Blood Sugar Levels

Can You Really Control Blood Sugar Levels Without Medicine?

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can result in adverse health conditions that could be incurable or even be fatal. You can control blood sugar levels either through medication or through diet and lifestyle changes.

There are ways to control blood sugar levels without medicine. The easiest way to lower blood sugar naturally is to mind one's diet. By following a diet of food that lower blood sugar effectively, you can get your normal blood glucose levels without having to take any medications. High fiber low-fat diets are recommended by physicians and nutritionists for diabetics. Sugar level in the blood is also lowered effectively by eating in smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. Alcohol, starchy food, as well as those laden with sugar and fats, is striclty prohibited in any diet that aims to lower blood sugar naturally.

While a diabetic or anyone who wants to keep normal blood glucose levels naturally should eat about two to four servings of fruit a day, it is advisable to limit the intake of fruits with high sugar content. Fruits like banana, apple, orange, and grapes are considered to be good for lowering your blood sugar levels. Fresh fruit salad drizzled with sugar syrup and topped with whipped cream is definitely something that would push your blood sugar levels up. The natural sugars in these fruits should be enough to keep your blood sugar levels at normal levels.

Food that contain healthy fats like those found in olive oil or peanut oil, and the omega-3s in fish are allowed in diets that are designed to lower blood sugar naturally. About ten to twenty percent of daily caloric intake in a diabetic diet should come from food protein in low-fat dairy products, red meat, skinless poultry, and fish. Those vegetables containing carbohydrates but whose glycemic index or sugar content is also high are not recommended to be included in diets to control blood sugar levels. Potatoes, corn, and carrots are among those vegetables that contain high amounts of carbohydrates and should be avoided in blood sugar control diets.

See my other guide on Obesity

Foot Care for Diabetics

By Bill Schuchman

If you have diabetes then you are at increased risk for serious foot complications. Elevated blood sugar levels causes impairment of blood circulation in the legs and feet. To heal an injury requires a higher then normal blood flow to the injured area. This increased blood flow in not always available to those with diabetes.

Without proper blood flow the injury can become infected and that infection can spread up the leg. Non-healing diabetic ulcerations are the major cause of leg, foot and toe amputations. The best preventive measure you can take is to take care of your feet to prevent injury to them. Listed below are guidelines to prevent foot injury and reduce the chances of complications from diabetes.

1. Follow your doctor's instructions and take care of your diabetes. Keep your blood glucose within a good range.
2. Inspect the insides of your shoes daily for foreign objects that could cut or irritate your feet.
3. Don't wear sandals with thongs.
4. Check your feet everyday. Look for cuts, blisters or swelling. If required see you doctor to address anything found.
5. Wash your feet every day in warm water; be sure to dry between your toes.
6. Keep your skin soft by rubbing a thin coat of lotion over the tops and bottoms of your feet but don't put any lotion between the toes.
7. Try to change to a different pair of shoes each day of the week.
8. Gently smooth corns and calluses away or see your doctor to have them removed before they turn into something more serious.
9. Be active every day. Keep moving this will help to keep the blood flowing.
10. Keeps the blood flowing to your feet by elevating your feet when you're sitting? You should also wiggle your toes and move your ankles up and down for several minutes three times each day.
11. Don't smoke.
12. A daily foot massage will help to keep the blood circulating.
13. Don't cross your legs for long periods of time.
14. Protect you feet from the cold and hot.
15. Wear shoes and socks at all times to protect them from injury.
16. Trim your nails straight across.
17. Do not soak your feet in water unless instructed to do so by a doctor. This can cause macerated skin which can break down more easily.
18. Don't wear wet shoes. If your feet get wet in the rain change them as soon as you can and dry your feet.
19. Do not use any medications such as iodine or corn removal products unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
20. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any injury to your foot. Even a minor injury can develop into something more serious if not treated correctly.

