The headline article in Arizona Woman, October 2006—“The Fight Against Breast Cancer Expands," prompted me to write this article.

In spite of all the research, chemotherapy, etc. cancer is on the rise.

Many books have been written on the important fact that our thoughts and feelings create our reality. I know from my own experience and from the experience of my clients whom I help heal from dire dis-eases—cancer, diabetes, lupus, Hepatitis C, Fibromyalgia, MS, high blood pressure, mitral valve prolapse and the list goes on. I hope I can explain the origin of dis-ease that will inspire you to transcend victim consciousness and live the life you were born to live—healthy, happy and with peace of mind.

First we need to look at how reality is created. Thoughts are created in the mind and feelings follow. Thoughts and feelings are impulses of energy. The human body is made up of trillions of cells. Cells of the nervous system, called nerve cells or neurons, are specialized to carry "messages" through an electrochemical process. The human brain has approximately 100 billion neurons.

Neurons have specialized projections called dendrites and axons. Dendrites bring information to the cell body and axons take information away from the cell body. Information from one neuron flows to another neuron across a synapse. The synapse is a small gap separating neurons. The synapse consists of:
1. a presynaptic ending that contains neurotransmitters, mitochondria and other cell organelles,
2. a postsynaptic ending that contains receptor sites for neurotransmitters and,
3. a synaptic cleft or space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic endings.

Thoughts and feelings are impulses of energy and information. They send out vibrational pictures, patterns, and colors (not words or language). This energy affects the atmosphere (energy field) around the person thinking the thought or feeling the feeling. What we see in the outer world is a reflection of collective humanity's thoughts and feelings.

Radio, TV programming and popular publications create our future. It's simple to understand how reality is created when you understand the Science of Consciousness. Collective consciousness is the sum total of humanity's beliefs, thoughts, feelings and actions. Media, public relations firms, and advertising constantly send out thought-forms that program us for sickness, drugs, violence, fear, and materiality. These thoughts go into collective consciousness and create a huge cesspool of dysfunctional beliefs from which we draw our personal thoughts. Perception is carefully and precisely regulated by pharmaceutical and medical practices.

Most conventional wisdom is implanted into the public consciousness by a thousand contrived media clips per day. Whose Thoughts Are You Thinking? Where attention goes—reality is created. Have you wondered why most people in America generally think the same thing about most issues? The thought is created first-then it manifests in everyday life. For example, constant awareness to medical problems creates more drug customers. Constant awareness to being a victim creates more people feeling victimized.

Cancer was rare until someone told us about it and programmed fear thoughts into consciousness. People did not think about flu shots until the media promoted them. Have you ever wondered about the ethics of TV Allergy Reports being sponsored by a drug company? Do you believe allergy medicine will cure allergies or are pharmaceuticals a profit making industry? What's true is that awareness to allergies promotes allergies. Remove those thoughts from your energy field and your allergies will be gone. In spite of all the research, chemotherapy, etc. cancer is on the rise. Thoughts and feelings create disease!

Let's explore conventional thought streams promoted in today's society which are creating public consciousness:
1) An education guarantees financial success,
2) war will create peace,
3) fluoride protects your teeth,
4) take out your gall bladder, tonsils, spleen, appendices and after a certain age, remove breasts, uterus, ovaries, testicles, etc., because they aren’t really needed or that is the way to create health. Think about it—if these body parts weren’t needed why did the human body evolve with them in tact?
5) HIV causes AIDS,
6) without vaccines infectious diseases will return,
7) the FDA thoroughly tests all drugs before marketing them,
8) if it's written in the newspaper, on TV or professional journal, it's true,
9) flu shots prevent flu,
10) menopause complications are something every woman can expect,
11) pharmaceutical drugs restore health. Think about it—if drugs restored health why are thousands of people taking numerous drugs?
12) pets need drugs, shots and surgery,
13) scientists and doctors are god-like,
14) be afraid of sun causing cancer,
15) "own a piece of the rock," makes you wiser, wealthier
16) the purpose of life is shopping—shop ‘till you drop.

Being a weirdo is healthier, than allowing yourself to be programmed to have all the diseases the pharmaceutical companies want you to have so they can sell drugs. Most people are ignorant-not evil. The result of ignorance however, is why I rely on Universal Laws. These laws transcend man-made laws, and hold true without fail. If you jump out of a window on the 10th floor you will go down--Newton's Law of Gravity ... and if you plant potato seeds you will get potatoes—not corn. Thoughts are planting seeds. Feelings follow thoughts. Thoughts and feelings create disease!

"We cannot create solutions to problems with the same consciousness that created them."—Einstein. —Anonymous.

When you understand the truth about how reality is created, you will think beyond living in only a "physical world" and think in terms of an "energy world". To break free of collective programming you will need to shift your thought programming and then vigilantly select each thought and feeling. Shifting your thought programming is much like installing an upgraded computer program onto your computer. "Fighting Against" Energy Creates More Of What You Don't Want and Collapses Your Energy Field.

Don't waste your energy fighting against what you don't want. It's more productive to decide what makes you fulfilled and create it. Only invest in positive thoughts. Make the necessary changes to your preferred state of functioning. Your energy, time and money will increase because you're not "fighting against something" or "ruminating about getting rid of something." People or experiences are never more than a thought away.

The Internet is helping people learn about being connected. Just as you can send e-mail via the Internet, we constantly send people "energy e-mail" messages. To create the reality you prefer - you need to be very selective with each thought you allow to enter your mind, and carefully monitor the thoughts and feelings you send to others. "Hedging Against" and "Ruminating." To Protect Yourself Most people have been programmed to hedge against inflation, to purchase insurance to protect against disability, fire, death, and illness, etc. The "save for a rainy day" mindset is also "hedging against." This attracts to you what you don't want in your life. The hidden motivation to save for retirement is usually driven by a desire to protect against old age. "Has the campaign, "Say NO to drugs" worked, if not, why not? It can't work because, the brain only records the last word … drugs … drugs … drugs. The mind set of AGAINST vs. FOR … profits huge industries. People buy vitamins, hair and beauty aids, their children's education, and get regular medical tests and checkups for the negative reasons of protecting themselves. All of the above scenarios are fear-based motivations that dis-empower you, collapse your energy field and create the opposite of your intentions.

PR Firms Raise Lots Of Money For Organizations "Hedging Against" something. I know several people who had a health crisis, after training for today's popular fund raising events. Well-intended participants are running, walking or biking, with the intent to avoid cancer or honor someone they knew who experienced cancer. What they have not understood is that by putting these thoughts into their minds—the disease gets created. What if people knew they get what they are thinking and feeling—not what they think they are thinking and feeling … AND that whatever they give attention to will expand. Words and feelings are powerful creators of reality. Avoid putting cancer thoughts in your consciousness (consciously or unconsciously)—you won’t create cancer in your life. A magnet does not stick to wood—only to metal. Remove the thoughts from millions of people's consciousness (and even from your family genetic consciousness)-and the disease or conditions disappear.

Your brain can't hold two thoughts simultaneously. You can't simultaneously hold a happy and sad thought, or healthy and sick thought. It's impossible to think about “Fighting Breast Cancer” and simultaneously hold the thought of total health and vibrant aliveness. The answer is, the more attention you put on the disease—the more people experience it.

Health is our natural state. Disease is abnormal and can't exist in a healthy body. Remove the thoughts of victim, fear, worry, war, disease, etc., and the thoughts are deleted from the collective thought cesspool. Spell check makes sure words are spelled right. Empower yourself by using a "thought-check" system for the next 30 days and see how your life changes. Allow only thoughts of health, joy, peace, integrity, and harmony. Watch how everything changes. We need to hold the pharmaceutical and medical profession liable for the results of their actions.

A well-known PR firm claims they have netted more dollars for breast cancer and AIDS charities more quickly than any known private event enterprise in United States history. But the goals are not aligned to natural laws and universal principles. Dis-ease consciousness creates dis-ease-and that is why there have been no solutions, no real cures for a variety of dis-eases. This is why there have been no solutions, no real cures for a variety of dis-eases. To quote the promotional brochures for the fight against cancer, "3 Days Of Walking from Santa Barbara to Malibu to FIGHT breast cancer with 3,000 others like you. 3 Days Of Kindness, commitment and friendship. 3-Days of Meaning you'll remember for the rest of your life." If walking from Santa Barbara to Malibu created a cure for breast cancer, why then has the number of women having breast cancer increased?

