8 Early Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

August 13th, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes SymptomsEarly Type 2 Diabetes symptoms are almost the same as Type 1. However, the major difference is that symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes typically develop rapidly over a few days or weeks while Type 2 Diabetes symptoms may take a few months or years to develop.

According to research, as many as 33 percent of the people who have the disease are not yet diagnosed.

As the symptoms for Type II Diabetes take longer time to develop and are frequently reasonably mild before it is diagnosed, paying attention to early diabetic or pre-diabetes signs gives you a fighting chance of preventing diabetes altogether.

If two or more of the 8 pre-diabetes symptoms are noticed, you should consider consulting a doctor and having a checkup.

1. Excessive Thirst. You find you are excessively thirsty throughout the day, not just hot weather or after extreme exercise workout.

2. Dry Mouth. You seem to constantly have a dry mouth even if you’ve just had a drink.

3. Frequent Urination. You seem to urinate very frequently.

4. Unexpected Weight Loss or Gain. You have unexpected weight loss or gain in spite of constantly feeling hunger and eating well.

5. Increased Fatigue. You feel lethargic. You always feel as if you’ve got no energy; you are weak and tired all the time.

6. Blurred Vision. You seem to have blurred vision. Be careful, untreated eye problems caused through diabetes can lead to blindness.

You should have regular eye checks, especially as you get older because your eyes can be the early warning signal for many diseases.

7. Slow Healing of Wounds. The cuts, sores or bruises on your feet seem to take a long time to heal.

8. Persistent Itchiness or Yeast Infections. If you experience persistent itching or soreness in the genital area or yeast infections, it may be a sign of too much sugar in your urine.

Health complications such as stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, retinopathy, leg amputation and peripheral neuropathy will result if your symptoms turn out to be from Type 2 Diabetes and they are ignored.

Posted in Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

4 Reasons Why Smoking Is Hazardous For Type 2 Diabetics

August 10th, 2009 Admin

Are you a Type 2 diabetic who is a smoker as well? Smoking is a direct cause of cancer, but do you know that if you have Type II Diabetes, smoking worsens your condition and other health problems?

Let me share with you 4 reasons why mixing Type 2 Diabetes with smoking is a very bad idea:

1. Cause Nerve Damage or Neuropathy. Your chance of getting nerve damage or neuropathy is higher if you are a smoker.

Smoking affects your blood circulation and that in turn means your nerve endings do not get the nutrients they need. If the nerve endings, especially those in your feet, fail to get the nutrients they need, your feet will start getting sores and infections.

And if the sores, foot ulcers, and bacterial infections are not taken care of properly, they will lead to serious leg and foot amputations.

2. Limit the Mobility of Your Joints. There is an increased risk – double in fact – of you getting limited joint mobility. Imagine each time you bend your body, climb up or down the stairs or lift something, your joint is painful!

3. Increase the Risk of Kidney and Heart Diseases. Being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes means that you are already faced with health complications such as stroke, kidney failure and heart disease. Smoking helps speed up your risk of developing kidney and heart diseases.

According to research, diabetics who smoke are 3-fold as likely to die of heart or cardiovascular diseases as are other people with diabetes.

4. Increase Your Blood Sugar Levels. Smoking makes controlling your diabetes condition even harder because of the dramatic fluctuation of blood glucose levels. This, in turn, leads to other health problems such as stroke, kidney failure, heart disease, liver damage and the amputation of legs.

In short, smoking has a seriously detrimental effect on the ABC’s of diabetes management:

A1C – the measurement of your blood glucose over a 3-month period
B – your blood pressure, which should be below 130/80
C – your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels include LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Your LDL should be below 100. HDL levels should be above 40 for men and above 50 for women. Tryglycerides should be below 150.

Now you see the reality of the danger of smoking and why as a Type 2 diabetic you should quit smoking, approach your health care provider as soon as possible for information on quitting smoking.

Posted in Type 2 Diabetes Complications, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

7 Simple Type 2 Diabetes Foot Care Tips

August 7th, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes Foot CareIf you have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, it’s important for you to take good care of your feet to avoid the risk of developing sores and infections, in the worst scenario, lead to leg amputations.

It happened to my mother-in-law more than 15 years ago. Due to the family members’ lacking in diabetes foot care knowledge and ignoring the importance of avoiding foot wounds and injuries, my mother-in-law’s foot suffered from bacterial infection and had to have it amputated.

So, reduce your risk of bacterial infection or leg amputation by implementing these 7 simple Type II Diabetes foot care tips

1. Inspect Your Feet Daily. Check your feet daily or have a family member help you check for sores, cuts, bruises, changes to the toenails and other conditions, especially if you have low sensitivity or no feeling in your feet.

Sores, cuts and grazes could go unnoticed and you could develop problems leading to amputations.

Pain, redness or swelling around the toenails could mean an ingrown toenail, the leading cause of amputations in diabetics.

