Blood Sugar Level Control - 3 Strategies For Once A Day Checking Of Your Blood Sugars

I have shared some of the lows and highs of living with type 2 diabetes. Namely hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

Ultimately as a person living with diabetes, the goal is to have blood sugar levels within the target range of 70-130 mg/dL.

A lot of times this may require frequent monitoring of blood sugars. This is where I usually encounter a lot of resistance from my patients. They complain that testing their sugars several times a day is painful. Also that the test strips cost a lot of money. Or that because of their work schedule they just don't have the time.

I found that the more I argued with them about this, the more resistant some patients became. In fact some even stopped coming in as scheduled. They would stretch out their appointments. So instead of coming in every three months, they made it twice a year.

Now that can be harmful as it is a surefire way to develop complications related to diabetes!

So I had to get creative with that segment of my patients that just were not going to check their blood sugars consistently.

Well here are three strategies that I came up with. For the most part they ended up being about compromise. Which I think is something that is very important if you are committed to living powerfully.

STRATEGY NUMBER ONE - ALTERNATE FASTING BLOOD SUGARS LEVELS WITH POST-PRANDIAL LEVELS

This is by far my favorite strategy.

This is how it works:

On a calendar, divide the month into odd-numbered and even-numbered days.

On odd-numbered days of the month, check your fasting blood sugar level.

On even-numbered days, check your post-prandial sugar levels. Try to vary the times that you check your post-prandial levels. For instance on one day check the levels after breakfast. The next time after lunch. At another time after dinner.

This is a great way to get a general view of how your sugars run during different times of the day. And not test more than once a day.

Remember to label the times that you check your sugars so that your doctor can understand the trend. I find that certain machines, like the Accucheck One Touch Ultra has a feature that allows labeling the blood sugars also. Check your machine to see whether you can do this.

STRATEGY NUMBER TWO - CHECK POST-PRANDIAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS OVER THE WEEKEND

Here is when I would recommend this strategy:

For the most part there are two types of blood sugar levels that determine how well controlled a type 2 diabetic is.

The fasting blood sugar level - the blood sugar level first thing in the morning. The target range for the fasting blood sugar is 70-130 mg/dL.

The second level is the post-prandial blood sugar level. This is the blood sugar level that is taken 2 hours after a meal. The level should be less than 140 mg/dL.

Diabetes type 2, is well controlled when both the fasting blood sugars levels and the post-prandial levels are within the target range.

Let's say I have a person who cannot check their post-prandial levels during the week due to their work schedule. I then encourage them to check the fasting levels during the week. And then over the weekend, focus only on checking their post-prandial levels.

They can do this by alternating post-prandial levels between breakfast, lunch and dinner over the 3 days.

STRATEGY NUMBER THREE - CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED DOCTOR VISIT

I only bring out this strategy when I am pushed to the wall. Literally I am begging a patient to work with me.

There is nothing more frustrating than not having an idea about how the blood sugars are running in between visits. It is like shooting in the dark. You get a blood test result that is high, but you have no idea how to go about correcting it.

As I tell my type 2 diabetes patients, on average they get to see their primary care physician between three to four times per year for routine diabetes care. What happens the remaining 361 days is left in their hands.

If you take blood sugars consistently for even two weeks before an office visit. And when combined with the hemoglobin A1C. Most times it is much easier to spot the problem.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK BOTH THE FASTING AND POST-PRANDIAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS:

In an earlier article I shared some important numbers that a person living with diabetes needs to know. One of those numbers is the A1C. This is also known as the glycosylated hemoglobin. The target range for the A1c is less than 6.5- 7%. In order to achieve that goal, the fasting blood sugars are within the target range of 70-130 mg/dL. The post-prandial levels also have to be consistently less than 140 mg/dL two hours after a meal.

If your A1C is high, then by keeping a log of the blood sugars, you will be able to pinpoint the problem.

For instance, if the fasting blood sugars levels are within normal range. But the post-prandial levels are high. Then perhaps you need to adjust portion sizes.

Are your fasting levels are running high? It may be that the evening medications need to be adjusted. Or that a late night needs to be cut out. Sometimes this may even mean that the nighttime medications may need to be cut down. But your physician needs to see your glucose log. So that they can target the problem. And create a customized plan for you.

START TODAY TO CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

Perhaps you are a newly diagnosed diabetic. Or even if you have had diabetes for some time. But just never thought it important to check your blood sugars. Let's start out fresh.

Review the instructions of your glucometer. If you do not understand how to use it then check to see whether your local pharmacist can help you. If not call your doctor's office. And schedule a visit with the nurse. Most times they can help you. Most times the machines work the same way. A few have extra 'bells and whistles' attached to them.

Just as I share in my upcoming e- book, two of the hallmarks of living a powerful life with type 2 diabetes is being committed and persistent. If you do, you will go a long way to living free of diabetes complications.

Type 2 Diabetes - Managing Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

High or raised blood pressure is very common in people who have Type 2 diabetes. You have twice the risk of hypertension if you have Type 2 diabetes compared with a person of similar age without diabetes. The combination of hypertension and diabetes doubles the risk of macrovascular complications.

