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The importance of normal blood sugar levels is related to the prevention of the complications of diabetes. If your blood sugar (glucose) level is not within the ideal or normal blood glucose range you can begin to experience short-term and long-term problems.

Short-term problems include high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Long-term problems include blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, impotence, nerve disease and loss of limbs. Nerve disease can affect the feet and legs as numbness, pain or a burning, tingling sensation. Loss of limbs is the result when amputations are needed because of poor circulation, infection or nerve disease.

Normal blood sugar levels depend on when the test was taken. A fasting normal blood glucose level is taken from a person who has not eaten for 8-12 hours. A person who does not have diabetes will have a normal fasting blood glucose level somewhere between 70 and 100 mg/dL. The goal for people with diabetes for a fasting blood glucose level is less than 110 mg/dL or in some cases 120 mg/dL. This is also the goal for normal blood sugar levels just prior to meals.

Blood sugar levels after meals, specifically 2 hours after one starts eating (2 hour postprandial blood glucose level), are less than 140 mg/dL in a person who is not diabetic. Poorly controlled diabetics will often have higher 2 hour postprandial (after meal) blood sugar levels depending upon how much carbohydrate they have consumed, how much insulin they are producing and how responsive their insulin is to the carbohydrate consumed. Other diabetic medications they may be taking and the effectiveness of that medication regimen are also an important factor in controlling blood glucose levels. Your health care team will help you set the blood glucose target range that is right for you. These guidelines apply to many people. Your target range may be higher or lower than these guidelines.

Another test your doctor may run is hemoglobin A1C (Hgb A1C) or sometimes just referred to as A1C. Hemoglobin A1C results give a number followed by a % sign. The test results of a person who is not diabetic will be less than 6%. Good control for a diabetic is often less than 6% as well. The initial goal for a diabetic person is to lower hemoglobin A1C to between 6 and 7%.

Hemoglobin A1C gives a 2 to 3 month perspective of what your blood glucose or blood glucose has been. It basically gives a 2 to 3 month blood glucose average. It gives it in a percentage based upon how many sugar molecules attach to the hemoglobin molecules (2 to 3 month life) in your red blood cells. That percentage then equates to blood glucose ranges. For instance, an A1C level of 6% is equal to a daily glucose testing average between 115 and 150 mg/dL, an A1C level of 7% equates to a daily glucose testing average of 150-180 mg/dL.

In summary, in a person who is not diabetic normal blood sugar levels are considered to be less than 100 mg/dL fasting or before a meal and less than 140 mg/dL 2 hours after the start of a meal. Blood glucose levels of diabetics can run too high causing short-term problems like hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Long-term complications can be serious and include blindness and kidney, heart and nerve disease.

Go to <a target="_new" href="http://BloodSugarLevelsNormal.org/blog/">Blood Sugar Levels Normal</a> to get <strong>free information on diabetes</strong>. This website will give you all of the information you need on this topic along with a lot of other diabetes related free information. Don't miss out on this new website if you are looking for more information. Find us at <a target="_new" href="http://BloodSugarLevelsNormal.org/blog/">http://BloodSugarLevelsNormal.org/blog/</a>

Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 07:00 | 0 comments
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Diabetes is a disease that is characterized by problems involving the hormone insulin. In healthy people, the pancreas releases insulin; insulin then works to help the body use and store the fat and sugar that is derived from the food that people eat. With diabetes, insulin can be compromised in a couple of different ways. In some cases, the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin at all. Other times, the body does not react in the right way to insulin – this is known as “insulin resistance.” Finally, diabetes is sometimes characterized by a pancreas that produces an insufficient volume of insulin.
There are three main types of diabetes:
• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes

Moringa Oleifera is a nutrient plant that can help to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Moringa Oleifera holds so much promise for those who suffer from diabetes. This is primarily because of its many amazing, natural benefits. Moringa Oleifera has been shown to naturally boost the immune system, which usually becomes compromised in those who suffer from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Moringa Oleifera has also been shown to possess many key anti-inflammatory benefits; diabetes often causes circulatory problems which can be managed through anti-inflammatory supplements. There are no negative side effects associated with Moringa Oleifera use, meaning that it is a safe, natural way for people to manage their blood sugar and care for their diabetes symptoms. It’s just one more option for the many people who have to cope with this serious condition
Moringa Oleifera as a rich source of ascorbic acid helps in insulin secretion. It is interesting to note that certain nutrients like vitamins B1, B2, B12, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, protein and potassium — along with small frequent meals containing some carbohydrate — can actually stimulate production of insulin within the body.

