Archive for the 'Lowering blood sugar' Category

Diabetes: a Simple Guide to Medical Treatment

March 3rd, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | No Comments »

Type 1 diabetes
Treatment almost always involves the daily injection of insulin, usually a combination of short-acting insulin such as regular or Lispro or Aspart insulin and a longer-acting insulin such as NPH, lente, glargine, detemir, or ultralente insulins.
* Insulin must be given as an injection. If taken by mouth, insulin would be destroyed in the stomach before it could get into the blood where it is needed.
* Most people with type 1 diabetes give these injections to themselves. Even if someone else usually gives you your injections, it is important that you know how to do it in case the other person is not available.
* A trained professional will show you how to store and inject the insulin. Usually this is a nurse who works with the health care provider or a diabetes educator.
* Insulin is usually given in 2 or 3 injections per day, generally around mealtimes. Dosage is individual and is tailored to suit the person. Longer acting insulins are typically administered 1 or 2 times per day.
* It is very important to eat if you have taken insulin, as the insulin will lower your blood sugar regardless of whether you have eaten. If you take insulin without eating, you could have hypoglycemia. This is called an insulin reaction.
* There is an adjustment period while you learn how insulin affects you and how to time your mealtimes and exercise times with your insulin injections to keep your blood sugar level as even as possible.
* Keeping accurate records of your blood sugar levels and insulin dosages is crucial in helping your health care provider take care of your diabetes.
* Eating a consistent, healthy diet appropriate for your size and weight is essential in controlling your blood sugar level.

Type 2 diabetes
Depending on how elevated your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin are at the time of your diagnosis, you may be given a chance to lower your blood sugar level without medication.
* The best way to do this is to lose weight if you are obese and begin an exercise program.
* This will generally be tried for 3-6 months, and then your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin will be rechecked. If they remain high, you will be started on an oral medication, usually a sulfonylurea or biguanide (Metformin), to help control your blood sugar level.
* Even if you are on medication, it is still important to eat a healthy diet, lose weight if you are overweight, and engage in moderate physical activity as often as possible.
* Your health care provider will monitor your progress on medication very carefully at first. It is important to get just the right dose of the right medication to get your blood sugar level in the recommended range with the fewest side effects.
* Your doctor may decide to combine two types of medications to get your blood sugar level under control.
* Gradually, even people with type 2 diabetes may require insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels.
* It is becoming more common for people with type 2 diabetes to take a combination of oral medication and insulin injections to control blood sugar levels.

Paul Buntrage
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/diabetes-a-simple-guide-to-medical-treatment-71824.html

Possible Herbal Treatments For Diabetes

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

Many people are turning to herbal remedies for the treatments of diseases. The reason for this is natural herbs have less side effects that traditional prescription medicine. There are vast variety of herbs for every medical condition. Before trying any type of herbal supplement, talk with your doctor. Some herbs may have in interaction with medications that you may be on.

If you start an herbal treatment for your diabetes, monitor you blood sugar levels frequently. There are many types of herbs for the treatment of diabetes. Some work better than others and what works for one person may not work for you. Do your research and talk with a holistic healer or herbalist. This article is going to list a few of the herbs that are used in the treatment of diabetes:

Garlic and onions are best known for their cardiovascular benefits, however a few studies have shown that they can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels. Onions can increase the production of insulin in your body, which will lower high glucose levels in your blood.

Bitter melon has long been used for it’s glucose lowering properties. It must be taken in small doses however, because larger doses can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Aloe Vera has been called the healing herb. It is known for it’s ability to treat burns and cuts.But the dried sap and gel taken from the inner portion of the leaves have been effective in treating diabetes.

Asian ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has long been used in the treatment of diabetes. Asian ginseng can increase the release of insulin from the pancreas and enhance the function of insulin receptors.

Gymnema is an Ayurvedic herb that has been shown to help the pancreas produce insulin. It has been beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Stevia has long been used to lower blood glucose levels. It has had animal studies but has not undergone any human trials.

Cinnamon bark will make fat cells more accessible to insulin. It blocks the formation of dangerous free radicals and increases the conversation rate of glucose to energy.

These are just a few of the herbs used to treat diabetes. You must remember, that just because you can buy it over the counter does not mean that it is completely safe. People with renal disease or liver disease are at a higher risk for complications. If you are on blood thinning medicines be aware that taking ginkgo, ginseng and garlic will increase your risk for bleeding.