When the heart beats, blood is pumped into the arteries. When the blood is forced into these arteries, the walls will resist and it creates pressure within the arteries. That pressure is what allows blood to flow throughout your entire body. Your pressure is the highest when the heart is contracting and falls when it relaxes between beats. This is what that the blood pressure cuff at your doctor's office is monitoring when you have your blood pressure level checked.

The systolic number is the one on the top while the diastolic is the one on the bottom. The systolic number shows the peak pressure when your heart is contracting while diastolic looks at the pressure when your heart is resting between contractions. It can change throughout the day depending upon what you're doing, what you've eaten and other factors. Your pressure will likely be different if you're lying down than when you're standing up. Anxiety and stress can also make changes to your blood pressure.

Doctors used to think a measurement of 120/80 was a normal reading, although they have since changed that. Most doctors want you to stay under 120/80. As your reading inches upward, you could see a greater risk for major health issues such as heart attack and stroke. The first stirrings of hypertension are systolic readings that are higher than 140 or diastolic readings that are higher than 80.

one out of every four American adults actually has hypertension already.African-American people have a higher incidence of the condition than Caucasians.high blood pressure also tends to run in families.

Hypertension typically hits people when they are over 35 years old. In fact, by age 65 more than half of all people in the United States have high blood pressure. Women after menopause are very susceptible to the condition as are women who take birth control pills.

Being overweight and not exercising enough are two of the major risk factors for high blood pressure. In addition to that, people who eat too much salt or drink too much alcohol, may also run the risk of increasing their reading.

Thankfully, stress is not something that will cause hypertension long-term although it can temporarily spike the blood pressure level. Smoking increases blood pressure each and every time a person is smoking a cigarette. The same can be said for caffeine which causes a temporary spike in blood pressure as well.

Thankfully, hypertension can be treated by making lifestyle modifications to your diet such as:

lowering your salt intake, andincreasing your intake of foods containing potassium,

and adding more exercise to your regimen.

Very high blood pressure is dangerous for people with Type 2 diabetes, and should be treated.

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

Type 2 Diabetes - Stress Increases Blood Sugar Levels!

Stress will increase your blood sugar levels. There are many types of stress, and with the exception of maybe long-term emotional stress, they will all increase blood sugar. This also occurs in non-diabetics.

Stress has an incredibly negative impact on the body. It puts an unnecessary strain on the body - most notably your organs. In essence, stress can kill you, as seen in the high rate of heart attacks and stoke. But stress affects diabetics even more.

Stress also includes physical stress such as:

infections,trauma,surgery, or evenintense heat or cold

In all these situations, insulin resistance increases and in non-diabetic people increases slightly.

How is that possible? Because stress causes blood sugar levels to increase. The proof of this is seen anytime you are in a dangerous or stressful situation. Your body responds by giving you a boost of energy to get you through the dilemma. Where does that boost come from? Cortisol and epinephrine kick in to elevate sugar levels in assisting with the crisis.

Intense emotional stress that triggers the release of adrenaline, the fight-or-flight response, increase blood sugar levels slightly in non-diabetics and can make a diabetic person's blood sugar levels soar.

These fluctuations wouldn't be considered so vast in range for a non-diabetic, but for a diabetic they can be detrimental. That's because a non-diabetic has the ability to easily recover from these spikes, while a diabetic doesn't.

A common association with stress is emotional eating. This type of eating has nothing to do with hunger, but rather an episode or a situation that has occurred in the diabetic's life. Just like with sadness or sometimes even with fear, the individual medicates with food since it is non-judgmental and provides a sense of relief, albeit temporary in nature.

While this affects a non-diabetic's weight, it does more than this with a diabetic. It brings on wild spikes and dips in blood sugar levels. It also implements a wide array of medical conditions, some of which can be quite dangerous.

Plus, when a person with Type 2 diabetes is anxious and soothes themselves with food they are almost assuredly not exercising. This brings on a whole new realm of health concerns. Separately, the sedentary lifestyle or the massive intakes of food are bad for an individual. When placed together, they can jeopardize a diabetic's health very quickly.

The right thing to do is to find other ways to deal with stress. Having healthy snacks on hand is one surefire way. That way, if you get the urge to put something in your mouth, at least it will be a healthy choice.

The other positive way to deal with emotions is to exercise. Nothing burns off stress faster than getting up and moving. Even something as simple as walking can do wonders for lowering your stress levels. At the same time, you are benefiting your heart, your blood sugar levels, trimming your body down to a more healthy weight, and helping your entire body.

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

Type 2 Diabetes - Taking Diabetes And Blood Sugar Issues To Work!

Blood sugar levels can either rise or fall below normal levels in people who have received a diagnosis of full-blown Type 2 diabetes, or those who yet have no idea they are on the way to developing diabetes. This is either called hypoglycemia when the blood sugar falls below levels in the normal range, and hyperglycemia when it rises above standard levels. When operating normally, the body restores the blood sugar level to a range of approximately 82 to 110 mg/dL (4.4 to 6.1 mmol/L).