A female of 50 years old suffering from Type I diabetes for about six years. Prior she was treated with insulin shots averaging three times per day for diabetes, and tested with the result of normal range only 75% of the time during the blood glucose tests. After 30 days of taking the Moringa oleifera , she experienced improvement in her diabetes, and now she averages only two shots of insulin per day and requires 50% less of the fast acting insulin and 25% less of the slow acting insulin. After this, she makes a routine of using Moringa oleifera and now the lady registers normal blood glucose levels 90% of the time, in all tests..
Grenera Nutrients is an integrated Moringa company that deals with everything from planting the oleifera trees to selling value added Moringa oleifera products. Yelixir is the flagship brand of our company. Since we control every part of the supply chain, all our products are 100% traceable. Our Moringa oleifera trees are grown organically without using any pesticides. We process the Moringa oleifera leaves and pods under hygienic conditions and using a special process, which helps the Moringa oleifera parts to retain maximum nutrients. Grenera Nutrients is contributing a lot for the research and application of Moringa oleifera in various fields and we are also investing to increase the awareness of Moringa to the general public.
For further details and for the purchase of these value added Nutrient supplement visit www.moringaoleifera.com. For orders more than 50 USD we offer free shipping.

Avon Howard Jr. is a nutrition consultant and has been involved with the health food industry for more than 2 decades. He is a part of many research teams that has worked on the impact of various herbal extracts on the human body. His deep knowledge and vast experience of the health food supplements makes him the sought after consultant for many health food companies.

Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 07:00 | 0 comments
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Type 2 diabetes can cause a lot of health complications if it goes on unchecked. Without treatment, type 2 diabetes can be fatal due to the complications that arise from it. So a speedy diagnosis is of utmost importance here. However, sometimes the patient is ignorant of the symptoms of diabetes. Hence they go on without check ups until things get really bad for them. This should be avoided at all costs. This is why it is important to know the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

The possible symptoms of type 2 diabetes caused by high blood sugar level are as follows: -

* Increased hunger (especially just after you have finished eating).
* Increased thirst.
* Mouth drying out inexplicably.
* Urination occurring frequently.
* Unexplained weight loss, even though you have a good appetite and are feeling hungry as you normally do.
* Fatigue. You feel tired very easily, you feel weak.
* Your vision keeps blurring.
* You get unexplained headaches.
* You lose consciousness (this a rare thing to happen but it does happen).

If you think that you have any of these symptoms, you must contact your health care professional at once. This is a disease that is not to be trifled with. You will be putting yourself at a great amount of risk if you choose to ignore the symptoms.

If you are unsure about your symptoms, you should still consult your health care specialist. He will be able to explain to you the exact nature of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

The main problem with type 2 diabetes is that the symptoms either do not show up at all or they develop so gradually that the person cannot tell that it is happening. This is why it is said that many people who have type 2 diabetes do not even know they have it. This is what makes it all the more important to go in for a check up even if all you have are faint suspicions. In most cases, diabetes is only diagnosed when the symptoms show themselves fully. By this time, the disease has already progressed to an advanced stage. So catching it earlier on would be a huge advantage in your favor.

Here are the other symptoms that people suffering from type 2 diabetes might develop: -

* Cuts and sores take longer to heal.
* Person develops itchy skin, especially in the area surrounding the genitals.
* Yeast infections become more frequent. This is actually a direct result of the higher blood sugar level – yeast love sugar.
* Weight gain (yes, it contradicts the earlier list but it happens).
* Acanthosis nigricans – the skin around the neck, armpit and groin turns dark and velvety.
* Hand and feet feel numb and tingle sometimes.
* Your vision is worsened, meaning you have trouble seeing things.
* Impotency

So if you have one or more of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to get checked for type 2 diabetes.

To your health

Julia Hanf

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play The Diabetes Diet Game And Win. With this proven system you to can lower your blood sugar level and retake control of your health and your life.Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit Your Diabetes Cure.

Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 06:00 | 0 comments
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Diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body uses food for energy. Normally, the sugar you take in is digested and broken down to a simple sugar, known as glucose. The glucose then circulates in your blood where it waits to enter cells to be used as fuel. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose into cells. A healthy pancreas adjusts the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose. But, if you have diabetes, this process breaks down and blood sugar levels become too high.

Types of Diabetes

– Type 1 Diabetes
– Type 2 Diabetes
– Pre-Diabetes
– Gestational Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes are completely unable to produce insulin. People with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but the cells in their body don’t respond to it. In both cases, the glucose can’t move into the cells and blood glucose levels can become too high. Over time, these high glucose levels can cause serious problems and complications. Pre-diabetes means that the cells in your body are becoming resistant to insulin and your blood glucose levels are higher than they should be. Gestational diabetes appears in women with no previous history of diabetes, usually during the last half of pregnancy.

