Monday, June 27, 2011

A Cheap And Effective Way To Kill Cholesterol

Berberine, traditionally used as an over-the-counter remedy for diarrhea caused by bacterial infection, can lower levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) significantly and works in a different way from statin drugs like Lipitor or Zocor. A group of researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City published their animal and human studies of Berberine in the journal Nature Medicine in 2005.

Statin works by blocking cholesterol formation in liver cells. This cholesterol shortage causes more cholesterol receptors to appear on the cell surface in an effort to pull cholesterol from the blood to make up for the deficit. As a result, blood cholesterol levels drop. In contrast, berberine works in a way that does not depend on how much cholesterol is in the cell. The herb increases the number of cholesterol receptors on the cell surface but it does this by stabilizing and improving the process by which the receptors are formed.

The scientists in fact screened 700 Chinese remedies in laboratory tests and eventually found that berberine had the greatest effect in increasing cholesterol receptors. Further testing showed that receptor levels were increased further when the herb was used together with a statin.

A study was then conducted to assess cholesterol levels in a group of 91 patients with high cholesterol who were treated with Berberine or an inactive placebo for 3 months. It was found that the herb lowered total cholesterol by 18 percent and LDL by 20 percent. No effect on levels of HDL (good cholesterol) was seen, however. A subset of patients who were not taking any other medications or herbs before or during the study was analyzed. Berberine lowered their total cholesterol by 29 percent and LDL by 25 percent.

Berberine appears to be safe and is also extremely cheap, costing about 75 US cents (in 2005) a day.

While the effect of berberine was small compared with that of statin, the dose used for the trial was only moderate. Larger effects may be seen with larger dose. As the herb does work in a different way as statin, it could potentially be combined with statin to reduce cholesterol levels even further. Therefore, further studies are necessary to ascertain the best dose for treatment and the effect of the combination with statin.

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A Cheap And Effective Way To Kill Cholesterol

Berberine, traditionally used as an over-the-counter remedy for diarrhea caused by bacterial infection, can lower levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) significantly and works in a different way from statin drugs like Lipitor or Zocor. A group of researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City published their animal and human studies of Berberine in the journal Nature Medicine in 2005.

Statin works by blocking cholesterol formation in liver cells. This cholesterol shortage causes more cholesterol receptors to appear on the cell surface in an effort to pull cholesterol from the blood to make up for the deficit. As a result, blood cholesterol levels drop. In contrast, berberine works in a way that does not depend on how much cholesterol is in the cell. The herb increases the number of cholesterol receptors on the cell surface but it does this by stabilizing and improving the process by which the receptors are formed.

The scientists in fact screened 700 Chinese remedies in laboratory tests and eventually found that berberine had the greatest effect in increasing cholesterol receptors. Further testing showed that receptor levels were increased further when the herb was used together with a statin.

A study was then conducted to assess cholesterol levels in a group of 91 patients with high cholesterol who were treated with Berberine or an inactive placebo for 3 months. It was found that the herb lowered total cholesterol by 18 percent and LDL by 20 percent. No effect on levels of HDL (good cholesterol) was seen, however. A subset of patients who were not taking any other medications or herbs before or during the study was analyzed. Berberine lowered their total cholesterol by 29 percent and LDL by 25 percent.

Berberine appears to be safe and is also extremely cheap, costing about 75 US cents (in 2005) a day.

While the effect of berberine was small compared with that of statin, the dose used for the trial was only moderate. Larger effects may be seen with larger dose. As the herb does work in a different way as statin, it could potentially be combined with statin to reduce cholesterol levels even further. Therefore, further studies are necessary to ascertain the best dose for treatment and the effect of the combination with statin.

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Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=87373&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Daily Forex Signal: HERE ARE SIGNALS FOR MONDAY, JUNE 27TH 2011 ...

Daily Forex Signal: HERE ARE SIGNALS FOR MONDAY, JUNE 27TH 2011




...
: "HERE ARE SIGNALS FOR MONDAY, JUNE 27TH 2011 EUR/USD --------------------------------------------------------------************ . ..."

Coffee May Help To Keep Diabetes At Bay

Coffee has been a drink that people consume everyday, especially during breakfast. There are many negative reports on consuming coffee mainly due to its caffeine. A study reported in the Archives of Internal medicine that there is a link between drinking coffee and a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, it is still not clear that whether the protective effect is due caffeine or other ingredients presented in coffee.

Diabetes has been considered a risk factor of heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes develops when pancreas does not make enough insulin or when insulin cannot be used by the body properly. Insulin is a hormone that converts sugars into energy. This form of diabetes is commonly found among people aged 40 and above, especially those overweight and physically inactive.

The study, conducted by the University of Minnesota, examined over 28,000 postmenopausal women over a period of 11 years (1986 -1997). Women who drank more than 6 cups of coffee per day were less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. Those who drank decaffeinated coffee showed a further reduced risk.

Questions were answered by these women about risk factors for diabetes, and details given about their lifestyle and beverage consumption (including regular and decaffeinated coffee). After adjusting the data for other risk factors for diabetes, it was found that women who drank more than 6 cups of any type of coffee daily were 22 percent less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-coffee drinkers. Those who drank more than 6 cups of decaffeinated coffee per day had a 33-percent reduced risk.

The overall intake of caffeine did not appear to be related to diabetes risk, suggesting that another ingredient in coffee might have contributed to the effect. The researchers suggested that magnesium, and other minerals and nutrients found in coffee bean such as polyphenols and antioxidants, may be responsible for this beneficial effect. However, further studies are required to ascertain this.

Other experts expressed some concerns about this study. Firstly, the participants were only limited to postmenopausal women and so are not representative of the population. Secondly, there is no objective measure to ensure that the reported diet or incidence of diabetes were accurate because data were collected from self-administrative questionnaires. Thirdly, there are many kinds of foods containing hundreds of different phytochemicals and antioxidants. It may not be appropriate to simply rely on any single food to obtain these nutrients. Finally, taking too much coffee can cause side effects. More than 3 cups of coffee a day can cause nervousness, stomach distress, insomnia, and for some people, irregular heartbeat.

While awaiting further research confirmation about the beneficial effect of drinking coffee, people with diabetes, however, still need to maintain healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and more importantly, maintain a healthy body weight.

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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Can I Go Tanning With Diabetes?

Diabetes and Tanning
If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes or are susceptible to cold sores, be aware that these conditions can be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition, your skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight if you use certain medications, for example, antihistamines, tranquilizers or birth control pills. Your tanning salon may keep a file with information on your medical history, medications, and treatments. Make sure you update it as necessary.

Protecting Yourself
Limit your exposure to avoid sunburn. If you tan with a device, ask whether the manufacturer or the salon staff recommend exposure limits for your skin type. Set a timer on the tanning device that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow signals that you’ve reached your exposure time. Remember that exposure time affects burning and that your age at the time of exposure is important relative to burning.

Knowing your Tanning Lotion
Some suntanning products don't contain sunscreen. It only takes a few bad sunburns to raise the risk of skin cancer, and skin damage builds up over years even when no burning occurs. This is why sunscreen, which blocks UVA and UVB, is recommended. The FDA has expressed concern about suntanning products without sunscreen, and encourages consumers to check the labels for SPF protection.

Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an OTC drug. Look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. The higher the number, the better the protection. Sunscreen should be liberally applied to skin 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and then every two hours after that.

Tanning Salons
It's true that most sun lamps emit mainly UVA radiation, and that these so­called "tanning rays" are less likely to cause a sunburn than UVB radiation from sunlight. But, contrary to the claims of some tanning parlors, that doesn't make them safe. UVA rays have a suspected link to malignant melanoma, and, like UVB rays, they also may be linked to immune system damage.

Tanning Safely
We urge you to find out more about self tanning. You can self tan with a Sunless tanning lotion. Sunless tanning lotion is a tanning lotion that gives you that great tan without the dangers of UVA and UVB! Find out more about Self Tanning!

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Friday, June 24, 2011

Symptoms Of Diabetes

Most People Exhibit few or no noticeable symptoms of diabetes, and tend to be shocked when high sugar is detected in routine blood or urine tests.

In most people who develop diabetes two typical symptoms are present-frequent need to urinate and increased thirst.

Frequent Urination

A patient of diabetes passes large quantities of urine several times a day. There is a frequent urge at night to empty the bladder. When glucose cannot enter the body cells, it accumulates in the blood and starts appearing in the urine. Diabetics are prone to excessive urination because the glucose in the urine draws water with in than is normal.

Increased Thirst

The loss of water from excessive urination generates excessive thirst. A patient of diabetes frequently fells thirsty and drinks larges quantities of water at short intervals.

Extreme Hunger

Diabetics tend to feel hungry most of the time and eat large meals. They eat and too much, but despite this, they continue to experience hunger pangs.

