Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Diabetes, Its Types and the Importance of Treatment

Diabetes and its types

The rising level of blood sugar above normal in a body shows that the person has Diabetes. The diabetes is of two types, the type one diabetes and the type two. The children and the adults at young age suffer from type one and other patients suffer from type two. In type one, the pancreas fails to produce insulin and in the type two, the pancreas do not produce enough insulin. Fewer patients suffer from the type one and more from the type two. The treatment of the type 2 diabetes is easier than type 1.

Diabetic Diet

Diet is the most important component of the complete diabetes control program. To control the blood sugar levels, a diabetic diet should have the balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The content of these should not be more 7 to 9 grams per serving or should not be more than 20% of daily intake. The diabetic recipes should be low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Don't break these rules. If you break these rules on special occasions only then also your body will gain extra weight. On the other hand, if you strictly stick to the balanced diet then your body would remain fit in your old age also. Weight reduction and maintenance is the main aim of a diabetic diet.

Difference in diet for the different types of diabetes patients

The diet cannot be same for all the diabetes patients but it will differ from one person to another. The diet of the patient suffering from type 1 diabetes will have more restrictions. The diet of these patients should be designed by a nutritionist or a physician only. The patients suffering from type 2 diabetes will have less restriction in their diet. The diet of the type 2 diabetes patients should be rich in fiber and avoid excessive fat.

Importance of treatment

The patients should also do regular exercises to get the better results of the diabetic diet. Millions of Americans suffer from this health problem and in many people, it remains undiagnosed. If diabetes is not diagnosed and the patient suffering from Diabetes does not start any treatment then diabetes can also open doors to other serious health problems such as heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness etc. The patients should also stop using the tobacco products because the consumption of such products may multiply the health risks.


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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Chronic Disease Management Registry

Management of chronic health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and heart disease is a major part of most primary care physician's work. In the traditional model the physician sees a patient for an episode of care, assesses the status of the conditions, makes suggestions, adjusts medications, and orders any indicated testing. The patient is advised of the time when they are asked to return for followup care.

For years the best practices have been using a means of monitoring some or all of their patients with certain chronic medical problems by means of a disease registry. In this model of care all of the patients with a problem, for example diabetes, are listed in a data base, either a paper filing cabinet, or a digital data base. In the data base certain details of the patients status are recorded. For example in a diabetes data base the information might be the last Hemoglobin A1C value and date, the last blood pressure, the last LDL cholesterol, the date of the last dilated eye exam, the last diabetic foot exam, the last test for kidney damage, and their smoking status.

Keeping the data base required entry of this data into the registry every time a new piece of data was obtained, and having a means of periodically looking for patients who were past due for certain services.

Use of an electronic medical record which stores granular pieces of information in a way that can be retrieved electronically, intentionally entering the information into the EMR in a way that it can be retrieved, and developing a report or system for creating a virtual disease management registry has allowed progressive physicians and practices to much more efficiently and effectively manage groups of patients with selected chronic medical problems proactively.

In these offices if a patient is due a visit for followup care, or is past due for any type of testing or service, they can be more easily and efficiently discovered, contacted, and encouraged to receive the optimal care. Ask your physician if they have a disease management registry to help them provide optimal care for your medical condition.


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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

High And Low Blood Sugar Levels Chart Provides You With a Clear Idea

Whenever we say blood sugar levels, it really refers to the sugar level which is the quantity of glucose obtainable in the blood of human or animals. The perfect level in your body is determined by many factors. Usually, the conventional degree of blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day as a result of diet, exercise and also the degree of stress one takes. On the basis of your well being condition, such as diabetic, pre-diabetic or simply monitoring your glucose level for preventive purposes, your physician will recommend different levels to go for.

As the main source of energy for both human and animal cell is glucose that passes via the blood system from the body, so while eating carbohydrates, it is going through the entire body. Both hormones, for instance: glucagon and insulin maintain the degree of glucose in your body. The insulin hormone is produced in the pancreas and released in to the blood system when glucose level rises by the body processes.