My high school peers who are zealots for long term care insurance, and fighting against every disease imaginable are dying at very young ages. They constantly think about how awful it is for people to get ill and lose their life savings and retirement money. Their real motivation was FEAR. From their fear, they manifested their greatest fear in their own life. Another analogy how thoughts create reality—did the campaign, "Say, NO to drugs" work, if not, why not? It can't work because the brain only records the last word … drugs … drugs … drugs. Think about this, grocery stores are now "Food & Drug Stores." Unless you own stocks in pharmaceutical companies and don't care about the future world or yourself, your children and grandchildren will live in … please take heed. Now that you are more informed and aware about how thoughts/feelings create reality, how would you like to work for the Orange County Financial Abuse Specialist Team? They specialize in training financial abuse specialists in agencies and organizations that serve the elderly. Or are you willing to support the National Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week, where a PTA organization puts a "death toll poster car" on display at the high school campus depicting people killed last year by drunk drivers in Orange County. Their stated objective "We hope to increase a greater awareness of substance abuse through this project." How awful that our children have to suffer because of ill informed, dysfunctional thinking adults; Or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society … Fighting Blood-Related Cancers; Or TV evangelists, who play on people's emotions using starving children's pictures or pictures of the helpless and hopeless; Or a concert to "STOP THE ABUSE of Afghanistan women or children;" Or "Help Stamp Out Hunger." Or, America's Walk For Diabetes; Or, run or walk the marathon in Honolulu for the Arthritis Foundation? Joints In Motion with a slogan, "Take it on!" Or, Race for the Cure-112 events nationwide and this organization is the leading catalyst in the FIGHT AGAINST this devastating disease...every woman is at risk-great perks, extra monograms, T-shirts, and complementary refreshments; Or you can create more awareness to arthritis by becoming a member of the Arthritis Foundation's Joints in Motion Training Team, take a vacation, and run the "I Love Paris In The Springtime Marathon." What about, "Prevent CHILD ABUSE?" Again, the brain records child abuse; Or Alzheimer's Memory Walk-a fun way to join the FIGHT AGAINST Alzheimer's Disease, where participants are instructed to bring pictures of their loved ones to remind them of why they are walking. The brochure shows four generations with only two generations with Alzheimer's disease; Or Project Sister …sexual assault crisis services educating the communities we serve about the nature and causes of sexual violence; Or these Internet sites: The Hunger site, The Kids AIDS site, The Landmine site, The Rainforest site, or The Child Survival site. Is it any wonder why hospitals, doctors and drug companies have so many patients? In addition to all the previous information in this article, many magazines use full front page headlines like, "The Diabetes Epidemic...a killer disease. This creates conscious awareness to diabetes and creates patients for the medical profession.

Consider this: A Walk For Peace in Celebration of the United Nations; Walking the Camino for the purpose of a spiritual and physical challenge... and with the intention to find one's deepest "spiritual meaning," and write a book about it, as Shirley McClaine did. Can you hear the difference in the motivations and energetic vibration?

Polarized Thinking Presenting information with polarized viewpoints is another way to increase negative results through creating apathy. The back and forth bantering does the same thing to your psyche as a cat that bats a mouse back and forth until it's lethargic. To create public opinion PR firms select specific radio, TV, magazines and newspapers and use third party endorsements, institutes, foundations, celebrity endorsements, scientists for hire, attack strategies, and the media uses press releases from pharmaceutical companies ostensibly as investigative news. The sole purpose of press releases as news is to keep you in fear and uncertainty so you will watch again and be subjected to more advertising. Polarized talk show participants keep consciousness stuck in no-win situations.

Dowsing and Kinesiology Testing has been used for eons to find water, oil and gold. . What Dowsing proves is the impact on a person's energy field of all the information I've been sharing. If it's truth—the field expands. If it isn't—the field collapses. It's amazing to witness testing someone who doesn't even know what the "pink cancer ribbon" means, yet we get negative test results.

There is a disease of the month celebrated every month—What are we creating when we celebrate a disease? What do you think Breast Cancer Awareness month will create—more health or dis-ease? Do you want to be part of the problem, or part of the solution? —Voltaire

Stop reading popular magazines and newspapers…stop watching TV and listening to radio…and you will be amazed at how different you think and feel.

It takes great courage to pull out of the cesspool of dysfunctional thinking ... and live the Universal Laws of truth. It's time to wake-up and take responsibility for your health, wellness and happiness. What we envision is what we will create. Consider how different the world would be if TV and radio programming only broadcast information about the positive aspects of life, instead of all the ills and deviants. Their negative thought forms are a major factor in creating society today. Think about the world our children and grandchildren will live in. Be discerning, selective—and only support people and empowering causes that truly make this world a better place to live.

Diabetes is an illness that controls how your body process a hormone called insulin. This hormone, produced by your pancreas, helps your body process glucose, or blood sugar. Every time you eat a carbohydrate your body turns it into glucose. Your body needs to have that glucose for energy. Insulin helps the cells in your body absorb that glucose and turn it into energy. Excess glucose in your body can be expelled naturally, but it can also stay in your body, and cause problems.

Diabetes happens when your body either doesn't produce enough insulin, or the insulin doesn't work very well anymore. Type I diabetes, generally found in children, means the body doesn't produce insulin, or only a very small amount of it. Type II diabetes is generally diagnosed in adults, usually in middle age, but, because of the obesity epidemic, it is getting diagnosed earlier and earlier. It happens because your body doesn't process insulin correctly anymore. Type I diabetics will need to take insulin their entire life. They may need to check their blood up to 6 times a day so they can adjust the insulin, and may need to have as many as 6 shots a day.

People with Type II diabetes can generally control their diabetes through diet and exercise. There are some people who will need to take medication no matter what, but most people will be able to take no medication, as long as they eat right. Controlling what goes into your body by controlling your diet is the best way to control Type II diabetes. The biggest risk factor of a person becoming diabetic is obesity.

If you have been diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic, then one specialist you should ask to see is a nutritionist. A nutritionist can help teach you about what foods you should and should not eat, as well as sit down with you in a one on one setting and create a diabetic weight loss program designed with you in mind. This diet will be low in carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates, and high in vegetables and protein. It will also focus on proper serving size. Many type 2 diabetics do not have a clue what a proper serving size is. Making sure that you are eating the right serving size can go a long way towards helping you lose weight and control your diabetes through your diet.

For more information on how to effectively manage diabetes the natural way starting today, visit Integrative Health of Tampa at www.ihealthtampa.com/tampadiabetes/. Dr. Jonathan Berns, DC offers effective solutions to help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Visit Integrated Health of Tampa to learn more about how you can begin to manage your diabetes, as we are dedicated towards providing effective diabetes solutions to our patients.

By Jonathan Berns, D.C.

Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk for multiple complications from their condition. Years of uncontrolled blood sugars can damage different organ systems fairly quickly. Even when sugars are in decent control, the body can suffer damage from slightly elevated levels of glucose. Common complications of diabetes include diabetic retinopathy, nerve problems and chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis in the United States. The official term for this condition is diabetic nephropathy and it is very serious condition that can progress rapidly if ignored.

The kidney is compromised of approximately a million little filtration units called nephrons. High sugar levels can cause damage to these nephrons, leading to problems with the removal of toxins from the blood. One signal of this damage is the spillage of proteins into the urine. When proteins, or albumin, are spilled into the urine in small amounts, this is called microalbuminuria.

Microalbuminuria is the first sign of renal damage secondary to diabetes. This abnormality indicates that there is blood vessel damage to the nephrons and it should prompt your doctor to pay careful attention to your blood test readings. A routine blood test called the basic metabolic panel measures certain markers of kidney function called a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and a creatitinine level. As the creatitine levels rises, it signals a loss of nephrons. For every doubling of this number, it signals a 50% loss of the remaining nephrons. These values are inserted into a formula to calculate the filtration rate of the kidneys. The progression of kidney failure from stage 1 to end-stage renal disease is determined base don this calculation.

If you are looking to preserve your kidney function and have diabetes talk to your doctor about these important tips!

1. Excellent sugar control! Patients with tight glucose control tend to have slower progression of kidney disease.

2. Routine screening! The diabetic patient should have their renal function monitored annually at a minimum. This is done using a urine test and a blood test. If there is damage, the patient may need more frequent monitoring.

