Archive for the 'blood sugar control' Category

The Myth About Sugar Free Foods

March 10th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 5 Comments »

If you suffer from Diabetes then you know that keeping track of the sugar in foods you consume is critical to your health. It is a daily process of controlling blood sugar levels. There are many processed snacks such as cookies, soda, and chewing gum that you want to eat, but are unable to due to your diabetes. Many food companies have created sugar free foods as a substitute for people with diabetes. If you think that these sugar free foods will have no effect on your blood sugar level then think again!

The alarming news is that sugar free foods may have the same effect as sugar foods. How can this be true? Food manufacturers use sugar alcohol instead of sugar in an attempt to minimize the effect of the food on your blood sugar level. Sugar alcohol is a sugar substitute that has roughly 50% fewer calories than regular sugar. Sugar alcohols are derived from natural foods including fruits.

Sugar alcohols help lower blood sugar levels because they are converted to glucose at a much slower rate. Therefore, they don’t cause a spike in your blood sugar level like sugar. Plus, sugar alcohols can be metabolized with very little insulin, if any at all.

Many people with diabetes are often confused by the sugar free labeling on processed foods. They automatically assume that they can eat this food because it won’t affect their blood sugar level. They do not understand that sugar free means that the product has sugar alcohols and is still a significant source of carbohydrates. Therefore, if they consume this product they will have trouble lowering their blood sugar levels.

Another negative side effect of sugar free foods is that you can experience bloating and diarrhea as sugar alcohols can mimic the effects of laxatives. These negative effects are amplified when you over indulge in these sugar free foods.

The key is to be able to read the food labels on the sugar free food products. The food label contains valuable information that diabetes sufferers need to examine to help control their blood sugar levels. The food label will list Nutrition Facts. First, it is critical to note the serving size. Serving sizes can differ and if you only focus on the calories, fat, etc. you may have a false perception of the food.

The key areas to examine are the Total Carbohydrate and sugar alcohols as these have the most profound effect on your blood sugar levels. Sugar free foods will list the sugar alcohols used. Examples of sugar alcohols include: sorbitol, mannitol, isomalt, xylitol, lactitol, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. A free food is one that has fewer than 20 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate. Check to see if the food fits these guidelines to help you determine how it will affect your blood sugar level and how much you should consume.

Essentially every person with diabetes should realize that sugar free foods may have a similar effect on their blood sugar levels as that of sugar foods. Be informed and read the food labels to ensure that you are controlling your blood sugar levels.

Julia Hanf
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/the-myth-about-sugar-free-foods-120779.html

Diabetes: Control it Before it Takes your Control

March 3rd, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 4 Comments »

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

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

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

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

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

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

Check Blood Glucose Level:

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

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

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

Diabetes Test at Home:

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

Tips to keep Diabetes in control:

• Make your Diabetes meal plan

• Use Low Calorie sugar free supplements

• Eat food that have less fat and salt

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

• Avoid Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol

• Brush and Floss your teeth daily

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

• Live stress free life

• Exercise Daily

• Control your weight

• Check for your blood glucose level regularly

• Consult Doctor if you find any symptoms for diabetes

• Report any changes in your eyesight to the doctor

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

Diabetic Diet & How to Lower your Blood Sugar Content

February 24th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 4 Comments »

There have been much increased in the number of people in the population of having diabetes and the number of deaths are rising. If you have recently been one of the patients diagnosed, you want to do everything you cannot to be one of the 200,000 reported casualties. When you follow a strict diet for diabetes sufferer, you can keep the problem under control.

When buying the foods that are needed for a diabetic diet, it is important to read the labels. This is especially important since most food labels show daily values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie of above 2000 is just too high for any diabetic diet. What you must do is find out the calorie value and recalculate that into weights in grams and adjust that into your diet.

Timing also plays an important role in any diabetic diet. Never skip your meal due to obvious reasons especially for those that are insulin dependent. If you skip meals, you run the risk of upsetting the delicate stability that exists between the insulin and the food consumption. For a lot of diabetes patient the administration of insulin is calculated to correlate closely with the timing of meals

What is suggested in the article is to limit the amount of fat and cholesterol while maintaining diet rich in fiber & fruits. What should be the goal for any diabetic sufferer is to have atleast five serving of fruits and vegetable, six serving of grains and two serving of fish per week.

Eating between meals is also discouraged for diabetic patients. One of the reasons is that if too much food is consumed, it will lead to weight gain. It will also mess with the work that the insulin injections are doing to control the disease. Always remember to follow the diet plans as outlined by your doctor for you.

The guidelines that have been written for you are not set in stone. A healthy lifestyles means that you are less prone to the disease and it is best to follow the recommendations given. These suggestions will enable you to lead a healthy life as outlined in the US dietary guideline.

