Diabetes and Depression: Can Hypnosis Help?

Discussed in this article:
1) The Quiet Crisis Within Diabetes.
2) A Hidden Danger of Diabetes.
3) Are Physicians Aware Of This Danger?
4) Does Depression Cause Diabetes?
5) The Formation of Depression Post-Hypnotic Suggestions.
6) Summary
5) Next Issue Highlights.

The Quiet Crisis Within Diabetes

Depression is a 'quiet crisis' facing diabetics, their families and their health care providers. Financially and emotionally this crisis is exacting a terrible cost.

The purpose of this and following articles is to share important information about depression and how a hypnotist can responsibly and effectively help a diabetic with depression. This assistance will help to improve a diabetic's life by (a) reducing the suffering from this painful state of mind and being and (b) thus enhance their diabetes management skills which will therefore result in a state of enhanced health.

Bear in mind the importance of your contribution as a hypnotist. You can make an incredible difference because even a small reduction in a diabetic's long term blood sugar levels can result in a marked decrease in the likelihood of diabetic complications.

A Hidden Danger of Diabetes

A largely unknown hence, hidden danger of diabetes is that diabetics have twice the risk of non-diabetics for becoming depressed. Dr. Richard Surwit of Duke University states that: "Diabetes more than doubles the odds of suffering from depression at some point. One third of people with diabetes have been diagnosed with significant depression and 11 percent with major depression--twice the rate in the non-diabetic population (1)."

What is obvious and yet, not really obvious about the preceding statement is that being diagnosed with a major disease is traumatic. This, in and of itself, can lead to depression--never mind all the other contributing factors that are related to diabetes and depression.

For example, a contributing factor to depression in a diabetic can be their physiological state. As noted by Dr. Surwit, there is research indicating that high blood sugars cause biochemical changes in the brain that can lead to depression. (2)

Are Physician's Aware Of This Danger?

Physicians by and large, are extremely busy and the demands on them are greater than most can imagine. It is no wonder that many of them are simply not aware that their diabetic clients are two times more likely to suffer from depression. If they knew this, they would probably be more likely to refer their diabetic clients with poor blood sugar control to someone who could help.

When appropriate, a hypnotist can help in key ways because a hypnotist is trained to be a motivational coach and stress management consultant. One way a trained hypnotist can help a depressed person with diabetes will be explained later in this article. But first, let's look at an important question.

Does Depression Cause Diabetes?

This is an important question for many reasons. Probably one of the more compelling reasons to deeply consider this idea is because, if true to some degree, then it begs this question: Wouldn't the validity of this concept make the majority of treatment efforts inappropriate and/or ineffective to some degree? Consider the plight of many frustrated nurses and doctors who will attest that no matter what they do for their patients, nothing seems to work.

This statement is not meant to denigrate in any way the efforts of so many. It is meant to highlight the importance of timely consideration of the depression-diabetes connection before the cost for all concerned becomes not only debilitating, but also tragically unnecessary.

Consider this: Evidence, that will be discussed shortly, shows there is a strong connection between depression and diabetes. This is important because, unless diabetes treatment programs are sculpted to target a largely unaddressed cause and exacerbating feature of diabetes, many of those at risk will only become worse. Those at risk include person's with pre-diabetes as well as those with diabetes.
This pragmatic approach also prompts one to think about the idea that perhaps with re-targeted treatment methods, many of those with diabetes may actually experience a remission of symptoms. And, dwell on the idea of how many may be able to avoid developing diabetes.

Bear with me a moment while I explain. Untreated depression in those with diabetes is a personal tragedy for all family members but most especially children. I state this because children have no coping skills to handle the emotional burden of a depressed and diabetic parent.
Imagine being a child helplessly watching your mother (as in my case) being slowly, inexorably, taken apart emotionally and physically by the deadly combination of poorly controlled diabetes and untreated depression.

It is because of this searing pain that I am driven to reach whomever I can with my Diabetes Motivational Coaching TM training so that perhaps some little boy somewhere doesn't have to watch his mother go blind emotionally and physically.

I realize this may sound disingenuous or dramatic to some and I understand but I make no apologies because it is true. In fact, my feelings go far deeper than what I have communicated here. You see, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and now that hypnosis has helped me to put my life on a previously undreamed of healthy course, my motivation is intensified because I think so many times: "What if my mother had been able to have access to these methods? How much better would her life be now?"

Now, to tie all this in to my point that perhaps an innovative approach can actually prevent diabetes: The challenge with current diabetic treatments is that no amount of chemical management (including anti-depressants as well as insulin, etc.) will ever ameliorate this significant cause of diabetes. (Depression) This is because these treatments do not address the root of the problem. Furthermore, no amount of medication given to one individual will ever prevent another from developing diabetes.

The last point seems odd until you consider a landmark Swedish study (3) in which it was discovered that there is a disturbingly high correlation between traumatic childhood life events (4) and diabetes-related auto-immune activity. This study involved 17,000 children born between 1997 and 1999. One of many conclusions in this study is that: "Experiences of serious life events (e.g., parental separation, serious illness, or death in the family) has been suggested to trigger type 1 diabetes(5) or the auto-immune process behind the disease.(6)"

An additional interesting point to take away from the preceding considerations is that current treatment programs treat one person. Limited efficacy and high cost. However, if a patient were to receive Diabetes Motivational Coaching TM then more than one person can receive the positive benefits because a healthier, non-depressed diabetic parent is less likely to have a precipitating influence on their child. Two for the price of one. A win-win situation from so many angles. Obviously more study is required but the premise is intriguing and the evidence it is based on is reasonably sound.

Another win-win benefit of appropriate, innovative treatment is that the exacerbating (and ultimately very costly) effects of depression on those with diabetes can likely be reduced or eliminated.
So, what can a properly trained hypnotist do? One key way a properly trained hypnotist can help is to reduce or eliminate depression in an individual (diabetic or not) by helping them to eliminate depression activating post-hypnotic suggestions.

The Formation of Depression Activating Post-Hypnotic Suggestions

A post-hypnotic response is a cause-effect belief program that powerfully dictates behavior. Another way to look at this is that when a specific stimulus becomes uniquely associated with a strong internal state, you have a post-hypnotic suggestion and effect. (stimulus/response)
For example, the physical lethargy and mental apathy that accompanies very high (or low) blood sugars can be a contributing factor to inappropriate cause-effect belief formation. To illustrate, let me share with this case: Shortly before I was diagnosed with diabetes, my cognitive functions were significantly reduced and my affect was severely depressed.

In layman's terms this means I felt like garbage due primarily to out of control blood sugar levels that were causing me to lose my vision as well as feel awful. (What is interesting to note is that diabetes and its attendant emotional/physical affects can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years.)

Now, when a person has a strong emotional feeling, that affect state can then become associated with whatever situation and/or thoughts they are currently experiencing. I.E., uncontrolled diabetic consequences coupling with a relationship break-up, a job loss or any other stressful situation. These are common events but note that even a small, insignificant incident can also be implicated. This confluence of events is called an I.S.E. or Initial Sensitizing Event. (Please note that, as in the case of many phobias, some initial sensitizing events can have a profound post-hypnotic impact after only one learning event.)

The next stage in deepening the power of this erroneous belief programming occurs when a person is next exposed to the same stimuli that were initially associated with a powerful, negative state of mind.
The result? Generally, with enough repetition and enough time, feelings can become facts cognitively and physically. And then, a pseudo-depression cycle is perpetuated.
As a quick illustration imagine a large spider near your foot. Now, if you are a person who becomes upset when big, hairy spiders with lots of eyes and big fangs are near you, then your body will respond to some degree.

Now, imagine being unconsciously reminded (triggered or post-hypnotically influenced) to thinking and therefore feeling, many times a day that there is a nasty spider about to crawl up your leg. Ultimately, this could become a panic disorder that can even attach itself to unrelated objects and/or events. In fact, this is not uncommon.

Hopefully, this example will help to illustrate why I call it pseudo-depression. I do this because the belief syllogism is: "I feel depressed (like garbage) therefore there must be reasons."
And, when feelings happen, a person must make sense out of their world. So, they justify this unconscious, powerful, emotional experience with a conscious understanding that usually takes the form of inappropriate cause-effect associations. I.E., "I am feeling depressed because of my job--spouse--life--" or whatever seemingly reasonable explanation is available.

