So you’re wondering how you can be a diabetic AND be healthy? First off we need to distinguish between the two types.

The two types of Diabetes are Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent) and Type 2 (Non-Insulin-Dependent.) Type 1 is permanent destruction of insulin, which is deadly. Patients are injected regularly with insulin injections and must follow a strict diet.

Type 2 is a metabolic disorder that is caused by a lack of insulin. You can control it by maintaining proper body weight and normal blood sugar levels with diet and exercise.

The Type of Diabetes Diet You Should Have

A diabetic should eat a small amount every 2-3 hours (5-6 times a day) to avoid fluctuation in blood sugar levels.

A diet which is high in soluble fiber, low in saturated fat and low in calories is recommended for someone with Diabetes.

Your body’s main source of energy is carbohydrates. You need to eat 130 grams or more of carbohydrates each day in order to supply the energy your organs need to function.

For healthy women, at least forty-six grams per day of protein is recommended and at least fifty-eight grams a day for men.

Not all fats are unhealthy. Don’t discard healthy fats like monounsaturated fats found in olive, peanut and canola oils or essential polyunsaturated fats because the body does not produce them

How You Can Change What’s In Your Food

There are Diabetic Recipes for your favorite food but you will want to use low glycemic foods. Some recipes may be high in fiber (more then 5grams) and for some diabetics, the carbohydrates from the fiber source may cause a problem with blood sugar levels.

Believe it or not, you can get a free glucose monitoring system. There are no strings attached. These meters are not out of date models, and they are not used. You can even make special requests such as the model of glucose tester you want, the meter bag you would like to go with it and even the color of the meter.

The companies get a few things out of making these offers;

First of all, they get free promotion. You will likely remember the company that gave you the free tester and choose them with you need other products, like glucose tablets or emergency glucose injection pens.

Second, if they give you a meter, they keep you as a customer even if you choose another brand for those other items, because you will need to buy the test strips that match the meter. Test strips are expensive, and you cannot choose to mix one manufacturer’s meter with another company’s test strips. You will be a customer for as long as you have the meter. If you are a diabetic struggling without insurance, however, the bottom line is - who cares?

Paying full price for a meter is prohibitive and being without a meter is not an option. Managing your blood sugar is the key to managing your diabetes. Simply taking insulin shots, eating well and exercising is not enough. Your blood sugar tells the story of what is working and what is not, so a tester devise is a must.

Diabetes is a rising healthcare concern for those who have it, and those who don’t. It is caused by a disarray of the metabolism effecting how the body digests the intake of food used for energy and growth. The more you educate yourself on this disease, the better you will be prepared to determine how can you prevent diabetes.

The food we eat is disseminated into glucose which then forms our blood sugars. This is the main fuel supply for our bodies. Insulin must be present for glucose to enter the cells. When this does not happen, it is caused by the lack of insulin with is produced by pancreas.

The lack of insulin being produced cause diabetes. Normally, the diagnosis for treatment is a daily dose of insulin in the form of a tablet or shot.

If you have a family history of diabetes, discuss the family background with your healthcare provider. Normally, they will recommend a testing. Once testing begins, depending on the results, the doctor will determine the risk factor and frequency of testing needed.

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of diabetes. Here are a few tips. The number one is to watch your weight. Prepare meals that are low in calories. This is a good way to avoid diabetes. Include plenty of vegetables and a variety of fruits in your diet. This will help reduce the risk. Decrease the amount of sugary drinks you intake. Excessive drinks, increases your risk tremendously.

Stay active. Include a daily routine of exercise. Riding a bike, a brisk walk around the block, or a few minutes of jumping jacks and running in place will increase the body’s ability to produce insulin. So, how can you prevent diabetes? I hope these general guidelines answers that question for you.

In small amounts, alcohol is relatively harmless to people with type 2 diabetes. ?Although when you drink, your liver decreases its ability to release glucose so that it can cleanse your blood. ?At this time hypoglycemia becomes a real risk for those with diabetes.

The Ten Golden Rules:

1. Discuss drinking with your health care provider or your health care team.
2. Only drink if your blood sugar levels are in the normal range most of the time.
3. Small amount means a maximum of two beers per day for men and one beer daily for women.? Over age 65, the best advice is to?have only one beer per day.?
4. If you are the type who can’t limit drinking, it’s best to avoid it entirely.
5. Drink in the company of friends who know you are diabetic and can treat low blood sugar.? Lightheadedness,?confusion and slurring of speech can be caused by hypoglycemia not just intoxication.
6. Always take alcoholic beverages with a meal or snack containing carbohydrates.
7. Treat your alcoholic drink as?an addition to your meal or snack.? Don’t skip any foods.
8. Avoid?consuming any alcoholic beverages?if you are pregnant or have abused?its use?previously.
9. It is wise to?avoid drinking altogether if you have other medical conditions. Adding alcoholic beverages to the mix could make some problems worse.
10. Stay away from liqueurs, sweet wines and sweet mixed drinks.

