Posts Tagged ‘blood glucose levels’

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.

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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.

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The Essentials Of A Great Type 2 Diabetes Diet

May 20th, 2009 Admin

Losing weight, quitting smoking and eating a proper Type 2 Diabetes diet are all key to controlling Type 2 Diabetes.

While it is very difficult for some people to quit smoking, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is also important that people who have Type 2 Diabetes follow a good diet and exercise plan. Doing so will help to regulate the blood glucose levels.

Carbohydrate rich foods are often associated with blood glucose levels. If you have Type Two Diabetes you know how important that it is to keep your blood glucose levels low. This is why it is so important for people who have Type 2 Diabetes to regulate their intake of carbohydrate rich foods. It is also important that they limit foods that are rich in fructose.

Sometimes it is easy to tell if a particular food has a lot of carbohydrates. Foods that are rich in sugar typically have a high carbohydrate count. These are foods such as chocolates, white breads, baked goods and candies. People who are trying to stick to a Type 2 Diabetes diet should stay away from foods that have a high carbohydrate count.

Some foods contain carbohydrates know as complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates found in yogurts, wheat products, pears and potatoes are much better for us than those that have carbohydrates from fructose. If you have diabetes you should consider eating only complex carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates give us energy therefore it is still important that we eat them. Even people who have Type 2 Diabetes should eat complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates take a much longer time to break down and therefore have a much smaller effect on blood glucose levels.

Lots of vegetables are great for someone who is on a Type II Diabetes diet. The diet should also consist of lots of protein. It is important that people with diabetes stick to lean cuts of meat and eggs. It is also important that they eat fruit and dairy products to create a balanced diet.

Exercise is crucial to those with diabetes. There are many fun things to do to get in some exercise. If you have Type 2 Diabetes you might want to take your dog for a walk, play basketball with your kids, or join a yoga class at your local recreation center. It is so important to exercise because it can help to increase the sensitivity to insulin in the body.

A good Type 2 Diabetes diet is a great way to improve your diabetes. Remember it is important that you discuss your diet and exercise plan with your doctor. Creating a solid plan will help you to live a long and healthy life.

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Creating A Type 2 Diabetes Diet

May 1st, 2009 Admin

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, it is important that you stop smoking, lose weight and eat a proper Type 2 Diabetes diet.

For many people this is much easier said than done. For some quitting smoking is nearly impossible and for others the complications from diabetes makes it difficult for them to lose weight. However, for those that have Type 2 Diabetes it is very important that they stick to a proper diet.

Sticking to a diet that is set up specifically to help control Type 2 Diabetes can be critical to a long and healthy life.

Foods that are rich in carbohydrates are directly linked to blood glucose levels. It is important for people with Type Two Diabetes to keep their blood glucose levels down; therefore, it is imperative that they limit the intake of foods that are high in carbohydrates.

In most cases it is fairly simple to tell if a certain food is high in carbohydrates. If it has a lot of sugar in it then it most likely has a lot of carbohydrates in it. Foods like candy, bread, cookies and cakes are all rich and carbohydrates. These types of foods should be avoided by people following a strict Type 2 Diabetes diet.

There are other foods that contain carbohydrates as well. Foods such as apples, bananas, yogurt, potatoes and yams contain carbohydrates known as complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are much better for you than the ones that you get from food high in sugar.

Complex carbohydrates take a longer time to break down, so they don’t have as strong of a pull on the blood glucose level. While some sugar is okay, it is best that people who have Type 2 Diabetes stick to complex carbohydrates.

A balanced Type 2 Diabetes diet should consist of healthy portion sizes. It should include staples from different food groups. Make sure you are eating lean proteins, dairy, fruits and vegetables.

It is also important that people who have Type 2 Diabetes get some exercise. Walking, swimming and playing sports can be a great way to get active. Being active and increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin.

Following a healthy Type 2 Diabetes diet and living an active lifestyle are both great ways to fight back against diabetes.

It is important that those with Type 2 Diabetes talk with their doctor about what will work best in for them. Do not try to self treat your diabetes, make sure you create a solid plan with your doctor!

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What Are The Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms?

March 31st, 2009 Admin

Symptoms For Type 2 DiabetesIn general, Type 2 Diabetes symptoms are observed in people aged 45 or older. However, there are reports showing that Type 2 Diabetes symptoms are becoming common in children rather than in adults because kids living in this new age are mostly inactive and are overweight.

The symptoms of Type Two Diabetes are similar to Type 1 Diabetes: fatigue, nausea, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing wounds.

The symptoms are the result of the blood glucose levels becoming too high and problems with the way the body uses its natural insulin production.

The body fails to produce enough insulin, or the body does not react properly to the insulin it does produce insulin resistance, so the resulting high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems.

Type 2 Diabetes symptoms are often slower to develop, and often harder to spot because they are less severe or seem harmless. This is very different from Type 1 Diabetes where symptoms typically develop rapidly over a few days or weeks.

As the symptoms are so minor and often go entirely unnoticed for years, you should be more careful if you notice that you have symptoms of diabetes or a family history.

To avoid walking around with the disease or delayed medical help, you should ask your doctor to perform a blood test or other tests to diagnose diabetes.

A blood test can more accurately diagnose whether you have diabetes. The blood test may also give some idea of the cause.

While people with Type Two Diabetes cannot currently be cured, their blood sugar levels can be controlled so that complications do not arise.

No doubt, stabilizing your blood glucose levels does help eliminating the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes, you will also need to change your lifestyle and eating habits.

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