Lifestyle Changes For Type 2 Diabetics – Part 1

October 12th, 2009 Admin

Changing your lifestyle is an integral part in preventing Type 2 Diabetes or ensuring your condition does not deteriorate.

It may seem like a burden to make changes to your comfort zone, but remember that diabetes brings with it a host of Type 2 Diabetes complications to every organ – from the eyes to the heart to the kidneys.

Here are some lifestyle modifications you need to make.

Switch to a Heart-Healthy Type 2 Diabetes Diet. Heart disease is a major complication of diabetes.

Start by cutting out fatty and fried foods. If you are a fast-food freak, you may want to try reducing your visits to these places. Increase your fibre intakes, by packing up on fruits and vegetables.

Quit Smoking. If you tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking in the past, try again and make sure it works this time!

We all know the health hazards of smoking, including the damage it has on blood vessels. A combination of Type 2 Diabetes and smoking can double your risk of developing heart disease.

Your doctor can suggest ways to stop smoking, so schedule an appointment soon.

Protect Your Immunity. Did you know that high glucose levels can adversely affect your immune system? So, make sure you are up-to-date on all your immunisations, including your annual flu vaccination.

Speak to your doctor on how to better protect your immune system.

Stop Being a Couch Potato. Exercise helps the body use insulin better, resulting in well-controlled blood sugar levels.

Exercise is also important in preventing obesity, a common risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes.

You need not participate in strenuous activity, which can sometimes do more harm than good. Instead, take brisk walks in the evening and use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.

Just like a balanced diet, physical activity can help keep your blood glucose at acceptable levels and prevent diabetes-related health complications.

Read Lifestyle Changes for Type 2 Diabetes People – Part 2.

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Your Guide To Managing Type II Diabetes Successfully

September 28th, 2009 Admin

If you have been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, you are not alone. Type 2 Diabetes, the most prevalent form of the disease that accounts for 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases in America, is becoming more common due to the growing number of older Americans, increasing obesity, and failure to exercise.

The good news about Type II Diabetes is that if this is a situation you have created in your body; it is a situation that you can control. Do not let your Type 2 Diabetes untreated as it can cause serious health risks and complications for your body to deal with like loss of sight or limbs, coma and possible death.

In order to have a happier and healthier life, use a simple guide to managing Type 2 Diabetes to help you make the changes that you need to.

The biggest factors in your life that need to change are diet and exercise levels. There is that old saying of “garbage in, garbage out” and this is true of your body.

1. Type 2 Diabetes Diet. There are many conflict sources of information of what is good to eat. For accuracy of the types of foods you need to be eating, kindly double check with the American Diabetes Association.

No trans fat or half the calories; what matters the most is how the food breaks down inside your body. Your body does not have enough insulin or is ignoring the insulin that is there. Anything that is high in sugar content is not good for you or your condition.

You may think that you have to give up everything that you love and enjoy and in reality you might not have to. Everything in moderation is the key but you need to know what moderation is as it relates to you and your health.

2. Regular Exercise. If you do not have any fitness routine in your life you will have to start slowly and you will need to consult your doctor to know whether you can handle a new routine or what precautionary measures for Type 2 diabetics to exercise safely.

If you were physically active before the diagnoses you will have to consult your doctor to find out whether you should maintain the level of fitness that you are used.

Seeking out other people to exercise with will help you keep accountable to staying with your routine. A support group will make exercising easier and can help to inform you of the other lifestyle changes that you need to implement.

Also chances are that you have surrounded yourself with people that have the same habits and diet that you used to partake in. So having people that are leading the same lifestyle that you want to achieve might make the transition easier.

Having Type 2 Diabetes does not mean that you cannot enjoy life and all of its activities. You can have a positive influence on your blood sugar and your overall health by choosing foods wisely, exercising regularly, reducing your stress level, and making modest lifestyle changes.

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The Type 2 Diabetes Diet Guide Book: Dr. Bernstein’s Low Carbohydrate Solution

September 26th, 2009 Admin

Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution Guide to Achieving Normal Blood SugarsAre you diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and desperately in need of a complete guide when it comes to Type 2 Diabetes diet? If so, Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars is one of the comprehensive guides that educates you on what to eat and what to avoid in order to have super high energy level.

I mentioned that it’s ONE of the comprehensive guide books simply because besides Dr. Bernstein’s, there are truly many books and guides that provide excellent diet plans for Type II diabetics.

You must remember that there is NO one plan that suits all people with Type 2 Diabetes; some see results after trying Dr. Bernstein’s diet solution while some don’t.

