Diabetes

Tips, Review and Information For Diabetes

Friday, November 14, 2008

India battles diabetes 'epidemic'

By Adam Mynott
BBC News, Chennai, India

The latest figures for the prevalence of diabetes are two years old and by common medical consent hopelessly out of date.

It is estimated that up to three million people die from the disease every year, and over a quarter of a billion people are affected.

Both figures are likely to be very short of the mark.

World Diabetes Day is on 14 November and all over the planet events are taking place to draw attention to the threat of what is described as an epidemic that is out of control.

Already it kills more people than HIV/Aids and the prognosis is grim.

India is the nation with most diabetics.

Officially there are 41 million Indians with the disease, but in Chennai, Tamil Nadu as many as 15% of the population suffer.

Elsewhere in the vast country, doctors report diabetes rates of between 9% and 14%.

So, even taking the lower of the two marks, it is clear that India, with its population of 1.1 billion, has upwards of 100 million diabetics and that figure is growing every year.

Diabetes causes myriad medical complications: heart disease, blindness, loss of limbs and death.

Nagabushan has little sight left. He can see light and dark and he can pick out a few shapes, but his vision has deteriorated very rapidly in the past couple of years, a victim of diabetes.

He has come for his monthly check-up on the mobile eyecare truck which has pulled into his home town, Shimoga, for the day.

Shimoga is in the heart of rural India in the southern state of Karnataka.

What worries the health professionals is that type 2 diabetes, which is the variety that is spreading so fast, is on a seemingly unstoppable rise in villages and rural areas.

Type 2 diabetes is known as the "disease of affluence"; it preys on people who, as they become better off, take less exercise and change their diet away from fresh vegetables and fruit.

Professor Ramachandran, a diabetes physician in Chennai says: "Of course people want to be better off. They want to have an easier lifestyle.

"But what many of them don't realise is that as they adjust their lives and become more sedentary and consume more junk food they are opening the door to diabetes."

Nagabushan noticed that his eyesight was weakening, and he started experiencing a loss of sensation in his feet - both classic symptoms of diabetes, but he put these down to advancing years.

He had never heard of diabetes.

Eventually he did go to his doctor, who diagnosed the disease, already at a fairly advanced stage.

In one respect Nagabushan has been fortunate.

He could never have afforded to travel for treatment to the nearest big city - Bangalore, six hours' drive away - but concerned doctors and healthcare professionals, backed by the World Diabetes Forum, commissioned the building of a truck equipped with some of the latest eyecare technology.

It tours round Karnataka taking eyecare to people in remote locations.

Nagabushan has been told that they cannot restore his lost vision, but they can stop it getting any worse.

In many respects it has already too late: Nagabushan's near-blindness has forced him to stop running a stall in the market from which he earned barely enough to keep his family.

He depends now on the charity of others.

In Chennai, KJ Thomas is at the other end of the socio-economic scale.

He is a retired professional and has had diabetes for 25 years.

He can afford to pay for treatment to keep it at bay.

He has been told that a changing lifestyle has probably caused his symptoms, but this puzzles him.

"I am not obese," he said, "and I get up every morning at 4am and have an hour's walk."

Mr Thomas's experience highlights the other huge threat to Indians posed by diabetes.

For reasons that doctors do not fully understand Indians seem to have an unnaturally high risk of contracting diabetes.

So if they stray just slightly into an unhealthy way of living they become very vulnerable.

The Indian government has plans to set up a public awareness programme to warn citizens of the risk.

Diabetes can be averted if the right measures are taken early enough.

Responding early has become critically important, because there are now signs that young people - even those in their early teens - are getting Type II diabetes.

Diabetes used to be a disease of the elderly and middle aged. If it gets a grip on the young, the outlook is very bleak.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Check The Level Of Sugar In Blood!

Killer diseases like hypoglycemia and diabetes develop due to sugar. Although sugar is beneficial in providing a temporary boost of energy, too much of intake can disturb the organs and glands that regulate blood-sugar levels. Even if you do not add sugar to your food, you are still consuming a tremendous amount of it if your diet contains a lot of prepared foods.

You must restrict the consumption of sugar to control your blood sugar level and stay healthy. If you wish to restore your healthy blood-sugar levels then you must refrain from all forms of sugar which includes sucrose, glucose, maltose, corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, barley malt, and molasses.

Here are some of the important ways that you can adapt to control blood sugar levels in your body:

• Try to consume more of the unprocessed sweetness of fresh fruits and sweet vegetables such as yams, carrots, and winter squash. This will be a good alternative and your craving for sugar will diminish.

