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Importance Of Weight Loss For Diabetes


By Beanie Tompkins

According to medical studies, obesity and weight gain can greatly increase the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It can also have negative impacts on those already diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, aggravating glycemic control and insulin levels. Therefore, the American Heart Association recommends individuals suffering from diabetes or at risk for diabetes to aim for a BMI of 25 kg/m or lower. They suggest healthy weight loss may be the most important way to manage Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes and Weight
Based on studies, the American Heart Association states that diabetes and obesity are interlinked conditions. Many cases of diabetes have been shown to be caused by obesity or rapid weight gain in individuals with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is caused by the body becoming numbed by rapid spikes in blood sugar levels due to diets rich in sugars, unhealthy fats and refined carbohydrates. When these types of diets are not modified when an individual's body becomes insulin resistant, it can quickly lead to Type 2 diabetes.

When an individual has diabetes, their metabolism cannot handle blood sugar levels, leading to too much glucose and cholesterol in the blood. The excess glucose can quickly lead to weight gain. When insulin injections are added into the equation, more glucose is added into the blood. This can easily lead to further weight gain. In return, the weight gain can aggravate blood sugar levels, leading to an unfortunate circular pattern.

Therefore, it is very important for diabetic individuals to work toward weight control in order to prevent further complications with their diabetes that may lead to cardiovascular diseases. This can be accomplished with a diet that avoids refined carbohydrates and is rich in vitamins and minerals combined with a regular fitness program. Your doctor or a health expert will have suggestions on the best weight loss regime for you to undertake.

Weight Loss Benefits
There are many benefits of weight loss in diabetic individuals, including lowering blood sugar levels as stated above. Since diabetes is linked with weight gain and loss, when you begin to shed pounds, blood sugar levels should begin to lower as well. If you are successful with your weight loss program, there is the chance that you will be able to stop taking your insulin medication. Since weight loss can lead to controlled blood sugar levels, you may no longer need the medication in order to stabilize it, especially if the condition has been caused by obesity or rapid weight gain.

Weight loss will also lead to a reduction of blood pressure and to lower cholesterol levels. This aids in preventing the complications that could lead to cardiovascular diseases. The combination of lower blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels will not only prevent complications and the aggravation of diabetes, but it will lead to a much healthier body and will generally improve your way of life.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Does Fish Oil Offer Hope?

4:21:00 PM Posted by Diabetes 1 comments

By Jim Morham

Diabetes, a disease that affects millions of people in the United States is analogous to a fire starting in a house. The fire fighter shows up. He is expecting from his report, to find a fire in one room. The fire that has started in one room of the house quickly spreads to the hallway, then the back room, then to a bed room. If the fire isn't contained quickly, there is a real possibility of losing the entire house.

Diabetes Is the Fire and the House Is Your Body

For those suffering from diabetes, like the fire, you must be on constant guard by attending to your blood sugar level. Diabetes is an insidious disease that left unchecked, will attack and destroy your body organs, cause coronary heart disease, and may even cause blindness through retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Excessive blood glucose levels over time contribute to swelling and pressure to the blood vessels in the retina. As these vessels expand, much like a balloon with too much air in it, they start to bleed. This causes damage over time and can eventually lead to a damaged retina. This is not like getting chest pains; you don't get lots of warning, and the situation if not identified, can lead to permanent damage to the retina and ultimately blindness.

Is There a Way to Detect This Problem?

Every diabetic whether a type one or type two, should have an eye examination at least once a year. The damage caused to the retina starts the day you become diabetic. Because you may not see any change or feel any symptoms means nothing. The clock is ticking and you need to check with an ophthalmologist each year to monitor the change. Most specialists will tell you that if you are in tight control with blood sugars, with an A1C level of seven or below, you won't see any signs of damage till about year fifteen.

What Are the Treatment Options?

The best thing you can do is keep your blood sugars in tight control and don't gain a lot of weight. Every strain you put on your system, whether it's from out of control blood sugars, to excess weight, to high blood pressure, increases pressure on your entire system including the blood vessels in your eyes. Short of tight blood sugar control, laser surgery is also an option. Once the bleeding starts from blood vessels even this surgery is only a temporary solution.

Good News About Treatment With Omega 3 Fish Oil

New medical research from the Children's Hospital of Boston has found that a diet rich in Omega 3 fish oil has shown less abnormal blood vessel growth to the retina. This finding is in line with other medical studies promoting the anti-inflammatory effects of Omega 3 fish oil. The fatty acids found in fish oil have a direct impact on fighting inflammation in every part of the body including the eyes. The effect of rich Omega 3 fish oil is essentially like letting some of the air out of a balloon that is expanding to the point of bursting. It only stands to reason that this research corroborates earlier findings of the positive effects of fish oil on the arteries of the cardio vascular system. The same theory applies to blood vessels in the eye.

Conclusion

Now that we know that Omega 3 fish oil offers a defense against the potential damage to the retina due to diabetes, it's time to be proactive and protect your eye sight before trouble comes knocking.

Give Some Time To The American Diabetes Association

8:22:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments


At a certain point in time, people come to realize that their lives can only gain meaning when they discover their true calling, through which they are able to help others. Life can not be solely defined by accumulation of wealth or achievement of self-motivated objectives.

Why Become a Volunteer for the American Diabetes Association?
We're not saying that being a volunteer for the American Diabetes Association will be more fulfilling than being a volunteer for another non-profit foundation. We're merely suggesting that you join the American Diabetes Association if you've had loved ones suffering from diabetes, and you had felt helpless because you're unable to make them feel better.

Being a part of this organization will not only improve the quality of lives around you but yours as well.

A Brief History of the American Diabetes Association
The association's mission-vision is simple: cure, care, and commitment. The ADA made a lifelong commitment to providing care to diabetic individuals and finding an effective and permanent cure for the disease. The ADA extends its assistance not only to people diagnosed with diabetes but also to the generous and caring individuals who have freely given their time and love to attend to people with diabetes.

Founded n 1940, the American Diabetes Association is the organization with the most significant contribution in diabetic research next to the U.S. government, having donated over $200M already throughout the years. Its presence has been widely established across the United States with over 800 communities.

Why Is It Important to Help People with Diabetes
Shocking as this may be, diabetes actually kills more people every year than the mortality rate of AIDS and breast cancer combined. If early warnings and symptoms are not given the necessary attention and care, diabetes can lead to various medical complications, some of which are life-threatening. Unfortunately, about one-third of this or around 6.2 million of these individuals continue with their lives without being aware of the dangerous state of their health.

The Responsibilities of Volunteers for the American Diabetes Association
An ADA volunteer has three primary responsibilities:
Extending Care - It's every volunteer's goal to provide as much care as possible, and of the best quality, to people diagnosed with diabetes
Eliminate Discrimination - Volunteers of the ADA strive to improve the outlook of society towards individuals with diabetes by getting rid of prejudices and misassumptions about the disease.
Social Involvement - Volunteers are not afraid to take a stand against any law-giving body or authority if the rights of diabetic patient are violated or if funding for diabetic research becomes insufficient

How to Become a Volunteer for the American Diabetes Association
You may do this online or better yet, find the nearest American Diabetes Association branch near your home and register there. Also, you can help the ADA simply by increasing people's awareness of the symptoms and risks of diabetes. Warning one person about diabetes is already one life saved.


Type 2 Diabetes - Four Easy Steps to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention!


By Beverleigh H Piepers

Type 2 diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic complications and disabilities in the United States according to Healthfinder.gov. Some of the most common complications associated with this condition when poorly controlled include:

* serious eye and kidney problems which can compromise your quality of life
* heart disease... people with diabetes have 2 to 4 times the normal risk of heart disease and stroke

Type 2 diabetes is mainly characterized by increased blood sugar levels coupled with an increased resistance to insulin, a special naturally occurring chemical substance that facilitates the transport of energy-providing blood sugar into individual cells.

According to Healthfinder.gov, once Type 2 diabetes commences it's journey, it can never be cured. But don't lose heart! The good news is this form of diabetes can surely be controlled.