The best blood sugar level in your body is recognized as to become 70 to 150 mg. However, while awaken each morning, the amount of glucose remains reduced our bodies and in addition to diet throughout the day it grows. If a person is having consistent level higher than 150mg, it's regarded as being a sign of high sugar which can be known in medical term as hyperglycemia. When the level in your body consistently falls as a result of 70 mg or less that it, it's thought to a low blood sugar levels as well as called hypoglycemia. The signs of hypoglycemia include: insufficient concentration, exhaustion, unconsciousness and irritation. Regular hyperglycemia contributes to diabetes that may cause other health problems, like: kidney, nerve and damage to our eyes.

So that you can know the ideal blood sugar level, you can examine the high and low blood sugar levels chart that is greatly available over internet nowadays. However, for your benefit, we intend to give you a chart on ideal everywhere blood sugar levels in your body. Have a peek and you'll obtain a clear idea about it.


Category Minimum Value Maximum Value

Normal 70 mg 100 mg
Early Diabetes 101 mg 126 mg
Established Diabetes More than 126 mg ..........

At the conclusion, we are able to say that to get a proper life, taking care of your well being is essential. In order to do so, looking after your meal habit is quite necessary.


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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Curing Diabetes - Is It Really Possible?

Being diagnosed with any type of Diabetes can be devastating. The lifestyle and behavior changes that are necessary to safely manage this disease can be extremely difficult for many new diabetics to cope with. Often, newly diagnosed diabetics will frantically search out cures, treatments, or ways to reverse their condition. This article will explore some of the most commonly found "cures" and attempt to shed some light on these medically controversial claims.

Diet

Diet changes are often the first thing you'll find when searching for a Diabetes cures. There are diets marketed specifically for Diabetics that promise to reverse the damage and cure the disease simply by changing ones eating habits. While it may be true that dietary adjustments during the pre-Diabetic phase can have miraculous effects on symptom reduction and possibly even prevention of Diabetes-onset, once one has developed a diagnosable form of Diabetes simple diet changes will not reverse the disease. Diet is one of the primary means by which diabetics can control their blood sugar and reduce the medication required to maintain their health but it has not been medically proven to cure Diabetes. There is a huge difference between symptom disappearance and curing the actual ailment causing the disease and so far there hasn't been a diet proven to be a real cure for Diabetes.

Hydration

Another common claim is that by staying hydrated you can nudge your body into a natural state of healing through cell replacement. Staying hydrated is recommended to anyone, not just diabetics. By staying hydrated, you will feel more alert, less nauseous, you will sleep better, your bathroom breaks will be more regular, and your body will simply feel better. These are often mistaken for Diabetes symptom reduction when in fact they are simply a reduction of dehydration symptoms. The simple truth is that levels of hydration will only effect cell replacement in the body at the extreme end of dehydration. So whether you're fully hydrated, slightly dehydrated, or somewhere in between, your body will be replacing cells at the same rate. Staying hydrated is always good medical advice, but it will not provide a Diabetes reversal as many websites claim.

Weight Loss

Losing weight through diet and exercise is actually one method that has been shown to reverse Diabetes at least somewhat. The main causes of Diabetes are poor diets and sedentary lifestyles so it does make good medical sense that reversing these causes may also reverse the disease. Bringing your body back into proper shape will raise the efficiency of all systems and allow your body to process sugar and other nutrients in a more natural way. The combination of losing weight and improved diet have been shown to provide diabetics with an ability to manage their blood sugar more naturally through decreased insulin sensitivity. This eliminates the need for regular usage of medications to manage the disease.

Herbal Remedies

There are many websites claiming to have herbal remedies for almost every disease known to humans, including Diabetes. While there are some herbs that have been shown to lessen symptoms and assist in blood-sugar control, there still isn't a "magic bullet" herb that will cure the disease and heal the damage to a diabetic's body. Professional medical advice should be sought before taking any medicine, especially herbal medicines. If you are already taking medicines or insulin to manage Diabetes, the addition of an herbal medicine could have unforseen side effects which can be potentially very serious. Herbal remedies should be thoroughly researched and scrutinized before one believes the label or the marketing slogan that is attempting to sell them.