These guidelines are essential for all diabetics to follow to prevent foot injury and potential consequences.
For additional articles on Health, Wealth and relationships please visit the Unlimited Destiny at prevent diabetes

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What Is Hyperglycemia Diabetes?

By Alma Apostol

Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar. If you have diabetes, from time to time you will experience this condition. When you ingest carbohydrates such as sugar and starches, it triggers the release of the hormone insulin from the pancreas.
Insulin facilitates the body to turn sugars into energy. Hyperglycemia occurs when your body does not have enough insulin or when the insulin is not properly used by your body. Hyperglycemia is a serious condition. Ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) can occur if hyperglycemia is not treated.
Diabetes hyperglycemia symptoms
When your blood sugar levels rises too high, sugar spills into the urine. Your kidneys must excrete additional water to dilute the sugar. You urinate large volume (polyuria). When you loss water due to frequent urination, you create abnormal thirst (polydipsia).
Other symptoms include: headaches, feeling tired, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, drowsiness, decreased endurance during exercise, lightheadedness. Rapid breathing with fruity-smelling breath is a sign of ketoacidosis (diabetic coma). Hyperglycemia is also a result from failing to take drugs to control your sugar.
Diabetes hyperglycemia treatment
The main purpose of hyperglycemia treatment is to control the occurrence of the symptoms. Take your prescribed insulin and other medication to keep your blood sugar level within the safe range and take them as directed.
Before making any changes in your medication talk to your doctor. Monitor your blood sugar glucose levels at different times of the day and keep a record of those measurements. Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels but first check your urine for ketones. The presence of ketones will make your blood glucose level higher if you exercise. If you eat a proper diet it can help your blood glucose levels within safe range.
Risks imposed by hyperglycemia
If you have diabetes, you succumb from cardiovascular event rather than the disease because of the stress imposed upon the heart and vascular system by your diabetes. Hyperglycemia can induce damage to the heart and blood vessels. Hyperglycemia diabetes can also impair the activity of nitric oxide that results in endothelial dysfunction such as increased inflammation, impotence, depression, cataracts, glaucoma, and dementia. Prevention of hyperglycemia diabetes
In order to prevent hyperglycemia, you have to manage your diabetes. Take your medication as prescribed. Keep a record of measurements of you blood glucose levels taken at different times of the day, the contents of the meals and the time when you eat the meals, as well as the kind of exercise and how long the exercise took place. The record will show how your body react to the food you eat and the exercise. You and your doctor can then decide a treatment plan that will keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range.
Conclusion
You can control the occurrence of the hyperglycemia diabetes if you take your prescribed insulin and other medication to keep your blood sugar level within the safe range and take them as directed.
(C) copyrights 2007. Alma B. Apostol is an accomplished Health and Wellness Consultant and inspirational writer of fiction and nonfiction. She has 30 years experience as a medical and clinical researcher. She has Co-authored several informative articles published in Scientific Journals. Alma is devoted to finding new technological discovery, latest research work, natural means, alternative to drugs and eventually a cure of diabetes. For more information visit http://www.diabetestomorrow.com/

