Diabetes maintenance can be extremely difficult for the patient, there are several different health supplements for diabetes which will help maintain insulin and blood sugar levels, if used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. Before beginning any new supplement, exercise program or diet- please consult with your physician. It's a good idea to work with a physician to help maintain your insulin and blood sugar levels, and to help control diabetes in general. Diabetes can be deadly, so if at any point- regardless of whether you are using traditional medicine or alternative remedies- your symptoms worsen, then please contact your physician immediately! New, different, or an increase in symptoms could mean your condition is worsening.
As far as some general herbal health supplements for diabetes, there are several out there that will help control blood sugar, insulin levels, and increase your body's ability to properly use insulin. Chromium is a wonderful supplement, often used in the form of "chromium picolinate" for weight loss, but when used for supplementing for diabetes, Chromium makes your body's cells more sensitive to insulin, which will help your body make proper use of insulin. A lot of people with Type 2 Diabetes have a chromium deficiency, which makes the symptoms of diabetes less once Chromium is started in most people.
Evening Primrose Oil is a good herbal remedy for one of the most common complications of diabetes, called "neuropathy." When a person with diabetes has difficulty converting linoleic acid into GLA, circulation problems result because GLA deficiency causes less oxygen to reach the nerves in a person's neurosystem. Evening Primrose oil helps with this because Evening Primrose oil is a direct source of GLA. It is for this reason that Evening Primrose Oil is one of the best health supplements for diabetes. It's suspected that taking Evening Primrose Oil before symptoms of neuropathy caused by diabetes start, will actually help prevent diabetes-related neuropathy.
Other good herbal supplements include aloe vera (the juice or capsules containing aloe powder), antioxidants (commonly found in capsule or pill form, or even in tea form), burdock, biotin, coenzyme Q10, dandelion (found in tea or capsule/caplet form, most common is the tea form), DHEA, fiber, ginseng, l-carnitine, magnesium, onions, vitamins C and E. There are many health supplements for diabetes, and several of the herbal remedies have been known to be very effective. It's just important to remember, before starting any kind of supplement or medication- whether herbal or traditional- consult with your physician and a naturopath before beginning any new supplements.
Just like traditional medications and treatments, herbal remedies can- and do- interact with one another and also with traditional medications. The best way to control diabetes is with your physician's guidance, educating yourself, and by making sure you take care of your general over-all health and well-being. A balanced diet, exercise, and education are the best health suppliments for diabetes that there are. Follow the advice of your physician and/or a naturopath to determine which other supplements or herbal remedies are right for you.
Lucy Bushman is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Bushman
Friday, November 7, 2008
What is Diabetes Type 2?
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. Some people are born with this condition or has the onset of diabetes at an early age. This is called juvenile diabetes or type 1. Type 1 diabetes usually requires insulin injections. The onset of diabetes later in life is called type 2. Type 2 diabetes can be treated and in most cases prevented with simple lifestyle changes.
There have been several factors in the cause of diabetes type 2, but none are definitive. Some studies indicate heredity, obesity, and living a sedentary lifestyle. Also, there are insulin abnormalities that can be the cause of diabetes type 2.
Insulin Abnormalities-
Muscle cells can become resistant to insulin which make excessive insulin to compensate for the resistance. What then happens is a drop in insulin production.
Obesity-
Too much body fat causes the body to work harder to make insulin. Extra sugar is stored in the body as fat, which makes losing weight harder.
Heredity-
Having a sibling or parent who has diabetes means that your are more likely to develop diabetes.
Age-
Nearly 20% of adults over the age of 65 commonly have diabetes type 2.
Lifestyle-
Living a sedentary lifestyle is a cause of diabetes type 2. People who don't exercise at all are at greater risk than those who exercise even a small amount.
Making life decisions will reduce your risk of developing diabetes, and can help reverse the damage to an extent. Losing weight is first and foremost on the list of changes to be made. Getting exercise and drinking lots of water also helps considerably. If you have a parent, or brother or sister who has diabetes, have your doctor check you out. Keep watch on your own glucose levels, and make sure you catch problems as soon as they arise.