Conclusion

The natural reaction to a Diabetes diagnosis is - "What can I do to fix it?". The answer is - begin by managing the disease and lessening the symptoms through improved diet and daily exercise. These are the only proven methods for reducing symptoms and maintenance requirements of Diabetes. Fad diets can help to reduce symptoms but an actual cure for Diabetes goes beyond the food you eat. Hydration will help with symptom reduction but will not result in reversing Diabetes. Herbal remedies can have positive effects on symptoms but there is still no herbal cure discovered that will totally cure Diabetes. True reversal of Diabetes is not possible in the short term however there are controversial studies showing a glimmer of hope for a long term cure or reversal.


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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Strategies for Weight Loss Awesomeness!

Losing weight is important for Type 2 diabetics. Many people are overweight when they're first diagnosed, and that extra fat actually increases their insulin resistance. By losing weight, people with Type 2 diabetes can become less insulin resistant, and they're able to use insulin better and produce lower blood sugar levels naturally.

So, it can be said losing weight is important for Type 2 diabetics.

Some people would have called this an article about weight loss "success". But success is too vague, and not nearly inspiring enough. To be successful, all you have to do is something, anything. You try to walk across the room and turn on a light switch... and you're successful! That was easy. This is about losing weight, not just patting yourself on the back for surviving another day. You're a person who is capable of incredible things, and you have a great deal of control over your own actions and your own habits... which are what determine the course your life takes from now on. In other words, you have the power to be awesome.

Here's how to make a start with weight loss:

1. Don't rely on will power:

We need to start out by clarifying how you achieve a state of true awesomeness. You start out by abandoning the notion that you are going to "will" yourself to be that way. Your will power is a limited quantity, and you need to save it for times when your life really needs something special. When you have to chase down a bus, or when you need to rip the door off of a car to save a child trapped inside, or when a bear is threatening your kids, that's the time for will power. Even if you were Chuck Norris, you could not constantly fight a bear for your entire life... it would maul you worse than Bruce Lee mauled old Chuck all those years ago.

2. Make fitness and healthy eating habits:

You need to establish new habits and new barriers, if you want to become a more awesome individual. You may think that barriers only stop things... but did you know that they can also be used as a means of keeping you doing the right things. Seriously, if all you have in the house is healthy food, and the nearest fast food place is miles away, you are more likely going to eat the healthy stuff that's right here, so long as it's palatable. As well, if you set your alarm for an hour earlier than you need to get up to get ready for work, you might as well get into that workout. It's not like you're going to get back to sleep, anyway.

3. Push through the initial discomfort:

And yes, the first few weeks are going to be intensely difficult for you. Changes are never easy, and you have to understand that some slippage is okay. Giving up being lazy and gluttonous is like giving up binge drinking and cigarettes... it's incredibly difficult, because you have to change how you see yourself. If you continue to see yourself as who you were, you will continue to be how you have been. But if you decide that from now on you are going to be a newer and thinner person, the same principle will start to take hold.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Beverleigh H Piepers - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Are You Prediabetic: How to Delay Type 2 Diabetes!

Before you are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you may be considered as a prediabetic. Prediabetes means that you have higher than normal blood sugar although not yet high enough to be considered as Type 2 diabetes. Being prediabetic simply means you have been given a "wake-up" call: you still can avoid diabetes and other diseases such as heart disease and stroke.

How do you know your are prediabetic?

When you see your doctor he normally orders blood tests such as:

fasting plasma glucosefasting oral glucose toleranceHbA1c

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose: Blood is drawn and tested after you've gone without food or drink for at least 8 hours. This test is usually the preferred test for diagnosing whether you have prediabetes or Type 2.

2. Fasting Oral Glucose Tolerance Test or Glucose Challenge: This test may be done right after a fasting test, or it may be done separately. You are given a glucose mixture to drink then wait for 1 or 2 hours when blood is drawn and your sugar level measured.

3. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c): This is one of the best tests to measure how your blood sugar is doing because a single blood test measures your blood sugar average over the previous 3 months.

