By Beverleigh H Piepers

For a diabetic, their blood glucose meter is pretty much their lifeline. It is, by far, the most valuable piece of equipment in their arsenal to help keep tabs on their disease. So having the right one is vitally important. This will give some insight on how to choose a blood sugar monitor.

The first thing that people want to consider is price, since some brands might not be covered on insurance plans. Don't let the price sticker make your decision. This is important enough that you want to make sure all your areas are adequately covered, even if you have to come out-of-pocket a little. But even the more expensive brands will typically run under $75.

Response time can also be important if you are experiencing blood sugar issues. The faster you know if there is a problem, you quicker you can respond to the effects.

Portability is another important consideration. This isn't as big of a deal for women as men, but it is still nice to have a compact unit with all of the necessary components. A model that can be slipped into a pocket, any pocket, is the best scenario.

You want to make sure that the display is large enough and easy to read. Sometimes diabetics experience complications that affect their eyesight, including blurred vision. Not having to look for your glasses to read the results is priceless.

Make sure that the unit has adequate memory. This is crucial for diabetics since monitoring is a continuous up-and-down succession of levels. Some units will only record 10 testings, and from there it can go into the hundreds. Having a valid history on hand, wherever you are, will let you know if a problem is arising and how serious it has become.

Since testing involves taking a blood sample, the amount and location of the sample is important. Models require differing amounts of blood in order to record the level. Some only require a tiny drop while others seem like they are pulling straight from an artery. For comfort, you want the tiniest spot necessary to do the job.

Location, location, location. This applies to testing, too, and not just real estate. Having the option of choosing where you want to be stuck is better than going after the same defenseless fingers over and over again. Forearms, calves, thighs, or other areas offer more protection and won't make your fingers sensitive for the rest of the day.

Dozens of blood sugar testing meters are now on the market... check several before you buy. Some pharmacists, especially those who have many customers with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, may be able to explain the pros and cons of different models. Most mail-order houses specializing in diabetes supplies carry blood glucose testing meters.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

The term "diabetic neuropathy" serves as a name used to describe a group of nerve disorders caused by Type 2 diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, around sixty to seventy percent of people with Type 2 diabetes end up having some forms of diabetic neuropathy. This problem can develop anytime in a diabetic... no one is really sure yet why high blood sugar levels lead to nerve problems. But the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely it is they will develop neuropathy.

What are the risk factors for the development of diabetic neuropathy?

1. Number of years having diabetes: People who have diabetes for more than twenty-five years are at a higher risk for diabetic neuropathy.

2. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels: Uncontrolled blood sugar level causes faster development of peripheral neuropathy.

3. High cholesterol level.

4. Overweight and obesity.

In most cases, people who complain about nerve pains are those having the peripheral type of neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy, involving the hands and/or feet, is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. When you have this condition, you:

* lose the sensation of light touch
* often experience tingling and burning
* experience loss of balance
* worsening of the symptoms at night
* pain

Damage to your feet may occur because you simply do not feel it happening. Infection may set in which could even lead to amputation.

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, diabetics suffering from peripheral neuropathy usually visit their doctor because they can no longer tolerate the discomfort they have at night.

How do you ease the discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy?

1. Topical treatment: Treatments may be applied to the skin to ease the pain and discomfort. The most common examples of topical treatment are capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches. Other possible topical treatments currently being investigated include nitrate sprays, alpha lipoic acid and primrose oil.

2. Oral medications: Most doctors treat neuropathy through the use of oral medications. The most common examples include:

* anticonvulsants - the most common anticonvulsants used are pregabalin, gabapentin and carbamazepine
* tricyclic antidepressants - may include imipramine, amitriptyline and desipramine
* opiods and opiod-like medications such as oxycodone and tramadol
* vitamin B 12 - according to a study published by Acta Neurologica Taiwanica in June 2005, vitamin B 12 may also be an effective medication for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in diabetics. However, a larger scale study is still needed to establish this fact.

Home treatments such as warm compress are usually discouraged since this action may burn the skin. Type 2 diabetics should seek the advice of their doctor before commencing any treatment offering them relief from any pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.