Gestational diabetes can also be a cause of diabetes type 2. Seeing a doctor as soon as you suspect you are pregnant will help catch symptoms early. Hypertension is another factor for diabetes. High blood pressure is also another medical problem that is inherited, so check your family history. If your blood pressure runs 140/90 mm Hg or higher, then you are at a greater risk, and should be treated before it can develop into something more.
Knowing your family history and having a good family doctor can help catch early signs of type 2 diabetes. Some symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, unexplained weight loss, or a general feeling of fatigue. Diabetes often goes undetected which can lead to serious complications, therefore it is extremely important to know the warning signs, especially if someone in your family has diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be treated with medications in the form of pills, or insulin injections. However, lifestyle changes such as your diet and getting enough exercise can be enough to lower blood sugar levels and medication may not or may no longer be needed. Know your body and know your family history, it could save your life.
Lucy Bushman is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Bushman
There have been several factors in the cause of diabetes type 2, but none are definitive. Some studies indicate heredity, obesity, and living a sedentary lifestyle. Also, there are insulin abnormalities that can be the cause of diabetes type 2.
Insulin Abnormalities-
Muscle cells can become resistant to insulin which make excessive insulin to compensate for the resistance. What then happens is a drop in insulin production.
Obesity-
Too much body fat causes the body to work harder to make insulin. Extra sugar is stored in the body as fat, which makes losing weight harder.
Heredity-
Having a sibling or parent who has diabetes means that your are more likely to develop diabetes.
Age-
Nearly 20% of adults over the age of 65 commonly have diabetes type 2.
Lifestyle-
Living a sedentary lifestyle is a cause of diabetes type 2. People who don't exercise at all are at greater risk than those who exercise even a small amount.
Making life decisions will reduce your risk of developing diabetes, and can help reverse the damage to an extent. Losing weight is first and foremost on the list of changes to be made. Getting exercise and drinking lots of water also helps considerably. If you have a parent, or brother or sister who has diabetes, have your doctor check you out. Keep watch on your own glucose levels, and make sure you catch problems as soon as they arise.
Gestational diabetes can also be a cause of diabetes type 2. Seeing a doctor as soon as you suspect you are pregnant will help catch symptoms early. Hypertension is another factor for diabetes. High blood pressure is also another medical problem that is inherited, so check your family history. If your blood pressure runs 140/90 mm Hg or higher, then you are at a greater risk, and should be treated before it can develop into something more.
Knowing your family history and having a good family doctor can help catch early signs of type 2 diabetes. Some symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, unexplained weight loss, or a general feeling of fatigue. Diabetes often goes undetected which can lead to serious complications, therefore it is extremely important to know the warning signs, especially if someone in your family has diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be treated with medications in the form of pills, or insulin injections. However, lifestyle changes such as your diet and getting enough exercise can be enough to lower blood sugar levels and medication may not or may no longer be needed. Know your body and know your family history, it could save your life.
Lucy Bushman is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Bushman
Monday, November 3, 2008
Diet Ideas For Gestational Diabetes
Women of all ages can develop gestational diabetes, but that does not mean that you can't enjoy your pregnancy and eat the foods you crave. Many women find that, as long as they eliminate sugars and carbs, that they can enjoy many of their favorite foods. There are many ways to modify a favorite recipe in order to meet your specific dietary needs without sacrificing flavor. A sample diet for gestations diabetes is a good idea to get you started, along with some ideas on how to meet your nutritional needs.
Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day, and making a poor choice is going to leave you either hungry for a few hours, or with elevated blood sugar for the rest of the day. You need to choose a high-protein food for breakfast, since the protein will help you stay fuller, longer.
Some good ideas for breakfast are:
Peanut butter (all natural; one tablespoon) on one slice of whole wheat bread
An egg with a slice of whole wheat toast
Half a banana or a small handful of blueberries with a few almonds when you are in a rush
Most of the time, you will be allowed to have one carbohydrate with your breakfast, along with a food that is high in protein. Make sure that you choose the items that you need to be healthy, but you can also look for creative ways to make your diet fit your pregnancy cravings, as well.
