Monday, October 28, 2013

Type 2 Diabetes - Dealing With Celiac Disease and Diabetes

About 1 in 250 people living with Type 2 diabetes will have celiac disease. So if you have Type 2 diabetes and suffer from regular symptoms of celiac disease, then you should get tested to rule it out. It could make all the difference to your overall health and mood.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease:
  • bloating
  • abdominal pain
  • headaches and migraines
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • lack of appetite
  • anemia
  • osteopenia (low bone density)
  • fatty liver
  • reoccurring skin rash
  • recurrent miscarriages
  • unexplained hypoglycemia (often true for people with diabetes)
  • dizziness
  • neurological disorders
  • emotional issues
Remember, you may only have one of the above symptoms and sometimes a person with celiac disease may have none of the digestive complaints. If celiac disease is left untreated, it can cause serious damage to your bowels, brain, skin, liver, bones and central nervous system.
One of the ways serious damage can occur is from the severe nutrient deficiencies it causes. This happens because the villi of the small intestine that help you to absorb nutrients from food, become flattened and cannot do their job, hence malabsorption occurs.
Severe nutrient deficiencies are also at the root cause of many serious chronic diseases.
What is Celiac Disease?
This disease is categorized as an autoimmune digestive disorder, being caused by eating foods that contain gluten. Gluten is a type of protein found in:
  • rye
  • wheat
  • barley
  • bran
  • bulgur
  • Kamut
  • Orzo
  • semolina
  • spelt,
and small amounts are found in rice, sorghum, corn and oats.
When a person with celiac continues to eat these gluten containing foods, it causes the immune system to react and attack its own tissue and organs; in this case causing most damage to the small intestine, especially at first. This is what causes the inflammation and bloating often associated with the disease.
How to Get Tested For Coeliac Disease:
You first need to speak to your doctor who will refer you for a blood test. At present, a blood test is the only way to diagnose true celiac disease. You will need to ensure you have eaten gluten containing foods for at least 30 days beforehand to make sure the gluten is still in your system so the blood test can pick up on whether or not it's causing a problem for your immune system at the time you are tested.
If your blood test comes back positive, the best way to treat it is to avoid all gluten containing foods, reduce the inflammation, and fix the damage the gluten containing foods will have caused by taking a good quality multivitamin and a good omega-3 supplement.
If your blood test comes back negative to celiac disease, and you are still suffering with certain symptoms typical of this disease, you may be suffering from gluten intolerance (sensitivity) which has the same symptoms but cannot be detected with a blood test. For this, again, the best way to treat it is to avoid gluten containing foods.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate many of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8011090

Type 2 Diabetes - Does Black Seed Have the Potential to Review Diabetes?

A study carried out by the Department of Physiology in the College of Medicine at King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia found that just two grams of black seed a day resulted in the human test subjects having a considerable reduction in their fasting blood sugar levels. This also resulted in increased beta-cell function and decreased insulin resistance, as well as reducing their glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c).
Black seed is also known as:
  • black cumin,
  • nigella sativa, or
  • the blessed seed,
with the earliest record of it being used therapeutically some 3,300 years ago. It is even reported that black seed oil was found in the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb.
Today hardly anyone knows about the powerful black seed, but this won't be for long I expect, as not only is it linked to helping people with Type 2 diabetes, but also well over 40 more health problems including:
  • asthma,
  • parasites,
  • colon cancer,
  • high blood pressure,
  • the MRSA virus, and
  • epilepsy.
Structurally, black seed contains 58% essential fatty acids with most of these being essential omega-6 and some essential omega-3, as well as vital trace elements, vitamins and enzymes.
Both omega-3 and omega-6 are considered essential because our body needs them to live, but cannot manufacture them. One of the main jobs omega-3 and omega-6 have is to form the positive prostaglandins, which help to reduce inflammation which is behind most modern-day diseases.
The test subjects in the Department of Physiology's study, took the black seed in capsule form. For best results, go for a brand that is organically certified, cold pressed and stored in the correct way when purchasing. It's also important to purchase stock that has not been on the shelf too long.
Just like all omega containing capsules and oils, black seed can be quite sensitive to oxygen, light and heat. Coming into contact with too much of all three, before, during or after processing, can significantly reduce the nutritional content of both.
I am not surprised another simple and humble plant has shown to have such a positive effect on Type 2 diabetes and various other diseases, because there are so many out there that are currently being taken on a daily basis by people who prefer to get results from natural options rather than the conventional drug approach.
With the evidence above, black seed capsules may just be worth adding to your Type 2 diabetes reversal program. But as with all changes you wish to make to your lifestyle plan, it is always a great idea to mention it to your nutritionist and doctor first.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8013231