Loss of Weight

Continual loss of weight despite the intake of frequent and large meals is another symptom of the disease. The body is starved of energy, as glucose cannot enter the cells. In a desperate effort to get energy, the starved cells use up fat and protein. This causes loss of weight.

Weakness and Fatigue

Diabetics fatigue quickly even after little exertion. They also feel out of breath easily. The sugar in the blood does not get into the cells where it is converted into energy. This lowers the stamina and resistance levels.

Depression

Inertia and lethargy are also seen in people suffering from diabetes. They avoid doing work and are often feel rundown. Not only there body bit also their moods show a state of depression.

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Rising Cost Of Prescription Drugs

If you’re like many Americans, the rising cost of prescription drugs may be costing you your health. In particular, seniors living on a fixed income with no insurance are finding it difficult to pay for necessary prescriptions out-of-pocket, and as a result, may be failing to receive the treatment they need to stay healthy. Often, the struggle can put a big strain on seniors’ finances.

But why are prescription drug prices so high, especially when most people who require medication are usually not in a financial position that allows them to afford the full price tag? The real reasons are more complicated than what you might suspect, but one thing’s for certain - drug prices have been skyrocketing.

The reason that is most often touted (by the drug companies, of course) for the high price of drugs is research and development (R&D) costs. The drug companies contest that the only way to pay for the development of new life-saving drugs - that will improve the lives of millions of Americans - is through profits from current drug sales. The high prices, they say, are merely a reflection of the spending that is necessary for the creation of newer, better drugs.

But is this the truth? Are drug companies using a large percentage of current prescription drug sales to fund R&D? If so, are the new drugs under development truly going to improve the health of the people who need them most? Sadly, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

In reality, drug companies spend more on advertising, lobbying and political contributions than they do on research and development. Most of the money you pay for prescription medication ends up in the pockets of marketers and politicians, so that you can be convinced that you need the "newer" and "better" drugs that are under development.

In addition, research and development tends to focus on more "marketable" types of drugs that the drug companies can sell to the largest amounts of people. How many times have you seen advertisements for a drug that can help alleviate such serious medical conditions as social anxiety disorder and seasonal allergies? Unfortunately, this means that most large drug companies tend to neglect the development of life-saving drugs for more serious conditions, as the numbers are not there to rake in high profits.

Developing new allergy or anxiety drugs, however, does not require massive amounts of money, as these drugs have already been developed. Neither does rehashing previously developed drugs to be marketed for a new ailment. Usually the newer drugs under "development" aren’t new at all. So even the money that is spent on R&D, it can be argued, is an unnecessary expense driven by the market more than by the country’s medical needs.

Unfortunately for the consumer, all the money spent on advertising rather than development, and providing drug information to physicians about specific new drugs that need to be marketed, makes it very likely that you will end up paying more money than you should. Also, because your doctor is only provided with information on the latest and "greatest" drugs, he/she will be more likely to prescribe you the more expensive drugs. Perhaps surprisingly, there are older versions of drugs on the market that work just as well as their updated counterparts (sometimes better) as well as generic versions of brand name drugs that come at a significantly reduced cost. Of course, the drug companies do not market these drugs and do all they can to keep generic drugs off the shelves for as long as possible.

That’s another place your money goes when you buy prescription drugs - lawyers. Drug companies spend a lot of money paying for court cases to extend the patents of certain drugs. Even though the cases are often lost in the end, court processes can take months to resolve - buying more time for the drug companies to be the sole profiteers of a particular drug. When the patent on a drug runs out, other companies are allowed to create and sell a generic version of the drug. It is usually sold for a lower price, which takes customers away from the brand name and reduces that drug company’s profits. In the end, patents are often extended anyway because the drug company finds a new application for the drug, thus artificially extending the life of the patent and keeping generics off the shelves. You end up paying more because a less expensive generic alternative is not available and you are forced to shell out for the higher priced brand name drug instead.

For the lucky people who have insurance that covers the cost of their drugs, this may be indirectly allowing the drug companies to charge more than they would if everyone had to pay full price. Because many people never see the true cost of their prescriptions, the price is not something they worry about. As a result, drug companies feel freer to raise prices and costs continue to rise. The bottom line? A large percentage of what you pay for drugs is taken as profit.

What Can You Do To Lower Your Drug Costs?

Understanding why drug costs are so high, you may feel that it is impossible to find a way to reduce them. But this simply isn’t true. There are several things you can do to make prescription drugs more affordable.

As mentioned briefly above, it pays (literally) to be informed. If your doctor doesn’t possess the knowledge regarding all the drug choices available for your condition, take initiative and conduct some of your own research. Ask your doctor if there are any older versions of the newest drug you’ve been prescribed and find out if the drug is as effective. If it can do the job just as well as its newer relation, and comes with a cheaper price tag, it won’t take you long to make a decision.

Secondly, find out if there are any generic versions of the drug you need available in your area. Generic drugs are the same drug but without the brand name price tag. This type of drug is similar to the no-name brands you find in your local grocery store. The product is exactly the same but less expensive because you’re not paying for the name (and hence the advertising).

If you are uninsured or underinsured, make sure you exhaust all your insurance options. Calculate the costs associated with purchasing an insurance plan and determine whether or not you can find a plan that will ultimately weigh in your favor. Also, find out if you can benefit from Medicare. Medicare Part D is one option you should research, although for many Americans it has actually made prescription drugs more expensive and seems to have been created to benefit the drug companies rather than the American public. The process can be confusing, but if you take the time to find out if you are one of the lucky few to benefit, it could be worth your while.

Finally, many Americans have chosen to order discount drugs online, from either American or Canadian pharmacies. American online pharmacies offer older and generic versions of drugs at a reduced cost, while Canadian operations can actually offer brand name prescriptions (or whatever prescription you require) for a significantly lower price. This is simply because the Canadian Government regulates the cost of drugs, which means you pay less at the cash register. As long as the pharmacy is licensed to conduct international pharmacy services, ordering online from a Canadian pharmacy is a safe and affordable alternative to the high cost of drugs in the U.S.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Is There Self Test For Diabetes?

Sixteen million Americans have diabetes, yet many are not aware of it. African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans have a higher rate of developing diabetes during their lifetime. Diabetes has potential long term complications that can affect the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels and nerves. A number of pages on this web site are devoted to the prevention and treatment of the complications of diabetes. (see Diabetes Symptoms)

In diagnosing diabetes, physicians primarily depend upon the results of specific glucose tests. However, test results are just part of the information that goes into the diagnosis of diabetes. Doctors also take into account your physical exam, presence or absence of symptoms, and medical history. Some people who are significantly ill will have transient problems with elevated blood sugars which will then return to normal after the illness has resolved. Also, some medications may alter your blood glucose levels (most commonly steroids and certain diuretics (water pills)).

The TWO main tests used to measure the presence of blood sugar problems are:

1. Direct measurement of glucose levels in the blood during an overnight fast
2. Measurement of the body's ability to appropriately handle the excess sugar presented after drinking a high glucose drink.

Self Testing Methods
Regular self-testing of your blood sugar tells you how well your combination of diet, exercise, and medication are working. Tests are usually done before meals and at bedtime. More frequent testing may be needed when you are sick or under stress.

A device called a Glucometer can provide an exact blood sugar reading. There are different types of devices. Usually, you prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet, which gives you a tiny drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip, and put the strip into the device. Results are available within 30 to 45 seconds.

A health care provider or diabetes educator will help set up an appropriate testing schedule for you. You will also be taught how to respond to different ranges of glucose values obtained when you self-test.

The results of the test can be used to adjust meals, activity, or medications to keep blood sugar levels in an appropriate range. Testing provides valuable information for the health care provider and identifies high and low blood sugar levels before serious problems develop. Accurate record keeping of test results will help you and your health care provide plan how to best control your diabetes. There are 20.8 million children and adults in the US with diabetes, and nearly one-third of them (or 6.2 million people) do not know it!

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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Honestly, How Serious Is Diabetes?

How serious is Diabetes?

Very! The early symptoms of untreated diabetes mellitus are related to the elevated blood glucose levels. Excess glucose in the blood ultimately results in high levels of glucose being present in the urine (glucosuria). This increases the urine output, which leads to dehydration and increased thirst. Other symptoms include extreme tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision, itchy skin and repeated minor infections such as thrush and boils.

Another form of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes, occurs in some women during pregnancy. It is a temporary condition caused by pregnancy and usually occurs in the later stages, once the baby has formed but is still growing.

Although there is currently no cure for diabetes mellitus, it can be controlled successfully with an active treatment plan. The potential benefit of pancreas transplants and islet cell transplants in type 1 patients is being investigated.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Type I diabetes develops very quickly. The classic signs of diabetes include:

1. Frequent urination, because the body is trying to get rid of the excess sugar in the blood
2. Intense thirst, because the body needs to replace the fluid lost through the urine
3. Increased hunger, because the cells need nutrients
4. Weight loss, because without insulin, the body begins to starve. The onset of Type 2 diabetes is often very gradual and may develop without any symptoms at all. Sadly, the diagnosis most often is made only after a complication of the disease happens

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a procedure in that a practitioner inserts needles into designated points on the skin. Some Western scientists believe that acupuncture triggers the release of the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture is sometimes used by people with neuropathy, the painful nerve damage of diabetes.

