Tag: diabetes herbal treatment

Categories
blog Diabetes Fenfuro Blogs

PATIENT EMPOWERMENT: TAKING CHARGE OF DIABETES

Nowadays, diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases in the society. Tight blood glucose control, dietary requirements and intake of regular medication are only few things that a diabetic patient needs to manage in order to prevent long-term complications. Assured continuity of care does not only create many challenges for the patient but also for the treating physician who will need to support the patient’s management strategies.

PATIENT EMPOWERMENT refers to a process that enables and facilitates behavior change. The key to empowerment does not necessarily means better compliance to what the doctor says or prescribes but rather in the opportunity to increase patients’ self-sufficiency to improve their decision-making capabilities.

Research has shown that diabetes education is central to effective self-management behavior, which in the long term can influence clinical and psychological outcomes.

Approaches have now moved from purely educational interventions to those that empower patients based on the assumption that they are managers of their own health. Diabetes education together with patient empowerment has shown to be the key for effective self-management behavior. When delivered through information and communication technologies (ICT), this solution has shown to lead to better health outcomes.

KEY ELEMENTS OF EMPOWERMENT

 2

 

  • Diabetes awareness
  • Education & training
  • Support of healthcare providers

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EMPOWERED ACTIVATED PATIENT

 3

 

  • He understands his health condition and its effect on his body.
  • He feels able to participate in decision-making with his healthcare professionals.
  • He actively seeks out, evaluates and makes use of information.
  • He feels able to make informed choices about treatment.
  • He is able to challenge and ask questions of the healthcare professionals providing their care.
  • He takes responsibility for his health and actively seeks care only when necessary.
  • He understands the need to make necessary changes to his lifestyle for managing their conditions.

HOW TO EMPOWER PATIENTS?

 4.jpg

 

  • DIABETES EDUCATION

Diabetes education for the nurses is vital in forming solid knowledge that will equip them to be able to properly educate their patients.

Poor education not only reflects in poor health for the patient but also leads to serious complications and early death imposing a large economic burden on the individual and healthcare systems.

Benefit: This would reduce excess costs for emergency department care and care needed for complications concerning uncontrolled diabetes. A lot of the complications that diabetics face could be prevented easily.

There is a large amount in the community of diabetics that simply do not care about their nutrition or health and are unwilling to make any sort of lifestyle change, those people aside; there is no excuse for the overwhelming amount of complications that some diabetics suffer from due to the lack of knowledge.

A patient with uncontrolled diabetes deals with physical ailments; people with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes often feel ill, experience cognitive dysfunction, have difficulty maintaining their weight at a desired level, and experience fluctuating moods.

Diabetes education can greatly decrease hypoglycemic events in patients with diabetes.

  • SELF MANAGEMENT

5Self-management is seen as a key capability for Patient Empowerment and emphasizes that persons with chronic diseases has the central role in managing their health.

Self-management is what people do to manage their diabetes or other chronic condition and its effects on their physical health, daily activities, social relationships and emotions.

Mindful eating: Mindful eating empowers the patient to make flexible decisions through the challenges of life. Mindful eating is one way to get closer to meeting the true needs and in the process gradually allows a person to live the life more fully.

Putting someone on a diet that says to avoid rice, “sweets”, “anything white” or “everything fried” automatically creates cravings and (even worse) guilt if they finally respond to their cravings. When a person gives into their cravings, the patient takes the wrong way & fails to manage diabetes.

  • INTERNET

6Only the internet allows us to set up an independent global diabetological service. The only thing users would need a computer and access to the internet. This service can serve unlimited number of people in the world along with medical consultation.

The key issue for patients & healthcare professionals is how to deliver personalized behavioral support in ways that are affordable and can reach to maximum number of patients. The internet offers several advantages in this regard because it is available 24 hours a day with very low cost.

Benefits

  • It does not require large investments.
  • It does not imply high fees.
  • It can easily be enriched with new information which immediately becomes available to the target group of users in any location in the world.
  • Help patients to monitor their diet and medicinal doses
  • Help both the patient and doctor to monitor the long term effect of the interventions

We cannot empower patients!

We only can provide a framework (tools, services, etc.) that makes it easier for patients to empower themselves.

REFERENCES

 

Categories
blog Diabetes Fenfuro Blogs

DRUG-INDUCED DIABETES

DIABETES is a well-known disease these days. It occurs when the sugar or glucose levels rise inside the human body. This rise in blood sugar levels takes place due to abnormal functioning of the cells known as β-cells of pancreas.

Under normal conditions, these cells release insulin on requirement to transfer glucose from blood to the tissues/cells for energy. This transfer balances blood sugar levels. The misconduct of these β-cells disturbs the balance of blood sugar levels and causes diabetes.

The activity of β-cells can be disturbed due to many reasons. One of those reasons is the consumption of some therapeutic agents.

THERAPEUTIC AGENTS can influence the development of diabetes, especially when pre-existing risk factors are present and these may cause glucose control to deteriorate if administered to those with existing diabetes.

It has been found that drug-induced diabetes can develop at the age of 20 years but it is more prone at the age between 40-60 years. The chances of development of drug-induced diabetes are found to be more in females (70%) as compared to males (30%).

ACTION OF DRUGS INDUCING DIABETES

Therapeutic agents causing diabetes may act either by increasing insulin resistance or by affecting the secretion of insulin or both.

 2

  • Grouping of drugs according to the mechanism of inducing diabetes
    • Drugs that cause diabetes by interfering with insulin production & secretion are:
β-receptor antagonist

(used in hypoglycemia)

 Tacrolimus

(immunosuppressant used in organ transplant)
Priminil (Vacor)

(used as rodenticide)

 Didanosine

(used as anti-retroviral therapy)
Pentamidine

(antimicrobial medication in used in pneumonia)

 L-asparaginase

(as anti-cancer agent)
Diphenylhydantoin

(used as anticonvulsant or antilepptic drug)

 Opiates

(used as pain reliever)

  • Drugs that cause diabetes by developing insulin resistance:
Glucocorticoids

(to control and treat inflammation)

 β-receptor antagonist

(used in hypoglycemia)
Megasterol acetate

(used as anti-cancer drug & appetite stimulant)

 Growth hormone

(growth stimulant)
Oral contraceptives

(used to prevent pregnancy)

 Protease inhibitors

(used as anti-retroviral therapy)
  • Drugs that act both on insulin secretion and resistance:
Thiazide diuretics

(to control blood pressure)

 Diazoxide

(used in treatment of acute hypertension)
Cyclosporine

(immunosuppressant used in organ transplant)

 Atypical antipsychotic

(used to treat psychotic conditions)
  • Treatments that induce diabetes by increasing nutrient flux:
Nicotinic acid

(used in dyslipidemia)

 Total parenteral nutrition

(used in intravenous feeding of person)
  • Grouping of drugs according to the capability of inducing diabetes

These agents may be divided into widely used medications that are weakly diabetogenic and drugs used for special indications that are more strongly diabetogenic.

