Diabetes Care

2007-01-01T22:50:00.000-08:00

Leading the Hunt for Cancer Genes

MSNBC - But there's a group here working on diabetes, for instance, doing similar kinds of things to dissect the insulin pathway in cultured cells. What else is your lab working on? We're working with cell cultures where the breast cells organize into these Continue

Wisconsin State Journal - He specializes in the study of pancreatic islet cells, which make the hormone insulin and thus have important implications for treating diabetes. One day soon, perhaps next year, Odorico hopes to learn what factors cause stem cells - blank slate cells Continue

Pioneer Press - I use an insulin pump. The reservoir is good for three days. It's getting that routine down of swapping it out, keeping the insulin cool and having enough food and carbohydrates. "I'm going to put it in the river on Marine on St. Croix. Then, we'll go Continue

Seattle Times - The family of a diabetic woman who suffered permanent brain damage accused Medtronic Inc., a manufacturer, of selling an unsafe insulin pump and the University of Washington Medical Center of medical malpractice. The file was sealed in 2003 Continue

Slate - gum, patches or inhalers) during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy appears to slightly increase the risk of birth defects " compared to smoking. 4) Moderate alcohol consumption "appears to protect older women from developing type 2 or non-insulin Continue

HealthCentral.com - ACTOS (pioglitazone hydrochloride) is an oral antidiabetic agent that acts primarily by decreasing insulin resistance. ACTOS is used in the management of type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] or adult-onset Continue

Heart Info - Younger Patients Can Develop Poor Leg Circulation Certain risk factors put those under 60 in danger, experts say MONDAY Bubbles Predict Heart Attacks Better CPR Insulin For Heart Attacks Continue

Bismarck Tribune - Like carbohydrates, branched-chain amino acids require insulin to be transduced through the myocyte membranes, which, after a large meal, creates a competition among the amino acids and glucose for insulin, while simultaneously creating tryptophan Continue

13 WMAZ - Exubra is the first inhaled insulin. And Plan B, the emergency contraceptive, .became available over the counter, after much political jockeying. Paying for those drugs was a big focus, as the controversial Medicare part D first became available this Continue

dBusinessNews.com - While a hormone called bovine somatotropin is naturally occurring in all cattle, rBGH, or recombinant bovine somatotropin, is a synthetic hormone given to dairy cattle to stimulate milk production. rBGH works by increasing levels of Insulin Growth Continue

Alternative Sweeteners for Sugar Free Desserts

2006-12-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you crave sweet desserts? Have you ever felt like a sugar addict? Most desserts are packed full of sugar, and yet there is plenty of evidence that sugary desserts are not healthy foods.

You may decide to cut your sugar intake for a number of reasons:

- To eat a more natural diet - sugar is a highly processed food, and our hunter gatherer ancestors did not evolve to eat such a concentrated source of 'empty calories'.

- To assist in the control of your blood sugar - research shows that low sugar diets do help to control your blood sugar levels.

- To lose weight. A high sugar intake is a diet buster, regardless of which weight loss diet you try.

So how can you satisfy your sweet tooth without sugar? There are a number of strategies:

- Create desserts from fresh, unprocessed fruit, with no sweeteners added. Sugar free fruit salad is a classic example of this approach. There are a number of classic desserts that can be served in a version based on this theme, such as Ambrosia, Balsamic Berries and Minted Melon.

- Cut out desserts, or only serve dessert as a very occasional treat. Believe it or not, even the strongest and most demanding sweet tooth will eventually quiet down, if your sugar addiction is not being fed.

- Use alternative sweeteners. Which alternative sweetener you use will be influenced by your reasons for giving up sugar, and by your own taste buds.

Natural sweeteners include honey, and Stevia.

- Honey is still a very concentrated food, and should be used very sparingly, if at all, if your goal is to control blood sugar or to lose weight. However, honey, in very small quantities, does still have its place in a natural foods diet.

- Stevia is an extract from the leaf of the Stevia plant. It is intensely sweet, and only tiny amounts are needed to sweeten a dessert, so it's more suitable than honey for blood sugar control and weight loss. But there are a couple of catches with Stevia: It is approved as a supplement, rather than as a food additive, so you can only use it for foods that you sweeten yourself. And, depending on the brand, it can have a slightly 'liquorice' taste. It’s well worth experimenting with different brands, to find the brand most acceptable to your taste. Generally speaking, the white extracts have less taste. Oh yes, and watch out for the fillers! There's not much point in using a low-calorie / low-carb sweetener like Stevia if it's a brand that's packed with a high-calorie / high-carb fillers, so remember to read the labels.

Artificial sweeteners include saccharine, aspartame and Splenda. It’s worth bearing in mind that some people are sensitive to one or more artificial sweeteners, and report headaches and other side effects. Whether or not you use them is ultimately your decision. Many people have decided that when the only drinks available are artificially sweetened diet drinks or sugary drinks, that for them, the artificial sweetener is the lesser of the two evils.

If you're cooking with artificial sweeteners, read the label and avoid those with high calorie / high-carb fillers. But don't bother cooking with aspartame - its sweetness disappears with the heat of the cooking. This is why aspartame is mainly used for drinks. And it’s worth noting that if you'd like to reduce your artificial sweetener usage, but don't like the taste of Stevia, a combination of Splenda and Stevia is pleasantly sweet and virtually tasteless - somehow the Splenda 'smoothes out' the Stevia flavor.

Ultimately, it’s a personal decision which sweeteners or combination of sweeteners that you use, but with the range of alternative sweeteners available you can make delicious sugar-free choices.

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Diabetic Recipes

2006-12-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

Starting from now, I would like to include some recipes on this blog posts. Here are 2 recipes you can use for your daily meal.

DIABETIC DATE DAINTIES

2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. liquid sweetener
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. dates, chopped
1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. nuts
1 1/2 c. bread crumbs

Beat eggs, sweetener and baking powder. Add dates, flour and nuts. Stir in bread crumbs. Chill, then measure by teaspoon on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

------------------------

SUGAR - FREE CRANBERRY RELISH

2 c. cranberries
2 apples
1 c. orange juice

Grind together the cranberries and apples, using a sweet apple. (May also use blender). Add orange juice, chopped nuts and sweetener to taste. Refrigerate several hours before using.

------------------------

I hope you can get any benefits from the receipes above. Good luck and take care.

Exercise for Diabetes

2006-12-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels. Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin. When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance.

When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Inactivity alone is a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be controlled be an exercise program. Over 90% of individuals with diabetes have type II.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning an exercise program. When training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise.

An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.

Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.

As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.

2006-12-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Emisphere oral diabetic treatment shows promise

Pharmaceutical Business Review - Oct 31, 2006... The study met the company's objectives for both safety and efficacy.A dose response was observed for the active arms versus placebo in the diabetic patients on ... Continue

Trading Markets, CA - Nov 6, 2006... Included in this number were 840 diabetic patients. This meta-analysis showed that diabetic patients randomized to receive the Cypher ... Continue

Science Daily (press release) - Nov 29, 2006... in humans. It has also been discovered that the inhibition of GAPDH attenuates the diabetic disease symptom in model animals. The ... Continue

Deseret News, UT - Nov 22, 2006People with diabetes need to watch their diet, exercise and see their doctors regularly. They should also get a flu shot, according ... Continue

DG News - Nov 16, 2006LAS VEGAS, NV -- November 16, 2006 -- Patients with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME) who are treated with dexamethasone through an intravitreous ... Continue

Backpacking Light (subscription), MT - 20 hours agoIf you are looking for a gluten-free energy bar check out www.fionasgranola.com. They have 3 varieties made of quinoa--a grain with ... Continue

South Asian Women's Forum, India - Nov 8, 20068: Scientists at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine say that an enzyme called ACE2 may hold potential to treat diabetic kidney disease ... Continue

The Brunei Times, Brunei Darussalam - Nov 26, 2006A DIABETIC eye disease known as diabetic retinopathy has been identified as the main cause of blindness in Brunei, prompting calls from the Minister of Health ... Continue

Helps Diabetics Fight Back

2006-11-28T06:41:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the diabetes breakthrough that lowers blood sugar levels by 30% in 30 days? The all natural Diabetic Pack was developed with Nobel Prize Winning Science. This FoodMatrix biotechnology has a 4 year proven track record of helping take diabetics off insulin and oral medications.

Today, most people with diabetes are only treating the symptoms and not getting to the root of the problem. Furthermore, most medications given to diabetics are compounding problems instead of getting to the source. The best way to manage diabetes is to get to the root causes.

FoodMatrix nutrient biotechnology has been proven in over 80 clinical studies. Even the U.S. California District Court has ruled that FoodMatrix claims are valid.

The reason FoodMatrix works so well, especially for type 2 diabetics, is because it operates at the cellular level and addresses a key problem that every type 2 diabetic has. Your cells simply do not process blood sugar like they should and these nutrients help your body metabolize blood sugar more efficiently.

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2006-11-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

Holiday Gluttony Can Spell Disaster For Undiagnosed Diabetics

Hearty feasts and couch-potato marathons are holiday traditions, but UT Southwestern Medical Center experts warn that packing on pounds and not exercising could be deadly for the 6 million Americans who have diabetes and don't even know it. [click link for full article] Continue

Health promoters program launches in East Austin with eye on diabetes, obesity. Continue

The expression about something costing an arm and a leg is usually an exaggeration but when talking about the cost of ignoring a chronic wound, the saying becomes much more literal. Continue

Aggressive marketing of Merck & Co.'s new first-in-class diabetes drug Januvia has led to a strong launch, according to data compiled by ImpactRx Inc., a market research company that tracked new prescriptions written and free samples dispensed. Continue

Socioeconomic status may account for some, but not all, of the increased risk of stroke African Americans face, a new study shows. Continue

Symptoms Of Diabetes And How To Address Them

2006-11-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

Diabetes mellitus is a condition resulting from the pancreas' inability to produce enough insulin, which is needed by the body to help create energy. A deficiency of or ineffectiveness of insulin leads to high glucose levels in the blood, thus, leading to this illness.

