By John Willen

The diabetic food available today is both tasty and may help to keep your blood glucose more balanced. The only way to find out the food's influence on your body is to test your blood sugar before you eat it and about 2 hours later. The rise in glucose should be 50 points or less - use this as a guideline. Diabetic snack bars such as Glucerna or Extend are readily available on the market. They contain different starches that help to reduce the fluctuations in blood sugar.

These starches, along with sugar alcohols are used to help you. Sugar alcohol is a carbohydrate that has less of an impact on your blood sugar levels so you must still consider the portion that you are consuming. Nothing is free! Some people require a snack at night so they wake up with a healthy fasting blood sugar. If you go to sleep with a lower blood sugar reading of about 80 mg/dL, let's say, and wake up with 160 mg/dL you may be experiencing the Somogyi Effect. This means that overnight your blood sugar levels are dropping and your liver secretes extra glucose into the bloodstream to protect you from dropping to dangerous levels. It tends to be too generous though! Therefore, by eating the diabetic snack bars it will release the glucose more slowly into your bloodstream over several hours and you can reduce the chance of this from happening.

There are many products created for people with diabetes. By reading the food label and looking at the "total carbohydrate" you will see the amount of grams that will turn into sugar. "Sugar" listed under the heading of "total carbohydrate" reveals the processed sugar and/or the natural fruit or milk sugar. Sugar alcohol will not be listed under sugar. It is not considered a sugar, it's considered a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates turn 100% into sugar within about 1-2 hours. The sugar alcohol also turns into sugar but it does so more slowly - a benefit for people with diabetes. Another popular product on the "sugar free" market is the sugar free cookie.

Sugar free cookies taste good and will turn into sugar more slowly than an ordinary cookie. Please remember, if you eat twice as many, you will gain weight from consuming more calories and it will have more of an effect on your blood glucose levels. Sugar free simply means no processed or natural sugar in the product. It does not mean that it has zero carbohydrates. The sugar is removed from the cookie and replaced by sugar alcohol, however, the remaining carbohydrate, the flour, will still turn into sugar. Again, test your blood sugar to see the effect on YOUR body.

By Jonathan Berns, D.C.

For men suffering from type 2 diabetes, life is difficult enough without the added frustration and embarrassment of experiencing sexual problems and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be described as a consistent inability to have an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Estimates of the number of males that suffer from this condition vary from as low as 20% to as high as 70%. Because of the embarrassment associated with this dysfunction, nobody can be sure what an accurate percentage could be.

Diabetic men are three to four more times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than the average non-diabetic man. It is difficult to make the connection between erectile dysfunction and pre-diabetes, as most people with pre-diabetes are unaware of their condition. Aware or not, pre-diabetes problems can affect erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is a problem with the nervous system. It is believed that diabetes and high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, which seems to lead to the erectile dysfunction. It is also important to factor in that high blood sugar levels play in altering hormone production. This altered hormone production can cause a male to take on more female hormone characteristics. This means that a male could have increased estrogen levels and decreased testosterone level because of diabetes and high blood sugars. With decreased testosterone levels, the male will experience a low sex drive and an inability to get and sustain an erection.

Most men with erectile dysfunction use medication to correct their problem. Using medication may be an effective to improve 'performance,' but it really does nothing to fix the cause of the real problem. Medications in general are an effective way to help certain conditions like blood flow, they rarely get to the root cause of the problem.

If the real problem is high blood sugar levels, then it is very important to get them under control. Too many people suffering from type 2 diabetes do not make an effort to get their blood sugar under control. Instead of doing the education needed for their condition, they are given medication after medication. This is not as effective as it needs to be, and so there has to be another way.

If you, or someone you know is, or thinks they may be a type 2 diabetic, please see a physician as soon as possible and have tests done so you learn exactly what you are dealing with. Type 2 Diabetes is a very serious disease and if left untreated can create serious permanent damage. Go get treated today, you deserve the very best!

By Denchi Minh

Doctors and licensed dieticians recommend that people who are diabetic should watch or limit what they eat. Treating diabetes is complimented by a well balanced diet and lifestyle. With the good advice from a licensed dietician, a diabetic diet meal plan becomes easier to manage.

