Archive for April, 2010

Diabetes and Obesity – How to Manage Them Together?

This article discusses the link between diabetes and obesity and how reducing weight can help in controlling blood sugar level. Diabetes can attack the heart, kidneys and any of the vital organs of the body. Since most diabetic are overweight, reduction in weight is advisable. This can be done by reducing the number of calories consumed per day. This will benefit to decrease the sugar level in blood. Exercise will be an added advantage as it increases the use of calories and reduction of weight will be faster.

If you take fewer calories than normally required you will reduce the weight. It is always advisable not to cut down calories drastically. It is better to have a slow weight loss for a prolonged period than to reduce drastically in a short period. The diet should be restricted in calories but full of vitamins and minerals.

Generally the diet recommended should contain a lot of green vegetables, fruits, salads, sprouted grains, curd, pulses and chapattis. Concentrated high calorie food should be avoided like cheese, butter, ghee, sweets, sugar, ice creams, cold drinks and alcohol.

Let us discuss how the low calorie diet brings down blood sugar. As the patient loses weight, the production of glucose by liver is slowed down. Insulin resistance comes down with the increase in the number of insulin receptors. The insulin action becomes more effective and the secretion of ? cells is increased.

When the patient is given a low calorie diet, the calories are distributed throughout the day, evenly in major meals. The body should not be loaded with calories in one meal. This is essential as the metabolic activity of the body is impaired in diabetes.

If the blood sugar is high, insulin or other anti-diabetic drugs may be needed and then the time of meals should be adjusted according to medication. The quantity of drug is gradually reduced as the blood sugar level goes down and in most cases it can be completely withdrawn. A regular check of blood sugar level and regular consultation with a physician will be necessary for this purpose.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Are you looking for some Home remedies for obesity? Know effective Home remedies for migraine. Read useful Home remedies for stretch marks for clear skin.

Nick Mutt
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-and-obesity-how-to-manage-them-together-670029.html

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admin on April 24th 2010 in Diabetes Fruits and Vegetables

Evaluating the Medifast Diet Program

This article should help you to answer whether the Medifast diet is right for you. This can be completed by discussing feelings, opinions and common experiences with one another. This Can be completed by discussing feelings, opinions and common experiences with one another. Should you be pondering this diet as a way to shed pounds over the holiday season, this article should aid you in making your choice.

This story will help you with your decision if you are considering this diet as a solution over the holiday season. The Medifast diet plan forces your body into a metabolic state known as ketosis. Your body is tricked into turning on itself, and it begins burning fat reserves. This is why you eat so frequently when following this diet. It maintains your metabolism on a regular basis and burns fat for an extended time period which is more than you can do with a lot of fad diets.

An excellent way to lose weight and keep it off for a long time is to follow the Medifast diet. Not only will it help you shed pounds, it can also alleviate certain health problems such as diabetes .In order to preserve their health, those with diabetes usually need to reduce their weight. But as a diabetic, you also need to eat particular types of foods, due to the manner in which your body manufactures insulin, making it a challenge to decide on the optimum way for you to reduce your weight.

This diet has a large array of complete meal plans and an eager support network. You will probably find that losing weight with Medifast is much simpler than any diet you have tried in the past. If it is time to get rid of the excess pounds, make sure to research information beforehand. Ensure that you talk with your doctor before diving into a finer lifestyle for you and your family\’s future well-being.

According to the Medifast organization, it is normal to shed 2-5 pounds each week by using the popular 5 plus 1 plan. In one month\’s time, you could lose a minimum of 8 pounds or a maximum of 20 pounds. On the lower end of the scale, you will shed about 8 pounds. Whatever the case may be, these numbers prove that you can be successful with this diet. This could have an enormous positive impact on large and morbidly obese individuals.

The majority of people will be very pleased with these results. If you shed “merely” eight pounds per month every month, it would end up to 48 pounds in half a years\’ time or 96 pounds in a year. This can help overweight and evenly morbidly obese people change their life. As far as this author is concerned, Medifast is the best diet and weight loss system; it is the easiest, most convenient, and most effective program to use. Those that have struggled with obesity and extra pounds have turned to it as a way of life.

John Darby
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/evaluating-the-medifast-diet-program-695776.html

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admin on April 24th 2010 in Diabetes Diet Meal Plan

Diabetes And Exercise – An Important Combination!

When anyone learns they have diabetes one of the first things the doctor will tell you is the need for lifestyle changes. Lack of exercise and obesity are some of the reasons for the disease. The symptoms of adult diabetes, also known as Type 2 Diabetes, is becoming more common with the increasing number of elderly Americans, along with the lack of exercise and increasing obesity rates. It is well known that Type 2 Diabetics have had complete symptom remission after achieving a significant reduction in weight typically due to exercise and diet improvement.

After living the life of a couch potato it is hard to get up and exercise, as we should. But you must understand that it is a must that you get up and start. Remember this is your life we are talking about, so this should be the biggest motivation you need to get up and move.

Unlike type 1, Type 2 Diabetes can usually be controlled with diet, and exercise. We don’t exercise as we should. Most health care providers recommend good nutrition and exercise as treatment for those in early stages of Type 2 Diabetes.

When exercising, the body needs extra energy or fuel in the form of glucose for the exercising muscles. Research shows that with continued moderate exercising, however, you muscles take up glucose. This lowers blood glucose levels. This is because exercise helps to get glucose into muscle tissue, because contracting muscle does not need insulin to absorb glucose. With moderate exercising, your muscles take up glucose at almost 20 times the normal rate compared to short burst of exercise, such as a quick sprint.

You may also consider Chromium supplements, which can improve insulin resistance in muscle cells. When the blood glucose levels begin to rise, it is the insulin’s job to push muscle and fat cells to absorb whatever glucose they need for future activities whereas any surplus will be stored by the liver. Insulin stimulates muscle cells and other body cells to remove glucose from the blood and convert the glucose to glycogen, a kind of starch, and then store the glycogen.

As always you should check with your physician before beginning any exercise program. Start your exercise program slowly with a low-impact exercise such as walking, swimming or biking.

You should exercise at least three to four times per week for 20 to 40 minutes each session. It would be best for you to exercise every day. A good exercise program should include 5 to 10 minutes warm-up and at least 15 to 30 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise, followed by 5-minutes cool down.

One of the side effects you’ll have is you’ll sleep better and feel more rested than before you started exercising.

So come on get up and move!

Kevin Sinclair
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/diabetes-and-exercise-an-important-combination-130710.html

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admin on April 24th 2010 in Diabetes and Nutrition

Healthy Choices Equal Healthy Weight Management

When it comes to healthy weight management, a little common sense goes a long way. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell us that eating fast food every day of the week is not conducive to our health, nor does it add up that a diet void of carbohydrates might possibly contain the essential nutrients that only fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables can provide. And no matter how you look at it, fatty meats and full-fat dairy products are simply not the way to a slimmer figure. Quite simply, if you want to shed the pounds, smart choices and a sensible eating plan are the only way to go.

Because science has proven that the only clinically proven way to lose weight is by reducing the amount of calories you consume each day, begin by keeping a journal of exactly what you eat, when you eat. This will help you be more aware of everything you put into your body. Purchase a book or consult an online resource to determine the amount of calories in your food and beverage, and decide where throughout your day you can make small changes that will likely have significant effects. For instance, instead of having that sugary soda with lunch, opt for unsweetened tea with lemon. In place of heavy salad dressings, choose a low-fat or light option, and drizzle instead of drenching your greens.

Try to plan ahead for your meals each week. This will help you avoid impulse purchases at the grocery store that may not support your commitment to healthy eating. Well-balanced options that are low in fat and calories include lean meats and chicken, fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, healthy nuts for snacking, low-fat dairy products and plenty of whole grains (whole wheat pasta, legumes, brown rice). Include plenty of high-fiber foods in your daily diet, as fiber has been shown to support weight loss by absorbing calories from the foods you eat and leading those calories out of the body.

Keeping track of your portion sizes is also extremely important. According to the American Diabetes Association, the guideline for a serving of meat, fish or poultry is three ounces-about the size of a deck of cards. A 1-cup serving of milk, yogurt or fresh vegetables is about the size of a baseball. A healthy serving of rice or cooked pasta is one-third of a cup, and three-quarters of a cup for dry cereal. An ounce of cheese is about the size of your thumb. However, a recent study at New York University found that commonly available food portions-when compared with the standard serving sizes recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-were considerably higher.

Finally, finding the time to exercise is essential. Because aerobic exercise has been shown to significantly increase your metabolic rate, a regular workout (30 minutes a day, three times a week) can greatly accelerate your weight loss efforts-plus it provides significant benefits to your cardiovascular health. Building lean muscle mass is also important, since the greater your ratio of lean muscle mass to fat, the faster you will metabolize your food. This is because muscle cells are roughly eight times more metabolically demanding than fat cells.

So the next time you consider jumping on the bandwagon with the latest fad diet, think twice. Commit instead to making sensible changes in your diet and lifestyle, and you will soon be reaping the rewards of your efforts.

Brenda Watson
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/healthy-choices-equal-healthy-weight-management-137322.html

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admin on April 24th 2010 in Diabetes and Food Choices

Recognizing a Diabetes Symptom

Thousands of people in the United States are walking around with diabetes at this very moment and don’t know it. Learn how to recognize a sign or diabetes symptom before it’s too late.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. With Type 1, the body is rendered incapable of manufacturing its own insulin. This type tends to occur in younger adults and children. This type is also rarer than Type 2 diabetes, with about 10% of the population affected in contrast to the nearly 90% who contract Type 2 diabetes later in life. Knowing what to watch for when seeking information about a diabetes symptom or sign is important.

Diabetes is related to the rise of blood sugar levels in your system. Unfortunately, these can’t be seen and results are only available after blood testing. But other warning signs and symptoms of diabetes exist that may serve to alert you to the fact that something is not quite right with your body systems, so pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. An early diabetes symptom is a need to visit the restroom more frequently. This is due to the fact that high amounts of glucose in urine cause increased urine output, therefore causing excessive thirst. Many people ignore this sign, but doing so can lead to dehydration. Once chemical balances in your body go topsy-turvy, other difficulties and complications rapidly follow, so heed such changes to your body.

Due to the growing imbalance of chemicals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates in your body during early onset diabetes, and the inability of your body to create enough insulin, the body then turns to other alternatives for its energy source. A gradual or sudden weight loss and increased appetite is another alarming diabetes symptom. This condition can also lead to chronic fatigue, a growing sense of nausea and even vomiting. Many people mistake these as flu-like symptoms at first. If left untreated, this symptom of diabetes can lead to more alarming conditions. Bladder and skin infections can occur, and fluctuating blood sugar levels can disturb vision and caused blurred eyesight. Still worse, glucose levels that dramatically increase can lead to a sense of lethargy and coma.

Everyone knows their own body and listens to signals when things aren’t quite right. So how do you know that you don’t just have a bad case of the flu or you’re not just overworked and in need of a vacation? Visit your doctor and ask for a fasting blood glucose test. After setting up an appointment with your physician, you’ll be asked to fast over night or for at least eight hours prior to the test. A single drop of blood is taken from your finger and either sent to a lab or tested in the physician’s office using a glucose meter. Results are almost instantaneous. One simple test is all you need to take in order to determine whether you’ve been suffering from a diabetes symptom, so when in doubt, take the test.

Chonticha Marijne
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/recognizing-a-diabetes-symptom-97595.html

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admin on April 24th 2010 in Diabetes and Fats

Diabetes: Control it Before it Takes your Control

Diabetes, medically known as Diabetes Mellitus is the most prevailing disease through which a large number of people are suffering. The main cause of this disease is increased level of glucose in the blood. Insulin hormone produced by the pancreas is responsible for the breakdown of glucose in the blood and its conversion into energy which is then used by the body. Insufficient production of insulin hormone glucose level in the blood rises results into Diabetes.

When the glucose level in the blood increases, complications start taking place. The complications are of the two types:

• The first one being, direct, as energy cannot be produced by the sugars, the body is starved of energy and this leads to weakness and dizziness.

• The second problem is an inter-related problem. Here as and when the sugar level in the blood increases other systems of the body start to malfunction. It mainly affects the kidneys, and then comes the nerves of the eyes leading to blurred vision. The toughest condition is when the heart is affected. Plaque starts building up along the walls of the arteries and lining layer and this could lead to stroke or other heart related problems at any time.

Diabetes is most commonly found in people with overweight. There is not one cause of Diabetes. There are several factors which results in Diabetes. Today it has covered even children also. Diabetes is neither an infectious nor a hereditary problem. It has been found in research that women are more prone to Diabetes.

Many precautions are available in the market to keep Diabetes in control like sugar free alternate for sugar, low calorie sugar supplements, Diabetes checker, etc.

Check Blood Glucose Level:

• When the sugar level is between 65 and 140 for every deciliter of blood checked, it is considered that the person is normal

• A person suffering from diabetes normally has a blood sugar level of 250 to 350 for every deciliter of blood.

• A person with blood sugar level of 350 and above is considered that the person is having extremely high blood sugar levels

Diabetes Test at Home:

One can suffer from one or combination of two or more symptoms. Some of very common symptoms of Diabetes are excessive urination, excessive thirst, and infections like rashes / thrushes, sudden loss of weight, extreme hunger, extreme fatigue, and feeling of nausea, irritability, vomiting, sweet smelling breath, dizziness and blurred vision

Tips to keep Diabetes in control:

• Make your Diabetes meal plan

• Use Low Calorie sugar free supplements

• Eat food that have less fat and salt

• Eat foods containing more of fiber like breads, polished rice, pasta

• Avoid Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol

• Brush and Floss your teeth daily

• Eat healthy food and avoid food with more calories like fried food, junk food, sweets

• Live stress free life

• Exercise Daily

• Control your weight

• Check for your blood glucose level regularly

• Consult Doctor if you find any symptoms for diabetes

• Report any changes in your eyesight to the doctor

Jyoti
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-control-it-before-it-takes-your-control-122032.html

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admin on April 24th 2010 in Diabetes and Blood Glucose