Results of these tests indicates:

HbA1c... Normal <5.7%... Prediabetes 5.7 to 6.4%...Type 2 Diabetes >6.5%

Fasting Plasma Glucose... Normal <100mg/dL (5.5mmol/L)... Prediabetes 100 to 12mg/dL (5.5 to 7mmol/L)...Type 2 Diabetes >126mg/dL (7mmol/L)

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test... Normal 140mg/dL (7.8mmol/L)... Prediabetes 140 To 200mg/dL (7.8 to 11.1mmol/L)...Type 2 Diabetes >200mg/dL (11.1mmol/L)

Based on these results, as well as your:

geneticsageweightgender, andother medical problems

your doctor will then make the decision whether you are prediabetic or not. Studies have supported the fact that prediabetics can prevent full-blown Type 2 diabetes by making changes in their lifestyle. These changes include weight control, regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Now, how do you start? Well, you don't have to have a gym membership or buy expensive exercise equipment. On a nice day, walk around the neighborhood... start small though, don't shock yourself. Start with 10 to 15 minutes per day. Remember, stop when you feel dizzy or experience chest pain.

Walking is not the only exercise you can do. Simple things like playing with your kids/grandkids or dancing the night away also count as exercise.

When it comes to your diet, it really is as simple as being aware of what you eat:

at the office cafeteria, there are usually vegetables and fruits served with each meal. Instead of reaching for that chocolate cake for dessert, try some apples or oranges insteadwhen eating out, branch out from your usual choices and scan the menu for healthier options like chicken or turkey. Try out that new salad too!if you are cooking your own food, substitute regular oil with cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil to help control your cholesterolavoid adding additional salt or sugar to your dishes; instead try some herbs and spicestrim excess and visible fat and skin from your meats, also try grilling and broiling them instead of frying

Time to face the facts: there are a lot of changes to be made to your lifestyle. It's hard to adjust from a sedentary, eat-what-you-want lifestyle to an active, fruit and vegetable filled one. Making drastic changes is one thing; making them last is another. You would greatly benefit from making gradual small changes in your lifestyle rather than one big change.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Beverleigh H Piepers - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Warning Signs of High Blood Sugar and Diabetes!

Do you have Type 2 diabetes? Does your family tree hold a strong history of this metabolic problem? Are you suffering from the direct and indirect consequences of obesity? Do you want to know the warning signs that point to the destructive power of high blood sugar levels and Type 2?

Type 2 diabetes is a health problem that involves the proper handling and management of glucose or sugar levels in your body. It is a very slow-growing health problem that usually goes unnoticed for years. The presence of too much sugar in the blood is linked with long-term complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. It is a silent, destructive health problem that gradually damages your body systems.

Here are the symptoms to watch out for if you suspect you are developing Type 2 diabetes:

1. Increased thirst: One of the most common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes is increased thirst. Diabetics have high blood sugar levels... this excess sugar tends to pull fluid into the cells of your body, into the blood stream. As a result, the individual cells demand more water leading to an increased desire to drink more fluids.

2. Increased urine output: If you tend to visit the bathroom three to five times per night, or even more, chances are you are suffering from Type 2 diabetes. The kidneys are specifically designed to dispose of excess amounts of sugar, and in Type 2 this kidney function is usually tested to its limits. The increased elimination of sugar by the kidneys leads to increased water excretion because sugar tends to pull water along with it.

3. Increased appetite and weight gain: Research has revealed that healthy people with a genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes gain more weight from overeating over the short-term, than overweight people with no genetic predisposition. Relatives of people with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop it themselves.

4. Fatigue: Type 2 diabetes results in the deficiency of blood sugar within your individual cells and without this important energy source, fatigue ensues. This is the reason why diabetics usually feel tired and weak.

5. Alteration in vision: Many Type 2 diabetics usually develop blurred vision and this may be brought about by several eye complications associated with high blood sugar. The most common eye complications seen are: cataracts, glaucoma, the increase pressure within the eye and diabetic retinopathy, an alteration in the nerve tissue that is essential for proper vision.

6. Decreased immunity: Increased blood sugar levels cause your immune system to have less activity and this results in the decreased ability of your body to ward off infection. This is the reason why diabetics usually have a slow wound healing process, and an increased tendency to acquire infectious diseases.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Beverleigh H Piepers - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Exercise and Blood Sugar Levels!

There is little question today that exercise is very important for someone with Type 2 diabetes. By combining the effects of a change in diet with exercise, many people have been able to reverse their condition without the need for medication. Although the idea is to reverse the condition naturally, some people also have to take medication that has been prescribed to help control their blood sugar levels and even their weight until they're able to make the substantial lifestyle changes.

