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What kind of diabetes do I have?

First, you need to know what exactly Diabetes is. It is a chronic, potentially incapacitating and often deadly disease. Variable production and supply of insulin in the body is major cause of this disease. Either the body generates no or inadequate insulin (type 1 diabetes), or the body cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively (type 2 diabetes). Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps sugar (glucose) to leave the blood and enter the cells of the body to be used as fuel.

Types of Diabetes

People with Pre diabetes will have blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not quite as high as those suffering from diabetes. Pre diabetes should be considered as a warning sign to make lifestyle changes that can help prevent type 2 diabetes. According to the statistics, more than 60 million people in the United States alone have pre-diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when a body’s immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This causes the pancreas to stop making insulin or to make too little. Type 1 diabetes is more common among whites than people of other races.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common, affecting almost 21 million people in the United States alone. It happens when a person’s body can’t suitably make use of insulin it makes, a condition called insulin resistance. This can happen if one is overweight, because body fat makes it harder to use the insulin one’s body produces. There may be some other factors as well like inactivity, increased age, race and a family history of type 2 diabetes.

What are the signs of diabetes?

  • being very thirsty
  • urinating often
  • feeling very hungry or tired
  • losing weight without trying
  • having sores that heal slowly
  • having dry, itchy skin
  • losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
  • having blurry eyesight

It is possible that you experience one or more of these symptoms before you found out you had diabetes. Or you may have had no signs at all. A blood test is the best method to find out whether you have pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Why do you need to take care of your diabetes?

After suffering from his disease for many years, people can have serious problems with their eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth. But the most serious problem caused by diabetes is heart disease. When you have diabetes, you are more prone to have heart disease or stroke than people without diabetes.  Both women and men with diabetes are at risk. You may not even have the typical signs of a heart attack.

You can lessen your risk of getting heart disease by controlling your blood pressure and blood fat levels by exercising, increasing your physical activities or as recommended by your doctor. Remember that every step toward your goals helps!

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Healthy lunch choices for Diabetic patients

 

It is very hard to figure out what to eat especially for someone suffering from Diabetes 2. All of a sudden, you will notice that the things you used to like to eat are on the forbidden list. It may be very depressing? When you are diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, it’s even more important to watch what you eat, everyday.

Choosing lunch options can get even more complicated. Cafeterias, fast food joints, and vending machines are notorious for having few healthy choices available. Bringing a lunch from home is wiser option. But then also you have to watch the calories, fat grams and carbohydrates, in the food you bring from home. Then, one must think what the healthiest choices are? Let’s now try to build a lunch for diabetic patients.

Salads

Always try to have salads in your lunch menu if you have diabetes. You can create a different salad every day of the week by varying your toppings.

It is best to have lots of raw vegetables, including carrots, cucumbers, radishes, celery, and spinach in your salad. Sprinkle nuts or seeds on top, add a few dried cranberries, and garnish with some avocado chunks to give it zip. Make sure that you opt for low fat or fat free salad dressings.

 Sandwiches

Like salads, you can use many other ways to spice up a sandwich. Start with whole grain bread or a whole wheat tortilla. If you are non vegetarian then you can add lean meat, such as turkey, ham, or grilled chicken; layer on your choice of veggies. Always avoid eating greasy chips, French fries, and other fattening sides.

Hearty Soups

Soups are also a very good option for lunch, with many healthy choices to choose from. Chicken, vegetable and tomato are all good soup choices. Others include butternut squash, gazpacho and other chunky vegetable varieties and pasta and green leaf vegetable’s soups.

Pasta

Pastas are also good to eat, provided you opt for whole grain pasta, you can eat all types of noodles, such as penne, angel hair, or spaghetti.

Veggie Stir Fry

For a more exotic lunch, go for a bowl of vegetable stir fry and brown rice. Same recipe made by fast food joints could be high in fat and sodium, so you should avoid those.

Always seek advice from with a certified diabetes educator or registered dietitian to get more lunch ideas. How much and what types of food you should eat varies, depending on your exact needs; a dietitian can help create a meal plan that is right for you.

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Treatment of diabetes using complimentary and alternative medicines

Although we have been seeing considerable advances in conventional medicinal, many people still strongly recommend the use of complementary and substitute medicine for many conditions and this is certainly true in the case of diabetes. Treatments for diabetes can include many elements.

There are number of products and local practices that can be used as an alternative and complementary diabetes medicine but are not presently considered to be part of the mainstream system of medicinal healthcare and the main difference between the two is that complementary medicine is designed to be used alongside conventional treatment while alternative medicine is used instead of conventional treatment.

While some forms of both complimentary and alternative medicine produce beneficial effects but there are some other forms as well which can be extremely harmful and, in the case of a potentially serious condition such as diabetes, you should not use either without the knowledge of your doctor. In fact, one should always consult the doctor about any form of complimentary or alternative medicine which he might want to try so that he can advise you of any possible medical consequences of such treatment.