  • Weakly diabetogenic medications include antihypertensive agents, statins and oral contraceptive pills.
  • Strongly diabetogenic include steroids, antipsychotics and a range of immunosuppressive agents.
  • There are also a number of known β-cell poisons including the insecticide Vacor, alloxan and streptozotocin which can cause permanent diabetes.

TREATMENT & PREVENTION STRATEGIES

  • Management of drug-induced diabetes is important as the diabetes so developed can convert into permanent diabetes for whole life. To prevent the development of diabetes, the blood glucose levels should be monitored regularly.
  • In cases in which the drug that induced diabetes must be continued, insulin therapy is the most efficacious approach. The diabetics should also try to use the lowest effective dose of therapeutic drug, if possible. Whenever is the possibility, the therapy should be altered.
  • A drug which is supposed to have adverse effect on blood glucose level should be avoided in a patient of diabetes, pre-diabetes or insulin resistance.3

Other diabetes management strategies include:

  • Healthy eating: Lifestyle management is the utmost requirement in the  management of drug-induced diabetes. The sweets and fats should be avoided as much as possible. Fruit juice should also be limited. Meals should not be taken more than 3 times a day. Alcohol intake should also be avoided (not more than 1-2 drinks/day) and blood glucose levels should be monitored before & after drinking.
  • Exercise: In drug-induced diabetes, physical activity
    contributes greatly towards the improvement in health. 30 minutes of moderate activity is recommended on regular basis by physicians. It is also required to check the glucose levels before & after the 4physical activity. The meal should also be planned according to the blood glucose levels checked previously.
  • Fenugreek supplementation: Another approach to tackle the drug-induced diabetes is by the treatment of diabetes along-with the on-going therapeutic drugs. It has been reported by many researchers that fenugreek is effective in the management of diabetes mellitus. In animal studies, the diabetes was induced in the animals with the help of alloxan or streptozotocin. Then, they were treated with fenugreek supplements. After some days of treatment on animals, improvements were noticed. There was improvement in the blood glucose levels on regular consumption of fenugreek supplements.5

In an animal study conducted by Babu KR et al., it was seen that fenugreek extract produced hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats after 7-21 days of oral administration. Their histopathological study on the rats showed that the alloxan-damaged β-cells were also restored on treatment with fenugreek extract.

It has been reported by Gaddam A et al. that fenugreek act by controlling the insulin resistance. The hypoglycemic effect of fenugreek was reported by them in their clinical study on both male and female volunteers having diabetes.

In a clinical study conducted by Verma N et al., fenugreek seed extract (Fenfuro™) exhibited anti-diabetic activity in male & female volunteers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. On completion of their clinical study, they found reduction in both fasting plasma and post-prandial blood sugar levels in 83% of the study subjects. Fenfuro™ was also safe during & after the study treatment.fenfuro@

According to many reported animal and human studies, fenugreek is safe and effective in the management of diabetes whether induced by drugs or develops itself. Being an herbal supplement, it does not caused any side effect in any animal or human volunteer.

REFERENCES

 

Categories
blog Diabetes Fenfuro Blogs

DIABETES MANAGEMENT WITH DIETARY FIBER

DIABETES MELLITUS

  • Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is a condition when there is rise in blood sugar levels in the body. The body becomes unable to use blood sugar (via insulin) for energy. During type 1 diabetes mellitus, pancreas becomes unable to produce insulin due to which glucose remains in the blood instead of transferring to the cells of the body. During type 2 diabetes mellitus, either the pancreas does not produce sufficient amount of insulin or the cells become unresponsive to insulin. In both of the conditions, sugar is not transferred from blood to the cells of the body. Thus, blood sugar levels raise causing diabetes.

(http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/common-terms/)

capture-2 

DIABETES MANAGEMENT

  • Epidemiology: India has the largest number of diabetic people. According to WHO, there were 32 million people diagnosed with diabetes in year 2000. It is now estimated that they will rise to 80 million by the year 2030. Thus, there is a critical need for the strategies to prevent the epidemic of diabetes.capture-3
  • Goals for management of diabetes: The goals for managing diabetes in people are to provide:
    • Relief from diabetic symptoms
    • Prevention of complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, cerebro-vascular disease, etc
    • Prevention of infections
  • The primary prevention criteria for diabetes by any healthcare provider include healthy life style focusing on proper balanced diet, increased physical activity and weight control. Lifestyle modification is the cornerstone for the management of diabetes.
  • For management of diabetes, dietary modifications are required. They aim to achieve and maintain ideal body weight, euglycaemia and desirable lipid profile.

(http://icmr.nic.in/guidelines_diabetes/guide_diabetes.htm)

(http://icmr.nic.in/guidelines_diabetes/section6.pdf)

ROLE OF DIETARY FIBER

  • Dietary fiber: Dietary fiber is the part of plant food, which cannot be digested by human body. Other food components such as fats, proteins & carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed by the human body. But dietary fiber passes intact through the stomach, small intestine, and colon and out of the body.
    • Availability: Dietary fiber is mainly found in the fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. It provides health benefits such as maintaining blood sugar levels, healthy weight and preventing heart disease.
    • Benefits: The high-fiber diet has many benefits such as,
      • Controlling blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar
      • Achieving healthy weight by lowering blood cholesterol levels
      • Helps to maintain bowel health
      • Decreases chances of constipation

(http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983)

  • Diabetes & dietary fiber
    • Dietary fiber is reported to lower blood glucose levels. The daily intake of soluble fiber results in the prevention of diabetes.
    • Mechanism: Soluble fiber help to control blood sugar levels by delaying gastric emptying, holding back the entry of glucose into the bloodstream and lessening the postprandial (post-meal) rise in blood sugar. Because fiber slows the digestion of foods, it helps to inhibit the sudden spike in blood glucose that may occur after a low-fiber meal. Such blood sugar peaks stimulate the pancreas to pump out more insulin. The cholesterol-lowering effect of soluble fiber may also help people with diabetes by reducing heart disease risks.capture-4

(http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/diet-nutrition/fibre#sthash.dXX6pgRZ.dpuf)

  • It has also been proved by the clinical studies that high fiber diet is beneficial to improve glycaemic control, glycosylated hemoglobin and hyperinsulinemia. It has been shown in the study that increases in bile-acid excretion due to dietary fiber intake is responsible for lowering blood glucose levels. The high fiber diet also helped to lower plasma lipid concentrations.