Your weight affects your health in many ways. Being overweight can keep your body from making and using insulin properly. It can also cause high blood pressure. The DPP showed that losing even a few pounds can help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes because it helps your body use insulin more effectively. In the DPP, people who lost between 5 and 7 percent of their body weight significantly reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Monday, June 20, 2011

What Is Diabetes Mellitus?

The number of people around the world suffering from diabetes has skyrocketed in the last two decades, from 30 million to 230 million, claiming millions of lives and severely taxing the ability of health care systemsto deal with the epidemic, according to data released Saturday by the International Diabetes Federation.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose, a form of sugar. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy.

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous clinical disorder with numerous causes. Two main classifications of diabetes mellitus exist, idiopathic and secondary.

Idiopathic diabetes is divided into two main types; insulin dependent and non-insulin-depenedent. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM (Type 1) is defined by the development of ketoacidosis in the absence of insulin therapy. Type 1 diabetes most often manifests in childhood (hence also called juvenile onset diabetes) and is the result of an autoimmune destruction of the b-cells of the pancreas. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM (Type 2) is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia but rarely leads to ketoacidosis. Type 2 diabetes generally manifests after age 40 and therefore has the obsolete name of adult onset-type diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can result from genetics defects that cause both insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. There are two main forms of type 2 diabetes:

1. Late onset associated with obesity.
2. Late onset not associated with obesity.

Sample meal plan

Choose foods you like and which satisfy you, and include carbohydrate foods in each meal or snack to help manage blood glucose levels. You can eat your main meal at lunch or dinner.

Get help immediately if Diabetes symptoms occur

Occasionally, the onset of diabetes - particularly Type 1 - can be abrupt. It can lead to a condition called 'keto acidosis', which is a medical emergency. The symptoms of this condition are loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, excessive passing of urine, altered consciousness and, finally, coma. Seek medical help immediately if these symptoms occur.

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The Diabetes Diet

Although a "miracle" diabetes diet does not exist to cure the disease, if you have type 2 diabetes, there are dietary rules you can follow that will ensure you stay as healthy as possible. When it comes right down to it, proper nutrition is the only “diet” you need to follow. Many people are inexperienced with following a healthy diet, but once you get into the swing of things, eating properly will become part of your lifestyle.

To start off, it’s best to follow the nutrition guidelines in the Food Pyramid, with special attention to carbohydrate intake. Also, diabetics should maintain a regular meal schedule and exercise portion control.

Starches are allowed in a diabetes diet, as long as you control portions and don’t consume too much starchy food. Starches are present in bread, cereal, and starchy vegetables.

Consume five fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. This can easily be accomplished by eating a piece of fruit for a snack several times a day, or by eating vegetables with dinner. Soups, stir-fries, and chili make good hiding places for veggies if you need clever ways to add more good stuff into your meals.

You can still eat sugars and sweets (perhaps surprisingly) with type 2 diabetes, but do so in moderation, which means once or twice a week maximum. One way to eat fewer sweets without neglecting your sweet tooth is to split a dessert in half.

Especially beneficial for diabetics are soluble fibers, so you need to get as many as these into your diet as possible. Luckily, you can find soluble fibers in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Soluble fibers are excellent because they aid in slowing down and reducing the absorption of glucose from the intestines. Legumes (such as cooked kidney beans) have the highest amount of soluble fibers, and also keep blood sugar levels in check. Insoluble fibers, found in bran, whole grains and nuts, are also part of a healthy diet because they work like intestinal scrubbers, by cleaning out the lower gastrointestinal tract.

For many people, contacting a dietician is the best way to put together a good diabetes diet. Everyone is different, so keeping in contact with your physician and nutrition consultant will ensure your diet plan is the optimum one for you. A professional will take into account your lifestyle, medication, weight, other medical issues, and your favorite foods to come up with a plan that will keep you healthy and satisfy your cravings for particular flavors.

A Healthy Weight – and Lifestyle

If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s also very important to maintain a healthy weight ( http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/diabetes-diet ). With type 2 diabetes, added body fat actually makes it more difficult for your body to produce and use insulin. Trimming down as little as 10 or 20 pounds has the potential to improve your blood sugar significantly.

Smokers are advised to quit as soon as possible, as smoking can aggravate diabetes and make it more difficult to cope with the disease. Because diabetics often experience circulation problems in the legs and feet, smoking is a dangerous habit to continue - it decreases blood flow even more. Smoking also increases LDL cholesterol and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

If you keep your blood sugar under control, moderate alcohol consumption is allowed, but avoid drinking on an empty stomach, as this can lead to low blood sugar. To learn how much alcohol you can safely include in your diet, consult your doctor.

Fat and Carbs

You can control the amount of carbs you consume by practicing carbohydrate counting. This involves keeping track of the total number of grams of carbs you need to eat at meals or snacks, depending on your medication and exercise. Usually this method involves the use of a carbohydrate counting book, which you can purchase at a supermarket or bookstore.

Those with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for heart problems, so most physicians make a recommendation to limit fat below 30% of your total daily caloric intake – this tends to be done by eating less fat overall and staying away from saturated fat. You should also pay attention to cholesterol levels by eating smaller amounts of meat, and sticking to lean meats, such as poultry and fish.

It will take some time to adjust to your new diabetes diet and healthy lifestyle, especially if you haven’t followed healthy living practices in the past, but the results will be worth the effort. Not only will you be able to better manage your diabetes, but you will also become a much healthier person.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

How to Make Healthy Breakfast Foods for Diabetics - Oatmeal With Berries and Oatmeal Raisin Pancakes

One of the most important things a diabetic can do for themselves is to start their day off right with a healthy breakfast. Taking a few minutes in the morning to eat something healthy can be a key to controlling your blood sugar, yet we often grab something we know isn't quite right for us with the excuse that we are in a hurry. That type of 'in a hurry' can set you up for failure in controlling your blood sugar. Since oats are a very good source of soluble fiber which is very important to the diabetic's diet, this article offers a couple of recipes that are healthy, fit perfectly into a diabetic's diet, and they are quick and easy to prepare. The pancake recipe makes 12 pancakes using a fourth cup of batter for each. If you are constantly in a morning rush, make up all the batter, have a couple of pancakes (two are considered a serving) and allow the other ten to cool completely. Once cooled put them in freezer bags, 2 to a bag, and freeze. They can be microwaved quickly when needed. This does away with the excuse that you can't make this recipe because it would be wasteful. Plus you have 5 more servings of a healthy breakfast on hand.

OATMEAL RAISIN PANCAKES
2 cups quick cook oats
2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs*
2 tbsp canola oil
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour**
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp Splenda granular
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins

In a small bowl combine the oats with the buttermilk and let stand for 5 minutes. Beat eggs and stir into the oats along with the canola oil. Set the mixture aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, Splenda, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in the oat mixture just until flour mixture is moistened. Gently stir in the raisins.

Heat griddle or skillet to hot and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Pour batter, 1/4 cup at a time, onto the hot griddle. When the top of the pancakes start to bubble, turn. When second side is a golden brown, remove from heat.

*Or you may use 1/2 cup egg substitute.
**You may omit and replace with another 1/4 cup all-purpose flour.

Serve topped with a thin pat of butter and sugar-free maple flavored syrup.

Yield: 1 dozen

HOMEMADE OATMEAL WITH FRESH BLUEBERRIES
1 cup water
1/2 cup old-fashion oats
dash of salt, optional
2 tsp Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
2 tablespoons fresh blueberries*
1 tbsp fat-free cream

In a small saucepan bring the water to a boil; stir in oats and the salt, if using (best for you to omit salt if you can). Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle the Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and the blueberries over the hot oatmeal. Drizzle with the cream.

*May substitute frozen blueberries that have been thawed.

Yield: 1 serving

With salt: 220 calories, 41 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 7 g protein, 3 g (0 sat)fat, 10 g sugar, 5 g cholesterol, 410 mg sodium

Note: Best to enjoy this healthy breakfast treat with a strip or two of turkey bacon for additional protein.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information visit http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com
For her old fashion recipe collection visit her at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Carol_Wilson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6272982

Sunday, May 22, 2011

How To Reverse Diabetes With Treatments

Diabetes is a high-risk disease. Many people are diagnosed with it after they hit their mid thirties or forties while others get it at a very young age. There are others who are born with it. No matter when the disease manifests, it remains a great threat to life. Diabetes treatments are therefore a must and need to be done with great precision.