Type-1 Diabetes: All You Want To Know

You will unearth the pivotal roles of glucose and insulin in Type-1 Diabetes and the way that one, insulin, controls the other. You find out what happens when this control doesn't take place. Moreover, you'll get to know who typically gets, how it's diagnosed, and how to move forward after a diagnosis.
Considering the Repercussions of Type-1 Diabetes
Uncontrolled Type-1 Diabetes has consequences, both short-term, which occur within days or even minutes of loss of control of blood glucose, and long-term, which occur after 10 to 15 years of poor glucose (sugar) control. This part goes in-depth on the topics of short- and long-term complications and also lets you know that your child doesn't have to suffer any of these consequences.
In an effort to control glucose, it's possible to overcompensate with insulin, leading to a condition of low blood sugar called hypoglycemia, a significant short-term complication. The long term consequences or complications can all be detected early in the course of their development. With both short- and long-term complications, it's important to know what they are and what the symptoms are in order to catch them early on and prevent further progression if they do occur.
Now Comes the Treatment
Treating Diabetes requires a lot of effort. For starters, you have to do a great deal of monitoring, which at this time still requires sticking your child's finger four or more times a day. He also has to get certain laboratory tests on a regular basis and go to an experienced diabetologist for regular checkups.
What your child eats and when he eats is a big part of managing his diabetes. Unlike the person without diabetes, your child needs to arrange his meals and his insulin so that the insulin is in his body when the food is. Then there's exercise, an important part of treatment that lowers the blood glucose because the muscles need sugar to work. Many patients use exercise in place of insulin and end up taking very few units of insulin.
Living with Type-1 Diabetes
If you're diabetic child goes to school, his teachers need to know some basic management strategies, such as how to deal with low blood glucose. At work, there are still some jobs for which the person with Type-1 Diabetes isn't welcome. And there are insurance issues that a person with a chronic disease needs to consider. In addition to these considerations, illnesses like colds may throw off diabetic control.
Consider these facts when it comes to Type-1 Diabetes:
  • Type-1 Diabetes is a disease mostly diagnosed in children, but after a while, the child must take over his complete care.
  • A number of management ideas along with regular interaction with your diabetologist are essential to good diabetes care.
  • Myths about diagnosis and treatment tend to develop around any disease, particularly a chronic disease like Type-1 Diabetes. But you don't have to worry. Just have faith in your diabetologist and focus on the treatment and everything will work out fine.
Prashant Kukreja is an adept medical content writer for HelpingDoc. The company focuses on providing patients with online appointment booking solutions with top-end doctors of variable expertise. This inherently reduces patients' time and helps doctors too. For more information on how to book instant appointments, browse through HelpingDoc and book appointment with the best diabetologist in kolkata.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Prashant_Kukreja

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8008866

Type 2 Diabetes - Quitting Smoking Will Help Decrease Serious Health Problems in Diabetics

Anyone who smokes is at risk of developing all the smoking-related diseases. But if you have Type 2 diabetes, it puts you in a higher risk category for developing damaged blood vessels which can then go on to cause other serious problems including:
  • heart disease,
  • stroke,
  • problems with the blood supply to your legs, and
  • kidney damage.
So, it really is in your best interest to quit smoking as soon as possible if you want to improve your health, manage your Type 2 diabetes correctly and reduce your chances of developing any of these diseases.
Quitting smoking is just as vital to a diabetic as working towards keeping their blood sugar levels within the normal healthy range. As studies have demonstrated, people living with diabetes also have an increased risk of developing kidney disease (nephropathy), and eye disease (retinopathy), if they smoke.
If you are struggling to quit, then speak to your doctor and try to obtain one of the free "Quit Smoking Packs," as they might be available in your country. Also, you could try joining discussion boards online to help you find out what helped other people in your situation quit smoking.
Remember you are not alone, and according to the University of Minnesota's Division of Periodontology, smoking can be as addictive as heroin. This makes it easy to understand why so many people struggle to quit - especially when they have been smoking for a long time. Their body has become dependent on it, just like a drug.
Remember quitting smoking has many short-term and long-term benefits; here is a comprehensive list according to the Diabetes UK Care Connect Campaign:
After Quitting Smoking...
20 minutes after... your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal
8 hours after... nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in your blood reduce by half, oxygen levels return to normal.
24 hours after... carbon monoxide has left your body and your lungs start to clear themselves of mucous.
48 hours after... there is no nicotine in your body. Your ability to taste and smell is greatly improved.
72 hours after... your breathing will become easier as your bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
2 to 12 weeks after... your circulation will have improved.
3 to 9 months after... any coughs, wheezes and breathing problems will improve as your lung function increases by up to 10 percent.
5 years after... your risk of heart attack falls to about half compared to a person who is still smoking.
10 years after... your risk of lung cancer falls to half of that of a smoker and your risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.
So, it is easy to see from the many positive reasons to quit listed above, that a person living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can greatly improve managing the disease. Quitting smoking will also help to take some of the pressure off of your body's already enormous workload.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate many, if not all, of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8013274

Type 2 Diabetes - A Good Night's Sleep Can Help With Diabetes Control!

Getting a good night's sleep is important for maintaining a healthy weight and for preventing or controlling Type 2 diabetes. It also helps in maintaining alertness throughout the day. An article published in the Brazilian Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism in August 2013, reports a study on excessive daytime sleepiness in people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Compared with the non-diabetic participants, 110 diabetics had more excessive sleepiness during the day, and more depressive symptoms. Depression was also associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.
Among diabetics...
  • 55.5 percent suffered excessive daytime sleepiness and
  • 53.3 percent complained of poor quality sleep.
Almost 41 percent of the diabetics suffered obstructive sleep apnea and 14.5 percent had restless legs syndrome.
From these results it was concluded anti-depressant therapy should be tested to determine whether it could be helpful in preventing excessive daytime sleepiness.
BioMedCentral reported in August 2013 on a study comparing the antidepressant sertraline, formerly reported as being effective in diabetics, with behavioral therapy. Two hundred and fifty-one patients in 70 clinics across Germany are included in the study. Results are pending.
The Mayo Clinic in the United States lists six main categories of antidepressants:
  1. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
  2. serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs),
  3. norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs),
  4. atypical antidepressants,
  5. tricyclics, and
  6. monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
In 2004 the Archives of General Psychiatry reported that 14 depressed participants given cognitive behavioral therapy not only showed improvements in their mood, but had measurable changes in their brain scans. In 1997 the American Psychological Association's Psych Net reported improvement in 107 adolescents with major depressive disorder when they were treated with cognitive behavioral therapy.
Cognitive therapy consists of changing patients' thoughts that can lead to depressed moods. A patient who feels he cannot succeed at anything and that his life is over, can learn to elevate his mood by thinking of successes he has had and things he is still able to do well.
Cognitive behavioral therapy involves scheduling positive activities, especially involving other people, that will give patients pleasure and positive reinforcement. Patients are sometimes given "homework" in the form of fun activities and then need to report back to their doctors on their progress. While discussing their activities, patients can learn to change to positive thoughts that lead to positive moods.
Whichever therapy patients and their doctors decide on, getting over depression is helpful for controlling their Type 2 diabetes and getting the right amount and quality of sleep.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate many of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8013336

