#Diabetics: 7 Hard Steps to Reverse and Prevent #Diabetes #amputations #Blindness, #Kidney

Avoid #Blindness, #Kidney failure, and Leg and foot #amputations.
#Wellness and #Longevity

Studies clearly show that avoiding diabetes and actually even reversing mild diabetes is not that difficult.

And, since we’re clearly in the midst of a type 2 diabetes epidemic, learning how to avoid diabetes and how to reverse diabetes is vitally important.

What was once called adult-onset diabetes is now showing up in many more adults and an ever-growing number of teens and children. Over 24 million Americans have diabetes and worldwide the numbers are rapidly approaching 300 million. And the problems caused by diabetes are scary.

•Blindness,
•Kidney failure,
•Damaged nerves,
•Circulation problems,
•Leg and foot amputations,
•And a high heart disease risk.

How to Avoid Diabetes in Seven Steps

The great news is that learning how to avoid type 2 diabetes and even sometimes reverse diabetes is easy. But it takes strong commitment and persistence to make the lifestyle changes that reduce your risk for diabetes.

However, by sticking with these seven simple steps, you can also lower your chance of diabetes complications, heart disease and some cancers:

1. Make exercise a priority. Working your muscles with regular physical activity greatly improves circulation and your ability to use insulin and absorb glucose. Studies show that just taking a brisk half-hour walk every day reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30%. And adding more physical activity during the day reduces your diabetes risk even more.

2. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. It increases your risk by seven times. Obesity makes you 20 to 40 times more likely to develop diabetes than someone at a healthy weight. But, if you’re overweight, losing just 7% to 10% of your current weight can cut your chance of developing diabetes in half. Healthy permanent weight loss is the best thing you can do to decrease your diabetes risk.

3. Eliminate refined carbohydrates. Sugar, sugary soft drinks, fruit drinks and fruit juice, white bread, white rice, white pasta and other refined carbohydrates cause a fast and furious rise in blood sugar. Eating these high glycemic foods greatly increases your risk of developing diabetes.

4. Focus on plant foods. A diet high in fiber foods, such as colorful vegetables, beans, fresh fruits and 100% whole grains lowers your risk of diabetes and helps keep your appetite and calories under control.

5. Choose healthy fats. The fats you eat affect your diabetes risk one way or another, so it’s important to learn bad fat good fat differences. Fats found in omega 3 fish, such as salmon and tuna, raw nuts, seeds, whole grains and olive oil help to lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Whereas trans fats do just the opposite by contributing to diabetes.

6. If You Smoke, Quit. Diabetes is just one of the many smoking health risks on the long list of health problems caused by tobacco use. Smokers are at least 50% more likely to develop diabetes than nonsmokers.

7. Manage blood pressure and cholesterol. Diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure all damage blood vessels. And when they team up together, they increase your risk for heart attack, stroke and other deadly conditions. But if you exercise regularly, eat for great health and manage your weight, you can lower blood pressure and cholesterol naturally.

Although following these guidelines for how to avoid diabetes or even reversing diabetes naturally requires commitment, focus and persistence, diabetes is highly preventable. And so our results are up to each of us.

#Diabetics: Insulin Over the Counter? #insulin #T1C #A1C #diabetes #diabetic

Can I Get Insulin Over the Counter?

Recently  it was written about Kevin Houdeshell, who died from diabetes ketoacidosis after his insulin prescription expired. Some have questioned whether Kevin should have instead gone to buy over-the-counter (OTC) insulin at WalMart instead of not having any insulin at all.

As any person with diabetes knows, there are many complex factors and decisions that can lead to an emergency situation with blood sugar levels. We may never know exactly what happened in Kevin’s case. His father, Dan Houdeshell, asked whether OTC insulin is an option for someone with an expired prescription.