Through this diet plan, the diabetic could plan or mix and match the daily meals he or she would take. This is without compromising the carbohydrate intake he or she needs to limit.

A Diabetic diet differ from people to people. There is a different meal plan for type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Type 1 diabetics only need to watch the food they take each day and pair it up with insulin. On the other hand people who are suffering from type 2 diabetes need to reduce their weight.

What follows is a diabetic diet plan that is appropriate for the type of diabetes the person is suffering from.

Diabetic diet meal plan for type 1 diabetics:

The right number of protein and carbohydrates is essential to one who is suffering from this type of diabetes. Planning a diet meal plan is essential to this person due to the many complications of diabetes.

Complications like heart diseases, kidney failure and high blood pressure are very common diseases for type 1 diabetics. Ideally food that is low in cholesterol, sugar, fats and sodium are what they need to focus on eating. Meal plans for type 1 diabetics include a mix of high fiber rich foods like green leafy vegetables and fruits. All of this is to help reduce blood pressure and stabilize the blood glucose level of the person.

Diabetic diet meal plan for type 2 diabetics:

It is necessary for one who is a type 2 diabetic to watch his weight. A diet meal plan for type 2 diabetics contain fiber rich foods, fish that are rich in omega 3 and fatty acids, healthy fats and carbohydrates. Type 2 diabetics should essential ignore food that has high levels of fats, sodium and cholesterol.

Small and frequent eating is recommended for people suffering in type 2 diabetes. It is much easier to control glucose levels if eaten is small portions rather than a whole meal.

Sample diabetic diet meal plan for an entire day:

• Breakfast diet menu
o 2 4½-in waffles
o 1 cup yogurt
o ¾ cup blackberries
o A cup of Coffee or tea

• Lunch diet menu
o 1 cup beans
o 12 crackers
o ½ cup broccoli or ½ cup cauliflower
o A diet soda

• Dinner Diet menu
o 4 oz hamburger in a 1 hamburger bun. It is laced with 1 tablespoon ketchup, 2 lettuce leaves and 2 tomato slices
o 1 cup of celery sticks
o Skim milk

By Moira Haarhoff

Why people become diabetic is not always quite as simple as we have been led to believe. Bad eating habits certainly can result in Type 2 diabetes, but this popular modern notion clouds a previously found truth that it can also be genetically inherited.

As much as bad eating habits can influence whether we become diabetic or not, our individual metabolisms and the amount of exercise we do can also react with/against the genes we have inherited.

If we are genetically disposed towards heart problems, our diabetes is more likely to raise our blood pressure and our cholesterol levels, even if we are not overweight. This can add other significant concerns to the disease and can mean we need to take several different types of medication each day.

Another common cause of the disease is triggers. Long-term stress, such as single parenting, an unpleasant divorce, the death of a partner or unexpected retrenchment, can result in a sufferer becoming a Type 2 diabetic.

People who've recently had heart attacks or bad road accidents and children who are being systematically bullied may find that losing control of their lives can spiral their sugar levels out of control too.

Managing diabetes is about regaining some form of control over both life and sugar levels, which can make it difficult for some to hold down high-powered jobs where a lot of travel and long working hours are required.

If you spend considerable time away from home and are unable to eat as or when advised, your sugar levels can yo-yo out of control. Especially if you are forced to stand for long periods giving presentations or are unable to follow your usual exercise programme.

Can you take out a piece of fruit to munch during a tea break when everyone else is offered coffee or tea and biscuits?

If you feel sluggish and lethargic, as though your legs are a dead weight, think back to how much sugar you may have unwittingly eaten. Most diabetics cheat and suppose that because their sugar level doesn't immediately soar sky-high they are getting away with it, but accumulation in itself can cause a reaction, just as a low-sugar episode can leave you feeling lousy for up to 48 hours.

Diabetes can affect your eyesight and distance judgment and it is the secondary effects of the disease that are most dangerous. It is imperative to have your eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist and if you are a driver, take exceptional care when backing out of parking spaces and turning your vehicle in confined spaces.