Do not take extra doses of the herbs thinking that more is better. It can actually do more harm than good. Monitor your blood sugar frequently and keep your doctor informed of what you are doing. If you find the right herb that works for you, prescription medication for your diabetes may become a thing of the past!

Jeff Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/possible-herbal-treatments-for-diabetes-126234.html

does it really matter what type of cinnamon you take to help lower blood sugar in type II diabetes?

March 2nd, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | 2 Comments »

I buy organic cinnamon powder and capsule it, taking two capsules in the morning and two in the evening, the large capsules.

According to research I have read, just a ¼ teaspoon twice per day will benefit and that is what the dosage should be. The active components in the cinnamon aren’t lost if heated, so you can add cinnamon to teas and cooked oatmeal. Just be careful not to use too much (more than ½ teaspoon) since it can affect the insulin levels and may alter how medications work.

what do you eat or drink to lower blood sugar when readings are high?

March 1st, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | 6 Comments »

i have typ 2 and i take pills twice a day. morning and evening before meals and insulin shots before going to bed per doctors orders. was told to keep count as close to 100 as i can. last night around 7 pm reading was 245, this morning at 7:30 reading was 150. told it was suppossed to be around 90 for morning reading.

If you suffer from highhighhigh levels of bloodbloodblood sugarsugarsugar, you may be more likely to develop serious health conditions, such as infections, bloodbloodblood clotting, and the inability of cuts and wounds to heal. HighHighHigh sugarsugarsugar levels in the bloodbloodblood can also lead to conditions such as diabetes. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to lowerlowerlower bloodbloodblood sugarsugarsugar levels.

An easy way to lowerlowerlower bloodbloodblood sugarsugarsugar levels is to stay fit and healthy. Regular exercise not only helps lowerlowerlower bloodbloodblood sugarsugarsugar levels, but also helps fight infections. Staying active and taking regular exercise can also help with bloodbloodblood pressure problems. Exercise also helps control the body’s weight and regulate cholesterol levels.
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-lower-my-blood-sugar.htm

Diabetics: How do you lower your blood sugar?

February 28th, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | 2 Comments »

My grandmother’s blood sugar has been int he 450’s area for about 4 days, now. Nothing we do, makes it go down. Is there something she should be doing?

She’s on a bunch of medicine from the doctor’s to try and lower it, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.

The 3 natural ways of lowering blood sugar are as follows.

1. Controlling the level of carbohydrates eaten on a daily basis. When we talk about carbs, we mean all carbs, not just biscuits and cakes. Pasta, rice, grains, pulses, fruit and fruit juice, sugar in your coffee, flavoured yogurt, ready made soups, wholemeal bread, root vegetables, cereals. The list is nearly infinite and once you start to read the back of every pack of food you purchase, you will realize just how many foods contain carbs. They are everywhere. The carbs you do eat should only be from the low glycemic end of the scale. There is plenty of free information the glycemic index available online, read as much as you can.

Arming yourself with this knowledge and cutting back severely on the level of carb intake is fundamental to maintaining better sugar levels. Don;t worry about feeling washed out or strange if you don’t have your morning double helping of cereal and orange juice. Your body is quite capable of supplying you with is own energy source. It has done for the thousands of years before doughnut stores were invented and man’s food supply was limited to pretty much meat, berries and, well more meat really.

2. Start your day either by skipping breakfast or having one based more around protein, fat, low carbohydrate nuts and vegetables. Keeping those so called sugar cravings at bay starts with never enticing your system with them in the first place. Much like when a smoker lights up his first cigarette early in the morning and from then on kicks the nicotine cycle into play. So it is with the carb/sugar craving cycle. Once your body has had sugar and carbohydrate. It releases insulin to combat the rising glucose levels. You body shuts down its natural (fat metabolism) cycle and converts over to carbohydrate metabolism. From then on throughout the day, as your sugar levels dip every few hours and you start to experience that shaky, foggy, irritable washed out feeling. Your body will automatically crave and seek out the nearest available source of carbohydrate. Be that bread, pastry or lump of sugar. Since the body temporarily shuts down fat metabolism, it seeks to keep the carbohydrate burning cousin going in its place. And will do so unless you foregoe the sugary snack and spend a few more hours climbing the walls until your body rights itself and balance is restored.It is no coincidence that most people are snacking every couple of hours.Try not starting the day with carbs. You will be surprised.