We did a bit of online research and found there was a lot of confusion about OTC insulin in diabetes chat rooms, so we decided to ask Jennifer Smith of Integrated Diabetes Services (IDS) to help clear things up. We asked her if she thought OTC insulin was a good backup plan when you can’t obtain your normal prescription. Here’s how Jennifer answered the question:

Today, most prescriptions for those using insulin cover the most up-to-date types of insulin – basal insulins such as Lantus and Levemir, as well as rapid-acting insulins like Novolog, Humalog and Apidra.

When you buy insulin over the counter (OTC), these brand-name insulins are not available.

You’re right that the ReliOn Brand of insulin at Walmart is available without prescription in some states. However, it includes very limited types of insulin. These are the older generation of insulins, including R insulin, also called Regular (a short-acting insulin and N insulin (an intermediate-acting insulin taken twice a day). These generic OTC insulins have a very different action profile than prescribed insulins. However, generic does not by any means indicate low quality.

Having an insulin back-up plan in case you find yourself with an outdated prescription or short on funds is important. It would be beneficial to discuss with a health care provider how to go about using these generic OTC insulins before you have to use them, however.

Rapid-acting insulin works faster and clears your body faster. Basal insulin analogs typically work longer and more evenly without a peak in action, unlike the intermediate-acting insulin that has to be taken two times a day. R and N insulin types require users to have a bit more stability to their meals and daily activities due to the action time of the insulin.

It should be emphasized that insulin is a must-have medication for those on insulin therapy. Without it, blood glucose will rise to dangerous and life-threatening levels.

 In the case of a prescription. It’s good that there is the option to get an OTC insulin quickly and at a low cost. However, understanding how to use it in time of need is also important to ensure blood glucose regulation.

#Diabetic: Complications in Type 1 and Type 2 #Diabetes- #diabetics #A1C #T1D #insulin

Hi all,
readers have been asking me how can they excerise when there meds make them tired? I will put up the streching excersices again. Very low impact, just to get you strated. Also park far from any store you visited. You can get in some good walking. 

I am here to give practical advice on managing, controlling and possible reversing diabetes. At the very best stop the progression of this insidious disease.
Yours in Health, Angelbea.

The long-term effects of improperly managed diabetes on your body and internal organs can be very serious.  The different complications range from eye to heart problems and in severe cases can cause premature death.

Heart disease is the leading cause of deaths in diabetics.  The best way to prevent damage to your heart is to follow your diabetic meal plan and participate in some form of physical activity every day.  By quitting smoking you can decrease the chances of developing any heart problems later on in life.  Eating a diet low in saturated fats will promote good heart health and a normal blood pressure too.

If blood sugar levels are not controlled they can lead to serious eye and sight problems including blindness.  High glucose in your systems will make small veins in your eyes
start to bleed.  A regular check-up with an ophthalmologist to check for any signs of damage is recommended once per year.  To prevent this, keep your blood sugars under
control.

Kidney failure is most common in diabetics who do not control their blood sugars for extended periods of time.  When the kidneys fail they are no longer able to clean the blood.  After kidney failure the only two options for treatment are dialysis (you are hooked up to a machine that cleans your blood) or a kidney transplant.

Diabetics should take extra care of their gums and teeth as they are more susceptible to gingivitis and other gum disease.  A semi-annual check up at the dentist with a regular brushing and flossing routine will help to prevent this disease and the potential loss of your teeth.

All of these complications can be avoided or lessened by the proper management of your diabetes.  By following the guidelines set for you by your doctor and checking your blood
sugars daily you can lead a long and healthy life with diabetes.

#Diabetics 6 things you Should Know About #Insulin. #A1C #T1C #diabetes #diabetic

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It helps the body use glucose and helps control blood glucose levels. People with Type 1 diabetes don’t produce any insulin, and they depend on insulin injections for survival. For people with Type 2 diabetes, who don’t produce enough insulin on their own, insulin therapy may become a critical part of managing their disease.
If you’re a new insulin user, you may not know much about the stuff. Even if you’ve been on insulin for years, there may be a few things you don’t realize. Here are six things you should know:

1. Insulin is not a last resort.

You may be worried about starting insulin because you feel you’ve "failed" in controlling your disease, or you believe it’s a sign your health is on a fast decline. It’s true that diabetes progresses the longer a person has it. Over years, your body may have a tougher and tougher time producing or using its own insulin. But that doesn’t mean it’s all downhill after starting insulin. "Insulin is just another tool in the toolbox. It’s a natural approach to treating diabetes," says Rob Roscoe, a clinical pharmacist and certified diabetes educator in Rothesay, N.B. "A lot of people think insulin is the last straw. But in some cases, it’s the first therapy we use."