Type 2 Diabetes - Stem Cell Research May Help Diabetics

There have been several studies conducted over the last couple of years specifically related to stem cell research and how it can help people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. While no actual treatment is ready for commercial use yet, it's a positive start.
In October 2011 in Japan, scientists discovered a person's neural stem cells could be used as a different source of beta cells which are needed to start a regenerative treatment for diabetes. They believe they can harvest these neural stem cells instead of having to wait for donors to offer their cells for transplant.
The research is concentrating on a way to define different stem cells so they can use specific ones in this cell replacement treatment. Because diabetes is caused by not having healthy cells to produce insulin, the cells need to be replaced. The cell donor list isn't long enough to help everybody with diabetes, so this research is attempting to bridge the gap and speed up the process of helping more people faster.
In tests they conducted on diabetic rats, once the neural stem cells were transplanted, they began to show some of the characteristics of pancreatic beta cells, more insulin was created and blood sugar levels dropped.
Because this process seems to have worked so well with the rats, it's believed the efficiency of these newly transplanted cells is so good there was no need for genetic manipulation.
The stem cells are taken from the olfactory bulb and hippocampus part of the brain which are at the front and easy to access. Neural cells don't provide high levels of insulin but, once transplanted, they begin to behave as pancreatic cells which do provide insulin.
In November 2012, scientists at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), Melbourne, Australia, discovered an adult pancreas has stem cells they can turn into insulin producing cells. This is amazing news for people with diabetes because it means they might be able to regenerate their own cells and begin to produce insulin.
It was originally believed stem cells were only found in embryos - until these latest developments. This news may mean people who have diabetes wouldn't need to have artificial insulin because their own pancreas could do the job it's supposed to.
The scientists discovered the pancreas cells create more insulin-producing cells if the pancreas is damaged (as in not producing insulin on its own or in insufficient quantities). This news also means perhaps diabetes could be cured which is fantastic news.
The downside right now is scientists still need to work on a way to stop the body's immune system from attacking the cells that produce insulin and cause diabetes to begin with.
Medical research is an ongoing process all around the world. When you hear positive news like this, you think maybe there's hope that in the near future, these processes will be available to everyone.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate many of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8013403

Type 2 Diabetes - Endurance Exercise for Treating Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes, so lowering this resistance is the goal of diabetes researchers and clinicians. Obesity, associated with low-grade inflammation, causes the secretion of molecules called cytokines, which result in insulin resistance in the muscles. Fat and inflammation are thought to be linked by oxidation reactions, which cause free radicals to harm your body cells.
Investigators at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, conducted a study on endurance exercise as a method of reducing the causes of insulin resistance. Their work, reported on in Nutrition and Diabetes in September 2013, included 18 sedentary men:
  • 9 of whom were lean, and
  • 9 of whom were obese.
Obese participants were found to have more oxidative damage, a higher degree of inflammatory molecules, more leptin, and lower adiponectin than the lean men. After 3 weeks of endurance training the obese individuals were found to have less oxidative damage, less leptin, and lower inflammatory levels.
From these results it was concluded that endurance training reduced blood levels of molecules associated with insulin resistance.
Leptin and adiponectin are hormones involved in handling fats in the body. Leptin is made by fat cells and has to do with eating habits. When leptin levels are high due to high levels of fat stores, the leptin should turn off the appetite, although, as every overweight and obese individual knows, that is not always the case.
Does leptin resistance exist? More research will undoubtedly elucidate the problem. Adiponectin is also a hormone made by fat cells, and it is thought to help increase the body's insulin sensitivity. Increasing sensitivity, of course, can help to prevent or control Type 2 diabetes. Producing an adiponectin medication is an intriguing possibility. In the mean time, exercises exist to help the body's own fat cells to release more of the hormone.
Endurance training or exercising is designed to increase the exerciser's stamina and ability to stay physically active. Athletes use endurance exercise to train for marathons, but even if you are not planning on entering a marathon, endurance training is good for your heart and muscles and helps to kickstart your metabolism.
Formal plans exist for marathon runners, but the basic idea is to run as long as you can and gradually build up both your running time and speed over several weeks. Bicycling or swimming laps can be used the same way. See your doctor for a physical examination and advice regarding a safe, sensible plan for exercise. Doing a little on a steady basis is better than trying to make up for a sedentary lifestyle all at once, so try to make time for some physical activity at least three times a week.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine: adding endurance exercise to your physical training, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8013354