2. Wear Socks and Shoes. As a diabetic, it’s important not to go around barefoot, even indoors. Treading on something or stubbing your toes and cutting yourself brings the risk for infections and amputations easily as the healing process for a diabetic is slow.

3. Watch Out If You Have Corns or Calluses. Consult your chiropodist or podiatrist for the best care of corns, calluses, in-grown toe nails and other foot problems.

4. Wash Your Feet in Warm, NOT Hot Water. And don’t soak your feet even if you’ve been standing all day because it could dry your skin and form cracks or sores.

5. Dry Your Feet Thoroughly, Especially Between Your Toes. These are natural moisture traps – leaving them damp or wet could create all sorts of problems.

6. Exercise Your Legs and Feet Regularly. Even when sitting you can rotate your ankles; wiggle your toes or move your legs up and down. All these keep your blood circulation flowing to minimize the risk of foot problems.

7. Get Your Feet Professionally Checked. Have your feet checked at least once a year for sensitivity and signs of any problems.

You can usually arrange this when you have your annual check up for your blood pressure, cholesterol and AC1 levels, also known as blood glucose levels over a 3-month period.

Taking these 7 simple Type 2 Diabetes foot care actions will help you reduce the risk of painful foot problems or leg amputations.

Posted in Type 2 Diabetes Foot Care Tips Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

Top 5 Ways To Manage Your Diet For Type 2 Diabetes

August 4th, 2009 Admin

Hi, let me, a diabetic for six years, share with you how I manage my diet for Type 2 Diabetes.

Since my diagnosis with diabetes six years ago, my diet has changed dramatically; I have the countless diet books and diabetic recipe books to thank for my current healthy weight and diet.

You can follow my steps to manage your Type II Diabetes, but it’s still advisable for you to consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet.

What works for me may not necessarily work for you.

Top 5 ways to manage your diet for Type 2 Diabetes:

1. Cut Down the Intake of Snacks. I understand that cutting back on snacks is one of the hardest things to do for some people; it’s hard for me too at first.

However, establishing a healthy diet is essential to great diabetes care. Replace the unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks like unsalted nuts, dried unsweetened fruit, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. I love fresh red pepper and cucumber.

2. Cut Back on White Flour and Increase Wholemeal Carbs. This is the most essential part of your Type II Diabetes diet, and the thing that contributes to the biggest increase in weight loss.

Wholemeal, especially stoneground wholemeal, is so good for you and has so much more flavor in it that switching is much easier than you think.

Remember that the bread that is best for you is the one that is freshest with least preservatives or added ingredients. Also, brown or basmati rice is great with a lovely nutty texture.

3. Stop Drinking Cocktails, Start Drinking Wine. Instead of drinking cocktails that are full of sugar, colorants and preservatives, opt for red wine. Of course, water is still the best drink!

According to research, wine contains anti-oxidants that are great for keeping your heart healthy. The recommended amount is one glass a day with your evening meal.

4. Drink More Water. Once again, you are told to drink more water! You do know the benefits of drinking water are endless, right?

To make drinking more water easier for you, this is what you can do. Firstly, put bottles of water at all the places in the house or work, be it in your desk, on your desk, in the kitchen, the bedroom, the living room and other places.

Try and drink all these bottles or glasses up and you will be well on your way to 8 glasses a day. Have a go, and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to have drunk 8 glasses of water in a day.

5. Eat More Fruits and Veggies. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need.

They are still the best if eaten raw, followed closely by steamed. Both ways of eating fruits and vegetables preserve all their natural goodness.

From, Jess

Posted in Type 2 Diabetes Diet Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

5 Type 2 Diabetes Travel Tips

August 1st, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes Medication Travel OrganizerThinking of traveling abroad but worried about your blood sugar levels? Here are 5 Type 2 Diabetes travel tips that are simple to implement and important to your diabetic management.

1. Have a Pre-Travel Check-Up. Having a pre-travel medical checkup helps make sure your A1C blood sugar levels, your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels are fine. Remember to get the appropriate shots for any foreign country you plan to visit.

2. Wear a Diabetes Medical ID. If possible, wear a diabetes medical ID that is in the language spoken in the country you’re visiting to avoid miscommunications. Not everyone speaks your language and therefore you don’t want medical problems emerge from misunderstandings.

3. Pack Your Medication and Glucose Snacks in a Travel Hand Luggage. As there is possibility that check-in baggage may go astray, it’s safer to keep your medication and glucose snacks in a Diabetes Travel Organizer hand luggage.

4. Keep Your Medication in Its Original Box, Complete With Pharmacy Labels. This is to avoid misunderstandings about why you are carrying drugs and, if you are on insulin, syringes.

5. Take Note of Time Zone Changes. Here is the pointer: When you travel east your day becomes shorter; if you travel west your day becomes longer. Remember to alter the timings of your medication.

Traveling abroad for Type 2 diabetics needs not be so stressful. A sensible pre-travel planning is all you need to make your journey go far more smoothly.

