blood sugar

Everyone needs a little assist now and then as well as shouldn’t be afraid to inquire about it.  A newly
diagnosed diabetic may feel overcome with the limitations that they are faced with
and not knowing how to strategy meals.  The assistance that is needed is from a dietician or even
nutritionist.  Depending in your goals as well as weight the dietician can provide you with a meal
plan which will meat the factors of a healthy diabetic diet and help you lose weight.

In the beginning, the actual concern with the diabetic diet is to make sure you are getting enough
food so your blood sugar does not drop too low.  You will also wish to monitor your own
levels to consider any surges in your blood pressure measurements too.  A dietician can work along with you on this. 
If you are eating the recommended diet regime and it is not working, you are feeling starving
afterwards or even your blood sugar is simply too high — call your dietician.  He or she will work with
you over the phone to make immediate changes and schedule an appointment to rework
your plan.

Your dietician may also make recommendations on substitutions for your favorite meals
that you were afraid you could never eat once again.  They will coach you on portion sizes
as well.  There really isn’t an excessive amount of that you can’t have as a diabetic person as long as you tend to be
planning meals out, getting exercise and consuming in moderation.

Meals guides change and your dietician or nutritionist may have the most current
version.  Try as well as follow it as well as combine foods as you have learned by your support
team.  If you are unsure in the event that something is allowable on your diabetic diet, call your
dietician for advice and if you can’t reach all of them leave a note and postpone until you
listen to back from them. You will be able to gather more information at http://diabetesandexercise.org/.



Unfortunately, there are still people who do not yet even know they have Type 2 Diabetes. There are some easy steps that you can take in order to find out. This is extremely important for your health. To address any concerns that you may be at risk of having Type 2 Diabetes, there are specific tests that may be done. Having ‘annual check-ups’ is a must, so speak with your doctor. Almost all doctors can order these tests for you. These medical tests assist in evaluating the levels of sugar (glucose) in blood, so you can order an annual FBS ( Fasting Blood Sugar), an OGTT (meaning Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) and a number of other medical tests to let you determine if you suffer (or about to suffer) from diabetes. Read on further and find out what these tests actually mean and what symptoms (of high blood sugar levels) a diabetes patient actually has.

The first test, the FBS or Fasting Blood Sugar test can determine exactly what its name suggests: the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. If the results tell you that you have between 72 – 99 mg/dl (or 4 – 5.5 mmol/l), being the level which is returned for those without Type two Diabetes. These numbers are indicative of normal blood sugar values. Alternatively, glucose readings may be returned being marginally greater: 100 -126 mg/dl (5.6 – 7 mmol/l). This means that you will have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. This now reflects you have elevated and abnormal blood sugar levels, and this can develop into full blown Type 2 Diabetes. A value of greater than 126 mg/dl (7 mmol/l) is seen in some individuals. In these cases the person is almost surely likely to be suffering from Type 2 diabetes and seeking immediate medical help is advised. To make sure a correct diagnosis is made, doctors advise taking the test twice, on two different occasions, to make sure that both tests give the same blood glucose values so a correct diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetescan be made.

The second type of test we mentioned is the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test). It is basically an oral glucose test in which you will be given a small amount of sugar (glucose) for you to drink. After two hours, a sample of your blood is collected and analyzed in order to check your blood glucose level. Anything above 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/l) is not considered a normal value, meaning that you have an unhealthy glucose tolerance and this could be a clear sign of pre-diabetes. In some people, the findings of the test will demonstrate numbers of higher than 200 mg/dl (11 mmol/l). In these cases the patient is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Type two diabetes can be a very serious and dangerous disease, especially if you are already suffering from other chronic diseases. This is very serious and important in most cases, so it is vital to adopt positive alterations in habits, lifestyle, starting physical activity or starting a medications regime!

Diabetes Mellitus (or in layman’s terms Diabetes) is a genetically diverse group of disorders that is characterized by glucose intolerance. Presently, diabetes is a chronic disease that is increasing because of the different lifestyle choices. The complication may vary from damaging the eyes, kidneys and nerves of a person to increasing the risk to heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and strokes.  Although, many people think that Diabetes is a disease that will sooner or later progress to more illnesses even by making a lifestyle change for the better. People can actually reverse diabetes by proper prevention, management and treatment.  It is possible with the right knowledge and understanding of how to manage the disease.