There are a large number of different types of complimentary and alternative therapy for diabetes including:

  1. Guided Imagery. This technique helps relaxing the mind and body and develops consciousness of, and an ability to deal with, the body’s reaction to pain using peaceful images. This can be predominantly helpful for diabetes suffering with nerve damage.2. Magnesium. Most people agree to our Ignorance behind the vital part played by magnesium in controlling diabetes but it is known that this mineral, which is found in green leaf vegetables, whole grain foods and nuts, plays an important role in many of the body’s functions including functions of the nerves, heart, muscles and bones. Other benefits include helping the body to handle glucose.
  2. 3. Acupuncture. Acupuncture is the method which involves the insertion of needles into different parts of the body and can be used to activate the discharge of natural chemical painkillers. Again, this might be useful for diabetes patients suffering with often painful nerve damage. Ginseng. Ginseng is becoming very popular popularity lately for the treatment of a whole range of different conditions. Statistics show that using American ginseng can reduce glucose levels, but this evidence is not strong enough yet to say just how effective it is as a form of treatment. There’s one problem with ginseng is that it comes in a variety of different forms and strengths and you can not really figure out just what amount or strength is needed for therapeutic purposes.
  3. Fenugreek is used as a seasoning and therapeutic herb throughout the world.  Conventional Chinese herbalists are using it from decades for a multitude of conditions including kidney problems, male reproductive infections, high cholesterol etc. However, the vital benefits why fenugreek is used universally, is for diabetes and sugar-intolerance problems.
    6.  In Mexico, people used Nopal Cactus to treat diabetes, stomach problems, fatigue, and shortness of breath, for over many centuries.7. Cinnamon has been in use in different cultures for the treatment of diarrhea, as an antiseptic, digestion disorder and as well as certain menstrual disorders. But the noteworthy use has been discovered lately by Dr. John Anderson of the United States Department of Agriculture, is for regulating glucose. This will surely make life easy for diabetic patients. 8. Bitter MelonNo one has a doubt that this is being used worldwide for over 1,000 years.  In the Amazon it used for expelling worms, intestinal gas and as therapeutic measures for other disorders but it is especially used for the treatment of diabetes. Statistics very clearly show the blood sugar lowering effect of this bitter fruit.  

But are these Herbs safe for Diabetes?

It is like you believe it or not, it may work for some and may not work for the other but one can not rule out benefits of these alternative medicines in controlling or reversing diabetes. Few years back, FDA banned first ever herbal stimulant Ephedrine, also known as ma huang. But that doesn’t mean that other herbal supplements, spices or herbs are not safe to use. In any of the case, we strongly advise to consult your doctor first before start using any complimentary or alternative medicine.

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How to keep your kids diabetes free?

 

Childhood Obesity Takes a Toll

Type 2 diabetes, considered primarily to be an “adult” disease, is also affecting more children from the last several years. This is due to an abnormal increase in weight. Kids are becoming more inactive and eating more junk food than ever before. With the arrival of handheld electronic games, computers and ever more available television channels, children have more reason to stay inside and sit for long periods of time. With these habits kids are at risk for developing other adult conditions such as high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.

Here are some ways to help your child stay healthy:

Childhood, Unleashed

Parents can educate their kids about maintaining healthy weights by limiting video games and television time to an hour or two a day. Creating opportunities to have fun without electronic diversions can be a family undertaking. Dancing to music or working with art supplies are also other interesting ways to make your child busy. Let kids earn their TV time. Create a home rule, for every minute they play outside, they can watch one minute of television. So steps like these will definitely help them staying fit.

Give Them a Sporting Chance

It will be very encouraging for your kids if whole of your family can participate in any sports which your kids like. Some kids afraid of participating in any sport event just because of the fact that they are over weight. They might feel that they won’t be able to keep up, or that they’ll let the team down. Individual sports event such as martial arts or swimming might be good choices for building a child’s confidence.

Chores Make the Grade

Another way to make your kids active is to involve them in Household chores. Raking leaves, folding laundry, caring for pets, or helping with the dishes are just a few of the ways kids can assist around the house. Chores are a very good option because kids realize they’re part of the family and it’s their responsibility now; it really does help busy parents accomplish more on a daily basis. Most significantly, it gets kids up and moving. It’s a win win situation.

Healthy Snacks Go the Distance

Offering nutritious snacks such as fresh fruit, cut up vegetables, or low fat yogurt can help kids learn good eating habits. Making more meals at home, or packing healthful lunches or snacks for when you’re on the go, will help cut the calories that fast food adds. A bag of apples may have more price than a bag of cookies, but the apple is full of vitamins, nutrients and fiber, which in the long run gives more value for money by providing more of the things a growing child needs.

Healthy Choices

Keeping your family health a priority will teach kids learn to always make the right choices now and later at an elder stage. Parents hold the key to teaching their kids about living a healthy lifestyle. Doing it together makes everyone a part of it. And it’s more fun when everybody is on the same track. Taming the wave of adult diseases at right time is just one of the many benefits of healthy living. Don’t forget good health can last a lifetime.