Diabetes Symptoms

– Frequent hunger or thirst
– Weight loss
– Dry skin
– Feeling tired
– Greater need to urinate
– Blurred vision
– Tingling/numbness in hands or feet
– Slow-healing sores
– Infections

How Do You Know If You Have Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes often does not have any noticeable symptoms, and you may not know that you have it. Regular check-ups with your doctor and some basic blood tests will help you find out early if you have the disease. Early detection helps you to get control of your blood sugars. If your blood sugar is controlled, then your risk for complications is greatly reduced. Diagnosis includes a blood glucose test and an oral glucose tolerance test.

Available Treatments

Medications are usually prescribed in addition to lifestyle changes. The medications work in different ways but their effect is to lower blood glucose and help the body’s own insulin become more effective. If oral medications are not enough, insulin injections may be used to help gain control of glucose levels.

– Medications – oral antihyperglycemic agents, injectable antiyperglycemics, insulin
– Blood glucose monitoring
– Keeping excess weight off
– Dietary changes – more vegetables and fruits, complex carbs and whole grains, fewer over-processed, fatty, starchy, sugary choices
– Daily exercise

Can You Prevent Diabetes?

Prevention is actually possible. If you have risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, it is possible to prevent the disease. Healthy eating, maintaining a normal weight and daily exercise will not only help you feel your best, but may greatly reduce your chances of getting diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes

Pre-diabetes means that the cells in your body are becoming resistant to insulin or your pancreas is not producing as much insulin as required. The blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a warning sign that diabetes will develop later. The good news is that you can prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes by losing weight, making changes in your diet and exercising.

Risk Factors

– Overweight or obese
– Sedentary lifestyle
– Family history
– Age
– Race – African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes
– A previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. It is believed that it may be a virus that triggers the immune system to attack the cells and permanently destroy them. The pancreas can no longer make the insulin necessary to transport sugar from the blood into the other cells of the body for energy. Sugar builds up in the blood and over time can damage internal organs and blood vessels.

A person with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin everyday to survive. They have to find the right amount of insulin necessary to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. The person with diabetes has to check their blood sugar levels often and then inject themselves with the correct amount of insulin to counteract the amount of sugar. This mimics the action of the pancreas.

Warning Signs

This can be an overwhelming process for the newly diagnosed person, especially since Type 1 diabetes typically strikes children and young adults, although adults age 40 and older, can get Type 1. The onset of the disease happens quickly. As the insulin stops being produced and the blood sugar rises, this causes hyperglycemia. Several warning signs appear. Increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, weight loss and blurred vision are a few of the most noticeable signs of Type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes:

A person with Type 2 diabetes has adequate insulin, but the cells have become resistant to it. Type 2 usually occurs in adults over 35 years old, but can affect anyone, including children. The National Institutes of Health state that 95 percent of all diabetes cases are Type 2 because it is a lifestyle disease, triggered by obesity, a lack of exercise, increased age and to some degree, genetic predisposition.

Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes:

– Obesity
– Poor diet
– Sedentary lifestyle
– Increased age – almost 21% of people over 60 have diabetes
– Family history
– Ethnicity – diabetes is more common in the African-American, Native American, Latino, Pacific Islander and Asian-American populations
– History of metabolic syndrome
– History of gestational diabetes

Complications Caused By High Glucose

– Neuropathy – nerve damage, especially in extremities
– Nephropathy – kidney damage, kidney failure
– Retinopathy – vision problems, blindness
– Cardiovascular Disease – heart disease and increased risk of strokes
– Erectile dysfunction in men and decreased desire in both men and women
– Depression

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects about 4 percent of all pregnant women. It usually appears during the second trimester and disappears after the birth of the baby.

Certain hormones increase during pregnancy, transferring nutrients from the mother to the baby so that the fetus develops and grows. Other hormones block the action of insulin, ensuring that the mother herself does not develop low blood sugar. To compensate, the mother’s insulin levels rise.

