Diabetes and Diet

I am 30 weeks along in my pregnancy and just found out that I have gestational diabetes and was curious about few things.

Does it go away immediately after birth or is there several weeks to wait? Do they just assume it goes away or do they have to retest you with the 3 hour glucose test?

My doctor told me to eat 2,000 calories, avoid sugar, and too many carbohydrates. Which leaves what? Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese, eggs, and mainly water. He also said not to lose weight. I’m sorry, but if I eat things like that only, would I not lose weight? Already in three days I have lost 4 pounds. Is that bad for the baby?

I am also supposed to check my sugar first thing in the morning and an hour after every meal. So far, it doesn’t seem to high to me. My two day’s averages have been 112 and 114. Is that because I am following a diabetic diet?

And finally, a gripe. I can’t believe I am diabetic at the holidays! Aargh! I love cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and so many other things I won’t be able to eat this year! Anybody else diabetic during the holidays? How did you deal? We plan to have another holiday meal after the New Year’s (the baby is due 12/31). Anybody else do this or anything else about the holiday food?
I know my 1 hour was 133. Did not ask about my 3 hour but they did say it was fine at one hour but went higher at the 2 and 3 hour mark. I simply don’t get it. I have not gained any weight and have eaten very healthy my whole pregnancy. I did it to avoid the GD, but got it anyway. Sigh!

GD is an intolerance to carbs. After birth, GD can turn into type II diabetes, this happens when a woman gains a lot of weight in pregnancy and doesn’t lose it in a timely fashion, say a woman has a BMI of 27, then gains 75 lbs during pregnancy, and 3 months postpardum only lost 20 lbs, then she is at risk for type II diabetes.

Insulin prescribed for GD doesn’t occur unless blood sugars are consitantly above 150.

A few lbs lost is not a big deal, 2000 calories is low for pregnancy, it depends on your lifestyle, caloric needs, and BMI

After birth, it can take a few weeks. When they test you after, it will be a blood test A1c that measures blood sugars over past 3 months

Suggest eating holiday meals, within moderation.

How badly did you fail the 3 hour gtt?

Apple: This popular sub-acid fruit one of the most valuable of all fruits, has been found beneficial in the treatment of diabetes of its rich pectin content. Pectin is a natural therapeutic ingredient found in the inner portion of the rind and the pulp. It aids in detoxification of the body by supplying the galacturonic acid needed for the elimination of certain harmful substances. This food element reduces the body’s insulin requirements by approximately 35 percent.

The apple is also considered valuable in depression. The various chemical substances present in the fruit, such as Vitamin B1, phosphorous and potassium, help the synthesis of glutamic acid, which controls the wear and tear of nerve cell. This fruit acts as a very effective tonic and recharges the nerves with new energy and life.

Grapefruit: The grapefruit occupies a high place among citrus fruits because of its favor, its appetizing properties and its refreshing qualities. It is a well-known authority on nutrition, believes that it is a splendid food for diabetics and if this fruit were taken more liberally, there would be much less diabetes.

According to Dr. Riley, any person suffering from high blood sugar should take grapefruit three times a day. A person who does not have high blood sugar, but a tendency towards it, and wants to prevent it, should also use the fruit three times a day. Simultaneously, consumption of starches, sweets and fats should be reduced and diet made rich in fruits, vegetables and juices. Two weeks of this grapefruit rich diet will bring down sugar level in individuals not taking insulin. In those who take insulin regularly, it takes longer.

Jambul Fruit: The jambul fruit also known as rose apple is grown all over India. It too possesses anti-diabetic properties.

In the indigenous system of medicine this fruits is regarded as specific remedy against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreas. The fruit, the seeds and fruits juice are beneficial in treatment of this disease. The jamboline’ contained in the seeds in believed to check the pathological conversion of starch into sugar in case of increase production of glucose. The seeds are dried and powdered. This powder mixed with water, taken three or four times daily reduces sugar in the urine and allays thirst.

In Ayurveda, the inner bark of the jambul tree is considered valuable in the treatment of diabetes. The bark is dried and burnt, to produce a white colored ash. This ash is pestle in the mortar, strained and bottled. The diabetes patient should be given. The diabetes patients should be given about two grams of this ash in the morning on an empty stomach and two grams each in the afternoon and in the evening and hour after meals.

The seeds of the jambul fruits are considered beneficial in the treatment of excessive urination. The powder of these seeds in doses of one gram each, in the morning and evening is effective in controlling this condition.