• Refrain from the refined carbohydrates such as breads and pastas made from white flour and white rice. These are rapidly broken down into simple sugars in the body. Stimulants such as caffeine that strain the adrenal glands must also be avoided.

• In order to maintain and check the blood-sugar levels, it is advisable that you eat a diet high in fiber, especially soluble fiber. This slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and therefore controls the rapid rise in blood sugar levels. Soluble fiber also keeps the pancreas from secreting too much insulin. It does so by enhancing the cell sensitivity to insulin and improving the use of glucose by the liver.

• Try to include at least 35 grams and preferably 50 grams of fiber each day in your diet. You can also take one to three teaspoons of a fiber supplement with a glass of water twice daily before meals.

• Protein is also an essential element that helps in the proper functioning of the adrenal glands, pancreas and liver. It also acts as a substitute and prevents the cravings for high-carbohydrate foods. It is safe too as protein does not stimulate the release of insulin as do carbohydrates. It helps in controlling and stabilizing the blood-sugar levels.

• Another good way of stabilizing the blood-sugar levels is eating frequent small meals. Do not skip meals or stay empty stomach for more than 3 hours. Regular and healthy meals will help checking the blood sugar levels in the long run.

By: natishanel

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A Simple Guide To Diabetic Cooking

Diabetes is a very severe disease, but those afflicted with this condition can take precautions to perk up their health. Diabetic cooking is one way that people with this serious disease can improve their health. Those with diabetes do not have to bond to bland food if they have meals prepared with diabetic cooking essentials. Diabetic cooking should focus on healthy meals that are full of nutritious ingredients. Diabetic cooking does not have to leave out all the regular favorites, but it may need some exclusions. Diabetic cooking does not have to be very difficult. Following some basic rules should provide for healthy ingestion.

Healthy cooking involves choosing leaner cuts of meat such as low fat chicken and fish, while some other meats can also be chosen that do not contain high amount of fat. You could choose sirloin and round cuts when selecting your red meats and you should also ensure that you check and buy only meat that has low marbling and the fat content should also be trimmed off before cooking. You should also choose ground beef that is in so far as ninety-five percent lean when moving over to healthy cooking habits.

Diabetic cooking should have lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains for nutritious meals. Some superb planning should make for some delicious yet healthy meals for a diabetic. Good planning can offer for excellent meals that the whole family will enjoy. Diabetic cooking will be good for the diabetic member and great for all of the other family members too. Those people who follow the rules for diabetic cooking will probably lose some weight or sustain their healthy weight.

Diabetics should try to stick to a regular schedule for their meals and snacks if achievable. Each person with diabetes should check with their doctor about their condition and the eating requirements. Some doctors may advise that the diabetic lose weight although others will just have to eat nutritious meals all through the day. Those diabetics that need to lose some weight should obtain some suggestions from their doctor. Most diabetic diets suggest a set number of servings that include the major food groups.

Diabetic cooking should account for the carbohydrates in the meals during the day. There is information regarding carbohydrates on the label of each food product so this should not be difficult to calculate. A cautious balance of the carbohydrates in a meal will help those with diabetes. Plenty of starches are a good addition to keep a diabetic healthy. These can be included to the diet with cereal and bread. Most diabetics will have to cut out the sweets so people will want to think of some inventive desserts. There are so many fruits that can be a fantastic end to a delicious meal.

By: Cindy Heller
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Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Basic Cooking Tips to learn more about diabetic cooking.

Monday, November 3, 2008

General Rules That Surround The Diabetes Diets, What To Eat And What Not To Eat? Eat A Balanced Diet

The general idea of the diabetic diet is 'sugar-free'; however there really is no strict diet that diabetics must stick to so long as they make sure to manage their condition properly. Sugars must be eaten in moderation but can be enjoyed as much as any other food. There is no one diet prescribed to all diabetics, though there is general advice worth following. Above all you should try to develop meal plans that work for you as an individual.

So what general advice is given to those diagnosed with diabetes? Firstly you can try to eat more fruit and vegetables, which means at least five portions per day. This advice is recommended for anyone, but especially so for diabetics. You can try replacing your usual snack with a piece of fruit, or having fruit as a dessert after your main meal and adding more vegetables to soups, stews and so on.

