Type 2 Diabetes - Is It True Exercise Benefits Diabetics?

Whilst many Type 2 diabetics are advised exercise is just as important as diet and in some cases as important as drugs in managing diabetes, there are still some diabetics who question how much help it offers managing their blood sugar levels. Is there significant enough proof to warrant including exercise as a part of their management program?

The answer is yes, there is sufficient proof exercise is really beneficial to helping Type 2 diabetics with their disease. Once you break down the ways that exercise helps, it is easy to justify getting up and incorporating it as part of your daily routine.

Starting with the heart: Exercise helps to improve circulation which in turns helps to prevent plaque buildup and pumps oxygen-rich blood to the much-needed areas of the body. Improved circulation also helps to ward off issues caused from poor circulation. Having diabetes doubles your risk for serious cardiovascular disease and makes it two to four times more likely you will die from it compared to the general population.

Exercise helps your body to release hormones and glucagon: These work to break down fatty liver deposits. It also helps your liver to deal with insulin more effectively, which allows for more control over your blood sugar levels.

Burns more body fat: The better you train your muscles the better they burn fat. By burning excess fat, exercise keeps the body slim and takes unnecessary pressure off of your joints and muscles that are strained when trying to carry around an overweight body. Excessive weight is one of the primary reasons why older individuals have to undergo knee replacements.

Exercise helps to lower blood sugar levels: Both cardio (aerobic, such as fast walking, cycling), and strength training (such as push-ups or using weight machines) lowers blood sugar levels during and after exercise. As soon as someone becomes involved in regular exercise they experience a change, or rather more of a balance, in their glycemic level. Exercise also tones and builds muscle, which utilizes glucose much more efficiently than fat.

But for someone with a sedentary lifestyle, jumping out there into an exercise program requires patience. You have to slowly incorporate it into your day or else starting out too quickly can have a negative impact. You can force yourself into blood sugar drops, creating the complications from a hypoglycemic episode. This can also discourage a new exercise fanatic to rethink their decision.

Doing the right type of exercise is also crucial. Aerobic exercise is the best since it is low impact and burns calories more efficiently. Engaging in exercise that is too intense will drop sugar levels too low, too quickly.

The recommended amount of exercise is at least 30 minutes per day, at least three days per week. If this is too much, too soon, then cut the sessions in half. As your endurance builds, ramp them back up.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - What Happens When Diabetics Don't Change Their Lifestyle?

If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you know all too well how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Not only does your lifestyle directly affect your diabetes, but ignoring such advice directly impacts so many other diseases and complications that are a result of diabetes running amok. Yet, there are still those who have Type 2 diabetes and make the decision not to make these changes. What happens to them?

The individuals who make the conscious decision to remain in the lifestyle that helped to bring about Type 2 diabetes do so because they choose to. But if they were fully aware of the consequences of this decision, perhaps more of them would change their mind and adapt a better way of life. It might be tempting to imagine that simply popping a few pills or taking insulin injections will take care of your problem. But Type 2 diabetes is a disease for which medication alone is not enough.

The management of your diabetes needs to be supported by:

a good diet,enough exercise, andproper medications.

When a Type 2 diabetic ignores a healthier lifestyle, they risk a multitude of complications. To begin with, they can experience episodes of low blood sugar: although this is rare for people with Type 2 diabetes who are not taking hypoglycemic drugs or insulin. High blood sugar is the greatest single danger for people with Type 2 diabetes.

When blood sugars are not stable, the organs of the body most likely to be damaged by diabetes are those that do not require the presence of insulin to metabolize blood sugar.

Organs that can be damaged:

eyeskidneysnervesblood vessels

Organs generally not damaged:

Several eye disorders are possible. Glaucoma, cataracts and retinopathy are common conditions that come from diabetes raging out of control. Left untreated, some of these can inflict permanent harm to your vision and even produce total blindness.

Large blood vessel complications can affect the brain, heart, legs, and feet in people with diabetes. Small blood vessel disease can lead to problems with the eyes, skin, kidneys, and nerves, and can slow-down healing.

Vascular problems are usually related to atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries resulting from a buildup of deposits along blood vessel walls. This also impedes blood flow. While this can destroy tissue, it also limits oxygen flow. One of the areas receiving less oxygen is an area that you always want to be well-oxygenated: the brain. Without proper oxygen, the brain experiences dizziness, lethargy, and an inability to reason and think clearly. Memory is also dramatically affected.

Restricted blood flow puts additional work on the heart, too. Now, it has to compensate for partially blocked vessels by pumping harder. This means an unnecessary strain being placed on it. This situation can cause a heart attack.