For those who are afraid that they at a high risk of developing this health problem, there is more good news: Type 2 diabetes can be delayed and prevented.

So, what steps can you take?

1. Control your weight: Many overweight and obese people end up having Type 2 diabetes. In fact, according to a study published in 2006 by the Postgraduate Medical Journal, eighty-six percent of overweight and obese patients have Type 2. Furthermore, even a modest weight reduction of five percent would improve their health outcome and increase their odds against continuing on with this health complication.

2. Eat right: Eating healthy foods is considered by Healthfinder.gov as one of the most important steps for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes. What does eating right mean?

* eat regularly. This means starting your day by eating breakfast, then go no more than five waking hours without a meal or snack. By keeping food in your system, you avoid wild fluctuations in blood sugar
* eat balanced meals... include protein and carbohydrates at each meal with at least one fruit or vegetable
* keep meat and poultry portions to a minimum
* eat lots of fruits and vegetables
* eat a little less of everything but vegetables
* trim the fat: eat leaner meats, skinless poultry and low-fat or reduced-fat dairy products
* learn to share your single serving of dessert with another person
* eat small meals... and learn to eat them slowly
* never starve yourself
* cut down on your favorite foods. Never try to cut them out altogether
* never forget to have healthy food choices when you eat out

3. Be more active: As mentioned by Healthfinder.gov, having regular physical activity may lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes. Even two and a half hours of exercise over the week can make a lot of difference to your health.

4. Have good control of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Type 2 diabetes can really be delayed or prevented. Having a healthy lifestyle is the best defense against this disease. So why not take charge of your health and start reinventing your lifestyle today?

Diabetic Neuropathy: Understand What Your Doctor Means



By Jenny H Jordan

Diabetic neuropathy, or the pathology of diabetic neuropathy, can appear mysterious and complicated to understand, for anyone who's first introduced to these terms. They are particularly difficult to understand for someone with a small amount of previous knowledge of the nervous system. You may be presenting to your doctor with a symptom like a certain pain, or loss of feeling in your feet, and instantly, your health care provider knows these as diabetic neuropathy symptoms. Most likely, you'll be confronted with some medical terms that you have never heard of previously. It seems that no matter how old we are, men and alike need to understand why we have a certain symptom, and the best way to treat it.

For example, maybe you have scheduled a physician visit due to pain, and your doctor instantly recognizes this as neuropathic pain, and starts to explain neuropathy affects which are related to diabetes. Additionally, in place of hearing about your levels of blood sugars, this talk has grown to talking about levels of sorbitol. It may be overwhelming for a patient to hear a barrage of new terms all at 1 time, or going from 1 subject to the other, such as flitting from discussing blood, to talking about a nerve. When doctors bring in new words to patients, such as nitric oxide and, it's not unheard of for a patient to leave the office with more questions than they went in with.

Diabetic neuropathy is actually divided into four groups: Peripheral neuropathy which affects the arms, hands, legs, feet, & toes; autonomic neuropathy affects the blood vessels & heart, the digestive system, urinary tract, sex organs, eyes, sweat glands & lungs; proximal neuropathy affects the hips, buttocks legs and thighs; & focal neuropathy which affects the lower back & pelvis, abdomen, chest, thighs, legs, feet, eyes, ears & facial muscles.

As you can see, diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerves throughout the body. Because of this, there can be several different kinds of symptoms. Because pain, numbness, sensitivity to temperatures, sweating, etc. are very noticeable symptoms of neuropathy from diabetes, there are several other more hard to determine signs that you can miss. This is why it's very important to inform your doctor of any physical changes you may notice.

Neuropathy may manifest in such a variety of ways that symptoms like high blood pressure, constipation, sexual dysfunction, blurry eyesight, heavy perspiration and so on, need to be assessed by a professional before they evidence themselves as, or are attributed to, diabetic neuropathy. In order to properly diagnose you, your physician can order specialized tests i.e. nerve conduction studies to see how well your nerves are transmitting and how the muscles surrounding them respond, use ultrasound to look at various organs, and they may check for a variance in your heart beat.

Understanding The Signs and Symptoms Of Diabetes


By Dr. Narendra Punjabi, M.D.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic afflictions, affecting over 28 million Americans and 171 million people worldwide. Diabetes is an enduring condition in which the pancreas fails to produce a hormone, insulin, which is responsible for carrying digested sugars from food to other cells. Due to the absence or insufficient production of insulin, body cells don't get the required glucose for producing ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). ATP is an enzyme that allows cells to obtain and use energy.

Diabetes is usually of two types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 occurs as a result of an autoimmune response to a viral attack on the pancreas. Type 2 occurs when people consume high amounts of sugar, carbohydrates, and animal products causing fat reserves of the body to metabolize. In both types of diabetes, signs and symptoms are likely to be similar, resulting in high blood sugar due to defective insulin metabolism.

Type 1 & 2 Diabetes: Similar Symptoms

Frequent urination - Due to excess glucose in the body, frequent urination occurs. As a result, you feel dehydrated.

Excessive thirst - When the concentration of glucose increases in the blood, our brain receives signals for diluting it, and as a result we feel thirsty.

Extreme hunger - When sugar levels increase in our blood, our body produces insulin, which is known to stimulate hunger.

Unusual weight loss or gain - Due to increased urination, metabolism of fat and protein your body may cause you to lose weight. Conversely, you may gain weight due to an increase in your appetite.

Increased fatigue - Due to decreased production of insulin, instead of glucose, your bodies' fat reserves are metabolized to gain energy. More energy is consumed when fat is metabolized compared to glucose. As a result of this negative calorie effect, you feel fatigued.

Irritability - You feels tired and restless when your brain receives insufficient glucose.

Blurry vision- Your vision becomes blurry when body fluid is pulled out of tissues, including lenses of the eyes.

In addition to the above symptoms, a person suffering from diabetes can also suffer from swollen and tender gums, and their cuts or wounds heal slowly. Since the symptoms of diabetes can be difficult to identify, it often goes undiagnosed. It is better to get a checkup by a doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. Even though the symptoms may differ from person to person, the two symptoms that occur in most people are increased thirst and frequent urination. Diabetes may prove to be fatal if not diagnosed and treated on time. However, it is very easily controlled through diet control and medication.

Type 2 Diabetes - Staggering Diabetes Statistics Highlight Unhealthy Habits!

4:20:00 PM Posted by Diabetes 1 comments

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Data from the recent 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet have highlighted the unhealthy habits many people are still doing on a daily basis. This information, released in January of 2011, has some staggering statistics that will surprise many people.

A total of 25.8 million adults and children in the United States have Type 2 diabetes. That is a whopping 8.3% of the population. What's surprising about these statistics is that only 18.8 million people have actually been diagnosed, while another 7 million people are undiagnosed and have no idea that they're walking around with such a deadly disease. In addition, 79 million people are walking around in a pre-diabetic state that could turn into full-blown diabetes at any time. Even more surprising are the 1.9 million new cases of Type 2 diabetes that were diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.

With so much being known about how to prevent Type 2 diabetes, many experts are shocked at how the rates are increasing year after year. There are many lifestyle modifications that can be made to prevent diabetes from ever occurring. This includes things like adding more fruits and vegetables to the diet, eliminating fast food and adding exercise to the mix on a regular basis.

One scary statistic from information taken in 2007 showed the diabetes was listed as the main underlying cause on 71,382 death certificates and was also listed as being a contributing factor in an additional 160,022 death certificates. That means that a total of 231,404 deaths listed diabetes as being a contributing factor. When people see the real risk factors associated with this deadly disease, experts hope that they will take it more seriously.

Diabetes is also a well-known contributing cause to heart disease and stroke. Adults who have diabetes have heart disease death rates that are 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher as well. In 2004, heart disease was noted to be on 68% of diabetes related death certificates for people who were 65 years and older. Stroke was on another 16% of death certificates among diabetics.

Other statistics showed 67% of diabetics have high blood pressure. Diabetes is also now the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74 years. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure as it accounts for 44% or more of new cases.

There's no question that these diabetes statistics are alarming and shocking in some cases. The good thing is that Type 2 diabetes is completely preventable if the proper lifestyle changes are made.