3. Blood pressure control! High blood pressure accelerates kidney damage.

4. Medication! A medication called an ACE inhibitor can help protect the kidneys from progressive disease in diabetic patients. Even a very low dose of this medication can be helpful!

5. Quit Smoking! Smoking contributes to accelerated kidney problems and can increase blood pressure and reduce blood flow.

If you have diabetes, be sure that your doctor is watching your kidney function closely because once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed.

For more information about diabetic nephropathy and how to improve sugars to prevent complications with diabetic snacks visit us at knowyoursugar.com!

By Abby Sanders

Diabetes care is a daily challenge that causes strain on relationships and can alter the way family members interact with each other. Type 1diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children although young adults may be diagnosed with it as well. This type of chronic diabetes means that the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, which is required to process glucose and other sugars into usable energy for the body.

With proper education, medications, glucose monitoring, and proper diet, experts agree those with diabetes can have a very high quality of life. However, the person who has diabetes often affects nearly everyone around them because of their specialized needs. There are several informative websites that offer support and education for families about chronic diabetes and supply details on how to cope with the circumstances that may come about if the person associated with someone affected with diabetes may not be aware of their condition.

While parents of diabetic children have to help them understand and manage their illness, others in their lives will be affected as well. As they begin dating and marry, the mate will have to be made aware of the ramifications of what a person with diabetes has to cope with. Although they will need to recognize all those aspects, they should also be informed about what all is involved when it comes to helping to care for someone with diabetes.

More sever health problems could develop for those who suffer from diabetes as they get older. These problems can include strokes, kidney disease and heart problems. Diabetes is also to blame for most leg amputations that aren't associated with physical trauma like those from car accidents. Experts advise that patients and their loved ones or care givers find all the information possible about the disease and to have consistent monitoring and examinations to be aware of and to prevent further medical complications.

Diabetes is something that has to be dealt with every day. There's not a day that goes by where a diabetic can skip testing, can drop their guard about their diet and not worry about the proper levels of medications. Diabetics have to be aware of their condition continually and just in case the diabetic is careless with their care for some reason or another, those around them must be aware as well. Managing diabetes isn't just a job for the diabetic: it's a job for everyone around them as well.

By Patty Morris

For the type 1 and type 2 diabetic the importance of a diet for diabetes cannot be overstated. Used in conjunction with drug therapy a proper diet is considered the single most important part of managing this deadly disease. Those who are newly diagnosed need to be properly educated with regards to diet, exercise, and medication to help avoid and minimize the complications that diabetes creates.

The doctor will be the primary point of information and reference for their diabetes care and management. A good doctor will also be able to refer their diabetic patients to a licensed nutritionist who is skilled at helping create a diet for diabetes that is individualized to each of their clients.

The most important aspect of this type of diet is controlling blood glucose (sugar) levels. This can be hard for people who have an inherent sweet tooth but avoiding foods and snacks with large amounts of sugar is a basic necessity for the diabetic. The good news is that there is no shortage of foods available that the diabetic can eat along with plenty of recipes to help prepare tasty meals.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has a website full of dietary information for the diabetic. They also have information about the latest treatments and medical research that those with diabetes need to stay current with. You will also find the Diabetic Food Pyramid on the ADA site. The food pyramid for diabetes is much like the regular food pyramid most people are familiar with except that it breaks down the food groups based on which are the better choices and the daily amounts a diabetic should be eating.

Because diabetes is becoming such a serious and growing health issue for an estimated 17 million people in the United States the food industry in this country has created a large array of food items aimed at people with diabetes. The situation is only going to get worse because the obesity epidemic will continue to create type 2 diabetics at an alarmingly growing rate into the future. A diet for diabetes is a drastic change for most people diagnosed with this disease, but if they are to successfully manage and live with their condition it is something they must do. Having the support and understanding of family and friends during this transition to a dietary change is also important and will help more quickly deal with their diabetes and the complications it can cause.

This may definitely be a surprise for most of you-especially for those who are diabetic. Because diabetes is a chronic disease that may only be managed by medications and diet, it would really be best if you learned more about the foods as part of your diet.

Most people who are diagnosed with diabetes actually have nutritionists and physicians to assist them in making necessary changes in their lifestyle from exercise to meal planning. But even so, you should still be involved in all these especially with what you are going to eat. Ideally, a diabetic diet should help in absorbing blood sugar, promote insulin sensitivity, helps in lowering oxidative stress and protects the diabetic from glycation. In order for these criteria to be followed, understanding the 4 types of diabetes food will make a big difference.

Metabolizers
Foods that belong to this type are those that help in making sure that proper sugar metabolism is happening. Having excess blood sugar can be alarming to people who are diabetic because it can really harm a person's health but with the help of metabolizers, this can be avoided. These metabolizers should come in 3 different kinds in 2 servings for meals.

Promoters
If there is one thing that type 2 diabetes is known for is insulin resistance. The hormone insulin is actually what helps glucose enter the cells of the body. Foods that are considered promoters are what helps promote insulin sensitivity and studies have shown that these foods often do better than traditional medications. Lean red meat belongs to this food type, having 2-3 serving of dark green veggies are also belong to this type.

Reducers
Reducers actually help when there is excess blood sugar. When our bodies have very high amounts of blood sugar, oxidative stress are high. This can be damaging to the body because of the transformation of reactive molecules where cells and tissues are destroyed giving less time to replace them. Antioxidants are very helpful to diabetics and are great reducers. 2-3 servings of these reducers will really help a lot.

Protectors
One of the things that diabetics should keep in mind to combat the disease is by being aware of how diabetes works such as how blood glucose can cause damage to the body. One process of this is called glycation where sugar molecules react with proteins producing nonfunctional structures in our body and this is where complications begin as it can cause heart attack, nerve damage and even blindness. It is with foods that are considered protectors where glycation effects can be fought. Great choices of protectors are chili peppers and fish.

By Nikole Dy

Type 2 diabetes is a whole body problem. In other words, it doesn't just affect one small portion of your body. Instead, it can have complications throughout many of your different organ systems, including your skin. The skin is the largest organ in your body, so it only makes sense that Type 2 diabetes would also show up there.

Studies show that up to 33 percent of people who have diabetes will be affected by a skin disorder at some point during their lives. The good thing is that many of these skin conditions can be prevented or treated easily as long as they are caught in the early stages.

Problems with the skin are among the least serious complications of diabetes, but they can be troublesome and distressing because the skin figures so prominently in people's self-image and self-esteem.

Although anyone can get a skin disease or disorder, people with Type 2 diabetes are much more prone to it. This is because they are susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections. In addition, itching can cause a whole host of issues with the diabetic as it can allow more bacteria into the body. There are certain skin conditions that only happen to diabetics including:
    * necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum or NLD. NLD appears as a pink or red discoloration of the skin, which tightens and becomes shiny, similar to the skin of an apple.
    * diabetic blisters,
    * diabetic dermopathy, and
    * eruptive xanthomatosis. These are orange fatty plaques that can appear around your eyes or on your elbows, shins, or ankles. They are often related to fat levels in your body, especially the levels of cholesterol of triglycerides.

Some of the more common skin conditions that could come up for diabetics are:
    * boils,
    * folliculitis,
    * nail infections,
    * styes, and
    * carbuncles.

Of course, people without diabetes can also get these conditions so having them doesn't necessarily mean that you are a diabetic. These inflamed tissues normally feel hot, red, painful and swollen. Most of the time, they are caused by organisms which turn into infections. The most common organism Staphylococcus bacteria, also known as a staph infection. Your doctor may wish to take a culture and prescribe a medication to help clear them up.

Thankfully, antibiotics can control all of these skin issues. Of course, it's important for the diabetic to get diagnosed early so the infection does not spread. Diabetics are especially susceptible to virulent bacteria, so it's important to let your doctor know if you show any signs of these skin conditions.

Diabetics often have to deal with fungal infections as well. Many of these come from candida albicans. These yeast infections often create rashes in moist, warm areas. Sometimes, they will cause scales and blisters also. These kinds of infections are most likely to happen in areas such as:
    * between the fingers and toes,
    * under the breasts,
    * around the fingernails or toenails, and
    * in the corners of the mouth.

They can also happen in the armpits or groin area.

Examples of these would be athletes foot, vaginal infection and ringworm. Again, it's especially important for diabetics to let the doctor know if they are experiencing any of these types of skin conditions.

