Posts Tagged ‘diabetes’

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 »

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.

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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.

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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 »

Gestational Diabetes & How To Manage It – Part 3

July 18th, 2009 Admin

Gestational Diabetes Blood Glucose MeterRead Gestational Diabetes & Its Complications – Part 1 for what GD is and its complications and Gestational Diabetes & How to Detect it – Part 2 for ways to find out if you have it.

Here are some general ways to manage your Gestational Diabetes:

1. Know Your Blood Glucose Level and Keep it Under Control. By testing how much glucose is in your blood with a handy Blood Glucose Meter, you are in better control of keeping diabetes under check.

For regular monitoring of blood glucose level, you may need to test your blood glucose several times a day.

2. Eat a Healthy Diet. More often than not, controlling carbohydrates intake is an important part of a healthy diet for women with GD.

3. Perform Regular and Moderate Physical Activity. Exercise can help control blood glucose levels. Pick an exercise that best suits you.

4. Keep to a Healthy Weight. The amount of weight gain that is healthy for you very much depends on how much you weighed prior to pregnancy.

It is important to track both your overall weight, as well as, your weekly rate of weight gain.

5. Insulin. Some women with Gestational Diabetes may even need to take insulin to help manage their diabetes. The extra insulin can help lower their blood sugar level.

6. Keep a Daily Record of Your Diet, Physical Activity and Glucose Level. Women with GD should write down their blood glucose numbers, physical activity, as well as, the food they consume in a daily record book. This can help track how well the treatment is working, and if anything renders a change.

What happens after you have delivered your baby? For some women with Gestational Diabetes, their blood glucose levels usually go back to normal after the baby is delivered.

Towards the sixth week after the delivery, you should have your blood glucose checked, as it also helps to assess your risk of getting diabetes in the future.

Women who have had Gestational Diabetes and children, whose mothers had GD, are at a higher lifetime risk of developing obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

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Gestational Diabetes & Its Complications – Part 1

July 10th, 2009 Admin

Gestational DiabetesGestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy. Like Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes affects the way your body uses glucose.

High glucose level occurs when your body is not able to to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. This could be due to the changing hormones and weight gain. This means your body is unable to use the energy from the food that you eat.

Most women do not experience any signs or symptoms of Gestational Diabetes. When they do occur, signs and symptoms include excessive thirst and increased urination.

Are you prone to developing Gestational Diabetes? These factors put you at slightly higher risk of developing Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy:

* Being overweight prior to pregnancy.
* Detected glucose in your urine.
* Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose.
* Family history of diabetes.
* Previously given birth to a stillborn baby.
* Experienced Gestational Diabetes during previous pregnancy.

What are some of the complications of Gestational Diabetes?

Uncontrolled Gestational Diabetes can affect the developing baby. Some potential risks include:

1. The baby’s body is larger than normal, a condition known as macrosomia. A large baby may need to be delivered through a cesarean section instead of naturally through the vagina.

2. The baby experiences a sharp drop in blood glucose level called hypoglycemia. Start to breastfeed right away and this can help to get more glucose to the baby. The baby may also need to get glucose through a tube into his or her blood.

3. The baby may experience Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and have trouble breathing.

Read Gestational Diabetes & How to Detect it – Part 2.

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Add Oats To Your Type 2 Diabetes Diet

July 6th, 2009 Admin

Oats In Type 2 Diabetes DietAs you know, oats are high in fiber and help stabilize blood sugar and substantially lower the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

Starting your day with a blood sugar-stabilizing food like oats may make it easier to control blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Studies reveal that beta-glucan has beneficial effects in diabetes as well. Type 2 Diabetes patients who consumed foods high in oat fiber had a much lower rise in blood sugar compared to those who were given white rice or bread.

Oats are also low glycemic (GI) foods, meaning they control blood glucose levels by reducing the in blood glucose levels after a meal, which is what provides a steady release of energy.

The American Diabetes Association recommends getting 25g to 30g of fiber from the foods you eat every day. Just one cup of cooked oatmeal provides 4g of fiber.

Add oats to your Type 2 Diabetes diet starting today.

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Effective Ways To Manage Type 2 Diabetes

July 2nd, 2009 Admin

When you have been diagnosed with having extreme levels of blood sugar in the body, you are challenged daily with having to manage Type 2 Diabetes carefully.

Type II Diabetes, a disease in which your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or your body is not able to use the insulin secreted by the pancreas efficiently, is the most common form of diabetes affecting 85% to 90% of all people with diabetes.

Without proper care, it may lead to other bodily ailments and major health risks such as strokes, heart diseases, eye damages, kidney failures and foot problems that can lead to amputations.

To help lower the risk of dangerous side effects and major health complications that can result from Type Two Diabetes, the levels of sugar contained in the blood have to be kept at controllable levels.

There is prescribed medication in the form of shots or tablets. The use would be determined by your condition.

There are essential steps to take to manage Type 2 Diabetes. A daily practice that you as a diabetic should become accustomed to is monitoring the levels of blood sugar. This is done with a glucose monitoring kit that is used in the comforts of your home for frequent, accurate readings.

The next focus is to establish healthy eating habits that provide the proper nutrients from the correct food groups. Steamed vegetables, whole grain foods, and a variety of fruits will help control Type 2 Diabetes and reduce problems.

Symptoms that may be an indicator that diabetes is progressing to an advanced stage should be recognized. An alarming condition could result in difficulty in seeing, and an eye doctor would need to be consulted.

Swelling, redness, bruises, cuts, or sores on your feet should be watched for. Continue with routine physical exams to ensure that preventative measures are working.

It takes time to change your daily habits and incorporate different management techniques into your lifestyle that will help control the Type 2 Diabetes, but with dedication and keeping your health care provider informed, you will be greatly reducing your risk of advanced stages.

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