Most of us know that extra weight which a person puts on, over the course of years, plays a vital role in developing diabetes. Accumulation of fats around the abdominal area causes the insulin to become less effective. This is termed insulin resistance. It means that body is compelled to produce excessive insulin to achieve normal blood sugar levels.

Eventually the pancreas of the person fails to produce the required amount of insulin and the blood sugar level start to rise. This is the critical point where type 2 diabetes sets in. This is important to note that diabetes or insulin resistance is not caused by the sweet things. Excessive calories of any kind including cake, potatoes, and sugary drinks trigger this problem. The absence of physical activity is also one of the causes of diabetes. Genes also play a vital role in the onset of the disease.

Whatever the reason is, if you are diagnosed with diabetes, then it is the right time to watch what you eat. The best way is to have a list of foods for diabetics to eat. Most people love to eat fruits but the diabetics have to take care of the type and the portion size of the fruit.

Fruits That Have a Higher Level of Fructose leads to certain problems. Eating high fructose fruits mean that a person is eating pure sugar. Table sugar or pure sugar has a Glycemic Index of 100. If a person consumes carbohydrates with higher Glycemic Index his blood sugar levels are adversely affected.

Heath care professionals were of the view that almost all fruit are good for diabetics. However the recent researches depict that it is the glycemic index of any food that matters most. Fruits that have the higher ranks of glycemic index are;

? Pineapple

? Raisins

? Ripe peaches

? Cantaloupes

The List of FRUITS For Diabetics To Eat (Lower Glycemic Index)

• apple
• cherries
• dried apricots
• grapefruit
• oranges
• pears
• plums
• prunes
• strawberries

The principle here is to select the fruits that have the low value of glycemic index and then manage the portion size according to GI. The fruits that have a higher GI can be eaten by diabetics but in moderation. For instance diabetics can eat

• 8 - 12 Grapes
• ? cup Pineapple
• 2 Tbsp Raisins
• ? Peach

This is the nice way to start controlling the blood sugar levels. However one should be careful about other foods he eats. The foods that have a lower GI must also be eaten by controlling the portion size.

There are many effective ways of lowering down the risk factor of type 2 diabetes. It is true the situation is difficult if it runs in the family but it is never impossible. If somebody requires the shortest answer to stay away from type 2 diabetes then it is

“Healthy lifestyle choice”

You may be wondering why it is so. The answer is that even though diabetes runs in someone’s family but the person can never become the victim if he enters the pattern of overeating or eating the foods that increase your Body Mass Index or BMI.

How Diabetes Does Starts To Set In? Do you remember how your childhood was? Most of us were rewarded with snacks, sweets or sometimes money to buy a treat after school. The addiction to carbohydrates starts in childhood. Think more about that golden time when your mother used to cook delicious meatball and French fries fried in oil. There were delicious recipes daily and finally one day these all catch up.

It looks that it happens overnight; however it is not the case. You are unable to get fit into your clothes or feel them very tight. Some people start to buy clothes designed for fat persons.

Right Time To Change: Finally the day comes when obesity gets to you. Generally it is the time when you take a snack to bed for eating in the middle of the night when you feel hungry. This may be because of the low level of blood sugar late night. This is the time when many start to change their diet for losing weight. However they do not change their exercising routine and as a result start to lose muscle mass.

What People Suffering From Type 2 Diabetes Should Do?

Here is the point where the phrase lifestyle change starts to play its role. At this point it is critical to

• Learn about the root cause of pre diabetes and identify the challenge
• Learn which medications work better
• Learn the detailed need of exerting. And then regularly exercise. All studies have revealed that exercise is best for the people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
• Designs a perfect diabetic meal plan with the help of the dietitian

A distinct approach to lifestyle and eating habits will be of great help to you for keeping the diabetic symptoms at bay. These lifestyle factors can prevent the onset of diabetes in even those who are at an increased risk of catching the disease because of their genes.

The good news about type 2 diabetes is it is reversible, especially when found in the early stages. Type 2 diabetes usually starts when your body’s cells are unable to use insulin properly and maybe occurs as a result of one of the following:

• a tendency towards developing type 2 diabetes as passed down from your family
• carrying excess weight, especially around your waistline
• immune system disorders for example lupus
• being physically inactive
• being under stress for long periods
• medications such as steroids
• having diabetes whilst pregnant, gestational diabetes

Your body then responds by making extra chemicals that prevents your body from using insulin. There is insulin… it just does not work as it is meant to… this is called insulin resistance.