If her insulin levels cannot increase sufficiently, rising blood sugar levels will eventually result in gestational diabetes. Untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby. These complications may include:

– Macrosomia (oversized baby)
– Increased chance of cesarean section delivery
– High blood pressure during pregnancy
– Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in the baby immediately after birth
– Stillbirth
– For the child, risk of obesity and developing type 2 diabetes later in life

Risk Factors

Many pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes have no risk factors, but in others, risk factors may include:

– Being overweight or obese
– Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
– Age 25 or older
– Multiple gestation (twins, triplets or more)
– Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
– Being American Indian or Alaska native, African American, Asian, Hispanic or Pacific Islander

Diabetes Complications

– Diabetic Neuropathy
– Kidney Disease in Diabetes
– Heart Disease and Diabetes
– Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes
– Diabetic Ketoacidosis

More information including more details about all types of diabetes, symptoms, available treatments, complications and lots of useful advice here : http://everything-about-diabetes.blogspot.com/

author : imgenmk
site url : http://everything-about-diabetes.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 06:00 | 1 comment
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A Diabetic’s Guide to Understanding Glycemic Index

Beating Diabetes Without Meds
Diabetics are bombarded with discussion about losing weight and controlling blood sugar by utilizing the glycemic index or glycemic load. But that is of little help if you do not know what a glycemic index is. Most diabetics know that carbohydrates are somehow responsible for their weight gain, and contribute heavily to their blood sugar levels. The glycemic index, and glycemic load make understanding the relationship easy.
All carbohydrates are converted to glucose. The body will use some for energy, store some in muscle tissue and the liver, and preserve the rest in the form of fat. If you are diabetic, that usually is in the abdomen. Carbohydrates are converted at different rates. In other words, different carbs will convert to glucose and enter the bloodstream at different rates, and therefore vary in how much of a blood sugar spike you experience.
The glycemic index is a simple (comparative) method of rating food items, as to how fast they are converted and absorbed; indicating what type of blood sugar spike you can expect. A value of 100 is assigned to pure sugar (glucose or white bread), and all other food items are rated relative to that value. To determine a foods GI (glycemic index), ten healthy individuals are fed 50 grams of the test food item. Each volunteer will have fasted a minimum of 10 hours prior to eating the sample, and no more than 16 hours. Then every 15 to 30 minutes, for several hours, a blood sample will be taken. The data will show how quickly the food item (resulting glucose) enters the blood stream, how high the spike will be, and the rate of drop that follows. The data can be plotted on a mathematical curve and compared to other samples. The area under the curve is calculated. The resulting area is divided by the area for the control substance (glucose or white bread) and then multiplied by 100. The average value for the ten volunteers is then published as the glycemic index for that food item.
Since the average serving size is more representative of what is consumed, a value called the glycemic load has been developed. The glycemic index represents the quality of a food item, but does not take quantity into account. To correctly measure how a food item will affect blood sugar, the amount of that food found in an average serving must be used. For example: if a food item has a glycemic index of 75 (as compared to pure glucose), and the serving size is 6 grams, the resulting value is the glycemic load (the GI is expressed as a decimal = 0.75 X 6 = 4.5). That suggests that that particular food item is likely to spike blood sugar levels about 3/4 of that found in pure glucose.
The higher the glycemic load or index, the faster a food will enter the bloodstream and cause a blood sugar spike. Usually, these are foods that will spike your blood sugar level, then crash, causing drowsiness and listlessness. Likewise, if the food item has a low glycemic index, or load, the slower it will enter the bloodstream, and is less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar.
The glycemic load of common foods can be found in tables published on the internet. If a food item is not listed, it is probably because they haven’t found volunteers willing to starve themselves for 10 hours; eat 50 grams of some single substance (like chili powder); and allow blood samples taken every 15 minutes. Different sources will also give a different value for the same item. Likely, the average of the volunteers was different for different studies. The important point to bear in mind is that the concept is still the same. It is recommended that the glycemic loads for everything eaten in one day not exceed a total of 10.
Take note that the word healthy was in bold above. That is an important point. Diabetics will not react to food items the same way a healthy person will. For a diabetic it is very important to use the glycemic index as a guide. The general trends will be basically the same, however due to inflammation, diabetics are frequently more sensitive (have an increased likelihood to have glucose spikes) to some carbohydrates than a health person. Each individual should test various food items to determine his/her sensitivity to that food. Then make meal plans accordingly. Further, it should be noted that no meal consists of only one food item. Therefore, bear in mind that combinations of food items will alter the total for the day.
For related topics do an internet query search on the following articles: “Diabetic’s Guide to Modifying the Glycemic Load”, “How Excess Body Fat Contributes to Diabetes”, ” Why Diabetics Struggle with Weight Control”, “3 Keys to Diabetic Weight Loss” and ” What Diabetic’s Should Know About Carbohydrates” www.how-to-take-charge-of-your-diabetes.com
Beating Diabetes Without Meds

Thomas Nelson is a freelance internet researcher. MBA, Business Admin. BS, Business Admin. He resides in Central Florida with his family.
Crucial conditions exist in diabetics that cause and support the cycle of destruction that diabetes is known for- All play crucial roles in the progression of diabetes, and all are treatable if the diabetic takes specific action. http://www.how-to-take-charge-of-your-diabetes.com is the gateway to an ebook containing 350 pages of concise information that every diabetic should know.

