There are over 10,000 new cases of diabetes cited each year in the United States. This disease, which affects close to 10% of the entire population has continued to claim hundreds of millions of dollars in research money and close to 200 billion dollars in lost economic output. Diabetes, is a condition where the body is either unable to produce enough insulin which regular the levels of glucose in the blood, or when the insulin is produced the body is unable to respond to it.

The former is known as Type I diabetes while the latter is referred to as Type II. Both can be fatal is not properly treated. Thankfully, medical research has enable diabetes to be totally treatable and even preventable but one has to live purposefully towards that. Many diabetics are still able to enjoy most if not all of life’s activities. But there has been controversy regarding whether someone with diabetes should frequent a tanning salon or whether tanning in general is permisible.

Does diabetes affect your ability to go tanning?

This is a question that many people have asked. The answer is actually tied to how advanced the diabetes symptoms are in your particular case. For instance, some people break out into bodily sores in some stages in their battle with diabetes. If this is the case with you then tanning salons are out of the question. This is because the salons can expose the skin to harmful rays that can cause further damage. The good thing with tanning salons is that they have expert staff on standby to inform you and explain to you all the inherent risks depending on your situation. People with ailments such as lupus for instance should also avoid tanning salons because of over-exposure to ultraviolet rates.

Also, people on certain medications are cautioned against direct exposure to sunlight or its rays. When frequenting a tanning salon, you need to ask thorough questions. Also find out the degree of exposure that the tanning machine has and whether this can be adjusted.

Then you must familiarize yourself with the different tanning lotions that are out there and determine which one is the best for you. Research has shown that persistent sunburn and exposure to ultraviolet rays can cause the skin to break out into soars and even perpetuate skin cancer. There are lotions in the markets which are clinically-designed to guard the skin against over-exposure. These must be FDA-approved.

When choosing a lotion to protect you, you need to read the labels carefully. Select only FDA-approved products. Another thing to look for is the SPF (sun protection factor) which should be at least an index of 15 and not less.

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.