Fanning the Flames of the Diabetes Epidemic

8:21:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments


INTRODUCTION
It is my pleasure to introduce to you, a new Diabetes Prevention Education, Public Relations Campaign established under the name Fannie Estelle Hill Grant, started by me, Lyndia Grant-Briggs, after the loss of my mother who succumbed to Type 2 Diabetes on Christmas Day, December 25, 2000. I noticed a fire burning in the Diabetes health arena, and it is still burning out of control. The diabetes prevention and education public relations campaign was started in an effort, to "Fan the Flames", and put out the fire.

Fannie Grant was 73 years old, a homemaker, who loved her family very much, and she believed in preparing wonderful home-cooked meals for the family. Mama enjoyed cooking, cleaning and washing clothes, and although she raised nine children of her own, she always had room for other needy children.

So for more than 30 years, Mother Grant, our father and all of us children called the Washington Metropolitan Area home.
Our family learned that Mother had Type 2 Diabetes after a major stroke she had back in 1988-89. She lived 11-12 years after the diagnosis. Lyndia and her Sisters, (The Grant Sisters) pledged to begin the educational prevention campaign while they visited with and/or cared for their mother during her last year of life.

After moving back home to North Carolina, Mother Grant enjoyed her latter years in a very peaceful way. Mother Grant enjoyed living on this wonderful 227-acre farm, near Kinston, North Carolina. She was one of the heirs to this wonderful farm left to her family by their father, and my grandfather, Floyd Hill.

She enjoyed walking around the farm, following my father, Bishop Benjamin Grant, around the garden as he worked. She enjoyed shopping with her sisters going to yard sales. Mother suffered numerous strokes, seven to ten to be specific. Mother Fannie's kidney failed, she was receiving kidney dialysis for the last two years of her life, she had high blood pressure for many years, and both of her legs were amputated above her knees.

The Problem
We wanted to know more about the disease that took our mother in such a brutal fashion. Mother Grant was a Christian, she was an Evangelist who preached the gospel in churches throughout the Washington D.C. Area, and everyone loved her and called her Ma.

Our mother was very special, and as her oldest daughter, I promised to carry out a public awareness campaign, to educate millions of people regarding the causes and preventions of Type 2 Diabetes. In educating the general public, I feel a lot better, because my mother's living shall not be in vain. My sisters and I have been blessed over the past 20 years, we've had lots of success in publicizing several major events, we coordinated a major festival, called Georgia Avenue Day in Washington, D.C. The festival and parade attracted more than 200,000 people, major corporate sponsors and celebrities. We worked for two Presidential Inaugural Committees, one was for the Republicans, George Herbert Walker Bush and for other for the Democrats, President Bill Clinton, for two D.C. Mayors, Marion Barry and Sharon Pratt Kelly, and three D.C. City Councilmembers, Charlene Drew Jarvis, Frank Smith and Eyde Whittington. Another major achievement was an appointment that I received as project director by Councilman Frank Smith, to erect the Spirit of Freedom Memorial, a new national African American Civil War Memorial located in Washington, D.C. This monument pays tribute to 209,145 United States Colored Troops who fought in the American Civil War.

As you can see, Mother Grant passed down some strong self-worth values. The business of public relations is "in my blood." There was no way that I could see the devastation caused by Diabetes and understand this disease, and do nothing about it. I wanted to know "what happened to Mother, how did this happen, could we have done something differently, if only we had known that an improved diet and regular physical exercise could have made a difference."

I know that I've been chosen to get the word out regarding this disease that's burning "out of control" in the African American community. Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose. It results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Diabetes can be associated with serious complications and premature death, but people with diabetes can take measures to reduce the likelihood of such, according to recent studies found by the National Institute of Health. Some researchers believe that African Americans, (Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders were also included in the study) inherited a "thrifty gene" from their African ancestors. Years ago, this gene enabled Africans, during "feast and famine" cycles, to use food energy more efficiently when food was scarce. Today, with fewer such cycles, the thrifty gene that developed for survival may instead make the person more susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes.

The problem dates back to the beginning of the slave trade, documented as beginning in 1790, and for those enslaved ones, food was still scarce, thus the "thrifty genes" protected them. If you research the documentations found on record at the National Archives and Records Administration, slaves received rations. It really doesn't matter what the diets were of African people hundreds of years ago, as they roamed around freely on the African continent, in townships like Johannesburg, Freetown, Rwanda, Sudan, South African and Sierre Leone. What does matter is the fact that those Africans who managed to survive the slave trade here in America, arrived on the shores very strong. Slaves ate scraps, like hog mauls, chitterlings, pigtails, pig feet, pig ears, and they drank milk from a trough along side other animals.

African people became Americanized, they were no longer in their homeland, so to live, they had to eat whatever was made available to them, they were fed last, after the horses and the pigs had been taken care of, whatever was left was given to those enslaved people -- scraps, left-overs, garbage. In an effort to create a delicious meal, the women worked at creating recipes that they could all enjoy. They loved collard greens with fat back meat, and learned to bake sweet potato pies, cleaned chitterlings and made them into a delicacy to be eaten on special occasions. They made pots of beans seasoned with ham hocks, or pigtails, and they seasoned with pork.

They made home-made biscuits from self-rising, white flour and lard, and they learned to make hush puppies, candied yams, lots of potatoes, and they ate plenty corn bread, so even until this day, African people who became African Americans beginning in the late 1700's, had a very different diet than Euro-Americans. Even though this wasn't a "good" and "healthy" diet for the slaves, they ate it, they enjoyed it, and they were able to sustain themselves easily. They worked so very hard in the fields 12-16 hours a day. But of course, since they had the so-called "thrifty genes" which allowed their bodies to preserve food in an appropriate manner, when food was scarce, seems that was probably a good thing, since the enslaved didn't always have ample food supplies.

There is a bright side to this though, as they worked, they were receiving strenuous daily exercise, which kept them healthy. It really didn't matter what the slaves ate, because what they ate, in today's standard would have fattened them too, but it didn't, because they burned it off every day out in the fields working. It was a vicious cycle. They ate, and they worked off the carbohydrates. They ate and they worked off more carbohydrates, and they didn't die from diseases back then, as they do today, diabetes or cancer, and don't think that their bowels didn't move regularly as well, thus eliminating all of the colon cancer, they eliminated the toxins from their bodies through sweat and perspiration. So all of these diseases that are out of control today, like Diabetes came along later due to the many lifestyle changes of Americans.

Let us all learn a very important lesson from this bit of history: According to all legislations and laws today, African Americans can Be whatever they want to be, they can Do whatever they are capable of doing, and they can Have whatever they can manage to work hard enough to achieve. We know that this is a true statement, when you look around and you see such role models as Oprah Winfrey, the queen of talk shows, Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, we have had several black Miss America's, including the current reigning queen, we have Tiger Woods, the best golfer of all times and The Williams Sisters, who have broken all records. Today, we live in fabulous homes; our children can now go to college, (sidebar: yet we have more African American men in prison today, over 900,000 than we have in college today, only 600,000, that's another article.)

The trouble with this whole thing is, African Americans continue to enjoy many of the delicious foods handed down to us by our ancestors, our diets haven't changed very much, but we've forgotten one very important ingredient, our ancestors worked 12-16 hour days, performing physical labor. They received the necessary exercise daily, therefore, they didn't get sick with diabetes, and all of the fat was burned off in blood, sweat and tears.

We've graduated to vegetable oils like Crisco and other vegetable oils. Families today still enjoy foods, which include far too many carbohydrates like macaroni and cheese, desserts, and lots of bread. We have enjoyed these foods for hundreds of years, but now, we sit at computers, walk out to our cars, drive everywhere, including to the grocery stores, we don't have to walk to school for miles any longer, we can ride the school buses, and exercise has all but been eliminated. America is overwhelmingly FAT, even our children in many cases are overweight and/or obese.

