Diabetes and Diet

Did you know that approximately a quarter of all Americans are suffering from full blown Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes (syndrome X)? Diabetes has become an epidemic that allopathic (traditional western) medicine has been unable to halt. Ninety percent of diabetic patients have difficulty managing glucose levels using drugs that can have serious side effects.

The Diabetes Diet, created by Dr Richard Bernstein, may well be the best diet for everyone, not just diabetics. The reason for this is that it has the potential to not only control diabetic symptoms, but also to reverse them.

The Diabetes Diet has had enormous success – without side effects!

One of the major difficulties people have in recognizing they have the symptoms of diabetes is that they occur gradually. In fact, for the first couple of years, there may be no symptoms at all. Yet, once a person has Type 2 diabetes, they are at serious risk of life threatening complications if they do not carefully follow the low-carbohydrate Diabetes Diet prescribed by Bernstein.

Type 2 diabetes is largely a lifestyle disease and, unfortunately, far too few people understand how extremely dangerous it is. Consequently, patients are often far too casual about getting regular medical check ups to check on blood sugar levels and general health.

Not only do many sufferers find it extremely difficult to radically alter their diet from western convenience foods to the Diabetes Diet containing whole nutritious foods, avoiding sugar and fat as much as possible, they often become depressed and anxious and paralyzed by negative emotions. This can keep them from taking the very actions required to improve their health and keep them alive. It also suppresses the motivation necessary to undertake a regular exercise program.

This diet for Diabetics was created to control blood sugar levels in diabetics, however it clearly benefits everyone. The diet focuses on eating protein, good fat and complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and fruit and vegetables.

By eating this way, people can avoid the fluctuating blood sugar levels caused by a high carbohydrate (simple carbohydrates). Bernstein describes the modern Western diet as SAD (standard American diet) and claims it has directly caused a massive increase in obesity, high blood pressure and damage to the lining of the blood vessels.

Dr. Bernstein, who has Type 1 diabetes, did not experience a healthy life until he devised his own diet to regulate his blood sugar levels. Many diabetics, both Type 1 and Type 2, have experienced a balancing of blood sugar levels and an overall improvement in health and well being after going on The Diabetes Diet. In fact, Bernstein claims that sticking to this diet for as little as two weeks can provide an enormous benefit. Once you have experienced this, he believes you’ll never want to go back to SAD.

While Type 2 diabetes can be caused by some medications, it is usually a direct result of poor nutrition, inadequate exercise and a diet high in sugar and fat. Therefore, it is probably unrealistic to expect that a person can change the habits of a lifetime overnight.

Yet, this is what must happen to improve the lives and futures of type 2 diabetics. Health must become the top priority. The Diabetes Diet provides an excellent map to reclaiming health.

Change is necessary and must not be avoided. However, neither should it be so overwhelming that the patient can’t cope with the thought of it. The answer is to make gradual, but consistent, changes in lifestyle.

For example, the first step might be to start walking every day. Just go as far as comfortable and try for a little more the next day. Drink more water. Cut out all fast foods. These changes would be radical enough for most Type 2 diabetics but, in fact, they don’t go far enough.

However, doing them will improve health and mood and put the patient in a more positive and hopeful frame of mind so they can take further steps. If they continue, eventually, the patient’s lifestyle will be completely overhauled and internal resistance to these changes will have been limited. It is certainly possible to eat according to this weight loss program without undue suffering.

The answer to positive lifelong change in a person’s lifestyle lies in their own motivation. It is possible to encourage that motivation through gradual, supportive change. The Diabetes Diet provides the guidance and support a lot of people need.

Ken Black
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/can-the-diabetes-diet-save-your-life–129205.html

I looked drunk. Smashed. I couldn’t even walk a straight line. I stumbled down the hallway, crashing into the walls. I felt dizzy, about to pass out. Finally, I collapsed onto the bed and didn’t wake for 18 hours.

Was this the result of downing an entire bottle of whiskey? Nope. I hadn’t even had one beer. This drunken state was from eating instant mashed potatoes. Of course at the time, I didn’t have a clue. I thought I was dying.