Diabetes has two types. Type 1 Diabetes usually occurs in young people and requires frequent insulin injections, while Type 2 Diabetes is experienced by older people and is not as dependent on insulin. Majority of those who have Type 2 Diabetes have been found to be either obese or overweight.

Diabetes usually runs in the family, so it's best to know early on if you have it. The common symptoms experienced by someone who has diabetes include unusually frequent urination and hunger, constant thirst, rapid weight loss, tiredness, numbness in the feet and hands, recurrent skin infections, itching in private parts and blurred vision. When left unattended, diabetes could escalate to hyperglycemia, which develops from an excess of glucose in the blood, and leave the person temporarily unconscious, or, worse, cause severe infections, poor healing abilities, heart ailments and numbness from nerve damage.

The direct origins of diabetes, besides heredity, remain uncertain. However, several scientists believe that diabetes can also spring from an infection in the pancreas, a disorder in the autoimmune system and even from an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

When you notice the signs that possibly point to diabetes, consult your doctor immediately. You will be subjected to tests to determine whether your blood sugar is stable and if there is a presence of diabetes. Your doctor will then recommend an appropriate exercise regimen and diet to temper the effects of diabetes, or, if needed, prescribe medication.

People diagnosed with diabetes should avoid sugars and control the intake of fats, carbohydrates and salt. A life long low-fat, high-fiber diet is ideal. Regular aerobic exercise also helps maximize the effect of insulin treatments. Some studies show that weight management and a proper diet are often enough to keep those with Type 2 Diabetes in check and even prevent people who are diabetes-prone from developing the condition. In alternative medicine, herbs like ampalaya and banaba have also been used to help treat diabetes.

For persons with a history of diabetes in the family and are over forty years old, blood should be checked for sugar levels two hours after a hearty meal. This procedure should be done at least twice a year, as several people have been found to have had diabetes for years without experiencing any of the symptoms.

Sadly, diabetes cannot be cured. But it can be controlled with life-long treatment. Therefore, to combat diabetes, regular check-ups, a healthy lifestyle and constant vigilance are in order.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

For up to date links and information about diabetes, please go to: http://diabetes.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

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Preventing diabetes by eating right

2006-10-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

An ounce of prevention is always better than cure, particularly if diabetes runs in your family. But this time, people need tons of prevention to keep this chronic disease from further seeping into the mainstream not only of the American society but also of societies all over the world.

Diabetes has become so widespread that the United States spends as much as $100 billion a year for the healthcare of Americans with diabetes. Millions of people all over the world have diabetes. The sad thing is most of them do not know they have it until it is too late.

Diabetes is a devastating disease which can damage the vital organs of the body including the kidneys, heart and the eyes. While diabetes does not really kill people, it can result to more serious and complicated diseases. Diabetes may not kill people as a general rule, but it makes them lose their eyesight, and leads them to kidney and heart problems, and later on, death.

People with diabetes can survive the diseases provided they practice proper health care. Those who do not have the disease, but are in danger of getting the disease due to heredity, can avoid getting the Big D through proper nutrition.

Aside from heredity, the top cause of diabetes is improper diet. Modern man's propensity for leading hectic lives has led them into eating the wrong kinds of food. Man has become so obsessed with wealth creation and pleasure, that he has no more time to prepare a well-balanced meal. Thus, the modern man's diet consists of canned goods, processed fish, meat and vegetables that can be eaten immediately by just popping it inside a microwave. The modern world has convinced man to have a preference for refined food, from sugar to grains.

Most people who are healthy all their lives are getting diabetes and the culprit is the kind of food they eat, and our ignorance as to the nutrient content of the food we eat.

But there are health-friendly foods that are available in the market, one only has to learn how to recognize and eat them. It's just a matter of changing our choice of food, like preferring whole grains over refined grains such as brown rice, whole wheat bread and the likes. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat, sweet and oily food. It also helps to read the labels of processed food, to determine the amount of one's carbohydrate intakes.

Most people shy away from eating right because of the misconception about proper dieting. It is okay to eat certain kinds of food but you need to know how to eat them properly like knowing the proper number of servings, or the better way of cooking such food. If you find vegetables boring, then be creative in your food preparation. Differently-colored salads can encourage your good appetite.

If you can't resist oily food, then avoid going to fast food joints because seeing french-fries hungry people will just make your saliva drop and will make you forget you diet.

So how does one know that he already has diabetes? The common symptoms are frequent urination, fatigue and being thirsty all the time. Diabetes simply means too much glucose in your bloodstream. Too much glucose in the body requires more water, thus making you feel thirsty most of the time. With thirst comes an increased water intake, making urination frequent.

The other symptoms of diabetes includes an increase or decrease in weight, blurred vision, sores or wounds that are slow to heal and sometimes lead to infections and tender gums.

Obesity makes one at a greater risk of getting diabetes so it is also important to watch your weight. Those who have excess fat in the belly are more prone to being health risks. Weight gain or about 10 to 20 pounds, no matter how moderate, can also make one a candidate for diabetes.

Aside from eating the right food and watching one's weight, it is also good to increase one's physical activity. It does not necessarily mean you have to become a sportsman all of a sudden. Gardening, although a mild physical activity, can help you relax and lose weight as well. Try ball catching or ball kicks with your children, it is not only a good way to bond but is also a way to lose those extra fats.

Eating is such a pleasure, particularly if you know how to eat right.

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Diabetes: 5 Ways Hypnosis Can Help

2006-10-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is now classified as a worldwide epidemic. Blindness, kidney disease, impotence and many other illnesses are often the direct result of out-of-control or undiagnosed diabetes.

Fortunately, there are several ways hypnosis can help. See which one of the following statements applies to you or someone you know. (1) As a person with diabetes, do you ever feel stressed? (2) Are you the parent of a child with diabetes? (3) Do you wish that you, your child or spouse were more motivated to exercise? (4) Wouldn’t it be great if it were easier to make better food choices? (5) Is your diabetes causing embarrassing, personal problems?

Now, since a hypnotist is by definition, a stress management consultant and a motivational coach, all of the above challenges can be powerfully addressed by using hypnosis but please note the following: a hypnotist is only part of your diabetes support team. Always be sure to have your doctor’s approval before beginning any hypnosis program that can have any influence on your medical condition.

The primary method by which hypnosis helps a person with diabetes is by reducing harmful stress. There are two fundamental ways in which stress negatively affects a person with diabetes: (1) Stress robs a person of necessary personal power that is crucial in giving a person the emotional ability to make choices that benefit their health and well being. (2) As a diabetic’s stress levels increase, so does their blood sugar. This is due to the ‘fight-or-flight’ response that people experience as a result of negative stress. When a person enters this state of mind, their body releases chemicals known as ‘insulin-antagonists’. These chemicals temporarily block the action of insulin while simultaneously causing the release of stored sugar in the liver and muscles.

With the above understanding about the two ways that stress affects a person with diabetes, let’s see how that information, specifically point one (as point two is self-explanatory), then applies to the five problems listed in the second paragraph.

Regarding statement one it is obvious to anyone with diabetes that having that disease is very stressful. This harmful state of emotional affairs then makes it more difficult for a diabetic to follow their doctor’s recommendations. Also, when a person is in emotional pain, they usually reach for whatever makes them immediately feel better. This can be any addiction, though it is usually food and typically too much and not the kind that is good for a person with diabetes.

Looking at statement two, it can be noted that stress packs a powerful double punch for parents of children with diabetes. This is because first, the parent is stressed out caring for an ill child and second, the child has overwhelming stress because they are not as equipped as an adult to deal with the enormous responsibility of successfully managing their disease. The parent must also then have to deal with their child’s stress. This double-whammy makes it very difficult to achieve the kind of precise care that is needed for good child diabetes management.

In statement three, the fundamental issue is exercise. Since 95% of all persons with diabetes have Type 2 and since 90% of all those persons are obese, the implications for enhanced exercise motivation are all too clear. For example, it is well documented that many Type 2 diabetics have had complete symptom remission after achieving a significant reduction in weight typically due to exercise and diet improvement. Additionally, exercise greatly contributes to one’s sense of well being and this therefore becomes a positive motivational cycle.

Statement four addresses a concern that many people have, not just those with diabetes. “I wish I could just eat better!” is a familiar refrain. Again, as a hypnotist helps a person to reduce their feelings of stress, they can then help that person to strengthen their inner commitment to making better food choices. Please note that even a small reduction in a diabetic’s long term blood sugar tremendously reduces their chances of having serious complications later on.

Statement five refers to conditions that are difficult for most people to talk about. For brevity’s sake this discussion is limited to one very common embarrassing problem: impotence. Nearly 60% of all males with diabetes experience impotence. There are two concerns here: (1) There is a good chance that these people and their partners are feeling a great deal of unnecessary and harmful stress. (2) A male diabetic may choose to take a medication for impotence when that medication is inappropriate and quite possibly harmful. This concern is also relevant to those millions of men with undiagnosed diabetes.

In conclusion, a hypnotist can be an important part of a diabetic’s health care team because a person can be responsibly coached by a properly trained hypnotist to more effectively deal with the above mentioned issues.
Devin Hastings "Speak gently to yourself because your deep mind is always listening."

Devin Hastings
C. Devin Hastings is a Type 2 diabetic who had almost total vision loss due to diabetes twelve years ago. He now has 20/20 vision because he has applied the healing benefits of hypnosis as described above. For more information, please visit him at www.MBH4U.com or email him at: devin@MBH4U.com or call 612-730-2789.

Gestational Diabetes

2006-09-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before, but who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, are said to have gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnancies, making it one of the top health concerns related to pregnancy.

What is the cause of gestational diabetes?
While no-one really knows the true cause, there are some contributing factors that might increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. These factors include:
* Obesity in the woman
* A family history of diabetes
* Older maternal age (over the age of 30).
* Having had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
* A previous delivery of a large (greater than 9 pounds) baby .

What are the risks of gestational diabetes?
High sugar levels in your blood can be unhealthy for both you and your baby.
If a woman had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes have a greater change of developing diabetes, but there is also some other risks involved, such as macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth, or a higher risk for breathing problems.