So how does blood sugar relate to exercise?

Exercise does several different things to help control Type 2 diabetes. For example, it improves the body's use of insulin and also helps to burn excess fat. By burning off excess fat, this helps to decrease and control the Type 2 diabetic's weight. Decreasing body fat actually helps the body use insulin better. Exercise also improves muscle strength as well as bone density. Exercise lowers blood pressure and helps to protect the heart and blood vessels against disease. It decreases LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol, which is a good thing

Many Type 2 diabetics have a problem with blood circulation and have a higher risk of heart disease. Exercise improves circulation and reduces the risk of heart disease. It also increases energy level, reduces stress, helps to release tension and anxiety and promotes relaxation. Even for those who say they hate exercise, there is little question that it has far too many benefits to be ignored.

Typically, insulin is released from the pancreas when the amount of blood sugar increases. This typically happens after eating. Insulin stimulates the muscles and liver to take in the extra glucose which results in the lowering of the blood sugar level. When exercising, your body will need this extra energy for the muscles. When you are performing short bursts of exercise, the liver and muscles can release the glucose stores for fuel. As exercise continues in a moderate pace, the muscles take up the glucose at almost 20 times the normal rate which lowers blood sugar levels.

It is important to note that intense exercise can have the opposite effect on a Type 2 diabetic and actually increase the blood sugar levels. This is because the body recognizes intense exercise and stress and will release the stress hormones which tell the body to increase blood sugar in order to fuel the muscles. For a diabetic, this may result in the need to have a little bit of insulin after an intense workout.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers

Beverleigh H Piepers - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Friday, March 4, 2011

7 Important Steps on How to Prevent Diabetes

By G. Arthur Platinum Quality Author G. Arthur
Level: Platinum

Having recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes I have compiled a considerable amount of research into the condition. So much so that I fell ...

If steps could be taken now to prevent diabetes and irreversible damage to the organs in your body, wouldn't you want to know how? Especially if diabetes runs in your family, and even if it doesn't, with today's fast food, pre packaged, electronic society, doctors are reporting diabetes on an epidemic escalation. Doctors are now reporting 95% of all diabetic diagnoses are type 2 diabetes. This type in most of the cases can be controlled just with a few, very few, lifestyle changes. I know you've heard it before, but I can't stress enough that once your body organs are damaged, it is not reversible in many cases, and left without treatment can really complicate your life with a heart attack, stroke and breakdown of body organs causing blindness, kidney failure just to name a few. Once you have diabetes, you will always have diabetes and it is up to you to control it.

The biggest risk is being overweight. By reducing your intake you will take a huge step in the prevention of diabetes. Put less food on your plate, more vegetables and smaller amounts of meat will make a big difference. Drink a glass of water before each meal which will leave less room for food. It won't be long before you see and feel the results.Low fat spreads and dressings have come a long way in taste so use in place of high calorie fat laden ones. Instead of deep frying your food, bake, steam or grill and trim all visible fat you are eating. There are some really excellent diabetic cook books out there, invest in one for ideas.With most packaged foods being indexed with the ingredients they contain it is easy to check the glycemic and carbohydrate content. This really helps in keeping your blood sugar in check to prevent the onset of diabetes. The lower glycemic and carbohydrate content the better.Every day drink at least 8 glasses of water. If you drink from a straw you'll be surprised how quickly you can drink the water. Just keep a bottle or glass near you throughout the day and it will be gone before you know it.Of course if you exercise, you'll become thirsty and that will take care of some of the water. But exercise is very important in preventing diabetes and it doesn't have to be strenuous. Start with just walking 15 minutes a day. Add to that leg or arm exercises as your watching T.V. Just keep moving.If between meals you're feeling a bit hungry, keep healthy snacks available so you don't over eat at meal times. The operative word here is 'healthy snacks'. Have some water as well.Using skimmed milk for your coffee and tea instead of full-fat milk can add up in your caloric intake and make a big difference.

Preventing diabetes now can be done quite simply with just a few simple lifestyle changes. Of course if you're in doubt it is always good to check with your doctor. It certainly is worth it for a lifetime of good health.

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Article Submitted On: January 31, 2011


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