Both of these situations can be dangerous when they occur. These variations take place inside a body when there is a malfunction of the insulin hormone. Insulin is known to keep the blood sugar levels in the body stable. However, due to certain body malfunctions, insulin either gets produced in large quantities or less quantities. Keeping a balance of this hormone is essential: keeping your blood sugar levels in the normal range will almost ensure you will never develop diabetes complications. If you already had early complications when you were diagnosed, it can even reverse some complications like neuropathy.

When you have blood sugar issues, it is necessary you be alert all the time, even at work. Your work place is where you tend to get involved in tension or stress very easily... this can lead to a spike or crash. Keeping a balance of your blood sugar levels while at work can be done in the following ways.

1. Avoid drinking sweetened drinks and a lot of tea and coffee during working hours. Sugar filled drinks are empty calories you don't need on top of having too much sugar.

2. If you work at a desk, then make sure you get up once an hour and walk around the office for about 5 minutes before starting work again.

3. Keep your lunch time routine. You don't need to brown bag all your lunches. Call ahead of a restaurant if you are unsure of what they offer - ask what could be substituted or what options exist. This means when you arrive at the restaurant you already have a plan... and less anxiety. Most cafeterias or restaurants offer salad bars, diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, and low-fat salad dressings. These items are used by everyone, so you will not stand out in the crowd or be labeled.

4. Do not start work immediately after lunch. Take a short walk to help lower your blood sugar levels after eating.

Try to stay away from treats and sweets at the office because they can really wreak havoc on your body. The workplace can be one of the hardest locations to maintain a balanced blood sugar level simply because everyone is always bringing in cakes and cookies for different events. If you know these things happen, make sure you have a stash of something you can enjoy too.

Exercise is the mantra when balancing blood sugar levels. When in the office you cannot do strenuous exercises so even a short walk up the stairs, instead of using the elevator, would help. Exercise burns off excess blood sugar, so taking the stress reducing walk at lunch, or choosing to walk up the stairs over riding the elevator, can really help keep your blood sugar levels balanced.

See how your job actually affects your blood sugar. Take a week and test at various times throughout your work day to see if you experience any trends. Take this information along when you visit your doctor so he can help you to devise ways to do some preventative planning to avoid swings.

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

Compression Socks for Relief From Lower Limb Blood Pooling

Health is undoubtedly the most important factor ruling our overall prosperity. We may have all the luxuries the materialistic world has to offer, but unless we are in the prime of our health, we will not be able to cherish any of the things we may have. This is the reason it is exceptionally important for us to take every step to ensure our body is in the prime of health. Especially if a person has chronic ailments such as diabetes, inapt blood pressure, and the likes the magnitude of care required grows even further.

When we talk about ailments causing rise in blood cholesterol, the issue of pooling of blood in the lower limbs automatically comes into the picture. The reason for pooling of blood in a person's legs can be diabetes, heart ailments, and even pregnancy. In such cases, excessive cholesterol starts to deposit in the arteries causing restriction in the flow of blood. With the rise in the blood cholesterol the blood carrying capacity of the arteries deteriorates considerably, casing pooling of blood in the lower limbs.

People dealing with pooling of blood due to any reason have to bear with pain in the legs, swelling, lesions, and in extreme cases, there is a potential risk of the development of gangrene. However, thanks to compression socks, this issue can be greatly curbed. As the name suggests, these are especially manufactured socks to provide a uniform pressure on the wearer's arteries to enhance the back flow of blood from the legs to the heart, thereby reducing pooling of blood by a great extent.

Owing to the instant popularity gained by compression socks, there are a number of new names that can be found in the market today. However, if you are out to buy such socks, it is recommended that you go for a trustworthy name in the business such as Juzo stockings. The company has been in the business for quite a while now and is widely renowned for manufacturing an extensive range of premium quality compression hosiery to suit different needs.

Being a segment front runner, Juzo stockings can be found at all leading stores dedicated to healthcare products; however, buying the required compression socks from an online source can save you from the troubles involved with conventional shopping method. With the power of internet, you can search for suitable sellers offering Juzo stockings and buy the desired compression hosiery from the comfort of your home.

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Compression Socks For Taking Care Of Lower Limb Blood Pooling

When it comes to the role a healthy body plays in ensuring our overall well being, there is no contradiction to the fact that health is one of the founding pillars of a happy and prosperous life. You may have all the materialistic wonders of the world; yet, unless you have the health to savor all you have got, it is all a sheer waste. This is the reason it is extremely vital for everyone to ensuring they are taking care of their physical well being just the way they are supposed to.

Especially if a person has an ailment such as diabetes, they can never be too careful. Just like any other chronic ailment, diabetes is usually accompanied with a number of interlinked physical ailments with one of the most profound sub-issue of diabetes being pooling of blood. Though this condition is also found in nursing mothers and people with blood pressure and heart issues, the condition is most commonly found in people with diabetes.

The root cause for this ailment is the decrease in the blood carrying capacity of the veins. In such cases, high level of cholesterol, which may rise due to the body's reduced capability to process fatty acids, causes unprocessed cholesterol to deposit in the veins. Now, as veins are the medium for blood to flow back to the heart, the deposition of cholesterol causes a significant deterioration in their blood carrying ability, resulting in back-flow of blood back to the person's lower limbs.