Treating gestational diabetes
In most cases, gestational diabetes is managed by diet and exercise, and goes away after the baby is born. But because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, it is important to start treatment quickly. You should consult your doctor for special meal plans and scheduled physical activity.

There is no need to panic
While gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, the good news with the correct diet and exercise, you can keep your blood glucose levels under control, and give a healthy start for your baby.

Andrew Palmer maintains the website diabetesweb.net, an informational website on all aspects of diabetes. For more information visit http://www.diabetesweb.net

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Insulin; Vital Hormone

2006-08-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a small organ located behind the stomach with many vital functions. The islet cells within the pancreas secrete insulin.

What Does Insulin Do?

Insulin allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, which grab the insulin and convert it into energy. When the body detects an increase in blood glucose after a meal, the pancreas secretes insulin. The cells in the bloodstream grab the insulin, which activates receptors that allow the cells to absorb the glucose into the cell. Insulin is like a key, it opens the door of the cell to allow the glucose in the bloodstream to enter it.

Without insulin, the body can actually begin to starve, as the cells would not be able to absorb the glucose and convert it into energy. Over time, the build up of glucose in the bloodstream will also cause serious complications. As you can see, insulin is a vital hormone.

Insulin and Diabetes

In type 1 diabetes, the body generates antibodies that kill the betta cells within the islet cells, which produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics need to have insulin shots or use insulin pumps in order to control their blood glucose levels.

People with type 2 diabetes usually develop insulin resistance, where although the levels of insulin in the body are normal, the body cannot properly use the insulin, causing the glucose to build up in the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetics need insulin shots sometimes, but mostly treatment includes a healthy diet, weight loss and regular physical activity.

Types of insulin

Insulin is classified by how fast it begins to work and how long the effects last. Based on factors like your body’s natural reaction to the insulin, your lifestyle choices and your age, the doctor will determine which type of insulin is appropriate for you.

Types of insulin include:

Rapid Acting: Starts to lower blood glucose within 5 to 10 minutes and lasts 3 to 5 hours

Short Acting: Stars to lower blood sugar with 30 minutes and lasts 5 to 8 hours

Intermediate Acting: Starts to lower blood sugar levels within 1 to 2 hours and lasts 18 to 24 hours.

Long Acting: Starts to lower blood glucose four to six hours after injection and lasts 20 to 36 hours, depending on the type and brand that is used

Premixed insulin: Combination of intermediate acting and short acting insulin.

Conclusion

If you have pre diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance, it is important that you educate yourself as much as you can on your condition and on the important functions of insulin. Talk to your health care professional and discuss which treatment options and insulin types are right for you. Following the doctor’s advice and making the needed lifestyle changes will help you stay happy and healthy for a long time to come.

For more information on diabetes, insulin and insulin resistance visit http://www.yourlifewithdiabetes.com

Jesus Chirino is webmaster of Your Life with Diabetes, a website dedicated to providing free diabetes information and resources.

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Controlling Diabetes

2006-08-13T04:12:00.000-07:00

Diabetes affects 7% of the population of the United States, or 20.8 million people. Of this group only 14.6 million have been diagnosed, the rest have the condition but are currently untreated. In addition to these numbers there are an estimate 41 million people that are pre-diabetic. Approximately 1 of every 10 healthcare dollars is spent in treatment of diabetes, and still there were 224,092 deaths in 2002 in which diabetes was a contributing factor. It is estimated that there are literally thousands of deaths per year that are not reported simply because the individual had not been diagnosed with diabetes and died of heart disease, hypertension or other chronic conditions.

Can diabetes be controlled?

The research indicates that diabetes can be controlled with constant monitoring, using medications properly, maintaining and managing weight and routine exercise and good diet choices.

In order to control your diabetes focus on the things that you can control. Remember that sudden changes in weight or activity levels are problematic, so set a reasonable goal and work towards it slowly.

Weight loss

Weight loss of even five to ten pounds can really have a positive effect on managing diabetes. Try to make sure that you eat balanced meals at eat on a schedule. Avoid skipping meals even if you don’t feel particularly hungry, as this will make it harder to portion control at your next meal or to avoid snacks in between.

Remember that weight loss needs to be gradual. Avoid any diets that are “fad” diets or that will cause you to have very rapid weight loss. Usually these diets cannot be maintained and the weight will just come right back.

Exercise

Set a goal to exercise at least three times a week, with the idea rate being every other day. Exercise can be just a brisk 30-minute walk, cycling, swimming or weightlifting. Research is clearly showing the link between regular physical exercise and decrease in blood sugars, weight gains, and lowering your risk of heart disease or stroke.

Make sure that you have comfortable and well fitting shoes and socks for your activities. Check your feet regularly for any blisters, cuts or sore spots and immediately seek medical assistance if any are noted.

Work with your team

Use the advice of your diabetes support team, doctor, support group, therapist or other professional to help you realistically set goals and outcomes. Controlling your diabetes is an ongoing activity, and you will need to find a level of exercise, food intake and medication that work well for you. Discuss any concerns that you have with your medical professional if they are causing any discomfort. Remember that it is important to get information and notify your health care professional if you are planning to use any diets or exercise programs before you begin. Monitor heart rate or blood pressure when exercising, and avoid working out to exhaustion. Rarely does this accomplish anything other than making you stiff and sore and less likely to exercise in the future.

Controlling diabetes needs to be done with both medical interventions and personal efforts. Managing your food intake, weight, and levels of exercise will all work together to help control diabetes and minimize your risk of any complications.

Karen Newton is a registered nurse and acclaimed author with over 25 years of health care experience. Her newest book, Diabetic Diet Secrets, is an easy to follow guide to losing weight and getting control of your diabetes. Karen offers a free Diabetic Tips Course at http://www.diabeticdietsecrets.com/diabetictips.htm

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Diabetic Frozen Shoulder

2006-08-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Diabetic Frozen Shoulder. An Explanation of The Frozen Shoulder - Diabetes Connection?

Diabetic frozen shoulder is a major problem. The pain and limited function that it causes can seriously limit the normal activities of day-to-day life. Frozen shoulder is much more common in diabetic patients and this article aims to explore the nature of the Frozen Shoulder - Diabetes connection.

There are many ways that diabetes can affect the muscles and joints. Sugar sticks to the collagen in cells and affects its ability to function. Diabetes can damage blood vessels and a poor blood supply results in scarring and damage in the body's elastic tissues.

We know that some diabetic patients can have problems with changes in the gristle of their hands - and in men, the penis. Most experts think that diabetic frozen shoulder arises for the same reasons

Diabetes is known to affect the shoulder in several ways. Diabetic frozen shoulder seems to be the commonest - with up to 20% of diabetic patients developing frozen shoulder at some time or other.

Calcium spots in the tendons and muscle around the shoulder are also seen more commonly in diabetic patients - this probably relates to the fact that high blood sugars can impair blood flow through small vessels. Tendons are particularly vulnerable to this and respond by depositing calcium. These calcium deposits can sometimes be painless but often cause severe discomfort or limited movement. They usually show up on x-rays.

Slow healing and impaired nerve function are also common in diabetic patients and contribute to the fact that the frozen shoulder pain takes longer to settle than it does in other, non diabetic, patients.

Diabetic patients are much more likely to have problems with their shoulders than others. Insulin dependant diabetics are particularly at risk - with some studies showing that they are six times more likely to develop diabetic frozen shoulder than the rest of the population.

We don't yet really know why diabetic frozen shoulder problems arise but it seems to relate in part to how well each individual controls their blood sugar levels.

Textbooks tell you that all shoulder complaints are more common in diabetes but in my experience diabetic frozen shoulder is the most troublesome and most frequent. Diabetics not only get frozen shoulder more often than others but it lasts longer and is more painful for them when they do.

Some experts think that shoulder problems in diabetics are so common that they should be regarded as a complication of diabetes and not a coincidental event.

There has been a lot of research recently into the frozen shoulder - diabetes link but it is still rather unclear why diabetic patients get such problems with their shoulders. It seems to relate to the effect that diabetes and a high blood sugar has on the collagen containing cells in the body. Collagen is a protein that is involved in making ligaments, tendons and - of course - joint capsules.

Diabetic frozen shoulder eventually resolves itself in most cases but can cause a major problem with day to day function for those unlucky enough to suffer from it.

Dr Gordon Cameron is a specialist in joint pain based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is an expert in frozen shoulder treatment and in arthritis pain relief. Dr Cameron also specialises in the treatment of gout Dr Cameron has also created an electronic book on the subject of frozen shoulder. You can explore it and download a copy on his website by following the links to Frozen Shoulder above.

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Diabetes Symptoms

2006-08-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious diseases that is typified by having too much blood sugar in the body. These high sugar levels occur because the body produces insufficient amounts of the hormone, insulin or insufficient cells to be targeted by insulin.

Diabetes is categorized in different types, namely type 1 diabetes, type 2, type 3 and the one that is called gestational diabetes. Pancreatic failure is what helps doctors diagnose the type of diabetes that a patient has. The cause of a particular type of diabetes is usually identified during the course of treatment. The type of diabetes is sometimes hard to classify because there are many common symptoms for 2 different types of diabetes.

How would you know that you are suffering from this disease? Diabetes can easily be detected by testing the level of blood glucose. Diabetes has symptoms, however, the symptoms for diabetes is also associated with the symptoms of other diseases. Below are some of the usual symptoms that a diabetic experiences.

1. Urinating more frequently than normal, especially at night. People often neglect this symptom; they will approach their doctor only if this symptom gets out control.

2. Sudden weight loss. If you are not on a diet but you are constantly losing weight, you better consult your doctor about it. This is just one of the symptoms for diabetes but it can also be a symptom for other diseases, so you better visit the doctor to make sure.

3. Slow healing of wounds, especially in the feet and ankle area. This is the most common indication that a person has diabetes. Wounds that started as a small wound, for example, insect bite, could get worse after a few weeks, depending on the body’s normal healing capacity.

4. Blurred vision, lack of sensation on the skin and itching of the hands and feet are also a very important symptom that a person should not ignore. Persons who are suffering from this symptom should consult the doctor immediately to get their blood sugar levels checked. It is better to know if you are positive for diabetes rather than learn about it later when the situation becomes critical.