By Maxine Fox

I started buying fresh lemons by the bag after I found out how they can help cure diabetes. They are quite literally a miracle from Mother Nature! I have always loved fresh lemon but now I make an extra effort to eat lots of them. In fact, I believe lemons should be an important staple in every diabetic diet.

Lemon Lowers the Glycemic Index of Other Foods

Research has shown that lemon lowers the glycemic index of any food it is added to. And... we are not talking a few points here. The drop is very significant! To benefit from this, all you have to do is add a little squeeze of fresh lemon over your food. Almost like waving a magic wand, this will instantly lower the glycemic index of your meal. Best of all, lemon is such an excellent flavor enhancer, it makes many foods taste better too. I often add a squeeze of fresh lemon to a hot bowl of soup (yum!), casseroles, stove top goulashes, almost any kind of salad (including salads containing fruit), and sauteed vegetables (especially greens!). Anything with chicken or fish of course tastes especially good with lemon. Please note that it is best to add the fresh lemon right before you eat the food. If you cook it in soup, for example, it can become a little bitter and the health benefits won't be quite as great.

Have A Glass of Lemon Water First Thing In the Morning

A glass of lemon water is the perfect way for a diabetic to start the day. Most people start their day with coffee (very acidic) and food that shift the pH of the body toward the acid side. However, if you shift the pH back toward the alkaline side, you will notice your blood sugar will go down. Moreover, your cell membranes will become more sensitive to insulin - i.e. you will be LESS insulin resistant. In fact, this will actually aid your body in repairing those damaged cell membranes.

Although lemons contain a weak acid, when they are metabolized by the body they have an alkalizing effect. If fact, they are the strongest alkalizing food you can eat! This is why adding lemon to your diet can go a long way toward restoring the pH of your body to the alkaline side where it should be. It has been found that most diabetics have a very acidic body pH (as have cancer patients). Bringing back to the alkaline side will go a long way toward helping to cure your diabetes.

Making lemon water is very easy. Just squeeze the juice from a half lemon (or a full lemon if you are a larger person) into a glass of water, swirl it around a little, and drink it up. Do this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before you have your coffee or breakfast.

Lemons Have TWICE the Vitamin C As Oranges

This was a fact that surprised me as you always hear that orange juice is so loaded with vitamin C. Well, the orange's citrus cousin has it beat with twice the vitamin C. Most people don't realize but vitamin C is an extremely powerful antioxidant. It is important to note that vitamin taken in the form of food is MUCH better absorbed by the body than vitamin C taken in the form of a pill!

Vitamin C is at least part of the reason lemons interact with the cell membrane and make it less insulin resistant. However, vitamin C also have other very important benefits to the diabetic as well. For example, it increases the production of collagen which strengthens blood vessels. This is key since many diabetics have problems with circulation and arterial damage.

Aids In Repairing Digestion

Most diabetics have impaired digestive enzymes and lowered acidity in the stomach. This means that they don't always reap the full benefit from the nutritious food they eat. Lemon goes a long way toward curing this problem as well.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

In a more innocent time, Type 2 diabetes used to be known as "adult-onset diabetes" as it only affected older folks. Sadly, the skyrocketing rates of obesity in children have forced that old name to be as out of fashion as bell-bottoms.

There's no question that the battleground for Type 2 diabetes will be won or lost with children. Rates of diabetes and obesity in children are rising much faster than in adults. In fact, obesity rates in children has tripled in the last three decades alone. Unfortunately, scientists are way behind in figuring out how kids as young as 7 have early signs of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

On the bright side, researchers have uncovered a number of ways you can help prevent your child from developing this debilitating chronic condition.

Switch Off The TV: The TV may be a family bonding session, but it's also a surefire way to make your child overweight. Children that watch more than two hours of TV per day are much more likely to be overweight than kids that don't.

Surprisingly, it's not just the sedentary aspect of TV watching that's responsible for this. Children that spend large amounts of time in front of the TV tend to eat a poor diet.

