Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Beginning Signs Of Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious condition that is lifelong and life threatening if not treated with respect. In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 20 million individuals suffer from this disease. Of those, it is estimated that at least 6 million have not been diagnosed. That is a lot of people that have diabetes and are not aware they have this disease.

What are the beginning signs to look for if you have diabetes?

Many individuals discover they are diabetic only when they visit their family doctors for other ailments. It are these early warning signs of diabetes that many people attribute to other conditions.

1. Frequency of urination - This happens when blood sugar levels are raised, increasing the amount of blood flowing through the kidneys. Many people, as they get older, will experience increased urination problems. They write this condition off as growing older. When diabetes is the cause, it needs to be diagnosed. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to the kidneys failing and shutting down.

2. Extreme hunger - Because of the lack of insulin the body is not producing, the body receives signals it is hungry. This symptom is experienced when the body's energy is deficient from not receiving enough insulin from the blood stream to the cells.

3. Unexplained, or sudden weight loss - When the body is not receiving enough cellular energy, the body begins to break down it's own fat and muscle to replace the energy, the body is lacking.

4. Fatigue - Feeling tired and rundown is caused by the decreased energy levels.

5. Depression and irritability are no experienced as a result of the above symptom the body is going through because of the diabetes.

6. Extreme thirst is also triggered due to the diabetes depleting the body of energy.

7. Impaired vision can also be experienced as a symptom of diabetes when more blood volume leads to the eye's lens swelling. When diabetes is left untreated, blindness can be experienced.

8. Loss of feeling or numbness, usually in the feet, legs, arms or hands areas of the body. Experiencing any of these symptoms in any of these areas can be a warning sign of diabetes.

If you are experiencing any of the beginning signs of diabetes, you should get tested. Testing for diabetes is also recommended for individuals that are over forty-five years of age and overweight. Diabetes and pre-diabetes testing is diagnosed by checking the blood glucose levels of a person's blood.

These symptoms and others will progress in time and get more critical if the diabetes is present and goes undiagnosed and untreated. These beginning signs of diabetes should not be ignored. As this disease progresses, more complications will arise, putting your life in jeopardy.

This is not a disease that will go away by itself. Diabetes will only progress if not treated. In the United States, diabetes is sixth leading cause of death. To learn more about this disease, you can contact the American Diabetes Association online.

Can I Reverse Diabetes?

The rate at which people are being diagnosed with diabetes is rising sharply, leaving many people asking themselves, “Can I reverse diabetes?”. The simple answer is, usually. If you can’t completely reverse it, you can certainly control it. One of the biggest factors, weight, is rising quickly in a world filled with fast food joints, TV dinners, and unlimited kinds of junk food. Add to that the fact that more and more jobs are becoming sedentary, that is, that the workers are sitting or standing still rather than performing large amounts of labor, and you have a recipe for diabetes. There is hope on the horizon, however, and in the next few paragraphs we will take a look at some ways to reverse the effects of diabetes using simple diet and exercise.

Before we begin, I will explain the two types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is where a person’s body produces very insufficient insulin, if any. In Type 2 Diabetes, the body still manufactures enough insulin, sometimes even more than is needed, but the body becomes immune to it. When this happens, the sugar in a person’s blood will not act as it should, thus resulting in greatly elevated blood sugar levels. This latter for of the disease becomes increasingly common after the age of thirty. Insulin is responsible for distributing food energy to the body, as well as letting you know when you are hungry. When you are overweight, your body contains an excess of insulin, which will cause an imbalance in this system, leading to carbohydrate cravings which cause even more insulin to be produced. This cycle can be broken, however, and now we will learn how.

There are a number of things one can do to reverse Type 2 diabetes. There is not one single answer, but rather a combination of things that, when done together, can easily reverse the body’s overproduction of and immunity to insulin. The biggest factor in reversing diabetes is changing the diet. You must change not only what you eat, but how and when. It is wise to eat about every four hours, stopping a few hours before bed. It is important to take in protein, fat, and whole food carbs at every meal and snack. The best foods are organic foods, meat, high protein fish, fruit, nuts, and fiber. It is also important to avoid refined flour and sugar such as bread and cereal, high-fructose corn syrup, and processed foods.

As important as diet is the need for exercise. Exercise can help the body get rid of stored fat, which can greatly reduce the symptoms of diabetes, and if done frequently and properly, can even reverse the disease altogether. A good starting point is to do thirty minutes of walking every day. For people with full blown cases of diabetes, an hour a day of aerobic exercise is needed to control the disease. This is a good target amount of exercise for everyone with the disease or at risk of developing it. In addition to helping rid the body of stored fat, aerobic exercise can also boost the body’s metabolism.