Everyone must take a blood glucose test, especially those who have history of diabetes mellitus in his or her family. Diabetes is a hereditary disease that could have been passed on in the genes your family for generations.

The symptoms for type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. The symptoms for type 1 becomes obvious in just a few weeks while the type 2 is extremely noticeable and they develop over a long period of time. This disease should be detected immediately so that the victim of the disease can get proper treatment to save him from having very serious complications.

Celia Nemart writes about family and medical issues on the internet, Celia is a dedicated to increasing awareness of Diabetes Symptoms and pregnancy in young woman

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Diabetes and Glyconutrients - Diabetes

2006-08-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

Today, most people with diabetes are only treating the symptoms. And many medications given to people with diabetes are actually compounding the underlying cause of the disease.

The best way to manage your diabetic condition is to address the actual cause. Doesn't that make more sense? So let's look at what type 2 diabetes really is.

The Simple Explanation

Other than the genes you inherited, there are two primary causes of diabetes:

1) a long-term diet that has been high in carbohydrates, and

2) nutritional deficiencies.

Your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar (glucose) which then enters your blood stream. The more carbohydrates consumed, the higher your blood sugar goes. In response, your body produces insulin. Insulin's job is to push the blood sugar into the cells so they can use it for energy.

On the surface of the cells in your body are insulin receptors, which act like little doors that open and close to regulate the inflow of blood sugar.

After many years of consuming a high-carbohydrate diet, your cells have been bombarded with so much insulin that these doors begin to malfunction and shut down.

With fewer of these doors open, your body needs to produce even more insulin to push the glucose into the cells. More insulin causes even more doors to close and as this vicious cycle continues a condition called "insulin resistance" sets in.

When your body can no longer produce enough insulin to push the blood sugar into the cells, type 2 diabetes develops. It is simply an extreme case of insulin resistance.

The key point for you to understand is that your energy, wellness and longevity are primarily dependent on improving the sensitivity of your cells to insulin -- how well your cells open and close the doors and clear sugar from the blood.

What's the Bottom Line?

Since type 2 diabetes is really a severe case of insulin resistance, the solution to your condition is to find a way to increase the sensitivity of your cells to insulin and help your body get the sugar out of the blood and into the cells so it can be metabolized and turned into energy. (This inability to metabolize sugar is one of the reasons why most diabetics often feel tired and fatigued.)

The Deadly Effects of Excess Insulin

Your "metabolism" is the food processing and energy production system of your body. It is made up of many extremely fine-tuned internal processes, and can be thrown off by even the tiniest of imbalances.

Insulin is the master hormone of your metabolism. When it is out of balance and your insulin levels are consistently elevated, a long list of deadly complications are created:

* Heart Disease

* Hardening of the Arteries

* Damage to Artery Wallsv
* Increased Cholesterol Levels

* Vitamin & Mineral Deficiencies

* Kidney Disease

* Fat Burning Mechanism Shutdown

* Accumulation & Storage of Fat

* Weight Gain

In his best-selling book, "Protein Power," Dr. Michael Eades wrote, "When insulin levels become too high... metabolic havoc ensues with elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, diabetes, and obesity all trailing in its wake. These disorders are merely symptoms of a single more basic disturbance in metabolism, excess insulin and insulin resistance."

Nutritional Deficiencies from Excess Insulin

Science has shown that excess insulin also causes your body to become deficient in many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. It's a proven fact that being deficient in these nutrients is directly linked to and a cause of high blood sugar levels.

Chromium

Chromium is essential to proper metabolism and maintaining safe sugar levels. Excess insulin depletes your body's chromium. In "Protein Power," Dr. Eades further states, "The insulin receptor, the structure on the surfaces of your cells that actually become resistant to insulin, requires chromium to function properly. Deficiency of chromium is rampant - it affects 90% of the American population - because a diet high in starch and sugar puts a heavy demand on the insulin system to handle the incoming carbohydrate load, and that demand depletes chromium."

Chromium is critical to blood sugar metabolism and, and as a diabetic you can be pretty sure that you are severely deficient in this nutrient. If you ever wondered where your "sweet tooth" and sugar cravings come from, now you know - chromium deficiency!

Calcium and Magnesium are also depleted by excess insulin, which can cause many problems, as they are critical to over 200 biochemical processes in your body.

Other very important nutrients that excess insulin causes
deficiencies in are Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vanadium, B Complex vitamins, essential fatty acids, and many more.

Now that you know how and why people develop type 2 diabetes and know some of the consequences of not controlling your blood sugar level, here are your choices:

You can continue on with what you've been doing...

Or you can research the science and testimonials surrounding
Glyconutrients.

Fortunately, your body has miraculous healing powers, is very
resilient and operates in a very intelligent manner. If you give it the right fuel and the right nutrients, it will respond very quickly. Some exercise and the right attitude also help!

The first step is to switch your body from an out-of-control,
nutrient-depleting and fat-storing machine into a clean, nutrient-rich, fat-burning machine!

To do this you must:

1) Restrict the carbohydrates in your diet, and

2) Take the right nutritional supplements.

These two actions are not optional or negotiable! Your body will only burn fat (and properly utilize nutrients) if its metabolism is balanced. Doing 1 and 2 above on a regular basis is the only way to address the root cause of your diabetic problem and balance your body's metabolism for the long-term.

Jason Carriere is an alternative health advocate and wellness crusader, specializing in glyconutrient education.

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The Profect Solution for Diabetics

2006-07-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

While genetics and environmental factors play a role, the exact cause of diabetes is as yet undetermined. However, one thing is precisely clear to those with this condition: eating right is vitally important.

Generally speaking, people with diabetes do not eat a standard "one size fits all" diet. Rather, they must adhere very closely to the healthy eating guidelines prescribed by their doctor.

However, these recommendations, which generally apply to the general public as well [iii], include principles such as eating a low-fat diet, and limiting calories from saturated fat to less than 10% of daily caloric intake. The recommendations also include eating complete sources of protein, and limiting calories from protein to 20% of daily caloric intake [iv]. It is worth noting that protein also plays an added support role in a diabetic diet, because protein can slowly transforms into glucose. As such, ingesting appropriate amounts of complete protein can help a diabetic manage blood-sugar levels.

At the same time, maintaining low blood pressure is of enhanced important for those with diabetes. As such, a diet that helps maintain a healthy body weight is essential, since high blood pressure is related to obesity and overweight conditions [v].

Diabetics know full well they should eat a calorie-smart diet that is low in fat, fortified with complete protein, and scores low on the Glycemic Index [1]. Yet quite often what is lacking is time to ensure that this diet is maintained.

Unlike individuals without diabetes who can, if they must, "snack" on unhealthy foods from time to time, persons with diabetes are well advised by their qualified doctors to ensure that a very healthy eating regimen is consistently followed. Yet following this regimen is indeed difficult; especially since so many foods in restaurants and vending machines are utterly devoid of healthy ingredients.

At most, one might expect to find some low fat options when eating out; but these usually have high calories, high sodium - to compensate for flavor lost due to reduced fat - and a high GI score. None of this is welcome information for diabetics.

Fortunately, a product called Profect has been medically engineered to provide diabetics with a practical eating solution. Profect, with its low Glycemic Index, contains absolutely no sugar. Therefore, diabetics do not have to worry about their blood sugar levels spiking after eating a serving of Profect.

As an added benefit to those with diabetes, Profect contains 25 grams of complete protein [2] -- and zero fat. As such, Profect can be eaten along with other foods to slow down the overall absorption cycle. Ultimately, this means that Profect can effectively reduce insulin spikes and the subsequent creation of fat cells; which, as noted above, can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure.

Yet perhaps most appreciated by diabetics is the fact that eating Profect is very convenient. It requires no cooking ability, nor the creation of a messy - and potentially poorly configured - health "shake" that might actually add too much protein to the system, and lead to adverse toxic buildup.

The fact that Profect is convenient may seem like something of a marketing "benefit", to be touted on a website or a package container, but the reason for this has nothing to do with marketing appeal. People with diabetes, just like most of the population, lead busy lives in which time is of the essence. Finding 2 or 3 hours each day to create foods is oftentimes unrealistic.

It is because of this need for a convenient and easily accessible food that Protica Research created the 2.7 fluid ounce container to protect each serving. These containers are extremely strong, easy to carry and store, and are deliberately suited for busy, time-starved lifestyles.

Dealing with diabetes is a reality that more than 18 million Americans face each day, and over the next 2 decades the rate of diabetes is expected to increase by almost 250% throughout the developing world [vi].

Daily - one might say hourly - some of the finest brains in science are searching for preventions and cures that will help millions of people diagnosed with diabetes to lead full, healthy lives. Aligned with this ultimate mission is Profect's eating solution for diabetics and healthy eaters alike.

ABOUT PROTICA

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

REFERENCES

[i] Source: "All About Diabetes". American Diabetes Association.
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp

[ii] Source: "Diabetes". Diet-i.com.
http://www.diet-i.com/diabetes-diet.htm

[iii] Source: "Diabetic Diet Questions". Anne Collins.
http://www.annecollins.com/diabetic-diet-questions.htm

[iv] Source: "Diabetes Diet". MedlinePlus.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002440.htm

[v] Source: "Diabetes". Diet-i.com.
http://www.diet-i.com/diabetes-diet.htm

[vi] Source: "Diabetes Cases Could Double in Developing Countries in Next 30 Years". World Health Organization.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr86/en/

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2 Diabetes Related Products Recommended

2006-07-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Truth About Diabetes 'The Natural Diabetes Solution'

In the Truth About Diabetes: The Natural Diabetes Solution, host Christine Sesten talks with Dr. Youngsoo Kim. In this informative and educational interview, Christine and Dr. Kim disucss the facts about Diabetes and break the myths and misunderstandings of Diabetes.
Buy this product...

A Promise Made, A Promise Kept: One Son's Quest for the Cause and Cure of Diabetes by Dr. James Chappell

Be prepared! What you will learn in this book can be life-changing. It was too late to help his mother, but its not too late for him to help you! Today, he wants to add YOUR NAME to that list Make the decision to benefit from his research.
Buy this product...