Lunch Ideas
You may be one of the many women who experience the lunch rush, and need to be able to find foods that fit your sample diet for gestational diabetes quickly and with little or no prep work involved. Now is the time to look at convenience foods, which are easy to grab on the go. One of the best choices is fish or lean meats that are low in sodium and high in protein.
Most women are allowed 45 grams of carbohydrates for their midday meal, so you will have plenty of options available. You can choose fresh veggies, turkey on whole wheat wraps with lettuce and tomato, or even a small piece of fruit. You can also consider preparing whole skinless chicken breasts for part of your lunch the night before.
Dinner Ideas
With a little planning, dinners can be satisfying and easy to prepare. A sample diet for gestational diabetes will contain plenty of protein foods, such as steak and fish. Both of these meats are carb-free, and can be used in many different ways. You can easily grill fish and veggies wrapped in tin foil, and then add a starchy side to meet your carb allowance.
You may also want to include an after dinner snack in your meal plan, so make sure that you do not go over your carb allowance at dinner. There are many sugar and carb free options currently available, either at your local health food store or online, so your diet can be diverse and delicious.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Pennington
Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day, and making a poor choice is going to leave you either hungry for a few hours, or with elevated blood sugar for the rest of the day. You need to choose a high-protein food for breakfast, since the protein will help you stay fuller, longer.
Some good ideas for breakfast are:
Peanut butter (all natural; one tablespoon) on one slice of whole wheat bread
An egg with a slice of whole wheat toast
Half a banana or a small handful of blueberries with a few almonds when you are in a rush
Most of the time, you will be allowed to have one carbohydrate with your breakfast, along with a food that is high in protein. Make sure that you choose the items that you need to be healthy, but you can also look for creative ways to make your diet fit your pregnancy cravings, as well.
Lunch Ideas
You may be one of the many women who experience the lunch rush, and need to be able to find foods that fit your sample diet for gestational diabetes quickly and with little or no prep work involved. Now is the time to look at convenience foods, which are easy to grab on the go. One of the best choices is fish or lean meats that are low in sodium and high in protein.
Most women are allowed 45 grams of carbohydrates for their midday meal, so you will have plenty of options available. You can choose fresh veggies, turkey on whole wheat wraps with lettuce and tomato, or even a small piece of fruit. You can also consider preparing whole skinless chicken breasts for part of your lunch the night before.
Dinner Ideas
With a little planning, dinners can be satisfying and easy to prepare. A sample diet for gestational diabetes will contain plenty of protein foods, such as steak and fish. Both of these meats are carb-free, and can be used in many different ways. You can easily grill fish and veggies wrapped in tin foil, and then add a starchy side to meet your carb allowance.
You may also want to include an after dinner snack in your meal plan, so make sure that you do not go over your carb allowance at dinner. There are many sugar and carb free options currently available, either at your local health food store or online, so your diet can be diverse and delicious.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Pennington
Challenges You Face With Being Diabetic
Age can affect diabetes substantially from childhood through old age. With every phase of life, there may be additional or simply different factors at play that you will need to adapt to. Dealing with emotional issues in youngsters, puberty, college years, job stresses, family issues and becoming frailer with age are issues that tend to affect diabetes. Being aware that these issues exist is the first step in dealing with it. Know that these issues occur naturally in life and knowing that diabetes may exacerbate them will make dealing with them a lot easier.
There are lifestyle issues that may greatly complicate the effects of diabetes. School, work, family life, dating and going out with friends can all challenge even the most diligent of diabetes sufferers. It is difficult to be spontaneous when you have diabetes but as long as you are prepared and aware, there is no reason why you can not enjoy all the same activities as your friends and family. You will only need to make some minor adjustments and ensure you are fully prepared in case of a diabetic emergency.
Talking to friends and family about your disease and making them aware of how certain issues should be handled is a great way to make them more aware as well as protect yourself in case you are unable to seek help alone. Make sure you adhere to your dietary requirements. This may be tempting not to do especially if on vacation or out on a date at a fancy restaurant. However, most dining establishments will be more than happy to alter recipes in order to accommodate your needs.