Since many skin problems are intensified or triggered by stress, using stress-reduction techniques such as exercise, meditation, counseling or support groups, may help with control.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

There can be many reasons why you are considering eating less sugar. For example, your doctor might diagnose you as having Prediabetes. Even though I don't believe that there is such a thing as Prediabetes, you would do well to use this to make an association about your wellness and the power you possess to preserve it.

Instead of putting your energy and concern in agonizing about the fact that you are getting ill, use this label as the genesis for a new beginning for the rest of your healthy lifestyle.

This will keep you from 'victim thinking' and instead of feeling that this is your daily cross to bear, you can begin to relish in the idea of seeking total wellness.

Think of it this way, there are more persons in your town or city living without diabetes and you can be one too. Next rejoice that your awareness is now opened to the plight of people who are living with diabetes and that you have a chance to nip this in the bud.

The research on diabetes is pretty straight forward. You can start taking medication or you can use another avenue to change this type of 'meds taking' lifestyle. The choice is all yours, the ball is now in your court, not your doctor's.

Simply consider this, because if you rely on a drug that is not a cure but just controls the dynamic process of your body metabolizing sugar, the only way that this can progress is on a downward spiral.

Why wait for your body cells to refuse to accept sugar and then change your medication to a prescription for someone with full fledge diabetes.

To some people this is all acceptable. It's the family game. They watched their mother do it, their brother did it and this is the family cross you have to bear; all the while you are clinging to sugar or trying to satisfying your sweet tooth with diet soda, beer, wine or sugar laden daily desserts or coffee. Or you might be eating food like white bread and crackers that turns into sugar the moment it hits your saliva. This has been the case with my family. I lost my father to diabetes when I was just a toddler. The gift out of this tragedy is that I grew up determined to understand my body so I became a cell biologist; a college lecturer and a wellness coach so that I can share this good news with you.

Here is a brighter concept to perk up your life and make it just as sweet. Relish in the idea of having the peace of mind of being symptom free. I have experience this with my family and I can tell you the paramount change you have to make is about your lifestyle.

This requires only two simple changes. One is a change in mindset about how to approach this disorder. If you are having difficulty with this, being guided by a wellness coach will do wonders for executing the old mind set. Next is your willingness to consider a new eating lifestyle.

For instance a new lifestyle approach might to become more in tune with the working of your muscles, your breath, your method and frequency of feeding. Then resolve that life can be sweet with indulgence in a little self love.

For example you could decide to use your breath and body more in a yoga class, which mainly teaches you how to use your breath to communicate with your muscles and change your mind and body energy.

This is quite a bonus for playing on a mat, mindfully using your breath while doing precise movement; as you get more oxygen than your body is used to, and increase your energy level without sugar.

This alone can initiate a huge change in attitude towards becoming a more aware, health conscious person.

Why am I mentioning this in association with Prediabetes? Because adapting to a new attitude will help you in a way that is energetically positive for your mind and body. It will open your awareness of the natural gift you have to heal naturally...

Prediabetes and diabetes is all about precise use of physical and chemical energy. No one else can change your energy and how it is used but you. And your activity and choice of nourishment determines the quality of your energy. You alone have to adopt the mindset that says it's possible to live symptom free. Then the rest is easy! All you need is, "an apple, a book and a passion to cook

Celia Westberry is an author, speaker and wellness lifestyle coach. She helps clients to reprogram their minds and bodies to have a personal relationship with food to be happier, healthier and more contented.

Her award winning book, Eat Yourself Younger Effortlessly, the easy way to slow aging, feel, great and look good has glycemic ready recipes to help you with making healthy eating choices for syndromes like prediabetes. Visit her at http://www.westberrywellness.com to learn more about healthy aging from her ebook - Secrets of Healthy Aging Revealed.

By Celia Westberry

Whether you are suffering from type1 or type2 diabetes, you need to follow a health diet, period. There is no question regarding the fact that the types of foods we eat and the diet pattern we follow have a considerable impact on the level of glucose in our blood. However, there are different opinions and views regarding the best diet cure for type 1 diabetes. In this article, I will tell what type of foods should be given to patents suffering from type1 diabetes. It is my hope that after reading this article, you will be able to change your diet pattern and incorporate only those foods in your diet that control rather than trigger type1 diabetes.

Several researches have been done over the years with regards to the diet cure for type 1 diabetes, and the general consensus is that a diet which is rich in fat and protein but contains a very low quantity of carbohydrates is the best diet cure for type 1 diabetes. The less the amount of carbohydrates you intake, the less your blood glucose level will be. However, since you are depriving your body of carbohydrates, you would need to eat foods which are rich in fat and protein in order to compensate your body for the loss.

The best diet cure for type 1 diabetes is one which strikes a good balance between food and insulin. The activities of food and insulin are connected- insulin is a hormone that breaks down the food and takes away the excess amount of glucose and uses it to form energy or stores it elsewhere for future use. If insulin and food become out of balance then you won't be able to control diabetes even if you want to. People who do not suffer from diabetes however, won't be facing this problem as they produce the right quantity of insulin needed to control the flow of blood glucose that increase after having a meal.

You should include foods like rice, bread, pasta, and other starchy foods in your daily diet. It is obvious that a healthy diet is very important for a diabetes patient. For example, if you consume huge quantities of a particular food and on top of that, take food at odd hours, you won't be able to prevent diabetes even if you are having a healthy diet. If you need more information regarding the best diet cure for type 1 diabetes, simply click on the link in my resource box below.

Anyone diagnosed with diabetes runs a greater than the average risk of developing dementia. An article in the journal Neurology reported on the incidence of dementia in a village of over 1000 people studied by researchers at Kyushu University. Between 1988 and 2003, twenty-seven per cent of people with diabetes were diagnosed with dementia, compared with only 20 per cent of healthy people.

Results of another study from Kyushu University, reported in the journal Neurology during September 2011, looked at how well people were able to handle sugar and their risk of dementia. One thousand and seventeen individuals who were at least 60 years of age, were included in the study and given an oral glucose tolerance test. The test determined how well the participants' bodies were able to bring blood sugar levels down to normal after they were given sugar by mouth. After 15 years...
    * dementia,
    * Alzheimer's Disease, and
    * dementia caused by sick blood vessels

were seen significantly more often in people with diabetes than in non-diabetic participants. Those with high blood sugar levels two hours after taking in sugar had a higher risk of dementia than those whose blood sugar levels returned to normal after 2 hours.

In Type 2 diabetes, the body has difficulty in lowering blood sugar levels because, although the pancreas makes insulin, the body's cells are insensitive to it. The job of insulin is to help cells take in sugar to use it for energy, and when cells are resistant to insulin they are unable to take in sugar and burn it. Fortunately, Type 2 diabetes is amenable to lifestyle changes that can improve insulin sensitivity.

Another study again... in August 2011, the journal Metabolism reported the results of a study performed on improved insulin sensitivity carried out at the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology in Quebec, Canada. One hundred and four men with:
    * waist sizes of at least 35 inches,
    * a high level blood fat, and/or
    * low levels of good cholesterol,

were included in the study. After one year of a healthful diet and exercise, both belly fat and fat under the skin were lost and insulin sensitivity improved. Even those with normal blood sugar levels at the beginning of the study showed improvement, showing it is not necessary to wait for problems to arise before starting a program of lifestyle changes.

Your doctor or healthcare advisor can give you a program for what lifestyle changes are safe for you. Going for a walk every day at lunchtime or after work can be a good start. Adding more fruits, vegetables, and other high fiber foods to your diet can begin to help you lower your body's fat content.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

According to the International Diabetes Federation (an umbrella group of more than 200 national associations), an estimated 366 million people worldwide are diabetic and every 7 seconds, one of them is dying.

That is 4.6 million people dying every year from a largely preventable disease.

What can help stop this carnage and pain that affects many times more the people afflicted with diabetes? Hypnosis.

The clinical value of hypnosis has been well documented in the book "21st Century Medicine: Clinical Evidence For The Healing Power of The Mind".

An important question is this: How does diabetes kill? In a variety of mostly very unpleasant ways but the main cause is this: excessively high blood sugar levels which adversely affects various organs and functions of the body which leads to illness and ultimately, death.

So, the basic step is to reduce blood sugar levels. Non-pharmaceutical methods include diet, exercise and better food choices.