So, show your doctor the Appendix of Dr. Bernstein book that explains why low carb diet is okay before you start the new Type 2 Diabetes diet.

AND before you start Dr. Bernstein’s excellent plan for Type 2 diabetics to control your blood sugar, you must ask yourself if you can handle a strict low-carbohydrate diet.

It’s an extremely low-carb diet that requires you to follow a 12-6-6 diet, 12 grams of carbs for breakfast, and 6 grams for both lunch and dinner.

Fresh fruit – out. Oatmeal – out. Low sodium vegetable juice – out. Whole grain cereals with fat free milk – out. Eggs – in.

To control your blood sugar, it’s obvious that you have to begin with changing your food consumption. Control your food intake and you will be able to control your blood sugar.

This is not an easy eating plan to follow for life. If you are convinced that an early death from Type 2 Diabetes complications isn’t an acceptable alternative, I am sure you will give the low-carb Type 2 Diabetes diet plan a try.

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Your Simple Guide To Managing Type 2 Diabetes

September 23rd, 2009 Admin

Simple Guide to Managing Type 2 DiabetesHaving Type 2 Diabetes does not mean that it is the end of the world. With a simple guide to managing Type 2 Diabetes, you can still live a healthier and happier life.

Type II Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90% of cases. It is a disorder in which the body is not able to make enough insulin or to properly use insulin to turn the glucose in food into energy.

Type 2 Diabetes can be treated with proper diet, exercise and medication. Depending on your lifestyle prior to diagnoses, you may or may not have to make a lot of changes to keep your blood sugar under control.

You can start with diet for Type 2 Diabetes that gives your body food that is nourishing and not a hindrance. Many people still believe that you need to eat the same foods all of the time. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are a variety of foods that you can eat and you do not necessarily need to eliminate all of the previous foods you used to eat.

You should avoid eating certain types of fats; however, not all fats are bad. Monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and Omega-3 fats help prevent heart disease. Trans fat and saturated fats are not your friends. These fats clearly affect your cholesterol levels. Having diabetes already puts you at risk for heart disease; consumption of these fats will only increase your chance of having heart disease.

One of the hardest things for people to change is the amount of sweets in their Type 2 Diabetes diet. Who does not like dessert? The good news is you do not have to turn dessert away; you just have to prepare for that inclusion in your meal. If you know you’re having dessert then maybe you want to eat a little lighter during your meal.

This is another important part of your guide to managing Type 2 Diabetes; you must have some form of regular exercise. You really cannot afford to gain a lot of weight and if you are overweight, it is important that you lose some of it. Being overweight makes your heart work harder and eventually the body produce enough fat to surround your heart and lungs.

If you do not exercise often, you need to go slowly. Start by committing to taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood or any available track. After some time, you will want to include strength training and you will always want to stretch prior to exercising.

Follow the instructions that your doctor gives you and check out any local groups for support and advice for dealing with your disease. Having Type 2 Diabetes does not mean that you cannot enjoy life and all of its activities.

Whether these are small or big changes in your life, there are many other people with Type Two Diabetes that are going through the same thing and able to live healthier and longer.

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5 Precautionary Measures For Type 2 Diabetics To Exercise Safely

August 30th, 2009 Admin

Although most people with Type 2 Diabetes can exercise safely, exercise involves some risks. To shift the benefit-to-risk ratio in your favor, there are some precautionary measures that you need to take.

1. Get a Medical Exam First. Have a medical exam before you begin your exercise program, including an exercise test with EGK monitoring, especially if you have cardiovascular disease, you are over 35, you have high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels, you smoke, or you have a family history of heart disease.

2. Always Discuss with Your Doctor. Discuss with your doctor any unusual Type 2 Diabetes symptoms that you experience during or after exercise.

If you have diabetes-related complications, check with your health care provider about special precautions.

3. Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels. Learn how to prevent and treat low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia. If you take oral agents or insulin, monitor your blood sugar levels before, during and after exercise.

4. Dos and Don’ts of Exercise. Always warm up and cool down. Don’t exercise outdoors when the weather is too hot and humid or too cold.

5. Proper Footwear. Pay attention to proper footwear. Inspect your feet daily and always after your exercise. Read 7 Simple Foot Care Tips For Type 2 Diabetics.