Over time, usually years, your pancreas may start to give up. It will make less and less insulin… just not enough to get the job done.

Type 2 diabetes develops gradually, and actually with the help of an annual test to check your blood sugar level, it would be easily detectable. Then the symptoms that may have developed during that past year could be reversed without medication… simply by following a healthy lifestyle which would include:

• choosing to eat and drink healthily and enjoyably without unpleasant side-effects afterwards
• becoming the person you used to be by losing excess weight
• getting back to the fresh air exercises that you used to enjoy as a younger person… walking more and driving less

The good news about reversing signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes is:

1. Reversing type 2 diabetes is a pleasure: there is no pain involved in adopting a healthy lifestyle. In fact all you are actually doing is getting back to the healthy basics that you body was built to enjoy. This means you will:

• sleep better
• wake up feeling more energetic and raring to go, and
• perform much better during the day

You will also be far less likely to suffer unpleasant hangovers, experience painful body cramps, or just be plain grumpy all day. That’s because your new healthy lifestyle is not only good for your body, it is also food for your mind and your soul.

2. You will be saving money as well: imagine what you will be able to do with the money you save by avoiding unhealthy convenience foods, headache tablets and prescription medications.

3. You will get extra benefits from a healthy lifestyle: did you notice that the things you need to do are the same as those recommended for other health problems such as high cholesterol levels. That’s proof positive that the recommendations are nothing more than a compelling suggestion to return to a healthy, beneficial lifestyle where your weight will be reduced along with your blood sugar levels.

Patients afflicted with diabetes (or people who know of a diabetic patient) are always asking what’s the best fruit to indulge in if you have this degenerative disease. There are a lot of diabetic patients too worried that fruit intake may increase their blood sugar levels since fruits are primary sources of fructose. Good news, there are fruits that a diabetic patient can enjoy and indulge in that will not significantly alter their glucose levels at an all time high.

Foods that are rich in fiber are good choices for diabetic patients. They have a lower glycemic index and are trusted not to cause a major spike in their blood sugar levels compared to other foods that are high in GI level. The reason for such is because fiber slows down the sugar breakdown in the bloodstream. Fruits that have skins and peels you can eat (even the seeds) are good sources of the fiber that diabetics need. These include apples, apricots, blueberries, pears, kiwifruit, pomegranates, and pears.

Fructose high fruits, on the contrary, are not bad for diabetics. This is because fructose does not need insulin to metabolize and these can be very well enjoyed by patients suffering from insulin resistance. These fruits include are still apples, pears, mangoes, and guavas - these fruits have glucose ratios higher than 2. Apples have additional benefits for diabetics. They contain a good amount of pectin which is medically proven to have improved glycemic level control and are therefore good in reducing insulin dependence to more than 50%. Grapefruits are good for diabetics too. These can help achieve weight loss which is guaranteed to reduce insulin resistance. Grapefruit has also been proven to stabilize insulin levels when eaten during breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

What are bad fruits to avoid if you have diabetes?

Dates, bananas, oranges, and watermelons are bad fruits for a diabetic. They all contain a high amount of glucose and can surely spike blood sugar levels, but this does not mean an entire resistance to these fruits. Small amounts are okay, just not in indulgent amounts and can still be enjoyed in a healthy meal.

Fruit juices which are processed and removed of their pulpy fibers are high in sugar content while giving low fiber content. There are juice manufacturers that are adding so much sugar in their product juices that these tend to have higher sugar levels than in sodas.

A diabetic may also do well to avoid dried fruits because of its high sugar content. The process of drying fruits involve a lot of sugar as a preservative, so it should be a big no if you’d like to maintain normal levels of your blood sugar. Canned fruits too are no-no’s since the major preservative content is sugar which, during the manufacturing process, is provided at very high levels for a canned fruit to endure long shelf life. Small bites are not so bad, just make sure to drain the sugary syrup or rinse it with a bit of drinking water.

Foot problems are a major concern of diabetics. With a large percentage of diabetics around the world losing their limbs year after year due to complications of the disease, foot care is of highest priority for them. The high levels of blood sugar in diabetics lead to damages to other body functions. Of the most undesirable resulting conditions of diabetes are the impairment in peripheral nerves and inadequacy of blood circulation. Both leads to numerous uncomfortable symptoms on the extremities, among which are numbness and pain.