Is there a drug that can safely help a person who wants to diet, exercise and/or make better food choices? No.

Of course, there are diet drugs of all kinds but they generally come at a high price; especially when compared to the safety and effectiveness of hypnosis.

One Diabetes-Help Fact that is clinically proven is this: Relaxation can drop a diabetic's long term blood sugar level just about as much as a diabetes drug.

Dr. Richard Surwit of Duke University conducted a study on 108 Type II diabetics. All they did was listen to a 20 minute relaxation session 3 times a week! That's it.

And hypnosis is relaxation therapy but only much better and more powerful. Now, consider the following 5 remedies you can immediately use to reduce stress. In fact, hypnosis can help you program the below 5 Stress Reduction Tips into your unconscious.

1-Turn stress into an ally instead of an enemy. When your 'friend' Mr./ Mrs./Miss Stress is getting your attention, remember that is a signal to take a break from whatever is stressing you out. If you don't have a chance to do so right away, then promise yourself a nice soothing bath or walk as soon as you can. Just the thought that at some point your stressful event will be over is often enough to help a person begin to feel better.

2-Stress is like the common cold. Don't catch it from others! Have you ever noticed that some people seem to want others to be as stressed out as they are? I don't know about you but if someone handed me poisonous snake, I wouldn't take it. So, whenever someone near you is handing out 'stress snakes', make sure you are not receiving.

3-Learn from good stress managers. Look around. Who do you know that handles stress well? If no one, then no wonder you're stressed! If however, you know of someone who is cool under fire, get his or her secrets!

4-Remember to breathe! Many times people feel stressed because they have forgotten to breathe. Seriously. Or, some people begin to breathe only in their chests (rather than belly breathing). Chest breathing actually raises anxiety levels.

5-Interrupt stressful thoughts. Practice your breathing techniques when you are aware of stressful triggers. Speaking of stress triggers, bear in mind that if you've had too much coffee it may be time to cut back just a little.

Remember, even if you reduce your stress levels a little bit, it can make a big difference so start now!

Hypnosis must be used in conjunction with standard health care sooner rather than later to help those with diabetes (as well as other challenges) because although drugs can be life saving, their negative side-effects are numerous, often unnecessary and costly in many ways. And, the lack of patient compliance is making their usefulness questionable.

And keep in mind that there are things hypnosis can do that drugs cannot. Doctors at the University of Minnesota have talked about how among many things, hypnosis can help increase self-control as well as positively regulate behavior. There is not a drug in the world that increase self-control and/or help someone positively regulate their behavior.

Hypnosis is a long recognized healing tool. The question that must be asked is this: If a well-researched and verified remedy can work just as well, if not better than a drug, then shouldn't that remedy be considered first or at least in conjunction with other remedies?

"Speak well to yourself because your body is always listening."

Devin Hastings is a published author and international speaker on the documented healing powers of the mind. He is also president of the Minnesota Institute of Advanced Communication Skills, a premier persuasion school.

Devin's books include the following titles:
'21st Century: Clinical Evidence For The Healing Power of The Mind'
'Control Your Diabetes With Hypnosis'
'Anxiety, OCD and Hypnosis: New Answers For Those Who Suffer In Silence'

To read more interesting and informative articles such as 'NLP For Eliminating Self-Sabotage', Google the article title or Google 'Devin Hastings'.

By Devin Hastings

Many people don't realize that individuals who have diabetes are at a greater risk of developing depression. In fact, simply having poor control over your blood sugar levels can mimic the same symptoms as depression. Feeling sad every once in a while is normal for everyone. After all, life doesn't always go the way that we want it to. However, if you're feeling this way more times than not, you might be suffering from depression.

Many people with Type 2 diabetes are depressed about:
    * receiving their diagnosis,
    * changes they need to make in their life,
    * alterations they have to make to their routine to keep blood sugar control.

No two people will respond in the same way on being told they have Type 2 diabetes, Responses range from quiet acceptance to intense anger. If you are lucky your doctor will take the time to discover what perceptions about diabetes you have.

Most people who have diabetes don't suffer from depression, however studies do show that people with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing it than those without the disease. There is no one clear-cut answer as to why this is true. It is stressful to live with the daily management of diabetes. It can make you feel quite alone and different from all of your friends and family. There's no question it's a lot of extra work to manage diabetes on a daily basis.

In addition to managing your blood sugar levels, you might also be dealing with complications from the disease. This can include things like nerve damage, kidney problems, high blood pressure and other associated complications.

There are several signs that you should look for when trying to spot depression in yourself or someone else. One sign is the loss of pleasure in things that you used to enjoy...

    * if you feel like everything is a struggle and you really don't want to do anything, this could be a sign of depression.
    * often times, depressed people report that they simply want to stay at home and not partake in activities that they used to enjoy so much.
    * if you've noticed a change in your sleep patterns, such as trouble falling asleep or sleeping more than usual, this could also be a sign of depression.
    * if you wake up often during the night, that can also be a symptom.

On the other hand, getting up earlier than you normally do can be a sign of depression, especially if you can't get back to sleep. A major change in appetite, such as eating way more or way less than you used to, can also be an indicator of depression.

Depression can have all kinds of signs and symptoms including:
    * suicidal thoughts,
    * nervousness, and
    * trouble concentrating.

If you or anyone you know appears to be suffering from depression, get help early. There's absolutely no reason to continue feeling sad all the time. Speak with your doctor and they can give you some options to help you to start heading back in the right direction.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Diabetes is a problem that affects so many people, both in the U.S. and worldwide, surprisingly, however, very little is known about the disease.

There are a number of organizations that are researching exactly what causes diabetes, as well new and better methods for controlling it, monitoring blood sugar levels, getting insulin into the blood, newer medicines to correct the problems and even how to stop it before it starts.

There are numerous groups and organizations involved in research such as the FDA, the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation, or DAREF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Diabetes Research Institute and the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation and many, many others, in the United States, Great Britain, Australia and many other countries.

• A vaccination against the autoimmune response that causes type 1 diabetes. Testing is currently being carried out on animals.
• Genetic engineering to make liver cells that produce insulin. Although insulin is produced there is no internal control mechanism as there is with the pancreas, so the insulin levels from such cells remains constant regardless of the body's requirement for this hormone.
• Stem cells are the very basic building blocks of the human body and have the ability to develop into any kind of cell. It is possible that researchers will find a way to use stem cells to make insulin producing cells to replace those that have been damaged by the autoimmune problem that causes type 1 diabetes.
• Immunoassay for type 1 diabetes.
• The impact of exercise training for those with diabetes.
• A recent report that transplanted pig cells have been successful in reversing diabetes in test monkeys.
• Arterial issues.
• Enhancing the cell survival of important agents in diabetes.
• A type 1 diabetes medication that helps the beta cells in the pancreas to live longer, the loss of the beta cells is one thoughts of causes of type 1 diabetes, is currently underway by the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation (DAREF) that may prove to help patients create insulin on their own, thus reducing the dependence on outside sources of insulin

Other research currently underway is the use of cinnamon to lower blood sugar levels. Dr. Richard Anderson at the United States Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Resource Center has been able to effectively isolate a compound in cinnamon that causes lowered blood sugar.

The reason that cinnamon is so helpful to someone with diabetes is the way that it inhibits enzymes in the body that may be responsible to insulin resistance. This is especially noteworthy to those who are afflicted with Type II diabetes and have insulin resistance problems. Cinnamon also was shown to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin causing insulin to be used more efficiently.

If you or someone you know is afflicted with this chronic illness, funding a research team may allow you to benefit immediately and enable you to play a role in research and the treatment of the millions of other diabetes sufferers in the world.

A couple of the more recent treatments currently in trials
A medicine that is based on the saliva of a venomous lizard – the Gila Monster. The drug containing this new treatment is delivered by injection in much the same way as insulin, however the early trials have seen many participants withdraw because of an increase in side effects when compared to those caused by insulin. All research so far undertaken has been sponsored by the pharmaceutical company that produces this drug.

Another new treatment going through trials is the delivery of insulin through inhalation. The insulin is prepared in a dry micro fine powder form which is inhaled directly into the lungs from where it is absorbed into the blood stream.

People prone to diabetes are advised to keep their body weight under check and maintain a healthy body. This is feasible by keeping check on what they consume daily. The food intake usually has a main role not only in building the body but even in keeping the body fit for healthy living. That is why dietitians always suggest to pay more attention on what foods a diabetic should eat and what foods diabetics should avoid to eat for managing diabetic condition. The food intake is not merely to generate energy to the body but simultaneously to help keep off anything detrimental to health enhancement.

