‘3′ Steps If Diagnosed With Diabetes…

4 03 2010

   Have you or a loved one been recently diagnosed with diabetes? Don’t panic about this. There is no reason why you or your dear one should not continue to live a long and fruitful life. The few steps that you take today will affect the way your health will be a few years from now. So here are the three steps that you need to do Now.

   1. Consult doctor: After the diagnosis you must get your doctor or health care provider to help you understand just how the disease is likely to affect your life. Get educated about the symptoms and try and understand what it is that you are dealing with. As they say forewarned is forearmed.

   2. Diet: The most drastic change in your life with diabetes will come in the foods that you can and cannot eat. Some restrictions will be easier than others. You will need to junk the fast food and start eating green leafy vegetables. There will be a focused shift on eating and cooking healthier food at home.

   3. Exercise: This is the only way that you can truly regulate the blood sugar levels in your body. Pick a form of exercise that you will be able to do every day. It does not have to be fancy or burn excessive calories. It needs to be regular. The easiest thing to do is go for a walk each day. This will help burn up all the extra glucose in the blood stream.

   If you watch what you eat and get exercise there is no reason why you will have to fear your regular visits to the doctor. Diabetes does not affect the quality of your life adversly.



How Does Diabetes Affect Your Bones…

20 02 2010

   Most of us think of diabetes as a chronic disease that effects cardiovascular health, causes nerve damage, blindness and kidney problems. New researches show that it effects bones too. Studies have shown that type 1 Diabetics have lower bone density than people without diabetes.

   According to scientists, a diabetic is at a higher risk of developing bone and joint disorders like osteoporosis and osteoathritis. In osteoporosis, bones become weak due to which one can easily develop fracture. Ortheoarthritis causes joint cartilage to disintegrate which further leads to arthritis of joints.

   Hip fractures are therefore a common feature with diabetics. The risk of developing osteoporasis in women goes higher in case if they are diabetic. Research also suggests that women with type 1 diabetes may have an increased fracture risk, since vision problems and nerve damage associated with the disease have been linked to an increased risk of falls and related fractures.

   It is assumed that a lack of control over the disease may be a governing factor for poor bone density. One can improve bone density by eating dairy products, preferably those that are low in fat.

   Diabetes can also cause changes in an individual’s musculoskeletal system, which is a term used for muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. This can affect hands, fingers, wrist, shoulder, spine or feet. Diabetes related musculoskeletal problems include muscle pain, joint pain, joint stiffness, joint swelling and deformity. Frozen shoulder is one such joint problem which is quite painful.

   The glucose rise due to diabetes affect collagen, whichs gets deposited abnormally in tendons and cartilages of shoulder causing frozen shoulder or stiffening of shoulder. Most of these conditions can be successfully treated with anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, or other therapies. However, nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyle can prevent these problems.



This Will Happen When You Become Insulin Resistent…

19 02 2010

   It is scary but true that some of us may be suffering from one of the most common but often overlooked diseases without our knowledge. It is a disease caused by one’s bodys inability to breakdown the food one eats, and one out of three people suffer from this condition. This peculiar condition is called insulin resistance.

   Insulin has three main roles:

   1- Regulate the liver from releasing too much glucose. When there is enough glucose in the blood, insulin tells the liver to shut down its production of glucose.

   2- Allow glucose to enter the cells by opening the doors of the cells. Later the glucose can be turned into energy.

   3- Directing some of the glucose to be stored back into liver and muscle and directing the extra food to be stored as fat.

   In case of insulin resistant body the liver continues to release glucose. There is also a defect in how glucose is transported inside the cell and how it is utilized inside the cell.

   Insulin resistance is caused largely due to over consumption of refined carbohydrates like breads, pastas, cookies etc. Eating to much saturated fat and omega 6 fatty acids also seems to increase the risk of insulin resistance.

   Insulin levels remain chronically high, and cells become less responsive and resistant to insulin, if not taken care of. As a consequence, relatively little glucose gets burned and levels remain high. With chronically elevated glucose levels, insulin resistance evolves into diabetes.

   To combat insulin resistance one must exercise regularly, lose weight and stop smoking. Physical activity increases body’s sensitivity to insulin. Losing weight has shown to decrease insulin resistance.  Since smoking contributes to insulin resistance it is of utmost importance to quit smoking to improve one’s health.

   Eat healthy and exercise well is therefore the mantra to beat insulin resistance.



Sexual Dysfunction With Diabetes

18 02 2010

   Sexual dysfunction is any problem that regularly interferes with an individual’s sexual performance. Both men and women with diabetes are more likely to experience this problem against their counterparts who are not diabetic.

   Sexual problem due to diabetes that effect men are erectile dysfunction or impotence, ejaculation problems and low levels of testosterone. In case of diabetic women the sexual problems they commonly experience are vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, decreased vaginal sensitivity, difficulty climaxing and as a result decreased sexual desire.

   Diabetic angiopathy or damaged blood vessels and diabetic neuropathy or damaged nerves are one of the main reasons for sexual dysfunction amongst diabetics. This damage is due to poor control of blood sugar. Other factors that contribute to this problem are obesity, urinary tract infection, yeast infection, overactive urinary bladder, depression and fatigue. All of the above are more or less result of diabetes.

   Having diabetes can mean early onset and increased severity of these problems. People who keep their blood sugar levels in check can lower their risk of early onset of sexual problems.