One drink is defined as:

• 12 ounces?(375 ml) of regular beer
• 5 ounces (150 ml) of wine???
• 1 nip (1 ounce or 39 ml) of spirits

Diabetics on insulin?or some diabetic tablets, should be aware of the hypoglycemic effect of alcoholic beverages and, for that reason, should not drink on an empty stomach.? It is now known there may be some benefits to enjoying an occasional drink if your have diabetes or prediabetes. Some people can safely drink moderate amounts of alcohol; others may find negative consequences. ? ?

The challenging task of parenting is difficult no matter the age of the child. The style of parenting will vary dependent upon what culture you are in, your own personal background of how you were raised, and the environment that you are raising the child in. There is no one correct way to be the ideal parent, however as a successful parent your goal will be to help the children to grow up and be independent, loving, and of course respectful to other member of the society. What about being the parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes (D1)? Quite often, we find ourselves being more sympathetic and overprotective toward our Type 1 Diabetes child. Among all the things, we need to remember is that our primary goals have not changed, as that is to be a successful parent. As with other children with special needs, D1 child can be very challenging as it becomes necessary to understand how the disease will affect the child and what is necessary to manage the treatment. The potential for distress for newly diagnosed parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, will almost be overwhelming. The additional regimen will be a new mindset (think carbohydrate counting, blood glucose checking, insulin dosage, how many daily injections, what dosage, site changes for pump user, and the day goes on…). Does all of this sound overwhelming? Certainly it does.

Management of type one diabetes is learned as it is not an exact science, a lot of trial and error experiments, late nights blood sugar checks, some sleepless nights, not to mention the endless worries just to find what works best. To become proficient at helping the D1 child to get to the “perfect” number on the glucometer so to avoid hyperglycemic and avoid ketone buildups and hypoglycemic episodes associated with high blood sugar levels or have low blood sugar levels and risk potential seizures require a lot of work. The question parents will often ask themselves, “Did I do the right thing?” “Am I doing this right?” suddenly has very tough meaning, with no correct answer. The art of juggling between parenting and mastering the management of Type One Diabetes, the parent will have to work diligently to achieve the level of independence for themselves and their children. There will never be such a thing as the “perfect” level, we may strive to attain a “comfortable” level, which may take several months or even years to reach. The knowledge that must be passed on the child from the parent is similar to passing on morals and values, over time the knowledge will imprint on the child’s mind. Major focus point is consistency and repetition.

Sibling rivalry may be the concern parents face in a “normal” family setting. The concern can virtually escalate with families involving a D1 child. The major discontent could stem from the D1 child hogging most of the parents’ attention, or the envy a D1 child for their other siblings having more freedom with eating or other things they can do without parents’ supervision. This will form questions in the D1 child as well as non-diabetic siblings as to “Why” the situation is the way it is. An effective method of handling this situation for parents is understanding, lots of patience, and education. Questions raised by the D1 and non-diabetic children should be taken seriously and know their underlying reasons behind their questions. In addition, as parents, we have to help the children come to grip with their emotions and thoughts so as to decrease negative feelings towards each other. This also goes as far as your D1 child’s social surroundings. The parent’s task is to extend the knowledge and educate school personnel, students, friends, and other family members. Though the D1 child may come to an understanding that he/she is “different”, but the difference is, it will not be a negative label. After all, not everyone understands Type 1 Diabetes and its implications.

Alternative treatments for diabetes contain numerous elements. Diabetes refers to a polygenic disease and as such, in this state the body cannot produce enough insulin. Thus, glucose stays in the blood itself and fails to move into the cells. As diabetes accompanies a person throughout his lifetime, it becomes necessary to take effective medication.

The alternative options to treat this silent disease would refer to those which are not categorized under Western medical practice. As a matter of fact, the alternative therapy may encompass a wide variety of things such as nutritious diet, exercise, yoga, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, guided imagery etc. When alternative options are available then there is nothing to worry.