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Preparing Your Child and Family for Life With Diabetes

2006-07-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

After the initial shock of diagnosis wears off and we become more comfortable with administering insulin shots, scheduling blood tests and mealtimes, and carbohydrate counting we have a chance to look to the future. At that point it really begins to sink in what a long-term commitment parenting a diabetic child really is. We now understand we have been drawn into a different lifestyle that will last as long as we are parents. Even when our child is grown up and leaves home we will still be concerned and involved with the diabetes community.

If you are finding that you are having trouble managing your child's diabetes let me first share some statistics I found so you realize you are not alone.

35-75% do not follow meal plans all of the time

20-80% do not administer insulin correctly all of the time

30-70% do not record blood-monitoring level properly all of the time

23-52% do not provide adequate foot care all of the time

70-81% do not exercise adequately all of the time

Now that we understand how difficult it is to live with a chronic and potentially deadly disease, the question is how do we teach our children the reality of diabetes while still allowing them to be kids and trying to keep their lives as normal as possible. An experience that if you haven't run into you soon will is birthday parties. They are everything you need to avoid to keep your child's diabetes under control but they're also an important aspect of your child's life. With some planning you can have both. You can learn the specifics of this and many other situations you will face in my ebook "So Your Child Has Diabetes". The point is life and diabetes can go on together. Just as important, your child's friends learn about diabetes and talk about it. They don't discriminate, they include your child. We as parents need to be adults in these types of situations. We are the voices of maturity, reality and humanity. We are the ones who allow our children to talk about their disease and how it makes them feel as well as keeping them focused on self-care. We are the ones who keep the disease from overcoming our family. When you let your child talk to you about how they feel about having diabetes you will find your child has less emotional stress and better control of their blood glucose levels.

General family stress can greatly affect blood glucose levels. It's a delicate balance. When your child's blood glucose levels are out of control it can cause stress in the family and when there's stress in the family it can cause out of control blood glucose levels. You need to be prepared for these times. The Children's Hospital that treats my daughter has an excellent Mental Health Department. Other communities have a variety of services they offer. Make yourself aware of them and know where to turn before things start to get out of control.

One of the things that really surprised me was the difference in the way I perceived diabetes and the way my daughter perceived it over time. I found it easier to cope with diabetes as time went on. You get into a rhythm and your comfort level with treatment increases. On the other hand my daughter found that the emotional distress associated with diabetes increased as time went by. We need to be aware that just because we are better at dealing with diabetes it doesn't mean our children need less of our day to day care. A mistake I made was assuming that my 10-year-old didn't need me to constantly supervise her blood glucose monitoring. After she went on an insulin pump it was no longer necessary for me to administer insulin. She had been checking her own blood levels for quite a while. Even though she was checking her own blood, while I was giving the shots I was right there to make sure she checked properly and at the correct times. Once she went on the pump that wasn't the case anymore. I noticed that she wasn't nearly as conciencious when I wasn't there. This is just normal in the development of a child. Our children need us to keep them safe while they achieve these developmental skills.

In order to properly prepare our children for life with diabetes we must remember how we feel when we are ill. We hate it. Feeling lousy, unable to enjoy some of our normal activities. Imagine how this is magnified in our diabetic child. They never get a break. No rest from it, no vacation. No wonder they experience emotional problems. Never forget this. Our children need to know that we will always be there for them. They are not facing this alone. Listening to our children about their feelings is important but not enough. We also need to talk to them about what happens if they don't take good care of their diabetes. We need to be careful. We don't want our children to think that there is something wrong with them or to feel ashamed if their blood glucose levels aren't always under control. In this case children are like puppies. They respond better to reward for proper behavior that to punishment for wrong behavior.

Finally we need to realize that preparing for life with diabetes is an ongoing process. You can't control the process all of the time. Just take care of it one day at a time. With your help your child can understand this process of diabetes control and you don't have to become "that diabetic family". With preparation and awareness you, your child and the rest of your family can live healthy normal lives.

Author: Russell Turner is the father of a 10 year old Type 1 Juvenile Diabetic daughter. When she was first diagnosed he quickly found there was all kinds of information on the internet about the medical aspects of this dsease. What he couldn't find was information about how to prepare his family to live with this disease. He started a website http://www.mychildhasdiabetes.com and designed it so parents of newly diagnosed children would have a one-stop resource to learn to prepare for life with diabetes.

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Diabetes

2006-07-18T21:36:00.001-07:00

Diabetes is a medical condition in which patients will suffer from high levels of blood sugar. Because of this, they will not secrete the correct amount of the hormone insulin. There are three forms of diabetes, and these are gestational diabetes, type 1, and type 2. About 10% of all cases are Type 1, while 90% of cases are type 2. In type 1 diabetes, the islets of Langerhans will be destroyed, and this will stop the body from producing the necessary amount of insulin. Type 1 can only be treated by injecting insulin directly into the body. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the cells in the body becoming less sensitive to insulin.

Gestational diabetes may occur in women who are pregnant. It functions in a manner that is similar to Type 2, and a large percentage of women who get it will also develop type 2 diabetes. Insulin was first discovered in 1921, and has allowed doctors to treat the disease. It is a chronic ailment, and it has a number of complications over a long period of time. Patients who have diabetes are also at risk for renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and nerve damage. Many of these problems are rare in people who have blood sugar levels that are balanced.

Insulin is the main hormone that is responsible for the maintenance of glucose. When there is not a sufficient amount of insulin in the body, diabetes will often develop. When carbohydrates are introduced into the body, they will often be transformed into glucose, and this is the primary carbohydrate in the blood. Insulin is important because it will allow the various cells in the body to use glucose as a form of fuel or storage. In addition to this, glucose is responsible for transforming glucose into glycogen. Once the insulin levels begin to drop, glycogen will begin transforming back into glucose.

Many doctors work hard to educate patients on the different things they can do to keep their blood sugar levels balanced. Patients need to avoid smoking, high levels of cholesterol, and obesity. These are things that can make diabetes worse. Diabetes is a condition that was first observed thousands of years ago. However, effective treatments for the condition were first created in the 20th century. It was discovered that the pancrease plays an important role in the development of this condition. It was Grant Banting and Charles Herbert Best who first demonstrated that this disease could be treated by using insulin, and Grant Banting would go on to receive the Nobel Prize for this achievement.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes appear to be partly hereditary, but most people get this disease as a result of environmental issues. Type 2 has a much stronger genetic link, and people who have relatives with type 2 diabetes are likely to develop it themselves. There are a number of symptoms that are involved with this condition. Patients will often urinate frequently and have increased amounts of thirst. Their vision may also become blurred as well. Diabetes is a chronic ailment which requires both short and long term care. Patients must learn how to keep their blood sugar levels balanced.

About the Author:
Michael Colucci is a writer for Diabetes which is part of the Knowledge Search network
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Discover the Positive Effects of Exercise for Diabetes Sufferers

2006-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II.

Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels.

Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin.
When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension.

Inactivity alone is a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be controlled be an exercise program. Over 90% of individuals with diabetes have type II.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the
differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning an exercise program. When training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise.

An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.

Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.

As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

About the author:
Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

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Dispelling 6 myths about diabetes: How glyconutrients can help with your diabetes

2006-07-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

You are about to discover a scientifically proven nutritional supplement that boosts your immune system and gets your diabetes under control.

But before we get too far along, let's dispell with some "myths" about diabetes.

Myth #1 If You Have Diabetes You Will Always Be Sick No. Diabetics can lead ordinary, healthy and productive lives.

Myth #2: If it is in your family, you will get it too. No. Studies have shown that there is a genetic predisposition for diabetes, so if it runs in the family, it
should be taken as a sign that individuals may have an increased risk for developing the disease.

However, a risk does not necessarily mean that individuals are bound to end up with the disease. There are many preventative measures that can be taken in order to decrease risk, such as exercise, healthy diet, and weight conciseness.

Myth #3 You can catch diabetes from someone else. No. Although we don't know exactly why some people get diabetes, we know that diabetes is not contagious. It can't be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes. But environmental factors also play a part.

Myth #4 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, being overweight does
increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, so if you have a history of diabetes in your family, a healthy diet and regular exercise are recommended to control your weight.

Myth #5 People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate. No. You can have some sugar, but choose wisely. Sweets are no more out of bounds to people with diabetes
than they are to the rest of us, if eaten as part of a healthy diet, or combined with exercise. People who take certain tablets or insulin to treat their diabetes may
sometimes need to eat high-sugar foods to prevent their blood glucose levels falling too low.

Myth #6 People with diabetes can't drink alcohol. No. You can drink alcohol occasionally if you limit your intake. Just because you have diabetes doesn't mean you can't enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage. If you do, practice moderation -- no more than a drink or two a few times a week. Alcohol is full of calories and doesn't supply any nutrients. Like sugary foods, alcohol is best kept as an
occasional indulgence, and not a regular part of your diet.

Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). This sugar is vital to your health because it's your body's main source of fuel.

Glyconutrients are eight simple sugars that Harpers Biochemistry, (every Doctor’s biochemistry "bible"), calls "essential sugars". These are simple sugars or
"monosacharrides" that create cellular communication. They are responsible for getting your cells to "talk" to one another.

Today, there are over 350,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers on glycobiology available for Medical Professionals to review on the internet. Since 1994 there have been Four Nobel Prizes for Physiology and Medicine related to the discovery of these essential sugars.

The fact is regardless of what your wellness issue glyconutrients will restart your cellular communication. Cells are a basic building block of our physiology.

Healthy cells make healthy tissues. Healthy tissue makes healthy organs. Healthy organs make healthy systems. If your systems are working synergistically together and are healthy at the cellular level then you do not have a health problem.

So, it really doesn't matter whether your wellness issue is diabetes or heart disease or cancer or fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis or asthma: glyconutrients work for all the trillions of cells in your body.

What do glyconutrients really mean to diabetics? Well for one thing they cut right through both the numerous myths and standard facts of diabetes.

Glyconutrients will change how you deal with your diabetes. The natural change in your body’s energy after using glyconutrients will make a noticeable change in your overall health.

