Posts Tagged ‘diabetes’
Benefits of Chromium for Insulin Resistance
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
There have been many studies on the positive effects of chromium supplements for decades but the first published study on chromium supplements alleviating diabetic symptoms has been published since the late 70s.
Chromium is essential in the body’s health as it has its part in energy production utilizing carbohydrates, protein and fat form the body. According to several studies, chromium causes insulin to function more effectively in the body. Insulin is what creates energy from glucose (blood sugar). (more…)
Discovering the American Diabetic Diet
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
Many diabetics suffer from a weak immune system and when weakened, it prevents the body from healing quicker and recovering from viruses such as colds. Also, it can lead to infections in the body. According tot he American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the fifth most deadly disease in America and it affects nearly 21 million Americans. And unfortunately many people are undiagnosed and go untreated until they have serious health problems. Fortunately, with a proper diet, many diabetics can improve their immune system. (more…)
Diabetes and Cholesterol: What You Need to Know and Natural Treatments You Might Want to Consider
Saturday, August 7th, 2010
What does the heart and diabetes have to do with each other? Thanks to studies conducted in the Joslin Diabetes Center years ago, we now know that people with diabetes are thrice more likely to develop heart disease than people who don’t have diabetes. It has been found that more diabetic patients die of cardiovascular disease than from any other cause. Find out how this association develops and what natural diabetic supplements are being used to manage these conditions. (more…)
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Three Types of Diabetes
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Millions of people in America are diagnosed with diabetes and not everyone has the same type of diabetes. It’s very important to know the differences if you have a love one who has been diagnosed or to get educated just in case you know someone who has complications from this disease.
There are three types of diabetes that one can be diagnosed with.
Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes)
Millions of children and adults in America have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes). Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that happens when the body’s pancreas is unable to produce insulin to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Because it is a disorder of the body’s immune system, it affects the body from protecting itself from viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances, thus it is a dangerous disorder.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which there is no cure. When the body’s immune system attacks and destroy beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells are essential in producing insulin, a hormone that helps the body move the glucose contained in food to the cells which is then converted to energy.
But because the body is destroying the beta cells, it prevents the body from creating insulin and instead of glucose going into the cells, glucose stays in the blood and without any treatment, this can lead to serious damage to the body’s organs.
Symptoms of type 1 juvenile diabetes includes extreme hunger, extreme thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness or being lethargic, changes in vision, wounds or sores that heal slowly, having dry or itchy skin, losing feeling in the feet or having tingling I the feet, rapid weight loss and a sweet or wine-like odor in the breath and difficulties breathing.
Type 2 diabetes (known as non-insulin dependent diabetes)
Free Glycemic Index Chart
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes have to live with the fact that they have to live with the illness all of their lives. This could be really tragic but life must go on and there are now many methods of managing the illness. Aside from proper medication and diet management, it is important for patients to be educated of the probable complications that the illness could bring. This knowledge is indispensable since it would eventually spell the difference between life and death much later on.
The most common condition that is associated with diabetes is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a syndrome that results from having low blood sugar levels. Diabetics are highly likely to have hypoglycemic episodes especially when they have a need to fast for tests. This condition could also occur among diabetics which means that patients should not only observe high glucose levels but also the dropping of those levels. It is, therefore, important to have meal planning and for those who already know how to use it—to have a Glycemic Index.
The Glycemic Index (GI) will help diabetic patients in controlling their blood glucose levels, appetite, cholesterol levels; it could also help in lowering the risks of type 2 diabetes. By definition, GI is a scale that has rankings for foods that are rich in carbohydrates and compare them against white bread or glucose in raising blood glucose levels. During carbohydrate intake, the food is broken down and sugars are digested to, eventually, produce energy. After eating, the blood glucose level often rises (glycemic response).
Meal planning can definitely work with the Glycemic Index. The GI ranks foods that have carbohydrates according to these foods’ glycemic response. Those that raise the blood glucose levels immediately get a higher ranking, meaning, those that have low GI ranking are best taken by a diabetic.
It is very important to carefully choose food and to maintain a balanced diet when you are a diabetic. The overall nutritive value of the food should be constantly considered before a meal is planned. Foods that are rich in carbs should not be totally taken off the patient’s diet only because of a high GI ranking. It is important to ask for the guidance of a physician to effectively maximize the use of the GI.
Glycemic Index Chart
| Low Glycemic Index Foods |
| Here are some of the foods that are good for diabetics because of their low GI ranking: skimmed milk, soy beverages, plain yogurt, apples, plum, oranges, sweet potato, parboiled rice, oat bran bread, pasta (al dente is recommended), lentils, baked beans, chick peas, and Pumpernickel bread. |
| Moderate Glycemic Index Foods |
| The foods that have moderate ranking on the Glycemic Index are: bananas, pineapples, new potatoes, raisins, oatmeal, popcorn, green pea soup, split pea, brown rice, couscous, shredded wheat cereal, Basmati rice, rye bread, and whole wheat bread. |
| High Glycemic Index Foods |
| The foods that should be taken in moderate amounts because of their high GI rankings are: watermelon, instant mashed potatoes, dried dates, parsnips, Rutabaga, instant rice, corn flakes, rice crispies, Cheerios, bagels, soda crackers, jellybeans, and French fries. |
Being a diabetic is all about eating in moderation, careful meal planning, proper exercise (one that was prescribed by a doctor), and administration of medicines. Conditions such as having high blood glucose level and hypoglycemia could be avoided if these factors are to be religiously followed.
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