In addition to diet and exercise, there are other steps you can take to help reverse diabetes. Stress management is a great asset for people with the disease. Simple meditations, yoga, and deep breathing can all reduce stress, which is a trigger for insulin resistance. There are also a number of medications and supplements that help treat and undo the effects of diabetes. Medications can be obtained by talking to your doctor to determine if they are necessary. Supplements can be picked up at any health food store. Things such as antioxidants and vitamins can go a long way toward helping prevent diabetes symptoms. By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you can help ensure that you never have to ask again, “Can I reverse diabetes?”.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Diet for Diabetes

Being a diabetic your diet is very important. It varies slightly depending in regards to the type of diabetes, body weight and style, personal needs, other diseases, age, sex and the physical activity of the said person. One must try to obtain and maintain an ideal body weight to help keep their diabetes in check.

For those who require the use of insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent will usually be placed on a measured type diet. This diet is where everything is properly portioned out. For those not in this group and are not marked as obese usually go on an unmeasured diet.

The easiest way for one to check to see if they are taking in the right foods is to check to see where it lies on the GI or Glycemic Index. It is a measure as to how a certain food may quickly spike your blood sugar. Diabetics should stick to the low to mid range on the GI.
Within each diet for diabetes one must pay close attention to a diabetic’s nutritional need as these may change depending upon their lifestyle, age, pregnancy, or growth. The nutritional content must be good and able to be adjusted due to any change in ones metabolic rate and needs. These needs are proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Protein- Protein is on the low end of this index and should account for 20 to 25% of a diet for diabetes. Even though it is readily available, some forms of protein take longer to prepare. Whey protein powder may be used as a substitute.

Carbohydrates- Keeping within a range of 40 to 60 % of the daily intake of a diet for diabetes falls to carbohydrates. The lower your blood sugar levels the lower your carbohydrate intake can be. Carbohydrates are essential for the management of blood sugar levels in a diabetic.

Fats- With taking in too many fats in ones diet can override the benefits of the higher carbohydrate diet. When monitoring your fat intake, try to stick to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats as they are healthier than saturated and trans-fats and lower the chances of canceling out the benefits of a higher carbohydrate diet.

The easiest way to check all of these values is to check the labels on to food you buy. When you are eating out ask for the nutritional information on the food they serve. Other food such as produce and meat products can be found on various online searches.

There are some foods that a diabetic can intake without the worry of counting. In general, these foods are foods with less than 20 calories per serving and less than 5 grams of garbs. If it exceeds this criterion you should take account for it into your meal plan.

Sugar was once thought to be completely excluded from a diet for diabetes. However, more recent research has shown that it can be included as long as it is consistent to the level of carbohydrates in the meal. Foods lower in sugar are still better than but doesn’t mean you can eat extra servings of carbohydrates either.

All carbohydrates taken into the body is converted into glucose. Eating too much at one serving or too close to another can cause a spike in your blood sugar. Best choice is moderation throughout the day and eaten with nutritional foods at the same time containing proteins, vitamins or minerals.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Natural cure for diabetes

For many people, diabetes is a way of life. Someone suffering with diabetes is always on the lookout for a better way to deal with the diabetes. One way to deal with diabetes is to go all natural. There are a variety of natural cures for diabetes that can be very effective. However, no matter what route you take, it is always important to keep a close eye on your sugar levels to make sure they are staying within a healthy range.

Foods to Avoid

There are a variety of foods that can actually make diabetes worse. They should be avoided if possible or eaten in moderation. Foods which are high in sugar, such as syrup, cakes, cookies, ice cream, sweets, regular soft drinks as well as many others can make your diabetes considerable worse. As a diabetic, it is also important to avoid all processed foods. You should also reduce your intake of white flour and white sugar. It is also important that you do not drink any alcohol when you have an empty stomach. If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, it can cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.

Foods You Should Consume

If you are looking for a natural cure for diabetes, you will want to be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and natural grains are highly recommended. In most instances, raw vegetables are better for your body than cooked ones. This is simply because cooking the vegetables can deplete some of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are naturally found in the raw vegetables.

Vitamins That Will Help

Natural forms of supplements can be very useful to the body. One supplement that can help improve your insulin sensitivity is Magnesium. Vitamins C and E are also very beneficial for anyone suffering from diabetes. You should avoid vitamin B, as it can interfere with the natural absorption of insulin by the cells. Chromium, which can naturally be found in mushrooms, whole grains, seeds, brewer’s yeast and corn oil, is also essential for anyone with diabetes.