It's a simple problem, bad diets that includes too much junk food from fast food restaurants, and a lack of strenuous exercise. How many times have you pigged out, after a hard day, then, you fell asleep? That food is fattening you up, just the way that it does for newborn babies. Remember how babies eat and sleep, and soon, you notice their little legs beginning to get a little meat on their bones. But you can almost look at them grow and gain weight. But they are still babies, and that's what they need, nutrition to grow.

We just keep getting BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER! (I give a speech entitled "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" - How to have a healthy mind, body & spirit). It's no wonder that our starvation genes are reacting the way that they have, this so-called "thrifty gene" that is found in African Americans seems to store even more of this foreign food that we continue to ingest into our bodies. We came from strong, lean backgrounds, Africa has never been a "fat" nation, but as African Americans, we have Americanized our bodies so badly, that our health problems are out-of-control!

If you take a look at the stats provided by the National Institute of Health, Today, diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious health challenges facing the United States. The following statistics illustrate the magnitude of this disease among African Americans.

2.8 million African Americans have diabetes.
On average, African Americans are twice as likely to have diabetes as white Americans of similar age.

Approximately 13 percent of all African Americans have diabetes.
African Americans with diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes complications and experience greater disability from the complications than white Americans with diabetes.

Death rates for people with diabetes are 27 percent higher for African Americans compared with whites
National health surveys during the past 35 years show that the percentage of the African American population that has been diagnosed with diabetes is increasing dramatically. The surveys in 1976-80 and in 1988-94 measured fasting plasma glucose and thus allowed an assessment of the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes as well as of previously diagnosed diabetes. In 1976-80, total diabetes prevalence in African Americans ages 40 to 74 years was 8.9 percent; in 1988-94, total prevalence had increased to 18.2 percent--a doubling of the rate in just 12 years.

Prevalence in African Americans is much higher than in white Americans. Among those ages 40 to 74 years in the 1988-94 survey, the rate was 11.2 percent for whites, but was 18.2 percent for African Americans

Regular physical activity is a protective factor against type 2 diabetes and, conversely, lack of physical activity is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Researchers suspect that a lack of exercise is one factor contributing to the high rates of diabetes in African Americans. In the NHANES III survey, 50 percent of African American men and 67 percent of African American women reported that they participated in little or no leisure time physical activity.

Conclusion
In furthering the causes of this Diabetes Educational Prevention Campaign, the first order of business has been to make my very own Lifestyle Change. My Mother was buried on December 30th, 2000. When I returned home to Silver Spring, Maryland, it took a few months before I could go on, the grief period was extremely hard, but the first order of business, was to begin a regular exercise routine. Walking became my exercise of choice -- two to four miles three to four days each week. I've changed my diet. I'm now drinking green mineral drinks each morning, (you can buy green drinks at organic stores); and I'm no longer eating white bread. In fact I don't eat very much bread at all, but when I do, it is whole grain or wheat bread, brown rice, more fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables. I enjoy using my juice machine for fresh green spinach and carrot drinks.

Recently, I found myself with excellent health results from my physical examination. My cholesterol level was low, at 126, and my glucose levels were average. There is one area that I'm still working on, and that is my Ideal Body Mass, IBM. I'm still overweight, but I've lost 30 lbs., and still counting.

If you are reading this article, and you're at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, consider making a major Lifestyle Change. It's very simple: 1-Change your diet, eliminate most of the carbohydrates from your diet; 2-Exercise regularly for the rest of your life, and 3-Get rid of the extra pounds, work toward maintaining your ideal body weight. If you make this promise to yourself, to change your life, you will be "Fanning the Flames of the Diabetes Epidemic in America," and soon the fire will be put out, but it will take millions of people to join this fight. You don't have to get Diabetes, it can be prevented, you don't have to lose one limb to this vicious disease, nor do you have to lose your kidney. Change your life, and enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner - with all of the trimmings, but the next day, get back to the business of getting fit and staying healthy.


What Pre-Diabetes Is And What The Risk Factors Are For Pre-Diabetes


By Terry Robbins

Prevention is always the best way with any disease and is even more important with diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes especially if you think you or a loved one is at risk and are wondering what pre-diabetes is and what the risk factors for pre-diabetes are. Not being ignorant of your risk factors will help you determine the actions you need to take to reduce your risks of developing diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes.

Diabetes relates to how the body processes carbohydrates and sugars that we consume in our daily food. When these carbohydrates and sugars enter the body, they are converted into glucose which is the simplest form of sugar and distributed to the blood. When this distribution to the blood occurs, the pancreas immediately kicks in and produces insulin which is a hormone that removes the glucose from the blood and distributes it to various parts of the body that need this glucose for energy.

With a diabetic, the pancreas does not produce any insulin (Type 1), not enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to the insulin produced (Type 2) leading to an accumulation of blood glucose levels with the glucose having no place to go and the body being starved of energy. The only way that the body is able to remove this glucose from the blood when insulin malfunctions, is to eliminate the glucose through urine leading to various diabetes related complications such as coma, blindness, heart disease, limb amputations, kidney disease, etc.

As you can see, diabetes is no joke and if you can reduce your risk of developing this condition or delay the onset of diabetes and the symptoms of diabetes, you need to do everything you can to accomplish this.

There are no gray areas with Type 1 diabetes which usually starts in childhood and the onset of this type is very rapid. There are however, gray areas with the more common type of diabetes which is Type 2 diabetes which has long been considered adult onset diabetes although with the current epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, the diabetics with this type have started to get younger and younger. This gray area with type 2 diabetes is known as pre-diabetes.

What is Pre-Diabetes?

When some people are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, they are usually monitored closely by their doctors which leads to a possible diagnosis of pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means that although the blood glucose levels are higher than what is considered normal, they are not high enough to warrant a diabetes 2 diagnosis.

When this occurs, there is no telling how long it will take or if the individual will develop Type 2 diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes. By becoming proactive and adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes monitoring the blood sugar levels and consuming more complex carbohydrates and other healthy eating habits in addition to adding daily exercise, the risk of developing the symptoms of diabetes and Type 2 diabetes will be delayed or eliminated.

When you are determined to be pre-diabetic, your doctor will usually monitor your blood glucose levels on a annual basis to ensure that the levels remain at a healthy rate. He or she will usually advise you to invest in a blood sugar monitor to be used by you regularly to check your blood sugar levels and make changes as needed depending on the results shown on the monitor.

What Are The Pre-Diabetes Risk Factors?

a. Have a family history of Type 2 diabetes
b. If you suffered from gestational diabetes during your pregnancy or pregnancies
c. If you are obese or overweight and/or lead a sedentary lifestyle with no physical activity
d. If you are at least 45 years of age

Diabetic Neuropathy: Understand What Your Doctor Means



By Jenny H Jordan

Diabetic neuropathy, or the pathology of diabetic neuropathy, can appear mysterious and complicated to understand, for anyone who's first introduced to these terms. They are particularly difficult to understand for someone with a small amount of previous knowledge of the nervous system. You may be presenting to your doctor with a symptom like a certain pain, or loss of feeling in your feet, and instantly, your health care provider knows these as diabetic neuropathy symptoms. Most likely, you'll be confronted with some medical terms that you have never heard of previously. It seems that no matter how old we are, men and alike need to understand why we have a certain symptom, and the best way to treat it.

For example, maybe you have scheduled a physician visit due to pain, and your doctor instantly recognizes this as neuropathic pain, and starts to explain neuropathy affects which are related to diabetes. Additionally, in place of hearing about your levels of blood sugars, this talk has grown to talking about levels of sorbitol. It may be overwhelming for a patient to hear a barrage of new terms all at 1 time, or going from 1 subject to the other, such as flitting from discussing blood, to talking about a nerve. When doctors bring in new words to patients, such as nitric oxide and, it's not unheard of for a patient to leave the office with more questions than they went in with.

Diabetic neuropathy is actually divided into four groups: Peripheral neuropathy which affects the arms, hands, legs, feet, & toes; autonomic neuropathy affects the blood vessels & heart, the digestive system, urinary tract, sex organs, eyes, sweat glands & lungs; proximal neuropathy affects the hips, buttocks legs and thighs; & focal neuropathy which affects the lower back & pelvis, abdomen, chest, thighs, legs, feet, eyes, ears & facial muscles.