(http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200005113421903#t=articleTop)

  • Epidemiological studies suggested 29% reduction in the development of diabetes due to the protective effect of high dietary fiber intake. Increase in dietary fiber intake resulted in subsequent improvements in glycaemic control, reduction in the use of oral medication and insulin doses. Thus, dietary fiber consumption without altering the energy intake from carbohydrates, proteins and fats reduces the need for medication in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefanie_Ferreri/publication/24247618_Health_benefits_of_dietary_fiber._Nutr_Rev/links/00b495391040b77454000000.pdf)

  • Fiber-rich diet for diabetics: It is recommended that an adult male need 38g per day of fiber and female need 25g per day of fiber intake to prevent diseased state. Diabetic individuals should follow following high fiber diet to lower blood glucose levels:
    • Skins and seeds of vegetables and fruit
    • Whole grain bread, pasta, cereal, crackers and rice
    • Barley, beans and lentils
    • Canned beans, chickpeas in salads
    • Ground flax seeds to yogurt, cereal
    • Almonds
    • Fenugreek seeds

(http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/diet-nutrition/fibre)

(http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/fiber-how-much-do-you-need#1)

  • Fenugreek as dietary fiber: Fenugreek seeds are reported to be a rich source of dietary fiber. Gel fiber present in fenugreek seeds contribute towards anti-diabetic property. The fiber content of fenugreek helps to lower blood glucose levels and delay gastric emptying, thereby preventing the rise in blood sugar levels. Fenugreek seeds contain 50.2% fiber which have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect in diabetic patients.
    • In an animal study, fenugreek seeds extract was administered to diabetic rats. Fenugreek seeds significantly reduced serum cholesterol levels in rats. It was very effective to reduce blood sugar levels also.
    • It is reported that consumption of 25g of fenugreek seeds per day exhibit hypoglycemic effect in diabetic patients.
    • Thus, dietary modification with fiber will be helpful to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

(http://diabeticbar.com/fenufibers.htm)

(http://fenufibre.com/whatIsFenufibre.html)

 

FenfuroTM is a patented and clinically evaluated product for safe and effective management of blood sugar levels. Fenfuro is a first of its kind, safenutraceutical derived from fenugreek seeds through a patented process. Through its unique scientific process, FENFURO concentrates the bioactive part of plants into a manageable dose, while removing the inert parts such as cellulose. Also, since a lot of healthy botanicals are not palatable, consuming their concentrate in capsule form in small dosage is a lot easier. FENFURO contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids. These substances are known to lower blood lipid level and help in insulin sensitization and glucose regulation. FENFURO is the first dual action insulin sensitizer.

A clinical evaluation of FENFURO was carried out on a total of 154 Type 2 diabetics for a period of 3 months, to determine its efficacy and safety. At the end of three months 83% of the patients reported decrease in fasting sugar levels and 89% patients reported decrease in PP sugar levels. The patients also showed significant decrease in HbA1C levels as compared to respective baseline value. 48.8% of patients reported reduction in dosage of anti-diabetic therapy after regularly taking FENFURO.

The statement and product have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

Acupressure points for diabetes

Figurante. Le Do In est une technique d'automassage d'origine chinoise, puis importée au Japon. Cette technique est basée sur la pression de certains points (acupressure) visant à corriger les troubles corporels. Pression du point Méridien du Coeur 7 (pli du poignet, prolongement petit doigt). But : traitement de la dépression.

Acupressure is an alternative treatment to cure various diseases. There are hundreds of acupressure points in our body. By Putting physical pressure on the right acupressure points, one can not only relieve the stress and tension but can also get rid of various diseases including the rampant blood sugar. Acupressure is helpful for both the pre-diabetics and the diabetics. Acupressure along with healthy diet and herbal blood sugar management medicines can help.

Following acupressure points can not only help relieve the pain for the diabetics but can also help prevent blood sugar.

Intestine Point or Thumb and Index Finger joint

This acupressure point is important to relieve any kind of pain. Hold the joint between the thumb and index finger. Press and massage it for 5 minutes. You will experience relief in the large intestine. It also helps to reduce excess heat in the body. You will feel energetic and stress – free.

Stress Point or Hand Pressure Point:

Hand-Points-for-Headache-and-Migraine

The area near your wrist below the little finger is the pressure point that is good for the heart. Massaging it regularly helps reduce the stress and drain the negative emotions.

Urinary point or Back of Knee Point:

Diabetics also suffer from excess urination. By pressing this point in the center of back of knee cap for five minutes, one can be relieved of the urinary problems.

Arthritis point or knee point:

download

Arthritis Point is situated below the Knee. Place your fingers 2 centimeters below the knee, as shown in the picture. Massage this area with a little pressure for 5 minutes every day. It balances the digestive system. Blood sugar is said to begin with stomach fire and proper digestion can reduce this problem. You will immediately see the result. This method is also used to prevent aging, arthritis and other forms of weaknesses.

Liver Point Feet Pressure Points:

acupressure-points-for-diabetes-7-638

Liver Point is located on the foot between the Big Toe and Second Toe. You can find the Acupressure Liver Point exact between the Big Toe and Second Toe. Apply mild pressure on Liver Point as adverse round with clock (i.e. reverse circle). Massage the area for 3 minutes daily between Big Toe and Second Toe to get relief in depression, stress, emotional condition etc.

Please do not apply pressure or massage Liver Point if the patient is drained. Because Acupressure Liver Point for Blood sugar can make the situation worse with a tired person.

Big Toe Point:

Bigger-Rushing-reflex-point

Apply pressure under the big toe with the help of your fingers. Since it is hard for you to do this alone, ask a friend to help. The pressure points under the big toe will help in giving a long term relief from blood sugar. Pressing this point for 2-3 minutes every day will help relieve symptoms of Blood sugar.