Let's not forget the kidneys. The body's filtering system has to overcome all of the extra glucose passing through it. Instead of releasing the normal amount in the urine, now it doesn't have the ability to keep up with the excess volume of sugar. The kidneys become damaged because of it and the individual has to be placed on dialysis permanently until a transplant can be arranged.

Another area where the extra sugar will attack is the nerves. All over the body, the sugar that is supposed to be burned for fuel is overwhelming the body. There is too much of it and it has to go somewhere. So it ends up in the bloodstream, coursing its way through the body and attacking nerves everywhere. These nerves will eventually fold under the constant barrage and become permanently damaged. This results in numbness, tingling and pain.

But the damage is not over yet. Even your hearing isn't spared damage. Tiny hairs in the inner ear are not able to process the sugar and you start to develop hearing loss. Your hair also begins to fall out. Your skin on your arms and legs thickens and glazes over. Your nails become brittle and sometimes yellowish. You develop bad breath and you experience severe gum disease and periodontal disease.

Not enough? Men suffer impotence, women develop yeast infections and urinary tract infections, while both increase their risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

If that isn't enough reasons to keep your Type 2 diabetes under control, nothing will convince you.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - Easy Ways For Diabetics To Keep Their Body At A Healthy Weight!

Whether you are pre-diabetic or have been diagnosed with full-blown Type 2 diabetes, returning your body to a healthy weight and keeping it there, is crucial to help you live a long, healthy, happy life. No one wants to go through life feeling cruddy and not fitting into their clothes. Thankfully, there's a lot you can do each and every day to keep yourself living in a healthy body.

Here are some tips to get you started:

set goals that are realistic. You don't want to set such unobtainable goals you become frustrated. That just sets you up for failure.keep a record of everything you eat and drink. This will allow you to see patterns and know what you are doing wrong.cut out sugary drinks. You will be surprised at how much weight you can lose just by getting rid of sugary soft drinks, sweetened juices and sweet tea. These are just empty calories that you don't need.use smaller plates. When you eat off a smaller plate, you can fill it up and feel like you are going to eat a lot more food than you would be eating from a larger plate.dip your fork. Instead of putting dressing all over your salad, put it on the side and dip your fork in it before each bite. You will still get the taste, but with a lot fewer calories or kilojoules.slow down when you are eating. Savor the taste of your food. Don't watch TV or do anything else that will distract from enjoying each bite of your meal.never shop for groceries when you are hungry or tired.start each meal with a salad... how about a green salad with kidney beans and raw vegetables. You will feel full faster, but get more nutrients and fewer calories.don't eat in your car.choose lean proteins such as skinless chicken breast, and beans.eat vegetables at every meal.put your fork down between each bite of food. This will slow down your eating and allow you to really taste what you are eating. It also takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to get the message your stomach is comfortable and that you can stop eating.don't eat standing up, your brain and stomach are much more likely to register you are eating if you are relaxed and enjoying your meal.snack on raw fruits and veggies.use fruit for dessert... with a few chops of a knife, you can turn a few pieces of fruit into a beautiful fruit salad. Drizzle a little lemon or orange juice over the top to cover the fruit with it.drink at least 8 to 10 glass of water each day. Why not drink a glass of water before eating each meal.

Just following these simple rules will help you to lose weight and keep it off. Remember, it is a lifestyle change and not a diet. You should strive to live this way for life. Keeping a healthy body is critical to making sure that you live a longer life.

The only way to lose weight without medication or surgery is to take-in less energy (calories or kilojoules) than your body needs. There are no magic ingredients or food combinations to change this basic metabolic fact.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - Turmerin And How It Works To Help Diabetics!

The root of the turmeric plant, Curcuma longa, has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both Chinese and Indian traditional medicine. Curcumin (turmeric) is a strong antioxidant, and has actually been associated with treating complications in Type 2 diabetes. It holds in check oxidation (an internal rusting), because it protects against free radicals that are brought about by high blood sugar.

Tumeric prevents:

free radical damage,reduces oxidative stress associated with diabetes, andhelps to remove or "clean up" metabolic waste.

Researchers at the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in Kerala, India, looked at the chemistry of turmerin, a protein found in turmeric, to find how it might help to control of Type 2 diabetes. Their work was published in the journal Natural Products Research in November 2011.