2. Insulin doesn’t have to hurt.

Unlike other diabetes medications, insulin has to be injected to work. Some folks are reluctant to take insulin because they’re afraid of painful pokes. But it doesn’t have to hurt. Even kids learn to give themselves insulin. Today’s insulin pens use such tiny needles, they’re pretty much painless. (For certain types of insulin, there are even injectors that push insulin through the skin without needles.) When he’s training new insulin users, Roscoe says, "I always enjoy watching their faces when they realize taking insulin doesn’t hurt and they can actually do it."

3. Insulin isn’t so inconvenient.

Devices used to deliver insulin are simpler and more portable than in the past. Most people use pens, which are a cinch to carry around ‘ some even come preloaded with insulin cartridges. Pumps are another easy way to take your insulin: They can be programmed to give you insulin automatically on a regular schedule. And when you need to take extra injections, all you have to do is "dial up" an amount of insulin and press a button.

4. Insulin has improved dramatically.

When insulin treatment was pioneered in Toronto in the 1920s, it was made from the pancreatic tissue of pigs and cows. In fact, animals were used in the manufacture of insulin up until the 1980s. But today, insulin used to treat diabetes is very different. Most insulin is made by combining simple cells like bacteria with the human gene for producing insulin. "The newer forms of insulin are much more predictable and allows one to match closer to what is happening naturally inside," says Roscoe.

5. Not all insulin is the same.

Molecular engineers today can make small changes to manufactured insulin, so it functions more like normal human insulin. These forms of insulin are called "analogues." Different types of insulin vary greatly in the amount of time they take to start working, the length of time they work, and when their peak effect takes place. This means they can help people with a broad range of lifestyles, ages, health conditions and goals. Your healthcare professional can help you plan which insulin product is the best fit for you.

6. Insulin needs to be treated with care.

You may need insulin, but insulin has its own needs too. Even if it’s unopened, it needs to be kept cool in the refrigerator. Never let it freeze. Once insulin has been opened, it shouldn’t be kept for more than 28 days. And it should never be used past the expiry date.

 Find out what your insulin is supposed to look like ‘ some are clear, some are cloudy ‘ and always check it before injecting it.
Insulin isn’t a cure for diabetes, but it’s a very effective way to give your body what it needs to be healthy. Think life is going to change once you start taking insulin? It will ‘ likely for the better. That’s what Roscoe regularly hears from his clients after they’ve started insulin. "They say they didn’t realize they could feel that good again, and that they should have started insulin sooner rather than keep putting it off."

#Diabetics Stave off #Diabetes. #insulin #A1C #T1D #diabetic

By: Solar Bay

My mom called recently to tell me her doctor had diagnosed her with pre-diabetes. She’s now among the ten million Americans with the condition, which means her blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough for her to be officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 

The key risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes are the same’over 40 years old, overweight, high blood pressure and family history.
 People of aboriginal, Asian, South Asian, African and Hispanic descent are particularly at risk.

My mom has all of these risk factors. Her doctor advised her to try and control her blood sugar levels through exercise and healthy eating, which is usually the first line of defence. Research shows if you manage your blood sugar levels when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.

As a registered dietitian, that’s where my skills come in. I assessed and modified Mom’s diet so she understands how foods affect her blood sugar levels, and how to better manage her condition. She already eats quite healthily, but still had things to learn. Here are some tips I shared with her that are useful for anyone trying to manage their blood sugar.