And that’s just the beginning...

About the author:
Lee Berlemann's FREE ebook titled, "Amazing Sweet Magic: Diabetics Discover Sugars That Heal" offers hope for you and your family's health challenges. Obtain your FREE copy at:
http://www.diabetes-and-hypoglycaemiahelp.com

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Protein Principles for Diabetes

2006-07-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Dietary considerations can present a Hobson’s choice in diabetes. Even when the intake is nutritious, assimilating it can be another matter. Then there is the problem of progression of diabetic complications if one ends up with excess glucose or fat in the system. Excess carbohydrates in a meal, and the resulting uncontrolled blood sugar levels can be detrimental to any number of tissues, from the lens of the eye, to the neurons, small blood vessels and the kidneys. Fat is also a problem with increase incidences of atherosclerosis, large vessel disease and cardiac complications. What, then is the appropriate macronutrient for the diabetic population? Enough medical literature exists to suggest that in diabetes, proteins are probably the best bet.

Proteins are the natural choice of the body when faced with diabetes. In uncontrolled diabetes, muscle protein is broken down into amino acids to be converted into glucose by the liver. If left to fend for itself, this can create a commotion within the body. Since proteins have to supply enough energy to substitute for carbohydrates, proteins are broken down faster than they are made. The body ends up with a protein deficit, a situation with subtle, yet far-reaching effects on normal body functions. Importantly, for diabetics, a protein deficit has been shown to impair resistance to infections (Ganong WF). Replenishing the depleting protein stores is a vital requirement of all diabetic diets.

Importance of proteins in a diabetic has been well documented. The American Associations of Clinical Endocrinologists have made it clear that not much evidence exists to indicate that the patients with diabetes need to reduce their intake of dietary proteins. The AACE recommends that 10-20% of the calorie intake in diabetes should come from proteins (AACE Diabetes Guidelines). It is in fact believed that this is one nutrient that does not increase blood glucose levels in both diabetics and healthy subjects (Gannon et al).

Nutrition therapy for diabetes has progressed from prevention of obesity or weight gain to improving insulin’s effectiveness and contributing to improved metabolic control (Franz MJ). In this new role, a high protein diet (30% of total food energy) forms a very pertinent part of nutrition therapy. One of the most important causes for type II diabetes is obesity. Excess body fat raises insulin resistance and higher levels of insulin are required to bring down blood sugars as the weight increases (Ganong WF). Another problem with excess fat is the clogging of arteries with atherosclerotic plaques that is responsible for a wide range of diabetic complications. Any mechanism that reduces body fat decreases insulin resistance and improves blood glucose control. Parker et al have also shown that a high protein diet decreased abdominal and total fat mass in women with type II diabetes. Other studies by Gannon et al. and Nuttall et al have verified that blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (a marker of long term diabetic control) reduce after 5 weeks on a diet containing 30% of the total food energy in the form of proteins and low carbohydrate content. It is speculated that a high protein diet has a favorable effect in diabetes due to the ability of proteins and amino acids to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas. Thus, a high protein diet is not only safe in diabetes, but can also be therapeutic, resulting in improved glycemic control, and decreased risk of complications related to diabetes.

The benefits of a high protein diet do not end here. Individual protein components of such a diet, when aptly chosen, can have other advantages as well. Dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein come highly recommended. Casein is a milk protein and has the ability to form a gel or clot in the stomach. The ability to form this clot makes it very efficient in nutrient supply. The clot is able to provide a sustained, slow release of amino acids into the blood stream, sometimes lasting for several hours (Boirie et al. 1997). A slow sustained release of nutrients matches well with the limited amount of insulin that can be produced by the pancreas in diabetes. A protein supplement containing casein can thus increase the amount of energy assimilated from every meal and, at the same time, reduce the need for pharmacological interventions to control blood sugar.

Whey proteins and caseins also contain “casokinins” and “lactokinins’, (FitzGerald) which have been found to decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive humans (Seppo). In addition, whey protein forms bioactive amine in the gut that promotes immunity. Whey protein contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine appears to enhance glutathione levels, which has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties -- antioxidants mop up free radicals that induce cell death and play a role in aging.

Thus, development of a protein supplement containing casein and whey can provide an apt high protein diet and its health benefits to individuals suffering from diabetes, obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

ABOUT PROTICA
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

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diabetes, diabetic, Diabetic Diet, diabetes mellitus, diabetic recipes, diabetes symptom, diabetes blog

Pre-Diabetes: "Check Engine" Warning Light

2006-07-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

Your car has an early detection system and so does your body. Take 3 minutes to read this article and learn how you can save yourself a life time of aches, pains, and costly medical bills.

Have you ever had the "Check Engine" warning light come on in your car? Most newer cars have a system that monitors the performance of your car. If something is not working properly, the "Check Engine" light usually comes on.

The good news is that this "pre-warning" system can help you avoid costly damage, which may be occurring with your vehicle, by detecting small problems before they become big problems. However, the only way to be certain is to have your car inspected by an expert mechanic when the "Check Engine" light comes on.

Did you know that your body has a "pre-warning" system?

With many diseases, your body will start producing symptoms such as aches, pains, fatigue, frequent thirst, and so on. These symptoms are your body's "Check Engine" light, warning you about problems.

However, with diabetes, pre-warning signs don't always show up so easily. The medical community is calling it: Pre-Diabetes.

Today, roughly 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes which left undetected and untreated, progresses into full-blown diabetes.

The challenge with pre-diabetes is the fact that the condition doesn't like to reveal itself with noticeable symptoms. Because there are few, if any symptoms, most people will not bother having screening tests performed. With pre-diabetes, noticeable symptoms like frequent thirst and urination may not occur until the disease has progressed and is already causing considerable damage to your body. Most Type 2 diabetics don't have symptoms because the onset of diabetes is so slow.

Don't wait for your "Check Engine" light to come on. Have your blood tested. Call your doctor today and make the appointment.

The goal with identifying pre-diabetes is to prevent the onset of diabetes from ever happening.

Your physician can determine if you have pre-diabetes with two common tests. The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Both require an overnight fast.

The good news is that you can greatly improve your odds and likely prevent diabetes with early detection and proper care.

Don't wait 'til it hurts. Ask your doctor about diabetes and have your blood sugar checked several times a year.

For more information about diabetes, including a Diabetes Quiz and a Free booklet, visit our website at:

http://hope4diabetes.com/info

This 20 page FREE booklet will provide you with in-depth information on comprehensive diabetes care. The 7 principles, or steps, will help you to understand, manage and diagnose your potential diabetes risk.

It could help you live a longer and more active life. The booklet is Yours absolutely FREE - No Risk! Share it NOW with the people you love and want to Keep alive!

David Anderson is a freelance health/wellness writer for http://hope4diabetes.com

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diabetes, diabetic, Diabetic Diet, diabetes mellitus, diabetic recipes, diabetes symptom, diabetes blog

How Does A Person Acquire Diabetes

2006-07-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is a condition where the body, or to be precise the pancreas, loses its ability to create insulin, the chemical necessary to regulate blood sugar levels. As we take in food, a substance called glucose enters through the bloodstream, and it is insulin's role to make sure that that glucose is carried to different parts of the body, in turn fuels us with the energy we need. Diabetes is often considered as a silent disease, much like cancer and nearly five out of ten people are unaware that they have diabetes.

So how did we get such a disease? A known fact about diabetes is that it can be hereditary, especially if a family member has a history of diabetes. Obesity is also one of the most common factors, leading to the lack of exercise and high blood pressure levels. US studies have shown that diabetes can also develop when a mother gives birth to a child who weighs more than 9 pounds.

There are two types of diabetes: The Type 1 diabetes inflicts mostly children when the pancreas completely loses its ability to secrete insulin. Common diabetic symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination and continued weight loss despite of excessive hunger. They begin to be insulin dependent and its dire results may also include blindness and amputation of certain limbs in the body.

Type Two diabetes is far more common than Type One. Its symptoms may include those of Type One, but its leading concern is that nearly half of diabetics may not be able to have such symptoms and the cause of hereditary diabetes to children. They are often considered as non-insulin dependents, in which an excessive secretion of insulin passes through the bloodstream, causing the body to develop a high resistance to the chemical. The end result would be the high blood glucose content, which can be treated with regular exercise and a high protein diet of starch and carbohydrates.

Sadly, there is no absolute cure for diabetes of any type. The only recommendation from doctors is to prolong life, making sure that they would still continue to live normally. In the US alone, nearly 200,000 deaths per year has been reported due to diabetes.

In order to cope with diabetes, it is important to maintain their weight and exercise regularly. Alcohol consumption can be regulated to its utmost maximum, better if cut out completely and smoking is an absolute health risk to both the lungs and diabetics. Regular visits to the doctor are an absolute must in order to check and make sure that their blood glucose levels are on tract. Family encouragement can also do wonders for those suffering from diabetes, helping them that there is always a way to surpass diabetes without the fear of death. It helps increase the quality of life among family members with diabetes.

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about diabetes, please go to: http://diabetes.besthealthlink.net/or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net

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Pre-Diabetes - The Calm Before the Storm

2006-07-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

Remember when the medical world identified pre-hypertension to better monitor your blood pressure? The new buzz: Pre-Diabetes concerns a similar condition pinpointing people who are at severe risk for getting diabetes. Because diabetes silently invades your body, early detection and corrective action are critically important.

The goal with identifying pre-diabetes is to prevent the onset of diabetes from ever happening.

How do you know if you need testing for pre-diabetes? Good question. The truth is- You may not know. It's our human behavior to wait until our body produces a pain or ache before we visit the doctor's office. With pre-diabetes, noticeable symptoms like frequent thirst and urination may not occur until the disease has progressed and is already causing considerable damage to your body. Most Type 2 diabetics don't have symptoms because the onset of diabetes is so slow.

Your physician can determine if you have pre-diabetes with two common tests. The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Both require an overnight fast.

The good news is that you can likely prevent diabetes with early detection and proper care.

Don't wait 'til it hurts. Ask your doctor about diabetes and have your blood sugar checked several times a year.