Eat Together: Having dinner together isn't just a way for the family to form a closer bond, it may be one of the most effective methods for reducing the childhood obesity risk. Ohio State University researchers found that kids that eat with their family have a whopping 40 percent decreased obesity risk than kids that eat alone. Obese children are at a significantly heightened risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Cut Soda: Children that drink soda tend to be heavier than kids that don't. Unfortunately, the walls of many schools are lined with vending machines and soda advertisements that encourage kids to drink up.

What's the harm? While an occasional soda may not have any negative effect, downing drink after drink certainly does. A single 12-ounce can of Coke contains over nine teaspoons of sugar. The sugar and calories in soda don't make kids full like fibrous foods like fruit and whole grains, paving the way for overeating later in the day.

Become a Model: No, this doesn't mean that you have to get a killer physique and strut your stuff on the runway. Being a model for your child by demonstrating healthy behaviors like drinking water, exercising regularly and cooking at home will ensure that these healthy habits are cemented in his or her mind.

Play: Getting your child to exercise can be an uphill battle if all he or she wants to do is play video games or veg out in front of the TV screen. Try designing fun games like tag or basketball that you and your children can play together. That way, they get the exercise while having a blast.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Hypoglycemia is the state of excessively decreased sugar in the blood... the levels are way too low, about 60 to 70 mg/dL (3.3 to 3.9 mmol/L). In normal healthy individuals, the body compensates for the steady drop in blood sugar levels by secreting the hormone glucagon, a special chemical that mediates the conversion of stored energy to a ready-to-use sugar supply within the blood. However, in diabetics taking oral anti-diabetic medications or receiving insulin injections, blood sugar can fall particularly during:

* starvation... if you don't eat for long periods of time
* intense physical activity, and
* the intake of alcohol

Hypoglycemia does not result from the diabetes itself, but from the drugs used to treat high blood sugar.

Hypoglycemia can cause signs and symptoms such as:

* cold clammy skin
* excessive sweating
* headache
* dizziness
* blurring of vision
* confusion
* anxiety
* fatigue, and
* palpitations

In worst cases, it can cause seizures, neurological dysfunctions, coma and even death.

What are the special precautions you need to do to avoid hypoglycemia?

Self-monitor your blood sugar regularly. There is no other better preventive measure to protect you against episodes of hypoglycemia than checking your blood sugar regularly. If you plan to drink alcohol, check you blood sugar before your drinking session and again after your drinking session, before you go to sleep.

If you plan to increase your physical activity, it would be better to consult your doctor first. This way, your doctor can adjust your medications depending on your proposed level of physical activity and therefore, prevent hypoglycemic episodes from developing.

What is the role of oral glucose supplementation in the self-treatment of hypoglycemia?

Oral glucose supplementation may serve as a first-aid treatment for hypoglycemic episodes, according to DiabetesPro, the professional online resource of the American Diabetes Association. Through the use of these glucose supplements, your blood sugar level can be corrected immediately and the dangerous consequences of hypoglycemia can be corrected instantaneously.

What are the examples of glucose supplements?

1. BD glucose tablets are effective glucose supplements for the first-aid management of hypoglycemia according to DiabetesPro. BD glucose tablets contain five grams of carbohydrate per tablet. Although its action in elevating the blood sugar level is only comparable to any candy or sweet soda in the market, BD glucose tablets are still preferred by many medical professionals since most diabetics are not tempted to snack on them.

2. Glucose tablets are another first-aid treatment that can be used for hypoglycemic episodes. According to Walgreens, each glucose tablet contains four grams of carbohydrates. Again glucose tablets are only comparable to the action of candies in elevating the blood sugar. However, since it is very convenient to carry around, most diabetics prefer this form of oral glucose supplement.

3. Glutose 15 contains fifteen grams of carbohydrates. And according to DocNews of the American Diabetes Association, Glucose 15 is considered as one of the latest high-tech convenient devices in the market today. It comes in a gel tube that eliminates measuring and counting and it is very effective in elevating the blood sugar.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

If you're on the run more often than an escaped convict, you probably find yourself with a growling stomach in the most inconvenient places. For most people, grabbing a donut or a candy bar is a simple way to quench their hunger until mealtime. But for a Type 2 diabetic, eating on the run is a potential blood sugar minefield.