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About Insulin Resistance

By Guin Van Niekerk

This document has been written in order to provide some basic information about insulin resistance and its associated conditions. Where necessary we have supplemented the information with website addresses, and links to certain articles.
WHAT IS INSULIN RESISTANCE?
Insulin resistance is a condition in which some tissues (like muscles) in your body do not respond to insulin as they should – they are resistant to insulin. This results in an increase in the levels of insulin in your blood, which is responsible for most of the problems associated with insulin resistance (e.g. high blood pressure, cholesterol problems).
WHAT CAUSES INSULIN RESISTANCE?
Two things:
· a genetic predisposition (insulin resistance and the conditions it causes – type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and PCOS – tend to run in families.)
· a less than favourable lifestyle, with loads of starchy food and not enough exercise.
WHY IS INSULIN RESISTANCE IMPORTANT?
Many reasons:
· It is very common – it affects at least one in four people.
- about 50% of people who are significantly overweight have insulin resistance.
- about 50% of people with high blood pressure have insulin resistance.
· It is very dangerous – insulin resistance is the underlying cause of conditions such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
· It makes weight loss almost impossible. The irony of this is that weight loss is one of the few interventions that can significantly improve the outcome of the condition.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT INSULIN RESISTANCE?
1. IDENTIFY those people who are at risk of having the condition. People who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of type 2 diabetes fall into this broad category. For a more complete questionnaire, go to www.insulinresistancesite.com/questionnaire.html
2. DIAGNOSE insulin resistance and its associated conditions.
· Insulin resistance is a clinical diagnosis, and cannot be diagnosed with any simple, reliable test. Currently an increased waist:hip ratio is the best predictor of a diagnosis of uncomplicated insulin resistance.
· Insulin resistance causes three conditions:
Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and PCOS. Once any of these is diagnosed, it is possible to definitively diagnose insulin resistance as the underlying cause. The first two are fairly straightforward to diagnose ( see www.insulinresistancesite.com/checklist.html ), but PCOS can be a problem in this respect.
3. TREAT the insulin resistance in a holistic way.
· Conditions such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and PCOS will most likely require medication; and it is always a good idea to know what you are taking and why you are taking it. · Treat the underlying insulin resistance with an appropriate lifestyle intervention program: a low carbohydrate diet and regular exercise work wonders. Medications such as metformin, Actos and Avandia are also very useful – they increase the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, thereby decreasing insulin resistance.
4. SCREEN family members for insulin resistance and its associated conditions.
Insulin resistance is primarily a genetic illness, and good screening with early intervention can prevent or delay the onset of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome – and in this way prolong wellness, and ultimately, life.
Dr Guin Van Niekerk is the author of “Why Fat Sticks: An Introduction to Insulin Resistance”
For more information go to http://www.insulinresistancesite.com/ or join our support group ==>"About Insulin Resistance" at Google groups.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guin_Van_Niekerk

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Diabetic Recipes

Having diabetes does not have to take over your life, it just makes you healthier, it forces you to do the things you should be doing in the first place. Like eating vegetables, going to sleep on time and taking regular exercise.

When you were first diagnosed you may remember having seen a nutritionist who will have told you almost everything there is to know about getting a balanced diet, everything you will have learnt in health class many years ago. It is important to remember that discoveries about food and health are almost constantly being made and therefore it is necessary to see your nutritionist at least every three years, if not more. It is also recommended that you keep a food diary for two weeks per every six months. This way you can keep tabs on what you are actually eating, rather than what you think you are eating (and yes there is a big difference.)

There are a few tips that can be imparted to you, from me an 8-year, post teenage, insulin pump user diabetic. Throughout the years I have come to learn many things, but here are the most important things to remember about your diet, and if you stick to these you will notice a huge improvement in your overall health as well as your levels.

1. Cut down on carbohydrates. I cannot tell you just how much this will effect your health. If you make your meals mostly vegetables and proteins, and very little carbohydrates then your levels will not have enough chance to go too badly. This is also giving your body more essential nutrients and minerals that you can only get from more vegetables and essential proteins.

2. Start the day with oats. You have probably heard about the GI diet, if you have not then make sure that you find out more information, as many people have found this really helpful. Oats are a low GI way to start the day, this means that the energy from the oats will last you a long time instead of coming in one short burst. It also means you won't be as hungry throughout the day.

3. Cut out alcohol. Is it really worth it? Alcohol plays havoc with your systems, and for diabetics it really is not worth the hassle. Having one cocktail can make your levels go up really high because of the hidden sugar content, and then plummet because this is the alcohols effect. It really is not worth it, have just a glass of red wine or a diet coke or a water if you are going out.