Herbal diabetes manager

Acupressure does help but it also needs proper exercising and right treatment. Herbal products to manage blood sugar are proved to be highly effective and are strongly recommended. FENFUROTM is a first of its kind herbal product derived from single herb with proven results for maintaining blood sugar levels. FENFUROTM contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids. All of these substances are known to lower blood lipid level and play valuable role in insulin promotion and glucose regulation. 

A clinical evaluation of FENFURO was carried out on a total of 154 Type 2 diabetics for a period of 3 months, to determine it’s safety and efficacy.The patients showed a significant decrease in HbA1C levels as compared to respective baseline value. 83% of the patients reported decrease in fasting sugar levels  and 89% in PP sugar levels. 48.8% of the patients reported reduced dosage of anti-diabetic therapy after regularly taking Fenfuro.

The statement and product have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

Top 5 Diet Mistakes For Diabetics

How to avoid common problems of popular diet plans:

You see a lot in the news about the supposed best and worst diet plans. Media folks typically rank diets for taste, amount of weight loss, safety, and nutrition quality. Results vary. But what I want to talk about are the common mistakes I see people making when following popular diet plans. I’m not saying these plans are necessarily bad (or good), but I want to point out some of the unhealthy mistakes people make when they “go on a diet.” Here are some I see frequently in my patients:

1. Saving all your calories or “points” for one large evening meal:

image2

Often people may skip breakfast and eat a really small lunch so they can have a huge dinner. This is not a good idea because skipping meals can slow down your metabolism and makeweight loss more difficult. For people with diabetes, it’s also problematic because eating one large meal can spike blood sugar. It’s better to eat three similar-sized meals per day.

2. Avoiding milk because it has too many calories or points:

images

I see people avoiding milk way too often. People may avoid drinking milk because it has too many “points,” but then substitute other unhealthy, processed foods such as sodas or sports drinks, baked chips, low fat cookies, or other snacks. Ounce for ounce, milk is a very healthy, satisfying “food” packed with calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Most Americans do not get enough dairy. Inadequate calcium intake can lead to bone disease.

3. Eating too much fruit:

fruits21

Some diet plans allow fruit as a “free” food. Anyone with diabetes should know that fruit can’t be a free food because it contains a big dose of carbohydrates, which raise blood glucose levels. This is not to say people with diabetes should avoid fruit, but they need to watch their portion size and count carbs. Also, you should avoid dried fruit and fruit juice entirely, because they contain a large, concentrated amount of carbs in a very small portion size.

4. Not balancing diet — eating too much from one food group:

fat-to-fit-hunter-labradas-definitive-guide-to-weight-loss-labrada-graphic-4

Sometimes when people start a new diet plan they think they need to be extreme. For example, they might know that protein foods are good choices, so that is all they eat. They may have an egg for breakfast, a turkey burger without a bun for lunch, and a chicken breast with some green beans for dinner. Now these are not “bad” choices, but this diet is not well balanced and is lacking in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. You should include foods from all the other food groups too, such as fresh fruit, milk, yogurt and healthy carbs like sweet potatoes and beans. Eating a well-balanced diet is not only healthy, but is more satisfying too.

5. Binging on weekends:

how-not-to-binge-at-a-superbowl-party-e1422829622737

Giving yourself the leeway to eat whatever you want on the weekends, as a reward for sticking to a healthy diet the rest of the week can be hazardous to your plan, if your weekend foods are processed or filled with refined flour and sugar. These stay in your body and have toxic effects on your digestive system, and may actually negate the healthy things you do during the entire week. www.fenfuro.com

Use Supplement for blood sugar: 

FENFURO Regular intake of FENFURO can control the blood sugar level effectively. FENFURO is a first of its kind, safe nutraceutical derived from fenugreek seeds through a patented process.  Through its unique scientific process, FENFURO concentrates the bioactive part of plants into a manageable dose, while removing the inert parts such as cellulose. Also, since a lot of healthy botanicals are not palatable, consuming their concentrate in capsule form in small dosage is a lot easier. FENFURO contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids. These substances are known to lower blood lipid level and help in insulin sensitization and glucose regulation. FENFURO is the first dual action insulin sensitizer.

The statement and product have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

What You Need to Know About Type 2 Diabetes

The Facts 

Type 2 Diabetes, the most common form and also referred to as adult onset diabetes, is a problem in which blood glucose levels rise above normal. The pancreas produces more insulin in response however, over time, the pancreas cannot keep up and make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at a normal level otherwise known as insulin resistance. When there is not enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, the body will rely on alternative sources of energy like from your tissues, muscles, and organs.

At first, the symptoms may be mild and easy to dismiss, however type 2 diabetes develops slowly and worsens over time. 

The Symptoms

Image 1

Frequent Urination:

Elevated glucose levels force fluids from cells, increasing the amount of fluid delivered to your kidneys. This increases urination and may cause dehydration.

Constant thirst :

As water is leached from your body, your tissues become dehydrated leading to constant thirst, a common symptom of diabetes. 

Fatigue :

Glucose is the human body’s primary source of energy. When cells cannot absorb sugar due to insulin resistance, you may become fatigued or feel exhausted.

Blurred vision :

In the short term, high glucose levels can cause swelling in the lens of the eye leading to blurry vision. This is a temporary problem that can be corrected by getting blood sugar under control. However, if glucose levels remain high over a long period of time, other eye problems can occur.

Recurring Infections and Sores :

Elevated glucose levels slow down the healing process therefore, injuries like cuts and sores stay open longer making you more susceptible to infection.

If you experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis, consult your doctor who may recommend a simple blood draw to test for diabetes. Routine diabetes screening typically begins at age 45 however you may begin earlier if you are overweight, sedentary, have a family history of type 2 diabetes, and are at a higher risk due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglycerides.

As the disease progresses unchecked, the symptoms will become more severe and potentially life threatening.

High blood sugar levels over a long period of time can produce symptoms including:

    • Yeast infections
    • Slow-healing cuts or sores
    • Dark skin patches 
    • Foot pain
    • Numbness in extremities or neuropathy 

If you’re experiencing two or more of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Without treatment, diabetes can become fatal.

The causes of type 2 diabetes are still under research however, a number of doctors believe the disease is a result of a combination of factors.