Other Natural Cures

Another natural cure for diabetes is exercise. It is important that you control your weight, in order to also control your diabetes. Anytime you exercise, you are improving your body’s ability to respond to insulin. Before you begin any type of exercise routine, you will want to be sure to consult with your doctor. Exercise such as walking, swimming and a light game are all excellent forms of exercising. Yoga is also very beneficial for anyone with diabetes as it helps to lower stress levels tremendously.

There are a variety of natural cures for diabetes. However, before you begin any type of regimen you will want to consult with your doctor. You will also want to monitor your blood sugar levels on a regular basis. Natural cures for diabetes can be very beneficial; you just need to make sure that you find a way that will work well with you and your body.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Natural medicine for diabetes

If you suffer from Diabetes and you would like to try out natural treatments for the condition, then luckily you have quite a few options to choose from.

There are quite a few different natural medicines for Diabetes available today and more and more people are turning to them for help due to the change in attitude that has occurred regarding conventional medicines. But do these natural medicines actually work?

The Best Natural Medicines for Diabetes

The main reason why people’s attitudes towards conventional medicine have changed is because as time has gone on, more and more side effects have been found. Natural treatments do not pose any threat to your health and in some countries they are given on prescription to Diabetes sufferers. Their effectiveness has been proven and thousands of people suffering from Diabetes have recommended numerous natural medicines for the condition.

One type of natural medicine for Diabetes which proves to be extremely effective are herbs. Bitter Melon in particular is one of the most commonly used to help to treat Diabetes. It is otherwise known as “Balsam Pear” and it is mainly found in South America, Asia and Africa. The reason it is so effective in treating Diabetes is because it helps to lower the blood sugar levels. It is the juice of the plant which really helps to lower the blood sugar and it also has a compound similar to insulin within it too. However, if you do choose to use Bitter Melon to treat Diabetes then the main thing to keep in mind is that if taken in too high a dose, it can bring on abdominal pains as well as diarrhea.

Onion and garlic are also commonly used to help to lower the blood sugar in Diabetes sufferers. It is the Allyl Propyl Disulphide (APDS) in the garlic and onion that really helps. This is because APDS fights for insulin-inactivating sites within the liver and that helps to free up insulin within the body. Even a low dosage of onion extract can really help Diabetes sufferers so it is definitely worth considering as a natural medicine for Diabetes.

Finally another herb which has proven to be extremely useful in the treatment of Diabetes is blueberry leaves. Now blueberry leaves have been used for years to help to treat Diabetes naturally. It is thought that they contain a compound which is weaker than insulin but a lot less toxic. This compound is known as Myrtillin and just one single dose of the compound can give benefits for up to one week.

There are a number of natural medicines which you can use to help to treat diabetes. All are said to be extremely effective. Since they do not cause any health problems, it is definitely worth trying them out to see if they could help you.

Natural Treatment For Diabetes

If you suffer from diabetes then you may be looking for the best natural treatments to take away your symptoms. Many traditional medications can have terrible side effects and so why suffer with them when you can gain relief from natural products?

Here you will find out the best natural products available today. Hopefully this will give you a better knowledge of the alternative treatments available and you will be able to make a decision to best suit you.

The Best Natural Treatments for Diabetes

If you are looking for the best natural treatments for diabetes then the first one you should know about is Food Therapy.

Food Therapy is best undertaken after consulting your doctor. It basically involves avoiding certain foods and eating plenty of others. Obviously being diabetic you should avoid foods such as refined sugar and biscuits. You should also avoid all processed foods and fried foods too. Then there are foods that are better limited such as red meat and caffeine and alcohol. You should especially avoid alcohol if you have an empty tummy because it can cause low blood glucose. Then finally there are the foods that you can eat and they include fruit and vegetables, wholegrain products and also drink plenty of water. Try to get a lot of fiber in your diet too as that will lower your body's need for insulin.

Taking part in regular exercise can also really help to reduce the effects of diabetes. It is a well known fact that being overweight is a big contributor to Diabetes Type 2.So by losing weight and staying healthy you will be successfully helping the body to deal with conditions such as Diabetes a lot better.

One natural treatment you might not have considered but which can be very effective is bitter melon. Bitter melon is great for treating diabetes because it contains a compound which is extremely like insulin. It will help to control the levels of sugar in the blood too which is obviously extremely beneficial.

Other herbal treatments you may find helpful include Cat's Claw which is regularly used to treat diabetes. It can be found in your local health food store. Another includes Pycnogenol, an antioxidant which does not affect insulin levels but which reduces the blood glucose levels. In France it is one of the top prescriptions used for diabetic retinopathy.

Overall, there are a number of natural treatments for diabetes available. The best of them however include a good diet and plenty of exercise. So if you haven't yet looked into the best natural treatments then you may want to take some of the ones mentioned into account.