Diabetes happens when the level of sugar in the blood rises beyond the normal levels. This happens when the body fails to produce any or sufficient insulin to burn the sugar. Diabetes can be either Type 1, Type 2, or gestational. Type 1 is when the body fails to produce insulin. In Type 2, the body becomes resistant to insulin. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy due to high blood glucose and goes away once the baby is born.

There are several forms of diabetes treatments available. The best is to start being health-conscious early on and try to avoid the disease all together. For this, it is essential for the person to stay healthy and eat wisely. Losing excess weight is also a good idea as excess weight means excess glucose, which very often leads to diabetes. If a person has already been diagnosed with the disease then diabetes treatments have to be administered. This includes the use of tablets and for those who have extremely high levels of sugar, insulin injections is the preferred treatment. Once diagnosed, it is a lifelong ailment for which treatment has to be continued until death. Even those who have diabetes need to control their diet and exercise well. This can keep the sugar levels low and the doctors can reduce the dosage of the medicine.

It always helps to learn more about the disease even if a person does not have it. There are many online stores that have eBooks that give a lot of information about the disease, the diet to maintain, the right exercise, etc. They are very useful and can throw a lot of light on the disease. ClickBank eBooks give a good selection of books that are about diabetes as well as about losing fat. These books can be purchased online, downloaded onto a computer and looked up whenever required. It is also important to ask the doctor the right questions. If the doctor gives advice regarding food intakes, including quantity, it is better to follow his advice properly. The doctor may also give advice regarding the exercise regimen to follow to lose any excess weight.

Many of the doctor's advise patients to track their blood sugar levels both before and after exercising. This is mainly because if the level is too low, there is the danger of the person collapsing.

Diabetes could be lethal so it is very important to take counter measures to avoid the disease or keep it at bay by controlling the diet and participating in regular exercise. Of course, overdoing these could also have severe consequences. Hence, it is essential to have a proper balance. Though diabetes treatments are available, one through exercise and food is the best.

http://www.a-zebookstore.com is an online store where a person can purchase eBooks about diabetes treatments. The store contains thousands of eBooks from which the customer can choose.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jannyes_Dimesa

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6274416

Saturday, May 21, 2011

How Pilate Exercise Help Cure Back Pain

Different people suffer from back pain due to different reasons. But the most common reason for their back pain plight is following bad postures while sitting, walking or standing.

Regular practicing of bad postures has a direct impact on the spinal cord. There occurs non-alignment in the spine, which results in back pain. As the spinal cord deviates from its natural alignment, the muscles around it get disturbed because of which it is unable to support the spine and also the body weight. Thus, all these developments all together give rise to back pain and the related problems.

For people who suffer from back pain due to the non-alignment of the spinal cord and the back muscles, Pilate exercise program is the most beneficial. It works by correcting your wrong postures of sitting, standing and walking.

The basic principle involved in Pilate exercise is very simple. This exercising pattern has a step-by-step workout regime that definitely gives you relief in your back pain.

The first step is to correct your postural habits. The training involves giving lessons on how to sit, stand and walk in right postures.

The next step that follows is to align back your spinal cord. This is done by with a help of a set of exercises whose main focus remains on the spinal cord.

After this, the next and the last step is to strengthen the postural muscles around the spine. Here also, various exercises are involved that helps in strengthening those muscles. This is a very important step in the whole of the Pilate exercising program because these postural muscles are the one that support the spine and helps in maintaining balance of the body.

Not only this, the Pilate exercises also give strength to the muscles present deep in the torso of your body. A regular practice of all these steps diligently, will surely give you all that relief in your back pain that you always desired.

But, a note of caution is here. Pilate exercises are a form of a little rigorous exercise. Therefore, people who suffer from some acute form of back pain problem should always practice it after prior consultation with a good medical practitioner. Besides this, always make sure that you exercise under the guidance of a good and a qualified instructor or trainer. Only a proper and regular effort will give you relief in your back pain suffering.

Published At: Isnare.com Free Articles Directory - http://www.isnare.com/
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Diabetes Cure Revealed - Scientists Say Diabetes Can Be Reversed Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4252277

Diabetics take heart--diabetes is curable using nature's way

Research published in leading medical journals and tests conducted with the Johns Hopkins Medical School offers indisputable evidence that people afflicted with diabetes can be relieved of their suffering.

The human body is engineered to heal itself if medical science would only allow it to do what nature planned for us. Instead, the medical community is locked into to dispensing drugs and insulin, which merely treat the symptoms. Both health care providers and the pharmaceutical companies have a major stake in diabetes medications.

It's a multi-billion dollar market. Carbohydrates stimulate insulin production to a greater degree than anything else we eat. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbs we consume. High sugar intake along with other carbs tends to overwork the pancreas. The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which is used by the body to metabolize sugar and starches into glucose, which is then transported via the bloodstream to the cells of the body, which in turn, convert glucose into energy.

A diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes indicates that the pancreas stopped insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is when the pancreas is producing insufficient insulin, and in some cases, even if insulin production is normal, the cells refuse to accept the glucose.

Excess acid in the foods we eat are destroying the pancreas

A breakthrough was realized a short time ago when Dr. Robert O. Young, Microbiologist and Scientist, discovered that the problem with low or no insulin production is the beta cells that manufacture insulin are affected by high acidity in the blood. To reverse the acidity, alkalinity must be available to neutralize the acid. Once the excess acid is "cleansed" from the pancreas, it can resume normal insulin production.The drug industry readily admits that there are side effects with most prescription treatments. One very evident and annoying side effect of some diabetic drugs is weight gain. So the cycle repeats itself. So if medications are the long-term solution for diabetes, why is diabetes now ranked as the 5th leading cause of death in the US? It seems like in this regard, medical science has been getting nowhere fast!

The human body was designed to heal itself

Your body will heal every wound, diseased organ or damaged cell that it needs to - but it cannot be expected to accomplish its task if it is constantly polluted with chemicals, pesticides and drugs. Your body simply cannot handle this workload! When the point is reached that your pancreas does not have to battle harmful acids anymore, it can return to doing what nature intended it to do-produce insulin.

Considerable interest is being placed on low carbohydrate diets and the evidence points to this as a good starting point. A pancreas that has been taxed to death by the demands for more insulin and trying to combat the acidity can be restored to normal function. Remember, the pancreas is one of our most vital organs and does not respond to transplants. We only get one pancreas so it needs to be pampered. A low carb diet will do just that.

The link below will lead you to a report that documents the scientific evidence discovered during recent research. It will detail which foods and drinks are producing an overly acidic pancreas and what means you need to follow to restore a level of alkalinity and reduce the sugar overload in order to restore Insulin production.

This report, Reverse Diabetes Naturally! lists natural remedies, programs of diet and lifestyle changes that will normalize your blood glucose and keep it at a healthy level. More information is HERE ==> Reverse Diabetes!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Penven

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4252277

Natural Cures For Diabetes - How To Cure Diabetes Naturally

A good diet is the key to good health. While in some cases diabetes is caused due to genetic factors or other triggers, more often than not it is diets rich in sugar that lead to blood sugar problems later in life. Every diet has the scope to be tweaked a little bit so that you can ward off the danger of diabetes. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, low HDL, and eat a lot of processed foods, you fall in the high-risk category.

Everyone ought to slowly wean themselves off highly processed junk food and shift to leaner, more natural alternatives. You can also use the three natural cures for diabetes tips which are listed below:

Diabetes and magnesium

In a study done in England on 11,000 women in the high-risk category, it was shown that those with a high magnesium intake were 27 per cent less susceptible to diabetes. According to research, magnesium is known to lower blood pressure, relax the heart muscles, and controls homocysteine, which is a known trigger for heart disease and diabetes. Magnesium also catalyzes the enzyme system in the body to convert nutrients into energy. Magnesium also relaxes the muscles and reduces muscle spasms.

Dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, avocados and whole grain are excellent sources of magnesium.

Diabetes and Cinnamon

Research has shown that using cinnamon in your diet on a regular basis helps reduce blood glucose levels by 18-29%. In addition, it also reduces other diabetes risk factors like triglyceride (which shows a 30% decline) and LDL cholesterol (a 25% decrease).

Cinnamon contains an extract called Cinnulin PF. This extract works at the cellular level and increases the sensitivity of insulin cell receptors by three times. Poor response of insulin cell receptors is often a major problem in diabetics, which makes cinnamon an important diabetes inhibitor. TI is advisable to consume about 500mg of cinnamon extract, twice a day.

Glucotor 2-a Diabetics' Formulation

Glucotor 2 is a completely natural formula prepared with the specific needs of diabetics in mind. It contains prickly pear cactus, fenugreek, cinnulin PF, bitter melon and gymnema sylvestre, all of which are very beneficial in diabetes control. Glucotor 2 which follows its very successful predecessor Glucotol 1, has been rendered even more powerful by the addition of cinnulin PF cinnamon extracts. Glucotol 1 has a very illustrious history in battling high blood sugar, with a number of true life testimonies to its credit. Glucotor 2 only improves on it, as it adds Cinnulin PF and magnesium, both of which are effective in controlling diabetes. Both these components have been proved efficacious not just for blood sugar control, but also in preventing heart disease.

