Posts Tagged ‘Type 2 Diabetes’

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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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 »

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.

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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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