The answer is yes, there is sufficient proof exercise is really beneficial to helping Type 2 diabetics with their disease. Once you break down the ways that exercise helps, it is easy to justify getting up and incorporating it as part of your daily routine.

Starting with the heart: Exercise helps to improve circulation which in turns helps to prevent plaque buildup and pumps oxygen-rich blood to the much-needed areas of the body. Improved circulation also helps to ward off issues caused from poor circulation. Having diabetes doubles your risk for serious cardiovascular disease and makes it two to four times more likely you will die from it compared to the general population.

Exercise helps your body to release hormones and glucagon: These work to break down fatty liver deposits. It also helps your liver to deal with insulin more effectively, which allows for more control over your blood sugar levels.

Burns more body fat: The better you train your muscles the better they burn fat. By burning excess fat, exercise keeps the body slim and takes unnecessary pressure off of your joints and muscles that are strained when trying to carry around an overweight body. Excessive weight is one of the primary reasons why older individuals have to undergo knee replacements.

Exercise helps to lower blood sugar levels: Both cardio (aerobic, such as fast walking, cycling), and strength training (such as push-ups or using weight machines) lowers blood sugar levels during and after exercise. As soon as someone becomes involved in regular exercise they experience a change, or rather more of a balance, in their glycemic level. Exercise also tones and builds muscle, which utilizes glucose much more efficiently than fat.

But for someone with a sedentary lifestyle, jumping out there into an exercise program requires patience. You have to slowly incorporate it into your day or else starting out too quickly can have a negative impact. You can force yourself into blood sugar drops, creating the complications from a hypoglycemic episode. This can also discourage a new exercise fanatic to rethink their decision.

Doing the right type of exercise is also crucial. Aerobic exercise is the best since it is low impact and burns calories more efficiently. Engaging in exercise that is too intense will drop sugar levels too low, too quickly.

The recommended amount of exercise is at least 30 minutes per day, at least three days per week. If this is too much, too soon, then cut the sessions in half. As your endurance builds, ramp them back up.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

It is also interesting to know Type 2 diabetics usually reverse their symptoms in the order they developed them. If weight was gained before developing high blood sugar levels, then it is almost certain blood sugar levels will need to be lowered before their excess weight will disappear.

But is it as easy for a diabetic to lose weight as it is a non-diabetic? In other words, does having Type 2 diabetes make it harder to lose weight?

First of all, a diabetic should never place themselves on a "diet" or "eating plan" until they have consulted with their doctor. Since cases vary, what may work well for one person with Type 2 diabetes could be hazardous to the health of another. Your doctor can help you determine the best type of weight loss plan you can follow safely.

Next, it should be noted that weight loss is not the same for everyone. Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows the aggravation it involves. But a diabetic losing weight is different from a non-diabetic. Diabetics even lose weight at a different pace to another diabetic.

That's because losing weight for a diabetic isn't as easy as simply reducing calories (or kilojoules). For them, a calorie of one type of food might not metabolize the same way a different food type calorie might. Protein calories may be burned at a faster, or slower, rate than calories from starches or carbs.

Diabetics are at a disadvantage when going on a diet. Most diets involve an increase in carbs, which also increases the amount of insulin released into the bloodstream. Since blood insulin levels increase weight gain, this can make it rather difficult for a diabetic to lose weight the conventional way.

For this reason, diabetics looking to lose weight are often advised to follow an eating plan based on the glycemic index. This is going to serve a two-fold purpose:

    * first, it will mandate a reasonable eating plan based on foods helpful to reversing Type 2 diabetes,
    * second, by eliminating poor food choices it will automatically help with weight loss.

Doctors usually encourage their patients to lose approximately 1 to 2 pounds (.5 to 1 kilogram) a week. An individual who is obese could start out losing more than that amount without even trying hard... but eventually their body will adjust and the loss will be more reasonable as time goes on. Trying fad diets in order to quickly lose massive amounts of weight are not only dangerous, but is an unrealistic approach. You might drop a lot of weight quickly, but without employing the right tactics, it won't stay off. The key is to change the habits that made you overweight in the first place.

Generally, a weight loss plan is safe and reliable if it:

    * teaches you about the correct food portions,
    * informs you what calories (kilojoules) are and how many you need daily,
    * teaches you about nutrition so you are aware of the benefits for a lifetime,
    * provides you with reliable support,
    * includes your favorite foods,
    * teaches you how to read a food label,
    * provides you with a wide variety of foods to choose from,
    * includes exercise as part of the weight loss plan,
    * gives information on realistic goal setting,
    * encourages you to lose approximately 1 to 2 pounds a week,
    * takes into account your specific health issues.

Don't forget to monitor all aspects of your health, including your blood pressure and blood sugar, not just your weight.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

To prevent diabetes you will get a real jolt when you follow the prescription offered up in the “Journal of the American Medical Association.”
This ‘prestigious’ organization reported on separate studies of coffee drinkers in Sweden and Finland.
Whiz-bang medical researchers discovered that women could decrease their risk of diabetes by 29 percent when they followed a regimen of drinking three to four cups of coffee a day.

The men participating in the studies also reduced their risk, but not to the extent as did the women.
When men drank three to four cups a day, they reduced their risk of diabetes by 27 percent. The men who drank 10 or more cups of java per day reduced their risk by 55 percent.

These results confirm a January report by the equally ‘prestigious’ Harvard School of Public Health. That report concluded that drinking six 8-ounce cups of coffee a day could reduce diabetes risk in men by about 50 percent and in women by 30 percent.

If the numbers have any connection to reality, the more coffee you drink, the better off you are. Here in America the rate of adult-onset diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes, is growing incrementally. Nowadays it typically shows up in middle-age populations, but the disease is on the rise among ever-younger age groups.

Do not step up your coffee consumption in the belief it will help you prevent diabetes. This disease has absolutely nothing to do with a lack of coffee drinking.

Science and truth are not synonymous. Medical scientists do not deal with truth. The medical scientists who monkey around with coffee drinking merely play with limited and approximate descriptions of reality. In this case, extremely limited and hardly approximate.

If you are serious about preventing diabetes, you have to look at the differences between the people of the past who did not get diabetes, and the people of today who get diabetes. We have plenty of newly discovered diabetics who are active and on the thin side—and they drink lots of coffee.

The diabetic-in-process has an inadequate intake of nutrients and/or excessive intake of nutrient-poor foods. Conversely, his/her healthy ancestors had a nutrient-dense diet.

The nutrient-dense diet of the past contained, minimally, four times the amount of minerals, and ten times the amount of fat-soluble vitamins found in the American diet of the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.

Folks who learn where health comes from and practice prevention won’t become diabetic, and will not need the medical community dosing them with coffee, or any other magic bullet.

Affecting almost 3% of the entire population, diabetes is indeed a disorder that is very common. When this is not controlled, there are several complications that can occur. Here are the different signs and symptoms of diabetes and how your diabetes recipes should be like.