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 at 07:00 | 0 comments
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Why Diabetics Crave SweetsWhy Diabetics Crave Sweets

Beating Diabetes Without Meds
No matter where you go, someone is always offering you things that you should not eat if you are a diabetic. Yet, we all, especially diabetics, find it very difficult to turn it down. We use the excuse that we do not want to offend someone. But, the fact of the matter is there is a very good reason for our craving sweets.
All diabetics, and 90% of Americans, are seriously deficient in chromium and four other crucial nutrients. When someone is deficient in chromium, they begin to crave sugar (sweets). The more deficient they are the more they crave. Unfortunately, if you eat sugar, or high glucose items (high glycemic index foods) the glucose will further strip your body of chromium, setting up a vicious cycle. As your chromium stores deplete, you crave more and more sweets, that in turn reduces the chromium levels.
Why is this important? Chromium is one of two nutrients responsible for aiding our body’s cells in absorbing and utilizing insulin. So, is it any wonder that a Type II diabetic is insulin resistant? The symptoms of a chromium deficiency are obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, anxiety and fatigue. Any of those sound familiar? Chromium is the pivotal nutrient involved in sugar metabolism. It helps regulate glucose levels and produce energy. It increases lean body mass and enhances the calorie-burning results during exercise. It reduces the LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Chromium repairs cell damage (glycation) caused by high glucose levels. It, along with vitamin C, reduces the buildup of pressure inside the eyes, a cause of glaucoma. And, it helps regulate blood pressure. So it should be easy to understand why chromium is so important to diabetics. It also explains partially, why diabetics have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, glaucoma and cataracts, heart disease, low energy, anxiety and obesity.
Unfortunately, chromium cannot be obtained from normal food sources, and the body does not manufacture it. Conglomerate farming has depleted the soil of chromium. Even many organic foods suffer from chromium deficiencies. Meat and seafood contain chromium, but only if their diet is rich in chromium. Most commercial feed is deficient in chromium. To further complicate the matter, diabetics have a reduced capacity for absorbing chromium when it is present. And, strenuous activity increases the excretion of chromium.
There is hope. There are some inexpensive supplements that can help rebuild the chromium stores. However, all nutrients have to be taken with other specific nutrients in order to function and be absorbed, or the effort is wasted. Steps need to be taken to improve the body’s ability to absorb nutrients and maintain balance. If the effort is put forth to reverse the deficiencies that prevail; if effort is put forth to restore and bolster the immune system; understand inflammation and how to regulate it; and a proper balance in diet is put into action; it is entirely possible to reverse the damaging effects of diabetes.
If you would like to learn more go to http://www.how-to-take-charge-of-your-diabetes.com. 350 pages of concentrated information that will guide you through the process of reversing diabetes. Learn what every diabetic should know about the disease.
Reversing Diabetes Without Meds

Thomas Nelson is a freelance internet researcher. MBA, Business Admin. BS, Business Admin. He resides in Central Florida with his family.
Conditions common to all diabetics cause and promote serious damage due to diabetes. They are treatable without pharmaceuticals. All diabetics need to know what they are and how to reverse them. www.how-to-take-charge-of-your-diabetes.com is an extensive compilation of research that every diabetic should know about his/her disease.

tomenelson@bellsouth.net

Thursday, December 4th, 2008 at 07:00 | 0 comments
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Your “healthy” diet could be diabetes waiting to happen
-Meredith Sobel, sobelwellness.com, for bettyconfidential.com

woman eating food

Diabetes affects one in 12 New Yorkers. Let’s face it: That’s more than a million people. I’d say that is a lot. I imagine you know more than 12 people? So, chances are you know at least one diabetic. Perhaps you are diabetic, or maybe a friend or a neighbor is. Diabetes is occurring more and more in children, and kids as young as 10 years old are being given diagnoses of what was once called adult-onset diabetes. Why is this?

Does it have something to do with our diet and our lifestyle? Perhaps. Let’s consider this:

Breakfast: bagel and low-fat cream cheese, coffee with skim milk and two sugar packets

Lunch: tuna sandwich on white, rye or whole wheat bread; a pickle; baked potato chips and maybe an apple

Dinner: chicken, baked potato, steamed asparagus

Snack: low-fat yogurt, such as Dannon Fruit on the Bottom, and 10 baby carrots or an apple, two to three Diet Cokes, coffee from Starbucks, maybe a skinny cappuccino or latte with sugar-free syrup

This is a great low-fat, low-calorie diet, isn’t it? It’s healthy! How could you possibly get diabetes eating this kind of diet? Well, let’s deconstruct it.