As you can see, diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerves throughout the body. Because of this, there can be several different kinds of symptoms. Because pain, numbness, sensitivity to temperatures, sweating, etc. are very noticeable symptoms of neuropathy from diabetes, there are several other more hard to determine signs that you can miss. This is why it's very important to inform your doctor of any physical changes you may notice.

Neuropathy may manifest in such a variety of ways that symptoms like high blood pressure, constipation, sexual dysfunction, blurry eyesight, heavy perspiration and so on, need to be assessed by a professional before they evidence themselves as, or are attributed to, diabetic neuropathy. In order to properly diagnose you, your physician can order specialized tests i.e. nerve conduction studies to see how well your nerves are transmitting and how the muscles surrounding them respond, use ultrasound to look at various organs, and they may check for a variance in your heart beat.

Extra Benefits Of Exercise For Diabetes Sufferers

8:19:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments


I guess that there can not be anyone on the face of planet earth who is not aware that taking regular exercise is good for you. Walking, cycling and swimming would all rate pretty highly in a league table of activities that are good for you physically, and the fact that they are enjoyable to boot, is probably good for your mental wellbeing as well.

More cars in the world equal less people walking, as a very simple example.
Now, throw into the mix the second factor, that the diet of people in the West is becoming ever more sugar and salt laden with each and every passing year, and we have an increasingly volatile and dangerous recipe for a cataclysmic meltdown of the human race in the not too distant future.

America is already seeing the results of this lethal combination of no exercise and poor quality food, usually eaten in quantities that can often border on the obscene. It sometimes seems that modern American society is predicated on the maxim that more is ALWAYS better, and to heck with the consequences!

The bare facts are both staggering and terrifying. Two-thirds of American adults are overweight, and half of these are clinically obese. Moreover, the obesity epidemic has hit the West (not only America, although the States is by far the worst offender) with astonishing speed. After millions of years and thousands of generations of human evolution, obesity has become widespread only in the past 50 years, and waistlines have literally ballooned in the past twenty years.

In 1980, 46 percent of U.S. adults were overweight; by 2000, the figure was 64. 5 percent: nearly a 1 percent annual increase in the ranks of the flabby. Extrapolating this pattern forward towards its most logical (and scariest) conclusion, by the year 2040, 100 percent of American adults will be overweight and "it may happen more quickly," says John Foreyt of Baylor College of Medicine. You read that right - 100% - in other words, everyone – every single man, woman and child in America will be overweight!
Already, children are amongst the biggest victims of the “fat explosion”!

Childhood obesity, once extremely rare, has mushroomed: 15 percent of children between ages six and 19 are now overweight and even 10 percent of those between two and five. "This may be the first generation of children who will die before their parents," Foreyt says.

And all of this after it has been scientifically proven time and again that excess weight vastly increases the chances of suffering and dying from heart disease, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and several types of cancer, plus suffering from arthritis, infertility, gallstones and asthma.

At the most basic level, the first step that anyone who is overweight or obese could take would be to eat less and exercise more.

The latter of these two actions is, in fact, or particular relevant to diabetes sufferers.
Whilst not suggesting that all diabetics are overweight or that everyone's diabetes is a result of carrying excessive personal "baggage", nevertheless, by following our earlier statistics for the population as a whole, we can reasonably assume that two thirds of diabetes sufferers in the USA will be overweight.

And whilst research has repeatedly shown that regular physical activity helps physical and mental health for everyone, repeated doses of exercise will especially benefit diabetes sufferers, as it can help to significantly reduce blood glucose levels as well.

This is, of course, great news for people with Type II diabetes, because test have indicated that insulin sensitivity may well be improved by exercise, whilst at the same time helping to lower elevated blood glucose levels back down into an acceptable range.

Here's why. At the same time, exercise improves the action of insulin in the peripheral muscles, making it more efficient, so you get more out of the insulin your body is producing.
In older people with diabetes, the decrease in insulin sensitivity that is a part of the ageing is also partially due to a lack of physical activity. So, regular exercise benefits you now, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

However unappealing "working out" may seem, especially if you have not been a regular exerciser for some time, the truth is that exercise, in combination with a healthy diet (eating less, or maybe, more accurately, a lot less), is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself if you have diabetes.

In conclusion, for sufferers of Type 11 diabetes, exercise will:
• By definition, help to burn off those excess calories, helping you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
• Assist your body's response to insulin and help to control blood glucose levels.
• Lower blood glucose and possibly reduce the amount of medication you need to treat diabetes.
• Improve your circulation, drop the levels of "bad" cholesterol and aid your body’s ability to deal with and, hopefully, lower high blood pressure.


Type 2 Diabetes - Overcoming Depression in Diabetes!

12:56:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Depression and diabetes often go together. People with diabetes are twice as likely as non-diabetics to suffer a major depressive disorder and to be taking antidepressants. The question of what causes the link is one that scientists are trying to answer.

One study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, March 2011 looked at sugar intake and depression in elderly home-bound people. The work was undertaken at the Department of Public Health and Family Medicine at Tufts University in the United States. Nine hundred and seventy-six people were included in the study. Those who were depressed had a higher level of sugar intake and higher levels of insulin than those who were not depressed. Could sugar cravings caused by depression be behind the development of Type 2 diabetes? Perhaps constantly high levels of insulin cause the body to develop insensitivity to it. More research is needed.

Depression is a problem in itself, but it can also be associated with physical health problems. Performing everyday activities is difficult with depression, and keeping blood sugar under control is likely to be more difficult for the depressed person than for the happy one. Research is actually showing that depression itself often leads to weight gain, particularly of visceral fat, the type of belly fat that leads to insulin resistance.

Researchers in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle looked at depression in diabetic patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Their results were published in the April 2011 edition of the journal Psychosomatics. Three thousand five hundred and ninety-six diabetics were included in the study. It was found diabetics with major depression were more likely to be admitted to ICU and had more days of hospitalization than non-depressed diabetics. It was therefore concluded treatment for depression might lessen the need for intensive medical care.

What can be done to treat depression and improve Type 2 diabetes?

Researchers in Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Genesys Health System in Flint, Michigan, tried a program of telephone counseling and walking to attempt to alleviate depression in diabetics. The results of their work were published in Medical Care, April 2011.

Two hundred and ninety-one volunteers with Type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was given by telephone:

* managing depression
* physical activity, and
* Type 2 diabetes

were discussed every week for 12 weeks, then once a month for 9 months. Their walking distance was also measured. Hemoglobin A1c levels were already fairly well controlled and no difference was seen between levels at the beginning and end of the study.

Results showed:

* their physical activity increased
* blood pressures went down
* patients felt less depressed
* coping with diabetes and general health improved

If you are depressed, do your part to help yourself and don't hesitate to get help from a counselor, psychologist or another health professional. Don't let depression derail your diabetes management efforts. With help you will feel better and your Type 2 diabetes management will become easier.

Glucose Levels and Diabetes


By Robert S. Nelson

Persistently very high blood glucose amounts are an attribute of diabetes mellitus. Eventually, heightened blood glucose levels are going to cause harm to your system that could produce additional complications in the way of various, possibly severe, health problems. So, exactly why is elevated blood glucose harmful to begin with?

Glucose is an essential sugar which in turn is the main fuel for all of your body's cells. The cells depend on it for energy. However, consistently elevated blood glucose levels will often work against the body in these ways:

* By having an excessive amount of sugar inside your blood the pancreas must constantly boost its output of insulin in order to sustain normal glucose levels. Inevitably this task causes damage to the pancreas and so it loses the capability to make insulin.

* Surplus sugar coats and also adheres itself to your red blood cells. As a result of this sugary layer these sticky cells start to interfere with blood flow which in turn causes cholesterol accumulation in the blood vessels.

Given that it is your blood vessels that are affected any portion of one's body is vulnerable considering the fact that blood vessels are all over your body. Compromised blood vessels could cause numerous ramifications including:

* Kidney breakdown

* Cardiac arrest

* Loss of sight

* Neurological damage

* Stroke

* Erectile dysfunction

Exactly what is normal blood glucose levels? To be able to identify high sugar levels you initially need to find out what exactly is deemed normal. Presently, a blood glucose measurement which shows less than 140 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) two or three hours after eating food or one which shows less than 100 mg/dL after fasting is regarded as being in the normal range, though a generally healthy individual typically has sugar levels even below that.