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by increased blood sugar levels which result in problems with insulin production and action. Insulin is the hormone in the body that regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. Diabetes is a chronic disorder with three types. Type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, thereby requiring insulin injections regularly. Type 2 diabetes or non-insulin dependent occurs when the body is unable to use insulin appropriately. Lastly, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy to women who don't have diabetes prior to being pregnant.

There are three classical signs and symptoms of diabetes -frequent urination, increased hunger and increased thirst. When the level of glucose is increased in the body, this will lead to loss of this glucose through the urine. When there is increased glucose in the urine, there will be an increase in the urine output which leads to dehydration. The dehydration will then cause a diabetic person to have an increase in thirst. Other signs and symptoms of diabetes include nausea and vomiting as well as increased fatigability especially if it is untreated. There will also be an increase in infections especially those that occur in the skin, the urinary bladder and the vaginal area. If there is extreme elevation of the glucose levels, there can be loss of vision, lethargy and eventually coma.

There is no cure for diabetes but it can be managed to minimize the occurrence of complications. Treatments are aimed at keeping the blood sugar level at normal levels while avoiding hypoglycemia or the decreased glucose level. Lifestyle changes are very important so as to avoid the worsening of the signs and symptoms of diabetes. If you are obese, you will need to lose weight. You also need to maintain your blood pressure level by decreasing the cholesterol level of your diet as well as decreasing your intake of salt and fats. Your diabetes recipes should be high in fiber and have low-fat content particularly saturated fats. You should also opt for foods that have low carbohydrate contents and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.

Medications are important in the treatment of diabetes and for the management of the signs and symptoms of diabetes. You will be given oral medications to reduce the glucose level in the body. Insulin will be needed for type 1 diabetes and this will be taken for life. Insulin is also used in type 2 diabetes along with oral medicines.

If diabetes is not controlled, there are a lot of complications that can occur. It can result to cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, loss of vision, respiratory infections, diabetic coma and a lot more. It is then important to follow the treatment regimen given to you strictly. It is also vital to know the different signs and symptoms of diabetes so that you will be able to get treated immediately. Further, you should know different diabetes recipes for better management of your condition.

By Wendy Lau

Anytime someone is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, they can go through a range of emotions. After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you might have several reactions. In fact, your emotions can change on a day-to-day, or even a minute to minute basis. It's normal to go through a wide range of emotions but as long as you know how to recognize and deal with the stress, you will be able to handle it and get past it.

The constant and numerous demands of diabetes add more sources of stress. Concerns about diabetes add more sources of stress. Concerns about receiving a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, as well as the day-to-day management

Stress... real or imagined... can pose serious health problems for anyone with or without diabetes. Concerns about diabetes, as well as the day-to-day management of it, can add yet another layer of stress. These are some conditions and situations that tend to trigger stress for people with diabetes:
    * the discipline and vigilance required for the control of blood sugar,
    * feeling deprived of your favorite foods,
    * feeling isolated from your family,
    * fear of developing diabetic complications,
    * the cost of caring for your diabetes, and
    * lack of knowledge about diabetes care.

Here are some of the feelings you may experience after being diagnosed with diabetes:

1. Anger: It's easy to become angry when you look around you and see all of these people who seem to be going about their lives without issue. The real truth is that we don't know what's going on in anyone else's life or body. Even though you see people walking around at the store who seem to be able to eat an ice cream cone without a problem, you don't know what their health is like or what other issues might be plaguing them in their lives. You have to get past the anger as it only serves to make your health situation worse. Instead, focus the anger on making major changes to your lifestyle, including diet and exercise, so that you can get better or even reverse the condition.

2. Loss: It's very common to experience a sense of loss when you're diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. You feel like your life may be shortened due to diabetic complications. You also feel like you have to change so many things about the way you eat that you'll never be able to live a completely normal life again. There are millions of people around the world who suffer from diabetes and live completely normal lives. Your life may change, but ultimately it will lead you to a healthier body if you make lifestyle modifications.

3. Shock: It's normal for us to feel like we are invincible. Many people are completely shocked when they receive their diagnosis of diabetes. You may have felt perfectly fine and found out during a routine doctor's examination. No matter what, it's important to accept the fact that you have Type 2 diabetes and not stick your head in the sand. The longer you put off making lifestyle changes, the more the high blood sugar levels can affect your body and cause complications.

There are many other emotions you may experience when you are diagnosed with diabetes: they include disbelief, fear and stress. Emotions are normal and healthy as long as they aren't taken too far. Don't live or wallow in these emotions for too long because it's important to take action to regain your health quickly.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Most people often know how to treat type 1 diabetes, but do you know what causes type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body makes little or no insulin. It used to be called insulin dependent or juvenile diabetes. No one really knows what causes type 1 diabetes. Also, your body's defense system may attack your insulin making cells by mistake, but we don't know why. In type 1 diabetes, our body has little to no insulin because our immune system destroyed our insulin producing cells. Through research, some scientists have concluded that factors such as unhealthy diets and genetics can cause type 1 diabetes. It is also believed that type 1 diabetes is caused by an "environmental trigger," like a virus or an allergen, which stimulates the immune system of the baby, kid or young adult to attack the beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells are the insulin producers, and when they are attacked they stop producing insulin, causing type 1 diabetes to develop.

Since type 1 diabetes means your body is not producing the correct amount of insulin, this lack of insulin becomes diabetes. Remember, insulin is vital in making glucose, which is the energy our body uses. Glucose is absorbed directly into your bloodstream after eating; however with out insulin it can't enter your cells.

Normally, your pancreas generates insulin continuously, increasing its production in response to the boost in blood sugar that take place after you eat. This extra insulin releases your cells so that more sugar can enter, giving your body energy as well as keeping a normal level of sugar in your blood.

Eating sweets or the wrong kind of food does not cause diabetes. However, it may cause obesity and this is associated with people developing Type 2 diabetes. Stress does not cause diabetes, although it may be a trigger for the body turning on itself as in the case of Type 1 diabetes. Knowing what can cause or influence diabetes is as important as knowing how to treat diabetes. As a diabetic, it is always important to learn about every aspect of diabetes so you can understand what is occurring inside your body and what you can do to feel better and stay in control of diabetes.

Prevention has been found to be the most efficient way of fighting diabetes. It is important to prevent diabetes because it is not at all advisable to ever undergo surgery and operating room protocols if you have diabetes. More than 50% of diabetes cases happen due to improper lifestyle. If you are able to embrace a proper lifestyle, it can prove to be the key to reducing your chances of getting diabetes.

Losing weight is not only helpful for staying fit, but also helpful in reducing the levels of blood sugar. If you are able to lose just 10% of your weight, it can have a significant effect on reducing your chances of getting diabetes. Regular exercise and physical activities have a major impact on reducing body weight. It is also helpful in maintaining blood sugar at the required levels. The more overweight you are, the more your chances of getting diabetes will be.