Choose healthier carbs 

 

All carbohydrates break down into glucose (sugar), so my mom’s reaction after her diagnosis was to shun them completely. Not only is this not necessary, it’s not recommended. We need carbohydrates for energy. The key is to choose healthier options, such as vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
Whole grains and unprocessed carbohydrates typically have more fibre and a lower glycemic index (GI) than processed foods, which means they won’t cause blood sugar to spike. A few simple food swaps could make a big difference. Here are some to try:

• ‘ Whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread instead of white bread or bagels.
  ‘ A bowl of bran cereal or hot oatmeal (steel-cut or quick-cooking are good choices) instead of rice or corn-based cereals.
  ‘ Barley, bulgur, parboiled rice or brown rice instead of white rice.
  ‘ A sweet potato or sweet potato fries instead of a baked potato or french fries.
  ‘ A low-fat bran or whole-grain muffin instead of cookies or donuts.

Keep food in proportion

Fill half of your plate with at least two kinds of vegetables
they’re high in fibre without being high in carbohydrates. Mom loves Chinese greens such as bok choy and Chinese broccoli, so she now loads up her plate with them. Other good choices are green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, tomatoes and peppers.

Then one quarter of your plate should be whole grains such as barley, bulgur, brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. The last quarter of your plate should be saved for a small piece of lean meat, chicken, fish, or a meat alternative such as ¾ cup (175 mL) of beans, lentils or tofu. Accompany the meal with a glass of low-fat milk or fortified soy beverage; for dessert, have some summer berries or a piece of fruit.

Get enough fibre

Fibre, especially the soluble type (which is good for maintaining regularity and is found in beans, lentils and oats), can slow down ‘the rise in blood sugar caused by the foods you eat. Adults over the age of 19 need up to 38 grams of fibre every day. Look for breads, cereals, crackers, pasta, beans and soups that have at least two grams per serving. Mom checked the nutrition facts of her favourite whole-grain bread and was happy to see it contains three grams of fibre per slice.

Ask for help

My dad, who is a chef, does most of the cooking and grocery shopping at my parents’ house. He often cooks stir-fries with lots of veggies and a small amount of lean meat’which is just what Mom needs to keep her plate in proportion. Since leftovers can lead to overeating for Mom, Dad now makes just enough for one meal for both of them.

Get some exercise!

 A healthy diet and exercise can help with weight loss. Losing just five to 10 percent of your body weight can do wonders for your blood sugar levels. Since her diagnosis, Mom has started walking for an hour every day and has already dropped eight pounds (and two inches from her waistline), and has improved her heart health to boot. Keep up the good work, Mom: I’m so proud of you!

#Diabetics: Reverse #Diabetes. #A1C #T1D #diabetic #insulin

 Reverse Diabetes
 

Every time you roll your shopping cart into the supermarket, you’re making a decision that goes far beyond whether you’re going to have pork or pierogies for dinner. You’re actually choosing between being a victim and a victor. What you put in your cart goes a long way toward determining whether you’ll be compromised by diabetes or start controlling and eventually even beating it.

That’s why we’ve assembled the following list of the 20 best foods for fighting diabetes. Every time you go to the store from now on, take this list with you and check off each item. In fact, if your favourite store has a delivery service, sign up for it so your supplies are automatically replenished every few weeks.
Research proves that making a few key changes to your diet‘such as eating more produce, fewer refined carbohydrates, plenty of lean protein, and more ‘good’ fat’helps improve blood-sugar control and cuts the risk of diabetes-related complications. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that one or two or even five foods on this list will transform you. You need most of them‘yes, even the flaxseed’because together they represent a new approach to eating, a lifestyle rather than just a diet.

1. Apples

 

Because they offer so many health advantages, put these at the core of your diet. Apples are naturally low in calories, yet their high fibre content (4 grams) fills you up, battles bad cholesterol, and blunts blood-sugar swings. Red Delicious
and Granny Smith are also among the top 10 fruits with the most disease-fighting antioxidants.
Eat them whole and unpeeled for the greatest benefit, or make a quick ‘baked’ apple. After washing and chopping one apple, put it in a bowl with a dusting of cinnamon and microwave until soft (about 4 minutes). Enjoy with yogourt and oat bran sprinkles for a nutritious dessert, or serve over oatmeal for breakfast.