The Causes

Image 2

Specifically, insulin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pancreas and released when you eat. Insulin helps transport sugar from your bloodstream to cells throughout your body where it’s used for energy. When a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it means that the pancreas can no longer produce insulin efficiently forcing the pancreas to work harder. Over time, this damages cells in the pancreas eventually rendering the pancreas unable to produce insulin at all.

This causes a build-up of glucose in the blood stream leaving the body starved of energy. Though, doctors are unsure of what triggers this series of events.

Cell dysfunction in the pancreas or with cell signaling and regulation may be part of the problem. A genetic predisposition may further be a factor in addition to obesity, which increases the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

While more research is needed fully understand the exact causes of type 2 diabetes, we are aware of certain factors that put people at a greater risk of developing the disease.

Risk Factors

Image 3

  • Certain factors are out of your control:
  • A family member who has type 2 diabetes puts you at a greater risk.
  • While you can develop the disease at any age, your risk increase as you age, particularly after age 45.
  • African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, and American Indians are at a higher risk than Caucasians.
  • A condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) increases the risk in women.

However, you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your chance of developing diabetes by assessing risk factors related to lifestyle:

  • Being overweight means you have higher amounts of fatty tissue which can make your cells more resistant to insulin. In particular, extra fat in the abdomen increases you risk more than extra fat in the hips and thighs. 
  • Your risk increases further if you live a sedentary lifestyle. Regular exercise causes the body to use more glucose for energy and helps your cells respond better to insulin. 
  • Eating high amounts processed food, and foods high in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol such as meat, dairy and eggs can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes

If you have pre-diabetes or have had gestational diabetes, your risk is also greater.

Figuring how to control blood sugar is paramount especially since a number of serious complications can result from type 2 diabetes.    

 Complications

Diabetes affects virtually every organ in the human body and is life-threatening if left untreated. A number of serious complications include:

  • Bacterial infections, fungal infections and other skin problems.
  • Nerve damage or neuropathy which can cause a loss of sensation or numbness and tingling in your extremities as well as digestive issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. 
  • Poor circulation to the feet which slows down the healing process if you have a cut or sore and can lead to infection, gangrene and amputation. 
  • Hearing impairment.
  • Retinal damage or retinopathy and eye damage which can cause deteriorating vision, glaucoma, and cataracts. 
  • Cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, narrowing of the arteries, angina, heart attack or stroke. In particular, women are twice as likely to experience another heart attack after the first one. Additionally, the risk of heart failure quadruples when compared to women without diabetes. 
  • Kidney damage and/or kidney failure. 

Hyperglycemia vs. Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia can occur when your blood sugar is low and is often followed by symptoms of shakiness, dizziness, and difficulty speaking. This can usually be remedied with a high sugar “quick-fix” food or drink, such as fruit juice, a soft drink, or a hard candy.

On the other hand, hyperglycemia can occur when blood sugar is high Characterized by frequent urination and increased thirst, exercising and proper nutrition can help regulate your blood sugar level.

How to Treat It

Image 4

Type 2 diabetes is a treatable and even preventable disease that affects millions of Americans in the US alone. Only a doctor can test you for diabetes and determine how often you have check your blood glucose levels however, by making some lifestyle changes, you can drastically improve your quality of life.

Nutrition

Include foods rich in fiber and healthy carbohydrates in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils and whole grains help keep your blood sugar levels within a normal range. Medical professionals like Dr. Neal Barnard are using high fiber, low fat plant-based diets as a natural cure for type 2 diabetes. Additionally, eat at regular intervals and until you are satisfied. 

Weight Management

Weight loss and management can significantly improve and even prevent the onset type 2 diabetes therefore, processed food, and foods high in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol such as meat, dairy and eggs are important to keep out of your diet. Reducing your consumption of pure, liquefied fat or refined oils—vegetable oil in particular—will further promote weight loss.

Exercise

Exercise for 30 minutes daily to promote heart health and to help control blood glucose. This is also an effective tool for weight loss and weight management.

Supplements

Add natural supplements to your diet. Fenugreek seed extract is growing in popularity as both a super food and an effective home remedy for diabetes. Studies suggest that fenugreek seed extract contains properties that can lower cholesterol and blood sugar. FENFURO, a group of furostanolic saponins derived from fenugreek seeds, contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids, all substances known to lower blood lipid levels and a play valuable role in glucose regulation. For more information, visit www.fenfuro.com.

Image 5 

Not everyone with type 2 diabetes needs to use insulin. If you do, your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin on its own therefore, it’s crucial that you take insulin as directed. While type 2 diabetes medication is an option, the disease can often be treated and even prevented with a low fat, high fiber plant based diet and regular exercise. 

How to Prevent It

While there is nothing you can do about your genetics, ethnicity or age, the life style changes mentioned in this article can drastically improve your quality of life after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and even prevent the disease’s onset. The first step is to consult your doctor who can assess your risk, test your blood for diabetes, and prescribe medications if necessary.

The statement and product mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

At Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Here’s How to Change That

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects the body’s ability to use or produce insulin thereby affecting blood sugar levels. There are 3 types of diabetes including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce insulin while type 2 diabetes affects the body’s ability to use insulin efficiently. Gestational diabetes affects the body’s ability to useinsulin during pregnancy. 

Image 1

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects the body’s ability to use or produce insulin thereby affecting blood sugar levels. There are 3 types of diabetes including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce insulin while type 2 diabetes affects the body’s ability to use insulin efficiently. Gestational diabetes affects the body’s ability to use insulin during pregnancy. 

The cause of type 1 diabetes is not understood and is not preventable or curable at this time. However, people diagnosed with or at risk of type 2 diabetes can engage in lifestyle changes that will improve their overall quality of life and even prevent the onset of diabetes entirely. 

The Original Super Food No One Talks About:

“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” –Hippocrates

 Everyone knows that the human body needs fiber. However, did you know that fiber is the original super food? Hippocrates, the father of medicine, first recommended eating whole wheat as a way of keeping the bowels healthy nearly 2,500 years ago. Though, fiber can do so much more than simply keep you regular.

There are actually two main kinds of fiber including soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber or roughage is found in bran, cereals, and whole grains like wheat, oats, rice and barley. Insoluble fibre absorbs up to fifteen times its own weight in water which helps prevent constipation. By allowing you to feel fuller longer, fiber is also a weight loss promoter.Soluble fiber is mainly found in oats, rye, lentils, beans and vegetables. This also helps you feel fuller longer and can lower high blood sugar and cholesterol.