Prevention Through Proper Diet

The choice of the right type of food can go a long way in preventing diabetes:

• Take food low in fats, proteins and glycemic carbohydrates as it will help in losing body weight and in controlling the levels of blood sugar.
• Take healthy food like fruits and vegetables, lean chicken, fish and turkey that contain low amount of fats.
• Avoid fast food and fried food. Especially stay away from processed carbohydrates.
• Avoid intake of refined flour like bleached flour, white flour and treated flour.

Basics of Preventing Diabetes

Diabetes can be kept at bay when you eat foods that help in producing good levels of insulin and also maintain the body fat at a low level. Fat and insulin are two substances that help in maintaining the body weight and sugar level. Diabetes can also be controlled by breaking meals into smaller portions rather than eating heavy meals. Avoid intake of carbohydrates within a couple of hours of going to sleep. You can also maintain your body weight by eating a breakfast high in proteins and breaking the daily food intake into six smaller meals.

Prevention Through Exercise

If you want to avoid diabetes, it is important that you focus on burning fat and building muscles. Muscular and lean people are more likely to avoid getting diabetes. When you are able to lead a lean lifestyle, you should be safe from diabetes.

• Walk on a daily basis as it is a good exercise. It will help in increasing your rate of metabolism and also help you in getting normal levels of blood sugar.
• Avoid using the elevator and take the stairs.
• Park your vehicle away from the door so that you can walk the distance.
• Instead of using a riding mower in your garden, make use of a push-mower that requires you to burn some calories.

There are several other methods you can think of for burning more calories to lead a lean and healthy lifestyle. By following all the preventive tips mentioned above, you can clearly reduce your chances of getting diabetes. It will save you from the nightmare of going for surgery and associated operating room protocols as a diabetic.

By Greg Garner

Why do we prefer sweet foods like strawberries to savory ones like cabbage? Our desire for sweetness is the result of an ancient and ongoing coevolution between plants and animals. Fruits provide us a nutritious, pre-packaged, and brightly colored source of energy, while the plants that bear them get to spread to otherwise unreachable places when we spit out their seeds.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease, the most common form of which is called type 2 (about 90% of people with diabetes have type 2). People with type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant, meaning their cells are resistant to the insulin that is produced. Over time they also start to produce insufficient insulin. As insulin is the hormone we use to carry glucose to the cells, if there is insufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the blood and is not used properly by the cells for growth and energy. The result? A greater risk of kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular disease, heart disease and even amputation.

Chances are you know someone with type 2 diabetes. Currently about 8% of people in the US are affected. Although the risk increases with age (because insulin production is decreased), childhood type 2 diabetes is on the rise, a fact blamed on the increasingly poor diets and sedentary lifestyles of our children. Alarmingly, rates of diabetes have doubled since 1980. So how can we protect ourselves from contracting the disease?

Since about 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, there is no denying the link between being overweight and contracting the disease. A nutritious diet containing low GI foods (such as wholegrains, beans, apples, oranges, sweetcorn) will help. Maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle is key. Research has clearly shown that aerobic exercise and resistance training combined with weight loss helps your body to process glucose and use insulin effectively. In fact, one study has shown that exercise combined with a good diet can reduce the risk of diabetes by a whopping 58%.

What can you do?

1) Screening. The American Diabetes Association recommends diabetes screening for:

    * everyone 45 years of age and older, particularly those with a BMI greater than 25.
    * people younger than 45 who are overweight and who also have other risk factors, such as a family history of the disease, high cholesterol or blood pressure, or a history of gestational diabetes.

Testing can be a fasting blood glucose test, an oral glucose tolerance test or a hemoglobin A1C test.

2) Monitor your weight. The Diabetes Prevention Program, a federally-funded study published in 2002, found that people at high risk for diabetes who exercised for 30 minutes five days a week and lowered their intake of fat and calories were able to reduce their weight by 5-7% and lower their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58%.

3) Learn your family medical history. A family history of type 2 diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for getting the disease in people living a Western lifestyle. In these societies, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is about one in seven if a parent had the disease and was diagnosed before age 50, and about one in 13 if the parent was diagnosed at a later age. The risk is even higher if both parents had the disease.

Clearly, our sedentary lifestyles are doing us no favours. Time to throw away the pizza and get down to the gym. If you don't have a gym membership try using a pay as you go option instead. Either way, by getting to the gym and onto the treadmill and those weight machines, you will be helping your body fight against this disease that is now such a problem, the World Health Organisation considers it to be an epidemic.

By John Wal Smith

The Type 2 form of Diabetes is more common than Type 1. In America alone, there are millions of people affected, and there are plenty that don't even realize how high their chances of getting it are. There are groups that are at a much higher risk of getting the disease than others, and they include Asian Americans, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, and Latinos. As you get older, your chances of getting it increase as well. The disease involves your body not producing a sufficient amount of Insulin. It could also be that your cells are ignoring what your body does create.

Insulin is the hormone your body needs to use glucose, or sugar, for energy. It regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism in your body. Your body breaks down food when you eat it, and turns starches and sugar into glucose.Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle.

This is the fuel that your body uses for cells. Insulin then takes the sugar in your blood to your cells. If it continues to build in your blood rather than getting distributed throughout the body, diabetes complications usually ensue. Those that have Type 2 diabetes need to be especially careful to monitor their blood sugar levels for that very reason.

If you do have type 2 diabetes, then you need to learn how to live with it. You will need to monitor your diet and get a sufficient amount of exercise daily. Things like aerobic activity are necessary, because in addition to helping your Insulin function more efficiently, it increases the strength of your bones and heart and relieves stress. By losing weight, you can also improve your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. You can help your body even further by having a healthy diet of whole grains, vegetables, healthy fats, non-fat dairy products, lean meats, and fruits. You also need to practice excellent portion control and space your meals throughout the day.

Overall, living with type 2 diabetes is something that only seems difficult to do. Adjustments to your life need to be made, including a strict diet and moderate amount of daily exercise, which you can realistically stick to. The steps you take to change your life to live with your new diagnosis is really something everyone should be doing, as it would benefit their hearts and bodies a great deal.

For more information on how to effectively manage diabetes the natural way starting today, visit www.myiho.com/orlandodiabetesproject. Dr. Marc Ott, DC offers effective solutions to help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Visit Integrated Health of Orlando 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 Dr Marc Ott

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.

So many people in America struggle with diabetes, from kids who have it, to elderly people, the problems of high blood sugar can be something that can change your entire lifestyle but to know that you have diabetes is to know that there is a way you can help yourself find ways to adopt a new lifestyle that can help you. You can take up a new diet that will help you figure out the best way to manage your blood sugar. When you have diabetes, there are many types of foods that you will not be allowed to eat, such as foods that are rich in sugar, like ice cream, cake, candy, and other sweets that will have to be ejected from your daily repertoire of foods.