So, while you may have actually tweaked your eating habits to avoid fatty, high processed foods, you should surely also add a daily dose of Glucotor 2 to your diet plan to ensure even better protection against diabetes and cardiovascular problems. And ou need not fear any harmful side effects from Glucotor 2-it is a tried and tested natural remedy that is uses no artificial chemicals in its preparation.

Published At: Isnare.com Free Articles Directory - http://www.isnare.com/
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=305101&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Green Tea for Diabetes - Good for Diabetes Tipe 1 or 2

It is well said that drinking green tea for diabetes is good to reduce sugar intake in the bloodstream. However, there are people raising doubts with controversial thoughts against the working of green tea in lowering blood sugar levels. The objective of this article is to set evidential facts to make them admit the statement that the green herbal tea is a good choice to control blood sugar. There are specific foods that are to be added in the list of foods to eat for diabetes. It is indeed a miracle that drinking herbal tea has good many health benefits in boosting insulin secretion to fight diabetes. In specific terms, type 1 diabetes can be managed by means of breaking process of blood glucose.

There are proven evidences to establish the fact that green tea can help to prevent developing type 1 diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels. The pathetic condition of type 1 diabetics is the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin secretion to break down glucose in the blood and promote bodily energy. The essence of this tea burns the food intake and the muscular energy is generated to keep the body active and vibrant. That way, there is high chance to maintain normal blood sugar levels without allowing elevated sugar levels. With this view, a diabetic can better admit drinking green tea for diabetes with much more confidence.

Benefits of green tea

Though it has been mentioned that diabetes type 1 remains controlled, the possibility for preventing type 2 diabetes is also fair when you are to take this medicinal tea regularly as a beverage. Researches on the medicinal values of green beverage have established the fact that one can lower high blood sugar in the body and reduce the risk of diabetes type 2 during the oncoming days. The control of postprandial hyperglycemia can be easy to enjoy with enhanced health with the intake of green beverage instead of drugs and medicines. The promoted health is due to the fine result of promoting glucose metabolism in the body. The effect of using green medicinal tea in serum proteomic pattern is associated to anti-hyperglycemia in a diabetic body.

Component of green tea for diabetes:

When it comes to prevention of diabetes, the health benefits of this medicinal tea are associated to the component of green tea identified as EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallete). EGCG is the prime and active component of inducing insulin secretion in the pancreas. Having good chance to control diabetes with the use of herbal tea, a diabetic can rightly choose the beverage whenever it is accessible.

With warning symptoms of diabetes, controlling diabetes is an art. If you want to be an expert, you should know the description of good diabetic foods AND bad diabetic foods.

Varadharajan R is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article should be complete active.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Varadharajan_R

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Blood Glucose Monitors That Make You Miserable and Other Facts of Life

You will find blood glucose monitors at any pharmacy: these are small devices the size of a pack of cigarettes or a mobile phone that are meant for people with insulin-related health conditions, for them to be able to use at home to measure their blood sugar whenever they need. At first glance, you could probably take one of these devices for some kind of portable entertainment gadget - a new kind of video player or something. Look closer though, and you'll find that they come with things that would really be unwelcome accessories if they went along with an iPod - lancets to draw blood from your finger and test strips the drop of blood drawn can be placed on for it can be inserted into the machine for testing.

There are dozens of brands that line the store shelves. You can expect to pay anything under $100 for one of these. Why, some doctors even give them away for free. They can afford to give you these for free because these are devices that can only run with test strips that they sell you after the fact. And they can hope for years of sales (and gouging profits) on those test strips. How do you make a choice in blood glucose monitors when you set out to buy one of these?

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to find a brand and model that offers you the kind of test strips that you can afford. The typical price for a strip is one dollar each. If you test yourself as often as they ask you, you could easily spend $100 each month. Choose a model that charges you the least for these strips, and you'll find yourself far ahead of the game. Sometimes, you don't ever have to do any work choosing one of these. Your insurance plan will have a list of approved blood glucose monitors. You'll have to buy one among them to take advantage of the cover provided. If you were to buy one of these on your own without insurance cover, how would you choose one?

One of the greatest sources of misery in blood glucose monitors comes from having to prick your skin all the time for the test. Having to do that on the same part of your body can lead to a truly terrible situation. What can you do if you need to prick your fingers three times a day? Pretty soon, you'll have fingers that are all blood and gore. Save yourself the hell that some models put you through, and pick one that allows you to prick yourself anywhere on your body. You can also look for one that works with a very small blood sample. That way, the lancet won't go that deep into your skin.

There are some models by well-known manufacturers that feature fast testing times. When you suffer from hypoglycemia and you need sometimes to see if you need to ingest a little glucose quickly to correct a situation, messing around with a device that takes its time can be disappointing.

Shaminku loves to write interesting health and beauty articles on Diabetes Glucose Meter and the like. Be sure to drop by our site at http://www.HealthInfoOnline.net to learn more about health and fitness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaminku_Waltersoon

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Isn't Insulin the Cure for Diabetes?

Ever wondered about diabetic acidosis? Are you afraid that you might have it?

Acidosis in diabetes, also known as Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA) or simply Ketoacidosis, is a serious condition that occurs as a complication of Type 1 diabetes. Although rare, it may also occur in people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes given certain conditions. It is life-threatening and would often require hospital treatment.

It is common knowledge that diabetes is a metabolic condition that is characterized by inadequate production of insulin or resistance to the said hormone. On the other hand, ketoacidosis is a consequence of insulin shortage in our bodies. It is a state where the body switches to burning fatty acids. In effect, the blood becomes too acidic and the body will have critical electrolyte imbalance. If left unattended, the acidosis in diabetics can be fatal.

Diabetic ketoacidosis Symptoms and Complications

The lack of insulin causes the blood glucose level to keep rising to dangerous levels. This state is known as hyperglycemia and definitely not good as the body system is in a state of crisis. At this point, the individual is already suffering from Ketoacidosis as the blood is already packed with highly acidic ketones and still continues to become more and more acidic.

The symptoms or warning signs are very typical of that of diabetes and these are:

Increased thirst
Excessive urine production
Dizziness and nausea
Abdominal pain and vomiting
Weakness and fatigue
Double vision and confusion
Fainting spells or loss of consciousness (diabetic coma)

Ketone bodies are water-soluble compounds that are produced as by-products when fatty acids are broken down for energy in the liver and kidney. They are used as a source of energy in the heart and brain.The presence of ketones is not only limited to blood. It can also be present in the urine.

What to do

If you are a diagnosed diabetic and think that you are already suffering from DKA, get yourself to the hospital immediately. It is crucial to stop your condition from getting worse and letting ketoacids to build up to dangerous levels. Treatment will normally include fluids and insulin via intravenous line.

To prevent diabetic ketoacidosis from developing, you need to manage diabetes particularly your blood sugar levels. Regular monitoring is necessary and while you are at it, seek knowledge on how to reverse diabetes and apply it. Ultimately, it will be the cure of the root condition (diabetes) that will completely stop ketoacidosis on its tracks.

Loren R. Denton is a diabetes studies expert. For more great tips and information on acidosis in diabetes, visit www.DiabetesReversal.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Loren_R._Denton

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Makeover Your Recipes and Let Your Imagination Run Wild!

While looking for a recipe to prepare a favorite food, I often find myself poring over various cookbooks and the Internet looking for what I perceive to be that perfect combination. Even though I have found recipes that I and my family have enjoyed immensely, I often find that I get bored with them and look for new ways to improve them. In other words, I let the recipe be a starting point, and then I let my imagination run wild with new ideas and spice combinations to create a much improved version of a well-loved recipe. Here's what I did with one such favorite.

Years ago I acquired a diabetic cookbook that contained an especially tasty recipe for beef tacos. I always followed the recipe to the letter and each time, while tasty, it always seemed to lack something. After preparing it for the one who became my husband a year ago, he made several suggestions that I thought were promising. As a chef himself, I always value his opinion. I prepare my dishes with what I prefer to call, "my special twist." I have done this for years with old family favorites that both my mother and grandmother prepared, making them even more special. I began to experiment with different things and finally hit upon a combination that gave this recipe new life and more taste than it ever had. I also made it budget friendly in that it doesn't take specialty ingredients to prepare and will stretch your food dollars. This is what I ultimately did:

Beef Tacos - Original Recipe

1 pound lean ground beef
¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup diced onion
2 to 3 Tablespoons chili powder (or to taste)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2-3 drops hot sauce (or to taste)
6 oz. can no salt added tomato paste
¼ cup water
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Tortillas
Low-fat sour cream
1 Tablespoon shredded cheese (per taco)
Shredded lettuce and tomato
Sliced cucumber, if desired

The standard fare for tacos, am I right? Yes, this combination is very tasty, low in fat and calories and quite filling. It's also a little bland and boring. One thing I discovered when it first came on the market is a spice line called Mrs. Dash. I especially liked that all the combinations are salt-free and sugar free as my diet is restricted for both. When I discovered a new flavor of Mrs. Dash, Fiesta Lime, well shall we say, it was a done deal, my tacos were about to get a major flavor makeover!