In other words, one's feelings of depression can be in part or whole, built on erroneous beliefs or, post-hypnotic suggestions. Therefore, all a depressed person may need are the tools and coaching in order to be able to disable erroneous cause-effect belief programs.
To finalize this point, please consider a quote from Breaking The Patterns of Depression, by Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.:

"For most people, depression is the product of a hurtful way of interpreting and responding to life experiences."

Summary
In this article I have attempted to share information that will raise awareness on a number of different levels. If you are a person with diabetes and you are hitting a 'wall', consult with your physician to discover whether or not you have depression.

If you are a nurse or physician and you have patients who don't seem to want to take care of themselves, then perhaps there are hidden forces at work. And, there are alternatives that you may not have been aware of before now.

If you are a hypnotist and you wish to help those with diabetes, please remember four things:

1) You must always obtain a fully informed referral from your client's doctor. If you suspect your client is depressed, never diagnose. In fact, if you think they are depressed, it is incumbent upon you that you suggest they see their physician for an official assessment before you can help them further. Be sure to obtain an additional referral so that you can help them appropriately with their depression if your help is suitable. If you feel you cannot help, don't.

2) Should a physician or nurse, have time to chat with you, please remind them that if you are only allowed one approach to helping their patient, stress management alone can produce incredible blood sugar lowering benefits over time. This is attested to by an article in a January, 2002 issue of Diabetes Care in which a study done by Dr. Surwit shows that: "stress management techniques, when added to standard care, helped reduce glucose levels". Surwit notes also that: "The change is nearly as large as you would expect to see from some diabetes-control drugs".

3) By acting in a responsible manner as part of your client's health care team, you can in your way, make a big difference, even if only by reducing stress. Please note that stress is a contributing factor to depression. Therefore, as your client is reducing their stress levels they may also experience a reduction in depression. This will in turn create a need for your client to reduce their diabetic medication needs . This is because there is evidence that a reduction in depressive symptoms correlates with a reduction in blood sugar. This was demonstrated in a study conducted by Patrick Lustman, a psychologist at Washington State University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

4) Finally, before helping a person with diabetes or depression, you really need to know a great deal about both subjects.

By Devin Hastings 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/71046

Diabetes Treatment - The 3 Fundamental Pillars You Need to Know

You may feel afraid and puzzled when the doctor diagnoses you with diabetes. Nevertheless, as soon as you know what it is and how to deal with it, you will feel better. Notwithstanding, even if you feel fine, it is important that you take your condition seriously and immediately start your diabetes treatment.

SO WHAT IS DIABETES?
If you are diabetic, your body is unable to use insulin properly, or even incapable of making enough insulin. Insulin helps you move glucose (sugar) from your bloodstream into the cells of your body, to produce energy for its functioning. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, without which sugar can not enter the cells and thus builds up in the bloodstream.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DIABETES?
PRE-DIABETES
There is a condition named "pre-diabetes". People with pre-diabetes have higher than normal levels of blood sugar, though not quite as high as those with diabetes. This is a warning sign to urge one to make a lifestyle change to prevent type 2 diabetes. In the United States alone more than 50 million people have pre-diabetes, studies reveal.

TYPE 1 DIABETES
Then there is type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks the beta cells in your own pancreas, the cells that produce the insulin, and this causes the pancreas to make too little insulin or stop making it at all. This type of diabetes is more common among whites than it is among people of other races.

TYPE 2 DIABETES
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type. According to the CDC, in the United States alone more than 20 million people are affected by this condition. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body cannot properly use the insulin that it produces itself. This condition is called insulin resistance. This usually happens when you are overweight, and body fat makes it harder to use the insulin your body produces. There may be other risk factors, including aging, physical inactivity, race, family history of type 2 diabetes, etc.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Another type of diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels during pregnancy are higher than pre-pregnancy levels. This is called "gestational diabetes", and its causes are not well known at the present. Some experts' opinion is that the hormones produced by the placenta interfere with the mother's capacity to use her own insulin. If this type of diabetes is not carefully controlled, the baby may be affected. Fortunately, gestational diabetes is usually caught in an early stage and the baby does not suffer any complications.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE TYPE OF DIABETES
To determine what type of diabetes a person has, there are two different tests to be used. The FPG test (fasting plasma glucose), in the first place, measures the glycemia level after fasting for an eight hour period. The other one, the OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test), measures the glycemia level after drinking a standardized drink, rich in glucose. Glycemia levels are then tested several times over a period of four hours.
Just a few years ago type 2 diabetes was referred to as "adult onset diabetes". However, an increasing number of teenagers and even children are diagnosed with this type of diabetes, as juvenile obesity increases. Type 1 diabetes used to be known as "juvenile diabetes", but every day more adults are being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is no longer called "sugar diabetes". So you see that many old terms for diabetes are not relevant anymore.

WHAT YOU MUST DO IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES
Although being a frightening situation, receiving a diagnosis of diabetes can be, on the other hand, an excellent opportunity to adopt healthier habits and the decision to take control of your own overall well-being and choose, as soon as possible, the right diabetes treatment you need. If you are a type 1 diabetic, you will need insulin each and every day. If you have type 2 diabetes, or gestational or pre-diabetes, you probably will not need insulin.

Anyway, no matter what the type of diabetes you have, you don't need to live a miserable life, full of restrictions and sufferings. You might be able to improve your condition with the appropriate lifestyle modifications including diet, weight control, exercise and nutritional supplements.
Keeping glycemia level under control is key. Maintaining it in the correct range is the first mandatory step. Scientific studies have consistently shown that attaining this goal helps minimize the risk of complications. Strict blood sugar control drastically reduces the chances of suffering most of the diabetes-related complications: kidney, eye and nerve diseases.

A crucial issue here is the way you deal with food. Healthy eating habits can help diabetics control their weight and thus control their diabetes more easily. Among the diets for diabetics, I would recommend the low glycemic index diets (low GI diets), which help maintain body weight and blood sugar in the right levels. It is important for the diabetic to follow a heart-healthy diet, with high complex carbs content, high fiber and low fat content, to prevent hypertension and high cholesterol.

BOTTOM LINE: THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS
People can control their type 1 diabetes with a combination of a healthy diet, frequent exercise, the appropriate nutritional supplements, and of course insulin.
People with anyone of the other types of diabetes may be able to keep their glycemia under control, and even reverse their diabetes with just diet, exercise and supplements, the three fundamental pillars of any diabetes treatment.

JOSE TALAVERA - Health advisor. Diabetes expert, consultant and author. If you like this article, please visit the web site below for more advice and resources for diabetics:

By Jose Talavera 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2819632

Diabetes and Exercise - Why the Connection is Vitally Important

Almost twenty-one million people in the US are living with diabetes and an estimated 6.2 million of these people don't know that they have diabetes because they are undiagnosed. People with diabetes, on average, have medical expenditures that are 2.3 times higher than non-diabetics, according to the American Diabetes Association. Another study in Population Health Management estimates that diabetes is costing our nation $218 billion dollars in health care every year. Yet, most diabetes cases are preventable or reversible through exercise, weight loss, and healthy living.

I find myself wondering. What if the 6.2 million people who were undiagnosed knew they had diabetes? Or the estimated 57 million Americans with Pre-Diabetes were educated on how they could mange their health and avoid becoming a Type 2 Diabetic?
Being diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic does not mean that Type 2 diabetes is inevitable. If you lose weight and increase your physical activity, you can prevent or delay diabetes and even return your blood glucose levels to normal (ACSM 2006). (See sidebar for diabetes terms defined)
This is a very important point that many people do not understand - if you exercise and lose weight you can prevent or delay diabetes.

Do you know the signs of diabetes? Take a look around you. Do you see any signs of diabetes in your friends and family right now? (See sidebar for common signs of diabetes) It is very possible that there are people that are diabetic (or will become diabetic) around you every day. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in three Americans may develop diabetes in their lifetime. Those statistics are staggering and PREVENTABLE for most.

What about Type 2 diabetics that have been diagnosed? What if we educated them that through diet and exercise they could reduce their medication or eliminate it? What would this do for our health care crisis? I know that we'd first have to break through many myths, magic solutions, and limiting beliefs. The pharmaceutical companies won't be happy with me letting this secret out either. But, what the heck, our health care system is in a crisis! Our Nation is sick! There, I said it. So let's get down to the business of taking some personal responsibility for our health.
Many of you who are trying to understand diabetes and take responsibility for your health immediately have several questions:

o Should you cut out sugar?
o Is your weight putting you at risk?
o If you are skinny, you don't have to worry, right?
o Can exercise and diet really help YOU?
o How do I control blood sugar levels?
And then there are the issues that you might not even know to ask about:
o Having diabetes for more than five years can increase your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease
o Regular exercise can make you more sensitive to insulin, which can reduce medication dosages

First, let's talk about insulin, the prime medication that keeps diabetics functioning and then you can see the answers clearly to your questions.