Though a diabetic patient is having the right choice of food intake and feels cool with normal daily activities, he should not be confined with that alone. What is required to confirm his body condition balanced in all aspects is to have regular monitoring of the diabetic sugar levels in the bloodstream. Daily activities including the food consumption should be well planned so that the sugar level does not gear up at any cost. This is the basic thing a diabetic should have concern over.

Good foods for diabetes

The foods that top the list of good foods a diabetic can eat are as follows:

1. Foods low in fat: If you still remain a victim of diabetes, it requires that you have a good knowledge of your daily meals balanced with low fat diabetic diet. Along with periodic checking of sugars in what you consume, it also requires to pay attention on the amount of carbohydrates contained in your choice of low fat diabetic diet. It means that you are maintaining low glycemic index carbohydrates by consuming low fat diabetic diet. This helps you stay healthy along with the intake of less saturated fats, and plenty of fiber. As such, it is advised to eat more of fresh fruits, and green vegetables with no fats but for calcium, and vitamins. Simultaneously, testing your blood sugar levels periodically, and adjusting your diet accordingly to maintain normal sugar levels are absolutely needed.

2. Foods low in sugar: If you are eating foods low in sugar, it means a healthy choice is made to be free from diabetic condition. Any sugar-free food or snack can be helping a diabetic to avoid obesity, the foremost enemy for diabetes. When the natural food choice is sugar-free, some diabetics may have an aversion and choose to consume artificial sweeteners. Though the sweeteners contain no calories, they are sweeter than natural sugar. However, eating flavored snack may lessen the craving for eating foods high in natural sugar. That means you are fairly safe from developing blood sugar in the bloodstream. As such, you are advised to consume fresh fruits low in sugar and whole grains in the form of breads and salads.

3. Foods high in fiber: If the foods are high in fiber, the digestion is slowed down and generation of energy is gradual and acceptable to the body. There is very low chance to store excess sugar in the blood cells when the digestive system is regulated. For this, eating daily one apple and one orange may keep off a diabetic from the risk of increased blood sugar.

A final say: Try the above and notice the amazing results!

Are you ever born to develop diabetes complications with you? No, start controlling blood sugar which is really an art. If you want to be an expert and safe, you should keep up with good foods for diabetes AND diabetic foods to avoid.

By Varadharajan R

Type 1 Diabetes is a disease that will follow you for life when the pancreas no longer produce insulin. Insulin lets sugar (glucose) into the cells of your body to produce energy. Without insulin, sugar accumulates in your blood, over time high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body increases the risk of eye disease, heart, blood vessels, nerves and kidneys. Type 1 Diabetes can occur at any age Type 1 Diabetes can develop at any age, but it usually develops in children and adolescents. Diabetes type 1 in children and adolescents referred to as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)

What causes type 1 Diabetes.

Insulin is produced by certain cells (beta cells) in the pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys beta cells, so the loss of pancreatic insulin production.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes are thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, increased appetite, blurred vision. These symptoms are usually changes in a few days to several weeks. Some people have these symptoms before being diagnosed with diabetes, but they do not recognize the symptoms. Most of them believe that the symptoms are the flu or some other illness.

When insulin levels decreased in low blood sugar can rise very high and threaten the lives of patients. Symptoms include skin redness, hot and dry, his breath smells strange, people feel anxious, sleepy, sleep, difficulty waking up, the kids can we less active, tired eating, abdominal pain, vomiting, not sharp.

As the disease becomes severe can cause difficulty breathing, swelling of the brain, coma or death. But if the additional regular insulin your blood sugar level will allow you to avoid the dangers of the disease.

The main symptoms of low blood sugar are sweating (almost always sweating), nervousness, tremors, weak body fatigue, dizziness, headache, no longer lucid, slurred raised.

Low blood sugar when the sugar (glucose) in the blood falls below the level allowing to maintain the normal functioning of the body. People at risk are those who do not eat enough, skipping meals, drinking too much medicine containing insulin, excessive exercise makes blood sugar levels rapidly decrease.

If blood sugar drops low (less than 20mg/dl), you may faint or have seizures. As is the case then you should be eating or drinking beverages that contain sugar to draw your blood sugar levels return to safe levels. But when your expression with serious you need to now the medical establishment to be the best care.

The required tests for diabetes

You must check your blood sugar 3 times or more in a day to ensure that sugar levels allow. You should have a check in the amount of sugar to regular inspection. You should maintain close contact with your doctor to know your blood sugar levels within permitted. You should regularly check blood pressure and cholesterol levels as if these indicators will highly increase the risk of diabetes complications.

Treatment

The treatment of Diabetes type 1 is done by injecting insulin into your body every day to keep sugar levels allow. That's the best way to reduce the risk of complications from diabetes. For those who have blood sugar levels drop too low to resort to the advice of doctors to control their sugar. Glucose level was 70mg/dl to allow 130mg/sl 180mg/dl before meals and after eating 1 to 2 hours. This is your index to monitor their glucose. The treatment of Diabetes type 1 is done by injecting insulin

Also you can treat your disease with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

When you have diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, you can use aspirin to reduce the risk of heart disease. After diabetes diagnosis and treatment of blood sugar levels you back to normal. The insulin-producing cells of the pancreas to work harder to supply enough insulin for the body. During this period you can use or not use less insulin, but this does not mean that you have recovered from illness. When recurrent disease you must continue taking insulin to treat their disease.

For diabetes affects life

If you keep your blood sugar within healthy for you and longevity. This requires you to combine skillfully between diet, physical exercise and augmented insulin every day. If your child is sick, then when they grow up they will have the responsibility to care for themselves. A diet exercise every day will make you feel afraid, do not give you it will gradually become a habit, if you have trouble finding a doctor for help.

Once infected you can learn how to take care of themselves as self-monitoring their blood sugar levels, insulin self-injection, the symptoms found in the blood sugar level is high or low... Take care of yourself is part of important in your life, please take care of themselves very well to stay healthy with diabetes.

By Bong Yeu Le

Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases, making it the most common type of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease that is indicated by high blood sugar levels and it can be categorized into 2 types. Type 1 occurs when body fails to produce insulin. On the other hand, Type 2 occurs when cells in the body do not respond properly to insulin and/or the body's insulin production is not enough to support the body's need.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms develop in a very slow rate that most of its sufferers do not realize that they have the disease until it has reached an advanced stage. Common symptoms of the disease include: constant fatigue, blurred vision, erectile dysfunction for male sufferers, dark patches on the skin around folds and creases of the body, frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, headaches, and unexplained weight loss. Other symptoms may also include weight gain, itching around the groin or vaginal area, frequent yeast infection, slow-healing sores, and numbness around feet or hands.

To treat type 2 diabetes, a sufferer can't rely on medication alone. In fact, he or she also needs to make some lifestyle changes. Below are the things you can do or take to treat the disease:

Medication - Besides daily insulin injections to control the glucose level in the blood, your doctor may also prescribe alternatives which can be taken orally or by injection such as Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (acarbose), Meglitinides (repaglinide, nateglinide), Thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone, pioglitazone), Biguanides (metformin), Sulfonylureas (glimepiride, glyburide, tolazamide), and other injectable medicines (exenatide, mitiglinide, pramlintide, sitagliptin, saxagliptin). Consult your doctor prior to taking the medication.

Regular exercise - Regular exercise offer many health benefits; it increases energy, improves blood pressure and blood flow, enhances heart beat and breathing rate, and reduces tension. It also helps your body burn calories which is beneficial for weight loss program. Check with your doctor to find out which exercises are safe for you.

Weight control and Diet - Weight control and diet for type 2 diabetes sufferer can be different from regular diets done by people who do not have the disease. You should consult with a doctor or nutritionist about proper nutrition (e.g. carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, etc) intake. Today, you can easily find healthier alternatives for your favorite foods. For example, if you are a fan of chocolate chip cookies, you can still enjoy low-calorie diet cookies which are equally tasty.

By Muftah Ali

Freelance writing for health publications will not only keep you on the edge of the latest trends and advice for maintaining a healthy mind and body - it can also be healthy for your bank account.

Freelance writers produce articles covering a range of diverse topics including nursing, disabilities, diseases, prevention and cure, health research and education, alternative treatments and more.