For more information about diabetes, including a Diabetes Quiz and a Free booklet, visit our website at:

http://hope4diabetes.com/info

This 20 page FREE booklet will provide you with in-depth information on comprehensive diabetes care. The 7 principles, or steps, will help you to understand, manage and diagnose your potential diabetes risk.

It could help you live a longer and more active life. The booklet is Yours absolutely FREE - No Risk! Share it NOW with the people you
love and want to Keep alive!

About the author:David Anderson is a freelance health/wellness writer for http://hope4diabetes.com

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Brief Overview Of Diabetes And Diet

2006-06-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

Diabetes has been around for centuries. There are presently sixteen millions diabetics in America, but eight million do not know that they have the disease. Today, diabetes is in third place as the cause of mortality, behind cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Diabetes is caused by a disruption in insulin production in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas when the level of blood sugar, glucose, increases – after a meal, most commonly. With the help of insulin, glucose moves from the blood into the cells. The cellular components turn the glucose into energy. When glucose does not enter cells, it stays in the blood and is filtered by kidneys which later eliminate it from the bloodstream.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when insulin in the body does not work as it should. Main symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, frequent and slow-healing infections including bladder, vaginal and skin. In men, diabetes may be accompanied by such symptoms as erectile dysfunction.

In order to timely recognize diabetes, everyone should be familiar with the different types of diabetes as well as with main symptoms of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a life-threatening condition which is less common. Those suffering with this type of diabetes need complete insulin replacement because the body does not make sufficient amounts of this essential hormone.

The most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. 90f all diabetes cases in the US are diagnosed as Type 2.

There is also gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy due to specific hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother.

Diabetes is often accompanied by obesity and high cholesterol and is a disease that often runs in families, so if one of your family members has it, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes too. Lack of activity, a diet rich in fats and processed products and obesity significantly increase your risk for diabetes.

Diabetes can be prevented and controlled by amending your diet. When we eat a product that is rich in sugar, the pancreas starts to produce more insulin to turn the sugar into energy. Saturated fat is transformed by the liver into sugar, which triggers the same response of pancreas – more insulin, more energy.

When the body doesn’t use this energy, it stores it as fat in the liver, on the stomach and hips. The more sugar and fat we eat, the more “storage space” our body requires.

However, when you switch to eating vegetables, cereals and other fiber-rich products cooked or seasoned with olive or grape seed oil, the pancreas does not need to produce any extra insulin. As a result, fat is not deposited in the body and the blood sugar levels remain stable. By avoiding sweet and fat-rich foods, blood sugar levels remains balanced which can delay the onset of diabetes and for those already diagnosed as diabetic can help them manage the condition.

About the author:
Kathryn writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information on Diabetes please visit http://www.understandingdiabetes.info and for additional articles on Diabetes http://www.understandingdiabetes.info/understandingdiabetes-articles/

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diabetes, diabetic, insulin, diabetes diet, Glucose

Diabetes and Exercise

2006-06-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Inactivity alone is a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be controlled be an exercise program. Over 90% of individuals with diabetes have type II.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning an exercise program. When training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise.

An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.

Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.

As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.

About the author:
Whether you are looking for renewed strength, energy and vitality in your life, drug-free relief from arthritis and joint pain, or wanting to make a difference in your financial future by becoming a MonaVie distributor, www.mymonavie.com & www.whatismonavie.com

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diabetes, diabetic, insulin, diabetes diet, Glucose

Products Related to Diabetes

2006-06-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

The Truth About Diabetes 'The Natural Diabetes Solution'

Classic - Single Function Pedometer (Records Steps)

Accurate and proven so in many validity studies. Far exceeds industry standards for accuracy.Includes a Walkers Daily 12 Week Log Book!
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NEO, Red - Single Function Pedometer (Records Steps)

Wearing a pedometer is like having your own personal trainer, providing immediate feedback on your activity level. Studies show that it raises both awareness and the actual amount of daily activity. It also makes it easier to set and achieve concrete goals toward a more active lifestyle.

Just clip the pedometer to the waistband of your clothing or belt close to the midline of your thigh in an upright position. Secure it with the loss prevention strap and youre ready to go! At the end of the day, record your steps and press the reset button to clear your steps for the next day. Its as easy as that!

Walk4Life pedometers consistently rank as top performers for accuracy, durability and ease of use and are the pedometer of choice for use in research studies. In fact, the accuracy of both the step count and activity time function have been validated in recent studies published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ASCM) where our pedometers not only met, but exceeded industry standards.
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The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

2006-06-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

(Marlowe and Company) Consumer text covers choosing a diet, role of exercise, daily blood-glucose testing routines and understanding lab tests, medications and supplements, networking with others, insurance issues, and traveling and socializing. Softcover.

Customer Review: Read this book first if you have Type 2 Diabetes

The diagnosis of my Diabetes Type 2 came less than four months ago. It came just 3 days after my dad entered the hospital. He suffered a heart attack; the next day, my diagnosis was confirmed, 5 days later, my dad passed away.

The urgency of my doctor, calling me at 6:30pm on Friday evening, as she was reviewing test results for several patients, struck me like a ton of bricks. I was in a hospital lobby, just having finished visiting my dad's bedside.

I sat down and explained my situation (as it had evolved since my office visit), and added that my girlfriend's dad was also in the hospital, having suffered a major heart attack. He would pass away 3 weeks later.

My Monday doctor's appointment would confirm the diagnosis. I had a fasting glucose level of 282. An in-office test (much like I now perform several times a day) showed a level of 410. These numbers were so high, that a cholesterol reading was impossible.

The education process had begun over the weekend on the Diabetes.org web site. I'd also purchased Diabetes for Dummies.

As many reviewers describe, the wealth of information and professional opinion is overwhelming and often, in conflict. It seemed to me that treating and coping with Diabetes is much like dieting. First, what works for me, may not work for you. Second, in dieting, if you're 50 pounds overweight (for example), losing the first 20 pounds is usually a snap. Losing the rest is not a snap, and keeping it off is tough.

This book comes from a solid perspective. It acknowledges the complexity, and reduces it to lay terms, as much as humanly possible.

When describing what internal emotions a newly diagnosed Diabetic might be feeling, it resonated with me. For example, I like my doctor's style. She listens. She looks me in the eye. We are able to have a discussion. She talks about the possibilities, and the different paths my treatment may take.

I asked her, flat out, 'Are you qualified to treat me, or should I being seeing a specialist?' Rather than be threatened, she clearly outlined where her expertise began and ended, and let me know under what circumstances she would recommend a specialist. This gave me great confidence.

Then, when reading the book, it was refreshing to see that my instincts were confirmed - seeing a personal physician that knows you can often be better than seeking a perfect answer from the ultimate specialist.

No matter how smart one is, the deeper you investigate the complexity of Diabetes Type 2, the more confusing it can become.

I found that this volume has a distinct advantage by focusing only on Type 2. For me, it has begun to clarify and help me understand what will be a lifelong challenge.

Needless to say, I highly recommend it.

Customer Review: Just What I Needed!

Just a few weeks after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes I discovered this book. As I was reading it I felt as though I had a friend helping me through the process of dealing with Type 2 Diabetes. It is a good resource that is easy to read. I feel more comfortable now after finishing Gretchen Becker's book. Thank you Gretchen for getting me on the right track.

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Tai Chi for Diabetes

2006-06-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Physician and tai chi expert Paul Lam has created a 77-minute tai chi workout with movements specifically chosen for those with both Type I and Type II diabetes. In the seven-minute introduction, Australian medical experts explain the disease and endorse tai chi, with its gentle combination of muscle-strengthening and relaxation exercises, as ideal for diabetic patients. Then Lam and his assistants begin a program of warm-ups, stretches, and qigong movements designed to improve energy along the meridians affected by diabetes. (Lam explains meridians as part of the Chinese concept of Qi--"life energy"--and how they affect the body.) They follow with both basic and advanced dance-like movements, which have such delightful monikers as "fair lady working at the shuttle" and "waving hands in the cloud." Lam includes a separate demonstration without instruction for those who master the movements and want a fluid routine to follow. --Kimberly Heinrichs
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Diabetes Recipes Book

2006-06-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook: Everyday Meals, Easy as 1-2-3

At last! This special cookbook puts flavor and choice back on the menu for people with diabetes and their families
Betty Crocker, America's most trusted friend in the kitchen, has teamed up with the International Diabetes Center (IDC)--one of the leading medical centers--to create an indispensable source of easy-to-make recipes and up-to-the-minute food and nutrition information for the growing numbers of people who have diabetes, more than 15 million of them.

Here is the first cookbook to include recipes featuring Carbohydrate Choices--the new, simplified approach to meal planning recommended by the American Diabetes Association. For people who find diet exchanges too hard, too limiting or too much work, this new method is a real breakthrough. Each of the book's 140 recipes shows the number of Carbohydrate Choices per serving, so that planning the rest of the meal is easy. From Old-Time Beef and Vegetable Stew to Creamy Vanilla-Caramel Cheesecake, the recipes are made with everyday ingredients, including sugar. No food groups or ingredients are left out, so there's no need for anyone to feel deprived or restricted to a special diet. Food exchanges are also included, making it easy for those who still count calories.

Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook is also packed with expert medical and nutrition tips from Dr. Richard Bergenstal, an endocrinologist and diabetes doctor, and two registered nurses--invaluable for the newly diagnosed as well as for those who have been coping with diabetes for years. Throughout the book, real-life advice from people who have diabetes offers inspiration and great ideas on dealing with this chronic disease. When it comes to eating and living with diabetes, people need guidance and advice they can trust.

Customer Review: The Best I've Found Yet...

My mom is diabetic, and I just felt bad because we'd always have food that she couldn't eat with us. So I bought this book. So far, the recipies that I've tried have all turned out to be delicious, and the whole family wants me to cook more. Not only are the recipies good, but it gives a little bit of information about the differnt types of diabetes and in the back it gives a sample schedule of what to eat and when. Anyways, I could go on, but the point is, this is the best book I've found so far with recipies for diabetic people. And the whole family loves the food as well.