4. Switch to dark chocolate. This will be a huge difference, not only are you feeding yourself dramatically less sugar, but also you are eating more anti-oxidants and nutrients which are present in higher cocoa content chocolate.

5. Cook from fresh. Then you know whats in it. Does one of those funny words on the pack mean a complex sugar? This increases your awareness of what you actually eat in prepared meals, and cooking it takes some great energy that will help keep your levels in check.

6. No white flour. White flour is very high GI, whereas wholemeal varieties (of anything, rice, pasta or bread) are a low to medium GI which is so much better for you. These varieties are usually the more natural varieties and sometimes organic which has added extra benefits.

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If you are diabetic, you may need a blood sugar monitor. Having a good blood sugar monitor when you are diabetic is important. Taking your blood sugar and keeping track of it on a daily basis is also important. When you keep track of your blood sugar, you are able to tell when your blood sugar is low and you may need to eat, and when your blood sugar is high. Keeping track of your blood sugar will help you lead a healthier life when you are diabetic.

How do you use a blood sugar monitor? Most blood sugar monitors will prick your finger so that you bleed. You would then place a drop of your blood from your finger onto a little card, that will read how much sugar you have in your blood. For example, if you have just eaten a candy bar, and you were to take your blood sugar with a monitor, the monitor would read that your blood sugar is high, because of the sugar you just ate. However, if you have not eaten for a few hours, and you were to take your blood sugar with a monitor, the monitor would read that your blood sugar may be a little on the low side.

It is a good idea to have a blood sugar monitor if you are diabetic for a few reasons. This monitor helps you keep track of your blood sugar, and lets you know when you have eaten too much sugar, or not enough food. Most blood sugar monitors can be used at home, with the prick of a finger you can take your own blood sugar, and monitor it yourself.

It is very important that anyone with diabetes is able to monitor their sugar alone. Your doctor will tell you the range your blood sugar should be in, and what is too high and what is too low. Keeping careful track of your blood sugar with a monitor, can save your life.

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Diabetes Diet

How do you know what foods to eat? Maybe you like rice or pasta or grits or other carb foods that need insulin to process these foods.
How much of the carbohydrate or carb (CHO) foods can I eat? Well that depends if you would need to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your weight.
Type 2 Diabetes Diet or Diabetes 2 diet is basically the diet I am referring to.
So what does the Visual Plate Technique mean. If all you see is rice, or grits or sweet foods as the greater piece of your plate, then you are way off base. Diabetes 2 diet contain a green leafy vegetable or salad, Protein foodstuff (eggs , meat, fish, cheese) and a smaller portion of carbohydrate vegetables or rice, pasta or whatever other carbs.
Diets for Diabetes doesn't matter what culture and foods you like and that tastes great. It matters that you somewhat control your carbohydrate vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, peas, potatoes) and your CHO foods (rice, pasta, and other carb foods) with each meal. Diet for Diabetes means more control over the CHO you eat.
If you eat green leafy vegetables, then you can eat extra rice or pasta.
With Type 2 Diabetes Diet, protein foods do not raise your blood sugar, so you can add extra fish, eggs, meat, etc with your meals. As long as your cholesterol isn't too high (eggs and meats) and you are not a Kidney patient, there should be no reason why you can't eat extra protein foods. Protein foods in the diet for diabetes is that the protein contains its own natural fat which actually helps curb your appetite.
Whenever you eat a meal or snack, it should always include a small amount of protein that has its natural fat. Also, eating just a piece of fruit can make you hungrier. That's where the protein helps to curb the appetite.
I also tell my patients not to drink any juice unless your blood sugar is low. It is better to eat the fruit than drink the juice.

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Diabetic

By : Arturo Ronzon

Initially diabetes management and control may involve dietary changes alone. Diet is a vital component in your overall diabetes control program and to keep blood sugar levels under control, a diabetic diet strikes a balance among the carbohydrates, fats, and protein you eat, when you control your body functions through exercise and by using a diabetic diet, your pain and agony seems to diminish.