3. Another golden natural way to lower blood sugar is to eat absolutely no carbs after about 5 in the evening or more to the point, after you finish work, this may be a little different if you work nights but you get the point. Since your body burns carbs far better when you are active, namely working, it will keep levels down so much better during the day. Come the night time and your second helping of pasta carbonara later, things wont be quite so dynamic from your metabolisms point of view.

Visit my free website mentioned under my profile to more about lowering blood sugar naturally
http://diabetes-abc.blogspot.com

How do I lower my blood sugar without meds?

February 27th, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | 10 Comments »

My doctor has called me in for next week, my blood sugar is at 115, he is concerned, I want to have some knowledge about lowering it before I see him, I am not a big sweet eater at all, usually low carb.
Is exercise the best way?

Would you consider taking a look to an answer I gave for a similar question?

Please, go to….

1. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsOosVjZGQMlhyPq8lkO903ty6IX?qid=20070522192013AAvWQJp&show=7#profile-info-HOvUEvn0aa

(Mine is Answer #2)

Good luck! :)

can blood pressure medication raise or lower blood sugar?

February 26th, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | 4 Comments »

My hubby was just put on 2 blood pressure meds and I was wondering if they can mess with your blood sugar.

Yes blood pressure medication can raise or lower the blood sugar.It varies from person to person.Dozens of high blood pressure medications (antihypertensives) are available, each with pros and cons.

Here’s a look at their high blood pressure medication recommendations. Keep in mind that the medication your doctor suggests for you may be different because of your specific situation.

If you have prehypertension (120/80 to 139/89)

You’re on the road to developing high blood pressure. Even though you likely feel fine, if your blood pressure falls within this range you stand a good chance of developing full-blown high blood pressure.

But don’t panic. With proper lifestyle modifications, you can reduce your chance of developing high blood pressure. To avoid problems:

* Don’t smoke.
* Eat a healthy diet, focusing on fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and especially control your salt (sodium) intake.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Exercise by getting 30 minutes of moderate activity — even a brisk walk is good — on most days of the week.
* Limit your daily alcohol intake — one drink for women and two for men.

You probably won’t need to take high blood pressure medications if you have prehypertension but are otherwise healthy. However, if you have diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease, your doctor might prescribe medications such as diuretics (water pills). Diuretics work by flushing excess water and sodium from the body, thus lowering blood pressure.
If you have stage 1 high blood pressure (140/90 to 159/99)

If you have stage 1 hypertension, you have a systolic
pressure (top number) ranging from 140 to 159 or a diastolic pressure (bottom number) ranging from 90 to 99. If both numbers are in this range, you also have stage 1 high blood pressure.

Your doctor may suggest first trying diuretics — also called water pills. Diuretics work by flushing excess water and sodium from the body, thus lowering blood pressure, and may be enough along with lifestyle changes to control your blood pressure.

Follow healthy lifestyle habits along with medications to treat high blood pressure.

Although three types of diuretics are available, the first choice is usually a thiazide diuretic. Thiazide diuretics typically have fewer side effects than other types of diuretics. They also offer strong protection against conditions that high blood pressure can cause, such as stroke and heart failure.

A diuretic may be the only high blood pressure medication you need. But under some circumstances, your doctor may also recommend adding another medication. Those choices include:

* Beta blockers. These work by reducing nerve signals to the heart and blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
* Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These help blood vessels relax by blocking the production of a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow.
* Angiotensin II receptor blockers. These allow blood vessels to widen by preventing a hormone called angiotensin from affecting vessels.
* Calcium channel blockers. These prevent calcium from going into heart and blood vessel muscle cells, thus causing the cells to relax, which lowers blood pressure.

Adding one of these medications can lower your blood pressure more quickly than can taking only a diuretic. This may reduce the risk of developing complications from high blood pressure. Combining two medications may also allow you to take a smaller dose of each, which can reduce side effects and perhaps be less expensive. The choice of medications in combination again depends on your individual circumstances.

If you have stage 2 high blood pressure (higher than 160/100)
If you have stage 2 high blood pressure, you have a systolic pressure of 160 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 or higher. (If both readings are high, you also have stage 2 high blood pressure). In this case, you’ll likely need to take at least two high blood pressure medications when you start treatment.