How does insulin work? Insulin is the main hormone that controls the entry of blood sugar from the blood stream into the cells of the body to be used as energy. How does exercise influence the insulin hormone? Exercise has an insulin-like effect on the body. When exercising, your muscles require a steady flow of sugar to keep contracting and keep you moving. Exercise increases the rate at which your muscles take up the sugar from your blood stream; so exercise acts the same as insulin by emptying the excess sugar in your blood stream into your muscles. This action, therefore, lowers your blood sugar. One twenty minute walk a day can lower glucose levels by twenty points.

Here is a great example to explain insulin's function in your body. Think of insulin as a bus for a moment. Glucose (sugar) is the passenger. There are two types of diabetics. Type 1 diabetics manufacture no insulin (or have no bus), which, according to the Center for Disease Control, is 5% - 10% of all diagnosed cases. The second type (Type 2), have insulin resistance, which means the bus is there, but it is not picking up passengers and, there are less buses running the route. According to the Center for Disease Control, Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90%-95% of all diagnosed cases.

When you exercise, your muscles work harder than usual and require more fuel than usual; so your muscles send out their own buses to pick up the sugar in the bloodstream and carry it back to the muscles. Working muscles take over for insulin and (for Type 2 diabetics) they can even show the buses (insulin) how to work again (pick up passengers).
Exercising has many benefits for a diabetic. It increases glucose uptake by the cells, improves insulin sensitivity by improving glucose metabolism and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Reduction of blood glucose levels improves insulin sensitivity by making it more effective. Exercise may reduce dosage requirements or need for medication and improve the ability to lose and/ or maintain body weight if combined with an intuitive diet. (See sidebar for Safe Exercise Check List)

There are many popular myths about diabetes. Here are a few that I hear often.
Myth #1 - Diabetics can't eat sugar or sweets and the only reason they have diabetes is because they ate too much sugar. Yes, simple carbohydrates or sweets do raise your blood glucose levels but if you eat them in moderation and make them part of your meal plan, you can safely eat an occasional sweet
Myth #2 - If I'm skinny I'm fine. Diabetes is only a disease that obese people get.
 
Not completely true, 20% of people with Type 2 Diabetes are slim. Yes, being obese does put you at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The key thing to remember is that there is not an atypical "diabetes" body type, genetic trait, race, age or gender. Type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle choices and diabetes is a disease to take seriously.
Myth #3 - There is no natural remedy for Diabetes. If I take insulin or insulin sensitivity drugs I can continue with my same lifestyle choices and be alright. Well there is a natural remedy, it is called exercise and balanced eating. You can keep a tight control on diabetes by monitoring your glucose levels, combining exercise with balanced eating, or use medication.

Myth #4 - Well I'm only borderline and 170 mg/dl blood sugar reading is normal for me. You may feel normal being a diabetic but high glucose levels are not safe. There is no such thing as borderline. You either are a diabetic or you are not a diabetic. This is a serious disease that requires you to take personal responsibility for your body. There is serious health complications associated with diabetes, especially when you are stressing your body with high blood sugar levels. You have to start to make lifestyle changes so that you can live a quality life over the long term.

Myth #5 - Exercise! What can that do for me? Blah! Blah! Healthy Lifestyle Blah! Yeah, Yeah, I know. The American Diabetic Association recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week. This is exercise of 20-60 minutes, in continuous sessions, 3-5 times a week. The Diabetes Prevention Study revealed that exercising for a total of two hours a week can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 50%, that can be as little as 20 minutes, 6 days a week. Take a short, ten minute walk before and after work and you can prevent diabetes or lower your glucose levels.

The fact is, over 90% of diabetes cases are preventable and can be maintained with some natural remedies such as exercising, healthy eating, and/or combined with low doses of medication without tapping into our health care system to the tune of $218 billion. Start gradually and exercise a little everyday until you build up to the recommended guidelines. Eat a balanced, healthy diet and lose the all or nothing approach. Get educated about your disease, determine what your beliefs are about diabetes and make lifestyle changes starting today. (See sidebar Want to Learn More)
Diabetes is serious but you can do something about it!
Side Bars:

Diabetes Terms Defined
o Type 1 = Auto immune disease that destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas. The body cannot manufacture its own insulin because the beta cells of the pancreas that are responsible for insulin production are destroyed. About 5-10% of all diagnosed cases (CDC 2005)

o Type 2 = body loses its sensitivity to insulin so the body's cells are unable to utilize insulin properly (also knows as insulin resistance or adult onset diabetes). About 90% - 95% of all diagnosed cases (CDC 2005)

o Pre-Diabetes = If you have a fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) and your levels are 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl you are diagnosed as showing signs of becoming a diabetic unless you make some lifestyle changes

o Gestational Diabetes = When pregnancy hormones interfere with the mothers insulin, causing glucose levels to rise. This is a form of insulin resistance that in most cases ends with the birth of the child.

o Metabolic Syndrome = A combination of medical disorders that increases the risk factors of developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high cholesterol levels and elevated plasma triglyceride levels.

o Hypoglycemic = abnormally low blood sugar levels which could be caused by excessive insulin, or your diet. Signs would be: trembling or shakiness, nervousness, rapid heart beat, increased sweating, headache, impaired concentration or attentiveness, unconsciousness and coma

o Hyperglycemic = abnormally high blood sugar levels. Signs would be: frequent urination, great thirst, nausea, abdominal pain, dry skin, disorientation, labored breathing, and drowsiness.

Do you know the signs of diabetes? Some very telltale signs include:
 
o frequent thirst, hunger and urination
o weight loss
o fatigue
o crankiness
o frequent infections
o blurred vision
o cuts/ bruises that are slow to heal
o tingling and numbness in hands and feet
o recurring skin, gum and bladder infections

Safe Exercise Check List

o Get physician clearance before starting any exercise program
o Test your blood glucose level before exercise, immediately after exercise, and again two hours after exercise
o Follow general guidelines for a safe exercise session; warm-up, cool-down, stretch, adhere to an intensity of Type 1 (3 to 5 RPE) and Type 2 (3 to 6/7 RPE), drink plenty of water
o Wear well-fitting, well cushioned, supportive shoes
o Wear polyester or cotton polyester socks so that your feet stay dry and minimize trauma to the foot
o Avoid strenuous, high-impact or static activity unless specifically approved by your doctor
o Carry a carbohydrate snack with you of 10-15 grams of carbohydrate
o Wear identification that tells others you have diabetes in case of a hypoglycemic response http://www.n-styleid.com
o Know and monitor signs of exercise induced hypoglycemia
o Do not exercise if 250 mg/ dl blood glucose levels or if you have ketones in your urine
o If you have autonomic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy or any other related conditions to diabetes, you must get a doctors approval before starting an exercise program. These conditions require specific and strict guidelines.
o Exercise with a partner until you know your response to exercise
o Always check your feet before and after exercise for lesions
o Drink plenty of water. A good rule is to take a mouthful or two at least every fifteen minutes
Want to Learn More? Additional Resources:
o Living Free! CD and Workbook System http://www.livingfreediabetes.com

By Kimberly Searl 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3395906

Tips On Controlling Diabetes With Diet And Exercise

Controlling diabetes with diet and exercise is something that every diabetic is tasked with because the alternative is bleak. Medications or insulin shots can only do so much. Diet and exercise allow you to lessen the effects of diabetes on your body and life and help you thrive even with this diagnosis. In the case of type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise may even allow you to reverse this type of diabetes. Get in the game. Fight for your life and health. Diet and exercise is the best way to accomplish this.

The Outlook is Bleak
Not taking a proactive approach to diabetes treatment will lead to kidney disease, heart disease, blindness, high blood pressure, stroke, infections and wounds that are slow to heal or never heal, limb amputation and even falling into a diabetic coma when severe. Controlling diabetes with diet and exercise is one of the best ways to ensure that this is not your present and future.
But you need not be afraid or feel powerless because simple changes to your lifestyle can produce amazing results and you will be able to live a long and productive life even if you have the more serious type 1 diabetes which is not curable or preventable.