My new husband is not fond of onions, but that's okay, this spice combination contains dried onion, so you don't have to take the time to dice and brown it. He is also not fond of ground beef, but prefers ground turkey. So, I took those two things into consideration when doing this recipe makeover. I will admit it was hard for a steak and potatoes girl to give up the beef. The results; however, are amazing!

Turkey Tacos - Recipe Makeover (8-12 servings)

1 pound ground turkey breast
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 Tablespoons Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning blend
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 drops hot sauce
6 oz. can no-salt added tomato paste
½ cup water
1 can fat-free refried beans
1 can bean of your choice (black, pinto, light or dark kidney beans), rinsed and drained
(I always use the type of bean I'm in the mood for at the time)
1 Tablespoon shredded Fiesta or Taco Blend Cheese (per taco)
Shredded Lettuce and Diced Tomatoes, as desired
1 Tablespoon low-fat sour cream
8 Whole Wheat, Fat-Free tortillas
Fresh cilantro, chopped, if desired

Heat 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a 10-inch skillet. Brown ground turkey breast with pepper, Mrs. Dash seasoning, ground cumin, chipotle chili powder, and ground coriander. Add Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Stir 6-oz can no-salt added tomato paste into ½ cup water. Add to skillet. Add refried beans and can of beans of your choice. Let simmer for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.

To spice this recipe even more, I have substituted Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning blend and omitted the additional chipotle chili powder. Also, to stretch this recipe even further, add 1 cup cooked yellow or brown rice to the mix. You will have a low-fat, healthy turkey, bean and rice burrito. The calorie difference is almost miniscule, although the Carbohydrate content will be slightly higher. You can allow for this by planning for it before preparing your meal. This dish is also easy and quick to prepare, so dinner will be on the table in no time!

As you can see, the possibilities are endless when making over your favorite recipes! This can be done with any recipe, whether it is appetizers, main dishes, vegetables, other side dishes or desserts. Showing once again that the diabetic diet does not have to be boring, bland and without flavor or spice. Bon Appétit!!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Huff

Friday, April 15, 2011

Exercising Your Way Through Diabetes

People in this century are living a fast paced life and physical activity for daily living is no longer a necessity. However, the increase in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes warrants the importance of physical exercise in battling and controlling disease. It is emphasized that obese and diabetics should be active to remain fit and stay healthy. Encouraging patients with diabetes to walk is now the advocacy of many health care providers.

Studies have recommended that a 3 mile walk daily for 1 hour everyday over a period of 2 years can produce healthy results. Reduction of body weight by 2.4 kg has is one of the benefits of regular physical activity. Fasting plasma glucose can be reduced by almost 1 mmol/L and Hba1c by 1%. Blood pressure can also be decreased by 10mmHg for the systole and 7mmHg for the diastole. Resting heart rate improves by 5 beats / minute. Risk for cardiovascular disease related to diabetes can also be reduced.

Brisk walking is the most commonly prescribed physical activity for diabetics. Spending 45 minutes per day at a pace of 4 mile can results in greater amounts of energy expenditure. Patients with neuropathies who are unable to do brisk walking can perform other physical activities like stationary cycling or swimming. Physical activity can also benefit in terms of cost of treatment since it is economical and can result to great deal of financial savings. Medications for hypertension, high lipid levels and diabetes can be reduced as well. You do not need to go to the gym or have the latest equipments to have an effective exercise.

Common places like parks, school grounds and sports complex can be a venue for your physical activity. Try brisk walking around the park and enjoy the view of nature. However, it is not enough to tell patients to exercise. The amount of physical activity must be appropriate for the individual and must be prescribed by the physician. Exercise must be done with proper supervision. However, achieving the goal of diabetes management is not always easy. Nutritional management might also comes as a challenge for those who are not willing to sacrifice diet and exercise as a daily work around habit.

Working hand in hand with the health care providers is necessary because they are knowledgeable and directly involved in recovery process, all the steps would be a daily challenge to any person and requires pure will to go through with it.

The way to diabetes reversal is simply exercising, make sure that the list of diabetes medicine supplements are really that necessary.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_A_Sanchez

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Which Herbal Medicine Is Used for Diabetes?

Since the ancient times, herbs were used for a lot of things especially in treating illnesses and diseases. Many of our current drugs today were derived from plant sources. The use of herbal medicines has now tremendously increased. Many people with diabetes are now leaning towards herbal medicines. The most common reason why people use herbal medicines is that they are dissatisfied with the current medical treatments. The medications for diabetics are costly and have side effects.

People have this mentality that when it's herbal, it is safe for the body and will produce fewer side effects because it is natural. Since herbal medicines require no prescription and can be bought over the counter, people can easily have access making them feel empowered. In buying herbal medicines, patients must be aware of the plant variable and the manufacturing variables. Plant variables include that they must be organic and grown away from polluted areas. The soil where the herbs are grown must be safe and is not contaminated. Always consider the part of the plant used whether it is the leaf, stem or root because they have different uses.

Manufacturing variables can include the packaging, shelf life and storage. Be careful in buying herbal products especially when used for diabetes control. Some of the herbal medicines are approved as supplements and have no therapeutic claims. There are some drugs that are ineffective ad useless. Herbal medicine must be used cautiously because when you are herbal supplements for diabetes, you are consuming large quantities of the drug. Accumulation of the drug's toxic substances can cause unwanted side effects. The most of the common herb in controlling diabetes is the Bitter gourd or momordica charantia.

This plant has blood lowering effects. The leaves possess the active ingredient. It is best to use bitter gourd that is grown organically. This ingredient is mostly found in tea and drinks for diabetes. However, before using herbal medicines, it is still best to consult your physician because some of the drugs for diabetes may have interactions with the herbs. It is better to be safe than sorry.

In reality, diabetes has now affected 17 million people and approximately 5 million are undiagnosed. In the US, the increasing number of adults diagnosed to have DM. This goes to show that diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate and health are one of the country's biggest problems out in the open right now. Imagine the whole world.

Complete your list of diabetes medicine is always important for diabetes reversal specially if you're on a strict diet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_A_Sanchez

Monday, April 11, 2011

Diabetes and Carbohydrate Consumption - Are You Being Poisoned by What You Eat?

Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and a number of metabolic ailments, such as irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue, have reached epidemic levels in the Developed World. These conditions, once only a concern of the middle ages and the elderly, are now affecting young people equally. The alarming increase of type 2 diabetes has set off alarms among Government Officials and the Medical Community.

Although a mountain of research has and is being done to better understand each of these metabolic infirmities and their relation to each other, there is always an entity hiding in the shadows, refined processed carbohydrates. Could carbohydrates be at the root of all these metabolic dysfunctions? Could a condition such as carbohydrate poisoning exist and could it be the cause of many of these metabolic conditions suffered by an increasing number of people in the Developed World. A look at how the body deals with carbohydrates may convince you, that indeed, carbohydrate poisoning exists and very well could be the cause of many of these metabolic ailments.

The human body has two systems for using and storing the food we eat. One system deals with the fats we eat, the other deals with carbohydrates. The fat system stores the fat we eat and has a seemingly unlimited capacity to do so, but must get a series of green lights from other systems before it will use this fat as fuel. On the other hand, the system that deals with Carbohydrates will use them as fuel first then attempt to store them. I say attempt because the body's ability to store carbohydrates, in the form of glycogen, is limited to only a few pounds.

When we eat carbohydrates they are turned into glucose and go directly into the blood stream. Depending on the type of carbohydrates, and the other foods eaten with the carbohydrates, determines how fast glucose is pumped in to the blood stream. As glucose enters the blood stream, insulin is released from the pancreas that tells the cells throughout the body, and the liver, to grab this glucose and use it for fuel and the production of glycogen that will be stored for later use. Glycogen is the form in which carbohydrates are stored in muscles and other organs of the body, such as the liver, for later use as fuel when blood glucose levels are low. The release of insulin also signals the fat system to stop burning fat. A fast large spike in insulin, that which you get from refined processed foods, causes a greater response from systems affected by insulin, such as the halt of fat burning and the forced feeding of cells throughout the body.

The glycogen storage capacity of the body, although very limited compared to the capacity to store fat, is determined by a person's genetics, his activity level, and how often he eats. If a person is active and/or fasts he will have a far greater capacity to store glycogen then a person that is sedentary and eats all the time. A sedentary person who eats refined processed foods all the time might have virtually no storage capacity for carbohydrates. This is what's called, a one two punch, in boxing terminology. Let's look at what happens to this person being knocked out by the food he's eating.