Here are a few “Must Knows” about diabetes that may help you in the long run.

    There are two types of diabetes.  First is “Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus” also called Type 1 Diabetes and Juvenile Diabetes. This is when the body has an absence of insulin and usually occurs before the age of 30 years old. The treatment is insulin injections and the person is more prone to ketosis (a state where the ketones in the blood are elevated, which can result in acidosis and could possibly by fatal).    

    The second type of diabetes is the “Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus” also called Type 2 Diabetes. This is when the body lacks insulin and usually occurs when a person is older than 30 years old and obese. There is a decrease in insulin production because of an alteration in the person’s body. Ketosis is rare and OHA (Oral Hypoglycemic Agents) are taken. Treatment is proper diet and exercise and may include oral medication or insulin in some cases.

    Symptoms may include increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination and weight changes. Other symptoms include tachycardia, excessive sweating, shakiness, tremors and restlessness (in later states).

    Let’s talk about risk factors so you have an idea of the people prone to developing type 2 diabetes specifically.
•    Parents or sibling with diabetes
•    Obesity (20% more than ideal body weight)
•    African American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian American
•    Older than 45 years old
•    Hypertension
•    HDL cholesterol levels <35 mg/dL ; triglyceride levels >250 mg/dL

Here are some ways to possibly reverse diabetes and manage your diabetes:

    Of course, prevention of the Type 2 Diabetes is the best way to go. Having a healthy lifestyle from the beginning is a way to prevent this condition, but what if you already have it? One of the important steps to REVERSING DIABETES is considering the fact that you really want to improve your lifestyle for the better.  A change in your diet regimen is necessary to losing weight and decreasing your risk to having hyperglycemia which could cause unfavorable effects to your body. You might want to consider a diet that is low in sugar, fat and salt. Submersing yourself in a exercise program can also be very beneficial for your lifestyle. Exercising doesn’t have to be every single day, you don’t have to enroll in an expensive gym to get those benefits.  Walking around the neighborhood or jogging every other day could help you benefit too, and best of all it’s free.

   One must perform blood sugar checks daily to get an accurate reading and know how your regime is working out. Performing the procedure properly is very important to received accurate results. Another very important factor is being responsible in taking your OHAs to maintain your sugar level to the desirable range to prevent life-threatening complications.

    You have to know that diabetes type 2 is a disease that can be prevented. The right food and exercise could do wonders for your health and prevention of diseases that can cause life changing disadvantages for your life. Start your lifestyle change soon, better yet start today! Say it with me, “We can reverse Type 2 Diabetes!”

Symptoms

Unfortunately, there are still people who do not yet even know they have Type 2 Diabetes. There are some easy steps that you can take in order to find out. This is extremely important for your health. To address any concerns that you may be at risk of having Type 2 Diabetes, there are specific tests that may be done. Having ‘annual check-ups’ is a must, so speak with your doctor. Almost all doctors can order these tests for you. These medical tests assist in evaluating the levels of sugar (glucose) in blood, so you can order an annual FBS ( Fasting Blood Sugar), an OGTT (meaning Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) and a number of other medical tests to let you determine if you suffer (or about to suffer) from diabetes. Read on further and find out what these tests actually mean and what symptoms (of high blood sugar levels) a diabetes patient actually has.

The first test, the FBS or Fasting Blood Sugar test can determine exactly what its name suggests: the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. If the results tell you that you have between 72 – 99 mg/dl (or 4 – 5.5 mmol/l), being the level which is returned for those without Type two Diabetes. These numbers are indicative of normal blood sugar values. Alternatively, glucose readings may be returned being marginally greater: 100 -126 mg/dl (5.6 – 7 mmol/l). This means that you will have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. This now reflects you have elevated and abnormal blood sugar levels, and this can develop into full blown Type 2 Diabetes. A value of greater than 126 mg/dl (7 mmol/l) is seen in some individuals. In these cases the person is almost surely likely to be suffering from Type 2 diabetes and seeking immediate medical help is advised. To make sure a correct diagnosis is made, doctors advise taking the test twice, on two different occasions, to make sure that both tests give the same blood glucose values so a correct diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetescan be made.