   Some of the common symptoms of sexual dysfunction to watch for in men are listed below:

   Minimal discharge of semen during ejacultion

   Fertility problems

   Cloudy urine

   In Women the following symptoms may occur:

   Reduced interest in sexual activity

   Loss of sensation in the genital region

   Frequent ability in reaching orgasm

   Frequent yeast infections

   If left untreated sexual dysfunction can affect an individual’s quality of life. If can increase stress, trigger depression and can even interfere with a diabetic person’s management of blood sugar levels.

   Sexual dysfunction due to high blood pressure can be reduced through managing blood sugar levels, diet and exercise and in some cases medication. Individuals suffering from sexual dysfunction due to psychological factors can benefit from sex therapy and mental health counseling.



“12″ Tips to Prevent Diabetes

30 01 2010

   Diabetes is the same as any other illnesses. It has symptoms, causes, treatment and also prevention. It is best to learn how to prevent diabetes from occurring and also learn alternative tratments for diabetes-related illness complications if developed. prevention is always best and better than a cure.

Here is 12 Tips to Prevent Diabetes:

1. Maintain a healthy weight. Over weight individual have a high risk of developing diabetes. If you are eating large amounts of food 3 times a day start dividing it in small meals and gradually reduce the quantity. Drink plain water before eating meals to take the edge of your hunger.

2. Know your family history

3. Stay physically active

4. Eat a balanced diet

5. Regular medical check-ups

6. Monitor your blood pressure regularly

7. Reduce the amount of fats, protein and carbohydrates you eat. Grill and bake instean of frying.

8. Check the nutritional facts of the foods you buy. Knowing what each food contains helps you to determine which is best for you to maintain your blood sugar levels.

9. Drink 7 to 8 glasses of water everyday. It will help keep your body from dehydration and water cleanses our body from toxins.

10. Choose healthy snacks

11. Use skin milk, non-fat or low fat milk rather than full fat milk in hot drinks.

12. Exercise is good health, so exercise regularly



What are the Symptom’s of Diabetes

2 01 2010

   There are many signs of diabetes that body uses as a signal to alert the person. The top warning signs of Diabetes are listed below.

Frequent trips to bathroom-

   The root cause of this is excessive glucose in the lood stream. The ineffective use of insulin, cause the inability of kidneys to filter back glucose into the bloodstream. The kidneys hence draw extra water from the blood stream to dilute the glucose. This in turn, keeps the bladder full and makes one run to the bathroom more often.

Unquenchable thirst-

   This is an extension of the excessive urination. Since one urinates more than normal, the body feels dehydrated and to replenish the water requirements drinks more water.

Loss of weight without trying-

   This is more noticeable in Type 1 diabetes. Since the insulin producing cells get attacked and this results in lack of production of body fuel, namely glucose, the defense mechanism of body breaks fat cells and tissues for energy. Thus the weight loss. Type 2 happens with increased insulin resistence: therefore the weight loss is barely noticeable.

Weakness and fatigue-

   Glucose depletion from the cells plays havoc again. Due to ineffectiveness of insulin, glucose is not absorbed by the cells and the cells become energy starved. The energy deprived cells result in an energy deprived body thus making one feel weak and fatigued.

Tingling of hands, feet and legs-

   Also known as neuropathy, it occurs gradually over the time, since higher glucose levels affect the nerous system eventually damaging it.

   Other symptom’s besides the above mentioned include: blurred vision, cuts and bruises which are slow to heal, recurring skin, gum or bladder infections. Yeast/vaginal infections in females. Not everybody will have each one of these symptom’s. Indeed, some people may have no symptom’s at all.



What is Diabetes

1 01 2010

   Medically, diabetes is defined as a polygenic disease characterized by abnormal amounts of glucose in the blood. Simply put diabetes is a metabolic disorder. having said that, we need to know what exactly is metabolism? Metabolism is the process in which digested food is used by body for growth and energy.

   The digested food is broken down into glucose, which is the form of sugar found in the blood. It is the most important source of fuel for the body. It circulates in the blood until absorbed by cells to be used as a fuel. Insulin a hormone produced by pancreas helps move the glucose into cells.

   In healthy body with healthy pancreas, the amount of insulin is adjusted based on the levels of glucose in the bloodstream. On the other hand if one has diabetes, this process breaks down, hereby raising the blood sugar levels.

   In normal healthy bodies glucose is a source of energy, whereas in a diabetic person, it accumulates in the bloodstream and thus can be instrumental in damaging the kidneys, heart, eyes and nerves. If left untreated it can have devasting complications. It is one of the leading causes of death and disability in most places.

   Although deadly, it still can be managed by proper care and diet restrictions. It is possible to lead normal and satisfying lives by managing this disease. Conforming to the adage KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, this disease can be managed by gathering as much knowledge as possible on the subject and using it well.



Simple Ways To Help Your Diabetes

27 12 2009

   There are alot of uses for Broccoli, especially in the management of blood sugars levels. It is a good Fiber source, acts as a powerful antioxidants, composed of several vitamins and nutrients. It is good for people with diabetes because of the mineral Chromium present in the broccoli. Chromium has been seen to play a role in the metabolism of glucose, as well as in the efficient absorption of glucose by insulin.

   Herbs and Spices have been a common ingredient on the tables of people  everywhere. To enhancing the flavor of their dishes. Also these spices have also been proven to treat diabetes. Fact is there are a few that have undergone some tests to check on this hypoglycemic property that occurs through the stimulation of the production of insulin, which are cinnamon, ginger, bay leafs, clover, nutmeg, and coriander. Now using all Natural is better.

   Dandalion Greens been known to give a hypoglycemic effect when used on people with diabetes. Using it as a salad or it’s extract may be part of the diet.