Also discuss with your practitioner (preferably a physician) having regular checks for cholesterol, blood pressure and the pulses in your extremities. Kidney failure, nerve damage, impotence and amputation are the possible results of not looking after your health.

And last, but far from least, do your level best to give up smoking. People become diabetic for various reasons, as are their individual reactions. But once diagnosed, how it is managed is the all-important factor.

By Jonathan Berns, D.C.

For men suffering from type 2 diabetes, life is difficult enough without the added frustration and embarrassment of experiencing sexual problems and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be described as a consistent inability to have an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Estimates of the number of males that suffer from this condition vary from as low as 20% to as high as 70%. Because of the embarrassment associated with this dysfunction, nobody can be sure what an accurate percentage could be.

Diabetic men are three to four more times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than the average non-diabetic man. It is difficult to make the connection between erectile dysfunction and pre-diabetes, as most people with pre-diabetes are unaware of their condition. Aware or not, pre-diabetes problems can affect erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is a problem with the nervous system. It is believed that diabetes and high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, which seems to lead to the erectile dysfunction. It is also important to factor in that high blood sugar levels play in altering hormone production. This altered hormone production can cause a male to take on more female hormone characteristics. This means that a male could have increased estrogen levels and decreased testosterone level because of diabetes and high blood sugars. With decreased testosterone levels, the male will experience a low sex drive and an inability to get and sustain an erection.

Most men with erectile dysfunction use medication to correct their problem. Using medication may be an effective to improve 'performance,' but it really does nothing to fix the cause of the real problem. Medications in general are an effective way to help certain conditions like blood flow, they rarely get to the root cause of the problem.

If the real problem is high blood sugar levels, then it is very important to get them under control. Too many people suffering from type 2 diabetes do not make an effort to get their blood sugar under control. Instead of doing the education needed for their condition, they are given medication after medication. This is not as effective as it needs to be, and so there has to be another way.

If you, or someone you know is, or thinks they may be a type 2 diabetic, please see a physician as soon as possible and have tests done so you learn exactly what you are dealing with. Type 2 Diabetes is a very serious disease and if left untreated can create serious permanent damage. Go get treated today, you deserve the very best!

By Moira Haarhoff

Why people become diabetic is not always quite as simple as we have been led to believe. Bad eating habits certainly can result in Type 2 diabetes, but this popular modern notion clouds a previously found truth that it can also be genetically inherited.

As much as bad eating habits can influence whether we become diabetic or not, our individual metabolisms and the amount of exercise we do can also react with/against the genes we have inherited.

If we are genetically disposed towards heart problems, our diabetes is more likely to raise our blood pressure and our cholesterol levels, even if we are not overweight. This can add other significant concerns to the disease and can mean we need to take several different types of medication each day.

Another common cause of the disease is triggers. Long-term stress, such as single parenting, an unpleasant divorce, the death of a partner or unexpected retrenchment, can result in a sufferer becoming a Type 2 diabetic.

People who've recently had heart attacks or bad road accidents and children who are being systematically bullied may find that losing control of their lives can spiral their sugar levels out of control too.

Managing diabetes is about regaining some form of control over both life and sugar levels, which can make it difficult for some to hold down high-powered jobs where a lot of travel and long working hours are required.

If you spend considerable time away from home and are unable to eat as or when advised, your sugar levels can yo-yo out of control. Especially if you are forced to stand for long periods giving presentations or are unable to follow your usual exercise programme.

Can you take out a piece of fruit to munch during a tea break when everyone else is offered coffee or tea and biscuits?

If you feel sluggish and lethargic, as though your legs are a dead weight, think back to how much sugar you may have unwittingly eaten. Most diabetics cheat and suppose that because their sugar level doesn't immediately soar sky-high they are getting away with it, but accumulation in itself can cause a reaction, just as a low-sugar episode can leave you feeling lousy for up to 48 hours.

Diabetes can affect your eyesight and distance judgment and it is the secondary effects of the disease that are most dangerous. It is imperative to have your eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist and if you are a driver, take exceptional care when backing out of parking spaces and turning your vehicle in confined spaces.

Also discuss with your practitioner (preferably a physician) having regular checks for cholesterol, blood pressure and the pulses in your extremities. Kidney failure, nerve damage, impotence and amputation are the possible results of not looking after your health.