But you can replace these foods with things that require artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda or other kinds of artificial sweeteners that you can put into ice cream, cake, tea, and other kinds of foods that will help you stay healthy but still eat the foods that you love to eat and enjoy. It is important that you stay on a comfortable and healthy diet, or else you will not be able to maintain your insulin regimen with ease. Even if you take insulin on a daily basis, you might see that you endure health problems if you do not determine keeping a healthy diet and staying healthy.

People who have diabetes need to make sure that they take time out of their lives to exercise and make sure that you walk daily, run, and do exercising. This way you can help stay fit and healthy. You want to make sure that you keep a leafy green diet, salads, vegetables, some chicken, rather than a lot of fatty meats and things, and you can also make sure that you stay tuned with exercises and other kinds of activities.

You want to make sure that you stay fit and healthy no matter what, so that way you can avoid the complications that happen when people do not stay with their diets. You can also end up passing out or in a coma if you do not stay strong and healthy with your diet, as diabetes can be a life threatening disease, but if you stay healthy and make sure that you do not eat anything dangerous, you will not harm yourself worse.

Diabetes can require a lifestyle change, but you can do this easily, you can do this if you stay strong and if you have a strong support group. Keep your family nearby and allow them to help you with your diet, with your meals, and with your diabetes. Also, you want to make sure that you stay in a strong support group and you can join other diabetes support groups and this can help you understand the plight of others and better deal with your own qualms. And you can also help other people as well, with your own condition and help people work together to adopt this lifestyle.

By Roberto Sedycias

Diabetes happens when your body can't process the levels of glucose your blood needs. Your body turns sugars and carbohydrates into glucose for energy. People with Type I diabetes can't process the glucose at all because their body doesn't produce enough of the insulin to deal with it. Type II diabetes happens when your body still produces insulin, but it can't process all the glucose.

When your blood sugar counts become too high because your body is incapable of handling it, and continue to stay high then you likely have Type II Diabetes. It can only be diagnosed by a doctor, and there are certain criteria that must be met. That includes more than one fasting blood test with high glucose readings, as well as high A1C numbers. Type I diabetes is generally diagnosed in childhood. Type II diabetes is generally diagnosed later in life, in middle age. However, these days we are noticing that it is being diagnosed earlier and earlier.

Part of any regime for diabetes is to regularly check your blood for its sugar level. That's because having diabetes puts you at higher risk for other conditions, so monitoring your blood sugar and keeping it in check are crucial to the wellbeing of a diabetic. People who have diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and stroke. Stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. It can cause permanent brain damage. Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for diabetics, and it can also be one of the biggest symptoms of diabetes. That obesity helps to increase the risk factors for diabetics. Controlling blood glucose levels and obesity go a long way to decreasing the risk of complications.

While Type I diabetics will need Insulin, in some form, for their entire lives, Type II diabetics have other choices. Some will need to have some medications, but there are many other who completely control their illness by diet and exercise. A diagnosis of diabetes does not have to be a death sentence. It is a manageable, if not even reversible disease, with the proper care, guidance and medical supervision. If you think you or a loved one may have diabetes, either type I or type II diabetes, it is important to see a doctor for the proper testing as soon as possible, if for no other reason, but just to know exactly what you are dealing with.

For more information on how to effectively manage diabetes the natural way starting today, visit http://www.ihealthtampa.com/tampadiabetes/. Dr. Jonathan Berns, D.C. 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.

Prediabetes can be defined as a medical condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal range but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes mellitus. Prediabetes greatly increases an individual's chances of developing type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, kidneys failure and paralysis.

Type-2 diabetes is an endocrinal disease, which usually develops when your body's cells gradually lose sensitivity to a hormone known as insulin. This hormone is secreted by the pancreas to lower the elevated blood sugar levels in one's blood. In a type-2 diabetic patient, there is a reduced secretion of insulin from beta cells of pancreas as well, which leads to the intake of oral drugs that help boost secretion of insulin and its absorption in the tissues.

Although there are many factors that can contribute to the development of type-2 diabetes, one factor that is very important in this regard is weight gain. Many research studies have conclusively proved that the rising rates of obesity are directly linked to the rising rates of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it becomes very important that you pay a close attention to your diet and the onset of obesity and adopt measures that help you lose weight.

Bad carbohydrates, refined sugar and fast foods should be avoided at any cost. These foods make bad types of carbs that make your pancreas work overtime to keep blood glucose levels under control. Moreover, consumption of alcohol, soft drinks, snacks, sandwiches, chocolate and candies on a regular basis also make you vulnerable to the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Consuming a balanced healthy diet and exercise is not only important in regards to diabetes but for overall well being. This should include a daily intake of fruit, vegetables and a complimentary ratio of protein, complex carbohydrates and fat. A daily regime of cardiovascular exercise should also be included in order to lose weight, reduce the chances of cardiovascular diseases and to help regulate blood sugar levels.

Avoiding significant volumes of alcohol will not only decrease the chances of developing diabetes, but help control the condition of those that do have it due the increased risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels). There is no reason for those with diabetes to totally abstain from alcohol with general guidelines remaining the same for the general population. It is recommended however, that those with diabetes should avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.

It is also important that you avoid smoking, not only in terms of indirectly developing diabetes, but due to the significant health issues involved with smoking and also to the detriment of those around you.. Smoking is now proven to be an independent risk factor for diabetes, and amongst diabetics it increases the risk of complications including heart disease, stroke and circulation problems.

http://www.Vigour.co.uk/blog

http://www.vigour.co.uk/Weight-Loss-Supplements.html

By Michael Hordern

Diabetics can suffer from dry skin, often caused by high or fluctuating blood sugar levels.

Not only do high levels cause your body to lose fluid, but diabetes can cause you to sweat less, which is one of your body's ways of coping with dry skin. Drinking plenty of water can help you stay hydrated, try drinking chilled water if you don't enjoy the taste of tap water. Cut down on tea and coffee as they have a dehydrating effect.

You can experience dry skin on your face, hands, elbows, feet or anywhere on your body. Using the best moisturisers can help keep your skin in good condition and reduce the risk of cracks and infections developing.

Simple diabetes skin care tips
• Use a moisturiser on areas of dry skin
• drink water - lots of it!
• reduce your intake of tea and coffee
• after a washing, dry yourself carefully, reaching every area, even between your toes!
• wear underwear made from natural fibres close to your body
• regularly do a visual check of your body for blemishes,lesions or rashes
• Check your feet regularly for blisters or sore patches

If you've had diabetes for some time and you're already experiencing some level of complications or neuropathy, the loss of sensation in the feet may increase the possibility that foot injuries go unnoticed. These can develop into ulcers or lesions that become infected, so it's even more important to carry out routine checks.

If you're at all worried about a skin problem or rash, do check with your doctor or diabetes nurse.

How much would you be willing to pay for Diabetes classes? Let me rephrase that. How much is diabetes education worth?

How about forty thousand dollars? Not too many years ago that was considered about the going rate for open-heart surgery. Fortunately, your health insurance would usually pay for a good chunk of that. But really, think about it, if your insurance wouldn't pay for it, and your quality of life was starting to go downhill, fast, and you couldn't walk from the living room to the bathroom without getting out of breath or experiencing chest pain, would you have the surgery, even if you knew you had no way to pay for it?