Make sure you always take your medication regularly and on time. In addition, making sure you have extras just in case will allow you a certain amount of freedom and spontaneity. While you and your friends are out and decide to hop a plane to Vegas, you can do so knowing that you are already fully prepared with your prescriptions. You don't have to inconvenience others or miss out on some fun just because you have diabetes.
Depression is common among those with diabetes and part of that is due to the stressors involved with adhering to strict routines. It is also based on the belief that you are missing out on particulars in life. While living with diabetes does mean making some adjustments to your life, they do not have to be extreme. With a little planning and discipline, the preparations and maintenance become routine. Living with diabetes can mean living as normal a life as the rest of your friends and family as long as you take a few precautions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Selina_Anderson
There are lifestyle issues that may greatly complicate the effects of diabetes. School, work, family life, dating and going out with friends can all challenge even the most diligent of diabetes sufferers. It is difficult to be spontaneous when you have diabetes but as long as you are prepared and aware, there is no reason why you can not enjoy all the same activities as your friends and family. You will only need to make some minor adjustments and ensure you are fully prepared in case of a diabetic emergency.
Talking to friends and family about your disease and making them aware of how certain issues should be handled is a great way to make them more aware as well as protect yourself in case you are unable to seek help alone. Make sure you adhere to your dietary requirements. This may be tempting not to do especially if on vacation or out on a date at a fancy restaurant. However, most dining establishments will be more than happy to alter recipes in order to accommodate your needs.
Make sure you always take your medication regularly and on time. In addition, making sure you have extras just in case will allow you a certain amount of freedom and spontaneity. While you and your friends are out and decide to hop a plane to Vegas, you can do so knowing that you are already fully prepared with your prescriptions. You don't have to inconvenience others or miss out on some fun just because you have diabetes.
Depression is common among those with diabetes and part of that is due to the stressors involved with adhering to strict routines. It is also based on the belief that you are missing out on particulars in life. While living with diabetes does mean making some adjustments to your life, they do not have to be extreme. With a little planning and discipline, the preparations and maintenance become routine. Living with diabetes can mean living as normal a life as the rest of your friends and family as long as you take a few precautions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Selina_Anderson
Friday, October 31, 2008
Diabetic Meal Plan and Body Weight
Diabetics with no normal blood sugar levels need care about their body weight. The weight of the body with no control of diabetes depends on the regular diet taken by the individual. If there is no awareness to diabetic meal plan, the condition becomes worse than in any other issue. Weight of the body with diabetic symptoms ought to be kept under control. If it is done, there is much chance for long survival with least problems.
Weight loss and obesity:
If you are not able to see where you are going, you cannot drive the car towards the destiny with safe and secure. Similar thing happens with diabetic diet foods without any control of weight loss or weight increase. A charted program should be there on hand with you regarding the regular meal plan. Increase in body weight affects health with probable diabetes while the vice versa doubles the risk to the body condition. In alternative sense, prevalence of diabetes may hurt the body either with weight loss or obesity. In this regard, regular monitoring of cardiovascular conditions and blood glucose levels are emphasized for a healthy survival against diabetes. The main role is with the diabetic meal plan.
Body mass index:
You can calculate this by a simple formula which implies BMI= (Weight in kilogram) ÷ (Height in meter) 2. If the resultant value is less than 18.5, it is an indication of weight loss. If it gives a value above 25, then the case of obesity is confirmed. It is always safe that the calculated value lies between these two limits having a high risk for health with a mass index value above 30.
Diabetic diet tips for good health:
1. Take breakfast without fail: It prevents from feeling starved and eating a chocolate paste from the shop around the morning hours.
2. Drink 3litres of water daily: It keeps the digestion system free and clean and makes to feel full in general.
3. Eat at regular intervals: it is not at all advisable until you feel starving for food.
4. Eat much fruits and vegetables: Fruits prevent lowering blood sugar and vegetables preferably raw ones enrich energy.
5. Limit your alcohol intake: It stimulates the appetite. If at all you have a taste for it, be confined with dry white wine.