I missed work at least twice a month. My boss was constantly yelling at me, accusing me of playing hooky. Co-workers shot me accusing looks and branded me lazy. Some people just assumed I was an emotional basket case and couldn’t crawl out of bed to face the cold, cruel world. Many people assumed I was on drugs because I passed out at work more than once.

I hadn’t worked in my garden in two years. As much as I love gardening, I simply couldn’t muster up the energy. I never made it to church anymore, which broke my heart. I wanted to go, but I couldn’t get out of bed. If I wasn’t at work, I was asleep. On the weekends, I was so hopelessly exhausted that I routinely slept 18-20 hours at a stretch. Even that wasn’t enough. All I could do for the other 4-6 hours in the day was lie on the couch and hope that by the time Monday morning rolled around I’d be able to move.

I’d been to the doctor several times and she was stumped. All my blood work looked normal and by all indications, I was a healthy 40-year-old.

So why was I so nonfunctional?

I knew I wasn’t depressed. I knew I wasn’t lazy. I knew SOMETHING was drastically wrong, I just didn’t know what.

Whatever it was, it seemed to be associated with eating. Although I felt tired 100% of the time, it was immediately after eating that I would pass out. Not every meal mind you, so I was confused. How come I could eat ice cream with no ill effects but instant mashed potatoes would send me reeling?

I finally went for a glucose tolerance test. I arrived at the doctor’s office first thing in the morning, not haven eaten anything since 10pm the night before. They took my blood sugar. It was 90. A tad high, but not abnormal. Then I drank an awful concoction, some orange liquid made with pure glucose. I immediately felt dizzy. Within five minutes, my blood sugar had shot to 160, clearly in the diabetic range. Within another five minutes it had plummeted to 60 and I was passed out.

Finally, an answer.

I had stress-induced hypoglycemia. Every time I ate, my blood sugar skyrocketed immediately and then just as quickly came crashing down. This blood sugar roller coaster was straining my body to the max and causing the chronic exhaustion.

Stress started the whole mess. I was a newly-divorced single mother and the hectic pace I was forced to keep had thrown my entire system out of whack. I learned that blood sugar problems are actually a relatively common result of our high stress lives.

I was NOT diabetic. If I were a typical diabetic, the glucose-laden potion would have caused a much slower rise, thirty minutes or even an hour to reach 160. Then, a typical diabetic would remain high for hours. That’s the definition of type 2 diabetes. Sustained high blood sugar because the body becomes resistant to insulin. It’s insulin that keeps your blood sugar levels within the normal range. Obviously, my body was not resistant to insulin or my blood sugar would not have gone down once it rose.

Knowing the problem lead me to research the glycemic index. Like many people, I had lots of mistaken notions about how food causes blood sugar to rise. I thought sweet foods like ice cream did it, but I was wrong. Ice cream averages about 50 on the glycemic index and instant mashed potatoes rate 86. Once I knew the glycemic index, it was easy to see why some meals made me pass out and others didn’t.

For a while, I ate nothing but peanut butter (14) and milk (27). Slowly, I began to feel better and I added other foods.

The glycemic index has gotten a lot of publicity but still causes confusion in the minds of many. This is in large part because many popular diet books misrepresent the glycemic index. The best information about the glycemic index can be read in books by Jennie Brand-Miller, a PhD from Australia. She’s authored several books along with researchers Thomas M.S. Wolever, MD, PhD, Stephen Colagiuri, MD, and Kaye Foster-Powell, MS.

Knowing the glycemic index helped me create meal plans that kept my blood sugar stable. As my body became used to blood sugar stability, I noticed that I was simply less reactive. In other words, my body could better handle foods high on the glycemic index.

I also worked hard to reduce the stress in my life. Meditation, relaxation, visual imagery all were techniques I used to relax.

It’s been years since I was diagnosed and I’m happy to report that I rarely have problems anymore. However, if I let the stress build up and get lazy about what I eat, the familiar dizziness and exhaustion quickly remind me that the glycemic index is extremely important information to know.

Lorraine Grula
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/learning-the-glycemic-index-saved-my-life-90202.html

People are struggling with maintaining healthy food choices. It is not surprising because they are constantly bombarded with conflicting information about what’s healthy and what’s not and they are also given numerous choices when it comes to food products. With all these choices and information, it is not inevitable that people will end up confused. You probably share the same confusion. Who can blame you?