The second type of test we mentioned is the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test). It is basically an oral glucose test in which you will be given a small amount of sugar (glucose) for you to drink. After two hours, a sample of your blood is collected and analyzed in order to check your blood glucose level. Anything above 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/l) is not considered a normal value, meaning that you have an unhealthy glucose tolerance and this could be a clear sign of pre-diabetes. In some people, the findings of the test will demonstrate numbers of higher than 200 mg/dl (11 mmol/l). In these cases the patient is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Type two diabetes can be a very serious and dangerous disease, especially if you are already suffering from other chronic diseases. This is very serious and important in most cases, so it is vital to adopt positive alterations in habits, lifestyle, starting physical activity or starting a medications regime!

As we have all heard many times, eating a healthy breakfast every morning is critical if you want to start your day off on the right foot. In fact, eating a healthy breakfast is the only thing that has been correlated with sustained weight loss other than exercise. As the weight goes down, cholesterol levels often normalize. In addition, eating a healthy breakfast gives you an opportunity to include many wonderful cholesterol-lowering super foods into your diet. The trick is to know what constitutes a healthy, cholesterol-lowering breakfast.

To start, let’s talk a bit about what you do not want to eat for breakfast if you want to be healthy and lower your cholesterol too.

Most energy and breakfast bars
Most cold cereals including granola
Bagels
Pancakes and waffles
Conventional bacon and sausages
Instant oatmeal
Juice
French toast

You may be surprised that I didn’t add eggs to the above list. Conventional thinking states that you shouldn’t eat eggs because they contain high levels of cholesterol; however, eggs are actually a very healthy food in many ways. Even though eggs contain cholesterol, they raise most people’s cholesterol levels only slightly. Eggs are low in saturated fat and contain a host of other nutrients that are good for you too. You are much better off eating a hard-boiled egg than eating the other foods listed above. Even so, I would still eat no more than two to three eggs per week.

Some of you may also be surprised that I put cold cereals on the list. You may be thinking that the cold cereal you are eating is healthy because it is high in fiber and contains whole grains. Most cold breakfast cereals that have been tested to date raise blood sugar levels significantly. Even if your cereal doesn’t have added sugar, your blood sugar will respond just like it would if you were eating sugar. Why are sugar and other foods that raise blood sugar levels an issue? These types of foods will raise triglycerides which in turn will have some effect on raising total cholesterol levels as well.

If you must eat cold cereal, let me share with you a few tips on how to choose the best option even though I believe eating cooked whole grains is a preferable way to go if you want to eat grains for breakfast because cooked whole grains raise blood sugar levels less in most instances. So if you want to still eat cold cereal, make sure it is high in fiber, low in added sugar, and low in fat.

The other concern with foods that raise blood sugar levels is that they also increase inflammation in the body. Inflammation is now being thought of by some to be one of the root causes of heart disease. In addition, high cholesterol levels may be the result of an increase in inflammation and may possibly have protective benefits in a situation in which the body is inflamed. So what are a few quick, healthy, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering breakfast ideas? See a few suggestions below:

Strawberry Cream: Put about 1 cup of frozen, organic strawberries in a blender, add a tablespoon of whole flax seeds, add ½ cup to 1 cup low-fat yogurt, a small packet of stevia (just under ½ teaspoon powered stevia) and blend. You may need to use a spatula to stir the mixture. NOTE: Stevia can be purchased on-line or at a natural food store in your area. It is an herb that is significantly sweeter than sugar. It does not raise blood sugar levels at all and has zero calories)

Soaked Oats: Put one cup of traditional oats (not instant) in a bowl with nuts, seeds, and a small amount of dried fruit of choice. Pour water into the bowl until it is about ½ inch above the oat mixture. Cover and put in the refrigerator to soak overnight. Serve warm or cold with a cup of fresh blueberries or strawberries on top.

Mustard Sardines on Whole Grain Toast: Put one can of water-packed sardines with bones in a bowl. Mix with 2 tablespoons of mustard, one chopped stalk of celery, and 1 tablespoon chopped onion. Serve on whole grain toast.