Always seek advice from the most reliable source available to you. Call your doctor, the office staff will be more than willing to set up an appointment for you to discuss any of the concerns you may have with your physician.

Nash Burns
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/diabetic-diet-how-to-lower-your-blood-sugar-content-124492.html

Are There Diets To Control High Blood Pressure?

February 17th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 3 Comments »

High blood pressure can be a serious health problem.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common risk factor for heart disease and kidney disease and a host of other health problems.

Heart disease remains the number one killer of adults in the U.S. and one in four adults have high blood pressure as a health issue.

Some adults are aware of their high blood pressure and the health issues it can cause, and others are not.

High blood pressure can’t be cured, but it can be managed with medications, a healthy diet, and moderate exercise, among other things.

There are many things that a person who has high blood pressure can do.

One of them is to eat a healthy diet.

But what does a healthy diet mean?

Reduce the fat that you eat – Reduce your intake of fried foods. Grill, stew, bake instead.

Stick with unsaturated fats (Monounsaturated & Polyunsaturated). Studies have shown that these fats actually lower the LDL (the bad stuff) cholesterol and maintain HDL (the good stuff) cholesterol.

Start having low fat dairy product, i.e. 1% – 2% fat milk, cottage cheese, yogurts. Even try non-fat dairy products.

Reduce the sugar that you consume – have fruit juice sweetened foods and drinks instead.

Increase the amount of fiber that you consume – Have five helpings of fruit and vegatables each day.

Have wholegrain and/or fiber enriched breads.

Have wholegrain cereals (shredded wheat, bran flakes and oatmeal)

Limit your intake of salt – one way to do this is to use spices, herbs and salt-free seasoning blends in cooking and at the table.

A healthy diet is one that is low in calories and fat, because one way to lower high blood pressure naturally is to lose weight.

If a person maintains a healthy weight, they can often lower their blood pressure without the aid of medication.

A person who has high blood pressure who wishes to have better health should drink alcoholic beverages in moderation, or not at all.

Some experts have also suggested taking a dietary supplement that is rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium and fish oils.

These things can also be found in a healthy diet in varying amounts.

A person with high blood pressure should consult their doctor and then meet with a nutritionist to learn about the kind of diet and foods they should be eating.

Another thing to increase the overall health of a person with high blood pressure is for them to have an active lifestyle and increase their exercise and physical activity.

They should also learn stress management techniques, such as yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation, if they are the kind of person who gets stressed easily.

Sources:
webmd.com

Mike Herman
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/are-there-diets-to-control-high-blood-pressure-67763.html

Could my blood sugar being out of control keep me from getting pregnant?

February 14th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 4 Comments »

I was just wondering. Since my blood sugar has been messed up it has caused frequent yeast infections, does that also cause problems with getting pregnant? I just started taking my medicine again, so things should get better but i have been wondering because i have been with the same guy for 5 years and i have never gotten pregnant, but i also have poly cystic ovarian syndrome

It won’t affect your fertility, but you need to get your BG’s in very strict control before you even think about getting pregnant. Diabetes and pregnancy don’t mix well even in the best of circumstances. Rates of miscarriage and birth defects are extremely high, so it’s possible you’ve been pregnant and quickly miscarried if your BG’s have been high. Start working with a diabetes educator…your A1C’s will need to be < 6.0 before you even get pregnant to maximize your chances for a healthy delivery.

Diabetics control of blood sugar differs from athletes ?

February 11th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 2 Comments »

Steve Redgrave is an athlete. He is diabetic. How has his control of blood sugar differs from other athlets ?

I would put my money on it he is on an insulin pump so when he has an event he can program his pump to give him less insulin and hence there is no danger of him developing hypoglycemia. He probably also does carb loading where you eat loads of carbs a few days before making sure to keep his blood sugar under control so he has a much greater reserve of fuel for events. He undoubtedly has a brilliant team of doctors etc to help him and advise him and these doctors are most likely to be private due to the money he can afford to spend on heathcare.

Is there a supplement to help control blood sugar?

February 9th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 4 Comments »

I am watching my diet and keeping my blood sugar well controlled. I juat weondered if there are any supplements that are recommended to help?

There are many different supplements that have a positive effect on blood sugar levels in the body.

The trick is to find the combination that will help you the best and the proper way to take them for your body. Some people can take something and have great results while others may need more or less of the same thing to get the same results.

I would also suggest that you look into balancing your body’s pH levels so your body will feel better and have more energy.

Here are some web pages that will give you lots of information on pH balance and supplements such as b-complex, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, magnesium and many others.

Good luck to you.