Type 2 Diabetes - Not All Bed Time Snacks Are Healthy For Diabetics

Not all bedtime snacks are unhealthy for diabetics. You simply need to educate yourself on which foods to snack on at night. What you choose to eat can depend on a range of factors.
The best choices are "free foods" which include:
  • baby carrots,
  • saltine crackers,
  • a serve of sugar-free gelatin,
  • a vanilla wafer, or
  • a piece of sugar-free gum or candy.
These foods are considered calorie or carb free so do not affect your weight or blood sugar levels.
If you need to snack before going to bed to prevent a hypoglycemic attack, it's advised you consult with your doctor as you may need to adjust your medication dosage.
If you snack during the day, it's wise to plan your overall calorie count to be within your ideal range. It is better to reduce the calorie count in your main meals if you are going to snack. Your body will get used to taking in fewer calories each time you eat as you will be eating more often.
For example, if your total calorie intake goal is 1500 calories, you can have
  • 3 x 500 calorie meals, or
  • 5 x 300 calorie meals/snacks, or
  • 3 x 400 and 2 x 150 calorie meals/snacks.
As long as you reduce your meal calorie count, it's acceptable to snack on healthy choices. You must take care and avoid eating too many calories so focus on portion sizes.
Other recommended snack options include:
  • saltine crackers with low-fat toppings, low-fat cheese, peanut butter,
  • a small yoghurt serving,
  • 2 Wasa crackers and a hard-boiled egg,
  • a low-fat chocolate milk drink, or a
  • low-fat sandwich.
Fruit is a good idea because it can help your body detoxify. You can have:
  • a small apple, orange, pear,
  • a few plums, raspberries, blueberries, plums, strawberries or blackberries.
Fruits to avoid include watermelon, grapes, mangos, bananas and oranges because they are high in sugar.
You only NEED a snack before you go to bed if your blood sugar is low. If they're not low, then you don't need a snack but it doesn't necessarily prevent cravings.
Protein is an ideal nighttime snack because it helps stabilize your blood sugar. Legumes, lentils or soy are good, as is a small plate of fish or poultry. Two tablespoons of nuts are a healthy protein snack before bed. Oatmeal is also healthy as it contains fiber and is slowly digested; two factors vital for the control of blood sugar.
When choosing your bedtime snacks, always check the labels so you know exactly what you are putting into your body and whether there may be an adverse reaction. Hunger can be overwhelming. Drinking a glass of water before bed and/or in the middle of the night can sometimes alleviate hunger without adding extra calories to your diet.
Do not hesitate to seek help from your doctor or dietitian if you continue to have high or low blood sugar at bedtime or during the night.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7977287

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Type 2 Diabetes - Food Safety Tips For Diabetics, Part 1

Choosing the best healthy foods to eat is a major concern for people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetics. But bringing these healthy foods into your home should be just the beginning of your food-preparation concerns. From the time you initially stock your food from the grocery store to the time you sit down to eat, there are many places where your food can become unsafe and cause you further health concerns.
Handling food properly involves implementing a strict regimen of guidelines which have to be adhered to at all times to protect you from developing any other health problems, for example from H.pyloric. Deviating from these rules can result in contamination of one or more of the food items and even food poisoning.
In this first part of a two-part series, we cover the steps you need to take to ensure that your food remains safe to eat so your body is not exposed to any more health issues...
1. Keep everything clean. Start with your hands before anything else. Your hands can literally be a breeding ground for fungus, bacteria and other contaminants. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before touching anything in the kitchen. Then make sure to dry them off on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
2. The second area of cleaning is to thoroughly clean all of the surfaces you will be using to cook or prepare food on. This includes everything from counter tops to cutting boards.
3. The third area of cleaning involves all of your utensils and cookware. Failing to adequately clean these items can contaminate food with old food residue.
4. The final area of cleaning involves the food itself. Cleaning areas where you prepare the food won't do you any good if you fail to properly clean the food itself. Food can carry anything from bacteria, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, other forms of poisons, animal defecation, contamination from soil and storage containers, sewage runoff, E coli, salmonella and a multitude of other contaminants. Even if the packaging indicates the food has been cleaned, it is still a good idea to wash it thoroughly before exposing it to your work surfaces and potentially causing contamination.
But cleaning is only as good as the tools that you utilize. Many people choose to wipe down counters and utensils with a kitchen rag. These can easily be contaminated without the user being aware of this. It's much better to use clean paper towels each time to wipe down areas. They can then be thrown away after each use to avoid cross-contamination.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. Improving your health begins with the food you choose and how you prepare it.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7936213

Type 2 Diabetes - High Blood Pressure, Stroke and Diabetes

Blood pressure deserves as much attention as your blood sugar if you have Type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure or hypertension is often called the silent killer because usually there are no symptoms. Hypertension increases the risk of blocked arteries to your brain, heart and lower extremities, and is definitely a major contributor to eye and kidney disease in both pre-diabetics and Type 2 diabetics.
Two vital measurements provide your blood pressure reading:
  • the systolic pressure, the upper reading, is the amount of force exerted by your heart when it contracts to move blood around your body.
  • the lower reading, known as the diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest.
A perfect measurement is 120/80. A reading of 140/90 is regarded as high and is when doctors will often start someone on anti-hypertension medication.
Outside influences can greatly affect your blood pressure temporarily and, as long as they don't last, you should be fine. If your reading is high, it puts additional stress on your heart to pump harder; then damage can be caused to your blood vessels and vital organs.
Hypertension is the main cause of a stroke. A stroke starts with a blood clot blocking an artery or a blood vessel. This means blood flow to the brain is interrupted.
If you have kidney disease, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, are obese, or have already had a stroke or heart attack, your risk factor is higher than normal. It's essential you see your doctor regularly to monitor your health.
If your brain cells begin to die during a stroke, the functions your cells control will cease working. These include speech, movement and memory. The degree of damage to your brain cells will determine just how badly you will be affected.
If your heartbeat is irregular, the risks are even higher for both strokes and high blood pressure. Symptoms of an irregular beat are:
  • weakness,
  • fainting,
  • palpitations, and
  • breathing difficulties.
You must urgently see your doctor if you have these symptoms. This irregular beat can cause a transient ischemic attack (otherwise known as a mini stroke). The risk of having a major stroke increases if this happens to you.
Other reasons for high blood pressure include:
  • gender,
  • age,
  • genetics,
  • stress levels,
  • diet,
  • race, and your
  • smoking status.
Treatment aims to keep your readings under 140/90 so your risk of having a stroke are minimized. Diet, weight loss, exercise and medication are four ways to treat this problem.
Your doctor will help you with the appropriate steps to make sure you are in the low-risk category. He will usually recommend you buy a monitor to check your blood pressure regularly at home. He may also recommend you see a dietitian and/or a heart specialist if you need extra assistance.
Controlling your blood pressure reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, and protects your kidneys from any further damage.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. A healthy lifestyle will also help lower your blood pressure and reduce your chances of stroke.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7936127