A diabetic diet must be a well-balanced meal plan tailored to your individual needs, tastes, activity level and life style, and its goal is to provide all the calories and nutrients the diabetic needs while keeping blood sugars as close to normal as possible. Diabetes is not a life sentence to a rigid and restrictive menu plan.

The diabetic diet basically involves limiting your carbohydrate intake in order to control your glucose levels. The recommended carbohydrate content of diabetic diet is 60%, fat content 30-35%. Another important characteristic of a diabetic diet is to eat regularly, at the same times each day, and to eat a consistent amount of calories each day; the diabetic diet is not only for diabetics: it is an excellent, balanced alternative for anyone.

Since the diabetic diet is one which is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, look for cookbooks that emphasize low-fat cooking, the diabetic diet is a bit stricter and calls for avoiding grains and fruit but you have about 30g of carbs daily. The ideal diabetic diet is also good for cholesterol with its emphasis on low fat, high complex carbohydrate and high fiber.

The most important aspect of the diabetic diet is meal planning, your meal plan should be adjusted to take into account carbs sugars and fat in the diabetic food, the general principle is to control body fat means less sensitivity to Insulin, which keeps the blood sugar level in check.
Carbohydrate Counting offers suggestions and tips about how to eat carbohydrates while maintaining your insulin needs and diabetes control, by following a consistent diet control, a diabetic patient ought to be able to maintain good health in general, but you should remember that an effective control of diabetes requires an integrated approach which also includes exercise, weight control and a good diabetic diet.

When you have diabetes, your medications are your best friends, as they will help you keep your condition under control, remember that one of the main goals for a diabetic diet is to lower your weight and maintain it, to put it in simplified words, diabetic diet is a balanced healthy diet plan which is vital for Diabetes treatment.

The diabetic diet is aimed at helping to control blood sugar levels, the less fluctuation, especially rapid release of glucose into the blood, the better, an adherence to a diabetic diet is an important aspect of controlling elevated blood sugar in patients with diabetes mellitus.

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What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational Diabetes also known as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus or GDM is a form of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy. GDM occurs when the expectant mother’s pancreas cannot make enough insulin causing the body not to able to regulate the glucose.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
No one knows the exact cause of GDM. It is very possible that the hormones made by the placenta interfere with the regulation of insulin or block the effect of insulin. The placenta is a tissue that connects the baby to the mother while the baby is in the womb. GDM would be the result of the pancreas making insufficient amounts of insulin.

Some women are more likely to develop Gestational Diabetes than others.

Risk factors include the following

* Having a family member with Diabetes

* Having a history of high blood sugar

* Gaining too much weight during pregnancy

* Being overweight before getting pregnant

* Having given birth to large babies in the past (over 9lbs)

* Having glycosuria (sugar in the urine)

* Black

* Hispanic

* American Indian

Signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes;

o Frequent Urinationo Blurred Vision

o Tired feeling much of the time, more than is usual

o Frequent urinary or bladder infections
o Frequent skin rash or infectiono Gaining more weighto Nausea

o VomitingHow is GDM Diagnosed?

If there is any concern about the possibility of GDM they will likely order either a 50 Gram Glucose Challenge. Most labs will draw a sample and check the baseline blood glucose then give you a drink containing a specified amount of glucose. Women that are at high risk for gestational diabetes may have this test repeated several times throughout their pregnancy.

How is Gestational Diabetes Treated?

Insulin or other medications may be given if diet and exercise are not successful in the treatment of GDM.

Will having GDM affect the baby or the mother?
There is a chance that GDM will lead to the following in mother:

* Development of Type 2 Diabetes later in life

* GDM in future pregnancies

* Increases chances of need for caesarean delivery

* Possible premature labor

And the following in the baby:

* Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

* Macrosomia (large baby) any baby weighing over 8lbs 8 oz is considered to be large

* Long term jaundice.