Natural Supplements for Women’s Health: Blood Sugar

February 6th, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | No Comments »

One of the problems that women face is a blood sugar. There are a number of factors that can cause high blood sugar levels. Pregnancy and menopause change estrogen levels which affect metabolism and how body processes fat. In turn, that affects blood sugar levels. Menstruation also affects blood sugar, at least indirectly. Everyone has heard about “those pesky hormones” and all about craving certain foods like salty items such as chips or everyone’s favorite treat, chocolate. With some dietary changes and a little help from supplements you can achieve a healthy balance in your blood sugar levels.

Tackling the Diet

Carbohydrates are important for your body, but eating too many of them in your diet can cause your blood sugar to have more drastic highs and lows. In addition, you’ll find that more fat collects along your midriff and hips. By being selective in the types of carbs you ingest, you will still get what you need in your diet but without those blood sugar swings.

Just say no to processed foods. Basically white foods – anything with white flour and sugars – are converted more quickly to glucose in your body. This causes a spike in your blood sugar levels that lasts just a short time. Before you know it, your energy plummets and you feel lethargic because that “sugar rush” is gone. Then, in order to get that energy level back up, you eat more carbs and the cycle starts all over again.

By choosing carbohydrates that are found in whole grain foods, your body has to work harder to process them. What this means for you is that extreme high-low factor goes away and you are left with a more balanced blood sugar level and your energy level is more consistent. And because your body works harder to process these types of carbohydrates, you are expending calories, meaning less fat gets deposited in your mid-section.

Vitamins and Supplements

While taking care with your diet helps greatly, sometimes you just need an additional boost. This is where women supplements and vitamins for women come in. Business is booming with herbal supplements and special vitamin formulas. But which ones help with your blood sugar?

When your blood sugar levels fluctuate, it can be draining on your body and leave you feeling a bit sluggish. Taking supplements for women that contain chromium might give you a boost and alleviate some of that fatigue. If you have diabetes or might be prone to developing it, ginseng can also be beneficial. It has been known to boost metabolism and help control blood sugar.

If you are looking for vitamins or supplements you have to make sure you only buy high quality products. Always look for products from companies that only specialize in vitamins and supplements products for women. One of the companies that makes nutrients for women and specializes in supplements for women health is nutraOrigin.

There are a number of other women vitamins and supplements that could also be beneficial. However, be sure the check with your doctor to determine which ones might be best for you. If you are taking other medications, certain vitamins or women supplements might counteract with them.

It all boils down to common sense. Do your research into the different vitamins and supplements. Make positive changes in your diet. Women are built differently than men. Therefore, you must be more diligent with your body and what goes into it for your health.

Ajay R (articlesubmit.net)
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/natural-supplements-for-womens-health-blood-sugar-52323.html

do you think that Cinnamon improves blood sugar control in type 1 diabetes?

January 31st, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 8 Comments »


Whether cinnamon can lower blood sugar is a topic of debate — but most research suggests that cinnamon is not an effective treatment for type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
In one preliminary 2006 study, cinnamon extract seemed to lower blood sugar in people who have type 2 diabetes. However, other studies have not confirmed these results. Likewise, cinnamon does not appear to improve hemoglobin A1C levels, a reflection of average blood sugar level for the past 2-3 months, or cholesterol levels. At this point, it seems unlikely that cinnamon could play any role in diabetes treatment.
If you have diabetes, remember that treatment is a lifelong commitment of blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, regular exercise &, sometimes, diabetes medications or insulin therapy. Consult your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your diabetes treatment plan.

is there anybody who has had diabetes for more than 7 years who has perfect blood sugar control?

January 23rd, 2010 -- Posted in blood sugar control | 3 Comments »

any sucess stories? please tell me about how you manage, have you have coped with different areas of life, e.g. sex, travel, eating out, alcohol, drugs, temptations, relationships, fighting depression, fear, staying postive, talking to doctors etc. anything you can tell me that may be useful will be hughely appreciated.

NO diabetic has "perfect" blood sugar control…that’s the nature of the disease. The pancreas acts like a thermostat to administer insulin to keep BG in perfect range. Without enough insulin, the best we can do is mimic that process as best we can. Even the mildest Type 2’s are out of range sometimes. So the best thing you can do for yourself is accept that there’s an important part of your body that is broken, and you just need to do the best you can. Downloading your BG meter into tracking software on the manufacturer’s website can help you identify patterns during the day to help you tweak your insulin or meds. Keep up your doc visits, and make sure you see an endocrinologist if you use insulin. Diabetes educators are wonderful because they can spend more time with you and often know more than the endo’s! CHECK YOUR BG AT LEAST 4x/DAY! Above all else, know that you’ll have bad days sometimes…cry or yell or whatever gets the anger out of your system, then dust yourself off and get back on that horse.

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