Type 2 Diabetes - Food Safety Tips For Diabetics, Part 2

Exercising the best guidelines when preparing food is just as important for Type 2 diabetics as making the right food choices. Having healthy food on hand is useless if you contaminate it by not preparing it properly. In this last installment of the two-part series, we give you some simple food safety tips to follow when preparing food.
1. Take caution when opening packages. Boxed ingredients need to be free of dust, dirt or other debris that could have become attached during shipping. This is especially true with canned goods. Make sure the lid of the can is completely clean before opening.
2. Don't cross-contaminate. Cross-contamination occurs when one food is inadvertently mixed with another food. A prime example of this is using a knife to cut up chicken and then using the same knife to cut up vegetables. This can also occur when you are handling certain foods an individual might have an allergy to such as eggs, peanuts or seafood. These food allergies can easily be passed from one food to another simply by cross-contamination.
3. Another way that contamination can take place is through cutting boards. While cleaning a cutting board between foods is a good idea, it isn't the ideal solution to preventing cross-contamination. Why? Because some types of cutting boards, such as those made of wood, are porous and therefore, can allow bacteria to seep down into the surface through tiny fissures. This is why it is best to have cutting boards which are designated for preparing different food types. For example, one cutting board should only be used for meat, another only for vegetables and fruits, etc.
4. The final step in safe food preparation is to cook foods thoroughly. Simply trying to "eye" it to see if something is sufficiently cooked is asking for trouble. This particularly pertains to raw meat, eggs and seafood... all of which are susceptible to a wide array of contamination during processing.
The best idea is to go by federal guidelines as far as how much the internal temperature of a food should be when appropriately cooked. These guidelines are very specific as to what the internal temperature should be to help prevent illness which can result from insufficiently cooked foods. If an individual chooses to eat meat that is rare, or even medium rare, then they must also be willing to take the possible consequences from their choice.
Research indicates between 7 million to 33 million cases of illness are diagnosed every year in the United States, due to bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, and parasites spoiling food. As well, approximately 9000 deaths occur annually due to these pathogens.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. Taking care with food preparation will also help to avoid health issues.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7936247

Diabetes: Types, Complications, And Tips To Live With It

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago, my father has diabetes, and my husband's mother and grandfather have and had diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects about 8.3% of the U.S. population - that's about 25.8 million people each year. Without proper care and a tailored eating and exercise routine for someone with diabetes, the complications can be deadly.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in earlier years, such as childhood and young adults and is the rarest form of diabetes. With this type, the body does not produce insulin, which is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas that converts starches, sugars, and other food into needed energy.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not use the produced insulin properly and is called insulin resistance. This is the most common type of diabetes. The body makes extra insulin in the beginning to make up for the body not using it correctly, but the pancreas can't keep up over time to keep blood sugar levels normal.
Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman develops diabetes during pregnancy, usually around week 24 of the pregnancy. Some women will no longer be diabetic after the pregnancy; whereas, some women continue being diabetic for the rest of their lives. Women who develop gestational diabetes should consult with their doctor and follow their doctor's advice carefully.
Complications of Diabetes
Complications can occur if someone with diabetes does not take care of their health through proper eating, controlling their blood sugar, and exercise. The complications experienced also vary by gender, age, and even race. Some complications may include, but are not limited to:
  • Kidney disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Neuropathy
  • Eating disorders
  • Ketoacidosis
  • Depression
  • Amputation of limps
  • Heart disease
  • Blindness
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Skin infections/disorders
  • Hearing loss
  • Gum disease
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Stroke
  • Stress
  • Gastraparesos
Tips for living with Diabetes
Every person is different in how their body produces (or doesn't produce) insulin, sensitivity to medications, and what is a good regimen to follow to keep blood sugar levels down at a normal level. However, here are a couple tips that can help most anyone with diabetes.
Food - have a healthy, balanced diet that includes foods from all of the food groups. But, make sure that you keep your portions in check as well. Avoid foods with added sugars and bad fats (i.e. trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils). Eat foods that have high fiber and whole grains, that have healthy fats (i.e. nuts, olive oil, avocados, etc.), and have limited sugars and carbs.
Exercise- regular exercise is important to maintain a healthy weight and for your overall health, so it makes sense that exercise is included in this section. If you haven't been exercising regularly and have diabetes, you should check with your doctor before beginning a workout regimen. Someone with diabetes should check their blood sugar before, during, and after working out. Checking for blood sugar that is too low or too high can help you determine if it is safe to workout, if you need to eat additional carbs to increase blood sugar levels, or if your blood sugar is too high and it is unsafe to workout.
For more information on healthy living, please see my blog at http://www.kristymlopez.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7947552

Type 2 Diabetes - Top Tips For Reducing Your Blood Sugar Levels

One of the most important things a diabetic should focus on if they want to improve their overall health, is to reduce their overall sugar intake. There are many ways to do this and here are some top tips for reducing your blood sugar level.
The most obvious one is to simply consume less sugar, e.g. don't add sugar to your tea, coffee or cereal. If you crave a little sweetness, you can use a sugar substitute which then reduces your sugar intake along with your calories.
Read the labels of foods. Compare different brands and you will generally find there are other options available containing less sugar. After a while, you will get used to reading labels and knowing which products are best to buy.
Have two tablespoons of cinnamon on a daily basis. Add it to your cereal or anything else you eat. It reduces your sugar levels by slowing down the speed your stomach empties itself after you eat. However, it doesn't mean you should go and buy cinnamon cakes which also contain a large amount of sugar.
If you have 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before every meal and before bed, it lowers your blood sugar level by slowing down the digestion of starches in your meals. Drink plenty of water to flush out your system on a daily basis. This dilutes your blood and clears out the toxins in your body.
Find ways to reduce your overall stress levels. Stress releases a hormone that makes your blood sugar level spike. Whether its reading, watching TV, listening to relaxation music, having an afternoon nap or whatever you choose, the simple things can reduce stress.
Regular exercise will help to burn off unwanted calories and help keep your blood sugar down at the same time. Your overall fitness level has a great impact on the way your body handles sugar. If you are obese, you don't tend to move around as much, and so fat and sugar get more chance to accumulate. So get that body moving as often as possible.
Eat complex carbs that take longer to digest. Spread your meals out so you have smaller ones instead of three large meals. Then you will be able to better avoid sugar spikes. Don't buy junk food. There's less temptation to eat unhealthy foods if they are simply not in your pantry or refrigerator.
Reducing your blood sugar reading is crucial to the overall management of your Type 2 diabetes. If you don't do it consistently, your health will only suffer and long-term damage to your body can be the end result. Always consult a dietitian if you have any questions regarding food so you are not making mistakes due to lack of knowledge on the healthiest food to eat.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. I hope you find some of the tips above helpful.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7938392