And last, but far from least, do your level best to give up smoking. People become diabetic for various reasons, as are their individual reactions. But once diagnosed, how it is managed is the all-important factor.

By Jonathan Berns, D.C.

For men suffering from type 2 diabetes, life is difficult enough without the added frustration and embarrassment of experiencing sexual problems and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be described as a consistent inability to have an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Estimates of the number of males that suffer from this condition vary from as low as 20% to as high as 70%. Because of the embarrassment associated with this dysfunction, nobody can be sure what an accurate percentage could be.

Diabetic men are three to four more times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than the average non-diabetic man. It is difficult to make the connection between erectile dysfunction and pre-diabetes, as most people with pre-diabetes are unaware of their condition. Aware or not, pre-diabetes problems can affect erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is a problem with the nervous system. It is believed that diabetes and high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, which seems to lead to the erectile dysfunction. It is also important to factor in that high blood sugar levels play in altering hormone production. This altered hormone production can cause a male to take on more female hormone characteristics. This means that a male could have increased estrogen levels and decreased testosterone level because of diabetes and high blood sugars. With decreased testosterone levels, the male will experience a low sex drive and an inability to get and sustain an erection.

Most men with erectile dysfunction use medication to correct their problem. Using medication may be an effective to improve 'performance,' but it really does nothing to fix the cause of the real problem. Medications in general are an effective way to help certain conditions like blood flow, they rarely get to the root cause of the problem.

If the real problem is high blood sugar levels, then it is very important to get them under control. Too many people suffering from type 2 diabetes do not make an effort to get their blood sugar under control. Instead of doing the education needed for their condition, they are given medication after medication. This is not as effective as it needs to be, and so there has to be another way.

If you, or someone you know is, or thinks they may be a type 2 diabetic, please see a physician as soon as possible and have tests done so you learn exactly what you are dealing with. Type 2 Diabetes is a very serious disease and if left untreated can create serious permanent damage. Go get treated today, you deserve the very best!

Diabetes patients who already are on a healthy diet need only modify some aspects of that diet. Diabetes patients, however, who are prone to eating unhealthy food, should consider revamping their whole diet routine. A physician along with a dietitian can compose a meal plan for diabetes patients.

A healthy diet for diabetics (and also for most healthy people) consists of 50-60% calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 30% or lower from fat. Of course, diabetic patients can eat foods that contain sugar, as long as it is in limited quantities, because sugar still provides calories convertible to energy that can be used by the body. Diabetic patients should have a daily cap of 60 grams of carbohydrates (2-5 choices), 1 choice of protein, and a limited amount of fat, as determined by an expert. However, diabetic patients should be careful not to add extra sugar to foods. That is the first thing to avoid - adding extra sugar.

All carbohydrates in foods are converted to glucose, which increases blood sugar. But all carbohydrates are not converted to glucose at the same rate. Some carbohydrates are converted slowly while others are converted more quickly. The measure at which carbohydrates in food are converted to glucose is called the glycemic index, or GI.

The lower the glycemic index of food, the slower the increase in blood glucose levels when that food is eaten. Foods with a glycemic index of 55 or less (low glycemic index) and with a glycemic index of 55-70 (intermediate glycemic index) are recommended most for diabetics. Foods that fall into this category are whole-grain cereals, whole-grain bread, pasta, and many fruits and vegetables. Foods with glycemic index above 70 or more (high glycemic index), like packaged cereals, candies, cakes, white bread, and sodas, should be avoided and replaced with foods with low and intermediate glycemic index to control blood glucose increase.

Additional foods to avoid include those that contain excessive amounts of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), or 'bad fats'. Fats count as one of the major risk factors in developing type II diabetes mellitus. In fact, some studies have shown that LDLs contribute to insulin resistance.

Fatty products to avoid include some portions of pork and chicken that contain plenty of fat. Some specialists even recommend removing all red meat from a diabetic's meal plan. Meat products with less fat, like beef and fish, are still allowed as long as they are cooked without additional fat. Instead of frying them, they could be baked, boiled, stewed, or steamed. Not all fats are bad, though; polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids are known to aid in decreasing insulin resistance; they can be found in fish oil, soy foods, and dark green leafy vegetables..