Our daily intake of fiber should be at 25g. You can achieve this easily by starting your day with a high fiber breakfast like oats or bran with bananas. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber like broccoli, cabbage, oranges, dates and berries. These foods when eaten in abundance will keep you full and focused and prevent cravings for high fat, oil rich snacks and foods throughout the day. 

Though, increasing your intake of fiber suddenly can increase gas and bloating, especially if you’re eating a high amount of pulses and beans. If you eat fiber regularly over a long period of time however, the side-effects can be kept to a minimum while still reaping the benefits.

Image 2

Here are more fascinating facts about fiber!

  • Eating a high-fiber diet could cut your risk of developing diabetes by up to a third.
  • People who started eating a high-fiber diet reported a 10% increase in energy levels within just two weeks.
  • For every 10g of fiber you eat every day, your risk of heart disease drops by 14%.
  • Doubling your fiber intake from 13g a day (the average in the UK) to 25g a day could cut your risk of bowel cancer by 40%.

The Bottom Line

A plant-based diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables will also be incredibly high in fiber and include nutrient rich foods that can be eaten abundantly, promote weight loss, and treat type 2 diabetes or prevent its onset entirely.

 A Few Words about Animal Protein and Fat:

We often hear from mainstream media that carbohydrates are the bane of every dieter’s existence and can spike blood sugar levels increasing your risk of diabetes. However when compared to a cup of oats, a cup and a half of white flour pasta and a large apple, a single beef burger patty without a bun caused more than double the insulin spike of each plant food. The same result was found when salmon was compared to these foods. In fact, meat increases insulin just as much as pure sugar.

Image 3

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects the body’s ability to use or produce insulin thereby affecting blood sugar levels. There are 3 types of diabetes including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce insulin while type 2 diabetes affects the body’s ability to use insulin efficiently. Gestational diabetes affects the body’s ability to use insulin during pregnancy. 

The cause of type 1 diabetes is not understood and is not preventable or curable at this time. However, people diagnosed with or at risk of type 2 diabetes can engage in lifestyle changes that will improve their overall quality of life and even prevent the onset of diabetes entirely. 

The Original Super Food No One Talks About:

“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” –Hippocrates

 Everyone knows that the human body needs fiber. However, did you know that fiber is the original super food? Hippocrates, the father of medicine, first recommended eating whole wheat as a way of keeping the bowels healthy nearly 2,500 years ago. Though, fiber can do so much more than simply keep you regular.

There are actually two main kinds of fiber including soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber or roughage is found in bran, cereals, and whole grains like wheat, oats, rice and barley. Insoluble fibre absorbs up to fifteen times its own weight in water which helps prevent constipation. By allowing you to feel fuller longer, fiber is also a weight loss promoter.Soluble fiber is mainly found in oats, rye, lentils, beans and vegetables. This also helps you feel fuller longer and can lower high blood sugar and cholesterol.

Our daily intake of fiber should be at 25g. You can achieve this easily by starting your day with a high fiber breakfast like oats or bran with bananas. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber like broccoli, cabbage, oranges, dates and berries. These foods when eaten in abundance will keep you full and focused and prevent cravings for high fat, oil rich snacks and foods throughout the day. 

Though, increasing your intake of fiber suddenly can increase gas and bloating, especially if you’re eating a high amount of pulses and beans. If you eat fiber regularly over a long period of time however, the side-effects can be kept to a minimum while still reaping the benefits.

Here are more fascinating facts about fiber!

  • Eating a high-fiber diet could cut your risk of developing diabetes by up to a third.
  • People who started eating a high-fiber diet reported a 10% increase in energy levels within just two weeks.
  • For every 10g of fiber you eat every day, your risk of heart disease drops by 14%.
  • Doubling your fiber intake from 13g a day (the average in the UK) to 25g a day could cut your risk of bowel cancer by 40%.

The Bottom Line

A plant-based diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables will also be incredibly high in fiber and include nutrient rich foods that can be eaten abundantly, promote weight loss, and treat type 2 diabetes or prevent its onset entirely. 

 A Few Words about Animal Protein and Fat:

We often hear from mainstream media that carbohydrates are the bane of every dieter’s existence and can spike blood sugar levels increasing your risk of diabetes. However when compared to a cup of oats, a cup and a half of white flour pasta and a large apple, a single beef burger patty without a bun caused more than double the insulin spike of each plant food. The same result was found when salmon was compared to these foods. In fact, meat increases insulin just as much as pure sugar.

 

Monique van Nielen, PhD, from the division of nutrition, Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and colleagues conducted a prospective analysis as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-InterAct case-control study (EPIC-InterAct). The goal of InterAct is to investigate how both genetic and lifestyle factors cause diabetes in European countries.

The current analysis included 10,901 incidents of type 2 diabetes cases and a sub cohort of 15,352 participants, including 736 diabetes cases, with a mean follow-up of 12 years. The study covers cases occurring in EPIC cohorts between 1991 and 2007 in 8 countries.

The researchers found that, overall, high total protein intake was associated with a 13% higher incidence of diabetes for every 10g increment after adjusting for energy intake, center, sex, diabetes risk factors, and dietary factors. Overall, the researchers concluded that “a greater intake of total protein is associated with a higher type 2 diabetes risk in European countries…”

A number of doctors in the U.S. including clinical researcher and author Dr. Neal Barnard are treating and even reversing type 2 diabetes with a high fiber, low fat plant-based diet. In fact, a study published in the August 2006 issue of Diabetes Care found Dr. Barnard’s treatment to be 3 times more effective than the American Diabetes Association’s guidelines on how to control blood sugar.

 

The studies further show that by adopting a low-fat vegetarian diet—free of all animal products and added vegetable oils—individuals can lower their cholesterol, reduce their blood pressure, and lose weight. Best of all, the diet doesn’t demand calorie counting, cutting portion sizes, or giving up all carbohydrates. On the contrary, you can eat as much as you want—hallelujah, sign me up! 

 You Have to Exercise:

That’s right. HAVE TO.

Image 4

While diet is first and foremost vital to a healthy lifestyle and diabetes management and prevention, exercise is also highly effective at maintaining blood sugar levels, a healthy weight and a healthy heart.