Type 2 Diabetes - Can Eating Certain Foods Help Prevent Diabetes?

According to scientists at the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Center, eating certain foods could help you to prevent developing Type 2 diabetes. Molecules called flavonols have been implicated in sugar metabolism, and the investigators set out to discover what effect those flavonoids might have in a human population.
Their study, published in the Journal of Nutrition in July 2013, looked at diet and the development of Type 2 diabetes in 2915 participants over a period of almost 12 years. It was found for each 2.5-fold increase in flavonols in their diets, the participants had a 26% less chance of developing Type 2 diabetes.
From this information it was concluded there is a possible relationship between eating foods high in flavonols and avoiding developing Type 2 diabetes.
Flavonols are among the phytochemicals and are classified among the flavonoids. They serve as antioxidants, meaning they protect your body from oxidation reactions, by taking up free radicals. Free radicals are thought to cause cell death and aging.
The three flavonols nutritionists have studied most are:
  • quercetin,
  • kaempferol, and
  • myricetin.
Foods high in flavonols include:
  • lettuce,
  • yellow onion,
  • curly kale,
  • leeks,
  • cherry tomatoes,
  • broccoli,
  • apples,
  • black or green tea,
  • black or red grapes,
  • cocoa,
  • cherries,
  • cranberries,
  • white currants, and
  • blueberries.
The fact cocoa is on the list means a little chocolate once in awhile is good for you, but it is not a license to go overboard on the candy. Chocolate confections are high in sugar and fat, and too much fat can contribute to developing diabetes, as well as other health problems.
Freeze grapes for a healthful snack; they then seem sweeter than they would at room temperature. Roll your frozen grapes in stevia for an elegant party food served in a glass bowl.
An apple a day could keep the endocrinologist away. According to the University of California in Davis, California, women who ate an apple a day had 28% less risk of developing diabetes than women who did not. Whole apples are recommended over apple juice because whole apples contain more fiber.
Lettuce is the main ingredient in most salads. Chop up some broccoli and yellow onions and a few of your favorite raw veggies. Serve with a sprinkle of dried cranberries or top with a cherry tomato.
Make sun tea with a bag of black tea leaves and two bags of green tea leaves in a transparent pitcher or jar of water. Place your container outside in the sun and bring it in when the tea is dark enough for your taste. Chill and add artificial sweetener if desired. Add a little lemon for flavor and vitamin C.
Make a fruit salad with the rest of the fruit on the list. Mix lemon juice, lemon zest, mint, and a tablespoon of honey together for a dressing
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. Changes include adding many of the foods containing flavonols mentioned above.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7938346

Type 2 Diabetes - Hair Loss and High Blood Sugar

One of the potential side effects of having diabetes is hair loss. There are a few reasons why this occurs and it may be either a temporary or permanent condition. It can depend on how well you manage your Type 2 diabetes.
Hair loss can be caused when your hormones are not properly balanced. However, it's important to understand unstable blood sugar is not the only cause of hair loss. It can be hereditary or you could have other health issues solely or jointly to blame.
If diabetes is the cause of you losing your hair and you return your hormones to a stable level, it should stop and, in many cases, hair growth returns to normal. If your immune system is hindered in any way, this may also lead to hair loss.
You need good blood flow and circulation because that is what your hair follicles rely on to grow new strands. If the follicles don't get enough blood flow, they will often stop growing and as well, new strands will not be produced. If enough follicles lose their blood supply, your hair will thin out and you will slowly go bald if nothing is done to stop this from continuing.
Type 2 diabetes itself isn't always a cause for hair loss BUT your reaction to receiving a diagnosis of diabetes can be a cause. For example, when you are first diagnosed, it's a highly stressful moment. Over time, if your blood sugar isn't well controlled, you may become very stressed, anxious and even depressed about your condition and these symptoms can lead to hair loss.
Because diabetics take longer to heal if they have cuts, bruises or wounds, this also leads to a reduction in the rate of hair growth because this is also considered part of your recovery rate. A typical person loses 50 to 100 strands of hair each day. If your hair loss increases and the re-growth speed decreases, it's easy to become thin on top, or go bald over a reasonable amount of time.
If you are concerned about hair loss, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor as there are ways to treat the condition.
If you don't eat enough protein, your hair can't keep growing because hair is made from protein. So, again, it comes back to your diet and the nutrition you require.
Other causes of hair loss can include:
  • cancer treatments,
  • pregnancy,
  • the birth control pill,
  • low iron levels,
  • certain medications,
  • some major surgical procedures (partly due to stress), and
  • severe infections.
If you are losing your hair and you don't have Type 2 diabetes or any other serious medical condition, it is wise you do visit your doctor because this could be an early indicator of Type 2 diabetes or another serious health issue. It's easier to treat a health problem in the early stages than later in the disease.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience, and this could include slowing down hair loss.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7945524