Bagel: usually made entirely with white or high-gluten flour. Half of an H&H bagel (for all you non-New Yorkers, H&H is a local bagel bakery) has 30 grams of carbohydrates. Not one of those carbs is fiber. Not one. The flour is basically going to turn into sugar in your body immediately. Seriously, tell me how often you actually have only one half? You know you are eating that whole bagel and all 60 grams of carbohydrates.

And what about low-fat cream cheese? I really hate low-fat dairy products. All they are is skim dairy with the fat added back, the oxidized, dangerous fat that raises our cholesterol. How is it possible that more research wasn’t done on this and we have foods on the market that are known to raise dietary cholesterol, and yet we still eat them (because we have drugs that will lower our cholesterol). So go on, eat your bagel and cream cheese, the drugs will save you, right? Wrong.

Now add a bit of stress to this situation, and you have already high levels of blood sugar and serum cholesterol. Add your bagel and coffee. Caffeine raises blood sugar again and overstimulates the adrenal glands. Oh dear, I don’t want to be sitting next to you on the subway.

Now, let’s move on to lunch. You have already had a carbolicious breakfast and now you are starving because that bagel basically became sugar in your blood fairly quickly. Also, your blood sugar levels probably raised and then lowered, and since you are now starving, you have a sandwich. More bread. Darling, unless you are having 100 percent whole-grain bread without yeast, you are just ingesting more sugar. Even if the bread is whole wheat, it still has white flour in it. That tuna is highly processed and probably from a farm or waters with a high mercury content. Also, unless you are making it yourself, it probably has high levels of mayonnaise and all kinds of other junk in it. Your snack of baked potato chips is equally high in carbohydrates that are high-glycemic. The apple is the healthiest thing in this lunch, except it’s probably from Washington state, and unless you live there, it’s probably been sprayed and stabilized. A better choice would be salmon with vegetables and whole grains such as brown rice. Steamed or sauteed spinach, broccoli or cauliflower would be a great side. You want to eat wild rather than farmed salmon whenever possible.

As for dinner, a chicken breast is usually boring, dry and has around six grams of fat. There are lean cuts of bison, venison, fish and even 100 percent grass-fed beef that come in at three grams of fat or less per four-ounce serving. Note that this is the proper serving size for meat at any meal. You are going to want to have fewer carbs at dinner to manage your blood-sugar levels and keep the higher carb meals to breakfast and lunch. Enjoy a salad with dinner or well-cooked vegetables and a small serving of whole grains or a sweet potato, if you feel as if you must have a grain. Limit desserts to after lunchtime meals. Have herbal teas in the evening to stave off the sweets craving.

The caffeine in your snacks is enough to destroy the adrenals and put them into a fatigue that might even shut them down completely. Besides, caffeine raises blood sugar. You really want to avoid caffeine if you’re a diabetic. Anyone looking to avoid diabetes should cut down on their caffeine. Really, have no more than one coffee a day, and switch to mineral water or diluted fruit juice -or just plain water. Also, the artificial sweeteners make you desire sweet foods even more, so stay away from them and, instead, rely on natural sweeteners such as agave nectar.

Sobel Wellness was founded by Meredith Sobel, MS (Harvard), BA (Columbia) an Integrative Health and Wellness Coach certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York, NY.

Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 07:00 | 0 comments
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If you have a risk for Type 2 Diabetes, OR if you already have it, then you simply cannot afford to leave this article without finding out how you can easily help prevent or manage it!
If you’ve noticed the news, Type 2 Diabetes is on the rise in the USA, and around the world, for both kids and adults. If you don’t have it, it’s not too late to take steps to prevent it. And if you already have it, there’s a new way to help manage it. Studies have proven the earlier you tackle any blood sugar problems, the better your chances are for success. It has also been made clear that losing excess weight can help ward off diabetes. If you could lose weight without being hungry, and if you could eat something that tasted however you wanted it to, would you do it?
Who wouldn’t answer ‘yes’ to that?
You don’t have to change your habits or start taking expensive pills. All you need are Chia Seeds. The Chia Seed, while not well known, is actually a Superfood. It was lost for centuries, ever since the ancient Aztecs used its super-nutrition for their armies. With the ability to keep people feeling full, and being 23% protein by weight, it isn’t any wonder they were able to conquer so many lands. Every tiny seed was a powerhouse of nutrition, vitamins and essential omega-3 oils.
How easy is it to use?
Chia Seeds are actually one of the easiest things you can possibly add to your diet. It’s as simple as sprinkling them onto anything you already like to eat or drink. Chia Seeds don’t have a flavor of their own. Instead, they distribute the flavors of food or drink that you add them to. This property lets them take on the taste of that food, or amplify the flavor of liquids. (Meaning when you cook with them, the food will actually taste better!)
For example, you could sprinkle them onto: breakfast cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, juice, milk, pizza, salad dressing, pasta, sandwiches:.really, anything that’s moist enough to get the seeds to stick to the surface:and you stay full much longer, from eating much less food!
It seems far fetched, how can little seeds do all that and more?
Get ready for a double shot of weight-loss benefits:
First:

Chia Seeds help you feel full longer, and you can actually watch the process work! Diet pills may ask you to believe they work, but MySeeds Chia shows you. If you take 1 tablespoon-full of Chia and add it to 9 tablespoons of water, stir, and wait 15 minutes, you’ll see that each seed has formed a big bead of gel on the surface and the water is now thick like a gelatin. Notice how much larger this solid form is? This is what happens when you eat the seeds. The gel won’t come off the seed easily, and is made of pure water. This feels like food in the stomach, but replaces calories with water (which has 0 calories)
Second:

Chia is a fiber-rich seed. It has soluble and insoluble fiber. In fact, you can literally SEE the fiber of the Chia Seed in action, if you place it in liquid. (it will form a big bead of gel around the seed) Fiber-rich foods are processed more slowly by the body. This is a great benefit if you’re trying to lose weight without starving! When foods process more slowly, you feel ‘satisfied’ or ‘full’ much faster than normal. This makes it easy to eat less at mealtime.
By packing in fiber, the food you eat is less calorically dense. The fiber fills you up, and performs its important roles in the colon, but ISNT absorbed by the body to turn into extra calories and fat. Insoluble fiber is not digested. It is sometimes called ‘roughage’ and helps to clean the colon.
But what about glucose? Glucose and insulin levels are important for preventing type-2 diabetes. Starchy foods, sugary drinks, and other modern-day diet options that convert quickly into sugars in the body spike insulin levels. You can give your system a break with fiber. Viscous fiber (that which appears like a gelatin) slows down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugars and helps normalize blood glucose levels. That means it’s beneficial to mix Chia Seed in with food you already like to eat.
Blood sugar naturally rises and falls through out the day. It can also be what makes you drowsy in the afternoon. Dips and spikes aren’t good for consistent, healthy energy. The slowing of conversion of carbohydrates into sugar has the ability to create endurance. Carbohydrates are the fuel for energy in the body. Prolonging their conversion into sugar stabilizes metabolic changes, diminishing the surges of highs and lows creating a longer duration in their fueling effects. Protein fuels energy as well, and the protein in chia is complete. Once again, a double benefit for you.

With Chia Seeds you can deal a powerful 1-2 punch against Type-2 Diabetes risk-factors: excess weight and insulin spiking foods. Of course, there are many other benefits to Chia as well, such as healthy omega-3 oils, micro-nutrients, a full range of b-vitamins and more calcium by weight than milk. If you already have Type-2 Diabetes, it’s important to watch your blood-sugar closely and ask your doctor about adding Chia Seeds to your diet. If you don’t have this problem, it’s not too late to stop it from ever hitting you. If you have risk factors, or, if you’re just looking for a way to feel better every day, and improve your health, you need to take action right away. You need Chia Seeds!

This article may be re-printed as long as it is kept unaltered and this resource box and all links are kept intact. "Going Green" and helping to improve the health of all people is a top priority for the author! You can learn much more about how the Chia Seed can help you with photos, videos facts and more at <A HREF="http://www.mychiaseeds.com/">Chia Seeds</A>

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 06:00 | 0 comments
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The Pancreas inability to produce insulin creates diabetes. Some of the most important foods that help to reduce blood sugar or stimulate insulin production in diabetics and discussed here. It is thought that this inability arises from an autoimmune condition.

Diabetes is characterized by a high level of sugar in the blood, as a result of defective insulin secretion, or insulin resistance. Although we tend to group all people with Diabetes together, the truth is that there are two different types of Diabetes that are similar in their elevated blood sugar, but different in many other ways. Type one diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, and young adults.

Basically the body is killing its own insulin producing cells. The symptoms of type one Diabetes are very obvious, frequent urination, increased thirst, and weight loss. The onset is usually abrupt, and severe. In addition, having type one Diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Treatment consists of intermediate or long-acting insulin , taken once or twice daily, with fast- or rapid-acting insulin injections taken at mealtimes. Type two Diabetes often develops rather insidiously, showing few or no symptoms.