What if the doctor told you that the open heart surgery was necessary to save your life, that without it the quality of your life would continue to deteriorate until eventually you would be bed ridden and then soon after die of heart failure? Would you elect to have this bank breaking open-heart procedure? I'm thinking yeh, you probably would. Even though it might cost close to $100,000.00 by the time all the medical bills are paid I'm thinking most people would. I know I would, or I think I would.

So again how much money should it cost you for 10 hours of diabetes education? Keep in mind it is not surgery and requires no hospital stay. (Well, at least not early on, for most people anyway) In fact highly educated doctors are not even the teachers. In many cases, if you are lucky, a highly trained certified diabetes educator will provide the education.

Several years ago my mom developed lung cancer. The surgeon came in her room and asked her what she wanted to do? Before he had a chance to completely explain her options she responded, " Take it out. I want this out of me as soon as possible."

"So you want me to operate and remove the affected part of your lung," the doctor asked.
"Yes, as soon as you can, the sooner the better," she told him. My mom was 81.
She had the surgery and is doing well. The total cost of the surgery, including the hospital and doctor bill came to about $50,000.00. Without the surgery my mom might not be here now.

You know frequently, when first diagnosed with diabetes, a lot of people don't even feel badly, yet, you know the first year or so, before the onset of complications like heart disease (Two out of three people with diabetes develop heart disease), nerve disease (Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations), eye disease (Diabetes can impair vision and lead to blindness), and kidney disease (Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney dialysis).

Recently I had two suspicious moles frozen. After they were frozen, they swelled up, dried up and fell off. The doctor didn't really think either amounted to much but said he could get rid of them if they bothered me. It cost about $200.00. The thing about it is that unlike the open-heart surgery and lung surgery... AND diabetes education, if I hadn't had my two moles removed I would have been none the worse.

Just in case you haven't figured it out by now receiving diabetes education soon after diagnosis is of the utmost importance. I tell people in class that I cannot imagine successfully managing diabetes without attending a comprehensive diabetes class. (The American Diabetes Association recommends all newly diagnosed patients with diabetes receive 10 hours of comprehensive education soon after diagnosis). By the way, insurance usually will cover 10 ours of diabetes education within the first twelve months of being diagnosed.

I can assure you that mismanaged or ignored diabetes will eventually lead to some life changing problems, problems that you want no part of. Diabetes education is as much a lifesaver as open heart surgery and cancer treatment. (And much less expensive at only a fraction of the cost!) However, sadly, there are far too many people with diabetes that fail to see the value of education.

Over the last fifteen or so years this has led to most hospital based diabetes education programs closing their doors, as education programs could not support themselves. Now most of the hospital based diabetes education programs that still exist are outpatient programs, many of which struggle to survive as patients are reluctant to pay more than a small co-payment or their deductible for education they feel is not worth the price.

Twenty-six million people have diabetes, 336 million worldwide. Another seventy-two million people nationwide have prediabetes. Although not curable type 2 diabetes is highly treatable, if you know what to do.

I used to think that doctors were the only ones that could save lives. I have learned over the years that diabetes educators and the education they provide can save lives as well. It would seem as though there are two parts to diabetes education; part 1- getting the person with diabetes to realize how important diabetes education really is, and part 2- educating the person with diabetes about diabetes. Right now diabetes educators may need to focus on part-1so we can continue part 2.

Yes, diabetes education is right up there with heart surgery, cancer treatment and substance abuse rehab. when it comes to saving lives. Concentrated efforts by informed professionals in the healthcare and insurance industry need to be made to affect a change in the public perception of the role comprehensive diabetes education plays in the lives of those with diabetes.

Milt Bedingfield is a certified diabetes educator and exercise physiologist. Milt has been teaching people with diabetes about the disease and how to care for it for the last 18 years. Milt is the author of a new book entitled: Prescription For Type 2 Diabetes: Exercise. This book is very informative and easy to understand. Milt has a website at: http://www.TheExerciseDiabetesLink.com. and Twitter account. His user name is: IKnosugar. Milt's email address is: MBedingfield@yahoo.com

By Milt O Bedingfield

Type 2 diabetics know as well as everyone else they should consume a balanced diet as a large part of living a healthy lifestyle. But even though there are a lot of good food choices for a diabetic to pick from, there are actually some super foods that are even better for them than others. What are they? You might be surprised.

So what qualifies as a diabetic super food? These are foods that provide a good supply of the right vitamins, minerals, and in some cases fiber and/or protein, but are also low on the glycemic index. The key is to have both. There are plenty of foods that are rich in the right nutrients, but score too high on the index to be considered a healthy option for diabetics.

Some people choose to eat junk and then try to make up for it with supplements. While this is certainly better than nothing, it still doesn't deliver what they can receive naturally in the right foods. And when it comes to supplements, some are even better than others, so talk to your doctor before starting them, as diabetics can actually overdo it with some supplements.

The list of diabetic super foods include:

1. Beans. These are excellent because they carry a low sugar level, but they are slammed full of vitamins and nutrients, such as potassium and magnesium, and the all important ingredient... fiber. They also provide a good supply of protein.

2. Berries. Berries also have fiber, vitamins and minerals, but they also have something that most foods don't: a healthy dose of antioxidants. This one component helps to ward off a multitude of diseases and illnesses.

3. Citrus. Chock full of vitamins, the main one being the all-important vitamin C, which is also crucial to keeping many areas of the body, including the immune system, on its toes.

4. Dark, Green Leafy Vegetables. We've heard it all our lives, but it's true... especially for diabetics.

5. Fish. More precisely, omega-3 fatty acid rich fish. These go the distance for protecting your heart, lowering cholesterol and helping to prevent a host of diseases.

6. Sweet Potatoes. High in fiber, low in calories, rich in vitamins and minerals. Substitute these for baked, mashed, and French-fried potatoes.

7. Tomatoes. Fixed any way you like, you can't dispute the positive effects tomatoes have on the body.

8. Whole Grains. The key word here is "whole". If the grains are processed, enriched, etc., they have been stripped of their nutrients. Now, these grains are contributing more harm than good. Whole grain is the only way to go. The latest research suggests that people who eat whole grains actually have the lowest incidence of Type 2 diabetes. As well they appear to increase the efficiency of insulin so that less is required to metabolize sugar.

The key for many people with Type 2 diabetes, in terms of lowering blood sugar levels with diet, is avoiding those common high-carbohydrate, low-fiber meals.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Once you get over the scariness of your diabetes diagnosis sit back, relax and take positive action. You will be surprised at what a little proactive thought can do for your blood sugar. Forget the anxiety and the scariness and decide to empower yourself. Others have cured their diabetes and you can to. This is step no 1, getting used to the idea that you can actually win at reversing your diabetes and not be labeled a diabetic for life, as you age unhealthy...