In fact, the alternatives therapies can treat diabetes in a more efficient manner. Just check it out:

* Vanadium is a plant source and has been found to be very effective in treating diabetes. In fact, it helps a diabetic patient to increase his sensitivity to insulin.

* It is believed that Chromium therapy can help a person to control his diabetes at a very fast and steady pace.

* The magnesium therapy helps to improve the glucose level and prevents further complications.

Alternative treatments for diabetes include the weight loss medications too. This is particularly because this disease and weight gain happens to be directly proportional. Thus, the therapies that help a diabetic patient to lose weight includes:

* Chitosan

* Pyruvte

* Momordica charanta

* Camsogia Garnica

* Aristolochic acid

* Chromium

* Sauropus androgynus

Furthermore, plant medicines also effectively work to reduce the blood sugar. There are some popular plants used for alternative treatments for diabetes are:

* Pterocarpus Marsupium: The crude alcohol extract and epicatechin of Pterocarpus marsupium can efficiently generate the pancreatic beta cells.

* Gymnema Sylvestre: Gymnema can enhance the potential of the insulin to reduce the level of blood sugar.

* Garlic and Onion: Both garlic and onion can lower the blood sugar level and are even used for beneficial cardiovascular effects.

One of the most unwavering symptoms of diabetes is an elevated level of the blood sugar. Diabetes is of two kinds- Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1, this symptom instigates because of the failure of the body to generate enough insulin to manage blood sugar. On the contrary, in Type II diabetes, the body develops a resistance to insulin; hence, it cannot appropriately utilize what it produces.

Unfortunately, imbalanced blood sugar level is not something a normal person can make out or detect on his own, leaving him unaware if he has diabetes. Nevertheless, ignoring the signs can lead to fatal health problems and difficulty. For that matter, here are some of the generic ‘warning’ symptoms of diabetes that a layman can detect:

Excessive Urination :

Excessive urination is one of the most popular symptoms of diabetes. According to the medical science, an adult who pees more than 51ml every two hours is usually taken to have a higher than normal output.

If you feel that you are urinating excessively, then it may be an indication that you are suffering from diabetes.

Thirst:

People suffering from diabetes usually complain of excessive thirst. Thirst due to diabetes occurs because of the shortage of a hormone that controls water secretion by the kidneys. A considerable quantity of water is needed to recompense for the huge amount of urine that is passed. It is taken care of with hormone replacement, which regulates the symptoms.

Remember, if you feel thirsty all the time, even when you have not worked out or gone out in the sun, then get yourself tested, you maybe diabetic.

Fatigue:

Fatigue and mood swings are the other known symptoms of diabetes. If you feel tired all the time and are not able to do your chores properly then you may be suffering from this disease. Diabetes plays havoc with a person’s mood, with abrupt mood swings and irritability. The person also feels very lethargic with a decreased mental and physical capability.

Overall, there is a serious decrease in the energy levels. Such decrease happens because the body is not able to convert food into vigor.

Eye Problems:

If you are experiencing a vision problem and the problem is only getting worse, without you being able to understand why, then you may be suffering from diabetes. Poor vision is a big symptom of diabetes.

Bare in mind that diabetes is capable of rendering an individual blind. Hence, immediately get yourself checked if you feel a blurred vision.

Diabetes is one of the most common condition affecting millions of people world wide. It is believed that every hour a person is diagnosed with diabetes worldwide. Anemia is an extremely common symptom and also secondary condition in people who suffer with diabetes.

High blood sugar is actually a condition that affects the kidneys and the kidneys produce erythropoietin hormone. This hormone is essential to control the production of the red blood cell and in people with diabetes the production of red blood cells may not happen normally leading to anemia. The most common symptoms of anemia are palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness, pale skin color, hair loss and also dark circles around the eye. This condition when noticed in diabetic people it can be a sign of anemia.

In order to avoid anemia, people suffering from diabetes should be regular with their meals and also should not follow an irregular diet or timings of food. It is extremely important for diabetic people to have food on time. Diabetes also controls the way the nervous system responds to anemia and it can further cause certain nutritional deficiencies in the body. Another problem that having high blood sugar causes is that the medication taken for the cure of the condition might actually add to the anemic condition making the person weaker. People with high blood sugar may already suffer from conditions like weakness and hypertension. Anemia may also further aggravate these symptoms by causing more weakness, and also increasing the hypertension. Alternate therapies like Ayurveda are known to have very good cures for conditions like anemia and diabetes.

You have diabetes. If someone asks you about your diabetes management, you most likely will respond with the name of the doctor you see for your diabetes. But, how much and how well does your doctor manage your diabetes?