The quantity of glucose inside your blood is usually at its lowest level prior to eating a meal. For the typical individual who doesn't have diabetic issues, glucose levels will most likely range between 70 - 80 mg/dL prior to eating. These amounts can be greater or lower however, as previously mentioned, anything below 100 mg/dL is considered the norm when fasting.

Might blood glucose levels get too low? The blood sugar level with the majority of people hardly ever falls below 60 mg/dL regardless if they've been fasting over an extended period. This is because whenever you fast as well or diet, the pancreas halts production of the hormone insulin and secretes glucagon which in turn causes your liver to secrete stored glucose into your bloodstream. Even so, it is uncommon for blood glucose to fall to a level which is dangerous except when there are some unique health issues or perhaps when diabetes medicine is being used.

Since we now know what normal blood glucose levels are let's focus on exactly what elevated levels happen to be. Glucose levels higher than normal indicates the person might have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Listed below are several unique tests which can identify diabetes:

* Fasting Blood Glucose Exam: This particular test is conducted after an individual has fasted for 8 hours. In the event that their glucose level is above 126 mg/dL following this time the chances are they have diabetes.

* Oral Glucose Tolerance Examination: This test likewise requires going on a fast for 8 hours, then the individual is given a sugary liquid to consume. If blood sugar tests conducted 2 hours later show values greater than 200 then that individual has diabetes.

* Random Blood Glucose Test: Random blood exams indicating glucose levels over 200, together with the individual showing symptoms such as abnormal thirst as well as frequent urination, is believed to have diabetes. One of the two other exams would be needed to verify this finding.

An individual who has elevated blood glucose levels but who don't match up with the above mentioned criteria with regard to diabetes is considered to have pre-diabetes. Ultimately, anyone who has pre-diabetes runs a much greater chance of acquiring diabetes in addition to getting coronary disease. Fortunately by way of exercise and diet you can actually stop pre-diabetes from developing into diabetes.

By maintaining blood glucose levels within the normal range numerous severe medical problems could very well be prevented. This approach, coupled with routine follow-up health care, will enable you to control diabetes as well as enjoy a healthy and productive way of life.

Decoding Often Confusing Blood Glucose Measurements


By Aurther Shoko

Blood glucose measurement is an integral part of diabetes care and prevention. This requires that measurements be taken on a regular basis which can also be used by a health care professional. Today the market is filled with a variety of blood monitors which one can purchase off the internet. This is similar to blood pressure monitors used in hypertension care.

Unlike blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters do not necessarily produce a similar standardized reading. Blood glucose meters come calibrated differently. To begin with blood glucose can be measured using whole blood or plasma. This means a meter can be calibrated to measure plasma or whole blood. Plasma is a part of the whole blood. The two have different numerical readings which however can be interpreted to mean one and the same thing by a knowledgeable person. This is were the confusion sets in.

Confusing blood glucose measurements often occur when patients purchase a new meter different from the old one. Often there is an expectation of similar readings and results. However, this is not always the case. This is because the new meter may be calibrated differently. Even though most blood meters are calibrated for whole blood measurements, there are also others that give readings using plasma levels which is only a part of whole blood.

The other concern that blood meter users have is the difference between lab results and results that are produced by their personal meter. This causes readings from the doctor's office to vary from those done at home by the patient. Again the answer lies in the fact that lab measurements are based on plasma part of the blood which excludes whole blood. On the other hand as mentioned before most home meters are whole blood calibrated. These samples which are different causes home meters to produce 12% lower results compared to plasma results from the lab.

It is possible to compare your white blood calibrated meter with plasma calibrated lab results. This is achieved by converting the lab results to be a white blood calibrated results. It is mathematically done by dividing the lab result with 1.12. Overall and as a rule, home blood meters are considered to have a clinically accurate result if the measurement falls within +/-20% of a reference result such as a lab test. To avoid the trouble of having to convert your results meet plasma readings, it is best to purchase a plasma calibrated blood meter.

All About Bee Pollen And Diabetes - How Bee Pollen Can Aid In Weight Management In Diabetics


By Johan Petersen

Bee Pollen And Diabetes

There have been a lot of research about this supplement and its positive effects in counteracting complications and side effects of diabetes. Diabetes is a difficult disease to live with everyday because it costs time, money and effort to manage.

One complaint of diabetic patients is weight gain. Bee pollen can help patients deal with diabetes and the weight gain associated with it.

Bee pollen is considered the ultimate food because of its high content of nutrients that is unmatched by any other substance. This is the reason why besides diabetes, it is also used in lowering the risk of cancer and other forms diseases.

Bee pollen helps aid in managing weight with diabetes and its other complications because of its following benefits:

* It is not loaded with calories that can add up to a person's weight. In fact, it is considered a low-calorie food.
* This substance also enhances a person's metabolic process. This is essential in proper digestion of food in order for the calories and nutrients to be absorbed by the body.
* It contains an amino acid called phenylalanine that acts as a natural appetite suppressant. It makes a person crave less for food. Perfect for those with obesity problems besides diabetes.
* Lecithin is another component of this natural substance that can benefit those with diabetes and obesity problem. It helps dissolves excess fat in the body in order to be used as energy.
* It does not contain high sugar like those in honey. This is good news for diabetics who need to control their sugar intake.

This supplement makes it possible for diabetics to fight obesity by letting them have a healthier lifestyle and weight control regimen. This can also lessen other complications from diabetes such as slow healing of wounds and fatigue.

Bee pollen can be taken as a supplement because eating it as it is may not be as pleasant as other food. Supplements are convenient and are easier to take. Unfortunately not all of it is made of good quality. Invest in supplements that use pure bee pollen without any preservative included.

The best pollens are those harvested in New Zealand because it is known to be one of the cleanest places on Earth. Pollens are affected by pollution and its potency greatly diminishes if gotten from polluted places.

So invest only in bee pollen supplements that are free from contaminants and toxins in order to help manage diabetes and obesity effectively.

Facts About Feline Diabetes

8:18:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments


You've just learned that your cat has feline diabetes. If you're like most people, you're feeling scared and overwhelmed. But this disease doesn't have to be a death sentence for your beloved friend. It's treatable, and with proper care, your kitty can live a long, happy life with you.

Even if your furry friend is older, you may decide to go ahead with treatment. It depends on how healthy he is. Quite a few older felines with this illness have lived for many years. You do need to be committed to providing him with loving care.

What is feline diabetes? Your kitty's pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that keeps his blood sugar levels balanced. When the food he eats is digested, the starches and carbohydrates in it are broken down into glucose, a simple sugar. This sugar passes through the walls of his digestive tract and into his bloodstream.

If your kitty's pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin (type 1), or his body doesn't use the insulin effectively (type 2, characterized by insulin resistance), glucose builds up in his bloodstream and causes his blood sugar level to get too high. Elevated blood sugar levels can cause liver and kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, and make him more prone to getting infections. If the level gets too high, he could go into a coma and die.

Your kitty's body passes the extra sugar into his urine, which then causes his kidneys to try to flush it out of his body. This excessive urination (polyuria or PU) causes him to be extremely thirsty (polydipsia or PD). These are classic symptoms of diabetes, whether you're a kitty or a human.

Other symptoms include an increase in appetite, along with weight loss. He may be lethargic. In some felines the first symptom is diabetic neuropathy, which is weakness in his back legs. He may walk or stand on his hocks (the "elbows" on his back legs) and be unable to stand on his back feet. This is a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is more common in overweight people, and it works the same way in your furry friend. Fat cells produce a substance that causes your body's cells to resist insulin, which is common in type 2 diabetes. Controlling your feline's weight is the best way to prevent and treat this disease. Older, overweight males are at the highest risk.

There are many treatment options for this disease. Some kitties need insulin injections once or twice a day, while others respond well to dietary changes and losing weight. You may want to consider holistic treatment too.