As with stage 1 hypertension, your doctor will likely prescribe a thiazide diuretic. Diuretics work by flushing excess water and sodium from the body, thus lowering blood pressure. Along with a diuretic, your doctor may recommend that you also take:

* An ACE inhibitor. This medication helps blood vessels relax by blocking the production of a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow.
* An angiotensin II receptor blocker. This medication allows blood vessels to widen by preventing a hormone called angiotensin from affecting vessels.
* A beta blocker. This class of drugs works by reducing nerve signals to the heart and blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
* A calcium channel blocker. This medication prevents calcium from going into heart and blood vessel muscle cells, thus causing the cells to relax, which lowers blood pressure.

When your blood pressure is this severely elevated, it’s important to reduce it quickly to prevent or delay complications. A two-drug combination generally works faster than does a single drug to get your blood pressure under control. And as with stage 1 hypertension, this one-two punch can offer protection against heart disease, kidney failure and stroke. Sometimes a third, or more, medication may be needed to achieve your blood pressure goal.
If you have isolated systolic hypertension

Sometimes only the systolic, or top, blood pressure reading is elevated. This becomes more common with age, especially once you pass age 60. Though only the upper reading is high, your doctor will still probably recommend a high blood pressure medication. In most cases, he or she will probably suggest a low dose of a thiazide diuretic (water pill). Your doctor might also suggest trying long-acting calcium antagonists (calcium channel blockers).
If you have high blood pressure and other health problems

High blood pressure often goes hand in hand with other health problems. Certain conditions are compelling enough to warrant more aggressive treatment. Those conditions are:

* Heart failure
* Previous heart attack
* High risk of coronary artery disease
* Enlarged left chamber of the heart (left ventricular hypertrophy)
* Diabetes
* Chronic kidney disease
* Previous stroke

Hypertension itself puts you at higher risk of having one of these conditions. If you already have one or more of these conditions plus high blood pressure, your chance of developing a life-threatening complication increases. A more aggressive treatment approach may reduce your risk of these complications.

Your doctor may recommend specific high blood pressure medications to treat these conditions, as well as additional medications for your high blood pressure. For example, if you have chest pain (angina), your doctor may recommend a beta blocker, which can lower your blood pressure and also prevent your chest pain, reduce your heart rate and decrease your risk of death. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, taking a thiazide diuretic plus an ACE inhibitor can decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, you may need to add additional medications to the mix, such as an angiotensin II receptor blocker.
Reaching your goal

No matter what your health situation, finding the dose or combination of medication that effectively controls your blood pressure often takes time, patience and diligence. The process can be challenging. But the stakes are high. If you don’t reduce your blood pressure, you face such complications as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, dementia and vision loss.

Don’t be satisfied until you find a treatment strategy that reduces your blood pressure to the goal you and your doctor have set. It’s not unusual to try several different medications or doses before finding what works best for you.

But the good news is that in most cases, a combination of medication and lifestyle changes can help you successfully control your blood pressure. Once that’s done, your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction in medications while monitoring your response; however, don’t attempt to do this on your own.

Keeping your blood pressure in check may take some time, but in the long run it may mean a longer life, with fewer health problems to contend with.

To know more about high blood pressure and diabetes
visit http://www.reddiabetes.com

how can i lower my blood sugar but, at the same time, not lower my intake of calories, or lose weight?

February 25th, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | 6 Comments »

cuz im already skinny and i dont want to lose weight… and i read in athletic magazine that to gain weight eat at least 300-500 more calories a week than normal to gain 1 pound. im trying to lower my blood sugar, but how do i not lose weight/or possibly gain weight at the same time as lowering my blood sugar?

You can add more protein to your diet.
Cheeses, meats, fish,ice cream[ watch the carbs ], yogurt .

You can also add one more fruit serving and many more veggie servings with butter.

You should talk to a dietitian.
good luck.

The Ultimate Diet For Diabetics

February 24th, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | No Comments »

The most popular diet for diabetics has made its way into the weight loss arena and is proving to be quite successful. For years, the Low Glycemic Index Diet has been used as a tool to help diabetics manage their blood glucose levels. Once it was discovered that this diet for diabetics could also aid in weight loss it became popular with a host of individuals.

One of the reasons that this diet for diabetics works so well is the strong correlation between improper weight management and the presence of diabetes. While not everyone who suffers from diabetes developed the disease due to weight problems a large majority have been discovered to have developed diabetes as a

result of obesity. This is because certain foods tend to raise the blood sugar levels in the body higher and faster than other foods. When that happens the body has a built in check system to return the blood glucose levels to their normal state.