6. Brush your teeth often: When brushing and gargling with pure water, you are less likely to be tempted to snack.
7. Divided meals: It is always good for diabetics to follow this system instead of bulk intake.
Diabetes diet menu to lose weight
1. Eating vegetables: Most of the vegetables are low in calories, but high in volume.
2. Eating fruits: Practically almost all fruits are good for health but with less sweet is the best choice. Canned fruits with no added sugar are better options than fruit juices and dried fruits.
3.Carbohydrates: Low carb diet foods like Cereals, rice, bread and pasta are rich food items for body build up. Whole grains are best since they're higher in fiber and essential nutrients.
4. Protein/Dairy: The best choice of foods high in protein, but low in fat and calories are such as beans, peas, lentils, fish, skinned white-meat poultry, fat-free dairy products and egg whites.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Varadharajan_R
Weight loss and obesity:
If you are not able to see where you are going, you cannot drive the car towards the destiny with safe and secure. Similar thing happens with diabetic diet foods without any control of weight loss or weight increase. A charted program should be there on hand with you regarding the regular meal plan. Increase in body weight affects health with probable diabetes while the vice versa doubles the risk to the body condition. In alternative sense, prevalence of diabetes may hurt the body either with weight loss or obesity. In this regard, regular monitoring of cardiovascular conditions and blood glucose levels are emphasized for a healthy survival against diabetes. The main role is with the diabetic meal plan.
Body mass index:
You can calculate this by a simple formula which implies BMI= (Weight in kilogram) ÷ (Height in meter) 2. If the resultant value is less than 18.5, it is an indication of weight loss. If it gives a value above 25, then the case of obesity is confirmed. It is always safe that the calculated value lies between these two limits having a high risk for health with a mass index value above 30.
Diabetic diet tips for good health:
1. Take breakfast without fail: It prevents from feeling starved and eating a chocolate paste from the shop around the morning hours.
2. Drink 3litres of water daily: It keeps the digestion system free and clean and makes to feel full in general.
3. Eat at regular intervals: it is not at all advisable until you feel starving for food.
4. Eat much fruits and vegetables: Fruits prevent lowering blood sugar and vegetables preferably raw ones enrich energy.
5. Limit your alcohol intake: It stimulates the appetite. If at all you have a taste for it, be confined with dry white wine.
6. Brush your teeth often: When brushing and gargling with pure water, you are less likely to be tempted to snack.
7. Divided meals: It is always good for diabetics to follow this system instead of bulk intake.
Diabetes diet menu to lose weight
1. Eating vegetables: Most of the vegetables are low in calories, but high in volume.
2. Eating fruits: Practically almost all fruits are good for health but with less sweet is the best choice. Canned fruits with no added sugar are better options than fruit juices and dried fruits.
3.Carbohydrates: Low carb diet foods like Cereals, rice, bread and pasta are rich food items for body build up. Whole grains are best since they're higher in fiber and essential nutrients.
4. Protein/Dairy: The best choice of foods high in protein, but low in fat and calories are such as beans, peas, lentils, fish, skinned white-meat poultry, fat-free dairy products and egg whites.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Varadharajan_R
Don't Let Diabetes Stop You From Traveling
Back in the day, if you had diabetes taking a trip was almost out of the question. But nowadays, with a little effort, the right prescription, and proper planning, stress free vacation is within your reach.
First and foremost, make sure that you pack enough insulin before you leave. To make it easier to carry your insulin and diabetes supplies, it's a good idea to diabetic supply case. Good cases have compartments for insulin pens, lancing devices, meters, and test strips. They are essential for organizing all of your diabetic supplies when you're on the go.
Now that you have your supplies organized, you'll want to get a diabetic bag designed for travel. Having sufficient drinking water and snacks is essential in maintaining proper blood sugar levels. That's why you need a bag that will hold your supply case and include room for carrying health snacks, juices, and water. Top of the line diabetic bags also have cell phone holders and room for your laptop computer. There are also diabetic purses just for women.