Eating less saturated fat is also an oft-cited tip for diabetics. Foods that contain a high proportion of saturated fat include butter and other dairy products, meat and chocolate to name a few examples. To cut down on your intake of saturated fat try choosing lean meat and skinless poultry as well as making sure that any dairy products you do eat are of the low fat variety. It is also a good idea to cut down on fat in general which means choosing fat-free or low-fat sauces and dressings as well as using less margarine and oil in your cooking.

By: willyboy
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Remember that these rules are not set in stone and as long as you monitor your diet and eat different types of food (such as fat or sugar) in moderation you should be able to continue to enjoy those meals you love. You can receive free diabetic recipes each and every week for free when you subscribe to my newsletter. If you want to ensure you lead a normal life and can fight diabetes then i recommend this eBook to anyone who wants to star

The Pre-diabetes Prevention Plan To Lower Blood Sugar

Many people struggle to control their weight. However, while they are going on and off various diets, they fail to realize that they are also struggling to control blood sugar. Actually, the cause of blood-sugar problems may be weight problems, as being overweight and having blood sugar problems tend to go hand in hand. Too many blood sugar swings during the day tend to increase hunger jags, snacking, and overeating. When you overeat, you’re much more likely to add on the pounds, setting the stage for obesity, pre-diabetes, and full blown diabetes.

Sadly, both pre-diabetes and overweight have become modern epidemics that are out of control, with two of every three Americans being overweight and over 100 million people having some signs of pre-diabetes. Both of these illnesses are nutritional disorders that result from eating too many unhealthful foods. However, there is good news: you can reverse pre-diabetes and control your weight.

One can self-diagnose pre-diabetes by looking for the most visible symptom: being chubby or fat around the waist. Other clues are cravings sweets and starchy foods, not being hungry at breakfast, and feeling tired or mentally fuzzy after lunch. Many physicians diagnose pre-diabetes when a patient’s fasting blood sugar falls between 100 and 124 mg/dl. There are several dietary factors that significantly increase the risk of overweight. Some of these being: too many calories, too many refined carbs, especially sugars, and too many unhealthful oils.

The average woman needs about 1,600 calories and the typical man needs about 2,000 calories daily, but the average American now consumes 3,900 calories each day, making it difficult to burn off all these calories and causing the accumulation of body fat. Because most excess calories take form of refined carbs and sugars, which are digested rapidly, rapid or extreme spikes in blood sugar levels, elevated insulin levels, and bouts of hunger result, which stimulate low blood sugar. Trans fats, which are found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, interfere with the body’s processing of fats and often lead to weight gain. Most of these problematic calories are found in fast foods, microwave foods, and other types of convenience foods, which are all best if they are avoided.

Even though pre-diabetes can be scary, it’s actually an opportunity to improve your eating habits and regain your health. To improve your health you can emphasize quality protein, emphasize high-fiber vegetables and fruits, include grapefruit in your diet, use more vinegar, and add some cinnamon. Since protein stabilizes and safely lowers blood sugar levels, be sure to start each day with some protein with breakfast and eat a little protein with each meal.

Most veggies and fruits are rich in fiber, which helps to lower blood sugar, so opt for salads and steamed broccoli while avoiding crutons, potatoes, bananas, and pears. Despite the calories, eating fresh grapefruit can help in weight reduction. The acetic acid in vinegar can also help to improve blood sugar and insulin levels, reduce appetite, and help with weight loss. Adding cinnamon has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels. There are also several supplements that have exceptional value in improving insulin function or lowering blood sugar levels. These include lipoic acid, chromium, silymarin, omega-3 fish oils, vitamin D, and Pycnogenol.

You can also enhance the benefits of diet and supplements by increasing your physical activity as it helps build muscle and burn blood sugar and fat. Tackling pre-diabetes can not only reduce your long-term risk for health problems, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, but also can allow you to quickly gain more energy and feel less post-meal fatigue.

By: Darrell Miller-1603
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More information on blood sugar lowering vitamins is available at VitaNet ®, LLC Health Food Store. vitanetonline.com/

Diabetes: What Is The Tlc Diet?

A lot of people who have diabetes along with abnormal cholesterol levels are placed on the TLC diet. What this particular diet does is it reduces the intake of high cholesterol foods and promotes quick weight loss. Aside from its dietary restrictions, this particular weight loss plan also calls for an increase in physical activity. Here is a little more information on what to expect.

While on the TLC diet, the participant’s total fat consumption should be 25 to 35% (or less) of total carbs eaten per day. Saturated fats should be less than 7% of the total calories eaten in a day while polyunsaturated fats (such as that found in liquid vegetable oils and margarines) should equal 10% of the total calorie intake per day. Monounsaturated fats, on the other hand, should be no less than 20% of the daily calorie intake. Eating all of these fats in their required proportions reduces cholesterol levels and promotes quick weight loss.