First and with new hope you must resolve to kiss your present lifestyle good buy. Have a ritual. Empty the sugar and cookie jar and fill it up with the seeds of persistence. Then let's go shopping!
Go on a hunt for whole grain bread. Read labels until you find one with 5 grams of fiber. Here is a hint - try Costco. When you read the label, the only thing that should interest you is the grams of fiber. Of course you know better than to look for a sweet roll or doughnuts or bread with more than 4 grams of sugar, tempting as it may be...

So when am I going to eat my potatoes and pizza, you might say to yourself? The answer is always - "Not Now"... As you continue, learn to read labels and most of all continue to cement your resolve to wean yourself from sugar. This simple shopping action will help you do just that.

Remember, now is always your moment of power, this is step No. 2, the moment that you start to take massive action. As someone with sugar craving, taking massive action might be to daily eat a breakfast that has whole grains such as, bread with 100% whole wheat, a piece of fruit like apples or pineapple in order to quench your craving for sugar and include protein like eggs; but forget juice drinks, artificially sweetened teas and diet soda. These will only keep your cravings alive.

You should also get a new habit of sipping freshly brewed green tea, preferably from the tea leaves. It is a proven health enhancer as reported by scientific research. Packages of dried green tea leaves are usually found at Asian grocery stores.

You will find that once you quench your need for sugar and recover from your craving for white bread and foods that turn into sugar quickly in your body, your blood sugar level will become normal - to your doctor's surprise! Then just slowly keep the good food act going. Remember to celebrate without foods that increase blood sugar!

I am speaking from the voice of experience here. I helped my mother recover from 2 insulin shots a day to become a diet dependant diabetic.

What that means is that your insulin syringe and needle is now trash, you don't need it, because you no longer eat the foods that cause you body to go into a tizzy, spill sugar into your blood stream and refuse to metabolize it. And, you will be so happy you will have no urge to pig-out on food that can cause you grief. Bye, bye cravings. This is your mantra!

If you are still asking when will I get to eat my potatoes and pizza while reaching for your coke, just know that your brain has not yet adjusted to your desire to be well. Rome was not built in a day! Keep your eyes on the prize. Also, readjust your belief that taking insulin is the cure for diabetes.

As you change your food choices and patterns of eating your discontent will soon pass. Your biggest job would be to adopt creative ways to not succumb to sugar cravings...

As you reduce your sugar, take note of what your medication is doing to your body. Because when your blood sugar gets naturally lower, you might find that you have to gradually lessen you medication until you no longer need it. You are now ready for step No.3

To help you with feeding, give yourself a gift of a copy of the book, Eat Yourself Younger Effortlessly and immerse yourself in it. There is a 3 week menu guide with recipes that will make your body rejoice, instead of crave foods that cause you sorrow.

Not only that, it will help you plan your snacks. I was inspired to write this award winning book after my mother was diagnosed with diabetes at age 80. Using the foods and recipes in this book, she became free of medication, lived to be 103 years and died comfortable in her bed at home.

Let's face it, do not expect a fast food merchant to consider you with diabetes. Most are more interested in profit and packing food with high fructose corn syrup, the worst of hidden sugars, to increase palate pleasure. This is also the case with the pharmaceutical companies, you empowering yourself to heal, will lower their profits, so you are going to have to up your caring meter and boldly look out for No.1 - yourself.

Your passion, along with a little self love will help you to persist and triumph, until you reverse your diabetes. Others have done this and so can you!

Celia Westberry is an award winning 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 book Eat Yourself Younger Effortlessly -? the easy way to slow aging, feel, great and look good has glycemic ready recipes to help you Start Over with healthy eating. Visit her at http://westberrywellnessprograms.com

By Celia Westberry

Diabetes Mellitus is a group of chronic disorders that are caused by a minor or total insulin deficiency.
Although there are genetic factors to it, developing the disease also depends greatly on environmental factors.
It affects over 130 million people worldwide. In America, 1 in every 20 people has diabetes.
The disease itself must be managed through monitoring and maintaining proper blood sugar levels through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
It is a disease that weakens the vascular system and causes many complications, such as loss of eye sight or kidney damage.

Diabetes is divided into two major groups. The first group, known as Primary Diabetes Mellitus, covers the most commonly known types of diabetes:
• Type 1 - this is an insulin dependent type of diabetes
• Type 2- this is a non-insulin dependent type of diabetes
• Type 3- this is a malnutrition related type of diabetes, not commonly discussed
• Gestational Diabetes- this a type of diabetes that develops in women during pregnancy

The second group of diabetes is known as Secondary Diabetes Mellitus.
These types of diabetes are caused by outside factors other than genetics and environmental factors.
When things like acute or chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer destroys the pancreas- which is the insulin producing organ in the body- secondary diabetes will occur.
Chronic liver disease like in Hemochromatosis, endocrine abnormalities like in Hyperthyroid and Cushing syndrome are very common.
The use of medications to treat other conditions can all bring about a diagnosis of secondary diabetes.

Genetic disorders, like Down syndrome is involved in diabetes.
The main abnormality with diabetes is the difficulty of having to control blood sugar. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and its function is to control your blood sugar in a narrow range. In type I diabetes we find that there is not enough insulin production. In type II diabetes, most of the time we find enough insulin but it is not available to control the sugar levels.

Many people occasionally like to indulge by drinking a beer. Since diabetics know that alcohol can have a negative impact on their Type 2 diabetes, they automatically know that this also includes beer... even just one. But can just one beer cause that much trouble?

It isn't really about the one beer as long as you don't drink of an empty stomach or take diabetic medication or insulin. The problem comes when people, especially diabetics, drink beer on an empty stomach. Alcohol stays in your system longer than the glucose from food. And since beer contains a lot of sugar, that's too much sugar at one time. Drinking on an empty stomach just magnifies the results, which is why drinkers feel the effects less if they drink when they have a full stomach.

Beer, like any other alcohol, has to be closely monitored. When people get together to drink socially they often get caught up in the conversation or the surroundings. Soon, they are not really aware of how much they have consumed. This can quickly bring on a sugar crash or spike, depending on the circumstances.

But beer also contains several other factors that have to be considered... calories and carbs. Some beers contain a lot of calories, and again, when drinking with little or no food in your system to help absorb the alcohol, it can really mess up your blood sugar levels. Even though it takes a couple of hours for alcohol to leave your system, the danger of hyperglycemia... not to mention pancreatitis... continues long after drinking your beer.

For Type 2 diabetics who need to be able to drink beer, they are going to have to enforce certain rules:

    * First, drink light beer for greatly reduced calories, or beer that has a much smaller amount of carbs. Of course, there will be a transition period, but it will be minor and it will still allow you to indulge in your beverage.

    * Next, you have to limit the quantity of beer. This has more to do with your blood sugar levels than drinking and driving. Even if you are alone in the privacy of your own home, you have to limit your beer intake. In fact, drinking beer alone can be as dangerous as being alone during any other glycemic episode.