Thanks to the development of remedial aids such as compression stockings, compression socks, support pantyhose, and the likes, people with this issue now have a great way of dealing with this issue as well as minimizing the potential risk of its development. As described by the name, these are specially designed hosiery that provides a uniform pressure on the veins, thereby promoting the flow of blood back to the users' heart and preventing pooling of blood.

With the immense rise in their demand, compression socks are readily available over the counter at all leading stores dedicated to diabetic care; however, it is recommended that you buy the required compression hosiery online to ensure authenticity. As the demand supply ratio of compression pantyhose and other similar hosiery items has enabled several poor quality manufacturers to come into being, buying the required hosiery online will let you read about what you are buying before placing your order.

The author is an experienced Content writer and publisher on the topics related to compression socks and support pantyhose.

How to Naturally Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

About Diabetes

There are currently some 25.8 million people suffering diabetes in the US (8.3% percent of the population), according to figures from the National Diabetes Information Clearing House. Of these, 18.8 million have been diagnosed with the illness, while a further 7 million are unaware that they have the problem.

Glucose is an essential source of energy for the brain and for the body. Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods, which are changed into glucose after we have eaten them.

The Insulin that the body produce transport glucose from the blood supply into fat and muscle cells, where it can be used for energy and switch off the liver once the level of glucose in the blood is high enough.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1
People who do not make any insulin have Type 1 diabetes. They tend to lose weight very quickly because their body is actually being starved. They therefore require insulin by injection plus healthy eating to stay alive and maintain good health.

Type 2
People with Type 2 diabetes are still making insulin but the production is weak or their body is resistant to insulin. Type 2 diabetes can be treated with weight loss and regular physical activity. Medication in the form of tablets is often required to reduce the resistance to insulin or to stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition in that the pancreas continues to get more sluggish over time.

Natural herbal tea remedies and lowering blood sugar levels

Drinking certain herbal tea remedues decreases the body's resistance to insulin, the cells get re-influenced by the insulin, absorb the sugar, disassemble it and as a result stabilize the levels of sugar in the blood.

Glucole herbal tea remedy, which was developed by Galilee Tisanes, is a natural mixture of medicinal herbs for reducing and balancing sugar levels in the blood. The tea reduces sugar and breaks down carbohydrates and fats, which rise to dangerous levels in diabetics after they eat a meal.

The tea, which includes the herbs, Stevia, Gymnema, Sage, Lemon grass, Olive leaves and Lemon verbena, rehabilitates and activates the pancreas, causing it to secrete insulin, a hormone which helps the cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it to produce energy, thereby reducing sugar levels in the blood. In addition the tea helps diabetics absorb the insulin into their bodies.

Glucole tea is free of industrial extracts, preservatives or colorings. It contains Stevia - a plant that is 300 times sweeter than sugar but is not ingested in the body. This makes it naturally sweet and tasty, without the need for any additional sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Poor Blood Circulation - Your Leg Pain Could Be Peripheral Arterial Disease

A lot of times during the course of taking care of patients with type 2 diabetes, the discussion wanders casually to 'poor circulation'.

It may go something like; 'You know I always have poor circulation in my feet'.

Well here is what you need to know. Poor circulation is not normal. Poor circulation may be a sign of a more serious condition called peripheral arterial disease.

What are some factors that put a person at risk of developing peripheral arterial disease?

Cigarette smoking. In one study people who smoked had an increased risk of:

Type 2 diabetes especially in those over the age of 50High cholesterol levelsHigh Blood Pressure (Hypertension)People over the age of 70If you have had blocked arteries elsewhere. This is calledatherosclerosis. Examples would be angina (chest pains) or a heart attack, strokes or kidney disease.

You may notice that a lot of the above factors, except cigarette smoking, type 2 diabetics are at risk of developing anyway.

Now do you see why poor circulation is something that cannot be ignored?

Peripheral arterial disease is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations in the United States.

I have met some myths in people with type 2 diabetes, especially African-Americans. One of these myths was that if you are diagnosed with diabetes, that eventually your legs would get cut off.

In fact they usually could tell me stories of friends or relatives that this had happened to.

A myth does not have to become self-fulfilling prophecy.

I want to dispel this myth. I want to prove that people living with diabetes do not have to give up on life. They don't have to wait for their legs to get amputated. End up on dialysis, suffer a heart attack or stroke.

In order to change a statistic, we need to increase our awareness.

How do you know if you have peripheral arterial disease?

A common complaint that people have is claudication. Claudication causes pain and/or cramps in the legs. They may start to walk. Have to stop because of the pain. And then start to walk again. Then they have to stop again.

As peripheral arterial disease gets worse, the pain in the legs may occur even when at rest. A lot of people may describe this as cramps in the legs, or a 'Charlie horse'. Peripheral arterial disease may cause less hair on the legs. The toenails may become brittle and break off easily. The skin may also get darker in color and shiny.

How is peripheral arterial disease diagnosed?

It is straightforward to diagnose someone with peripheral arterial disease when they already come in complaining of 'poor circulation'. So the person who complains of pain while walking that stops them in their tracks or even pain at rest, most likely has peripheral artery disease.