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Neuropathy

Burning, numbness, tingling, hot and cold sensations, shooting and electrical pain are common sensations felt at rest in painful peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is an abnormality of the nervous system. There are many different types of neuropathy, but the most common neuropathy effecting diabetics is peripheral neuropathy.
Sixty percent of diabetics have some type of neuropathy in their feet. Five percent of diabetics will experience painful diabetic neuropathy and the incidence increases with age. The cause of diabetic neuropathy is not clearly understood. Despite the different theories, studies have shown better blood sugar control helps prevent progression of the neuropathy.
There are currently no treatments to help reverse diabetic neuropathy. There are no treatments which help reduce the numbness. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help with the pain. Gabapentin, also known as Neurontin®, has been a successful treatment for painful diabetic neuropathy. To help treat painful peripheral neuropathy without prescription medications, consider the following tips:
1. Keep your blood sugar in control: Studies have shown that when blood sugars remain high, or roller coaster from high to low, peripheral neuropathy will worsen.
2. Exercise. Exercise helps increase circulation and stimulates the growth of new vessels which help slow the progression of the neuropathy. Exercising also helps to increase your pain threshold and to provide a distraction from the nerve pain in your feet.
3. Eat healthy. Anti-oxidants will combat the damaging oxidative effects glucose has on your nerves. 4. Try red pepper powder. To help relieve pain, the dose must be at least 600mg a day.

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Glucose

Glucose Q & A

Glucose – What Is It Anyway?
Glucose, in simple terms, is a form of a carbohydrate. The energy that your body has comes from carbohydrates. The more carbs that are in a food that you eat, the higher your blood glucose level goes up after eating them.
Where Do We Get Glucose From?
Our body produces it based on the foods we eat. So, when your body starts to feel run down and out of energy, it usually means your glucose level is low. Few people understand how many carbs a food contains. After eating, your body then takes the carbohydrates from your food and turns them into glucose. Presto! How Do I Get High Glucose Levels?
For most everyone, glucose levels are not a problem whatsoever. Where the problem comes into play for diabetics, or pre-diabetics, is when their bodies can't burn up the extra glucose. The glucose stays in their system and doesn't burn off. This issue is compounded with every meal they eat. This is exactly the reason why it is so important to know what your glucose level is.
If you don't pay attention to your glucose level and let it go, it can easily turn into diabetes. Don't confuse blood glucose with the commercial glucose you can buy that is made from corn starch. What Is A Normal Level Of Glucose?
Your glucose levels will vary throughout the day, and before, during, and after eating. Anything above that level and you should see a doctor. If you haven't had your blood glucose checked, it is a simple procedure. The doctor will poke your finger and check a tiny drop of blood in a glucometer.

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Diabetic Diet

Keep Your Diabetes Under Control With a Diabetic Diet

What exactly is a diabetic diet? Diabetes prevents your body from processing glucose the way it should, so a diabetic diet has to, to some degree, perform that maintenance. In addition, the hope is that a diabetic diet will also help you to maintain healthy lipid levels and keep your blood pressure under control. Second, a diabetic diet will vary some from person to person. The benefits and assistance to your body from the diabetic diet will depend on what type of diabetes you are trying to treat. Each type has its own challenges and level of restriction on the diet. The important thing to remember, though, is that studies show the effectiveness of a diabetic diet is dependent, not so much on the diet itself, but on how well the patient follows the diet. For many of those with type 2, their diabetic diet is really just a simple heart healthy diet. For those with type 1, it will likely be a more individualized diabetic diet. A diabetic diet, it turns out, is not just one thing. Regulating diabetes is individual, so if you find you are diabetic it is important to talk to your physician about your individual diabetic diet and stick with it. So what is a diabetic diet?