If you would visit a local grocery store, you would find numerous aisles of different foods. If you would go to a restaurant, you would find pages after pages of menus. With so man food choices, you probably are finding it hard to stick to your “healthy foods only” diet. To make sure that you would go home with a bag full of healthy food choices, here are some tips that you should definitely take note of.

Shop Only When You’re Not Hungry

Go to the grocery store only when your stomach is full. This does not need much explanation. Doing your grocery when your stomach is empty would definitely tempt you to buy anything that catches your fancy. You’d be practically throwing your “healthy food choices” list out of the window. It is best to do your grocery shopping after you have eaten your breakfast in the morning or your dinner in the evening.

Choose Canned or Bottled Products Carefully

First of all, if you are going to buy meat, vegetables and fruits, do not buy those that are packed with oil. If you need to buy these food products, make sure that you buy those that are packed in water. Chances are the water will likely reduce the calories in meat products. Do not buy products that are labeled “hydrogenated”. These products practically scream, “Fats!” You need to have a discerning and careful eye when it comes to sneaky wordings in packages. This is one way to make sure that you only end up with healthy food choices.

You should also avoid products with high fructose or glucose content. Many products like juices and soft drinks are loaded with high fructose content. When you see these words “high fructose” in a grocery product, you should definitely stay away from it. These words basically mean that you would be drinking something with 100% pure sugar in it.

Many manufacturers add high fructose to their products in order to save money. Unfortunately, this causes obesity and diabetes. Examples of this are pancake corn syrups. This is why it is very important that you first check product labels before you buy anything. To be able to make healthy food choices, you need to make sure that you are making informed choices.

Buy Organic Meat and Poultry

When purchasing meat products like beef, pork and poultry, you should definitely consider opting for organic products. These are free from growth hormones, steroids and other chemicals. When buying poultry, you should look for free range chickens because they often tastes delicious than caged chickens. You should also get skinless chicken because bad cholesterols and calories in chickens are concentrated on their skin.

When buying organic foods, it is better to buy them locally. Not only will you help your community’s economy, you will also save energy. This is the additional bonus you get from making healthy food choices.

Make Wise Grocery Product Choices

First of all, you should make sure that you opt for low sodium prepackaged foods. If you are too busy and you have to resort to buying frozen dinners and canned foods, make sure that you get packages with the lowest sodium count. Making these simple healthy food choices will ensure that you will avoid various illnesses like hypertension or cardiac problems.

If you are one of those people who would like to avoid dairy products, you can opt for food alternatives like broccoli. This vegetable is packed with calcium, so you would still be getting the nutrient despite the absence of milk or cheese in your diet.

When buying breads and cereals, you should opt for whole grain foods. Also, make sure that you always read the labels and get products that are low in fat or zero in fat. You can still give in to your sweet cravings without necessarily placing yourself at risk of developing diabetes.

Eating healthy involves making healthy food choices. You need to make sure that every food that gets into your grocery basket is healthy for you and your family.

ProChef360Blog
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/how-to-make-healthy-food-choices-716118.html

Diabetes is a very common condition that requires a very healthy diet. So, yes if you suffer from diabetes you should be very careful about your diet. Here are some important things to do when having diabetes. First of all, when having diabetes it is very important that you achieve a good weight and try to keep it. This is a trick to control the glucose level in your blood if you have diabetes. Lots of people with diabetes have tried that and it works.

Doctors often give their diabetes patients a diet prescription as well as a part of their diabetes treatment. Most of the diets that are given to people who have diabetes are very easy to follow and they are also very healthy. There is no standard diet when diabetes is concerned. If you are a person that has diabetes, there are many places where you can ask for help. The first person to go to is your doctor. He/ she can tell you some names of dietitians that you can ask for help with your diabetes diet.

You might also go to the local centers for diabetes, which are usually found in hospitals or clinics.