There is quite a selection of diabetic socks to relieve the many different manifestations. Though these socks may not differ from regular socks in appearance, there are specific details intended to give the most benefit for diabetic feet. Commonly these socks are made of the most comfortable materials like cotton, spandex and nylon as diabetic feet are the most sensitive, it best helps prevent irritations to develop at all. Using such delicate materials also provides optimum breathability to prevent moisture. Opportunistic fungal infections tend to occur where moisture is, hence keeping the feet dry is crucial. Diabetic antifungal socks are designed to do this.

Non-compression diabetic socks are also another option. They are seamless and are properly fitted to prevent any form of compression at all so as not to further impede circulation. However, there are diabetic patients that are advised by physicians to utilize the diabetic compression socks. Such diabetics often experience pooling of blood on their feet, leading to uncomfortable sensations, numbness, tenderness and swollen feet. These are dealt with by applying therapeutic compression which assists the veins to return the flow at a very regulated rate. The graduated mild compression it delivers greatly improves the circulation and never constricting the nerves in any circumstance as they are designed to be non-binding and has maximum elasticity.

The many advantages of these specially designed socks for diabetics are not offered by regular socks at all. Often times diabetics fail to recognize that. Prevention is always better than treating diseases. Diabetics are therefore advised to strictly follow medication regimen, testing schedules and the medical professional’s advise. Going to a podiatrist for a regular feet check up is also important. Good socks play a vital role in protecting the feet. However, if you are suffering from this condition, a physician’s advise is still necessary before deciding what type of socks to wear as not all diabetics require compression. When certain about the kind of socks you need, you can easily find them in the footwear section of department stores.

Diabetes is among the most difficult conditions to manage. Caused by a defect in insulin production, either the absence or inadequacy of it, this condition poses a lot of risks and is known to lead to many different complications all detrimental to one’s health. All are aware that when one suffers from diabetes, they most likely are prone, or may already have existing foot problems. Why a diabetic easily develops foot problems is due to the conditions manifested by the disease itself. Though diabetes is characterized by other symptoms as well like very high blood sugar levels, excessive thirst and increased urination, poor circulation and neuropathy are the very culprits leading thousands of diabetics every year to permanent loss of limbs.

As the peripheral nervous system is responsible for the transmission of information from the brain to the peripheries, at the same time sending back sensory from the peripheries to the brain, any damage to it would interfere with all these connections. This is very common in diabetes. When that happens, any injury to the feet is not easily recognized by the brain, leaving them untreated for a long period of time. Eventually, infections would develop leading to complications. Poor circulation is caused by the disease’s tendency to harden and block the arteries, limiting transport of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. The extremities become the most deprived areas when circulation is not good. Poor circulation slows down healing and even none at all. The lack of circulating blood reaching the injuries leads to gangrene, or death of tissues, which would have to eventually require amputation.

Sure there are treatments for diabetes available around. But like any other condition, preventing complications from ever occurring in the first place is always the best approach. In diabetes, when medication is required, taking it as scheduled is important. Regular blood sugar checks as well as other preventive measures advised by the physician should be strictly followed. Foot problems are most prevented by protecting your feet from any forms of injury. There are many socks intended for diabetics made available for those with the condition. Socks intended for peripheral neuropathy, which is as easily available, is best for diabetics. They are made with the most ideal fit to provide utmost comfort and relief from pressure. Materials are well chosen for these kinds of socks to provide needed warmth for colder climates.

Blood pressure lowering drugs also lower the risk for kidney disease among diabetics. Even among patients without high blood pressure, the reduction of kidney risk is 20% when a combination of two drugs is taken. What are these two drugs, you asked? And how did they come to this conclusion? Read on.

They analyzed the data from a study called ADVANCE. The number of type 2 diabetics who participated in this study was 11,140. They divided these patients into two groups. One group was given a combination of two blood pressure-lowering drugs.

The two drugs received were the ACE or angiotensin-converting enzyme (inhibitor perindopril) and the indapamide which is a diuretic drug. How about the second group? Well, they were given inactive placebos. Most of the participants had hypertension except for 20% whose blood pressure was normal with a reading of less than 130/80.

Dr. Vlado Perkovic, MBBS, PhD of Sydney, Australia’s The George Institute for International Health said that the results of the study revealed that reducing the blood pressure through the diuretic/ ACE inhibitor combination prevents kidney disease. It even reversed the early symptoms of kidney disease. This happened regardless of whether the patient had hypertension or not.