Controlling Diabetes with Diet and Exercise

1. Controlling Diabetes with Diet
The word "diet" has such negative connotations and at the mere mention of it, many people recoil. At the mention of the word, most people think it means that you won't be able to eat anything you like, or anything delicious, or will be starving and so forth.
But when a diet for diabetes is talked about, it simply means a well thought out plan for eating. In some cases, you may even be able to still eat some "bad" foods on occasion as long as you are aware of how they will impact your diabetic eating plan and what adjustments you may need to make when you eat these "bad" foods so that your blood sugar levels do not go crazy and cause you problems.

In addition, creating a proper diabetes eating plan will help you get a better understanding of how various foods impact blood sugar levels which will help you make the decision on which foods to eliminate and which to include. For instance, soft drinks, refined grains, etc, have been shown to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and also increasing inflammation in the body. Knowing this will help you make the choice to eliminate soft drinks (regular and diet) and hopefully encourage you to drink more water and to select complex carbs in placed of processed foods made from refined grains.

It is important to remember that a healing diabetes diet will vary from one diabetic to another. You have to find the diet that will work for you. Some diabetics may be able to eat certain foods whereas another many have to eliminate that food. There isn't one diet that will work in all cases. One may need to follow a low fat, high carbohydrate diet while another may need to follow a low carbohydrate, high vegetable diet, etc. Find what works for you.

While you may be confused about what to eat and what to avoid, you should be prepared to experiment with various recommended foods to see which ones raise your blood sugar levels and which ones help to normalize it.
To find which foods are best for controlling blood sugar, you need to monitor your blood sugar levels for a period of time such as two to three weeks. Measure your blood glucose levels first thing in the morning, after breakfast, after meals as well as snacks and also before you go to bed. Also measure the sugar levels before and after physical activity.

Once you have an understanding of how your blood sugar levels are affected, you will then be in a better position to create a diet plan that works for you and helps heal your body naturally.

2. Controlling Diabetes with Exercise
The other aspect of controlling diabetes is exercise. It is amazing how effective exercise can be against type 2 diabetes especially. The best thing you can do against diabetes is exercise. It is also the least expensive when you consider how much you have to spend on diabetes medications, insulin injections, etc. Effective exercise can be as simple as a walk or run, swimming, dancing, cycling, etc.
Moderate exercise performed consistently that leads to modest weight loss has been shown to prevent insulin resistance that can lead to pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Those who have diabetes also benefit from regular exercise as exercise can not only help control blood glucose levels but can also help prevent serious complications from diabetes.
Exercising regularly is one of the best ways to improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is one of the main issues with the development of type 2 diabetes and results from the body not recognizing the insulin that is produced by the body which keeps glucose in the blood and not removed from the blood and transferred to the cells where it is needed for energy which ends up starving the cells in the body.

By improving insulin sensitivity with the help of exercise, this glucose will be removed from the blood by insulin and transferred to the cells and used more efficiently by the cells without any issues which will help to manage blood glucose levels.
Exercise (and diet) is also the best way to control weight. Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic levels and the main culprit is obesity as it has been found that at least 80 percent of type 2 diabetes patients and those with pre-diabetes have been found to be obese. It is believed that obesity can lead to insulin resistance which increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes and type II diabetes.

It is also important to monitor blood sugar levels before and after exercise. If you have type I diabetes, you will need to make sure that you do not overly exert yourself to the point of becoming hypoglycemic which is a state of low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can lead to fatigue, dizziness, sweating, headaches, trembling and if severe, consciousness can be lost as well as falling into a coma.
Those with type II diabetes though they have more leeway with exercise, should still monitor their blood sugar levels before and after exercise.

If you are on medication, you need to work with your doctor to make the necessary adjustments to your exercise regimen. In addition, diabetics who deal with neuropathy need to ensure that the nerve endings in the feet are protected. High impact running or jogging may not be advised in cases of neuropathy.
Dehydration is another area for diabetics to be concerned about when exercising since frequent urination is one of the symptoms of diabtes.

High impact exercise can also affect the capillaries in the eyes that have been weakened by diabetes. If you have eye problems due to diabetes, make sure that the exercise selected will not make vision problems worse or cause rapture which can occur especially if you use weights.
Talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program and set realistic goals in order to avoid too high or too low blood sugar levels as well as the other issues that exercise may cause in people with diabetes. Start small and gradually build up.

Exercise is an important component of diabetes management and many of its other benefits include helping to lower blood pressure, raising good cholesterol (HDL) levels, strengthening bones, toning the heart and other muscles, eliminating stress, weight loss, strengthening the respiratory system, etc.

Do it no matter how you feel. You will feel better and after you finish you will fill like you can conquer the world including diabetes!

Controlling diabetes with diet and exercise [http://diabetestype1and2info.com/reverse-your-diabetes-today-by-matt-traverso-book-review-reverse-diabetes-in-less-than-30-days/] is one of the most effective ways to deal with a diabetes diagnosis. For more ways on how to eliminate type 2 diabetes or manage type 1 diabetes naturally, visit [http://diabetestype1and2info.com/reverse-your-diabetes-today-by-matt-traverso-book-review-reverse-diabetes-in-less-than-30-days/].

By Terry Robbins

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8634262

Home Remedies for Diabetes - 4 Rookie Ways to Reverse Diabetes Naturally

Diabetes means a high level of blood sugar and it is also characterized by the excretion of the surplus glucose through urine. The major cause of diabetes is lack of insulin or completely no insulin.

 There are more cases of diabetes and the numbers of diabetes sufferers are increasing nowadays. As a diabetic, you need to consider home remedies for diabetes to tackle it. Even young people are found with diabetes. In case you doubt whether you have normal blood sugar level, then you can find it out by doing blood glucose level test. This disease is more common in those who are overweight.

Following a right lifestyle is very important if you want to keep blood sugar under control. You must know about the right ways of treating diabetes. Ensure that you don't do anything that raises the blood sugar level in your body. Let me tell you about the ways that you can take for diabetes treatment.
Some of The Home Remedies for Diabetes Are:

1. Off all the home remedies that have proved helpful in reversing diabetes, the most vital is the use of bitter gourd. It has lately been established that bitter gourd contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin-like principle, designated as 'plant insulin', which has been found helpful in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, be included in the diet of the diabetic. For better results, the diabetic must take the juice of about 4-5 karelas each morning with eating. The seeds can be added into your food in a powdered form. Diabetics can as well make use of bitter gourd in form of a decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in form of dry powder. One of the good home remedies for diabetes is bitter gourd.

2. Another diabetes home remedy is to add bitter melon in your diet. For three months eat one dish made from bitter melon. Bitter melon possesses various chemicals such as charantin, peptides resembling insulin and several alkaloids. Due to these constituents, bitter melon is quite widely used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This will help in keeping the blood glucose level in control.

3. The tender leaves of the mango tree are very helpful in treating diabetes. An infusion is prepared by soaking 15 gm of fresh leaves in 250 ml of water overnight, and squeezing them very well in the water in the morning. It should be taken every morning to manage early diabetes. As an option, the leaves should be dried in the shade, powdered and preserved for use when required. Half a teaspoon of this powder should be taken 2x on a daily basis.

4. Take fenugreek, bitter melon and gooseberry together in equal amount. Dry them in sun for few days and then grind them into fine powder form. Take this powder 3x daily. Combining bitter melon, gooseberry and fenugreek together will make great home remedies for diabetes. This will help you to control the diabetes if you will follow this for about a month and see the difference.

The pancreas is, in a sense, the 'shock organ' of the stomach. If you fill yourself with acidic foodstuffs, the stomach is going to pump all that directly into the pancreas.
Diabetes is due to the breakdown of the pancreas by an over-acidification of your system. By alkalizing and energizing your body you can slowly rebuild your pancreas. With your pancreas functioning optimally, you no longer experience the symptoms associated with 'Diabetes'.

Diabetes is an illusion. Your lifestyle has created an imbalance within your body that is throwing it into 'survival mode'.

Your diabetes isn't going away on its own...

You may think shooting insulin is the answer. After all, your doctor said so.
The fact is there are more effective methods for controlling your blood sugar and wiping diabetes out of your life permanently, in 4 weeks or less, without insulin injections and without drugs. You can do it naturally with supplements, whole-foods and special recipes that attack diabetes at the core, obliterating it for good. Click Home Remedies For Diabetes to control your blood sugar level now.