Plants contain enzyme inhibitors to protect themselves from being broken down. Turmerin was studied for its possible potential for inhibiting enzymes. It was found to inhibit the enzymes alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, as well as having antioxidant activities. It was therefore concluded that turmerin's biochemical activities could be the reason that turmeric is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase are enzymes that break down carbohydrates into simple sugars. One way of treating diabetes is by the use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Acarbose, or Precose, and miglitol, or Glyset, are two medications used to inhibit alpha-glucosidase. Inhibiting the breakdown of carbohydrates to sugar helps to lower blood sugar levels after meals.

Other health benefits have been attributed to turmeric and are under investigation. Some possible uses of turmeric include:

treating psoriasis,delaying liver damage due to cirrhosis,reducing cancer-causing compounds from eating meat,inhibiting the growth of skin cancer,preventing the spread of breast cancer,making cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy,treating arthritis,preventing Alzheimer's disease, andtreating irritable bowel disorder and other gastrointestinal discomfort.

Tumeric is also a very good herb for the liver, which is affected in diabetes.

Turmeric is used as a spice in southern Asia, and many tasty vegan recipes use the spice often and in great amounts...

thatsfit.ca has a recipe for quinoa lentil soup that also includes vegetable stock, turmeric, onion, russet potato, garlic, basil and pepper.allrecipes.com suggests making Marrakesh vegetable curry with sweet potato, eggplant, bell pepper, carrots, onions, olive oil, garlic, turmeric, curry powder, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, garbanzo beans, almonds, zucchini, raisins, orange juice, and spinach.also from allrecipes.com comes a recipe for okra with tomatoes, onion, vegetable oil, ground turmeric and ground pepper.

Turmeric is a great spice to complement any recipes that feature lentils.

The deep color of turmeric can cause it to easily stain. Wear kitchen gloves when handling tumeric to prevent staining your hands, and if you spill tumeric... quickly wash the affected area with soap and water to prevent a lasting stain.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - Diagnosing Sleep Disorder in Diabetics

Studies have shown that perhaps more than 90 per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes have obstructive sleep apnea, or trouble breathing during sleep... usually because Type 2 diabetics tend to be obese. Investigators in the Department of Medicine of Providence Portland Medical Center in Oregon, USA, designed a study to discover how well cases of obstructive sleep apnea are being diagnosed. Their results were published in the medical journal Chest in November 2011.

Sixteen thousand sixty-six people with diabetes were included in the study and their medical records over an 18 month period were reviewed. Only 18 per cent of these participants had a diagnosis of obstructive sleep disorder, less than the 54 to 94 per cent reported. Among obese diabetics the number was 23 per cent, lower than the previously reported 87 per cent for obese diabetics.

Males:

those with a higher body mass index,those with other chronic conditions,those with high levels of low-density cholesterol (LDL), anddiabetics with poor blood sugar control

were more likely to have a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea than healthier males with Type 2 diabetes.

The researchers concluded sleep apnea is underdiagnosed. They recommended doctors should be aware of the strong association between the two conditions and screen their Type 2 diabetes patients for obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea takes place when the throat is narrowed during sleep, causing the body to fail to get enough oxygen. Patients with the disorder frequently snore and feel tired during the day.

According to the Mayo Clinic in the USA, there are three basic ways of testing for obstructive sleep apnea:

Oximetry measures patients' blood oxygen levels during sleep with a painless clip-on device that fits over the finger.
Nocturnal polysomnography consists of monitoring heart, lung, breathing patterns, brain activity, arm and leg activity and blood oxygen levels during sleep. That can help to differentiate between obstructive sleep apnea and frequent limb movement or narcolepsy, which also cause daytime tiredness but are treated differently.
Portable cardiorespiratory testing involves the use of oximetry along with airflow and breathing patterns at home.

If obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed, doctors recommend:

weight loss,limiting alcohol consumption,quitting smoking,using a nasal decongestant, andnot sleeping on one's back.

If those measures are ineffective, a device to blow room air through the throat can be used. In extreme cases, surgery is sometimes used, but fortunately the need for it is rare.

Conclusion: Obstructive sleep apnea, when breathing stops during sleeping, is a condition frequently associated with diabetes and obesity; however studies do show that when obstructive sleep apnea is treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP: a device that helps keep airways open so you can breathe more easily), overnight blood sugar levels are stabilized. Here's to getting a good night's sleep... if you aren't getting enough hours of sleep or suffer from low-quality sleep due to related symptoms, work with your doctor to find some shut-eye solutions.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Is There Such a Thing As a Diet for Diabetics?