Clear communication is essential. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask them. It's necessary to find someone responsible who can not only feed your kitty properly, but who is able to check his blood sugar and give insulin injections. A relative or good friend who is willing to learn how to do these things is worth their weight in gold! If there isn't anyone you can trust, you may need to board your buddy at the vet's office.

While there is no cure for cat diabetes yet, hopefully you and your kitty friend will be companions for many years to come.


Type 2 Diabetes - International Cuisines Perfect For Diabetic Diets!

1:38:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Following a diabetic diet that's based only on Western favorites like grilled chicken and salad can get boring in a hurry. In fact, many Type 2 diabetics feel that a bland, boring diet is a requisite for healthy eating.

Fortunately, you can break up the monotony with international fare. Some of the world's most flavorful cuisines are also those that are best for diabetes and low blood sugar levels. Ditch the old salad in favor of these overseas options and watch your blood sugar levels freefall.

Indian: Unlike Western food... which tends to flavor it's dishes with oil and salt... Indian food uses generous amounts of healthy herbs and spices to get the same effect. Additionally, Indian favorites like aloo gobi and channa masala are bursting with dietary fiber. Type 2 diabetics that eat fiber tend to control their blood sugar much more effectively than those that don't get enough fiber.

However, the carbs in Indian food can add up quickly. Be sure to limit your intake of starchy naan, lassis and desserts to retain Indian cuisine's blood sugar benefits.

Thai: The booming popularity of Thai food isn't just due to the taste (although that's a big part of it). Many people are turning to Thai for their health. Thai food is a cornucopia is healthy foods like chicken, vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish. In fact, almost any dish you order at a Thai restaurant will be fibrous and low in high glycemic index carbs.

Even better, spicy Thai food is rich in a compound known as capsaicin. Studies show that capsaicin... the compound responsible for pepper's hot flavor... boosts metabolism for a few hours after eating it. Combined with a healthy diet, spicy Thai food can help you keep off those extra pounds that make blood sugar rise.

Japanese: Japanese people have some of the lowest diabetes rates in the industrialized world. What's their secret? In addition to eating in moderation and staying physically active, Japanese diets tend to be heavy in healthy choices like fatty fish, green leafy vegetables and lean meat.

Italian: Even looking at Italian mainstays like Lasagna and pasta can make your blood sugar rise. However, that doesn't mean that all Italian cuisine will make your blood sugar skyrocket. In fact, studies have consistently found that people who eat a Mediterranean diet similar to the ways that native Italians eat tend to be at a healthy body weight and have lower Type 2 diabetes risk.

To reap these benefits limit your pasta and refined grain intake and eat plenty of Italian dishes like braised fish, vegetable salad, and baked eggplant.

Type 2 Diabetes - Staggering Diabetes Statistics Highlight Unhealthy Habits!


By Beverleigh H Piepers

Data from the recent 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet have highlighted the unhealthy habits many people are still doing on a daily basis. This information, released in January of 2011, has some staggering statistics that will surprise many people.

A total of 25.8 million adults and children in the United States have Type 2 diabetes. That is a whopping 8.3% of the population. What's surprising about these statistics is that only 18.8 million people have actually been diagnosed, while another 7 million people are undiagnosed and have no idea that they're walking around with such a deadly disease. In addition, 79 million people are walking around in a pre-diabetic state that could turn into full-blown diabetes at any time. Even more surprising are the 1.9 million new cases of Type 2 diabetes that were diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.

With so much being known about how to prevent Type 2 diabetes, many experts are shocked at how the rates are increasing year after year. There are many lifestyle modifications that can be made to prevent diabetes from ever occurring. This includes things like adding more fruits and vegetables to the diet, eliminating fast food and adding exercise to the mix on a regular basis.

One scary statistic from information taken in 2007 showed the diabetes was listed as the main underlying cause on 71,382 death certificates and was also listed as being a contributing factor in an additional 160,022 death certificates. That means that a total of 231,404 deaths listed diabetes as being a contributing factor. When people see the real risk factors associated with this deadly disease, experts hope that they will take it more seriously.

Diabetes is also a well-known contributing cause to heart disease and stroke. Adults who have diabetes have heart disease death rates that are 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher as well. In 2004, heart disease was noted to be on 68% of diabetes related death certificates for people who were 65 years and older. Stroke was on another 16% of death certificates among diabetics.

Other statistics showed 67% of diabetics have high blood pressure. Diabetes is also now the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74 years. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure as it accounts for 44% or more of new cases.

There's no question that these diabetes statistics are alarming and shocking in some cases. The good thing is that Type 2 diabetes is completely preventable if the proper lifestyle changes are made.

Is Bubbly Urine a Sign of Diabetes?


By Kum Martin

The way the urine looks or smells can give a person an indication whether all is alright with his or her health. Healthy and normal urine is either clear in color or pale yellow, and it does not have an odor. However, what about when the urine is bubbly and foaming? Does that mean there is something wrong with the person and he or she could be suffering from diabetes?

Based on several studies carried out, it is not necessary that bubbly urine is a sign of diabetes. However, this kind of urine tends to increase the chances of a person being diagnosed with diabetes. So, bubbly urine could be due to diabetes, but it not necessary to conclude that a person is suffering from diabetes just because he or she passes bubbly and foamy urine as there are many causes for bubble formation in the urine.

Some of the causes for passing bubbly urine are listed below:

Dehydration is one of the most common causes. When a person does not drink sufficient amounts of water, the body is unable to produce normal amounts of urine. This causes bubbles to form and hence the resultant urine, which is dark colored, will contain bubbles.

Controlling the urge to urinate often leads to bubbles forming in the urine when the urine is passed. This occurs when the urine is eliminated from the bladder with force after a person delays visiting the rest room.

Urinary tract infections are common causes of bubbles forming in the urine. However, along with the bubbles, the person will also experience pain and/or burning sensation while passing urine. These infections are best treated after consulting a specialist to avoid complications.

Proteinuria is one more cause for bubble formation in the urine. When the protein levels in the urine are higher than normal, it is known as proteinuria. This condition occurs when the glomeruli suffer from inflammation or damage and hence, they cannot filter out the protein. The high protein content urine reacts with the air on being passed out and this reaction causes bubbles to form.

Hence, noticing bubbles in the urine could be a sign of many health-related conditions and not just diabetes. If you are worried, it is best to consult a doctor and get the relevant tests done. The doctor would be the best person to inform you whether you are suffering from diabetes. A simple fasting blood sugar test should allow a doctor to diagnose whether you are diabetic or not.

Type 2 Diabetes - Is Carb Counting Obsolete?


By Beverleigh H Piepers

If you've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, chances are you've come across a dietitian, nurse or doctor touting the so-called benefits of carb counting. The theory behind carb counting is that it allows flexibility to choose the carb sources you enjoy by spreading out your carb intake evenly throughout the day.

However, University of Sydney researchers recently concluded that carb counting was largely ineffective in keeping blood sugar levels in check. In a group of diabetics, the researchers tested the response to 120 different carb rich foods on blood sugar levels. They found that using carb counting as a proxy measurement of blood sugar missed the mark.

Instead, the scientists discovered that the food's glycemic load was a much more accurate indicator of blood sugar changes.

This study highlights the many issues with carb counting, which include:

Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: All carbs are not created equal. But according to carb counting, they are. A carb counter considers 15g of carbs from chocolate cake equal to that of a cup of black beans. In reality, the effect on blood sugar - and health - couldn't differ more between those two choices.

You're better off tossing your calculator in the trash and focusing on healthy carb sources like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes.

Symptom Treatment: Carb counting accepts the sad fact that you'll have diabetes forever. Fortunately, a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis is not a life sentence. By losing weight, staying physically active and cutting out stress you can minimize or even eliminate Type 2 diabetes from your life.

All counting carbs does is minimize the damage from your diabetes, with no intent to cure it.

Impractical: One of the selling points of carb counting is that it's much more simple and straightforward than the old diabetes exchange lists that diabetics used to use. Fair enough. However, just because they're less complicated than the MIT-level math required for diabetic exchanges, does not automatically make them easy.