By Mathew Benson
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6987601

Diabetic Food: Good to Tackle Diabetes

Diabetes has become a modern day epidemic due to our current lifestyle and eating habits. Frequent and increased consumption of fatty foods coupled with a decrease in physical activity as well as our increasingly sedentary lifestyles has led to a dramatic increase in Diabetes.

Diabetes is considered as a chronic disease that is caused due to a lack of insulin in the body. There are three major reasons for the lack of insulin in a person's body and based on that Diabetes is classified as Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and Congenital Diabetes. In Type 1 Diabetes, the body fails to produce insulin due to loss of insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas which leads to an insulin deficiency. Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly. Type 2 is the most common form of Diabetes. The third type of Diabetes is Congenital Diabetes, which is due to genetic defects.

For diabetic patients it is essential to check the glycemic index (GI) as it provides a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating a particular type of food. It is essential for diabetic patients to improve their eating habits ensuring that their blood sugar level does not peak or dip. It is recommended that patients take plenty diabetic food which has proteins, nutrients and vegetables in their diet to ensure a stable GI.

A healthy diet plays a very important role in keeping diabetes under check and that is the reason why doctors recommend immediate changes in diet and lifestyle to those diagnosed with Diabetes. Generally diabetic patients are recommended milk, vegetables, grains, meat and eggs. It is advised that diabetics carefully monitor their carbohydrate intake to maintain a stable GI. As part of this strategy, Diabetics must ensure that they eat small meals at regular intervals rather than one or two big meals. It is also advisable to replace food with high fats and carbohydrates with diabetic food products such as diabetic sweeteners, sugar free drinks, sugar free food etc which are widely available these days.

Along with this there are several diabetic supplements that help in regulating the actions of insulin in maintaining blood sugar levels. Some of the popular supplements for the treatment of diabetes are Ginseng, garlic, omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium. These dietary diabetic supplements are available in various forms, including tablets, capsules, softgels, liquids, powders, and bars.

Doctors recommend diabetics to follow the Glycemic Index Diet or G.I. Diet as it helps keep the Glycemic Index in check by avoiding foods such as white bread or potatoes, cooked in certain ways and adding more whole grains and multi grain products to your diet. Another diet plan that is recommended for diabetics is the Low Carb Diet. In this diet patients gradually decrease carbohydrates from their diet. As carbohydrates are the major influence on blood sugar levels, less carbohydrates helps maintain a low and stable GI and ultimately, helps in the better management of diabetes.

Diabetes is a lifestyle disease and it is important to not only change our diet but our entire lifestyle to manage it. Doctors recommend that along with changing our food habits, we should also increase the amount of exercise we take to better manage diabetes.

The Author is well known Diabetologist and gives advice on glucose control, cholesterol management, and other diabetic related problems. Moreover, he expands his knowledge by surfing & writing articles on diabetic food supplements and other diabetic care products available in the markets. Also his reviews on diabetic products are many times published in news papers and well known magazines. Hope his articles help.

By Krishna Ramakant Mathur 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7526671

5 Types of Diabetes You Should Know About

The energy from glucose helps us perform different work and maintains the functions of the body. There are actually many different types of diabetes which have been found to be affecting the human body. Lack of knowledge and improper treatment of diabetes can be dangerous for your health. For proper treatment determining the type of your diabetes is essential.

How does the different diabetes type affect our body?
Diabetes is a deadly disease that can affect different body parts adversely if not treated with care and caution. Following are some bad effects of diabetes:
· Severe form of this disease can lead to the damage of the retina. Retinal damage can cause blindness in a patient.

· The kidney is often affected by this disease. Impaired kidney functions can lead to kidney failure and permanent disability of the kidneys.
· Diabetes also negatively influences the nerve functions. This leads to ulcer and wounds in the feet. People have to get their leg amputated due to such ulcers/wounds, if the case becomes an extreme.
· High blood sugar levels are also known to affect the blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels adversely.
· Nervous dysfunction caused by this disease can cause gastro-paresis or paralysis of the stomach functions.

The Main Diabetes Type Discussed:

1. Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes is also referred to as Juvenile Diabetes, Insulin- Dependent Diabetes or Immune-Mediated Diabetes. It is not as common as Type 2 Diabetes. In an approximate estimate, 10% of the world's diagnosed diabetes cases belong to this category. Generally this type of diabetes affects people who belong to the age group below 40. It is often found in teenagers and young-adults. The scientists and researchers are not entirely sure about the causes of this type of the disease. Type 1 Diabetes is mainly caused due to an acute lack or absence of the hormone insulin. Patients are given insulin injections on a regular basis to keep the disease under check.


2. Type 2 Diabetes: This type of diabetes is found in an approximate of 90% patients diagnosed with Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is also referred to as the Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes or the Adult-Onset Diabetes. In this type of diabetes the body resists the functions of the insulin or the insulin's general functions are disrupted. Obesity is one of the many reasons behind this type of diabetes. It is quite risky and the risk increases with age.


3. Gestational Diabetes (GDM): This kind of Diabetes occurs during pregnancy in women. The mother and child both are at risk of getting the Type 2 Diabetes in the coming future. Every 1 in 25 pregnant women have been found with GDM.


4. Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY): MODY is found only in 1%-2% of the people diagnosed with diabetes. It generally occurs in persons below the age of 25 and is genetically passed on from parents to the kids.


5. Diabetes Insipidus: This is quite an uncommon variety of diabetes which causes the patient to urinate many times in a short period of time.

How to treat the Different Diabetes Type?

· Patients are advised to consume a well-balanced diet which is rich in fiber and doesn't contain saturated fats or high amounts of sweet or sugar.
· Exercising on a daily basis is necessary.
· Proper medical care and medicines.

Diabetes is often considered to be a lifestyle disorder disease. Positive changes can curb the diabetes type you are suffering from.

Ishana Luthra, an author and director of the writing company, Pattraco, is loved for her writing.
Pattraco Store, is a leading writing store, well-known for its high-quality articles.

By Ishana Luthra 
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7695300

Diabetes: Types, Causes and Symptoms

Diabetes is a life threatening health condition. It is a metabolic disease which occurs when there is inadequate production of insulin or when there is poor response of the cells of the body to insulin or both. The blood sugar level of a person suffering from diabetes is normally high. Patients with diabetes usually experience hunger, frequent urination (polyuria) and increasing thirsty (polydipsia) as a result of loss of too much body fluid through urine.

Diabetes is of three, namely, type 1 diabetes, types 2 diabetes and type 3 diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs when there is inadequate production of insulin in the body. Type 1 diabetes which is not as common as type 2 diabetes is variously called early-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Insulin injection is administered to people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It is advisable that patients suffering from this type of diabetes check their blood-glucose levels on regular basis in order to make sure that it is normal.

This is the commonest type of diabetes. About 90 percent of patients diagnosed with diabetes across the globe are suffering from this type of diabetes which occurs when there is insufficient production of insulin in the body. Insulin resistance by the cells of the body is another cause of this type of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a life threatening condition. But people with the condition should always monitor their blood glucose levels. Engaging in regular exercise and going on healthy dieting is a veritable means through which they can deal with the condition. However, if the problem becomes worse, they may have to be given insulin which is available in tablet form.

The risk of developing this type of diabetes is higher in older people, people with unhealthy lifestyles and people who are obese and overweight. Having unhealthy diet plan and being physically active also increase the risk of having type 2 diabetes. In other words, you can avoid developing it by leaving an active life and also going on healthy diet.

Studies have also shown that this type of diabetes can be hereditary. People whose close relative have had this condition before are at the risk of developing it.

Low level of testosterone in some men can also cause type 2 diabetes. The findings of researchers from University of Edinburgh links insulin resistance to Low testosterone levels.
Type 3 diabetes refers to insulin resistance in the brain caused by Alzheimer's disease. The result of the research carried out in University of Pennsylvania which was published in 2012 showed that people suffering from type 3 diabetes may not have hyperglycemia (high level of blood sugar) in the brain.

It is possible for some people to have diabetes without knowing. This is because they overlook the symptoms. Diabetes of any type can be controlled or managed especially if it is discovered earlier. Here are some of the symptoms of diabetes.
High level of glucose in the blood causes frequent urination. So, if you discover that you urinate frequently, you should visit your doctor for medical examination.

Diabetic patients experience excessive thirst which is a natural corollary of frequent urination. If you are urinating frequently, you will become dehydrated easily due to loss of liquid. You become thirsty easily. So, you will be drinking much water in order to replace the lost liquid.