I did like the author's suggestion about reducing caffeine intake. I've been off coffee after my doctor told me it caused me acid indigestion. He recommended a book called "The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote it Deceive us and What We Can Do About It. Highly Recommended..

Customer Review: Practical and Educational

I am surprised by the ingredients used in this book. I always thought that as a diabetic I must avoid most carbohydrates. It is helpful to also have some medical advice included in the cookbook. Advice from people who have diabetes offers inspiration and great ideas on dealing with this chronic disease. Another great book that I suggest for all diabetics is "Cure the Incurable". It does contain a wealth of information on diabetes and other incurable diseases. I think it is a very good addition to Diabetes Cookbook. As the author states at his website StartHealthyLife : "Educate yourself before you medicate yourself!"

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The Profect Solution for Diabetics

2006-06-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Diabetes, which affects more than 6% of the US population or over 18,000,000 people [i], is diagnosed when the body is not creating or effectively utilizing the hormone called insulin. As a result, much-needed energy from sugar, starch, and other sources are not being exploited as effectively as they should. This can lead to severe adverse health consequences, including nerve, ocular, and kidney problems [ii].

While genetics and environmental factors play a role, the exact cause of diabetes is as yet undetermined. However, one thing is precisely clear to those with this condition: eating right is vitally important.

Generally speaking, people with diabetes do not eat a standard “one size fits all” diet. Rather, they must adhere very closely to the healthy eating guidelines prescribed by their doctor.

However, these recommendations, which generally apply to the general public as well [iii], include principles such as eating a low-fat diet, and limiting calories from saturated fat to less than 10% of daily caloric intake. The recommendations also include eating complete sources of protein, and limiting calories from protein to 20% of daily caloric intake [iv]. It is worth noting that protein also plays an added support role in a diabetic diet, because protein can slowly transforms into glucose. As such, ingesting appropriate amounts of complete protein can help a diabetic manage blood-sugar levels.

At the same time, maintaining low blood pressure is of enhanced important for those with diabetes. As such, a diet that helps maintain a healthy body weight is essential, since high blood pressure is related to obesity and overweight conditions [v].

Diabetics know full well they should eat a calorie-smart diet that is low in fat, fortified with complete protein, and scores low on the Glycemic Index [1]. Yet quite often what is lacking is time to ensure that this diet is maintained.

Unlike individuals without diabetes who can, if they must, “snack” on unhealthy foods from time to time, persons with diabetes are well advised by their qualified doctors to ensure that a very healthy eating regimen is consistently followed. Yet following this regimen is indeed difficult; especially since so many foods in restaurants and vending machines are utterly devoid of healthy ingredients.

At most, one might expect to find some low fat options when eating out; but these usually have high calories, high sodium – to compensate for flavor lost due to reduced fat – and a high GI score. None of this is welcome information for diabetics.

Fortunately, a product called Profect has been medically engineered to provide diabetics with a practical eating solution. Profect, with its low Glycemic Index, contains absolutely no sugar. Therefore, diabetics do not have to worry about their blood sugar levels spiking after eating a serving of Profect.

As an added benefit to those with diabetes, Profect contains 25 grams of complete protein [2] -- and zero fat. As such, Profect can be eaten along with other foods to slow down the overall absorption cycle. Ultimately, this means that Profect can effectively reduce insulin spikes and the subsequent creation of fat cells; which, as noted above, can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure.

Yet perhaps most appreciated by diabetics is the fact that eating Profect is very convenient. It requires no cooking ability, nor the creation of a messy – and potentially poorly configured – health “shake” that might actually add too much protein to the system, and lead to adverse toxic buildup.

The fact that Profect is convenient may seem like something of a marketing “benefit”, to be touted on a website or a package container, but the reason for this has nothing to do with marketing appeal. People with diabetes, just like most of the population, lead busy lives in which time is of the essence. Finding 2 or 3 hours each day to create foods is oftentimes unrealistic.

It is because of this need for a convenient and easily accessible food that Protica Research created the 2.7 fluid ounce container to protect each serving. These containers are extremely strong, easy to carry and store, and are deliberately suited for busy, time-starved lifestyles.

Dealing with diabetes is a reality that more than 18 million Americans face each day, and over the next 2 decades the rate of diabetes is expected to increase by almost 250% throughout the developing world [vi].

Daily – one might say hourly – some of the finest brains in science are searching for preventions and cures that will help millions of people diagnosed with diabetes to lead full, healthy lives. Aligned with this ultimate mission is Profect’s eating solution for diabetics and healthy eaters alike.

ABOUT PROTICA

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

Copyright - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

REFERENCES

[i] Source: “All About Diabetes”. American Diabetes Association.
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp

[ii] Source: “Diabetes”. Diet-i.com.
http://www.diet-i.com/diabetes-diet.htm

[iii] Source: “Diabetic Diet Questions”. Anne Collins.
http://www.annecollins.com/diabetic-diet-questions.htm

[iv] Source: “Diabetes Diet”. MedlinePlus.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002440.htm

[v] Source: “Diabetes”. Diet-i.com.
http://www.diet-i.com/diabetes-diet.htm

[vi] Source: “Diabetes Cases Could Double in Developing Countries in Next 30 Years”. World Health Organization.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr86/en/

About the author:
About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

Top 7 Ways that Exercise Helps Diabetics

2006-06-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

Exercise is an important tool in managing your diabetes in order to live a longer, healthier life.

1. Exercise increase insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The key problem of Type 2 diabetics is insulin insensitivity, or insulin resistance. By exercising you can improve how well your insulin works; this helps you to control your blood glucose level.

2. Exercise improves your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps by raising the good kind of cholesterol (HDL) and lowering the bad kind of cholesterol (LDL). Exercise can also lower triglyceride levels. This is good news for diabetics as diabetics are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. I myself have had cholesterol problems, but between proper diet and exercise and no drugs, I now have a much healthier cholesterol levels.

3. Exercise can decrease blood pressure. Many diabetics also have hypertension or high blood pressure. Exercising can reduce both your resting blood pressure and your blood pressure during effort (including exercise). This is very important for reducing your chances of heart disease and stroke. I also used be on blood pressure medication, and have been able to get off the drugs. Because of the strong genetic component, this took more than just diet and exercise; I take several supplements specifically to help keep my blood pressure in the healthy ranges. I also work on stress management and meditate, but exercise is a key ingredient to lowering it in most people.

4. Exercise can also improve heart efficiency, and help it work less. This also helps with the cardiovascular risk factors. You will be able to exercise harder and it does not feel harder. This will make performing your daily tasks easier. Many people do not exercise because they think they do not have the energy. They need to exercise to get the energy. Your resting heart rate can also lower.

5. Exercise can improve your mood. Diabetes can be a stressful disease, exercising can help you feel better mentally. Exercise can even improve depression which can be an issue with a disease like diabetes.

6. Exercise aids dramatically in weight-loss and maintaining weight-loss. Specifically, the right kind and right amount of exercise aids in fat-loss and preservation of muscle tissue. Losing weight can improve blood pressure, insulin resistance, glucose levels, and cholesterol levels above and beyond what exercise alone does.

7. Exercise helps you to reduce your chances of diabetic complications. Better control of your blood glucose helps prevent serious complications of diabetes, including blindness, neuropathy, and kidney failure.

Please talk to your doctor and start exercising! You will feel so much better!

About the author:
Katrina McKenna is the leading diabetes and heart disease fitness expert. She is the author of the upcoming book "Diabetes Secrets: How You Can Lose Weight, Control Your Blood Sugar, Look Great and Feel Great with Diabetes". For more information and to subscribe to her free Health and Fitness Journal please go to: http://www.metamorfitness.com

Herbal Formula Replaces Conventional Medicine For Diabetics

2006-06-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Diabetes has afflicted my life physically, emotionally and spiritually for the last sixteen years of my life. My wife of twelve years and daughter has had to live with an abnormal functioning husband and father. As the years went by as a diabetic, it became more and more difficult to control my blood sugar levels. My diet had to consist of a lot of calories because I have a fast metabolism and twenty pounds underweight. The increasing periods of uncontrolled blood sugar interfered with my thought processes at work and especially with my family.

The most detrimental effect of high blood sugar happened when I had to be hospitalized during the birth of my only daughter. My wife was hurt because it appeared that I purposely used the excuse of diabetes to not want to be with her for my daughter’s birth. It seemed I could never get close to anyone because I was living in a world of dysfunctional blood sugar all the time. I woke up in the morning with high blood sugar and grouchy. During the day it was a guessing game to keep my blood sugar at a normal level. I was always just getting by with life and never fully enjoying anything, not even a close relationship with God.

As the years went by, I became desperate and would buy a lot of products to help me try to manage my disease with no results. I could not afford health insurance and Doctor’s visits. This would always get me into trouble with my wife because we would fight about me not trusting God for the answer and wasting money. The people that would sell me products were out to take my money and take up too much of my personal time which took me away from my family.

One late evening after work, I vented my frustrations on a forum for diabetics. A response came back from Dr. Joseph Khoo from Singapore. Dr. Khoo approached me as a brother in Christ and offered me an herbal formula called Combetic on the honor system. I began taking Combetic with Dr. Khoo calling me on the phone everyday to make sure I was safely controlling my blood sugar. Having a new friend caring about me meant more to me than the remedy of my condition. After three days on Combetic, we had results and my hope grew by each passing week. I continued to decrease my insulin and I became an easier husband and father to live with. I could think better and I felt as though a fog had lifted off of me. My wife and I thanked God she had a husband to love. Dr. Khoo needed distributors for Combetic so we agreed to help as a team. Dr. Khoo visited us a few months later and we formed a corporation to market Combetic called Third Day Resources. We are now a growing team to help diabetics get freedom from the imprisonment diabetes causes. Diabetics can now go to: http://www.thirddayresources.com to get informed about diabetes and order Combetic.

Dr. Khoo and professional staff offers free consultation in order to provide safe effective advice for every diabetic needing freedom from the “prison” of high blood sugar so they can get back to their lives and their families.

Welcome

2006-06-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our diabetes care information blog.
This blog is decided to discuss any issues related to Diabetes.
Please make sure to check our blog regularly to get our latest information on Diabetes.
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