On the technical writing side medical writers also work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, writing materials that include regulatory documents, investigative drug brochures, and clinical study protocols.

Consider for a moment for 76 million baby boomers that have been entering their fifties. They are worrying more about their health. They want to lose weight. Everyone wants to be healthy and avoid sickness in order to feel better and enjoy life.

Here Are A Few Examples of Health Publications
The following are just a few examples of health publications that you could work for as a freelance writer.

360 Magazine
An ezine accepting articles on all topics related to the wheelchair community, including health, travel, sports and relationships. Payment ranges from $0.10 to $0.25 per word.

Arthritis Today
A national consumer health magazine published by the Arthritis Foundation. Contains information about arthritis research, treatment, self-care and emotional coping. This publication pays up to $2,000 for feature articles of up to 2,000 words.

Cure
Providing the latest cancer updates' research, and education. Pays freelance writers $1.00 per word.

Diabetes Health
Providing patients, educators and healthcare professionals with practical advice and the latest information on new methods, technologies and research related to diabetes. Payment varies with experience and length of article.

Healthplan
This magazine of trends, insights, and best practices is published by the American Association of Health Plans. Pays freelance writers $0.65 per word.

In addition to specialty health magazines, remember that you can also write about health topics for hundreds of other magazines, such as family magazine or men's and women's interest publications.
- American Medical Writers Association
- Australasian Medical Writers Association
- European Medical Writers Association
- Health Sciences Communications Association
- National Association of Medical Communicators
- World Association of Medical Editors

So be healthy. Be wise. And become a health writer. It's a great niche for freelance writers.

Signs of Diabetes in Men

Signs of diabetes in men, you might think would be an easy subject. But from a man who has been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes, it is clear that it is not that simple.

It could be said that my own case study is a typical example of a man being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. My visit to the doctor was due to tiredness and chest discomfort, it was only after I was diagnosed that someone said that my breath had been smelling a bit sweet for a while so you might say that the latter could be listed as one of the signs of diabetes in men but this would also apply to the female sex.

It would appear that there are no typical signs of diabetes in men that can be picked up on; diabetes is more often diagnosed as a result of blood being tested for some other condition and the results showing an above normal blood glucose level. In other words there is sugar in the blood that the body is failing to absorb and use.

As already mentioned, my general practitioner sent a sample of my blood for analysis and if there was to be a problem it was expected to be cholesterol. However I was quickly asked to go for a repeat test and then for a glucose intolerance test where I firstly had a fasting blood test and then had to drink a measured amount of a sugary drink to be tested later to see if my body could cope with the intake of glucose. No it could not and I have to live with type 2 diabetes for the rest of my life.

I have read that one of the signs of diabetes in men is being overweight or even obese. This is not one of the signs of diabetes in men but a probable cause. Another possible reason for developing type 2 diabetes is that it is in your genes, which is the case with me. I am not overweight and never have been and yet now have this chronic condition. But both my mother's sisters were type 2 diabetics so the likelihood is that no matter how good a lifestyle I would eventually suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing health problems in the world today with thousands walking around undiagnosed. Yet it is takes a simple test and so little time to discover whether or not you are one of the unlucky ones to be diabetic. The bad news may be that it cannot be cured but the good news is that it can be controlled with a sensible diet, drugs and exercise.

So, although there is no definitive list of signs of diabetes in men, do not be one of those men who ignore the possibility or probability. Catch the condition early and be put on a control programme. The alternative is that if you do ignore it you may develop problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet that may still be controlled but irreversible damage has also been done.

Read more in Bill White's Diabetes Diary http://start-to-diet.com/diabetes/.

By Bill W.

The sad fact is that diabetes is becoming increasingly common. So common in fact that it's bordering on becoming an epidemic. Although everyone knows that diabetes has to do with insulin and blood sugar, many people are surprised at how many other parts the body are affected. They also may be very surprised at all the emphasis their physicians and other healthcare providers place on taking care of their feet. Why is this? Why is diabetic foot care so important?

There are two main types of diabetes. In type I, a person's pancreas can't produce enough insulin to control blood sugars. In type II, at least in the early stages a person's pancreas can't produce insulin but because of factors such as diet, obesity and being overweight the insulin becomes less and less effective. That is, a given amount of insulin has progressively less effect on lowering the blood sugar. This is referred to as insulin resistance.

In either case, the end result is high blood sugar. When the blood sugar gets too high it can combine in unusual ways with a number of proteins. Because of this it can create problems in lots of organs.

Some of the more common problems caused by diabetes has to do with injury to the kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and nerves. With regards to the feet, the damage to the circulation of blood vessels are particularly relevant.

When the nerves are damaged it's like they're injected with Novocain. In that situation a person can step on a nail, for example, and never know it.

The nerve injury diabetics experience is called diabetic neuropathy. In the earlier stages it may be painful even as the nerves are failing to do their job of reporting abnormal pressure or other damage to the feet. In the later stages it most often is just a numbness.

The injury also affects the small muscles in the foot that control the alignment of the bones. When these aren't working properly it's very common for the bones to shift out of position causing deformity of the foot. This deformity makes even more likely that abnormal pressure points and areas of injury will develop.

At the same time damage to the circulation by the diabetes compounds the risk for problems.

The mainstay of care, of course, should be the best possible control blood sugars. This can actually prevent, or at least greatly reduce the risk of any serious problems developing.

But even with good blood sugar control, meticulous preventive care is important. This really is a situation where an ounce of prevention is worth way more than a pound of cure. Not to create anxiety and anyone, but the sad fact is that diabetes and the foot problems it causes are the leading cause of leg amputations. That's why diabetic foot care is so important.

By Matt Wilkins

For diabetic patients, finding the perfect glucose meter is often challenging but it is a very important task. Patients with diabetes should love their testing device because it should be used multiple times every day. In addition, it should be portable because it should travel where ever you go. This is why it is so important that you find a glucose meter that fits your personality, lifestyle and personal health needs. With so many meters to choose from, selecting the right glucometer can be quite overwhelming. Two popular meters that are available today are the Bayer Contour glucose meter and FreeStyle Lite glucometer.

Bayer Contour
The Bayer Contour is an extremely popular glucometer because it is compact, fast and easy to use. This meter is designed to meet the unique style of almost any patient because its sleek design comes in multiple colors. This meter lacks many of the bells and whistles of other, more complicated meters. The Bayer Contour is designed for the diabetic on the go. Small and discrete, it is possible to test your sugar quickly and in almost any situation without attracting attention.

Features of the Contour glucose meter include rapid testing that is uncomplicated. It also allows for flexibility in testing sites for patients with tired, sore finger tips. The broad results range allows for accurate readings. In addition, this machine is capable of storing up to 480 test results and will track data over seven days. This meter is the perfect choice for many busy diabetics.

FreeStyle Lite
The FreeStyle Lite is a glucose meter that is also very easy to use. It is perfect for patients that need a little help remembering how to operate the device because it uses pictures to prompt the user through the testing process. This meter has a very large, backlit display that is easy to read for people with poor vision. Like the Bayer Contour, this meter returns your results quickly and can store data. Although it stores fewer readings, it is able to average these readings over a month. In addition, the FreeStyle Lite can remind patients to test their blood sugars using its built in alarm system. Most modern glucometers offer alternative site testing including the FreeStyle Lite.

Choosing the right glucometer is very important because this meter provides you so much information about your daily sugar control and how your diet influences your health. In addition, the glucometer can save your life by detecting extreme highs and lows in blood sugar levels. Be sure to carefully research the different meters that are available today. Find one that is easy for you to use and has features that are helpful.

Learn more about Free Style Lite Glucometers and the Bayer Contour Glucose Meter at knowyoursugar.com

By Abby Sanders

Type 1 diabetes, or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), is a disease characterized by “auto-destruction” of the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. Overtime, your body silently destroys these cells creating an insulin deficiency. IDDM appears to stem from an inherited defect in the immune system, triggered by some environmental stimuli. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown; however, scientists have isolated a few factors that may be related to development of the disease.

Genetics
Recent mapping of the human genome has opened many areas to explore in the field of diabetes research. Animal models and large population studies have led to some possible genetic links. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 is a regulator of immune response because it recognizes “self” and “not-self” things in the body. If something is seen as foreign, the MHC will stimulate antibody production. Genes encoded on the MHC are associated with IDDM, particularly the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles, DQ and DR. Although the HLA-DQ locus appears to be the best single marker for susceptibility among Caucasians, at least 40% of family-related diabetes cases have combinations of both DQ and DR alleles. The insulin gene region at chromosome 11 is also associated with IDDM risk.