The researchers followed up these patients so they could compare the kidney disease events from the least of the condition like a drop in the functioning of the kidney all the way to the failure of the kidney itself. What do you think they found out four years later?

The patients who received the combination of diuretic/ACE inhibitor had considerably lower rate of the kidney disease than the group that received the placebo. The former had a 21% lower rate of kidney problems than the latter group.

And listen to this. Those who had the early symptoms of kidney disease related to diabetes had their kidney functioning going back to normal while they were treated with the drugs. Even the patients who did not have high blood pressure who were given the combination drugs reduced the events of kidney problem.

We can learn as much as we can about this issue. For instance, we know that often hypertension appears with some other health problems like diabetes, previous stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, thickened or enlarged left chamber of the heart, prior heart attack and a high risk for coronary heart disease.

Since high blood pressure makes one have a higher risk to develop these conditions, it is important to get a more aggressive treatment approach. This will reduce the risk for the complications that may develop. These complications could be life-threatening.

This is why the doctor may recommend high blood pressure medications and additional medications for hypertension. If one is experiencing chest pains, the doctor may even recommend a beta blocker. Not only can this lower the blood pressure but will also prevent chest pains. In addition, it will reduce the heart rate as well as lower the risk of death.

How about if both diabetes and hypertension are present? Well, taking a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. And as shown by the research, this has an added bonus of reducing the risk for kidney disease.

Just remember that it takes time to find the right combination and dose of medications for hypertension. It is quite a challenge to reach the goal so one has to be patient. It is wise though to keep trying because high blood pressure can bring on complications in the forms of heart attack, heart and kidney failure. Believe it or not, sometimes vision loss and dementia could be the result.

You can tell by now that it is not easy to treat hypertension. Sometimes, despite three medications the blood pressure refuses to go down. They have a name for this and it is called resistant hypertension. Those who have controlled blood pressure and are taking four medications to do so, fall under this group as well.

Do not despair though if you find yourself in this group for this does not mean the blood pressure will never go down. The doctor and you will try to find out what is causing this and in so doing can lead to a more effective treatment. The important thing to do is not to give up until you have reached the goal that both you and your doctor have set.

There is some good news. Adopting a healthier lifestyle of eating right and moving more in combination with the medication can help control the blood pressure. You can monitor it at home or in drugstores which usually have sphygmomanometer. This will help the doctor know what medication and dose are working and change to a more effective one when necessary.

The research has some drawbacks. For one thing, the analysis was done on a previous clinical trial so more research is needed. Just the same, it appears that there should be consideration made on giving type 2 diabetics anti-hypertensive treatment whether or not they have high blood pressure.

Diabetes is a very common word, but a lot of us fail to distinguish between the two common types even if we keep on asking about it.

Type 1 Diabetes

This is the type of diabetes wherein the body is not able to produce the necessary insulin to transport the sugar from the blood going to the cells. This is also referred to as Juvenile Diabetes. It is usual that this type came from a virus or immunity disorder where the body can no longer recognize an organ as part of its own and starts to attack it. The body attacks the pancreas making it unable to produce the necessary insulin. This is usually diagnosed on people in their middle 30’s to 40’s but a surprising number of kids and toddlers develop this at a very early age.

The symptoms you can expect for this type of diabetes often develops on shorter periods, though beta cell destruction can begin in the earlier years. These symptoms include constant thirst, urination, and hunger beyond normal levels, extreme and constant fatigue, even blurry vision. If not treated, this can in turn develop into a fatal diabetic coma, most commonly referred to by doctors as diabetic ketoacidosis.

What is the treatment?

Insulin injections from an outside source are often the treatment (though not necessarily a long term cure), since the pancreas cannot produce enough to move sugar from the bloodstream.

Type 2 Diabetes

This is the type where the insulin produced in the body is not enough to move the sugar out of the bloodstream. Only little amount of sugar is transported which results to high blood sugar levels. In the last few years this has been considered the adult type of diabetes, but alarmingly a good number of children are experiencing this as well. Symptoms of which gradually develop over time since at the onset, it is not as abrupt as with Type 1. These symptoms also include the same symptoms as Type 1: increased urination and thirst, recurrent infections, burry visions, and very slow healing of sores, cuts, wounds, and bruises. Though it is important to note that there are cases too where symptoms do not show up.

What is the treatment?