When referring to a diet for diabetics, it is quite sad to notice how many have no idea what we are up against when talking about diabetes. This is disturbing due to the fact that it is a really common disease that can hit us at any point in time without even knowing about it. It is really important to stay informed and to know exactly what has to be done. There is such a thing as a diet for diabetics. No matter what people are going to tell you, there are different things that can be done and this happens due to a very simple to understand reason. In the past it was believed that diabetes cannot be controlled. Now we know that this is false, but there are still so many that believe that this is true, and that it is worrying.

Follow a specific diet for diabetics when you have diabetes

We can even build our very own diet for diabetics but the problem is that there is a need to be committed. There are different rules that have to be followed in any type 2 diabetes diet and you will sometimes have to work hard in order to get accustomed to a routine. If you can do this you will not even be bothered by the fact that you are following a diet for diabetics and not one that is accessible to every person on earth. The great part of it all is the fact that this diet for diabetics is not that different than what you should be eating every single day anyway. The only real difference stands in how many sweets you are allowed to eat and the need to control every single nutrient better. This what sets the diet for diabetics apart.

Now the first thing that we recommend with any diet for diabetics is to seriously start doing all that you can so that you can eat often, as opposed to too much in few meals. This action is more than enough to reduce many of the side effects that are associated with the disease. The reason for this is that we are faced with something that can be controlled and when you eat often you are basically making sure that your body has a better chance to actually use all the nutrients that you consume. When you do not eat too much in one go there is a strong chance that extra nutrients are going to remain unprocessed. They can easily transform in sugars and unhealthy fat. The quantities of nutrients taken in is crucial whenever referring to a diet for diabetics.

Fruits and vegetables are recommended in any diet for diabetics

What is always recommended with any diet for diabetics is that you take in higher quantities of fruits and vegetables. This does not mean that you need to become a vegetarian though. You can still eat meat but it is recommended to focus on skin-less poultry and avoiding meat fat at all costs. Dry fruits and canned fruits can also be consumed. However, remember that you still need to calculate the calories that you are taking in so that you will not end up sick.

The correct diet for diabetics basically allows you to live a normal life. The trick is to make sure that you are taking in all the right quantities of nutrients while making sure that you limit anything that could raise blood sugar level. It might seem like something that is complicated but the truth is that it is not at all something that is difficult. In fact, most people get used to all the changes that are made in the first month after modifying the diets. Just always remember that you should never skip a meal and that you have to do the math for everything taken in while also combining nutrition with exercising to control your weight.

Get a proper diet for diabetics

Discover an at-home treatment that will show you the proper way to control your type 2 diabetes without the use of drugs, and get you off your medications. Click the links to become one of many ex-diabetes sufferers who have put this specialized diet for diabetics to the test, and get information on the most delicious diabetes recipes.

Sweet Potato Pie and Layered Salad Recipes That Are Delicious for Diabetics

One thing those who receive a diagnosis of diabetes need to remember is that they can still enjoy tasty meals. The days of a tasteless diabetic diet or bitter desserts are long past. The recipes in this article will show you just how tasty your meals can still be. For me personally, the diagnosis was not devastating as I had experience with diabetic recipes before my diagnosis. I had grown up next door to my grandparents and watched as my grandfather's food was measured and cooked in some rather mundane ways. Years later, I took care of my diabetic mother after she suffered a major stoke. I did a lot of nutritional research and was surprised at how far diabetic diets had changed. But more importantly was the changes in artificial sweeteners. Gone was the bitter after taste from my grandpa's sweeteners to the ones of my mother. Now I am able to prepare meals that I can enjoy and that my grandchildren enjoy with me. Try these recipes and see for yourself just how tasty your meals can be!

SWEET POTATO PIE
3 medium to large sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups Splenda granulated
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup low-fat evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

Cook the sweet potatoes covered in water to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer about 45 minutes until tender.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Drain the potatoes and when enough, peel, remove blemishes, and mash. Add the butter, Splenda, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, beat mixture until smooth. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell.

Bake pie at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. If crust begins to get too brown, cover edge with a foil rim.

Note: Cinnamon is a blood sugar regulator so I have more cinnamon in this recipe than you may be used to.

SUNDAY LAYERED SALAD
1 head lettuce, chopped
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1 can (8-oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained
2 cups mayonnaise
2 tbsp Splenda granulated
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 bacon strips, fried crisp & crumbled

In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish layer ingredients in the order listed above. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving.