Most diabetics count carbs for a short period of time and quickly ditch the system as they find it too cumbersome for their real life.

Other Food Groups: There's no question that carbs should be your top priority for keeping blood sugar in check. However, that's not to say that fat, protein and alcohol don't play a major role in determining whether your blood sugar is at 99 or 199 mg/dL (5.5 or 11 mmol/L).

Not only do these other foods affect your sugars in the short-term, manipulating these other food groups can help you lose weight and reverse Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes in Children and Teenagers

4:11:00 PM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments

By Guy Starbuck

Type 1 Diabetes is also known as Juvenile Diabetes due to the fact that it tends to occur mostly in children. Type 2 Diabetes is rather different because it tends to occur later in life, Juvenile Diabetes usually accounts for 5- 10% of the cases which are recorded every year. Certain children may show signs of Juvenile Diabetes after they are born while it takes a long amount of time to develop in others. Children tend to become sick from a lot of other things so it is difficult to know whether diabetes is the main cause of their health problems until they usually become very ill.

One of the most essential steps which is involved in treating Childhood/Juvenile Diabetes properly is to recognize the symptoms early. If you catch these symptoms early, you could get help quickly for your child and save them from a lot of harm. The sooner the signs and symptoms are noted and reported to a doctor, the sooner your child can get a diagnosis and get some treatment for their diabetes. This treatment can also aid in reducing some of the damage which the diabetes has already caused, this treatment can also prevent death and severe damage to bodily organs which come from not treating diabetes early enough and ultimately this could help your child lead a much more normal life.

Here are some of the warning signs of Childhood/Juvenile Diabetes:

* Extreme thirst
* Frequent urination
* Sudden vision changes
* Increased appetite
* Sudden weight loss
* Excessive drowsiness/lethargy
* Sugar in urine
* Fruity, sweet or wine-like odor on the breath
* Heavy and labored breathing
* Stupor, unconsciousness (typically in extreme cases)

If your child happens to have one or more of these symptoms listed above, it is quite possible that they could already have Type 1 Diabetes. It is essential that you get in touch with your doctors right away for proper testing in order to determine whether this is the case. You should never attempt to self-diagnose or self-treat juvenile diabetes. Every case and child is a different one so it is essential that you get a medical professional to assist you with it.

Juvenile Diabetes may be commonly misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed due to the fact that the symptoms are usually similar to other conditions such as the flu. A lot of people with Juvenile Diabetes tend to get diagnosed before they turn 30. The earlier diabetes is diagnosed and the treatment of the condition starts, the more which can be done to prevent much more serious problems and even death from occurring.

With studies showing that 35 or more children are diagnosed with diabetes on a daily basis and an excess of 13,000 each year, some attention has to be paid to the issue. Because no known cure exists for diabetes, it is essential to attempt to resolve the condition before it leads to damage that cannot be resolved. If you know the warning signs and you do something about your diabetes early enough, it can help you save your child's life.

Diabetes: The Nutrition Mission

8:16:00 AM Posted by Diabetes 0 comments


One of the harder parts of being a diabetic is the endless struggle between sugar levels and food. Often times we forget just how much fat and carbohydrates we accumulate in the foods we eat. Everyone loves sugar and sometimes it is hard to accept that this (our love) is making us sick.

When we look at our diet, first we must determine how many servings of carbohydrates we eat on a regular basis. Purchase a log or journal to take note of each serving you consume. (The important word here is EACH) if you are not being honest with yourself you will only hurt yourself!

Around 30 in the morning; 45 at lunch; and maybe 45 at dinner; everyone is different so consult your nutritionist for further details. In your mission to better nutrition you must also consider what types of food to eat. May people do not realize that natural sugars cause elevated sugar levels also?

Many fruits and fruit juices contain natural sugars. Listed on the back of the packages of all types of foods you eat is a nutrition chart. This contains all the information you need to determine if the food is right for you and how much of the particular food you should eat.
There are two listings to look for whenever you pick up a package:

1. Total Carbohydrates-2. sodium
The amount of total carbohydrates is very important. Carbohydrates once in your body turn to sugar, the more you have the more it affects your sugar level. The American Diabetes Association found that the level of sugar in a product didn't matter as much as the amount of carbohydrates a diabetic consumed.

Now it is recommended that the amount of carbohydrates is limited and controlled to lower blood sugar levels, along with medication in some instances, as well as exercise.
Sodium is also important because being a diabetic increases your chances of having high blood pressure and cholesterol. Consult you physician to determine the proper amount of sodium you should include in your diet daily.

Many of us don't realize the incredible amount of sodium we intake on a daily basis. Just remember taste it before you shake it!
There are many products out that have substitutions for sugar or salt, designed for diabetics. I have listed a few that maybe useful. Also listed are a few of the fruits and other foods containing natural sugars that need to be taken with care.

Another important part of preparing meals is making sure the portions are the proper size. Each food must be weighed in order to maintain a proper diet. There are a few sites listed below this article that maybe able to help you understand portion sizes and weight. You can purchase a scale at most department stores at a reasonable rate to allow you to properly weigh each serving. There are also books available that can give a nutrition chart for the foods that are not packaged and of course Americas favorite fast foods.

Though there are extra steps one must follow, when being a diabetic; you can still lead a healthy and productive live. With proper nutrition and education you can learn to control and take care of this disease properly, this will cause fewer complications later on in life.

Recommended Fruits:
• Apples Lemons Plums Grapes
• Fruits Moderate In Sugar
• Peaches Mangos Cherries Papayas Oranges
• Bananas

Helpful References:
• The American Diabetes Association
• The Public Health Net
• Everyday Eating Provide recipes for diabetics.

Books:
A good book for nutrition counting; lists foods from A-Z Including Fast Foods
The Complete Nutrition Counter Written by: Lynn Sonberg


Tips For Diabetic Food


By Jenny H Jordan

People who have pre-diabetes are also searching for food plans which can move them away from the onset of full-blown diabetes. There's not a lack of reduced sugar recipes, Splenda recipes -- or any other sugar substitute, or even international diabetic-friendly recipes. A wonderful salad or sugar-free dessert can be created by anyone who knows something, or a lot, about cooking and specific recipes. The question is -- how do you weed through all of the thousands of diabetes recipes and find several that work for you?

There are many ways that blood sugar levels can be made normal, and one of those methods is by diet. Glucose meters and medicines are several ways to reduce the risks that come with having diabetes. Through judicious use of diabetic recipes, an excellent meal schedule will be varied and interesting and help diabetics get over the overindulgence which sometimes happens at holiday & other family gatherings.

A good meal plan does not mean that any person has to deprive themselves. Along the way, a person who is diabetic is able to lose weight, and lower their chances of stroke, heart disease, & other diabetes caused conditions and problems. As you learn to handle your type 2 diabetes, picking healthy foods, with a little practice & study, may become second nature. Choosing meal plans for diabetics also means learning to eat the right quantities. Just because you create sugar-free recipes, does not mean you can eat an overly large amount of them.

We've got some tips and tricks: Eat a variety of colorful fruits and veggies. Non-starchy vegetables in diabetic menus may include carrots, broccoli, spinach & others. A good dish such as whole grain spaghetti along with stir-fried vegetables is often a favorite among recipes for diabetics. Reconstituted dried beans such as pinto and kidney beans, along with lentils, add protein to any diabetic dish. There are a lot of recipes which include beans. Eat fish entrees up to 3 weekly.

Baked fish along with a nice sauce is easy to make and creates a great meal for a diabetic. When you consider meat, think lean. Sirloin steak, beef tenderloin, pork loin, skinned chicken breasts or other types of poultry is very versatile and quick to prepare. Dairy, such as skim milk & low-fat cheese and nonfat yogurt may make some rich and creamy sauces. Water and calorie free waters and tea are much better than diet sodas.

Go for single ingredient products when you can, to make up your meals. Use light veggie or olive oil to cook with. Fat is fat, but these two are superior than others. Check out low caloric and good for you desserts. There are a ton of great tasting recipes out there. Watch portions, no matter what you create.

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