Posted in Type 2 Diabetes Travel Tips Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

5 Simple Steps To Prevent The Onset Of Type 2 Diabetes

July 28th, 2009 Admin

Diabetes, one of the six top killer diseases in the country, is more prevalent than ever and 95% of cases diagnosed are Type 2 Diabetes.

Although for some the development of diabetes is unavoidable, perhaps due to hereditary, family history and other factors, for the vast majority it can be prevented by taking 5 simple steps.

Before Type II Diabetes becomes fully developed, there is a stage known as pre-diabetes where you start to show some of the symptoms. The symptoms for Type 2 Diabetes such as excessive excretion of urine (polyuria), excessive thirst (polydipsia), constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision and fatigue, which if not managed well, can lead to full blown diabetes.

You can prevent the onset of Type Two Diabetes by making these 5 simple steps part of your daily routine:

1. Control Your Body Weight. Obesity is known to be one of the risk factors for developing diabetes, so reduce the size of food on your plate by gradually eating less and starting to shed some weight.

Drinking a glass of plain water or a sugar-free drink before your meal is able to take the edge of any hunger pains.

2. Reduce the Intake of Fat. Cut the amount of fat you are eating by grilling or baking foods instead of frying, using low-fat spreads and reducing fat meals.

If you are feeling peckish choose a healthy snack rather than a chocolate bar.

3. Check the Glycemic Index of the Food. By checking the Glycemic Index of the food you are eating, you know what each food contains. This helps maintain your blood sugar levels which in turn can prevent the full onset of diabetes.

4. Drink at Least 8 Glasses of Water Daily. One of the easy ways to keep track of your daily water consumption is keeping a bottle of water with you and sipping frequently. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to have drunk 8 glasses of water throughout the day.

5. Regular Exercise. Exercise is good for health. Start in moderation if you are not used to doing exercise. 15-minute gentle walking daily will ease you into a regular exercising pattern.

All these 5 simple steps are also the ones that diabetics are advised to take, so if you implement them now you might possibly prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.

Posted in Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

Tips To Manage Type 2 Diabetes And Lower Serious Health Risks

July 25th, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and usually appears in middle aged adults.

It is a an insulin resistance disease in which the body fails to make or properly use insulin, a hormone that takes glucose blood sugar out of the blood and into the cells of the body where it is converted to energy.

Type II Diabetes, also called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is a serious condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly because of the fact that it causes severe Type 2 Diabetes health complications.

To lower the health risks and complications, it’s important to take prescribed medication and maintain a healthier lifestyle through regular physical activity and a nutritious diet.

The excessive amounts of sugar that is housed in the blood can be kept under control with guided medications in the forms of shots or tablets prescribed by your healthcare provider. Which form of medication will be prescribed to you is dependent on the actual levels of your blood sugar.

One of the critical stages to effectively manage Type 2 Diabetes is to watch the blood sugar levels on a daily basis; frequent monitoring will help you determine if you are maintaining safe levels. Use one of the many handy monitoring kits available in the market for accurate readings of your glucose.

It’s important for you to eliminate unhealthy foods from your daily eating habits. Changing to a healthier Type 2 Diabetes diet that consists of an abundance of fruits, boiled and steamed vegetables, and foods of whole grain helps manage your diabetes effectively.

There are warning signs that will indicate a potential problem or that the stage of your Type Two Diabetes has escalated. Some of the things to watch for are problems with your feet like swelling, redness, blisters, and cuts. The eyes could be affected and thus diminishing your sight. Problems for your teeth and gum disease could occur. Keep all regularly scheduled healthcare appointments.

By following the steps to manage Type 2 Diabetes carefully, you can help minimize risks and further complications leading to other severe conditions.

Posted in Type 2 Diabetes Complications, Type 2 Diabetes Drug Medications Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments »

Manage Type 2 Diabetes With Healthy Diet, Exercise, Blood Sugar Checking & Proper Medications

July 22nd, 2009 Admin

Type 2 Diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes typically develops in adults over than 40 years old, but it is now happening with increasing frequency in younger adults, teenagers, and even pre-teens and children.

The increasing number of younger adults, teenagers and children being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes is most likely linked with the increase in obesity caused by consumption of high-fat, high-calorie meals along with inactive lifestyle.

Type 2 Diabetes usually develops slowly and can go undiagnosed for many years, because the high blood sugars are not severe enough to produce the classic Type 2 Diabetes symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue.

Initially, most Type II Diabetes people do not need insulin to get glucose into the body cells to make energy; but this is a progressive disease, and over time many will need insulin treatment.

According to the report of the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, approximately 60% of those with Type 2 Diabetes will eventually require insulin to help keep good blood sugar control.

Type II Diabetes is a life long disease to live with, but it can be managed with proper medications of insulin or pills, blood sugar checking, healthy Type 2 Diabetes diet, and exercise.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes is an ongoing process of management and education that includes not only the person with diabetes, but also healthcare professionals and family members.

Posted in Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Diet Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Powered by Yahoo! Answers