Just like other health conditions, people suffering from diabetes suffer intense hunger which can lead to weight gain. You can see diabetic patients that look so weight tiny because of usual weight loss associated with diabetes. If you are having an itchy skin, it might be a sign that you are having diabetes. It can also cause other symptoms such as blurred vision, increased fatigue, sexual dysfunction among men, frequent gum disease, numbness or tingling, wounds taking too long to heal.

By Md Mohsan 
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8402853

10 Tips On How To Reverse Diabetes Naturally

While diabetes medications, insulin injections and various other tools and resources which can help control blood sugar levels and are big business and can cost a diabetic at least $10,000.00, there are many natural ways that can be even more effective at managing blood sugar levels in addition to being inexpensive. Do keep in mind that type 1 diabetes is irreversible and is not preventable but making healthy changes can help reduce symptoms and complication. Type 2 diabetes on the other hand can not only be prevented but can also be reversed. Here are 10 tips on how to reverse diabetes naturally.

How to Reverse Diabetes Naturally

1. The first step of course is prevention. One important way to reduce your risk of developing diabetes is to keep your weight under control. At least 80 percent of those with type 2 diabetes are obese. Obesity is believed to lead to insulin resistance which increases the chance of developing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

2. Once you have this disease, one very important step on how to reverse diabetes naturally is with your diet. Diet is at the heart of any diabetes treatment plan. The elements of the diet that directly impact your blood sugar levels are carbohydrates and sugar which are turned into glucose (simple sugars) by the body which is then released into the blood.

The hormone insulin is then produced by the beta cells in the pancreas and charged with removing this glucose from the blood and transferring it to the various cells of the body. Glucose is needed by the cells in the body because it provides the fuel or energy necessary for day to day activities. This is why many diabetics suffer from fatigue and weakness. Due to malfunctioning insulin resulting from insulin resistance or the body not producing enough or any insulin, glucose remains in the blood has the effect of starving the cells of the fuel they need.

Since carbohydrates and sugar affect blood sugar levels, you will need to make changes with these. Important changes you will need to make include eliminating refined carbohydrates. These include all the "white" foods made from refined grains such as white rice, white pasta, white bread, etc. These are devoid of nutrients including fiber and raise blood sugar levels the fastest as they travel through the digestive system very fast because they contain nothing for the body to grab hold on to in order to slow the digestion process which leads to blood sugar spikes.

Instead of refined carbs, switch to complex carbs which are digested slower by the body which can help to control blood sugar levels and prevent blood glucose spikes.
Sugar is another factor that you have to consider if you are considering steps on how to reverse diabetes naturally. Since sugar directly affects blood sugar levels you will have to consider reducing the amount of sugar you consume.

You may need to eliminate white sugar and foods that contain high amounts of processed sugar. Keep in mind that you may not need to eliminate sugar entirely but do be aware of how it can affect your blood sugar levels and make adjustments accordingly on how much to eat and when. Instead of eating sweet desserts every day, you may want to have a small piece of dessert once a week or once a month and so forth.
Fruits contain natural sugars (fructose) but since fruits contain many other beneficial vitamins and minerals, they should be okay to include on a diabetic diet which will tend to vary from one diabetic to another.

3. If your sugar levels are very high, one of the best ways to lower the levels very quickly is with exercise. Exercise is a crucial step as well as diet in order to reverse diabetes naturally. Exercise has many benefits for the general health and well being of the mind, body and spirit. For those with diabetes, exercise has the added benefit of being able to improve the sensitivity of the cells in the body to insulin which helps promote the movement of glucose from the blood to the cells where it is needed.

Before starting any exercise program, do check with your doctor because some exercises may not be suitable for a diabetic especially if you have developed certain diabetes related complications such as foot problems, vision problems, etc.

4. Fiber is an important aspect of how to reverse diabetes naturally as it helps to slow down the digestive process which helps to prevent blood sugar spikes. In addition to the fiber you get from complex carbohydrates discussed above, other excellent sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, legumes, etc.
Soluble fiber which is abundant is foods like beans is especially important because it becomes gel like when combined with water which slows down digestion as it travels through the digestive tract while helps to control blood sugar levels.

Fiber is also important for any weight loss program because it will help you feel fuller sooner which will prevent overeating. Since many diabetics are overweight, incorporating more fiber in the diet can not only help control blood sugar levels but can also help with weight loss.

5. Significantly reduce or eliminate foods that contain saturated fats and trans fats. Trans fats (found in margarine for instance) should be eliminated entirely and this goes for everyone and not just diabetics. Saturated fats increase the risk of heart disease in the general population. For people with diabetes who are already at an increased risk of heart disease, saturated fats can make an already bad situation worse.

In addition to increasing the risk of heart disease, saturated fats can lead to insulin resistance which can lead to pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Saturated fats are commonly found in red meats, high fat dairy products, etc. Replace saturated fats with healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids) commonly found in olives, olive oil, flaxseed oil, various nuts and seeds, cold water fish, etc. Making small changes gradually can have a huge impact in your fight against diabetes.

6. Consider adding cinnamon as certain compounds found in cinnamon have been shown to be capable of lowering blood sugar levels by helping the cells in the body absorb glucose like insulin and also help the body utilize blood sugar better.

7. Learn to effectively manage the stress in your life. Stress can raise blood sugar levels because it causes the release of stress hormones. Stress can also affect your blood sugar levels indirectly because it can cause overeating, not exercising, etc. A study showed that diabetics who were able to lower their stress levels were able to lower their blood sugar levels so stress management is very important for diabetics.

8. Another of the important tips on how to reverse diabetes naturally is to consider adding nutritional supplements containing vitamins C, D and E and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and calcium. These vitamins and minerals can help reduce the risk of diabetes related complications such as heart disease, eye disease and nerve damage. They can also help cells be more sensitive to insulin and significantly lower blood sugar levels.

9. In order to prevent blood sugar level spikes, you may want to consider eating several small meals a day instead of two or three large meals which can lead to more glucose levels than insulin will be able to handle.

10. Change your mind and you will change your life. Take control of your health. While doctors and many other health practitioners will be a source of helpful tips and resources, you should always be in the driver's seat. You will have to be proactive to discover various alternative therapies and information that will help you overcome diabetes or manage diabetes better. A lot of it will require trial and error. You have to be confident in your ability to find the answers and solutions to help you manage this chronic disease.

Even if you learn how to manage your blood sugar levels, there may be instances when you may experience rapid swings in blood glucose levels due to stress, certain medications, certain foods you eat, etc.

 Anticipating and accepting these instances will help you move forward quicker by viewing these as a small bump in the road and not a major catastrophe that derails all your efforts to manage your blood sugar levels.
You are more than capable of conquering diabetes. You have to believe that in order to make the necessary changes you need to make and either reverse this condition or comfortably manage diabetes while keeping symptoms and complications to a minimum.

By Terry Robbins 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8672825

Top 5 Foods That Cure Diabetes

These 5 foods that cure diabetes which can be easily found around the house or at the nearest grocery store can cure type 2 diabetes only. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is incurable and is not preventable. In spite of this, these 5 foods can still provide some benefits for those with type 1 diabetes by helping to keep complications associated with type 1 diabetes to a minimum.

Foods that Cure Diabetes

1. Peanut butter and other nuts

Some studies have shown that those who eat peanut butter and other nuts regularly were able to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by a significant amount.
Researchers still don't fully understand why nuts are so beneficial for lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes however, various nuts have many healing properties such as fiber, magnesium, protein, monounsaturated fats (the healthy fats), etc.

It is thought that the monounsaturated fats in many nuts which make up about 85 percent of the total fat content in nuts is able to reduce insulin resistance which is usually at the root of the development of pre-diabetes as well as type 2 diabetes.
While nuts contain a great deal of healthy fats, the total fat content in nuts is one of the drawbacks related to the consumption of nuts. This means that consuming about a third cup of nuts will usually contain about 20 grams of fat and about 250 to 300 calories.

However, because nuts are so beneficial, it is important not to eliminate them out of your diet because of the high fat and calorie content they contain. Making nuts work for you health wise in the fight against diabetes or any other health condition means not overdoing it when you consume various nuts.
If you do consume a lot of nuts, just make sure that you reduce your consumption of other foods that contain various fats. In addition, in order to keep the total calories consumed in balance if you consume a lot of nuts, simply reduce the amount of other calories in your diet such as those from meat, refined foods, etc.