Engaging in 30 minutes of physical activity daily can make a huge difference however, feel free start small with 3 to 5 days a week and slowly increase your level of activity. Even better, exercise does not have to be strenuous to be effective. Moderate, low-impact physical activity can help achieve weight loss including: 

  • Dancing
  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Aerobics
  • Elliptical machines
  • Walking 

If the activity you perform raises and keeps your heart rate up, it will be effective at weight loss and diabetes prevention when also coupled with a plant-based diet.

Quit Smoking, Seriously:

Smokers are significantly more likely to have diabetes and according to the Harvard School of Public Health, smokers are 50 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than are people who don’t smoke.

 

Though, quitting smoking is no easy task. People who have developed the habit over time must work hard to break it. However, many helpful resources exist. Support groups exist to help people successfully quit and nicotine patches and gums can also help to ease cravings. While quitting may take some time, it can reduce your diabetes risk and drastically improve overall health.

Stop Drinking Excessive Amounts of Alcohol:

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, consuming excess alcohol increases diabetes risk.

However, moderate alcohol consumption in people who want to continue drinking alcohol may have protective effects against diabetes. Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol helps the body use blood glucose more effectively. For men, this is no more than two drinks per day. For women, moderate consumption is no more than one drink per day.

 

If you do not currently drink alcohol, there is no need to start. An alcohol-free lifestyle is also an effective way of reducing diabetes risk. At Home Remedies :

Image 5

When it comes to the supplement industry, there is a plethora of deceptive marketing that preys on ignorance making it difficult to know what works and what doesn’t. So, I have provided a breakdown of my favorite dietary supplement known as FENFURO, a group of furostanolic saponins, derived from fenugreek seeds (Trigonellafoenumgraecum).

Fenugreek is an herb derived from Ukraine, India, China and the Mediterranean region. The ripe, dry seeds found in fenugreek contain protein, vitamins, niacin, potassium, and diosgenin as well as alkaloids, lysine, L-tryptophan and steroidal saponins. Studies suggest that fenugreek seed extract contains properties that can lower cholesterol and blood sugar. FENFURO contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids, all substances known to lower blood lipid levels and a play valuable role in glucose regulation.It is patented and clinically evaluated with proven safety and efficacy. For more information visit www.fenfuro.com

Conclusion 

If you’re worried about developing type 2 diabetes, you’re not alone. There are a number of risk factors to consider including family history, ethnicity and other environmental factors. However, making a few lifestyle changes is often the solution for many people worldwide. The key is to act now before this disease spins out of control putting you at risk for complications like heart problems, nerve damage, blindness, stroke or kidney failure. Wondering where to begin? You can start small by adding a supplement, swapping bacon and eggs for oats, berries and coconut milk and walking for 15 minutes. Diabetes is a serious illness but with help from your doctor, it can be treated and even prevented.

 

The statement and product mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

Signs of High and Low Blood Sugar

 

One of the challenges of managing diabetes is maintaining consistent blood sugar (glucose) levels. Even with diligence, some situations can cause high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, while others can bring on low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.

There’s a lot you can do to minimize blood sugar ups and downs andavoid complications by monitoring your blood sugar levels with a glucose meter. How often to test depends on many factors, including the type of diabetes you have, any complications you’re facing, and the therapies you’re on, says Amber Taylor, MD, director of diabetes at the Center for Endocrinology at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Md.

It’s also important to know the signs of both high blood sugar and low blood sugar, and what actions to take to bring blood sugar levels back to a desired range.

Image 17

About High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)

Common signs of high blood sugar include frequent urination, feeling thirsty, eating more food but not gaining as much weight as usual, fatigue, dry or itchy skin, and more frequent infections, says Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute in La Jolla, Calif.

A blood sugar reading above 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered above normal and can bring on these symptoms, although it’s possible to have high blood sugar without any symptoms, Dr. Philis-Tsimikas says. A reading above 300 mg/dL is considered severe. If your blood sugar is above 250 mg/dL for two days, Philis-Tsimikas advises informing your doctor and asking for specific recommendations for treatment. Having blood sugar levels above 300 mg/dL for more than a week can lead to more severe symptoms such as nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, confusion, and dizziness, especially when standing up from a sitting or lying position.

Ways to treat high blood sugar include:

  • Taking your prescribed medications as directed
  • Eating fewer carbohydrates with your meals
  • Exercising regularly with your doctor’s guidance

About Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

When your blood sugar drops rapidly or when the reading falls between 50 to 70 mg/dL if you take medications for diabetes, Philis-Tsimikas says you may experience early symptoms of low blood sugar such as shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, headache, hunger, weakness, fatigue, impaired vision, anxiety, irritability, and dizziness.

Blood sugar values that drop below 50 mg/dL are considered severe and can lead to more significant and dangerous symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures. If you experience more than two blood sugar readings below 50 mg/dL in a week, notify your doctor and go over your treatment plan.

To treat blood sugar below 70 mg/dL, Philis-Tsimikas recommends ONE of these options:

  • Drink one-half to one cup of juice, skim milk, or regular soda OR
  • Chew five to six hard candies OR
  • Take four glucose tablets OR
  • Swallow one tube of glucose gel

Then, check your blood sugar in 15 minutes. If it’s still below 70 mg/dL, eat more sugar. If your symptoms don’t stop, call your doctor or seek medical attention. If your blood sugar returns to normal, be sure to eat at your next scheduled meal or snack.

Use Supplement for Diabetes: 

FENFURO Regular intake of FENFURO can control the blood sugar level effectively. FENFURO is a first of its kind, safe nutraceutical derived from fenugreek seeds through a patented process.  Through its unique scientific process, FENFURO concentrates the bioactive part of plants into a manageable dose, while removing the inert parts such as cellulose. Also, since a lot of healthy botanicals are not palatable, consuming their concentrate in capsule form in small dosage is a lot easier. FENFURO contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids. These substances are known to lower blood lipid level and help in insulin sensitization and glucose regulation. FENFURO is the first dual action insulin sensitizer.

The statement and product have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

EXERCISE AND DIABETES

Image 4With more than 62 million individuals currently diagnosed with the disease, blood sugar is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India. It is predicted that by 2030, Dieabetes mellitus may afflict upto 79.4 million individual in India. physical activity and keeping a healthy weight can help take care of blood sugar and prevent diabetes problems. Physical activity helps blood glucose, stay in target range.