Experts that studied diabetes can also give you a guideline when diabetes is concerned. They say that if you eat more light meals a day, instead of two or three big ones, it can help you very much with your diabetes. This method can help you in avoiding high blood pressure. It is also extremely good in diabetes, because it lowers the level of glucose in your body. It is also crucial that you do not start drastic diets if you suffer from diabetes. The best way to go when you have diabetes and want to loose weight is to drop about two

pounds a week. The people who have diabetes are more at risk of developing any heart disease than those that do not suffer from diabetes. The best thing to do in these circumstances is to loose some weight. It is also very important if you have diabetes to avoid any saturated fats and of course cholesterol. To keep your blood cholesterol low, in diabetes, exchange saturated fats with unsaturated fat. Thus, try to avoid meat or dairy products if you have diabetes. These products are very high in saturated fats. Instead of normal oil, try olive oil which is a source of mono saturated fat.

So, if you want to find out more about type 2 diabetes or even about what causes diabetes please follow this link http://diabetes-info-center.com/

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/is-diet-important-in-diabetes-114424.html

For every diabetic having knowledge of your own glucose (sugar) levels can be vitally important in controlling your diabetes. The current treatments in diabetes, whether medicines or diet, focus on trying to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

To gain knowledge of your body’s glucose levels there are 2 main methods, testing for urine glucose and testing for blood glucose. Which method you use depends a lot on why you are testing and what your doctor has recommended you use.

Blood glucose meters

Testing blood glucose levels has become very simple and very accessible thanks to a whole range of blood glucose meters on the market. Checking glucose in this way is the most accurate method. This is especially important for patients with Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin dependent) and some patients with Type 2 Diabetes requiring insulin. This is because some of these patients can make adjustments to their insulin dose depending on their blood glucose test results. Also patients with diabetes may experience very low blood glucose levels called hypoglycaemia or very high blood glucose levels called hyperglycaemia. Often there are signs and symptoms of both. Using a blood glucose meter to provide an exact reading can help reassure or confirm that action must be taken.

How to use a blood glucose monitor

The 2 main meters on the market at present are Accu-chek Aviva and One Touch Ultra. Both meters use the same basic principle. A blood sample is taken usually from the finger using a finger pricking device. The sample is placed on a specially coated test strip which is then inserted into the blood glucose meter. Within a minute the meter will give you a result. The main drawback of this method is that it does require pricking your finger each time to take a blood sample. This, for some, can be a nuisance. However, with recent advances in meter technology the amount of blood required for Accu-chek Aviva and One Touch Ultra is minimal. This in turn means less pain when pricking the finger.

Urine testing

Urine glucose testing has the advantage of being painless but the downside of not being as accurate as blood glucose testing.

For some, urine testing is a more than adequate method to test glucose especially for diabetics who do not need exact blood glucose levels. Glucose only appears in the urine (for most people) when glucose levels in the blood reach above 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dl). At this point the kidney can no longer reabsorb all the glucose being filtered and glucose appears in the urine. If your blood glucose levels are below 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) then urine test strips will not provide a result. Thus always use a blood glucose meter when testing for low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) as it will give you an exact reading regardless of what your blood glucose is.

How to use urine testing strips

The main 2 makes of urine glucose test strips are Clinistix and Diastix. Visit http://www.glucosemeters4u.com/diastix.htm to learn more about how to use the urine test strips.

Interpreting your results

How you interpret your results very much depends on the goals your doctor has set out for you and what you are testing for. A key point to remember is that blood glucose levels will be affected by food and diabetic medication.

John Ngijseh
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-best-way-to-test-your-glucose-levels-112298.html

My husband was recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. We immediately made diet changes which weren’t too hard because it already consisted of whole grains, fiber, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, etc.

I was surprised when on the last physician visit, the doctor told us that my husband would never be able to control his diabetes with diet and exercise. I was shocked because that is all you read. His sugars were in the 160 range and with the pill he has now taken for four days it is in the 130 range.

I guess my question is (1) can this be controlled with diet and exercise, (2) what should his glucose readings be with the medication, and (3) have others out there had sucess with the Janumet? I’m a bit concerned because it is a fairly newer drug.

Thanks!

I was taking Janumet and loved it. There were no side effects except that for a few days, food tasted a little different. It helped my blood sugar immensely. I had taken it as soon as it came out. Before that I took Januvia. I also take insulin. Now I’m only on the insulin because I’ve started watching my diet extremely close, and have started walking every day. Next dr visit, she will probably lower the amount of insulin that I have to take. Some times diabetics can control it by diet and exercise. But there are times when you actually need medication. Especially if your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin or your body can’t use it properly.