In addition to reducing the risk of developing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, nuts can also help prevent heart disease, certain cancers and can also lower cholesterol. High cholesterol and heart disease are usually also issues for people with diabetes so nuts can certainly be very beneficial.
Nuts are an excellent source of fiber which is one of the top ways to cure diabetes and almonds and pistachios contain some of the highest amounts of fiber found in nuts.

Nuts are also a good source of protein with the peanut containing the highest amount of protein found in any nut. One third cup of peanuts even contains more protein that the amount of protein found in the same amount of fish or beef. In addition, the protein in peanuts is the most complete kind of protein.
To ensure that you consume a beneficial amount of nuts without adding too many calories or fat to your diet, aim for about a handful of nuts (about an ounce) or a tablespoon of peanut butter consumed five times a week.

2. Coffee

While diabetics need to be careful about the amount of coffee they should drink, some studies of healthy people have shown that drinking at least six cups of coffee a day can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 22 percent and 33 percent for decaffeinated coffee.
Another study showed that only one cup of coffee a day reduced type 2 diabetes risk by 13 percent. Various other studies also provided different findings from these but overall, all the studies showed that moderate coffee consumption can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes so drink up!

It is not the caffeine or the lack of caffeine in coffee though that is responsible for this reduction in risk but the antioxidants contained in coffee that are believed to be beneficial. These antioxidants are believed to help prevent free radical damage to the beta cells in the pancreas which produce the hormone insulin that is responsible for removing the glucose in the blood and transferring it to the cells. Caffeine on the other hand is thought to impair glucose tolerance in those without diabetes.

In addition, coffee contains chlorogenic acid which is able to slow down the absorption of sugar which helps to prevent blood sugar spikes in addition to causing better insulin sensitivity.
Another benefit of coffee for diabetes is that some studies have shown that coffee can help with weight loss albeit modest. Obesity is strongly associated with the development of pre-diabetes as well as type 2 diabetes and anything you can do to help lower your weight including drinking coffee is a plus.
The drawbacks about drinking coffee is that too much can increase blood pressure, can cause insomnia and can become addictive.

3. Olive oil

Another of the top foods that cure diabetes is olive oil which has many other health benefits also. Just like nuts, olive oil contains monounsaturated fats which as healthy fatty acids that the body needs, which help to lower blood sugar levels as well as lower the risk of heart disease which can be an issue for many people with diabetes.

Other benefits of olive oil are that it can also help lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc. Aim for a tablespoon of olive oil a day and do use it in place of other oils that you currently use that may not be as healthy. In addition, attempt to only use organically produced, unrefined, extra virgin olive oil which is the most beneficial for your health and wellbeing.

4. Cinnamon

The results from the effects of cinnamon when used by those fighting diabetes are very impressive making it one of the best foods that cure diabetes.
Cinnamon has been found to be able to lower blood sugar levels as well as help the cells in the body absorb glucose to be used for energy. Manganese which is a mineral that can be found in cinnamon seems to be able to help the body use blood sugar more efficiently.

Cinnamon is also beneficial for lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease in addition to many other health benefits so it is a great natural alternative in the fight against many diseases and conditions besides diabetes.

5. Beans

Fiber is one of the important elements to cure type 2 diabetes and reduce the symptoms and complications associated with type 1 diabetes and beans are loaded with the very important soluble kind of fiber which forms a gel in the stomach when mixed with water which then helps to slow down the digestion process which helps to prevent high blood sugar levels.

Soluble fiber also helps to reduce cholesterol as well as lower the risk of heart disease. This makes beans as well as other foods that contain soluble fiber such as lentils, peas, fruits and vegetables a crucial part of a diabetic diet.

By Terry Robbins 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8634244

Revealed: The Best Way To Keep Diabetes Out Of Your Life

Either you have it or you know someone who does...
Diabetes is a growing health problem globally and nationally. The Centers For Disease Control report 29 million Americans have it and a third of Americans (86 million) with pre-diabetes are close to getting it.
If it's in your family, you may be worried you're destined to come down with this dreaded disease. But is it an unavoidable part of your future? And if you've already been diagnosed with this blood sugar problem - are you stuck with it for good?
The answer to these questions is "no".

Ultimately, you have many choices for how you contend with this disease. And by making strategic decisions and taking action accordingly, you can keep diabetes out of your life without the use of medications.
While there is a genetic predisposition for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, you are not destined to develop diabetes simply because it runs in your family. And if you have it already, you don't have to live with it for the rest of your life.

In fact, increasingly, evidence is showing that the best way to prevent diabetes, to manage it and even to reverse it is not through medical intervention. The best strategy for keeping diabetes out of your life includes exercise and a simple shift in diet.
But before we get into how to keep this dreaded disease out of your life, let's get clear on what diabetes is...

Diabetes And Blood Sugar Metabolism

Sugar or glucose (carbohydrates broken down to their simplest form) is the fuel we use for energy. We need sugars to live. When you're healthy, as soon as sugar enters the bloodstream after your digestive system breaks down carbohydrates or sugar, your body produces the hormone insulin. Insulin signals your cells to take the sugar out of the bloodstream and bring it inside the cells where it can be burned as fuel.
When you have diabetes, for one reason or other, this process isn't working right. For some people it's because their pancreas isn't producing enough insulin. Without insulin, your cells don't take in sugar. Other people may produce insulin. But their cells no longer respond adequately to insulin's signal.
As a result, your body cannot use sugar effectively. This sugar continues to circulate in the bloodstream and build in concentration. As it circulates, the sugar interacts with proteins throughout your body to make advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

These sugar-protein complexes wreak pure havoc on your body. They spread a path of destruction in your kidneys, your arteries, your eyes, your nerves and your brain. Hence, with diabetes comes all kinds of related health issues like kidney failure, arteriosclerosis, cataracts, Alzheimer's and more.

The Genetic Factor In Diabetes

Scientist agree there is some genetic predisposition for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
But genes are only one of many different factors that determine if you have diabetes... if it progresses... and even if you can get rid of it.
For type 1 diabetes, in identical twin studies, only half of the twins developed type 1 diabetes like their twin. Researchers believe breastfeeding in infancy, viruses and even environmental factors like exposure to excessive cold can influence whether a genetic predisposition develops into diabetes.[1]

When it comes to type 2 diabetes, family clearly plays a significant role in whether you develop it. But while family may influence whether you get diabetes or not, it's not clear how much genes are at play here.
The most significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity. And while there may be some genetic predisposition towards obesity, researchers also point to how family determines lifestyle choices - from familiar foods to how much we exercise.[2]

By breaking these family habits - or other bad ones we've accumulated over our life - we can also break diabetes' hold on our lives. More and more evidence shows that you have an extraordinary ability to determine how much this disease becomes part of your life. According to the World Health Organization, lifestyle choices can decrease the risk of progression of diabetes by as much as 60%. Importantly, this is significantly more powerful than oral medications which can only reduce the risk of progression by 30%.[3]

The Power Of Lifestyle Choices

Exercising and making good diet choices helps combat diabetes in two very dramatic ways.
Simply put, when you exercise, your cells need fuel in the form of glucose. Because they need fuel, your cells respond much more dramatically to insulin, taking in as much glucose from the bloodstream as they can get.
A few studies have demonstrated that high intensity exercise especially - as little as 10 minutes a day - can dramatically increase your body's insulin sensitivity. A review of eight studies found that a short bout of high intensity exercise could reduce blood glucose levels for 1-3 days![4]

When it comes to diet, the evidence is even more compelling...
Essentially, when you eat lots of carbohydrates (grains and sugars), your body has to pump out extraordinary amounts of insulin to contend with the flow of glucose into the blood.
When your body is put under this kind of pressure it either stops producing insulin as effectively or stops listening to it.

However, if you switch how you eat and stop loading your body down with carbohydrates, you can shift all this. Instead of being overwhelmed by a flood of sugar hitting the bloodstream, you'll be getting just enough. And with less sugar to process, your body can respond in a healthy normal way.
The research supporting this approach is powerful. For example, one study showed how patients struggling with both obesity and type 2 diabetes saw extraordinary changes when they went on a low carbohydrate diet. Their blood sugar levels returned to normal and their body's responsiveness to the hormone insulin increased by 75%![5]

This growing body of research on low-carb diets and diabetes has caused many health professionals to urge a shift in approach to diabetes care. In July 2014, a consortium of 25 physicians and nutritionists published an article in the journal Nutrition advocating a low-carb diet as the recommended first line of attack in treating both kinds of diabetes.