Type 2 Diabetes - Green Tea Dental Strips

Peridontitis, inflammation of the tissue holding the teeth in place, is a problem for many diabetics, and can often lead to tooth loss. Tea extract has been studied as a weapon to guard against periodontitis.
In March 2013, the Journal of the Indian Society on Periontology published an article from Halgekar's Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre in Belgaum, India:
  • catechins, molecules found in green tea, were applied to the gums of volunteers. Bacteria involved in causing periodontitis were significantly lower in population one week and five weeks after application of the tea extract.
From these results, it was concluded this type of tea extract could be used in addition to standard dental procedures in preventing and treating periodontitis.
In May 2013 the Journal of Medical Food reported the results of a study carried out by investigators on the Faculty of Dentistry at Laval University in Quebec, Canada:
  • extracts of green, black, white, and oolong tea were shown to inhibit growth of a bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, known to cause periodontitis. They also helped to keep the bacteria from latching on to cells in the mouth, inhibited the bacteria from making detrimental enzymes, and inhibited secretion of molecules involved in inflammation.
It has therefore been suggested tea extracts could be incorporated into oral care products to be delivered to the teeth and gums.
Researchers at Vishnu Dental College in India tested green tea extract in strips placed directly upon the gums. Their study, reported in the Journal of the Indian Society of Peridontology in March 2013, included 50 volunteers with periodontitis; half of the participant had diabetes:
  • these types of strips were placed onto their gums showed over 10 percent of the extract released within 30 minutes and the balance released by 2 hours. Both groups showed significant improvement.
From this information, it was seen extract strips containing this type of tea applied directly to the gums, could be a useful treatment for periodontitis in both diabetics and nondiabetics.
It will undoubtedly be some time before the dental strips are available commercially, but several extracts in pill form are available. It would be best to consult your doctor before beginning supplementation.
Green tea is good hot or cold. At http://www.health.com there is a recipe for minty iced green tea. It calls for fresh mint leaves, tea bags, agave, and fresh lavender leaves. There is a recipe for citrus-honey green tea at the website AllRecipes. It includes lemon zest, grapefruit juice, green tea powder, and honey.
The website CoffeeTea.about suggests making iced green tea latte with soymilk. Soymilk with calcium is also good for the teeth and other bones. From the same website comes a recipe for strawberry sencha fresca, with strawberries, lemon juice, honey, mint leaves and green tea. Foodnetwork.com suggests making iced ginger green tea with sugar (substitute) and sliced ginger. Drink healthy.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. Green Tea could make a difference.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7945590

Type 2 Diabetes - Can Reiki Treatment Improve Your Diabetes?

Reiki is a form of energy healing designed to bring your body back into the correct state of energy flow. It can be done as a hands-on healing or a distant healing, and both are as powerful as each other.
Here are some tips on using Reiki to improve your Type 2 diabetes...
It doesn't matter whether you actually understand Reiki or not. It can help you because it works with the natural energies within your body. As a newborn, your energies flow freely because you are young and full of life and energy, and able to heal rapidly.
It's different when you're older. As you age, your body starts to change. Fitness drops, moods change, diseases set in and the healing process doesn't work anywhere near as well as it did when you were very young.
Depending on how you are brought up, your parents can easily affect your way of thinking and your overall health. You may eat too much, exercise too little and lead a very sedentary life. These negative forces affect your body in many ways.
Reiki often helps with a range of medical diseases and problems including:
  • Type 2 diabetes,
  • sciatica,
  • the common cold,
  • muscular pain,
  • sinusitis, and
  • has even been known to cure AIDS and cancer.
Reiki does more than help you physically. It can also help spiritually, mentally and emotionally but you must be open to it or it won't work at all.
Reiki works on your problems by getting to the root causes which are nearly always based on emotional issues; either long-term or current problems. Because emotions are tricky to work with, it can take some time for the desired effects to be felt. However, some people feel its positive effects almost immediately.
If you have a Reiki session you may have different experiences, depending on your body and how it reacts, and also on how the Reiki master administers the treatment regime. It also will vary depending on how sensitive you are to receiving the healing treatment.
Because Reiki is natural, there are no side effects to worry about. It also helps reduce side effects of some medications... and it won't interfere with your other treatments. You can't become overloaded with energy because it works to balance your body's levels, so it simply harmonizes your "chakra" (energy) points which appear throughout your body.
While Reiki can't guarantee to cure anything, there have been some amazing examples of miraculous cures. You can learn how to do Reiki yourself and become a master, which means you can also perform it on others. You have nothing to lose by trying Reiki to help with your Type 2 diabetes and/or other health issues.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7945738

Type 2 Diabetes - Dealing With the Connection Between Psoriatic Arthritis and Diabetes

Being able to predict who is at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes can certainly enable many people and their doctors to plan accordingly: preventing full-blown Type 2 diabetes or, at least, controlling it early. In an earlier article we discussed psoriasis and diabetes. Now information is available from a study of psoriatic arthritis and Type 2 diabetes.
Investigators at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and other facilities in Israel watched many people with psoriatic arthritis for 21 years. Their study, published in the journal Dermatology Research and Practice in June 2013, included:
  • 549 participants with psoriatic arthritis, and
  • 1,098 individuals without the condition.
By the end of the study:
  • 15.3 percent of the participants with psoriatic arthritis, and
  • 10.7 percent of those without this form of arthritis,
developed Type 2 diabetes. The biggest difference was seen in women with:
  • 18.7 percent of women with psoriatic arthritis, and
  • 10.3 percent of women without this type of arthritis
developing Type 2 diabetes.
From these results it was concluded it might be a good idea to screen women with psoriatic arthritis for diabetes.
Preventing Type 2 diabetes and controlling psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can both be helped by achieving or maintaining a normal weight. Psoriasis and Type 2 diabetes are both associated with being overweight, and obesity. Keeping weight within normal limits puts less strain on the joints than forcing them to carry unnecessary fat.
Psoriatic arthritis can be diagnosed and treated either by a dermatologist or a rheumatologist. The definitive diagnosis of psoriasis is made by a skin biopsy. The arthritic component of the condition is usually diagnosed on the basis of medical history, physical examination, and sometimes X-rays, MRI, or blood testing for rheumatoid factor. It is a symmetrical condition that usually starts with stiffness in the fingers and can spread throughout the body's joints.
Screening for Type 2 diabetes is commonly performed with a blood test called the fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Blood sugar levels are determined after an overnight fast. If the FPG is at least 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L), it will be repeated. If it remains high, an oral glucose tolerance test or an HbA1c can be performed to diagnose or rule out diabetes. The glucose tolerance test consists of swallowing 75 grams of sugar and measuring blood sugar levels to determine how fast the sugar is cleared from the blood. The HbA1c measures the sugar in the red blood cells to determine the amount of sugar that has been in the blood for about the past 3 months.
Eating a vegan diet full of nutrients and low in fat, sugar, and carbohydrates is a good place to start prevention. Walking, swimming, bicycle riding, or performing some other type of aerobic exercise with the advice of the diabetic's doctor can also be helpful.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7947969