If you have diabetes, there are a lot of foods to avoid. But proper food selection can help you plan your diet without necessarily sacrificing taste and enjoyment.

By Alice Saracho

It is vital that, if you have diabetes, you test your blood sugar often. This will allow you to plan your meals and medications, essentially forming your daily treatment around your blood glucose level. Testing often will also allow you to understand how your lifestyle actually affects your diabetes. Stress, exercise, medicine and food all make a steady difference in your blood sugar level. In order to prevent diabetic complications, such as blindness and kidney failure it is important to keep track of your glucose level at all times.

Testing your blood sugar is best accomplished using a glucose meter. If you utilize your health insurance to purchase a glucose meter, you may find that they can only pay for a certain brand which essentially predetermines your choices. If you have to pay for it yourself, check with your doctor for a preferred brand, or with your personal pharmacist. There are many different styles and models to choose from, so pick the one that suits your lifestyle best.

You will also need to have sterile finger lancets, test strips, and alcohol pads. Your insurance provider may also pay for these supplies. There are also even mail order companies that can send these supplies directly to your home, so researching those companies may save you time and money in the long run. If you cannot mail-order these products, do not fret. They can be purchased at any retail location that has a pharmacy.

Testing your blood with your glucose meter will become second nature over time. Next you will want to check your glucose meter instructions, because some meters work differently than others. Here are some general guidelines.

• Wash your hands carefully and thoroughly, and for approximately two full minutes with a good antibacterial soap.
• Next, wipe carefully using an alcohol pad. Most of the time, the blood will be drawn from your finger tip but some glucose meters also allow the use of the fleshy part of your hand, forearm or thigh. Be sure to check with your doctor about which area on the body to test, and to verify the testing procedure.
• Next you will want to place the drawn drop of blood onto the end of a test strip.
• Insert the test strip into your glucose meter in the way that is directed by that specific meter.
• A number will be returned by your glucose meter, which will relate to the level of glucose in your blood.

Diet is a vital component in your overall diabetes control program and to keep blood sugar levels under control, a diabetic diet strikes a balance among the carbohydrates, fats, and protein you eat, when you control your body functions through exercise and by using a diabetic diet, your pain and agony seems to diminish.

Diabetes is not a life sentence to a rigid and restrictive menu plan.
The diabetic diet basically involves limiting your carbohydrate intake in order to control your glucose levels. The recommended carbohydrate content of diabetic diet is 60%, fat content 30-35%. Another important characteristic of a diabetic diet is to eat regularly, at the same times each day, and to eat a consistent amount of calories each day; the diabetic diet is not only for diabetics: it is an excellent, balanced alternative for anyone.

Since the diabetic diet is one which is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, look for cookbooks that emphasize low-fat cooking, the diabetic diet is a bit stricter and calls for avoiding grains and fruit but you have about 30g of carbs daily. The ideal diabetic diet is also good for cholesterol with its emphasis on low fat, high complex carbohydrate and high fiber.

The most important aspect of the diabetic diet is meal planning, your meal plan should be adjusted to take into account carbs sugars and fat in the diabetic food, the general principle is to control body fat means less sensitivity to Insulin, which keeps the blood sugar level in check.

Carbohydrate Counting offers suggestions and tips about how to eat carbohydrates while maintaining your insulin needs and diabetes control, by following a consistent diet control, a diabetic patient ought to be able to maintain good health in general, but you should remember that an effective control of diabetes requires an integrated approach which also includes exercise, weight control and a good diabetic diet.

When you have diabetes, your medications are your best friends, as they will help you keep your condition under control, remember that one of the main goals for a diabetic diet is to lower your weight and maintain it, to put it in simplified words, diabetic diet is a balanced healthy diet plan which is vital for Diabetes treatment.

The diabetic diet is aimed at helping to control blood sugar levels, the less fluctuation, especially rapid release of glucose into the blood, the better, an adherence to a diabetic diet is an important aspect of controlling elevated blood sugar in patients with diabetes mellitus.