Diet, exercise, weight loss, and in many cases medication are the treatment for this type of diabetes. Occasionally, someone with Type 2 may be placed on insulin to better control blood sugar. This type of diabetes is associated with physical inactivity and obesity.

Gestational Diabetes

This type of diabetes develops in pregnancy. It is where diabetes is caused by pregnancy itself - as the uterus expands, it blocks the pancreas thereby limiting its healthy supply of insulin needed to transport blood sugar off to the bloodstream going to the cells. This type only develops during pregnancy though some researches conclude that there is a good 20 to 50 % chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes within the first 5 to 10 years after pregnancy.

Complex carbohydrates, also known as starches, may not be as healthy for diabetics as previously thought. Emerging research is challenging the conventional wisdom that complex carbs have minimal effects on blood sugar and, as a result, are diabetic-friendly.

Experts now agree that both types of carbohydrates, simple and complex, have similar effects on blood sugar levels. Traditionally, experts attributed the length of a carbohydrate to its complexity…the longer it is, the more complex it is, and the less effect it has on blood sugar levels.

Emerging Research Reveals a Different Story

Advancements in screening tests for diabetes, fasting insulin and insulin tolerance testing, demonstrate that some long-chained carbohydrates can significantly effect blood sugar levels. So what else determines the complexity of carbohydrates and, ultimately, their effect on blood sugar?

This is really important to figure out. Improving sugar metabolism (and preventing sugar spikes after meals) defines one of the diabetic diet guidelines that helps to optimize control.

It turns out that the overall shape, not just length, determines carbohydrate complexity. The more “bulky” the carb, the more complex. What makes it bulky?

A carbohydrate with several small fibrous side-chains attached to its main structure makes it bulky, or complex. The fibrous side-chains make it very difficult to digest the carbohydrate. It takes your body a long time to degrade the complex carbohydrate into glucose…the main fuel source for humans.

What You Need to Know

The longer it takes for a carbohydrate to digest, the less effect it has on blood sugar levels. Diabetic-friendly complex carbohydrates are long, bulky and full of fiber!

We have put together an up-to-date list of diabetic-friendly carbohydrates. The three categories are:

1. Good Carbs = High in fiber, minimal effect on glucose, 35-40 grams per day

2. Bad Carbs = Moderate fiber, moderate effect on glucose, >10 grams per day

3. Ugly Carbs = Low fiber, significant effect on glucose, 0 grams per day (do not eat)

Lower your blood sugar levels, follow a healthy eating plan, lose weight… you have lost count of the number of times you have heard these statements. The truth is, making these lifestyle changes can drastically improve your health. Although a healthy eating plan is not a quick fix, over time it will make you a healthier person with lower blood sugar levels.

What should you eat to help you lose weight and have lower blood sugar levels? The correct answer is a balanced diet… a mix of foods which contain:

• carbohydrates
• proteins
• fats
• all the vitamins, minerals and food elements you require to stay healthy

The following are recommended amounts of food to be eaten in each of the five major categories of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid:

• Grains: 6 ounces (170g) each day, including 3 ounces (85g) of whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice or pasta. An ounce is about one slice of bread or half a cup of cooked rice or pasta
• Vegetables: 2 1/2 cups each day of dark green and brightly colored vegetables
• Fruits: 2 cups per day of fresh fruit… not juices
• Milk: 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt or other dairy products daily
• Meat and beans: 5 1/2 ounces (142g) each day of fish, beans, nuts, seeds and low-fat or lean meat and poultry that is not fried.

A balanced eating plan needs to contain:

1. Carbohydrates: these are used for quick energy. All plant foods other than green leafy vegetables are carbohydrate foods. These include both starches which are found in grains, starchy vegetables and legumes, and simple sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose which are found in fruits.

When you measure your blood sugar levels, you are actually measuring the sugar concentration in your blood.

2. Proteins: the main source of protein in the Western diet are animal products. Some plant foods such as the soybean product tofu, are a complete protein and can help to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels when substituted for animal products. Protein converts slowly into sugar, reaching it’s high point between 2 and 2 1/2 hours after eating your meal.

3. Fats and oil in your diet are mainly made up of triglycerides irrespective of whether it is of plant or animal origin. Fats are the most concentrated of calories, which is why most diets advise people to reduce the amount of fats they eat.

Eating right, learning which foods contain calories in the form of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and planning your meals to create a balanced eating style, is a great step forward to help you to lose weight and gain control of your blood sugar levels.