As he eats and drinks, cupcakes and sodas, his insulin spikes. This insulin spike causes all the fat used in the making of the cupcakes to be stored as fat. So over time this adds up until he becomes obese. This insulin spike also demands that the cells in his body use or store the glucose in his blood stream. Because he's sedentary these cells don't need this glucose for energy nor do they have a place to store it, so the liver tries to convert this glucose into fat. But what ends up happening is the liver floods the blood with triglycerides.

As this continues over the years the cells develop a resistance to the effect of insulin. As a result of the high glucose levels in the blood stream, because the cells are not responding to the insulin as they should, the pancreas is forced to produce more and more insulin in an attempt to lower this glucose, all the while the triglyceride level in the blood stream is rising higher. Soon the pancreas begins to falter. Insulin level begins to drop and blood glucose levels begin to skyrocket. The liver, in an attempt to deal with the skyrocketing glucose levels, begins to flood the blood with triglycerides. While all this is going on, this person begins to suffer from chronic fatigue, because the cells in his body, no longer responding to the low level of insulin that signals them to eat, are starving. This causes great hunger promoting this person to eat even more.

As this person increases his intake of food in an attempt to quell his hunger, he begins to have bouts of vomiting and uncontrollable diarrhea, because the high levels of triglycerides in his blood has caused him to developed pancreatitis. The pancreas can no longer neutralize stomach acids in his intestines causing irritable bowel syndrome and uncontrollable diarrhea. As systems after system begins to fail, the body does the unthinkable; it begins to dump glucose via urination. This is unthinkable because the body was not designed to discard anything other than toxins. At this point, carbohydrates in the form of glucose have probably caused major damage to many organs. Dehydration due to the uncontrollable diarrhea and frequent urination causes this person to begin drinking soda after soda resulting in a vicious cycle of destruction.

Due to the high glucose levels in this person's blood he would be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. But this diagnosis is just describing the result of organs poison by excess carbohydrate consumption. Refraining from refined processed food and adding exercise to one's daily routine will most likely result in the cessation of most of the symptoms mentioned above in just a few days. Long term adherence to a low carbohydrate diet and daily exercise as described at parsonsdiet.com has seen a reversal of the damage done to organs by carbohydrates poisoning. As shown here type 2 diabetes may not be a disease, but rather a symptom of poisoning by carbohydrates and compounded by the chemicals use to process foods for taste and shelf life.

The story above describes what I and many other have gone through. The symptoms above are typical of carbohydrate poisoning. After doctors claimed to have no clue as to why I was suffering the way I was I began studying human anatomy and plowing over hundreds of research results. I began trying different diets and exercise programs to see which ones worked and which ones didn't. With research results, an understand of how the body works and a correlation between how we lived when our bodies were designed and now, I've put together a diet and life style that maximises health and well being. Although my diet and life style requires changes, once one is accustomed to these changes they become painless and totally sustainable. After all, if your living the way you were designed to live there should be no pain. To learn more about the effects of bad eating and living habits and how to cure most metabolic dysfunctions go to http://www.parsonsdiet.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerald_Parsons

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Diabetes Management - Do Not Become A Statistic By Learning How To Manage Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes management involves the ability to properly manage blood sugar levels. A proactive approach with diabetes treatment will ensure that you do not become a statistic by learning how to properly manage your blood sugar levels. Diabetes mellitus is an epidemic that is sweeping the nation and the lack of proactivity is leading to diabetes related deaths or other diabetes related complications.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes management begins with a proper understanding of what diabetes is. It is a chronic disease that does not need to be a death sentence and when properly managed, you can avoid all the diabetes related complications such as limb amputations, heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness, diabetic coma, etc.

When suffering from this disease, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, too little insulin or the body develops a resistance to the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is needed to remove glucose that is in the blood and distribute it to the various cells in the body for energy or fuel needed for daily activities. Glucose is derived from the conversion of the food that is consumed.

With these problematic insulin levels, the glucose in the blood cannot be removed and distributed to the cells which causes an accumulation of this glucose in the blood that is inevitably removed from the blood through urine which is a waste of glucose since the cells will have no energy or fuel for daily activities.

Diabetes management requires the proper management of these glucose levels to ensure that the cells get the fuel that they need and to avoid diabetes related complications.

Over 18 million people in the US are plagued by this disease and more than half of them are unaware that they have this chronic disease. It is known as one of the silent killers because the symptoms of diabetes if any, take a long time to develop.

When you finally notice symptoms of diabetes, you may have had the disease for years which is why diabetes testing on at least an annual basis is important to rule out the disease or to start a diabetes management program as soon as possible in order to start reversing diabetes.

Diabetes Management

Diabetes management first requires a diabetes diagnosis which should follow an overnight fast in order for blood sugar levels to be tested. This diabetes testing involves testing the urine or blood samples after this overnight fast.

While various medications may be prescribed for diabetes management, the natural approach for diabetes treatment and even diabetes cure is one of the best ways to properly manage this disease.

It is important to note that Type 1 diabetes which results when the body does not produce any insulin or too little insulin, which then leads to diabetics with this type to require daily injections of insulin for survival. This type usually develops in childhood.

Type 2 diabetes begins in adulthood and the skyrocketing rates of new cases leads to the conclusion that poor lifestyle choices are being made which is causing the increased number of new cases. This type is most impacted by making lifestyle changes that include maintaining a healthy weight, following a proper and healthy diet and incorporating exercise.

These changes can allow a diabetic to properly manage this disease and in some cases cure the disease. For both types of diabetes, glucose monitoring devices are necessary to determine the blood sugar levels on a daily basis to ensure that blood glucose levels are not too high and not too low.

Diabetes Diet

Since glucose is derived from the food that we eat, diabetics need to monitor what they eat and make adjustments as necessary to maintain even glucose levels on a daily basis. Since glucose is mainly affected by carbohydrates, many diabetes diets include carbohydrate counting for diabetes management. Working with a dietitian is an important step to incorporate a proper diabetes diet and properly manage blood sugar levels.

Diabetes management will ensure that you do not become a statistic. Adopt an action plan starting today and not tomorrow to not only manage but to cure diabetes. Do not bury your head in the sand for one more day. This is a serious disease that you can overcome. Visit visit http://www.squidoo.com/treatment_for_diabetes_reverse_symtoms_naturally for important diabetes resources that will help you cure diabetes NATURALLY!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Robbins

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Makeover Your Recipes and Let Your Imagination Run Wild!

While looking for a recipe to prepare a favorite food, I often find myself poring over various cookbooks and the Internet looking for what I perceive to be that perfect combination. Even though I have found recipes that I and my family have enjoyed immensely, I often find that I get bored with them and look for new ways to improve them. In other words, I let the recipe be a starting point, and then I let my imagination run wild with new ideas and spice combinations to create a much improved version of a well-loved recipe. Here's what I did with one such favorite.

Years ago I acquired a diabetic cookbook that contained an especially tasty recipe for beef tacos. I always followed the recipe to the letter and each time, while tasty, it always seemed to lack something. After preparing it for the one who became my husband a year ago, he made several suggestions that I thought were promising. As a chef himself, I always value his opinion. I prepare my dishes with what I prefer to call, "my special twist." I have done this for years with old family favorites that both my mother and grandmother prepared, making them even more special. I began to experiment with different things and finally hit upon a combination that gave this recipe new life and more taste than it ever had. I also made it budget friendly in that it doesn't take specialty ingredients to prepare and will stretch your food dollars. This is what I ultimately did:

Beef Tacos - Original Recipe

1 pound lean ground beef
¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup diced onion
2 to 3 Tablespoons chili powder (or to taste)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2-3 drops hot sauce (or to taste)
6 oz. can no salt added tomato paste
¼ cup water
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Tortillas
Low-fat sour cream
1 Tablespoon shredded cheese (per taco)
Shredded lettuce and tomato
Sliced cucumber, if desired

The standard fare for tacos, am I right? Yes, this combination is very tasty, low in fat and calories and quite filling. It's also a little bland and boring. One thing I discovered when it first came on the market is a spice line called Mrs. Dash. I especially liked that all the combinations are salt-free and sugar free as my diet is restricted for both. When I discovered a new flavor of Mrs. Dash, Fiesta Lime, well shall we say, it was a done deal, my tacos were about to get a major flavor makeover!

My new husband is not fond of onions, but that's okay, this spice combination contains dried onion, so you don't have to take the time to dice and brown it. He is also not fond of ground beef, but prefers ground turkey. So, I took those two things into consideration when doing this recipe makeover. I will admit it was hard for a steak and potatoes girl to give up the beef. The results; however, are amazing!