Your doctor most likely will refer you to a vascular specialist.

Here are some tests that may be done:

Ankle-brachial index (ABI)

This is a test that measures the resting blood pressure at the ankle compared to the blood pressure in the arm. Sometimes the test may be normal. So the doctor may have them exercise by walking on a treadmill. Or by taking a brisk walk outside. The normal value for the ABI is between 0.9-1.3.

Segmental Blood Pressure Testing

In this test, the blood pressure is taken at different levels of the leg. For instance the thigh, the calf, and the ankle. The readings are then compared to decide where the blockage is.

Imaging Tests

There are different imaging tests. Ultrasound, CT angiograms and Magnetic resonance angiograms are all examples of imaging studies that can be done. The vascular disease specialist decides what test gets done.

If the symptoms get worse, then the specialist may need to order a more detailed invasive test called an arteriogram. This will help map out exactly where the blockage is. At times surgery may even be needed.

How can you prevent peripheral arterial disease?

You can reduce your risks of developing peripheral arterial disease by making adjustments in your lifestyle. Also follow the medical treatment plan that your doctor recommends.

It is very important to make sure that you follow up with your doctor regularly.

So if you are a person living with type 2 diabetes and you smoke, quit smoking.

Get your cholesterol checked and if it is high, then make sure that it is treated. Lowering the cholesterol to less than 100 mg/dL will help to reduce the symptoms of claudication.

If you have high blood pressure, take your medications. And make sure that you keep your blood pressure under 130/80 mm hg.

If you have had a heart attack, stroke or have angina make sure that you are being properly treated for these conditions. They increase your risk for peripheral artery disease.

Think of the circulatory system in the body like the plumbing in your house.

If the sink gets clogged up one day, there's a fair chance that the toilet may get clogged another day. This is because as your house gets older the plumbing system will need to be unclogged from time to time.

The same thing with cholesterol build up (called atherosclerosis) in the circulatory system of the body.

Medications:

Your doctor or the vascular specialist may also start you on medications for peripheral artery disease.

Always remember that you can prevent peripheral arterial disease. And even if you do get symptoms, the important thing is to treat it early.

Let's reduce amputations from peripheral arterial disease. So remember if you have 'poor circulation' please schedule an appointment to see a healthcare provider immediately.

My Blood Sugar Levels Are Normal - Why Do I Still Feel So Lousy?

I previously wrote about hypoglycemia. Now let's discuss the other extreme- hyperglycemia. And how it can be a challenge to treat.

'But doctor I feel perfectly fine even though you say my sugars are running high. In fact I feel really lousy when they are within normal range. So this must be normal for my body'

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that statement or a semblance thereof. No doubt one of the things I emphasize to all my patients is the importance of keeping their sugar levels within target range.

According to the American Diabetes Association, the target blood sugar range should be between 70-130 mg/dL for fasting blood glucose (3.9-7.2 mmol/L). And after meals it should be less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L).

Some people with type 2 diabetes begin to act like they have hypoglycemia at the target range. In other words their body tricks them into feeling bad with all the symptoms of hypoglycemia. They eat to counteract the feelings. And their blood sugars rise outside of target range.

Eventually, this leads to poorly controlled diabetes. When the blood sugars remain outside of the target range then this can lead to complications.

So why do some people with diabetes feel 'bad' when their sugars are really within the target blood sugar range?

I like to explain it this way:

Everybody has a set thermostat so to speak. This thermostat is set to a range for each person.

For instance, as you may notice, the normal fasting sugar levels for a non-diabetic is a range 70-99 mg/dL. So as long as the sugar levels are in that range then it is normal.

This set level is called homeostasis. Everyone has a set level that his or her body systems function at.

When type 2 diabetes sets in, one of the first things that happens is that the body attempts to reset the thermostat. So that it can continue to function at a normal level. Instead of functioning with blood sugars between 70-99 mg/dL, the body makes an attempt to function at a higher blood sugar level.

By the time the symptoms of diabetes set in, the blood sugar levels are usually well over 180 mg/dL.

This is why it is important to screen for diabetes early.

So now we have 'a reset thermostat'. Think about it like an air-conditioning system. If the thermostat is set at 73 degrees then the system does not come on until the temperature rises above 73 degrees. And then it cools the room down till it is below 73 degrees and then turns off.

In the case of a diabetic, the 'blood sugar thermostat' has been reset to a higher level. Say over 180 mg/dL.

Now here comes an ambitious healthcare provider. Our goal is to get the blood sugar levels down to the target range. Because from research, we know that when we achieve this goal, the complications of diabetes are reduced.

However, as the blood sugars begin to go down with treatment, the body sends out alarm signals. These alarm signals feel just like hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a very scary feeling for a type 2 diabetic. Once they experience it once, most diabetics will usually do everything they can to avoid experiencing again.

So how can you bring your blood sugars levels down to target range without feeling lousy?

Here are some tips to discuss with your healthcare provider. Remember open communication leads to better results.