As Barbara Gower, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for research in the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences and one of the study authors explains, diabetes is a form of carbohydrate intolerance. "For many people with Type 2 diabetes, low-carbohydrate diets are a real cure. They no longer need drugs. They no longer have symptoms. Their blood glucose is normal, and they generally lose weight."
Dr. Gower underscores how ineffective low-fat diets have been in preventing obesity and diabetes. She strongly advocates ditching the low-fat diet recommendations for low-carb diet recommendations. "Reducing carbohydrates is the obvious treatment. It was the standard approach before insulin was discovered and is, in fact, practiced with good results in many institutions."

Switch Your Gene Expression With Diet

On face value it makes sense that as you eat less carbohydrates, your body has less sugar to contend with and consequently, your risk for diabetes goes down.
But switching your diet doesn't stop there. As researcher and biology professor at Norwegian University of Science And Technology, Berit Johansen, has shown, making this switch induces changes at the genetic level.
As Johansen and her colleagues have documented, when people eat high-carb diets they turn on genes linked to cardiovascular disease, dementia, type 2 diabetes and cancer. And when these same people decreased the amount of carbohydrates they eat and increased the calories they got from fat and protein - within days - these genes start to switch off.

Simply by eating differently, you can switch which genes are activated!
Some specific foods have also been shown to help spur this kind of healthy genetic expression.
In one study, Japanese researchers had participants eat 8.5 g of chlorella over a two months period. At the end of the time, participants had healthier fasting blood glucose levels, lower body fat percentages and healthier cholesterol levels than the subjects who didn't take chlorella.
Particularly interesting, the researchers also observed several points where the gene expressions linked to insulin production and fatty acid metabolism were altered in people who ate chlorella.

You Can Determine If Diabetes Becomes Part Of Your Life

The threat of diabetes is real and it is frightening. It can change everything in your life if it hits. But if diabetes runs in your family... or if your doctor has given you a stern warning... Don't lose hope. You have the most effective tools on earth for keeping this debilitating disease out of your life. In fact these tools are more powerful than anything a doctor can give you. But it's up to you to decide to use them.

Diet and exercise have tremendous power to change how our body works and even how our genes express themselves. Genes play a role in our health. But when it comes down to it, we determine the final outcome.

Sources:
[1] The Genetics Of Diabetes. American Diabetes Association website.
[2] Dean L, McEntyre J. The Genetic Landscape Of Diabetes. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 2004.
[3] Genetics And Diabetes. The World Health Organization. P. 4.
[4] Adams OP. The impact of brief high-intensity exercise on blood glucose levels. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2013;6:113-22. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S29222. Epub 2013 Feb 27.
[5] Boden G et al. Effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on appetite, blood glucose levels, and insulin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Ann Int. Medicine. 2005 Mar 15;142(6):403-11.

By Rose Straub 

About Rose Straub
Rose Straub is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sun Chlorella USA. In addition to working to further Sun Chlorella USA's mission of supporting excellent health, she lives this mission in her personal life. Rose takes full advantage of enjoying California's beautiful outdoors and learning from its rich community of holistic health practitioners to build a vibrant and healthy life for herself and her family. Rose lives with her husband, Pat, and is both a proud mom and grandmother.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8701326

Avoiding Diabetes And Adding 6 Years To Your Life!

AVOIDING DIABETES prompted me to share a VERY personal story. My mother was an insulin diabetic for most of her life starting back in the 1950's until her passing away over two decades ago. Since she was taking insulin several times daily, I'm sure that diabetes was on her mind every waking hour. Point being, I realized if there was any "good news" about my mother's diabetes, it was that I learned that diabetes should be feared and avoided at all costs.

My mother's illness prompted me to exercise regularly and eat a healthy, well balanced diet. More importantly, it prompted me to pay attention to my daughter's lifestyles as a "good Dad". As a consequence, my concerns about your children's future prompted me to write this article. Here's the facts...

Diabetes today affects tens of millions of people in the United States and costs about $174 billion each year in medical expenditures - more than any other health condition. Increasing evidence is showing that obesity and type 2 diabetes are inextricably linked, and rising obesity rates are fueling the growing type 2 diabetes epidemic.

"Weight loss, even a modest amount; has been found to help people with diabetes achieve and sustain blood glucose control and live healthier, longer and more active lives." Regrettably the percentage of adults classified as obese doubled from 1980 to 2000 to 31 percent of the population. It's estimated that "among U.S. adults aged 18-79 years, the incidence of diagnosed diabetes increased 41% from 1997 to 2003. "Obesity is a major factor in this recent increase of newly diagnosed diabetes" as reported in Medical News TODAY.

Unfortunately diabetes is also known to compound the risk of other illnesses. "Type 2 diabetes patients receiving intensive treatment to lower their blood glucose levels were actually found to have a 20 percent reduced risk of kidney disease" as reported in the San Diego Union-Tribune

Treating the nation's 10 most expensive medical conditions will cost nearly $500 billion this year. Many of these conditions, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are common chronic diseases that also tend to be preventable. For today, let's focus on diabetes as it has been proven that most cases (90+%) of diabetes are preventable. If you're not already aware, you need to understand what diabetes actually is.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses the food that you eat each day. Glucose is a simple sugar, which is your body's primary source of energy. The digestive process turns the meal you just ate into glucose, which is then distributed, throughout your body via the bloodstream. Some of this "blood sugar" is used by the brain, which requires a constant supply of glucose and other cells, which also need immediate energy. The rest is stored in the liver and muscles as a starch called glycogen or as fat to be used later as your body's energy needs require it.

A normal body maintains an even balance of sugar in the blood to properly satisfy the body's energy needs. Any disruption creates a chemical imbalance, too low a blood sugar level causes Hypoglycemia and too high a blood sugar level causes Hyperglycemia.

The pancreas is an organ that produces the hormone Insulin, which helps maintain the proper levels of blood sugar and is a vital component to the smooth transition of glucose into the cells. When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly release glycogen from the liver to the bloodstream or the body doesn't correctly use it the result is high blood sugar or diabetes.

According to a New England Journal of Medicine study, nine out of 10 cases of adult diabetes could be prevented if people exercised more, ate healthier food, stopped smoking and adapted other healthy behavior. A Harvard School of Public Health research team led by Dr. Frank Hu, determined the most important risk factor is being overweight. The heavier an individual is, the greater the chances of having blood sugar problems. And type 2 diabetes is responsible for 90 to 95 percent of blood sugar problems in the U.S., according to the American Diabetes Association.

Medicine.org asks the question "Is Diabetes Preventable?" The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 40 percent of the U.S. adults ages 40 to 74, or 41 million people, were pre-diabetic in 2000. In 2002, 54 million U.S. adults were pre-diabetic. This represents a 32 percent growth in the number of pre-diabetics over just a two year period. Knowing that many pre-diabetics will go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years makes this an even more frightening statistic. It's been said we have a diabetes epidemic on our hands. The word epidemic seems appropriate.

The Defeat Diabetes Foundation has recently reported on the multiple complications diabetics face. At the top of the list, in my opinion, is that Diabetics are 65% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. 60 to 70% of all diabetics have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage, including carpal tunnel syndrome and impaired sensation in the feet or hands. Diabetics are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop heart disease and 6 times more likely to suffer a stroke. Plus, an estimated 25% of all kidney and dialysis patients are diabetic.

This year there will be 24,000 new cases of blindness and diabetes is now the leading cause of blindness. Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death and the eight most expensive U.S. health condition.
The Boston Globe reported in 2011 that diabetics live six years less than those that are not diabetic. This bears repeating... diabetics lose 6 years of life... and our life style is causing the diabetes.

If you're a parent just learning about the risks and complications of diabetes, I have a new mantra for you "no more french fries". I happened to see a young child crying recently and her mom was "quieting her down" with a french fry. It reminded me of our responsibility to our children in teaching them about the value of a healthy diet and exercise... so my new mantra is "no more french fries".

A recent study determined that our LIFETIME eating habits, what and how much we eat, is learned by the age five. Those of you with very young children, it's critically important to focus on how much your children trust you. They trust you to teach them about life itself and guide them on their journey. Giving them french fries to quiet them down is the first step toward creating an overweight diabetic decades later. Our responsibility to our children will be our lifetime legacy.

Let's bottom line my message today. You and your children have the opportunity to reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's by 65 percent and live six years longer by simply not becoming diabetic that we know is preventable 90 percent of the time!
By Allan B Checkoway 
Copyright 2016
Allan Checkoway, RHU