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Diabetes Symptoms

As the baby boomers age, they are faced with an array of diseases that accompany the golden years. Along with grandchildren and retirement, they are faced with ailments from arthritis to diabetes. The thought of getting a disease such as diabetes can be worrisome, it helps to be aware of what diabetes symptoms are and be able to recognize them early enough to get the help you will need to get the disease under control.
1- There are some common diabetes symptoms that should be checked out by a physician. By themselves, each symptom is not a cause for alarm. However, if more than a couple are noticed at one time, an appointment with your primary care physician should be made without hesitation.
2- The first thing that you should know about diabetes is, it is very important to pay attention to your body. There are over one million new diagnoses of diabetes that are made each year. Diabetes is directly or indirectly the cause of approximately 200,000 deaths every year. It is estimated that 17 million people in America have diabetes, it is also estimated that approximately one third of these people do not even know they have the disease.
3- The reason that so many people do not know that they may have diabetes is because some people show no diabetes symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to have blood work checked every year after the age of 45. This is often part of a routine physical at this age, but it is always a good idea to check with the doctor to make sure the test is being run.
4- There are several diabetes symptoms to be on the look out for, they include, but are not limited to:
Sudden weight loss
Drinking excessive amounts of water
Excessive urination
Feeling a numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Having infections more often than usual
Being slow to heal from a wound
It is also important to note that any one person may have all, some or none of these diabetes symptoms. These symptoms can also be experienced in any combination.
5- Along with this list of symptoms, diabetes can also be accompanied by stomach pains, vomiting or nausea. If these symptoms occur in conjunction with the list, it could be the immediate onset of type 1 diabetes, otherwise known as insulin-dependent diabetes. When you call your doctors' office for an appointment, be sure to tell them you are experiencing possible diabetes symptoms and that you need to be seen right away.

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Pancreas

The pancreas is made up of exocrine and endocrine cells. Endocrine cells are responsible for creating and secreting insulin and it's counterpart glucagon. Glucose is effectively the energy that keeps the cells in the body functioning. Without glucose the body would starve. Glucose is absorbed from food via the stomach. The bloodstream passes glucose to all the cells in the body.
Within the pancreatic islets are many smaller cells. Two of these cells produce the hormones insulin and glucagon.
The beta cells create and secrete insulin.
The alpha cells create and secrete glucagon.
Insulin has the effect of acting on many cells in the body to create glycogen. Glycogen is a form of storage for glucose in cells. The principal cells that insulin works on are the liver, fat and muscle cells. Thus glycogen is stored in these cells. This has the effect of keeping the glucose level in the blood to a constant and normal level.
When the blood sugar level is low, glucagon is created and secreted. The glucose can then by used by the body's cells to continue functioning via the bloodstream.

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Obesity

Obesity is simply fatness in a degree higher than being overweight. Obesity has quite an impact in one’s physical health that many degenerative diseases are directly and indirectly linked to obesity as observed in the history of obesity. Throughout the history of obesity, its reputation varies from appreciation and the opposite among cultures and in time.

Take a look in the history of obesity and we’ll learn that this is truly an age-old health condition. Ancient Egyptians are said to consider obesity as a disease, having been drawn in a wall of depicted illnesses. Ancient China have also been aware of obesity and the dangers that come with it. The Aztecs believed that obesity was supernatural, an affliction of the gods. Throughout the history of obesity, the public’s view and status of obesity changed considerably in the 1900’s. About the same time, the incidence of obesity began to increase and become widespread. In 1996, the Body Mass Index (BMI) was published. The history of obesity should be well studied so precautions can be practiced and thus prevent obesity from spreading.