Find complete diabetes information, diabetes supply, diabetes treatment, diabetes diet, diabetes causes, diabetes types. More on Diabetes Mellitus Information and Treatment Supply

Dr John Anne
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/some-very-useful-fruits-for-diabetes-61194.html

Diabetes is an epidemic disease that affects more and more people nowadays. No need to panic when diagnosed with diabetes. It’s bad news. It could be devastating at first. Fortunately, diabetes is a manageable condition. By following some simple steps you can keep your diabetes under control and still live a healthy life you deserve. Here are some tips on how to manage your diabetes successfully:

* Learning more about your diabetes – Knowledge about this disease will help you do what’s good and avoid what’s bad for this disorder.
* Planning a healthy diet – A healthy and balanced meal plan plays an important role in controlling your diabetes. It makes you feel better and help to reduce the chances of developing serious complications. A balanced healthy diet including a variety of foods from each group of grain products, vegetables and fruit, milk products and meat and alternatives will keep your blood glucose at the normal level. Choose low fat foods and foods with a lower glycemic index. Avoid high fat foods and foods with a high glycemic index.
* Keeping your weight in a healthy range, shed off extra pounds if you’re overweight, especially if you have type 2 diabetes – Keeping normal and healthy weight will help your body’s ability use its insulin properly and maintain your blood glucose at normal level. Try to keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) at 18.5 – 24.9 You can calculate your BMI using the following formula:
English Formula
BMI= weight in pounds/ (height in inches x height in inches) x 703
Metric Formula
BMI= weight in kilograms/ (height in meters x height in meters)
* Trying to be physically active – 20-30 minutes of exercise on a daily basis will be very helpful. Exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, lower the risk of heart disease, and lose some extra pounds to keep you weight at a normal level. However, some diabetic complications will probably make some types of exercise program not suitable for you. Activities like weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics may be a little risky for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel damage and possible retinal detachment. Consult your doctor before you get started. Make an action plan. Start slow and gentle. Gradually work your way up.
* Taking medications and/or insulin (in applicable) as prescribed by your doctor – Depending on types of diabetes you may need medications and/or insulin to assist the body in making or using insulin more effectively.

* Monitoring how your diet and/or treatment (if applicable) affect your blood glucose levels – Using a glucose meter to monitor your blood levels to see if they are affected by your meal plan and/or treatment .Keeping diary of your blood glucose readings and reviewing them to see if there are any noticeable patterns

Start to follow these simple tips and manage your diabetes today. You can too live a healthy life you deserve.

Forest Sun
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/tips-to-manage-your-diabetes-74347.html

Nutrition in schools reached an all time low in the 1990′s in America. School administrators and government officials were asleep at the wheel. Well, hopefully they were asleep at the wheel. Because the only other possibility is that they were so greedy for the corporate fast food and junk food dollars pouring into their institutions to care about the damage being done to the Nation’s students in the form of obesity, type 2 diabetes and students being overweight. In any case, money was flowing in, obesity was outof control and no healthy fundraising solutions were being sought.

In the 1990′s and early in the 21st century, it was an absolutely insane situation in America’s schools. Corporate fast food and candy giants would sign lucrative contracts with school districts, wherein they would not only market their unhealthy food to students, but limit competition and eliminate direct competition, in the process. This was a unique and sad period in American education. Anyone who went to school in this country in the 1970′s and early 1980′s knows this wasn’t the case then. It was impossible to get candy or other fast food on campus. You would either eat in the cafeteria or bring your lunch. There were no candy filled vending machines. As far as cafeteria meals, they were prepared according to USDA guidelines. All of that changed in the 1990′s.

Surely this situation played a part in the soaring, out of control obesity rates in this country. Concurrently in the 1990′s, U.S. Adults began consuming fast food and candy on a daily basis, rather than the occasional treat it had traditionally been. This has had a terrible effect on the health of this country. Because of bad nutrition habits, obesity, overweight and type 2 diabetes rates have never been higher. Profits soared while thoughts of nutrition and healthy fundraising solutions plummeted.

Thankfully in the 21st century, some of this has begun to change. The USDA has issued the “HealthierUS School Challenge.” This is a program wherein schools agree to comply with basic nutrition regulations and are certified as “Team Nutrition” Schools. Once certified, they receiving funding and periodic reviews to check for compliance. The re-certification is contingent on maintaining a fast food free campus and searching for healthy fundraising solutions. Additionally, schools that sign on to programs like these gain respect and stature in the educational community as pioneers in promoting better health and nutrition in America.

Obviously this alone will not solve the problem. There is no stronger force in advertising than the fast food, candy and soda industry. But with educators and the USDA getting involved, a difference is being made. You can do your part by speaking up for nutrition, education and healthy fundraising solutions.

Alec Moreland
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/the-fall-and-rise-of-nutrition-in-american-schools-123557.html

Have you been hearing a lot about a glycemic diet? What kind of a diet is this and what does it mean? It is a diet with foods low in glycemic index value. Foods are ranked 1 – 100 based on the effects they have on blood sugar levels. Foods with a low glycemic value will slowly release sugar into the blood. This provides you with a steady supply of energy and a satisfied feeling so that you are not hungry. Thus you should snack less often.

Naturally food with a high glycemic impact value will do the opposite of a low value. The rapid rise in blood sugar can make you feel fatigued and hungry within a short period. Thus eating foods high in GI value can cause you to over eat causing weight gain.

Diets based on the GI value will encourage you to eat foods low in GI and to stay away from foods high in GI value. Most of these GI diets like many other diets will discourage the intake of fatty foods, especially saturated fats. So even if you have a food that is low in GI value but high in fat it should be limited in consumption.

Foods ranked from 0 to 55 on the glycemic index are considered to have a low GI. Some foods that have this rank are broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, mushrooms, onions and red peppers. These vegetables all have a rank around 10. Cherries and grapefruits run in the 20′s. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, lean meat, fish and low fat dairy are basically low in GI value. Any foods that rank over 70 are considered to have a high GI rank. Some of these foods you would want to stay away from are red skinned boiled potatoes, corn flakes, dates, bread stuffing, rice cakes and rice crackers. Foods made from white flour are heavily processed and are usually high GI foods. This is only a small sampling of foods that are low and high in GI value.

What are some popular diets that encourage the low GI values? Ann Collins, Nutrisystem and Ediets all have diet plans that are based on the Glycemic Index. There are many books to help guide you on a low glycemic index diet. The GI diet is claiming to be a simple, healthy way for permanent weight loss without going hungry. There is a saying regarding this diet. If you can follow a traffic light you can follow this diet. Categorizing foods as green, yellow and red.

This GI Diet can actually reduce your risk from heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other high risk diseases. If you are concerned about your weight and health you owe it to yourself to invest the time and to look into this diet and discuss it with your doctor.

Tk Healey
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/glycemic-impact-diet-66880.html

There is a Food Pyramid that was created especially for diabetics who need help managing their eating plans in order to keep their blood glucose levels low. There are six different groups on the diabetic food pyramid, which each vary considerably in size. The largest group on the diabetic food pyramid is the grains, starchy vegetables and beans group, and is located on the very bottom of the pyramid. The smallest group is the fats, alcohol and sweets group, and is located at the top of the pyramid. The larger, lower groups require more servings per day, and the smaller, higher groups require significantly less. You should eat as very little from the fats, alcohol and sweets group as you possible can, as the foods that fit into that category are poor choices for a healthy eating plan.

The former Food Guide Pyramid was replaced in April of 2005, providing a new set of tools that is called My Pyramid, and is based on caloric requirements instead.

In order to follow the minimum amount of servings for every group in the diabetic food pyramid, you would be eating approximately 1600 calories per day. At the upper end of the food pyramids caloric range, expect to eat around 2800 calories. Generally it is women who eat on the lower end of the range, with men eating on the middle to high end of the range, depending on their activity level. The number of servings that you need can vary, but generally depends on your personal goals with diabetes, in addition to nutritional and caloric needs, the type of lifestyle that you live, and what foods you actually enjoy eating. You can divide the number of necessary servings among all the various snacks and meals that you consume daily.

The diabetic food pyramid is different from the Food Guide Pyramid put out by the USDA in that it groups foods based on the levels of carbohydrates and proteins, rather than by food classification. Portion sizes also tend to be different, in order to have similar carbohydrate content for each individual serving. Examples of this are cheese, which can be found in the meat group rather than in its typical home in dairy, and potatoes can be found in the starchy foods group rather than with the rest of the vegetables. These differences have been created in order to make the carbohydrate levels approximately equal between each food group.

Arturo
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-diabetic-food-pyramid-95088.html