Here are your best bets next time hunger hits you away from home:

Avoid Restaurants: The number of times someone dines out is an accurate indicator of their weight and body mass index (BMI). If you hit the drive-thru "just this once" with an empty stomach, your stomach is going to be making the food decisions for you.

Also, you're not likely to compensate by reducing your calories (kilojoules) later in the day. Instead, aim for small snacks that will tide you over until you can raid your fridge back home.

Find Fruit: Many convenience stores and small shops sell fresh fruit in the form of apples, oranges and bananas. Although fruit is mostly sugar, eating moderate amounts of fruit sugar doesn't make your blood sugar skyrocket. That's because the fiber in fruit delays the digestion of the carbs in your body.

Fiber poor choices like candy and chips don't have the same benefit.

Go Nuts: You'd have to be in the middle of the 3rd world to be far away from a store selling nuts. If you're looking to lose weight, don't let the calories and fat in nuts fool you. According to Purdue University's Richard Mattes, people that regularly eat nuts like almonds and cashews tend to weigh less than people who don't. Mattes hypothesizes that the healthy fats in nuts keep you fuller longer, reducing the risk of binge sessions brought on by an intense appetite.

Be sure to scan the label for additives like sugar, salt and fat. Pick nuts that are natural and raw.

Go With Yogurt: Yogurt is a mainstay at gas station convenience stores. Besides being lower in calories or kilojoules than most of the other options, yogurt is a quality source of protein. Eating protein as part of snacks and meals stimulates a hormone in your body known as CCK, which keeps appetite under wraps.

Beware of Fake Health Foods: Many convenience stores have begun to stock so-called "health foods" on their shelves as an alternative to junk food. However, many of these health foods are just junk food in a new wardrobe. Don't be fooled by claims on the packages like "all natural" or "low-fat." Many of these foods... like granola bars or baked chips... have similar nutritional content of candy bars or soda.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

If you are a Type 2 diabetic, being physically active is one of the best natural ways to control your blood sugar according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. However, there are still many other benefits associated with taking part in regular exercise. This may include:

* burning calories - even after you have finished exercising, your body continues to burn calories at a higher rate for a while
* helping to control your weight especially once you're approaching your desired weight
* helping to increase your cell's sensitivity to insulin
* lowering your blood pressure
* lowering the lipid or fat levels in your blood
* lowering the risk for the development of heart diseases and vascular problems

What kind of physical activity or exercise is best for Type 2 diabetics?

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, there are many ways of following a healthy exercise plan for people with Type 2 diabetes:

First off, discuss with your doctor your plan to exercise. Being a "couch potato" will never do you any good even without Type 2 diabetes. But if you continue being inactive, you will have less chance of controlling your blood sugar. With regular exercise, your blood sugar will be more controlled and eventually you will start feeling better:

* playing with the kids
* taking your dog for a regular daily walk
* working in the garden
* using the stairs instead of the elevator, and even
* washing your car

are a few ways to burn-off a few of those extra calories.

Second method is by performing aerobic exercises. Aerobic exercise makes your large muscles contract continuously and you heart beat a little faster. Aerobic exercise makes you burn-off a lot more calories than you usually do. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, having a regular aerobic exercise routine thirty minutes a day, five times each week, gives endless benefits in helping to control Type 2 diabetes:

* dancing
* brisk walking
* swimming
* hiking
* bicycle riding, and
* enrolling in an aerobics class

are enjoyable aerobic activities that can help you burn some fat and control you blood sugar.

Exercises not recommended:

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse explains that there are certain diabetes complications that need to be considered when deciding on the best type of exercise routine for you. If you are having problems with your eyes as a result of your high blood sugar levels, lifting heavy weights may not be good for your eyes. If your feet are numb because of diabetic neuropathy, walking may not be the right exercise for you as you will not be aware of pressure from your shoes giving you blisters.