Type 2 Diabetes - Will The Natural Antioxidant Resveratrol Help Diabetes?

In layman's terms, resveratrol is a compound of molecules that comes from a specific seed-producing group of plants. It's also considered to be a form of antibiotic. So, what does resveratrol have to do with diabetes?
  • research has shown resveratrol can protect you from the side effects of eating too many calories.
  • it also has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • it's a powerful antioxidant and is also claimed to be a miracle drug that can fight the effects of aging, help prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, strokes, Alzheimer's and diabetes.
There is still much not known about resveratrol and the remarkable effects it appears to have. However, it has been undergoing testing since 1994, so it's not some "new wonder drug" that has just appeared out of nowhere.
This compound can help Type 2 diabetics in several ways. The first is by directly increasing your sensitivity to insulin. This is a "positive" because it may negate any immunity you may have started to build up.
It also activates a specific enzyme in the body called SIRT1 enzyme. This enzyme's job is to secrete insulin and is also responsible for how sensitive you are to insulin and to help improve that sensitivity.
When testing rats by injecting them with resveratrol, results included a drop in blood sugar levels and other related blood chemicals that are usually much higher in diabetics. This same study also showed this antioxidant appears to be comparable to Gliclazide, an anti-diabetic medication. This is good news because it's a natural "drug" so there shouldn't be any side effects
Resveratrol is one of the compounds in Resvinatrol Complete which contains several different antioxidants also, and is found in foods such as chocolate, red wine, raspberries, soy and pomegranates. This is said to be the most potent of all antioxidants ever discovered.
Resveratrol is also:
  • produced naturally by plants such as: cranberries, red grape skins, blueberries, bilberries and peanuts. Japanese people use it as a supplement after extracting it from Japanese knotweed.
  • works fastest when it directly comes in contact with the problem e.g. drinking red wine supposedly causes it to work faster but is definitely no reason to start or increase your drinking habits.
  • available as one ingredient in a supplement that contains many different elements that help to improve your health. As the different ingredients are all natural, it can't hurt you to take them if your doctor or dietitian recommends it.
Understanding the correlation between resveratrol and Type 2 diabetes is important because it may one day be extremely valuable for those with Type 2 diabetes or even people who have pre-diabetes as it may prevent them from contracting full-blown diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. Talk to your doctor about adding resveratrol to your routine.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7945776

Type 2 Diabetes - Bone Loss in Diabetic Women After Menopause

One health concern for women after menopause and their doctors, is bone loss. Without the hormones women have during their reproductive years, the bones can become thin and easily broken. Investigators at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran looked at the bones of women after menopause, women with and without diabetes, to determine whether having diabetes could also affect bone loss.
Their study, reported on in the Journal of Research in Medical Science in November 2012, included 200 diabetic and 400 non-diabetic women over 60 years of age. It was found the diabetic women had thinner leg and spinal bones than non-diabetic women. Among the diabetic participants, there was more bone loss in women with HbA1c scores of 7 or greater than in those with scores under 7.
These results therefore revealed osteoporosis, or bone loss, was more common in the diabetic women than in non-diabetic participants.
According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, United States, between 2005 and 2008...
  • 10% of adults over 50 in the USA had low bone mass in their spines only.
  • 22% had low bone mass in their thigh bones only, and
  • 17% had low bone mass in both their spine and thigh bones.
Among adults in their 60s...
  • 65% had low bone mass, and
  • 10% had sufficient bone loss to be diagnosed with osteoporosis.
The percent of patients with dangerously high amounts of bone loss continues to climb with age.
Information gathered by the International Osteoporosis Society shows that osteoporosis causes 8.9 million fractures per year worldwide. Worldwide, 1 in 3 women,and 1 in 5 men will have fractures related to osteoporosis. Hip fractures cause pain and reduced mobility, and can lead to nursing home admission and even death.
According to the Iranian study, preventing and controlling diabetes is likely one good way of preventing bone loss and fractures.
  • adhering to a healthful, low-fat, vegan, high nutritive diet,
  • getting plenty of exercise, and
  • prescribed medications
are all ways of keeping HbA1c levels below 7%.
Exercise is not only good for keeping down blood sugar levels, but it is good for the bones directly. Walking, swimming, and lifting weights with your doctor's advice help your bones to take on calcium.
You can take in enough calcium by eating plenty of dark green leafy vegetables and taking mineral supplements if your doctor advises them. Dairy products are often recommended for their calcium content, but their high protein content interferes with the absorption of calcium. Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption from the intestines. Mushrooms that have been exposed to the sun contain vitamin D. Exposing your own skin to the sun or taking supplements are other ways of getting enough vitamin D.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience. Vitamin D is helpful both for your bones and your diabetes.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7948002