The next step towards the TLC diet is the proper intake of carbohydrates. Carbs should equal 50 to 60% of our daily calorie intake. This particular diet also encourages the participant to consume a decent amount of fiber. The daily intake should be 20 to 30 grams. Fiber can be obtained through the consumption of many foods such as oats, barley, psyllium, and beans. Fiber is beneficial because it helps you feel full longer and it promotes healthy digestion. Another important part of the diet is lean protein consumption. It is recommended that protein equal 15 to 20 % of the daily calorie intake. And lastly, the participants should maintain the daily cholesterol intake below 200 milligrams. This is just a little bit of information about the TLC diet for diabetics. Usually your doctor will recommend this diet if you need to lose weight or reduce your cholesterol levels.

By: Lauren S. JohnsonArticle Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition. Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies, colon cleansing and weight loss products.

How To Eat Right With Diabetes?

If you or somebody you know suffers from diabetes you know how important it is to maintain a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet can help you attain quick weight loss, keep your blood levels even and maintain a healthy body. Maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important for diabetics because it prevents certain health problems from occurring, such as heart disease. With prevention in mind, here are a few nutrition tips to take into consideration if you are diabetic.

Tip number one is “eating a wide variety of foods.” If you are a diabetic it is often important to have a colorful plate. Do not eliminate any fruits, vegetables, or lean meats from your diet. You can also eat other sources of protein, such as nuts, dairy products, grains, and cereal. Tip number two is “eating the right amount of calories.” This means that you should eat a balanced diet which will help you maintain a healthy weight. Do not short yourself calories and do not exceed calories. Learn to maintain a healthy calorie intake.

The third tip is “choosing foods high in fiber.” The recommended daily intake of fiber is 25-35 grams. Some of the foods which are high in fiber include whole grain breads, fruit and cereal. Certain studies suggest that people with type 2 diabetes who eat a diet high in fiber can improve their blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The same idea goes for people with type 1 diabetes. Also anyone who is a diabetic knows how important it is to maintain a healthy weight and fiber can help you achieve that. Fiber is known to speed up metabolism and help you feel full longer. So as you can see a healthy diet is essential in order to attain weight loss and healthy blood sugar levels.

By: Lauren S. Johnson
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition. Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies, colon cleansing and weight loss products.

New Treatment For Diabetes – Great New Alternative For Diabetics

Treating diabetes is hard to do. You have no options except doing it otherwise your diabetes problem will get worse and lead you to the death. Surrender is not a choice and keep treating diabetes is an option that you can't refuse. If that so, it will be relieving if you now various ways to treat your diabetes effectively. I am sure that a choice of new treatment for diabetes will be so refreshing.

There is various ways to treat your diabetes but not all methods are safe to do for a long term. Of course, we always want to find the simplest and safest ways to treat our diabetes perfectly. The old fashioned ways is not safe anymore. Many people who taking pharmaceuticals drugs were complained for the unwanted side effects that come together with the cure. Doctors and specialists can't do anything about it. If you experienced the same situation here then it is good to consider more new treatment for diabetes in order to enhance your medication.

One new method that talked a lot is by taking cinnamon. Cinnamon is not only great for Danish pastries or bread but recent studies showing that cinnamon can work properly in reducing blood sugar level. This is not truly believable of course but another recent experiment showing that people who taking cinnamon for a month had successfully reduce their blood sugar level significantly.

How do you take the cinnamon then? Every time you make your tea, just add a teaspoon of cinnamon on it then it ready to drink.

There is another new treatment for diabetes available today. To replace unsafe drugs you can take herbal supplement. A natural herbal supplement that made especially to control blood sugar is a good decision. You can feel free from side effects since its natural components are tested and approved by FDA. There is a basic knowledge you should understand if you choose natural herbal supplement as your new treatment, you should know that the effectiveness of herbal supplement will not come instantly.

You need more time to let the supplement work for you. Now, if you find this article useful you can consider the new treatments as your choices. Various new treatments for diabetes still in the development phase and hopefully you will always stay in the front when it release to the public.

By: Jimbola
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
An effective diabetes supplement is Glycogone. If you serious to free yourself from diabetes problem then you can read more about Glycogone supplement at Glycogone review website.

Information About Diabetes, Prevention Methods And Treatment

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 you have Diabetes 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.

By: Greg Slevin
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