Diabetics who are on medication, including insulin, have to be especially careful. Beer can alter the effects of medicines, and in some cases can be very dangerous. For example, metformin, a common diabetes medication, cannot be mixed with beer at all. All diabetics, both Type 1 and Type 2, will want to check with their doctor to see if their medications can be adversely affected by alcohol.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes can be present, silently doing much damage for many years before it is recognized. Various ways of screening for mild cases of diabetes have been used; all with their good and bad points. The ideal form of screening for diabetes would be:
    * highly accurate,
    * inexpensive,
    * portable, and
    * easy to perform.

Investigators in Beyond Care, Connecticut, United States, compared the use of X-rays in measuring body fat to questionnaires and HbA1c levels for accuracy in predicting Type 2 diabetes. These results were published in the month of September, 2011 in PloS One, a scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science

The studies: Three hundred and forty-one women were included in one study and 1153 women were included in another larger study. Fat, abdominal fat and total weight were measured both times. In both these studies, X-rays were found to be more reliable for predicting Type 2 diabetes than questionnaires or HbA1c levels. It was concluded X-rays showed promise for the development of X-ray screening for diabetes in large populations.

In the mean time, the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) percentage and questionnaires are useful tools for predicting if patients have either Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Hemoglobin A1c measures blood sugar levels during the previous three months, making them more useful than random or fasting blood sugar levels, which measure blood sugar on any given day. Questionnaires take into account risk factors such as age, body fat, and heredity.

The American Diabetes Association has a collection of 10 simple questions that can help predict what your risk is for Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and it can be found at the association's website. At your next checkup, ask your doctor if testing your HbA1c is appropriate.

Everyone should be concerned about the possibility of diabetes, but those over 50 years of age, overweight, or with close relatives diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes need to be particularly concerned.

A healthful, low-calorie diet packed with nutrients is one way to lower your risk for diabetes. Food cravings are often caused by the body's need for vitamins, essential oils and minerals it is not getting, so those cravings can frequently be satisfied with fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Healthy fats are the liquid kind found in foods such as flax seed oil and coconut oil.

Getting enough exercise also lowers your risk for Type 2 diabetes, so go for a walk each day. Walking can also do your heart, bones and even your mood some good, so your mother was right... go out and get some fresh air.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

From the day you receive your diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, all you ever hear about is eating the right foods. Doctors and dietitians always preach a balanced diet. So fruit should be considered okay to eat, right? Well, some are and some aren't. Even the quantity of the good choices have to sometimes be monitored. Unfortunately it is isn't a simple matter to decipher.

Fruits are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Some fruits are even loaded with fiber and antioxidants which offer their own level of protection against certain disease. But fruit is also loaded with sugar. Even though it's in the natural form, sugar is still sugar when it comes to diabetes.

The first rule with eating fruit is to stay away from canned versions. These are packed with added sugar, making them not only a bad choice, but actually dangerous in some instances. If you absolutely have to eat canned fruit, do so in moderation and take a good look at the label before you open the can. Canned fruits that have a low sugar content or light syrup are the best choices. Watch out for terms that manufacturers use to disguise the word "sugar".

The second rule is to go with natural choices, meaning fresh whenever possible. It isn't always feasible to go to the store every time you run out of fruit, but you can still stock up and freeze fruit before it can go bad. Fresh fruit is the most nutritious and hasn't been altered with additives, preservative, or more sugar.

You can also go with dried fruit as long as it hasn't been altered by the manufacturer. Some makers will add sugar or high fructose corn syrup in the dehydration process so that the snack will be more appealing to the taste. Make your selection as natural as possible. Better yet, you can purchase a dehydrator and make your own snacks that have a longer shelf life.

The third rule is to go with frozen fruits. These are not only usually all natural but they keep considerably longer. Plus, they are excellent for smoothies. Adding some protein powder or nuts can give you the protein that you need to offset the sugar content.

The fourth rule is to use the glycemic index (GI). Diabetics often have an innocently distorted view as to which fruits are good for you and which ones have to be portioned. Using the glycemic index takes all of the guesswork out of it. Also, there are many factors which help determine your body's glycemic response to fruit:

    * the physical form of fruit, for example a whole apple versus applesauce: mashing foods tends to give them a higher glycemic index or load.
    * also, the riper the fruit, the higher its glycemic index.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Complications include heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, eye complications, infections, metabolic difficulties, impotence and pregnancy problems.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• Excessive urination
• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
• Unusual weight loss
• Irritability
• Blurry vision

Always refer to your physician for the proper diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. There are various methods to check for your blood glucose level.
a. Fingerstick blood glucose check. This is a simple test that can be performed in a medical or doctor's office or for home monitoring.
b. Fasting plasma glucose test
c. Oral glucose tolerance test
d. Random plasma glucose test
e. Other tests eg. glycohemoglobin test, fructosamine test, Glycosylated Serum Protein test etc.

What are Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body produce little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar (glucose) into energy.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is due to your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or your body does not properly use the insulin it produces.

What types of treatment are available?
One key goal of diabetes treatment is blood glucose control. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is treated first with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the levels of blood sugars, oral medications are used. Further treatment with insulin is considered if oral medication is insufficient to control the blood sugar level.

What are the available alternative treatment?
Medical reports dating back to 1853 indicated that brewer's yeast that is rich in Chromium (a mineral) can be helpful in treatment of diabetes. People with low blood levels of Vitamin E have higher likelihood of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes tend to have lower Magnesium and Vitamin C in their blood levels. Vitamin C may improve glucose tolerance of type 2 diabetes. Vitamin B6 supplements will help most people with diabetes as their blood levels are usually low on this vitamin. Other nutrients that could help include Biotin, Niacin, Zinc, Manganese etc.

What are the advantages of having Blood Glucose Meter?
You can monitor your blood glucose level at home on regular basis. This helps you to alter your diabetes management strategy so as to reach your target blood glucose level. It also helps you to reduce risk from long-term complications of diabetes.

What type of supplies should I keep?
Recommended supplies include blood glucose monitor, blood glucose test strips, lancet devices and lancets, alcohol swaps, glucose control solutions, insulins, insulin pumps etc.

How do I get delivery of my regular supplies?
There are various companies that can deliver the supplies to you on regular basis. Most of them will offer a free Glucose Meter valued at $70. Additional benefits like free shipping, free diabetic supplies, no out of pocket expenses are available for Medicare participants.

Sadly, Type 2 diabetes is now no longer known as adult-onset diabetes due to the epidemic of this form of diabetes in younger people, largely because of poor eating habits, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Investigators at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, USA, looked at children 7 to 9 to discover whether extra fat could be lining them up for Type 2 diabetes. Their results were published in the journal Obesity in September 2011.

The Study: One hundred and twenty-three children were included in the study, and several tests were given to obese and non-obese participants:

    * oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) showed obese children were less able to take in sugar while keeping their blood sugar levels normal than were non-obese children.
    * obese children showed higher cholesterol and lower HDL (good cholesterol) levels than normal-weight children, and higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol), fats in the blood, and blood pressure.