There are a number of things that are great about the above recipes from a cholesterol-lowering perspective. Strawberries are high in soluble fiber which is a key to lowering cholesterol. Nuts and seeds contain healthy fats that are thought to raise HDL the "good" cholesterol and lower LDL the "bad" cholesterol. Oats are one of the top cholesterol-lowering super foods as most of you know. Sardines contain those wonderful omega-3 fatty acids as do flax seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential in terms of improving overall heart health and your cholesterol profile.

Want more cholesterol-lowering tips? Sign up to receive a FREE audio recording "Top 3 Secrets to Lower Your Cholesterol Fast without Drugs or Drastic Dieting" by visiting http://www.cutcholesterolnow.com.

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Phantogeusia is a neurological phenomenon rarely mentioned, let alone discussed. It is a phantom taste perception: often a metallic or salty taste in your mouth where no stimulus can be found, and is especially problematic for diabetics, both Type 1 and Type 2.

When people don’t have diabetes, an odd bitter taste in their mouth is usually due to blood. There can be sores and cuts or fissures in the gums that take time to heal, and until they do, they bleed. Blood has a bitter taste, and when the sores or fissures heal, the bad or bitter taste disappears.

Non-diabetics and diabetics alike can accumulate a bitter taste from consuming bitter foods and beverages, such as radicchio, Angostura bitters, and beer. Bitter compounds from bitter food and drink can accumulate in the salivary glands and leach out into the saliva. All that is necessary to get over this kind of phantom taste perception is to stop eating or drinking the bitter food or beverage.

In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, phantogeusia is a much more difficult problem. Just as there can be nerve damage caused by diabetic neuropathy in your fingers and toes, there can also be diabetic nerve damage to the chorda tympanic nerves in your tongue. The kind of phantom bitter taste caused by this kind of diabetic nerve damage only goes away when your blood sugar levels are maintained within normal ranges for several months or even up to a year or so.

So phantogeusia can be classed as a complication and the way to avoid complications is to control wide blood sugar fluctuations and develop a strategy to keep your blood sugars as close to normal as possible.

In most people blood sugar levels above 150 to 160 mg/dL (8.33 to 8.88 mmol/L) are often a serious concern because that is the point at which physical damage leading to complications is believed to start. Many people can sense when their blood sugar levels are high. You may experience:

• skin problems
• feelings of fatigue or
• tingling in parts of your body

A quick test will confirm to you if high blood sugar levels are the cause of these feelings. With a few exceptions, blood sugar levels over 150 mg/dL (8.33 mmol/L) indicate a need for better control.

In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, phantogeusia can cause a wide range of tastes and smells, and controlling blood sugar levels is the only way to treat this condition.

And now I would like you to claim your Free E-Book when you visit Answers to Your Questions

You will then have access to information diabetics have requested over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers RN… the Diabetes Detective.
http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 – All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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The most serious complication of diabetes involving the urinary tract is nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is kidney damage that occurs in 20 to 30% of people with type 2 diabetes. If no action is taken to stop it, this condition can progress to end-stage renal disease. 80% of all people with end-stage renal disease have Type 2 diabetes, so diabetic nephropathy is a major concern for lifelong Type 2 diabetics.

Diabetes Can Weaken Your Kidneys:

Over time, diabetes causes damage to cell membranes in the kidney. These membranes are responsible for filtration and absorption of fluids and molecules. When membrane damage occurs at a filtration site, it starts to leak small amounts of protein into the urine.

Eventually the amount of protein being leaked from the kidneys increases to the point that the person has albuminuria (meaning the excretion is more than 300mg per 24 hr of protein). The kidneys’ ability to filter fluid declines, and blood pressure starts to rise.

When albuminuria, hypertension and an inability of the kidneys to filter adequately are all present in the same person, diabetic nephropathy is indicated. The only treatments for renal failure are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Symptoms of nephropathy include:

• swelling of the ankles, hands, face, or other body parts
• loss of appetite possibly with a metallic taste in the mouth
• skin irritations
• difficulty in thinking clearly
• fatigue
• extreme difficulty managing blood sugar levels

Report any of these symptoms to the doctor who treats you.

Kidney Function Should be Checked Regularly:

Type 2 diabetics should have their kidneys checked every 12 to 24 months, or sooner if hypertension develops. Then:

• blood tests should be carried out for serum creatinine levels to estimate the filtration rate
• urine should be tested for protein and
• blood pressure should be monitored

If blood sugar levels are controlled, blood pressure and blood lipid levels controlled… damage done to the kidneys can be prevented, slowed or stopped. Type 2 diabetics who have already progressed to albuminuria and have a declining filtration rate should consult a specialist.

Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes:

Hypertension is a red flag even if kidney function is still on an even keel. People with hypertension are 2.5 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than people with normal blood pressures, and the majority of people with Type 2 diabetes develop hypertension, demonstrating an obvious link. The combination of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension doubles a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

Studies show that although Type 2 diabetics are at increased risk for heart disease, diabetics with hypertension benefit even more from controlling their blood pressure than their blood sugar. Fortunately, the same treatment for Type 2 diabetes will also help hypertension which is:

• a healthy diet
• exercise and
• not smoking

Reducing the protein intake slightly can help as well.

Some Type 2 diabetics with hypertension will need medication to drop their blood pressure down to safe parameters. The most commonly prescribed type of drugs are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Both drugs can also delay the development of diabetic kidney damage.

And now I would like you to claim you Free E-Book when you visit Answers to Your Questions

You will then have access to information diabetics have requested over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers RN… the Diabetes Detective.

http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 – All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Coronary artery disease is a fairly well known condition. However, it has a cousin that is much less well known; peripheral artery disease. Both conditions can do the same things, become constricted by plaque and throw blood clots. One of the problems is that P.A. D. is harder to detect, particularly when it involves blood vessels deep in the legs.

Symptoms:

Many people with this disorder have few or no symptoms at all. However, some may occur especially as the problem progresses. Pain when walking, loss of hair on the legs, a reduction in toenail growth and shiny skin can all indicate P.A.D. Weak pulse in the legs and feet or cold skin in the region also may occur.

Causes:

The most common cause is hardening of the arteries. As mentioned above, most of the focus for this problem is on the heart, but it can and does affect every blood vessel in your body. As the plaque builds up, it restricts blood flow.

Injuries to your legs can also cause the problem, due this time at least in part to scarring. Other causes are rare, but include swelling in your blood vessels or oddities with your tendons and ligaments.

Your risk of developing this condition worsen with age, if you smoke or if you are diabetic. Overweight people are also at higher risk. Those with a family history of the condition have an increased chance.

What can happen:

Three major problems may occur if you have this condition, especially if it is untreated. You are at risk of losing the limb if circulation is slowed enough. A blood clot can finish the shut off of the artery, but it can also break loose. If that happens, chances are good that it will proceed to your heart, your brain and/or your lungs. If that happens, a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism are probable.

What you can do:

Knowing you have the disorder is the first step to treating it. A variety of tests will probably be done, including an angiogram. Once it has been diagnosed, your doctor will give you a list of things to do and things to avoid.

You may find yourself on a whole battery of medications, depending on the cause. Blood thinners, blood pressure medications, cholesterol lowering drugs and some for pain are probable. If you are a diabetic, medications that lower blood sugar could be added.

If the problem is bad enough, you may require angioplasty or surgery. Angioplasty is done usually while you are a wake and through an incision in your groin. It will be threaded through your blood vessels until it gets to the problem area, where it will open it with a balloon. A stent may be placed in the artery to keep it open.

Lifestyle changes may also be required. Controlling your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels will be required, so a new diet will be in order. Monitored exercise may also be recommended, probably through physical therapy.

This disorder is not well known, but it may be quietly harming many. If you are at risk, talk to your doctor about prevention methods. Finding it before it’s too late is the best way to remain healthy.

My eBook the Complete Guide to Complementary Remedies, has information from all of my mini books, plus much more. Topics include:
• Blood pressure: Page Eleven
• Depression: Page Fourteen
• Kidney stones: Page Fifty-Six
• Herbs and weight loss: Page One Hundred Two
• Interaction list: Page One Hundred Fifteen
Our site has information on many topics and my five eBooks about herbal remedies. You can also download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. It details ten popular herbs, their uses, side effects, precautions and drug interactions. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me: mary@healing-home-remedies.com

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The glycemic index measures how quickly a particular kind of food is digested into glucose that increases blood sugar levels. Some foods, for instance, warm mashed potatoes, raise blood glucose levels even more quickly than sugar itself. Other foods, such as raw spinach, hardly raise blood sugars at all, even many hours after they are consumed.