In order to do this the pancreas must release insulin which transports excess blood sugar or blood glucose into storage. Everything is find as long as we work off or use of those stores of blood sugar and this is not required too often. Problems arise; however, when we do not burn off the stored blood sugar and we force our pancreas to overwork by consuming too many foods that cause our blood sugar to skyrocket.

When the body is not able to burn off the stores of blood sugar it turns to fat and that results in being overweight. That is not the end of the problem; however. When we frequently maintain a diet that is high in foods that raise our blood sugar, over time, the pancreas becomes overworked and may shut down. This is when diabetes steps into the picture. Often diabetes and obesity go hand in hand.

The low GI diet was developed as a way to aid diabetics in selecting foods which would not raise their blood sugar levels too high after consuming them. It was hoped that this would remove the drain on the pancreas. This diet for diabetics was found to be quite successful in this regard and was also determined to have the added benefit of helping individuals who followed it lose weight.

The basis of the diet is the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrates according to how quickly the body is able to digest them. Foods which can be easily digested by the body rank higher on the index and tend to raise the body’s blood glucose levels higher than other foods. According to the diet, these foods should be consumed sparingly. Other foods are not broken down the body so easily and therefore do not have as much of an effect on the body’s blood sugar levels. Some foods even have no effect at all and can be eaten without fear of any restrictions.

High processed and refined foods tend to rank high on the glycemic index most frequently. Individuals following the diet for diabetics are encouraged to avoid or minimize their intake of these foods.

It should be understood that unlike many other diets that may sound similar in nature, the diet for diabetics does not require total exclusion of carbohydrates. Some carbs are actually good and can be eaten. Ideally, adults are recommended to stick with a diet that includes at least 130 grams of carbs per day to provide fuel for the body. This, of course, assumes that you are maintaining an otherwise healthy and active lifestyle. If, for some, reason you are unable to be active, you may need a lower daily intake of carbs.

Wesley Atkins
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-ultimate-diet-for-diabetics-110105.html

How Can Mango Leaves Help Your Diabetes?

February 24th, 2010 -- Posted in Lowering blood sugar | No Comments »

Diabetes- we all heard the word but do we really know what it is?!

Let me tell you what diabetes is and what you can do about it.

So, let’s start from the beginning.

Diabetes is a lifelong, chronic health condition. It is a disturbance in the metabolism system. After we eat, the food in the metabolism system becomes glucose which gets into the blood. Insulin is a hormone which helps our bodies to get sugar from the blood. The insulin is produced by the pancreas and secreted to the blood so it can help the glucose to get into the body cells.

Diabetic people are unable to break down sugar, so the sugar levels are high in the blood. The reason for that is they can’t produce insulin or have resistance to insulin and therefore lose energy.

Diabetes causes: hunger, weight loss, thirst, urination, dehydration; and in severe cases also: heart disease, hearing and vision problems, and more.

There are two types of Diabetes:

Type I affects people less than 30 years old, and develops when antibodies, kill cells of the pancreas, which is in charge of creating insulin.

Type II, develops in people 30 years of age and older, and is caused by the insufficient or ineffective production of insulin.

Diabetic people don’t need to stop their lives, they can learn how to live with it and take care of themselves.

First, it is very important to notice what you eat: just notice the kind, amount, and frequency of your meals.

Then exercise, which will help the body to work better and make some more insulin.

Use insulin if needed, ask your doctor about it, and also check the insulin levels in your body as the doctor orders.

And last but not least – Use natural home remedies.

There are a lot of different remedies for diabetes on the market but why use chemicals when you can try natural home remedies first.

Don’t buy products at the store when you can make it on your own. Just try out some natural remedies and examine how your body reacts to the natural treatments. Then choose the best natural remedy for your specific problem.

I added a few options to try and decide:

1. Take 1 small bitter gourd, remove the seeds and saturate in a cup of water. Drain and drink every morning.

2. Wash and peel a green plantain, put the peel in a jar, cover with water and drink this water three times a day.

3. Soak 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds (Hilba- Yemenite herb) in 1 cup of water at night. Drink the water in the morning on an empty stomach and eat the seeds. Very good for diabetes because it works like insulin.

4. Boil 13-16 mango leaves in one cup of water, saturate over night and filter in the morning. Drink every morning on an empty stomach.

5. Take 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar 3 times a day.

6. Add turmeric and cinnamon to your cooking, it is very good for diabetes.

If you need more information and more natural home remedies, you can find many more on the GrannyMed.com website.

Ron Shelf
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/how-can-mango-leaves-help-your-diabetes-68513.html

Next »