Insulin insensitivity is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes. The obese children, having difficulty lowering their blood sugar levels to normal after eating sugar and carbohydrates, demonstrated they were not as sensitive to the insulin made by their body, not as much as they should be. Diabetics also tend to have high cholesterol levels, low levels of HDL, and high levels of LDL.

Metabolic syndrome varies among people, but it typically includes Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. All the components of metabolic syndrome put people at high risk for heart and blood vessel disease.

It was concluded that obesity lined the children up for Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome at as early as 7 years of age.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 17 per cent or 12.5 million children between the ages of 2 and 19 in the United States are obese. The rate of obesity among children and adolescents has almost tripled since 1980. Stopping the epidemic is important to prevent the serious complications of diabetes and metabolic syndrome in an ever-growing segment of society.

Parents can help their children to be healthy by planning and carrying out some healthy low-calorie meals. Instead of taking the family to McDonald's for an outing, families can spend the same time in the kitchen preparing something good for themselves.

    * children can be taught to wash vegetables and place them onto a plate, and even cut them when they are old enough to wield knives safely.
    * kids like using computers, so they can be set the task of finding the most healthful fruit and vegetable recipes for the family to eat.
    * children love to take on responsibilities, so having them plant a garden, water it, pull weeds, and harvest what they have grown for the family's table can help to keep them both happy and healthy. Instead of watching television as a family, going out and playing every evening can help family members build bonds and develop healthier bodies.

Instead of watching television as a family, going out and playing every evening can help family members build bonds and develop healthier bodies.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Diabetic jewelry might be a steel medical alert necklace, or it could be a gold charm on a chain. Whether it costs $5 or $100, it could make a huge difference in your life.

It's easy to argue against diabetic jewelry. What if you never need it? That's the same argument you could use against wearing seatbelts and locking your doors. You may never need those things, but if the time comes that you do, you will bless the day you chose to use them.

Emergency medical people say that over 95% of them do look for medical alert jewelry, and 75% of them say they look for them first before they do anything else.

Here' another statistic. Half of medical errors occur on admission or discharge from a hospital. Diabetic jewelry and other medical alert items could keep that from happening to you.

Why It's Important

Type 2 diabetes symptoms include hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. And one of the most troubling side effects of low blood sugar is confusion. I know from personal experience that you don't have to be in a diabetic coma to be unable to speak for yourself clearly.

And if you don't have a friend or family member who knows everything the hospital or EMT person will need to know to be able to make good decisions for you, it's nice to have a backup plan. That's when your diabetic jewelry fills in the blanks for them.

Every diabetic should have diabetic jewelry on his or her neck and/or wrist. If you have drug allergies or you are on blood thinners, even if it's only daily aspirin, medical people need to know it. Also, if you are on multiple medications, doctors and EMTs need to be aware of that.

Keeping a list of your medications in your wallet or purse, including the dosages, will save a lot of time, and now there is a medical alert necklace that can store everything a doctor will need to know. It's a flash drive (or thumb drive) inside a necklace charm.

Of course, your doctor has to know how to use one, but all computers now have USB ports. They just plug your flash drive in and get your entire medical history. If you're worried about privacy, it is password protected. That means someone would need to know your password besides you.

That may be an idea that's ahead of its time. But it's still a good thing to have if you have trouble keeping all your medical information in your head.

Are you worried about expense? You can spend as little as $5 on diabetic jewelry. The website for the Jonas brothers, a singing group, tells about one way to get a medic alert necklace. Nick Jonas has type 1 diabetes, and he sells a stainless steel dog tag through Bayer. Some of the money goes to his charity for diabetes.

If you want to spend more, you can go as high end as you want. There are plenty of sites that sell diabetic jewelry. There are also sites that cater to younger diabetics

One of the interesting ones is a business that was started by a type 1 diabetic, Micah Marie Lynch, at age 19. She uses an insulin pump, and there is a clear plastic cap that she used to discard every three days. She stopped throwing them away and started painting them instead, and made herself some bracelets.

Her first year in college, she was making jewelry from the caps to sell. Now she has a website. Her hand painted medical bracelets and necklaces are unusual and beautiful. You can see them at her website, http://micahmarie.com. Her site states that 5% of each sale goes to your choice of charity, either the American Diabetes Association or a diabetes summer camp.

Diabetic jewelry is a medical necessity. Type 2 diabetes symptoms like confusion and diabetic coma are the best reasons to get diabetic jewelry. Identifying yourself as a diabetic right away may save your life someday. And as you've seen, it does not have to be expensive.

I have yet to find a legitimate website that gives away medical alert jewelry, The one website I did find was just fishing for e-mail addresses to sell. I'm hoping to find one someday so I can let my diabetic friends know about it.

A diabetic bracelet is worth it if it removes the worry of being misdiagnosed in an emergency. I wear my medical alert necklace all the time. I hope you will too.

Martha Zimmer, webmaster, http://a-diabetic-life.com, and author of juvenile series, The Smallborn

By Martha J Zimmer

Analyzing the presence of high blood sugar symptoms and taking appropriate care is essential to maintain good health. The basic to having controlled levels of sugar and glucose in the blood is to have a controlled diet. Proper medication and regular physical exercise will also help a great deal in maintaining these levels within acceptable parameters. By definition, the blood sugar level or the blood glucose level indicates the amount of sugar or glucose present in the blood of a person.

It is a widely known fact that glucose is the best source of energy that helps in the efficient functioning of the body cells. This glucose is derived from blood with the help of a hormone called insulin that is again produced by the body. The amount of insulin released depends upon the amount of glucose in the blood. In certain cases the body either doesn't produce the required quantity of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or the insulin produced is not reacting with the body (type 2 diabetes). In these cases, the glucose remains in the blood. When tested high levels will be shown, indicating the need for action. High blood sugar level leads to hyperglycemia.

When a person has hyperglycemia for a relatively longer period of time, he may develop various other severe health problems. In people with diabetes, the level of blood sugar varies significantly on a daily basis. It hence becomes important to monitor these levels in order to get the right medication. They don't just cause damage to the vital organs of the human body but also increase the risk of heart failure, kidney failure or problems relating to vision. Hence, it is extremely important to closely monitor the blood sugar level and take appropriate doses of medicines. The care for the patients of diabetes or people having hyperglycemia lays emphasis on providing the right dosage of insulin and other medicines. Incorrect dose will only aggravate the problems. Diabetes care also involves medication and meditation apart from constant monitoring of the blood sugar level.

Stress is a major factor that causes hyperglycemia. It has been observed that diabetic patients who have any sort of mental or physical stress have greater variations in blood sugar level. The secret is to combat these higher levels by restricting sugar content in foods by avoiding for example high carbonated drinks and by plenty of exercise. The high swings of sugar levels can be dangerous for diabetic patients. Family support and care hence becomes extremely important to people with high blood sugar symptoms so that they can lead a stress free life.

By Betty D Dawson