Physical activity also helps in insulin absorption. Muscles use glucose more than fat. Building and using muscle through physical activity can help prevent high blood glucose. Many kinds of physical activity can help take care of diabetes. Even small amounts of physical activity can help. Doctors suggest that aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days of the week.

Image 1

Aerobics uses large muscles, makes heart beat faster, and makes breathing harder. Doing moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day for five days a week provides many benefits. One can even split up these minutes into several parts.

•walking briskly

•hiking

•climbing stairs

•swimming 

•dancing

•riding a bicycle outdoors or a stationary bicycle indoors

•taking an exercise class

•playing basketball, tennis, or other sports

Do Strength Training to Build Muscle: Strength training is a light to moderate physical activity that builds muscle and keeps bones healthy. One can do strength training with hand weights, elastic bands, or weight machines two to three times a week. 

Do Stretching Exercises: Stretching exercises are a light to moderate physical activity that one can do. For example, yoga is a type of stretching that focuses on breathing and helps to relax. 

Add Extra Activity to Your Daily Routine: Increase daily activity by spending less time watching TV or at the computer. Try these simple ways to add light, moderate, or vigorous physical activities in your life every day:

•Walk around while you talk on the phone.

•If you have kids or grandkids, visit a park with them.

•Take a walk through your neighborhood.

•When you watch TV, get up and walk around the room during commercials.

•Do chores, such as work in the garden, clean the house, or wash the car.

•Stretch out your chores. For example, make two trips to take the laundry downstairs instead of one.

•Park at the far end of the shopping center parking lot and walk to the store.

•Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

•Stretch or walk around instead of taking a coffee break and eating.

Incorporating these physical activities with a healthy diet accompanied with dietary supplement like FENFURO can help in effective management of blood glucose. Regular intake of Fenfuro can control the blood sugar level effectively.  Fenfuro is a first of its kind, safe nutraceutical derived from fenugreek seeds through a patented process.  Through its unique scientific process, FENFURO concentrates the bioactive part of plants into a manageable dose, while removing the inert parts such as cellulose. Also, since a lot of healthy botanicals are not palatable, consuming their concentrate in capsule form in small dosage is a lot easier. FENFURO contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids. These substances are known to lower blood lipid level and help in insulin sensitization and glucose regulation. FENFURO is the first dual action insulin sensitizer.

fenfuro@

A clinical evaluation of FENFURO was carried out on a total of 154 Type 2 diabetics for a period of 3 months, to determine its efficacy and safety. At the end of three months 83% of the patients reported decrease in fasting sugar levels and 89% patients reported decrease in PP sugar levels. The patients also showed significant decrease in HbA1C levels as compared to respective baseline value. 48.8% of the patients reported reduction in dosage of anti-diabetic therapy after regularly taking FENFURO. The clinical study also established the safety of Fenfuro for consumption. 

 The statement and product have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Categories
blog

Safe Alcohol Consumption for Type 2 Diabetes

Should you drink alcohol if you have type 2 diabetes? If so, how much?

Image 1

In this article we seek to cover the great alcohol debate and shed some light on safe alcohol consumption for people living with type 2 diabetes.

The most important rule, and this goes without saying, is to keep alcohol consumption moderate. Studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption may have positive health effects like raising HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Other studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may even reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association defines moderate alcohol consumption as 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men. For reference, a single drink is measured as a 12 oz. beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or 1 ½ oz. of distilled spirits i.e. vodka, whisky, gin etc.

However, excessive alcohol consumption or binge drinking in which a person consumes more than 5 drinks in a two hour span of time for men and 4 for women, can increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Alcohol in excess can further increase your weight, which can lead to insulin resistance making glucose control more challenging.

A person living with type 2 diabetes is free to consume alcohol if desired, however, additional safety measures should be taken. Some alcoholic beverages are better than others for type 2 diabetics and other tips should be followed in order to stay safe. The American Diabetes Association recommends that individuals living with diabetes be able to recognize and manage delayed hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when drinking alcohol especially if these individuals use insulin or other medications that can cause blood sugar levels to drop. Since alcohol consumption can result in increased insulin production, which can lower blood sugar levels, education is vital for safety.

What you shouldn’t drink

Diabetics should avoid sugary drinks mixed with processed juices, added sugars and artificial syrups, which can add high doses of processed sugars. Such beverages can cause blood glucose spikes and weight gain if consumed in excess.

Image 2

What you should drink

Alcoholic beverages like wine, champagne or distilled alcohol mixed with seltzer water or club soda are better options for diabetics. So instead of ordering that vodka cranberry, try vodka with club soda with a squeeze of lime.

Drink with food

Should you decide to consume alcohol occasionally, never drink on an empty stomach. Have your drink with a meal or eat right before you drink to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. Your food should include carbohydrates so that some glucose will be in your system when you drink, lowering your risk of hypoglycemia. Feel free to consume as many carbohydrates as you need while drinking and never replace food with alcohol or count alcohol as part of your daily intake of carbohydrates.

If you are taking insulin or other medications that can lower blood sugar, prepare ahead of time and have some snacks on hand. Meals can have a delayed reaction in the body so snacks can come in handy. This can come in the form of a piece of whole grain toast, an apple or a bowl of oats with berries. These foods have also shown to help type 2 diabetics manage blood glucose and weight.

Image 3

Drink with water

If you think you might drink more than 1 or 2 alcoholic beverages in a single night, drink a glass water or club soda in between each drink. The more hydrated you are, the less alcohol you will drink.

Wear your medical ID

Wearing your medical ID at all times is ideal in case of a medical emergency health professionals will know about your condition. However, if you prefer not to wear your medical ID wherever you go, at the very least wear it while you drink.

The most important rule to follow when drinking as a diabetic is to put your safety first.

Monitor blood sugar

In the end, the only way to know what works for you is to monitor your blood sugar more often while drinking alcohol. Even 24 hours after drinking, alcohol can cause a drop in blood sugar.

So, safety first and bottoms up.

Image 4

Recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and struggling to manage it? Start with a healthful supplement that can help manage blood sugar levels.

Fenugreek is an herb derived from Ukraine, India, China and the Mediterranean region. Studies suggest that fenugreek seed extract contains properties that can lower cholesterol and blood sugar. FENFURO contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids, all substances known to lower blood lipid levels and play valuable role in glucose regulation. It has been clinically evaluated for safety and efficacy and is patented. For more information visit www.fenfuro.com

The statement and product mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.