Apart from your travel-pack, wearing your medical alert bracelet and other medical information along with you diabetic traveling case at all times is very crucial. People around you are not mind readers. Chances of a doctor present at the time you faint or collapse is not very high so to take the extra measures wouldn't hurt you. It could save you. With the necessary medical information with you, people will know how to help you in case of an emergency.
Being a person diagnosed with diabetes, your blood glucose level can fluctuate easily. People often times take part in many recreational activities on vacations such as swimming, surfing, or rock climbing. Sometimes physical activity can trigger insulin. fluctuation so be careful with what you do and how you do it. Another safety tip while planning a trip is to let your family and friends know your traveling details. It is always good to let your closest people know your whereabouts so that they can help in case of emergency.
Maintaining proper nutrition is often hard to do on vacations because you eat out a lot at different restaurants. Here's a tip that might help a lot of diabetics. When going to new food outlets and eateries, check their nutritional information so that it is in line to your doctor's dietary recommendation. It's often helpful to keep dietary recommendation checklist in your diabetic organizer.
Diabetes, in no way, should be a restriction to your traveling. By following the tips that I have provided, you can still travel and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._A._Glynn
First and foremost, make sure that you pack enough insulin before you leave. To make it easier to carry your insulin and diabetes supplies, it's a good idea to diabetic supply case. Good cases have compartments for insulin pens, lancing devices, meters, and test strips. They are essential for organizing all of your diabetic supplies when you're on the go.
Now that you have your supplies organized, you'll want to get a diabetic bag designed for travel. Having sufficient drinking water and snacks is essential in maintaining proper blood sugar levels. That's why you need a bag that will hold your supply case and include room for carrying health snacks, juices, and water. Top of the line diabetic bags also have cell phone holders and room for your laptop computer. There are also diabetic purses just for women.
Apart from your travel-pack, wearing your medical alert bracelet and other medical information along with you diabetic traveling case at all times is very crucial. People around you are not mind readers. Chances of a doctor present at the time you faint or collapse is not very high so to take the extra measures wouldn't hurt you. It could save you. With the necessary medical information with you, people will know how to help you in case of an emergency.
Being a person diagnosed with diabetes, your blood glucose level can fluctuate easily. People often times take part in many recreational activities on vacations such as swimming, surfing, or rock climbing. Sometimes physical activity can trigger insulin. fluctuation so be careful with what you do and how you do it. Another safety tip while planning a trip is to let your family and friends know your traveling details. It is always good to let your closest people know your whereabouts so that they can help in case of emergency.
Maintaining proper nutrition is often hard to do on vacations because you eat out a lot at different restaurants. Here's a tip that might help a lot of diabetics. When going to new food outlets and eateries, check their nutritional information so that it is in line to your doctor's dietary recommendation. It's often helpful to keep dietary recommendation checklist in your diabetic organizer.
Diabetes, in no way, should be a restriction to your traveling. By following the tips that I have provided, you can still travel and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._A._Glynn
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Self-Care For Individuals With Diabetes
A proactive attitude towards your diabetes treatment is crucial in preventing complications. Diabetics can't just delegate their care to their health care provider. They have to be constantly involved.
While everyone should have an annual physical, eye exam, and dental exam, this is especially important for diabetics. You also need to inform the dentist and eye doctor that you are diabetic so they can be alert to the special problems that accompany diabetes.
Since high blood sugar levels weaken your immune system, you are more vulnerable to infections, flu and pneumonia. It is there important to do as much as possible to prevent these. Make sure your vaccinations for flu, tetanus, and pneumonia are current.
Diabetics need to take particularly good care of their feet. Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet as well as reduce the flow of blood to your feet. That means you can injure a foot and not even be aware of it. It also means that the injuries will be more difficult to heal. So you need to check your feet daily for blisters, cuts, bruises, cracking, redness, and swelling.
You also need to keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet daily using gentle motions, a soft washcloth and a mild soap. Gently dry your feet giving careful attention to your toes. If your skin is dry, apply a moisturizer.