If you are experiencing this issue make sure you follow up with your doctor.Discuss about possibly bringing the sugars down slowly. This way their 'thermostat' resets itself slowly without sending out those alarm signals.If you feel that your blood sugars are dropping low, check the levels first before eating. Most times the blood levels are still outside of range.Do not to skip a meal. Try to eat smaller more frequent meals.

Remember that your goal is to maintain your blood sugar levels within the target range. This requires that you are committed to your health. And also that you are willing to ask questions.

Learn How to Control Your Diabetes and Blood Sugar

Diabetes can be controlled but you have to make changes in your life. If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes then understand that the way you eat has to change. When you make changes to your diet then it is easier to control your blood sugar. There are medicines that you can take that will help to bring your numbers down. You should take these along with changing your eating habits. You will find that making small changes can make a big difference.

When you have this disease your body does not produce the right amount of insulin. This can cause you to have health issues such as problems with your hands and feet. Having diabetes is a serious condition and you should do anything you can to control it. The only one that can make it better is you because you control what you eat and how much you move. The more good foods you consume the better off you will be.

When we talk about eating good foods this means ones that are low in sugar. You have to remember that foods that contain carbohydrates will eventually turn into sugar so they can be as bad for you as a candy bar. It is easy to over look these foods and after you consume them wonder why your blood sugar levels are so high. When you have diabetes you have to worry about your blood sugar being too high and too low. When it drops too low you can black out and have to go to the hospital as well.

Another important component of controlling your diabetes is exercise. You may have not spent much time exercising at all. The secret to getting more exercise and lowering your blood sugar is finding something you like doing. Walking is easy to do and you can make time for it. If you set up a plan and start out slowly then you can be gaining all the benefit you can from exercising. You may find a friend of someone that you work with that would make a great walking partner.

Remember that controlling your diabetes is key to staying healthy. When you decide to make a change in your lifestyle then you will find that it comes natural to keep your numbers under control. Eating foods that are healthy for you is important. Avoid foods that are processed and stay with naturally grown ones. They are healthier and have less sugar in them as well. Find the time to go out and get some exercise so that you can keep your diabetes in control.

Losing Weight and Lowering Your Blood Sugar

If you have diabetes then you know how hard it can be to control your blood sugar levels. Eating certain foods can help you to lower your blood sugar levels. Diabetes can cause a lot of problems so it is important to do all you can to keep it within control. Using diet can benefit you because you can control what goes into your body and this can make a big difference in your numbers. Even though you have this disease you can control it and have a healthy life.

The one thing that people with diabetes struggle with is knowing which foods to stay away from. There are foods that are sugar based such as candy and ice cream that are easy to spot. Others that are rich in carbs can be a lot harder to detect. When you eat foods that are high in carbs they will turn to sugar in the body and cause your blood sugar numbers to be high. Make sure that you know which foods these are and try to avoid then if possible.

Having the right amount of nutrient is important for you to be healthy. Try to eat plenty of vegetables and low carb meats. These are meats that are not breaded with something. There are fruits that are typically lower in sugar such as strawberries that can be good to eat as well. The main focus is for you to create a diet plan that consist of foods that help you to keep your blood sugar levels in check. Make sure that these foods are ones that you like to eat. You want to stay on this diet and make it a way of life so eating foods that you enjoy eating make this much easier.

When you are shopping in your local store try to buy items that are naturally grown instead of processed. This is a good rule of thumb because most items that come from the ground are going to be better for you. They will have valuable nutrients for your health and will also help you to maintain your diabetes. Most processed foods are not as healthy for you and can contain carbohydrates that will only raise your blood sugar.

Remember that losing weight can have many heath benefits. The key to reaching your weight loss goals is finding a diet plan that you can stick with on a daily basis. You have to remember that with any plan you are going to have ups and downs but make sure that you enjoy the food that you are eating. Lowering your blood sugar will help you keep your diabetes in control. You want to eat a good diet and avoid things such as carbohydrates that can cause your sugar levels to spike.

Type 2 Diabetes - Weight Gain After Quitting Smoking And The Effect On Blood Sugar!

Thinking about quitting smoking can actually cause anxious feelings in some individuals. How will I cope if I can't smoke? How will I do it? What if I gain a lot of weight? What if I fail?

Although quitting smoking has many benefits, one unfortunate side effect is weight gain. In the month of October, 2011, the Journal of Epidemiology reported the results of a study on quitting smoking and blood sugar levels, performed by the Kanagawa Health Services Association in Japan.

Nine hundred and forty-six volunteers who had stopped smoking were included in the study. After 3 years, the people who had gained weight were found to have higher blood sugar levels than they had at the beginning of the study. Blood sugar levels went up at the same rate as their body weight, and were greatest for those who had smoked at least 20 cigarettes per day.

Smoking increases the levels of adrenalin, which can help to burn calories, but it is not a good way to maintain normal body weight. Individuals planning to quit smoking need to compensate by either cutting back on calories (or kilojoules), and/or by increasing their physical activity. Exercise has the advantage of:

getting smokers away from their frequently used environments, andhelps them to substitute another activity for the smoking.

Many smokers smoke to relieve stress... exercise is also a great way to relieve stress.