2. Avocado

Rich, creamy, and packed with beneficial monounsaturated fat, avocado slows digestion and helps keep blood sugar from spiking after a meal. A diet high in good fats may even help reverse insulin resistance, which translates to steadier blood sugar long-term. Try putting mashed avocado on sandwiches instead of mayonnaise or on bread instead of butter. To keep what’s left over from turning brown, spritz the flesh with cooking spray or coat with lemon juice and wrap in plastic.

3. Barley

Choosing this grain instead of white rice can reduce the rise in blood sugar after a meal by almost 70 per cent’and keep your blood sugar lower and steadier for hours. That’s because the soluble fibre and other compounds in barley dramatically slow the digestion and absorption of the carbohydrate. Even brown rice can’t compare. Add barley to soups, serve it as a side dish, or make it the basis for a stir-fry or casserole. Pearled, hulled, or quick-cooking varieties are all crackling good choices.

4. Beans

When menu planning, think ‘bean cuisine‘ at least twice a week. The soluble fibre in all types of beans (from chickpeas to kidney beans to even edamame) puts a lid on high blood sugar. And because they’re rich in protein, beans can stand in for meat in main dishes. Just watch the sodium content. Always rinse canned beans before using. To save time cooking beans, invest in a pressure cooker. Soaked beans are tender in just 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Beef

Yes, beef is a diabetes-friendly food, as long as you choose the leanest cuts and keep portions to one-fourth your plate. Getting enough protein at mealtime keeps you feeling full and satisfied. Plus, it helps maintain muscle mass when you’re losing weight, so your metabolism stays high. The skinniest beef cuts are eye of round, inside round, ground round, tenderloin, sirloin, flank steak, and filet mignon. To lean up other cuts, put them in the freezer for 20 minutes. This hardens the meat so it’s easier to slice off the fat. Lean cuts can be tenderized and made more flavourful by marinating in any mixture that contains vinegar, wine, or citrus juice. The acid softens them up.

6. Berries

 

Think of them as nature’s M&Ms: sweet, convenient, colourful, and satisfying. Berries are full of fibre and antioxidants. The red and blue varieties also contain natural plant compounds called anthocyanins. Scientists believe these may help lower blood sugar by boosting insulin production. Put some in an easy-to-grab location or freeze a handful to suck on or use as ice cubes.

7. Broccoli

Hey, don’t make that face. Broccoli is filling, fibrous, and full of antioxidants (including a day’s worth of vitamin C in one serving). It’s also rich in chromium, which plays an important role in long-term blood sugar control. If you don’t already love it, either ‘hide’ it in soups, pasta dishes, and casseroles, or sauté it with garlic, soy sauce, and mustard, or dark sesame oil (or any combination thereof) for a taste you’ll fall for.

8. Carrots

Don’t believe what you hear about carrots rapidly raising blood sugar. While the type of sugar they contain is transformed into blood sugar quickly, the amount of sugar in carrots is extremely low. That’s good news because carrots are one of nature’s richest sources of beta-carotene, which is linked to a lower risk of diabetes and better blood-sugar control. Sick of raw sticks? Make some ‘fries’ by slicing carrots into thin strips, scattering on a baking sheet, and flavouring with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 40 minutes. Who needs McDonald’s?

9. Chicken or turkey

These meats can be high-fat disasters or perfectly healthy fare. It all depends on the cut and how it’s prepared. Breast meat, whether ground or whole, is always lower in fat than dark meat such as thighs and drumsticks. Never eat the skin because of its high saturated fat content, and when buying ground turkey, make sure the package says ground turkey breast. Otherwise, you may as well be eating hamburger. And need we remind you, the Colonel is not your friend. (Why are you eating anything that comes in a bucket anyway?) If you stick to these rules, you’ll enjoy a nice, low-calorie dose of sustaining protein. No time to cook? Pick up a rotisserie chicken.