Isn’t this information of vital interest to all diabetics?

Frankly, it’s not. There are several serious flaws with the glycemic index (GI) as a diabetic’s diet planning tool:

• the GI was computed on the basis of tests done by feeding volunteers a single food for breakfast. Your body is more sensitive to insulin in the morning, and less and less sensitive as the day wears on. The benefits of eating low-GI foods are greatest at breakfast, and that’s not the meal we usually eat raw leafy green salads and other low-GI foods
• the GI measures the effect of a single food on blood sugar levels. We seldom eat a single food. Almost no one, for instance, dines on just white flour, just white sugar, or just carrots for an entire meal
• the GI is not reliable for all serving styles and all serving temperatures. Hot mashed Russet potatoes, for instance, have a glycemic index of 106. Hot boiled Russet potatoes that have not been mashed (served in slices) have a glycemic index of 87. Refrigerator-chilled boiled Russet potatoes have a glycemic index of 60. You stomach has to work harder to digest cold potatoes than hot potatoes, and it has to work harder to digest sliced potatoes than mashed potatoes, so cold and sliced potatoes have lower glycemic index values
• soaking foods before cooking them lowers their GI. In the case of the potato, soaking slices of white potato in salt water as many cooks do to make their own french fries from scratch, and then frying in hot oil, lowers the index of hot french fries to 100
• mixing foods changes the GI. A piece of white bread has a glycemic index of about 100. A sandwich made with white bread, ham, mayonnaise, and a pickle has a glycemic index of about 54
• anything that changes the rate at which the stomach empties into the small intestine, changes the GI. A pickle or vinegar in a salad dressing for instance, slows stomach emptying and effectively lowers the glycemic index of the entire meal. A cup of coffee, on the other hand, encourages the release of gastric juices, accelerates stomach emptying, and effectively raises the GI of the entire meal.

Does this mean that it’s OK for type 2 diabetics to load up on cold mashed potatoes or on homemade french fries? Or that the best way to eat white bread is to add meat, mayonnaise, and a pickle? Absolutely not! Sugar is still released from low-GI foods… it’s just released more slowly. It is easier for the body to release enough insulin to control blood sugar levels when sugars are released slowly, but the released glucose still needs insulin. And if there is not enough insulin production, blood sugar levels still rise, only more slowly.

So is there a more useful measurement diabetics can apply to food? There is… it’s counting calories.

Here’s an example of why counting calories is superior to keeping the glycemic index low:

Mexican researchers put volunteers on two different diets, one featuring foods with a high glycemic index, one featuring foods with a low glycemic index. After six weeks, these were the results:

• the low-GI dieters lost an additional 2 pounds, but they also consumed about 7,000 fewer calories
• there was nothing about the low glycemic index diet that encouraged weight loss except fewer calories
• there was a difference in fasting blood sugar levels of about 5mg/dL (2mmol/L)… and the scientists didn’t take the blood sugar readings that would show whether insulin resistance was affected, that is, blood sugar readings after meals.

Glycemic index really won’t help diabetics control blood sugars or weight any better than counting calories and carb grams.

Would you like more information about alternative ways to handle your type 2 diabetes?

To download your free copy of my E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions… its based on questions many diabetics have asked me over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers is a registered nurse who would like to help you understand how to live easily and happily with your type 2 diabetes. (c) 2010 http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog

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Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, even though in its early stages it doesn’t hurt, or cause inconvenience, or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake, because the blood sugar imbalance we diabetics live with can cause a variety of complications, even leading to other serious health conditions.

One major cause for concern is adverse effects on our hearts. Our unstable blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation—a big step on the road to heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.

Hypertension

Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure, or hypertension. In fact, your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the general population, we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It’s all part of the battle against possible heart disease.

Blood fats

Cholesterol and tryglycerides, or blood fats, also need to be kept lower in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer packaged or fried foods are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying pan!

Blood sugar

Blood sugar levels need monitoring too, as consistently high levels damage blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.

Weight level

And of course you know it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Why is that particularly important for us diabetics? First, if you are overweight your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system. This weakens your blood vessels, which are then more susceptible to damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It’s a vicious cycle you don’t want to create.

Your heart is the main engine of your whole body, so you need to do everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy heart, take control of your diabetes.