Consider that the average visit to a health care professional lasts at most one hour (usually much less). The remainder of the time the quality of your health and your day-to-day life is up to you. It is almost impossible to learn everything you need to know in the short span of time you are in the presence of a health care professional. What about the rest of the time?

Since the majority of managing diabetes is up to you, it is crucial that you take effective control of your diabetes management and your life. There are many qualified health care professionals available to teach you everything you need to know about diabetes management… diet, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and other important facts of diabetes. These health care professionals can help you learn what to do…but it is your responsibility to make sure to do it.

Diabetes affects every area of your body as well as every area of your life whether you realize it or not. It is difficult for most of us to keep everything in mind each and every day of our lives. Remember, there are so many things affecting your diabetes that it is likely your best control won’t happen in just a day or two. It takes time. Step-by-step, day by day, you can gain better control. The time spent is well worth the rewards of a normal, long, healthy, and happy life.

Don’t be too hard on yourself as you tackle your life with diabetes. Do be persistent and consistent at learning all you can and applying all you know to make your life the best it can be. Living with diabetes can be extremely difficult. Almost everything you do and every part of your body’s functions affects your diabetes. For these reasons, good diabetes control demands your active participation every day.

Without daily control, diabetes can be destructive and deadly. Left untreated it may result in heart attacks, strokes, blindness, amputations, and kidney failure. That’s right, I’ll state the gloom and doom clearly—- diabetes can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences if you treat it casually. While you need to be very much aware of these possibilities, don’t dwell on them. Do be aware these complications can happen to you if you don’t take control and make the changes in your life that are necessary to control your diabetes. .

Rather than worrying, spend your time learning and implementing the preventive measures. If you are currently having problems with some of the complications caused by diabetes, concentrate on improving and maintaining, rather than losing the fight to the negatives of diabetes. Just a few positive actions can made a huge difference in your diabetes and your health.

Most people do not like to dwell on the negative, but diabetes complications create real problems for people that cannot be ignored. If for no other reason, the following list can help you or a love one focus on good blood sugar management and avoid these problems altogether. So without further ado, here are the Top 5 Problems caused by diabetes.

1. Cardiovascular Diseases: Incredibly, heart disease and strokes account for almost 65% of all diabetic deaths. Diabetics are almost twice as likely to suffer from these afflictions as non-diabetics. So what causes this huge problem?

   Diabetics tend to have higher blood glucose levels. Higher glucose levels can raise the level of LDL cholesterol in one’s blood, causing the arteries to harden or narrow. Narrow or hardened blood vessels can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and peripheral artery disease (PAD). Almost 74% of adult diabetic’s suffer from high blood pressure or use prescription medication for hypertension.

2. Kidney Disease: Approximately 44% of all kidney failures in the United States occur in diabetics. Kidney disease is very gradual, normally occurring over decades. Mysteriously, there is no real consensus on what causes the higher kidney disease rate in diabetics. The only agreement amongst scientists is that there appears to be a link between elevated blood glucose levels and high blood pressure.
3. Diabetic Neuropathy: Nervous system damage may be the scariest of all Top 5 complications. While nerve damage is not usually fatal, it does affect nearly 60%-70% of diabetics in one form or another. This is a massive number of people. Neuropathy damage differs widely both in severity and type of affliction. A person’s extremities are often adversely affected. Reduced sensation or even pain in feet, arms and/or legs, or hands is fairly common. Severe nerve damage can also lead to amputations.

   Besides damage to one’s extremities, the autonomous nervous system, which controls breathing, sexual function (men and women), circulation, urination, digestion and temperature regulation is also commonly affected.

4. Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic eye disease results in approximately 12,000 to 24,000 cases a year and is the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 20 to 74. How is this caused? You guessed it, high blood glucose. Over time, the increased glucose in the blood damages the small blood vessels in the eye. Cataracts and glaucoma are common and in severe cases, blindness can result.
5. Dental Complications: Almost 30% of diabetics have a severe case of periodontal disease. In fact, the risk of a diabetic developing gum disease is almost twice that of non-diabetics. Causes? High Blood Sugar. Bacteria in the mouth love glucose. The higher your blood glucose, the more of a feeding frenzy the bacteria have in your mouth. Clearly, this is not a pretty picture.

There you have it, the Top 5 problems caused by diabetes. If you have diabetes, good blood sugar management is critical to lowering your chances of developing these complications. Please see your doctor to make sure you are doing everything you can to stay healthy and decrease your risk.