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Today’s Type 2 Diabetes Diet Recipe: Cinnamon French Toast

August 24th, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes Diet Recipe - Cinnamon French ToastHave you added cinnamon to your Type 2 Diabetes diet after reading how Cinnamon Helps Control Sugar Levels in Type 2 Diabetics? If so, here is a Cinnamon French Toast recipe that I would like to share with you. :-)

Ingredients:

1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites
1/2 cup fat-free skim milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
8 slices bread
Butter-flavored cooking spray

1. In a shallow dish, whisk together egg and egg whites, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Dip each slice of bread quickly in egg mixture to coat one side, flip over with a fork, and quickly coat other side.

2. Place slices of bread in large nonstick skillet coated generously with cooking spray and warmed over medium heat. Cook until golden, turn over, and continue cooking until other side is golden. If cooking French toast in two batches, re-coat skillet with cooking spray between batches.

Nutrition Facts for Cinnamon French Toast:

Servings – 4
Serving Size – 2 slices
Preparation Time – 5 minutes
Starch Exchanges – 2
Calories – 167
Calories From Fat – 27
Total Fat – 3 g
Saturated Fat – 1 g
Cholesterol – 54 mg
Sodium – 302 mg
Carbohydrate – 27 g
Dietary Fiber – 1 g
Sugars – 3 g
Protein – 8 g

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How Diabetic Retinopathy Causes Floaters & Flashes

August 21st, 2009 Admin

It’s common for people to sometimes see things that aren’t there – floaters or flashes. In people with Type 2 Diabetes, floaters and flashes may have another cause: diabetic eye disease or retinopathy.

Floaters look like specks, blobs, lines, cobwebs, or clouds floating in front of your eye. They are easier to see when looking at a plain surface.

Flashes are spots or streaks of light that last for a second or two. They tend to be more serious than floaters and are easier to see in a dark room.

Floaters and flashes can also be the result of diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar levels can damage small blood vessels. Injured vessels may leak blood, which may drift around in the vitreous and cause floaters.

Later, the retina may attempt to grow replacement vessels. Unfortunately, these tend to be fragile and bleed easily, again causing floaters.

Even worse, the replacement vessels can wedge themselves between the retina and the eyeball. This action may cause the retina to detach, which can cause flashes.

Retinopathy is a tricky disease. Sometimes it causes no symptoms at all until it is severe. Other times, a person may have blurred or warped vision, floaters, or vision loss.

So, it’s important for almost everyone with Type 2 Diabetes to have an eye exam at least once a year, even if they see just fine.

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Type 2 Diabetes – Symptoms & How To Manage It

August 17th, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes is far more common than Type 1, with 90% of people with diabetes suffering from this type.

This disease is a condition where the body is unable to automatically regulate blood glucose levels, resulting in too much glucose sugar in the blood.

Unlike Type I Diabetes which is caused by the pancreas’ inability to produce insulin, Type II Diabetes is a result of body tissues becoming resistant to insulin. It is usually hereditary.

To know if you have it or may have it in future, pay attention to the Type 2 Diabetes symptoms. The most common symptoms of diabetes are as follow:

* excessive thirsty;
* frequent urination;
* increased hunger;
* extreme fatigue;
* blurred vision;
* recurrent skin infections very difficult to heal;
* tingling or numbness of legs;
* gums disorders;
* hair loss.

Type Two Diabetes, if without proper management, can lead to various health complications such as visual impairment, kidney damage, heart disease, nerve damage, hypoglycemia, gum and teeth disease, and amputation of legs should you get a cut, bruise, or they begin to swell or blister.

Type 2 Diabetes is a life-long disease, but it can be brought under control with a combined approach of proper Type 2 Diabetes diet, sufficient exercise, weight maintenance and possibly medication.

1. Eat Healthy Type 2 Diabetes Diet. Adjusting to eating healthy and controlling the amount and the types of foods is important.

Staying within the proper food groups of vegetables, whole grains, and fruits is a help.

2. Regular Exercise. A routine exercise plan to keep you active and to help maintain an acceptable weight level helps effectively manage Type 2 Diabetes.

3. Monitor the Levels of Blood Sugar Daily. A commitment to monitor the levels of blood sugar everyday is imperative.

With diabetes monitoring kits that are easily available and used, recording your blood sugar level results every day should be an easy task.

4. Take Medication Without Fail. Keeping your blood sugar regulated and under control is important with medication. Once your doctor has provided you pills or insulin shots to keep your blood glucose levels under control, take your medication without fail.

By working with your healthcare provider, taking your medication religiously, changing to healthy diet, doing regular exercise and keeping track of your blood sugar levels, it’s for sure that you can manage your Type 2 Diabetes and reduce health complications.

Posted in Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Diet, Type 2 Diabetes Drug Medications, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »
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