Studies have shown exercise decreases the cravings for tobacco. But to be effective, exercise must be frequent. In August 2011, the journal Addictive Behavior reported on a study from the Institute for Community Health Promotion at Brown University in Rhode Island, USA. Sixty female smokers completed an eight week program on smoking cessation that included counseling and a nicotine patch before being assigned either to:

three weeks of aerobic exercises, orno exercise at all.

Women in the exercise group, reported having not only decreased cravings but also higher energy levels and less tiredness.

The bad news is their cravings returned between exercise periods. It was therefore concluded exercise could be successfully used to help anyone quit smoking if exercise was participated in often.

Another study which was reported in the journal Pediatrics October, 2011, found teenagers, especially boys, were better able to quit smoking if they were given physical activity training along with other forms of therapy. Investigators at West Virginia University School of Medicine, in Morgantown, a city with a record for the least healthful habits in the USA, included 233 smokers ranging in age from 14 to 19 in this study. They were assigned to three groups and provided with either:

brief intervention,a teen cessation program called Not on Tobacco, orNot on Tobacco with physical activity.

At the end of six months, adolescents in the Not on Tobacco program along with exercise had the greatest rate of successfully quitting smoking. Boys in the exercise program had a higher rate of quitting than girls in the same program. It was concluded physical activity along with an effective adolescent smoking cessation program, could be a more effective way of treating nicotine addiction in adolescents.

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

Carbohydrates, high blood sugars, diabetes, the connection

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

There is a strong connection between carbohydrates, high blood sugars and diabetes. Carbohydrates are the sugars your body needs for energy.

There are two types; simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are in foods such as fruit sugar, corn or grape sugar and table sugar. They are single-sugar molecules. Complex ones are in the foods that contain three or more linked sugars. So carbohydrates create blood sugars and that's where the problems start for people with diabetes. Understanding more about the connection helps to control your diabetes...

Isn't it amazing how sometimes the obvious, like too many carbohydrates creates high blood sugars, just seems to be completely overlooked?

Craving something sweet?

In my story below I describe the steps I took to reduce my blood sugar levels. But I still like the taste of sweet treats. Do you find you are missing the taste of cookies or something sweet, like maple syrup, because you have to watch the sugar and fat you consume?

I discovered a completely sugar-free maple syrup, which is absolutely gorgeous (I use it in sugar-free cake recipes and as a topping for jelly (je-llo in the US) mmmm!)

I can definitely recommend the genuinely delicious taste of these fat and sugar-free treats created by a diabetic for diabetics. Josephs Lite Sugar and Fat-Free Cookies & Syrups

A Story About Carbohydrates, High Blood Sugars and Diabetes
read the latest update on this story

June 2006 - time for my HbA1C blood check. I'd been monitoring my daily blood sugar levels and it was not good news. After a meal my sugars would shoot right up and yet, too often, I would be woken by a hypo in the early hours of the morning.

Added to that my weight had crept up over the last couple of years, so I now weighed 28lbs more. 28lbs more than I should be! And yet I wasn't a great eater. Typically a day's meals consisted of a bowl of porridge for breakfast, granary bread sandwich for lunch and a cooked meal in the evening. No sweets; no snacks; nothing excessive at all.

Even so, it was a little upsetting, although no real surprise, when my results came through at an average 8.2 mmol/L (146.43 mg/dl)and my diabetic nurse expressed grave concern about my future health, if I didn't get my blood sugars under control.

"You've been extremely lucky so far" she said "Your diabetes has been controlled with just diet and tablets since 1982 - but if we don't get this sorted you'll have to go on insulin injections".

Well I didn't want that and sometimes we need a 'wake-up call'. This was mine. I needed to take action.

When I looked back over my diabetic records I realised that the only time I had really managed to get my sugars down to the ideal level was in 2002. And that was because my hubby and I went on the Atkins diet to lose weight. The Atkins promoted a low carbohydrate diet to reduce high blood sugars; good for diabetes.

Problem was, whilst on the diet I had constant diarrhea which was draining and stressful. Plus I didn't seem to be achieving the promised weight loss. So I came off it. But obviously, judging by my HbA1C levels for that period, it was good for my sugar-levels, I was just concerned about the 'side-effects' and how that might be affecting my health in other ways.

Solution Found...

Whilst doing the research for this website I've come across various supplements that looked promising for the diabetic who needs help. I've been very careful about the links I've put on this website for any products specifically for us diabetics, checking into the products and testimonials as much as I can.

Well, I decided that one of those products I'd found might be just what I needed.

I purchased my WSN Diabetic Supplement pack and, whilst waiting for it to arrive, started doing a bit more excercise, which really did not have much of an impact on my blood sugars.

Well the pack arrived along with a detailed e-mail describing how it worked and the changes I needed to make to my diet. That clinched it for me because it is a low-carbohydrate diet, which I knew from my previous experience would stabilise my blood sugars.

The only little bit of apprehension I had was whether I would get the same diarrhea problem I had had with the Atkins diet. Well, I'm glad to say, it is a little different to the Atkins and I was interested to see what happened.

The supplements supplied are designed to stimulate your cells to accept the 'fuel' of sugar, facilitated by insulin. So the intention was two-fold, reduce the sugar overload AND reduce my body's insulin resistance, effectively make it start working properly.