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Sugar

Are you a diabetic and do you check your blood sugar level regularly ? Know Your Levels :Check your blood sugar level frequently. However for those who take insulin, you may need to check your blood sugar levels several times a day. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels gives us a gauge on where our blood sugar levels are right at the moment and provide us sufficient time to act before complication sets in.
Good Control Keeps Complications at Bay: Complication sets in if your blood sugar level remains consistently high and you do nothing about it. The longer the blood sugar is high, the more severe the damage. Tight control of blood glucose levels by performing your own self-test regularly will therefore prevent, delay and minimise the risk of diabetes-related complications.
If your medication is not effective in maintaining your blood sugar within the right range, it needs to be adjusted. Minimizes The possibilities of Life-threatening Emergencies: High blood sugar (Hyperglycemia) can occur during stress or when taking medications that affect the blood sugar. Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) can happen if your blood sugar level drops too low. Our advise is, if you exercise, test your blood sugar level before, during or after exercise to avoid a dangerous dip in blood sugar. Do take note too that drinking alcohol can also lower your blood sugar and thus, monitor your level closely if you drink. This occurs slowly over time while your blood sugar remains consistently high. Save your heart and kidney by keeping your blood sugar in control.

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Diet

Atkins Diet Program
The Atkins diet program is based on the principle of switching your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates to obtain energy. The main difference to other diet programs is in what you are allowed to eat ie eggs, meat including beef, pork, turkey, chicken, duck, wild game, veal & lamb also fish such as shellfish. Fats are also permitted ie butter, olive oil & mayonnaise, certain cheeses are also permitted.
You cannot eat the following:
Fruit & fruit juice.Cottage cheese, farmers cheese & other fresh cheeses.Diet Program Pro’s
No need to starve and are encouraged to eat when hungry.
Diet Program Con’s
Must stick to diet for good to keep off unwanted pounds. No breaks or cheat days allowed. South Beach Diet Program
Similar to the Atkins diet program in that it changes the way you eat whilst still allowing plenty of popular foods such as meat, fish & eggs but you can also eat cheese & vegetables.
You can also have dessert & diet soda. Diet Program Pro’s
Based on a healthy way of eating rather than a diet. Many of your favourite foods are probably still allowed. Some alcohol ie wine is allowed.
Diet Program Con’s
Zone Diet Program
Developed by Barry Sears a biochemist, the Zone Diet is about controlling your insulin level through a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins & fat, also known as the 40-30-30 diet (40% carbohydrates, 30% Proteins 30% fat). The Zone diet encourages eating regularly throughout the day & eliminates many jink foods such as sweets & chips.
Diet Program Pro’s
Balanced diet rather than cutting out foods you may enjoy.
Diet Program Con’s
Mediterranean Diet Program
Saturated fat is known to raise cholesterol levels.
The basic diet followed is one that has a low consumption of red meat, low to moderate consumption of sweets, fish, eggs & dairy products except cheese & natural yogurt, a high consumption of fresh fruits & vegetables & a higher consumption of breads, pasta, rice, potatoes & couscous. Diet Program Pro’s
Not a “fad diet” but a traditional way of eating with known health benefits.
Diet Program Con’s
Weight Watchers Diet Program
There are 2 main diet programs for you to follow; one a points system where all foods are allocated points according to their calorie, fat & fibre content. The other diet program is a no points system which allows you to eat from a range of wholesome foods without having to count the calories.
Diet Program Pro’s
Diet Program Con’s

See my other guide on Diabetes

Type of Diabetes

Before we start discussion about type of diabetes we must know what exactly is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the digestion system of our body for growth and energy. Almost every food we eat broken down to glucose, the form or sugar which is the fuel for our body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells. For the people having diabetes this is the place of disorder, there pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced.

Types of diabetes: The three main types of diabetes are :

Type 1 Diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes)
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body's system for fighting infection stops in a part of body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.

Type 2 Diabetes (previously known as non-insulin dependent diabetes)
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. Nearly 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is strongly genetic. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents. However, type 2 diabetes in youth are not in common. When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively, a condition called insulin resistance. After several years, insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1 diabetes—glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuel.

Gestational Diabetes: (Gdm)Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy. Like type 2 diabetes, it occurs more often in African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and among women with a family history of diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years