The symptoms are similar to type one, however they develop gradually over time. This may explain why it often goes undetected at first. The cells of the body being resistant to insulin characterize the most common form of diabetes, type two. Some of the most important foods that help to reduce blood sugar or stimulate insulin production in diabetics and discussed here.

The Pancreas still produces insulin, however the body cannot use it efficiently. Type two usually develops in men or women over 40 years of age, characterized by obesity, and lack of physical activity. In particular, people who are an, apple shape, with lots of fat around the abdomen – are at greater risk of developing diabetes. Type two Diabetes runs in families, and is particularly common among people of African-Caribbean or Asian origin people. Beside from taking drugs, the person should also get into an exercise program and eat right. A dietitian can help make a good meal plan while the doctor can recommend the kind of workouts one will be able to engage in depending on the individual’s sex, age and weight.

Finally, having type two Diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, as type one. Unlike type one, type two Diabetes can usually be controlled with diet, exercise or medicines. If you suspect you may have Diabetes, it is important to see your doctor, especially if you fall into any of the categories previously mentioned. Discovering youhaveDiabetes is frightening don’t panic, people with Diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives. Eat right and exercise. It’s a simple prescription that will keep you healthy, whether you have diabetes or not. Diabetes is a growing problem. The person should exercise, eat healthy and take the right dosage of drugs to stop this from getting worse.

Answering questions from what is diabetes and diabetes symptoms to detailed information on diabetes supplies, diabetic diets, and detailed diabetes information; Diabetes Condition is committed to providing quality information on living with diabetes.

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 06:00 | 0 comments
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India leads all nations in reported cases of Type 2 diabetes, earning it the nickname ‘Diabetes Capital of the World’.





With over 40.9 million known diabetics, the International Diabetes Foundation predicts that within just a few years, that number may grow to 70 million Type 2 sufferers.





Contributing 16.7% to the total global diabetic population, India is struggling with the causes and remedies for this health care epidemic.





Most often cited causes are a growing acceptance of Western foods (high in fat and calories, low in nutrients), the growing acceptance of fast food, an increased computer literate population and automobile ownership, resulting in sedentary lifestyles.





The standard remedy for many of these causes is similar to recommendations offered to Western patients in other high diabetes populations, such as the United States – diet and exercise.





Most Indian physicians prescribe moderate levels of daily exercise for their patients. They also urge diabetic sufferers to reduce their intake of high fat, high calorie foods and change to a diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grain products.





Proper exercise and dieting are suggested, with varying levels of patient acceptance.





But an additional recommendation, drawn from India’s own backyard, may help Type 2 sufferers accelerate a return to health by helping them gain control over diabetic weight.





The ‘Magic Pumpkin’ is a name given to an indigenous Indian fruit found in the southern region of the country. Its technical name, Garcinia Cambogia, has been used for centuries, by ancient bushmen, to ward off appetites and hunger.





This purple, sometimes orange fruit bears a resemblance to the squash family and has been a folk medicine remedy, passed on from generation to generation, by word-of-mouth.





Several years ago, a large, California-based nutraceutical firm, decided to take this in hand apply modern scientific clinical methodologies to this ancient folk cure to see if it really worked.





Double-blind placebo procedures, conducted by reputable medical institutions at Harvard, Creighton and Georgetown University, put an extracted version of the Magic Pumpkin to the test.





After 90 days, modern science verified what ancient Indian bushman had known for centuries – the Magic Pumpkin worked!





These 3 month evaluations found that test participants lost 3X more weight than those who followed standard diet and exercise recommendations alone.





In addition, weight loss was attributed to fat, not muscle loss, overcoming a common shortcoming of other weight loss supplements.





Since completion of these clinical tests, the California ingredient manufacturer has made a high grade Garcinia Cambogia ingredient available to selected manufacturers.





This active ingredient naturally controls diabetic weight, and has been tested for safety, receiving the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) certification.





One can find more information about the ‘Magic Pumpkin’ from India, including clinical test results, on line. Nature supplies what the human body needs. Where else but in India.

Robert P. Tracy is the author of over 300 articles on diabetes. Tracy is a member of the team at Proven Results Health who is devoted to helping diabetics' live healthier lives through a program including safe, clinically tested natural herbal ingredients. Natural products like Diab-X that work to promote normal blood sugar levels, healthy body weight BMI, proper insulin function, healthy cholesterol, and normal blood pressure.

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 at 06:00 | 0 comments
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