Now I must set the scene a little. Before I started with the WSN program my blood sugars ranged between 3.1 mmol/l (55.36mg/dl) and 17.6 mmol/l (314.28 mg/dl). Such wide swings - not good! I was taking one 4 mg tablet of rosiglitazone and four 5 mg glipizide tablets every day. And, as I said previously, I wasn't particularly overindulging in food.

My Blood Sugars Were Extremely Erratic
Before I Started the WSN Diabetic Supplement Program
(The dark grey band on the chart is the safe range for controlled blood sugars)

I started the diet (the Remedy Direct people who supply the WSN pack even send regular newsletters with low carb recipes - how's that for service!) and the WSN pack on 9th June 2006. I kept a close eye on my blood sugars and adjusted my medication to compensate for the lowered blood sugars.

The difference I saw almost straight away proved the connection between carbohydrates, high blood sugars and diabetes. Some folks take longer to start stabilising. Everyone's different. Even with adjusting my medicine , I had a few hypoglycaemic (low-blood sugar) episodes.

I am now taking just the rosiglitazone and one glipizide tablet each day. That's a huge reduction in my medication already and my blood sugars are now averaging 6.3 mmol/l - I know that because I used the www.plasmaglucose.com website to keep a diary of my blood sugars.

This is the chart showing my new sugar levels and how they've altered (if you're interested in seeing how the web-based blood-sugars diary works have a look at www.plasmaglucose.com/xmascal to see the sample days I've published. (It may be a little slow to load because it's gathering the info from my records). You will only see a selection of my results).

Just Days Into the WSN Diabetic Supplement
And My Blood Sugars Have Improved Immensely

An additional bonus is I've started to lose weight - gradually - which is good, I've lost 5.25lbs since starting the program. I can honestly say I feel great, I've got so much more energy - you know how tired and listless you feel when your sugars are out of balance? Now, with the help of WSN, I've taken proper control of my diabetes.

Best of all there's no diarrhea!

Crave Carbohydrates?

Now, I appreciate that for some cutting out complex (or even simple) carbohydrates: potato, bread, rice, cereals etc. goes against the grain (excuse the pun), but my experience on both low carbohydrate diets has shown it is worth it.

The WSN supplements certainly seem to be working for me - keeping me in balance while my reduction in carbohydrate intake is doing a great job on my sugar levels. I suppose I'm fortunate I don't have any carbohydrate cravings. But the people who supply the WSN diabetic pack have even thought about that and have formulated a 'stop carbohydrate craving' supplement for anyone who is having difficulty.

Your Turn To Benefit?

I'd recommend you do your own research; check out what the Remedy Direct people have to say; check out the scientific evidence; what the medical profession say and the testimonials from other users; before you make up your own mind.

If you do go for it, I sincerely hope you get as good a result as I have.

Do come back and let me know how you get on and, perhaps, share your story with other visitors to this website.

I'm off do some more searching for low-carbohydrate recipes. I'll create a low-carbohydrate recipe page when I've found enough to share.

So bookmark this site and pop back occasionally to see what I've found.

Good luck,

Carol Ann Update

It is now two months since I started the WSN program and watching my carbohydrate intake. I am doing a bit of exercise as well, but I must admit not as much as I suspect I should be.

Initially one of the reasons I didn't go for long walks was because I was having problems with one of my toes - after a short distance it became very tender and made walking difficult.

That has cleared up completely! I can't honestly say if it was a touch of neuropathy or just too much weight (I was 12 stone - 168lb - when I started). I now weigh 11st 3lb - 157 lb - and I'm still going down.

My average blood sugars are currently showing as 6.0mmol/L (107.14mg/dl) so they've dropped a further 0.8mmol/L (14.28 mg/dl)! I'm not due for my next HbA1C tests until the end of November. I'll let you know how I get on when those are done.

I do slip occasionally - if you look at my latest published blood sugars diary you can see that I was a bit too high on 7 August - soared to 10.4! Think I miscalculated on the carb count that night!

November

Well, I've just had my HbA1c test results back. I went in to see my diabetic nurse and she told me the results. Then she said "You're looking very smug!" with a smile on her face.

I had reason to be! My HbA1c readings had dropped from 8.2 to 5.9 - I've never, since I was first diagnosed as a diabetic, managed to get that good a reading. And remember I'd also dropped three 5mg glipizide tablets per day, effectively a quarter of my daily dosage! So that was a double-whammy!

I've also found I have a lot more energy and inclination towards doing some exercise, so I've joined a weekly aquafit class.

For me, this carbohydrate-watching system has worked well. It doesn't suit everyone, but if you're having problems with weight gain and unstable blood-sugar levels, it's worth giving it a go. (But do remember to consult your diabetic team and explain why you want to make changes to your regime before you get started).

I've spent a lot of time working on an 86-age PDF book showing carbohydrate values for different foods (53 pages), 25 sample low-carb recipes, your own personal diabetic control goal planner and other useful info. You can get your copy free of charge, find out more and grab your copy here.

Top: Carbohydrates, High Blood Sugars, Diabetes