Turkey Tacos - Recipe Makeover (8-12 servings)

1 pound ground turkey breast
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 Tablespoons Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning blend
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 drops hot sauce
6 oz. can no-salt added tomato paste
½ cup water
1 can fat-free refried beans
1 can bean of your choice (black, pinto, light or dark kidney beans), rinsed and drained
(I always use the type of bean I'm in the mood for at the time)
1 Tablespoon shredded Fiesta or Taco Blend Cheese (per taco)
Shredded Lettuce and Diced Tomatoes, as desired
1 Tablespoon low-fat sour cream
8 Whole Wheat, Fat-Free tortillas
Fresh cilantro, chopped, if desired

Heat 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a 10-inch skillet. Brown ground turkey breast with pepper, Mrs. Dash seasoning, ground cumin, chipotle chili powder, and ground coriander. Add Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Stir 6-oz can no-salt added tomato paste into ½ cup water. Add to skillet. Add refried beans and can of beans of your choice. Let simmer for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.

To spice this recipe even more, I have substituted Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning blend and omitted the additional chipotle chili powder. Also, to stretch this recipe even further, add 1 cup cooked yellow or brown rice to the mix. You will have a low-fat, healthy turkey, bean and rice burrito. The calorie difference is almost miniscule, although the Carbohydrate content will be slightly higher. You can allow for this by planning for it before preparing your meal. This dish is also easy and quick to prepare, so dinner will be on the table in no time!

As you can see, the possibilities are endless when making over your favorite recipes! This can be done with any recipe, whether it is appetizers, main dishes, vegetables, other side dishes or desserts. Showing once again that the diabetic diet does not have to be boring, bland and without flavor or spice. Bon Appétit!!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Huff

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Why You Need to Get Rid of Diabetic Neuropathy Signs and Symptoms

When you have diabetes mellitus, chances are high that you just will suffer from diabetic neuropathy symptoms and therapy is vital if you're experiencing this type of discomfort. Neuropathy typically arises due to prolonged elevated blood glucose levels, and usually extends up to 5 years or far more. Diabetes is generally one of the most frequent cause of neuropathy, however you will find also other components that will cause this nerve disorder.

Some of the diabetic neuropathy symptoms are evident, like discomfort in the extremities, which is most frequently felt on the feet. Even so, you will find also far more subtle manifestations that you just ought to pay attention to and have them treated. Some signs include numbness, tingling, diarrhea, and erectile dysfunction at the same time as a lowered potential to fight infection and wounds in the extremities as a result of reduction of blood flow.

Beneath are one of the most powerful methods to adhere to:
1. Have your blood sugar levels monitored often. Adhere to the orders of one's medical doctor and maintain a record of one's glucose levels all via the day.
2. Consume correctly. A diet that aids in easing nerve discomfort is merely a great, wholesome, and balanced diet. A balanced diet tells you what foods you should consume, the time you should consume, the quantity of food you should consume, and also contains wholesome snacks. Be sure to watch everything you consume simply because every single bite counts when we're speaking about blood glucose control.
3. Workout frequently. Even a 20-40-minute daily workout will do. Workout is required in decreasing your blood glucose levels, so it's an indirect way to greatly lessen the danger of getting a neuropathy. This may be accomplished merely by just utilizing the stairs instead of a lift or taking a walk around your neighborhood.

Should you be experiencing nerve discomfort, you will find other choice treatment options for neuropathy, based on the extent of injury to your nerves along with other symptoms.
- Many people encounter relief once they take warm bath and frequent walks. Even so, individuals who've cuts or sores on their feet may have difficulty taking frequent walks. Also, take great care of one's feet simply because that is one of the most frequent spot for nerve harm.
- Consult your medical doctor about discomfort medication. Presently, Lyrica and Cymbalta are the only approved medicines for diabetic neuropathy but you will find other discomfort medications like topical creams and over-the-counter drugs accessible.
- Acupuncture may also aid relieve discomfort related to neuropathy.
- Anodyne treatment may be employed to relieve nerve pains. When only accessible at expensive and upmarket clinics, anodyne therapy is now accessible in the house with all the introduction of a range of portable devices.
- Vitamin B12 can aid nevertheless it should be taken in restricted doses.

After you have religiously followed these recommendations, you may not only treat the symptoms of neuropathy but also aid to avert the far more serious complications that will arise simply because of of diabetic neuropathy like diabetic foot ulcers. It is a truth that up to 10% of individuals will create foot ulcers as a result of nerve harm and troubles with peripheral circulation and physicians estimate that nearly 75% of all amputations that occur as a result of the reduction of blood flow associated with diabetic neuropathy could have been prevented with correct foot care.

To learn more about Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms and to learn about Anodyne Therapy and its used in treating pain go to my own web site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Ro_Sharp

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Children With Diabetes At School!

Type 2 diabetes once never appeared in children but it is now rapidly increasing in kids. The increase in children with Type 2 diabetes parallels with the rising rates of childhood obesity and low rates of childhood exercise. Although the typical age for a child being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is thirteen and a half years, the disease has been found in children as young as four.

When dealing with diabetes in children it was understood Type 1 diabetes which usually starts in childhood or adolescence (or early adult life) was the cause, now diabetes in children includes Type 2 diabetes.

Monitoring diabetes is something that requires constant supervision and making good, conscious decisions. But what about children who are at school? This can be a critical time for them with so many unhealthy choices available at lunch and the long days of classes. That's why it is important to make sure they plan ahead and the adults around them are prepared to act if a situation occurs.

The law has protected children since 1973 when Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act took effect. Since then, new legislation has been enacted including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1991 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. All of these are in place to protect children from discrimination for their condition. Plus, any school that receives federal funding or is classified as being open to the public is required to accommodate the needs of diabetic children.

So what kinds of accommodations are required? One is to have the individual assessed for their particular case. It is also to take place at a reasonable time with as little disturbance in their normal school day as possible. This includes any participation they might have in school activities.

It is important for parents to know and understand that some day cares may not be able to handle the needs of diabetic children. They might not have the capability of administering the required snacks at the appropriate times. Plus, some day cares might not grant access to diabetic children because of their condition. While this is a blatant disregard for the law, it unfortunately still continues to occur.

Regardless if a child is in a day care or school setting there are certain provisions that have to be in place. For example, certain responsibilities have to be met by both parents and school personnel. Co-operation between both parties is necessary for the well-being of the child.

Some of the requirements that have to be available include:


the availability of snacks and meals at the appropriate times
plus, there has to be personnel who are adequately trained for blood sugar testing and what the results would indicate. They also need to be familiar with recognizing the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and the necessary treatment options for both
there has to be adequate storage for insulin and sufficient time for injections as prescribed by a physician
personnel must have the resources and ability to test for ketones and take the appropriate action if there is a problem with the levels

Although drug therapy can help, the real key to managing Type 2 diabetes in children is increasing exercise and decreasing sweets or carbohydrate portions.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Friday, April 1, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Glucose Tolerance and Your Heart!

Traditionally the way diabetes has been diagnosed has been with fasting blood sugar. This makes a great deal of sense when dealing with Type 1 diabetes in which the pancreas is unable to make or release enough insulin to let sugar enter the cells and be broken down into energy.

In the case of Type 2 diabetes, however, the cause is different and the body's chemistry is different. In Type 2 diabetes, at least in its early stages, the pancreatic beta cells are able to produce insulin but the body's cells are insensitive to it. Consequently, insulin levels can actually be abnormally high. Blood pressure and heart rate can rise after an intravenous injection of insulin, even when the blood sugar concentration is kept the same with injections of sugar solution. This is probably due to an increase in the blood concentration of noradrenaline that accompanies an injection of insulin. Noradrenaline has to do with setting off the fight or flight response, which increases the heart rate.

A group of researchers in the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Hematology and Rheumatology at the University of Ryukus Graduate School of Medicine in Okinawa, Japan, set out to discover whether glucose intolerance, caused by insensitivity to insulin, could be associated with heart disease in people with normal blood sugars. Results of their work were published the March edition of the journal Diabetes Care.

Two hundred and eighty-seven volunteers were recruited for the study. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed and their hearts were examined by echocardiography. The left ventricle of the heart was of particular interest because it is the part that pumps blood out to the rest of the body. When blood pressure is high for too long the left ventricle grows overly large, its muscle growing inward to make the hollow space inside the ventricle too small to hold an adequate supply of blood. When that happens congestive heart failure can be the consequence. In congestive heart failure the blood backs up from the left ventricle, the pumping action of the heart becomes less and less powerful and fluid collects in the lungs.

This fluid in the lungs makes breathing difficult and is a medical emergency. Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for congestive heart failure.

It was found the volunteers with impaired glucose tolerance caused by insulin resistance, had worse left ventricular function than the volunteers who suffered with high blood sugar levels. Therefore it was concluded that impaired glucose tolerance was worse for the function of the left ventricle than high blood sugar levels.

It has long been known that normalizing your weight and exercising regularly are good for your heart, because less weight means less work for your heart and regular exercise gives your heart muscle the workout that all muscles need.

Now it would seem there is even more reason for exercising and losing fat for a healthy heart. Losing fat, especially belly fat, also helps to improve insulin sensitivity which is the basis for Type 2 diabetes.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions ... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers