My Type 2 Diabetes

According to the World Health Organization the incidence of those diagnosed with diabetes is growing by epidemic proportions. By their estimates 1 in 4 people will have type 2 diabetes by the year 2050. So, how can you ensure that you are not a statistic and avoid diabetes?

The most important thing you can do to avoid diabetes is eat properly and exercise regularly. Now, this isn’t as difficult as it sounds. By reducing or eliminating carbohydrates in your diet and replacing it with healthy omega 3 fats you reduce your risk for this disease tremendously. In the 1930’s this was the diet recommended by physicians that actually CURED people of diabetes. When the American Diabetes Association came into being they recommended the exact opposite and look where that has gotten us today. Now physicians are returning to this pre-depression era diet with amazing results.

You do not need to run to the nearest gym and sign up for a membership to get the exercise you need. A simple 45 minute walk at least 3 times per week will increase insulin production and help with keeping blood sugar levels regulated.

Maintaining a healthy weight by diligently following the above two recommendations will ensure that you avoid diabetes and the severe complications that can arise from it.

Diabetes currently affects 1 in 10 Americans and the number is expected to increase to 1 in 3 by the year 2050. Unfortunately nearly half of those who currently have diabetes have no idea that they are suffering from this deadly disease. Because they are unaware of the symptoms of high blood sugar they have no chance of stopping this insidious disease and helping themselves to a longer and healthier life.

Diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels remain at elevated levels over an extended period of time. So, how can you tell when your blood sugar levels are elevated? High blood sugar symptoms include:

• Always being hungry
• Always being thirsty
• Dry mouth
• Constantly having to urinate
• Dry and itchy skin
• Fatigue or extreme tiredness
• Blurry vision
• Recurrent infections
• Impotence
• Slow healing of wounds

·         Unexplained weight loss

It is important to note that high blood sugar symptoms can be very mild or develop at an extremely slow pace. You may even have high blood sugar but experience no symptoms at all. If you have a family history of the disease, are over 45, or have poor dietary or exercise habits it is important to visit your physician annually and have your glucose levels checked. If you have experienced any of the above symptoms and have a family history it is important to visit your physician as soon as possible to be checked.

If your physician diagnoses you as pre-diabetic or even diabetic your physician might recommend any of the following to relieve any symptoms of high blood sugar include:

• Initiating a proper diet and or other nutritional practices
• Incorporating a consistent exercise program

·         Using blood glucose testing analyzers on a more frequent basis 

In 2007 diabetes was listed as the 7^th most common reason for death among Americans but it does not need to be that way. There are ways to prevent this disease and if you have been diagnosed with diabetes or are pre-diabetic you can reverse the condition by following the above recommendations. It’s your life, your body, your future, your choice.

When making travel preparations there are certain diabetes guidelines that will help make your trip easier: deciding where to go, booking the tickets and reservations, the anticipation of the trip, packing your belongings and finally the trip itself. Even if you are normally healthy there are always uncertainties – what to pack, where to visit, will you have a good time, etc. However, when you are travelling with diabetes there are other things that you need to take into consideration yet you do not need to let these considerations prevent you from travelling or enjoying yourself while you are away.

Here are some guidelines for travelling when you have diabetes:

• It is important to keep a list of your medications with you at all times. You want to make sure to bring enough medicine and supplies with you on your trip. Be sure you keep all medicines, syringes, and blood sugar testing supplies in your carry-on bag; do not check these supplies in case your luggage is lost. Take copies of your prescriptions and put them in your carry-on bag as well and you may want to consider getting a medical alert bracelet.
• Research your area of travel and be sure that you will be able to find replacement medication if necessary. If you have lost your bags or your medications your first stop should be the local hospital where you should be able to get enough supplies to see you through. If need be you may want to carry the number to the International Diabetes Federation for the country you are visiting so you can have help immediately.
• Make sure you bring a prescription letter from your own doctor, listing by both generic and brand name the medication you use. On the prescription letter don’t forget to include such items as blood glucose testing equipment and syringes.
• Before leaving home you may want to become a member of the International Association of Medical Assistance to Travellers. This organization has a network of doctors around the world who have been trained either in the USA or Europe and are able to give you competent care. The organization will supply you with a list of these doctors and where to find them.

Diabetes does not need to keep you homebound. With proper preparation and a bit of research you should be able to have a wonderful holiday!

Are you looking for a diabetes natural cure? A diagnosis of diabetes is often a frightening moment in a persons’ life. Visions of lifelong injections of insulin, constant blood glucose monitoring and bland diets may leave you quaking in your shoes. While you do need to monitor your diet and keep an eye on your blood sugar levels you don’t necessarily need to add daily insulin injections to your list of worries.

There are a number of reasons why people are diagnosed with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is typically caused by the pancreas stopping production of insulin. This sometimes occurs because of severe illness in which the pancreas becomes attacked by the immune system causing a deficiency of insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the more common type and is typically hereditary. While not every parent who has diabetes will pass it along to their children it is most commonly the case. Understanding what causes diabetes can also help prevent it. Diabetes can be prevented through proper diet, a healthy weight, and regular exercise.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes or with pre-diabetes, a warning that you need to get your diet and weight in check to avoid the diabetes diagnosis, you can still elude the need for insulin. Research has shown that there are a variety of natural remedies that can be used to control blood sugar levels. These “natural” remedies include vitamin and herbal supplements. It is understandable if you are wary of trying these remedies however please be assured that there have been numerous legitimate medical studies that have proven that they do indeed aid in stabilizing and maintain blood sugar levels.

The most popular herbal remedies include Bitter Melon, onion, garlic and cinnamon. Vitamin supplements that have been proven to aid in diabetes maintenance include vitamins C, E, B6, B12,  Chromium, Magnesium, Zinc , and fenugreek.

Prior to taking these supplements please do some research as to appropriate quantities. Also, please consult your physician if you are currently on any prescription medications as they may adversely affect your current medications.
A diagnosis of diabetes is not the end of the world. With proper diet, exercise and the above mentioned nutritional supplements you can certainly create a life that is not dependent on insulin.

  Understanding the signs of diabetes is vital to early detection. Knowing what is happening with your body and having an early diagnosis of diabetes, known as pre-diabetes, is vital if you plan on reversing diabetes. Symptoms that you can look for include frequent urination, constant dry mouth, unexplained weakness or fatigue, and blurry vision. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms I recommend you see your physician immediately.

Reversing diabetes is simply about making a few changes in your life. Adult onset diabetes has a variety of causes but often you can reverse your diagnosis simply by changing your diet and adding regular exercise to your daily routine.

While these changes may sound simple they are not as easy to do as it sounds. Changing your diet includes eliminating foods that contain ingredients like corn syrup, refined white sugar, sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, white flour, enriched flours, etc. For many of you this will also mean throwing away ice cream, cakes, cookies, sweets, desserts, candy bars, etc. and avoiding them when you dine out.

Adding regular exercise or participating in some form of physical exercise on a regular basis is extremely important if you are serious about reversing your diagnosis of diabetes. When I mean physical exercise I am talking about 45 minutes a day of walking, or something more strenuous if you can handle it. If you can’t walk 45 minutes a day you may want to try and start out with 30 minutes a day. If you can’t walk 30 minutes a day, then I know you can walk for at least 5 minutes a day. If it’s physically impossible to walk 5 minutes a day, just get up out of your chair 3 times and walk around the room or even the house — do something, anything, to increase your exercise stamina, and gradually work towards a goal of 45 minutes of exercise a day. Everybody can do some sort of exercise and simply sitting around doing nothing will directly lead you to full-blown diabetes.

If you have the opportunity to reverse your diagnosis wouldn’t you do everything in your power to do it? In a way you are fortunate to have the opportunity and you should not let it pass you up. Simply changing your diet and participating in a form of exercise can not only add years to your life but also increase the quality of your life.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 16 million people in the United States have diabetes, and about half of them don’t know it. Those with type 2 diabetes far outnumber those with type 1 or juvenile diabetes. Today, nearly 95 percent of all diabetics have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes generally develops over time due to physical inactivity, heredity and poor diet. Because of these environmental and hereditary factors the body’s cells don’t recognize and properly use the insulin that the body produces. The term for this is insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown, although excess weight and inactivity seem to be important factors.

Insulin is a hormone that comes from the pancreas, a gland located just behind the stomach. When you eat, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. As insulin circulates, it acts like a key by unlocking microscopic doors that allow sugar to enter your cells. Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.

Glucose — sugar — is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. Glucose comes from two major sources: the food you eat and your liver. After intestinal digestion and absorption, sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. Normally, sugar then enters cells with the help of insulin.

The liver acts as a glucose storage and manufacturing center. When your insulin levels are low — when you haven’t eaten in a while, for example — the liver metabolizes stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.

In type 2 diabetes, this process works improperly. Instead of moving into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. This occurs when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or your cells become resistant to the action of insulin.