Studies conducted in the 1970’s established an HLA association and contribution of IDDM while comparing siblings with the disease. When comparing the relationship between family members, results are inconsistent. Current estimates suggest that HLA is 40-50% related to genes passed down by family members. The risk of developing IDDM for a twin of someone who already has the disease is about 70%, and this rises depending on the specific HLA alleles that the twins share. When comparing the risk of developing the disease for first-degree relatives vs. the US population, the risk is 1/20 and 1/300, respectively. Research in the area of HLA has been extremely difficult. Definitive answers cannot be drawn because not everyone holding these “susceptible” genes develops IDDM. Actually, less than 10% of genetically susceptible individuals progress to diabetes, implying that other factors are responsible for progression of the disease. Researchers have explored these other factors, particularly environmental factors such as early introduction of cow’s milk, dysregulation of the gut immune system, viral infections, drinking water and a number of others.

Cow’s Milk
Several population studies have found a link between exposure to cow’s milk and increased risk for IDDM in genetically susceptible individuals. A few studies have also shown an increased risk for infants exposed to cow’s milk or cow’s milk based formulas within the first 3 months, and also later in life. It has been found that infants fed cow’s milk had increased levels of bovine insulin anti-bodies compared to those that were breast-fed. Bovine insulin is found in the milk of cows. The antibodies binding to bovine insulin appear to cross-react with human insulin. Bovine insulin is considered immunogenic because it differs from human insulin by 3 amino acids.

Insulin-specific antibodies (ISA), those specific for IDDM, and increased T cell levels from exposure to cow’s milk have been found in those carrying diabetes associated HLA risk alleles. Of all the studies to date however, levels of insulin binding antibodies seem to decrease as the child approaches 9-18 months. This suggests that the infant is building a tolerance to dietary antigens. However, Vaarala et al. discovered that infants who developed ISA’s, also had increased levels of bovine insulin antibodies, suggesting that insulin specific immune responses in children prone to develop autoimmunity cannot be prevented. Other studies have found bovine insulin antibody levels to decrease when human insulin was presented in the body.

Early weaning (2-3 months) from breast milk has been shown to increase the risk for IDDM. Maternal milk contains colostrum, a light fluid that contains a variety of protective factors for the infant. Infants have an immature and easily penetrable gut system allowing food, in this case cow’s milk, to easily cross into the bloodstream. Several cow’s milk proteins have been shown to be related to IDDM such as bovine albumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and beta casein.

A study by Karjalainen et al. in 1992 was conducted to assess whether bovine serum albumin (BSA) was a trigger for IDDM. Researchers measured the levels of anti-BSA and anti-ABBOS (specific part of the albumin protein) antibodies in the serum of children with newly diagnosed IDDM, children without IDDM, and blood donors’. Antibodies that react to the ABBOS also react with a beta cell surface protein that may represent a target for autoimmune attack. All children in the study with IDDM had the highest amount of both antibodies, especially ABBOS, compared to the children without IDDM and blood donors’. Antibody levels declined after one or two years of exposure to cow’s milk. This suggests that albumin has a section that is capable of reacting with “beta-cell specific surface proteins”, which could contribute to islet cell dysfunction because of molecular mimicry.

What is molecular mimicry?
When an antigen is present in the body, T cells latch onto a short segment, consisting of about 10 amino acids. T cells then present the antigen to macrophages that engulf it and break it down into smaller protein fragments. The macrophages bring the fragments to the cell surface where capable T cells can bind to it. Bovine serum albumin has a short amino acid sequence similar to a beta cell surface receptor ICA69 and beta casein shares a similar sequence with a glucose transporter. If molecular mimicry occurs here, then presentation of BSA or beta casein in the body would lead to autoimmune destruction.

Contrary to Karjalainen et al.’s study, Vaarala et al. found no association with BSA, but did find an increased risk for newly diagnosed IDDM with beta-lactoglobulin, another cow’s milk protein. A study conducted by Cavallo et al. found an association with increased risk of newly diagnosed IDDM with beta casein, another milk protein. However, no differences were noted with BSA and other proteins assessed. Despite these conflicting results, it does appear that some form of “cross-reactivity” may occur with cow’s milk proteins and islet-cell antigens, leading to “auto-attack” of the beta cells.

The role of cow’s milk related to IDDM is not clear. Few studies have found a link between cellular immunity to BSA and IDDM. A recent study found that reactivities to beta casein were similar between newly diagnosed individuals with IDDM, their immediate relatives without the disease, and non-related healthy subjects. One confounding factor of the previous study was the lack of appropriately matched subjects, because researchers failed to use HLA matched relatives. Also, when comparing breast-feeding vs. cow milk formula, it is unclear at what point there is an increased risk, as well as the actual amount needed to induce an immune response. Despite all of the evidence presented here, exposure to cow’s milk and risk for IDDM is only suggestive because the exact cause is unknown.

Viral Infections
Viral infections have been considered to be “more” responsible for diabetes development, than milk proteins. Identifying the exact virus responsible has been extremely daunting for several reasons. Individuals are exposed to many viral infections within their lifetime. Although IDDM is primarily a juvenile disease, by the time the disease is diagnosed, children have been exposed to many viruses.

Coxsackie B Virus
Coxsackie B virus is an enterovirus, a virus part of a group of picornaviruses, related to those that cause polio. Several studies have found that after or with exposure to Coxsackie B that individuals developed IDDM. Also, large population studies have found antibodies against the virus in children with newly diagnosed IDDM. Coxsackie B viruses have been isolated from the pancreas in children who have developed IDDM very rapidly. Plus, inducing certain mouse strains with the virus has caused these mice to develop the disease.

Molecular mimicry has been postulated in the case of Coxsackie B virus. The virus increases the expression of an enzyme GAD in the pancreas. GAD is a highly potent autoantigen of the autoimmune response in humans and mice models. Coxsackie B and GAD share a similar sequence that may lead to cross reactivity.

Other, but not limited to, factors that may be responsible for Coxsackie B and IDDM are altered immune system regulation because of viral infection, altered memory of the T cells causing them to forget which are “self” and “not self” in the presence of viral infection, and persistent infection of the beta cells because of viral antigens expressed within them.

Rubella Virus
About 12-20% of fetal infected individuals with rubella will develop diabetes within 5-20 years. In some adults, development of diabetes has occurred after infection with rubella. Although this poses a threat to genetically susceptible individuals, vaccination programs have decreased the amount of rubella cases.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
There have been individual case reports of children developing IDDM after exposure to CMV. There have been recent studies done showing that newly diagnosed individuals with IDDM were recently exposed to CMV. It has been suggested that molecular mimicry may be partly responsible because CMV proteins share a resemblance with a protein in the islet cells of the pancreas. Pak et al. discovered that about 20% of individuals with IDDM have CMV DNA in the islet cells. Despite all this evidence however, a large Swedish study found no correlation between CMV infection and risk for IDDM. Besides all of this, vaccinations against the virus have lowered the prevalence of CMV infections.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
Individual cases have been noted where those infected with EBV develop diabetes. However, IDDM development as a result of EBV infection is probably not responsible for the disease in the majority of subjects. Little research and single cases are not enough to consider this a major cause.

Other Viruses
There have been reports of individuals developing IDDM after exposure to influenza, hepatitis A, varicella zoster, mumps, measles, rotavirus, polio, and Coxsackie A virus.

Other Environmental Factors
Recent studies have found a positive association between zinc levels in drinking water and protection against diabetes. Magnesium levels in tap water have been shown to be related to diabetes protection as well, however conflicting evidence resides with this. Despite possible relationships with heavy metals and diabetes, more research must be done to ascertain the actual relationship.

Of all the evidence presented here, researchers have been unable to find the exact cause for development of IDDM. What we do know is that genetically susceptible individuals have an increased risk for diabetes. As displayed here, researchers have located genes that seem to predispose individuals to diabetes. Genes are not enough however, because not everyone who has these genes develops diabetes. Environmental factors are another part of the picture. Whether it is milk proteins, viral infections, or impaired gut function, those with genetic susceptibility tend to develop the disease after exposure to these.