sticking to your meal plan will lead you to eat about the same amount of calories and nutrients every day. Which in turn will help you better control your weight and your blood sugar.

Beware of this: the more you vary the amount of carbohydrates and fat you eat, the harder it is to control your blood sugar.

If at the present you are already eating a variety of adequate healthy foods, you will need to just adapt the portion sizes, to keep your glycemia (blood sugar) checked. You may need to go in for a more specific plan, eating only a recommended number of portions from each food group every day.

WHAT ARE EXCHANGE LISTS AND HOW TO USE THEM

Dietitians recommend using the exchange system, which groups foods into categories, such as fruits, meats and meat substitutes, fats and starches, for example. A helping in a group is what they call an "exchange". Any exchange has about the same amount of protein, fat, carbs and calories as a helping of every other food in the same group, and the same effect on your blood sugar. For example, you could trade either of the following for one carbohydrate serving: 1 small apple or 1/3 cup of cooked pasta.

CARBOHYDRATE COUNT

Counting carbohydrates can be a helpful tool, especially if you take insulin or diabetes medications in general. This method makes sure your timing and amount of carbs are the same each day. Eating more or less carbs than usual at a given meal or from day to day may lead your blood sugar to undesirably fluctuate more. This method is not so hard to implement, but you better work with a dietitian to learn how to do it properly. They will teach you how to calculate the carbohydrate content in each meal and snack, so you will be able to adjust your insulin dose accordingly.

THE GLYCEMIC INDEX (GI)

Some diabetic people use this index to select foods, in particular carbohydrates. High glycemic index of a food is associated with greater increase in blood sugar. But foods with low index are not necessarily healthier. For example, foods high in fat tend to have lower glycemic index values than some healthier options do. Nevertheless, the low GI diets are, experts say, one of the best choices for diabetics. It is just a matter of making adjustments to your particular needs to get your personalized and balanced healthy GI diet.

ADDING VARIETY AND BEING CONSISTENT

Coherent eating habits help you control the level of your blood sugar. That is why you should try to eat every day at about the same time and the same amount of food. Aim to meet your nutritional needs by including a variety of healthy foods. With the help of a dietitian, plan a program to meet these guidelines:

+ Carbohydrates must provide 45 to 65% of daily calories
+ Fats, 20 to 35% of daily calories+ Protein, 15 to 20% of daily calories.
+ Eat adequate carbohydrates. Focus on the healthiest ones, the complex carbohydrates (starches), such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits, low-fat dairy products and legumes.
+ Select fiber-rich foods. Dietary fiber consists of all parts of plant foods that your body cannot absorb or digest. Fiber helps control blood sugar levels and decreases the risk of heart disease.
+ Every day consume about 25 to 30 grams of fiber. High-fiber foods include fruits, vegetables, legumes (lentils, beans, etc), wheat bran, nuts and whole-wheat flour. At the same time, limit saturated and trans fats. Heart-healthy eating becomes a vital part of your diabetes diet because your risk of stroke and heart disease is increased by your diabetes, which accelerates the development of hardened and clogged arteries.
+ Try to avoid trans fat completely, and get only up to 7% of your daily calories from saturated fat.

The best way to achieve this is to
+ Reduce the amount of shortening, butter and margarine you eat. In short, limit solid fats.
+ Use low-fat substitutes. For example, instead of butter, top your baked potato with low-fat yogurt or salsa.
+ Instead of margarine, use sugar-free fruit spread on toast.
+ Opt for unsaturated fats. Aim for monounsaturated fats such as canola oil or olive oil. Polyunsaturated fats are a healthier choice as well. You can find them in seeds and nuts, for instance. Nevertheless, remember that all fat is high in calories. Here moderation is essential.
You may develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels if there is too much cholesterol in your blood. And these deposits make it difficult for your blood to flow freely through your arteries. So curb dietary cholesterol. Consume only up to 200 milligrams of cholesterol a day, to keep it under control in your blood.

HINTS TO LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL INTAKE

+ Instead of organ meats use lean cuts of meat
+ Choose egg replacements over egg yolks
+ Instead of whole milk products opt for skim milk
+ Consume heart-healthy fish twice a week at least. Tuna, halibut and cod, for instance, have less fat and cholesterol than do meat and poultry. So fish can be a good substitute for high-fat meat. Other fish such as herring, mackerel and salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acid, which promote heart health by lowering blood triglycerides.

CAUTIONS? Avoid fried fish and also fish containing high levels of mercury, such as swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

NO MATTER WHAT, KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE PRIZE

Adhering firmly and devotedly to your diabetes diet is the best way to prevent diabetes complications by maintaining your blood sugar under control. If you want, work in your favorite foods and foods you have not tried before, for greater variety. Follow your healthy-eating plan, a low GI diet or any other, and be creative within its guidelines.

Try to join others who are following a diabetes diet and enjoying the benefits, and look for inspiration from them.