Change socks daily and avoid bulky socks or sock with tight elastic bands. Buy comfortable, safe shoes. They should have soft leather tops and flexible soles. Shoes with low heels and closed toes are safer and provide more comfort.
Diabetics need to be very particular about shoe fit. It is recommended that you shop for shoes late in the afternoon or evening. Then you will be trying them on at the time of day when your feet are most likely to swell. Your shoes should be large enough to accommodate normal swelling.
Diabetics should positively not smoke. People who have diabetes and smoke are increasing their risk of heart attack, stroke, nerve damage and kidney infections. In spite of that, it is estimated that 25% of Americans who are diabetic do smoke.
Diabetics also need to monitor their blood pressure. They are more vulnerable to developing high blood pressure than people who do not have diabetes. This is especially true of Blacks and Hispanics. High blood pressure causes from 35% to 75% of all complications that can accompany diabetes.
Individuals with diabetes also need to learn to manage stress. When we're under stress we tend not to eat properly or get the right amount of sleep.
The lifestyle practices that accompany stress are very detrimental to diabetics. Also, if the stress is excessive or lasts for a long time, our bodies produce hormones that block the effect of insulin. The result is a rise in blood sugar.
So it is important to employ stress-reduction techniques such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.
Also look for ways to lighten the stress. This could mean evaluating your daily commitments to see what could be eliminated or reduced; avoiding or limiting time with people who cause you stress, and if work is the problem, seeking out ways to lighten your load.
There are also stress-busting practices such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing and relaxation that you can learn to do and apply in stressful situations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
While everyone should have an annual physical, eye exam, and dental exam, this is especially important for diabetics. You also need to inform the dentist and eye doctor that you are diabetic so they can be alert to the special problems that accompany diabetes.
Since high blood sugar levels weaken your immune system, you are more vulnerable to infections, flu and pneumonia. It is there important to do as much as possible to prevent these. Make sure your vaccinations for flu, tetanus, and pneumonia are current.
Diabetics need to take particularly good care of their feet. Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet as well as reduce the flow of blood to your feet. That means you can injure a foot and not even be aware of it. It also means that the injuries will be more difficult to heal. So you need to check your feet daily for blisters, cuts, bruises, cracking, redness, and swelling.
You also need to keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet daily using gentle motions, a soft washcloth and a mild soap. Gently dry your feet giving careful attention to your toes. If your skin is dry, apply a moisturizer.
Change socks daily and avoid bulky socks or sock with tight elastic bands. Buy comfortable, safe shoes. They should have soft leather tops and flexible soles. Shoes with low heels and closed toes are safer and provide more comfort.
Diabetics need to be very particular about shoe fit. It is recommended that you shop for shoes late in the afternoon or evening. Then you will be trying them on at the time of day when your feet are most likely to swell. Your shoes should be large enough to accommodate normal swelling.
Diabetics should positively not smoke. People who have diabetes and smoke are increasing their risk of heart attack, stroke, nerve damage and kidney infections. In spite of that, it is estimated that 25% of Americans who are diabetic do smoke.
Diabetics also need to monitor their blood pressure. They are more vulnerable to developing high blood pressure than people who do not have diabetes. This is especially true of Blacks and Hispanics. High blood pressure causes from 35% to 75% of all complications that can accompany diabetes.
Individuals with diabetes also need to learn to manage stress. When we're under stress we tend not to eat properly or get the right amount of sleep.
The lifestyle practices that accompany stress are very detrimental to diabetics. Also, if the stress is excessive or lasts for a long time, our bodies produce hormones that block the effect of insulin. The result is a rise in blood sugar.
So it is important to employ stress-reduction techniques such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.
Also look for ways to lighten the stress. This could mean evaluating your daily commitments to see what could be eliminated or reduced; avoiding or limiting time with people who cause you stress, and if work is the problem, seeking out ways to lighten your load.
There are also stress-busting practices such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing and relaxation that you can learn to do and apply in stressful situations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