Delicious Recipes Diabetics Can Enjoy! Layered Chocolate Dessert and Diabetic Graham Cracker Crust

Yes, diabetics can enjoy dessert, too. It is a matter of ingredients that are diabetic friendly, other foods that you eat, and of course, moderation. You don't have to sit on the sidelines while the rest of the family or your group of friends enjoy dessert. If you are serving the meal, make one of these tasty desserts. Others will be surprised you are enjoying this delicious dessert, too. If you are going to another's home, offer to bring the dessert. That way you know exactly what you will be getting. This Chocolate Dessert is a very tasty, rather fancy dessert that will please diabetics and non-diabetics alike. If you are worried about the sugar used in a graham-cracker crust used for some pies and/or cheesecakes, make your own. The recipe below makes a great graham cracker crust using Splenda. Fill with your favorite no-sugar-added pie or pudding filling for another yummy dessert you can enjoy!

LAYERED CHOCOLATE DESSERT
Layer 1:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 340 degrees.

Combine all the ingredients together in a medium bowl and mix together thoroughly. Pat into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch glass baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Layer 2:
1 brick (8-oz) light cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar-free powdered sugar*
1 cup sugar-free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Mix all three ingredients together and spread over the top of layer one. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Layer 3:
2 pkg (4-serving size) sugar-free chocolate instant pudding mix
3 cups fat-free milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl and beat until thickened. Pour over layer two. Refrigerate again to chill through.

Layer 4:
Additional sugar-free whipped topping, thawed
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup sugar-free chocolate chips for garnish, if desired

Spread the whipped topping completely over the chocolate layer. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the whipped topping. Garnish by sprinkling the chocolate chips over the top, if desired.

GRAHAM CRACKER PIE CRUST FOR DIABETICS
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp Splenda granulated
6 tbsp butter, melted

Combine crumbs and sugar in a medium bowl. Stir in the melted butter until well blended. Press mixture onto the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Chill 1 hour before filling with your favorite pie filling.

Enjoy!

Type 1 diabetes story - Teenage Diabetics at Risk.

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

by Donna Dexford (UK)

My name is Donna. I am now 40 years old and was diagnosed as type 1 diabetic when I was aged 2.

In the 38 years that I have been diabetic, a lot (and I mean a lot) has changed. Not only in the way that you inject the insulin into yourself (I remember having to sterilise the syringe and needles for using again and again) but there is so much more freedom now in what you can eat, drink and do. And also in people's perception of what a diabetic can and cannot do.

At the age I am now I have many health issues, mostly to do with diabetes.

It's easier in this day and age to live with the disease than it was many years ago.

However, one thing that will remain the same throughout the coming years if you are diagnosed diabetic as a child and that is in the teenage years.

Are You a Teenager?

The first point is your diabetic self, you will rebel and if you use your diabetes be warned, at the time that you are playing around with your diabetes (i.e.. not doing your blood sugars or missing injections or drinking too much) it will throw your sugars out, it will come back and bite you on the bum.

I rebelled and, at the age of 24, I was told I had retinopathy which is bleeding blood vessels at the back of the eye. I have had over 3000 laser blasts on the back of both eyes and I am now registered as partially sighted. This is due to rebelling as a diabetic teenager.

I have a kidney problem, this is due to being a rebellious diabetic teenager.

The nerve endings in my stomach sometimes tells my body that what I have in my stomach needs to come out, so I am sick for hours on end. That was caused by being a rebellious teenager.

I have heart problems, poor circulation and calcification of the legs (hardening of the blood vessels) etc etc etc. I think you get the picture.

Admittedly not all the problems I now suffer from are totally down to being a rebellious teenager. Some of them are down to the results of being long term diabetic but I can assure you, the rebellious teenager stuff did not help.

For the Parents of teenage diabetics here is something that you probably need to know and understand...

When I recently told my parents that I could go blind they said it was my fault for rebelling as a teenager. This is something that I should have said to them, but didn't, and this is something that you need to be told or warned about.

When your child rebels as a teenager with their diabetes, the chances are they are not rebelling because they are diabetic, they are using the one thing to hand to rebel and invariably it is the diabetes.

Even though I have had diabetes for a long time and do have health issues with it I now understand, as an adult, how important it is to

1. Keep my diabetes under control.
2. Do regular blood checks.
3. Attend diabetic appointments at the Doctor/Clinic

and finally

4. OK, so you may have diabetes and sometimes you feel the world is against you but you can live life to the full.

DO NOT LET YOUR CONDITION RUIN YOUR LIFE.

If you have (or are) a teenager coping with diabetes have a look at this colourful guide Tips for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes. It contains useful info for type 1 diabetics as well.

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