For most people, physical activity should be a combination of activities that accomplish these three goals:

* build strength
* increase endurance
* increase your aerobic capacity (make your heart and blood vessels work more efficiently)

The best plan is to talk to your doctor. Find out what limitations you might have and how you could help work with them in an exercise program.

By Clea Westphal

An estimated 25.2 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the 2010 CDC report. Most are type 2, non-insulin dependant diabetics. But the children are catching up with their parents on this one. The trends of the last decade show some improvement, but we've still got a long way to go. With diabetes comes a number of health issues. Cardiovascular Disease (or CVD), Congestive Heart Failure(CHF), and Heart Disease to name a few. CVD is where your venous system is impacted, leading to blindness, limb amputations, and organ failures. This is a silent killer, that effortlessly shortens your life by about 15 -20 years. Why doesn't the American Diabetics Association (ADA) speak to the public about making more dramatic dietary recommendations? or about the long term effects of the medications used in the treatment of diabetes? It's simple really, it's all about the money.

Here's the good news: You can cure yourself of diabetes, and can even repair some of the damage done. Once you do things that encourage your body to work for itself, you'll see your sugar numbers drop. With your doctors help, you can gradually ween yourself off your medications.

Go out and have some fun! Walk, run, go for a bike ride, play ball, wash the car, take your dog for a much deserved walk, play with your kids outside. Seems simple, right? I know, that one is probably the hardest one to sell. But if you think about it this way, a 30min walk everyday might add 15 years to your life. I hope you'll feel a little inspired!

Reduce Carbohydrate intake. This is not to say you can't ever eat these things again. It simply means you need to get your body working again, and able to process these foods properly. NOT FOREVER, just until your sugar is under control. Carbohydrates are things like breads, pastas,w hole grains, rice, foods made with sugar, cornstarch, oatmeal, and all sorts of beans.

Try different techniques in boosting and repairing your digestive system. Getting your digestion back in order will give you what your body needs to control blood sugar levels. Things like cleansing the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder. If you have stomach problems, working on reducing stomach acids through diet. Avoiding coffee, caffeine products, hot and spicy foods, high acidic fruit juices to name a few. Again, this doesn't mean FOREVER, just try if for a few months and see if there's some improvement.

There are herbs out now, that suggest they can restore your pancreas, liver, kidneys and other organs. As well as other restorative therapies for the body. This is equally important for those who have diabetes, even though they have a healthy active lifestyle. You can improve your own ability to secrete insulin, repair your digestive system, allowing you to control your own sugar levels.

Know that you can cure yourself! My mom pointed out the other day, that the statement "Living with Diabetes" always makes her cringe a little. AS iF...you have no other choice but to sit back and take it. I still talk to nurses and health care professionals from time to time, who really believe that it's incurable...That's just not true!!!!

Why aren't more people screaming about it? Because there's a lot of money in it for the drug companies to keep you sick. Metformin (formally known as Glucophage) is a drug commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetics. Americans are spending 200 billion dollars a year on prescription drugs. Metformin alone makes about 2 billion dollars a year, and is damaging to your kidneys and liver. My husband's currently in stage 3 kidney failure from many years of Metformin use. Its like the ADA and the FDA have gotten together and worked out a formula...ADA+FDA=$$$.

Given the large numbers of people suffering today with diabetes, I feel it's time to inform people again of their choices. Getting into shape is never a bad idea, and will make most people feel a lot better. But even if you aren't the "exercise" kind of person, a daily 30 min walk could impact your health in a big way. Reducing your carbohydrate intake will help people to naturally loose weight, as well as support the quest for improving digestion. Although I do think doctors are starting to encourage other diets, foods to avoid, or new things to try, they still speak as though they have something to hide. As for the ADA and the FDA, I think their recommendations to the public should be considered criminal. You can cure yourself of type 2 diabetes, and lead a medication free, healthier life.

By Jenny H Jordan

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

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

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

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

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

By Johan Petersen

Bee Pollen And Diabetes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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