10. Eggs

 

Eggs are another excellent, inexpensive source of high-quality protein’so high, in fact, that egg protein is the gold standard nutritionists use to rank all other proteins. An egg or two won’t raise your cholesterol, and will keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours afterward. Such a magic food deserves a little sleight of hand in its preparation. To flip an egg, spritz the skillet with cooking spray, wait for the egg white to bubble and, in one continuous motion, slide the pan quickly toward you and then forward with a slight upward flick of the wrist. Bow to your guests.

11. Fish

The single deadliest complications of diabetes is heart disease, and eating fish just once a week can reduce your risk by 40 per cent, according to a Harvard School of Public Health study. The fatty acids in fish reduce inflammation in the body’a major contributor to coronary disease’as well as insulin resistance and diabetes. And unless you’re pregnant, don’t worry too much about potential chemical contaminants. An exhaustive review of the scientific literature on fish and human health by Harvard researchers led to the conclusion that eating it far outweighs any accompanying risks.

12. Flaxseed

No, this is not something you fill the bird feeders with come winter. Rather, these shiny brown seeds hit the diabetes trifecta: They’re rich in protein, fibre, and good fats similar to the kind found in fish. They’re also a source of magnesium, a mineral that’s key to blood-sugar control because it helps cells use insulin. Ground flaxseed spoils quickly, so buy whole seeds in bulk, keep in the fridge, and grind as needed. Sprinkle on cereal, yogourt, or ice cream or blend into meat loaf, meatballs, burgers, pancakes, and breads. It works in just about anything’including bird feeders.

13. Milk and yogurt

Both are rich in protein and calcium, which studies show may help people lose weight. And diets that include plenty of dairy may fight insulin resistance, a core problem behind diabetes. Go low-fat or fat-free, though. If you don’t like the taste of skim milk, try 1 percent. It’s a little thicker and creamier than skim. Likewise, reduced-fat Greek-style yogurt tends to taste richer than its Canadian counterparts because of how it’s made. Drizzle with honey and imagine you’re on the Mediterranean.

14. Nuts

 

Because of their high fibre and protein content, nuts are ‘slow burning’ foods that are friendly to blood sugar. And even though they contain a lot of fat, it’s that healthful monounsaturated kind again. Roasting really brings out the flavour of nuts and makes them a great addition to fall soups and entrées. Just spread shelled nuts on a cooking sheet and bake at 300°F (150°C) for 7 to 10 minutes.

15. Seeds

Like nuts, seeds of all types’pumpkin, sunflower, sesame‘are filled with good fats, protein, and fibre that work together to keep blood sugar low and stave off heart disease. They’re also a natural source of cholesterol-lowering sterols, the same compounds added to some cholesterol-lowering margarines. Fill an empty Altoids mint tin with your favourite unsalted seeds and stash it in your purse or pocket in case of snack emergencies. Or tell the waiter to hold the croutons on your Caesar and substitute pumpkin or sunflower seeds instead.

16. Oatmeal

 

Ever wonder why oatmeal is so good for you? It’s because it’s loaded with soluble fibre which, when mixed with water, forms a paste. Just as it sticks to your bowl, it also forms a gummy barrier between the digestive enzymes in your stomach and the starch molecules in your meal. So it takes longer for your body to convert the carbs you’ve eaten into blood sugar. Don’t like oatmeal in the morning? Buy oat flour and use it as a thickener in autumn stews, casseroles, and soups. Or add ground oatmeal (not the instant kind) to muffin, pancake, or waffle batters. You won’t even know it’s there.

17. Olive oil

 

This stuff is liquid gold. In fact, it contains an anti-inflammatory component so strong that researchers liken it to aspirin. This may be one reason why people who follow a Mediterranean diet’a traditional way of eating that emphasizes olive oil along with produce, whole grains, and lean meat’have such low rates of heart disease and diabetes, both of which are linked with inflammation. Unlike butter, the good fat in olive oil won’t increase insulin resistance and may even help reverse it. A touch of olive oil also slows digestion, so your meal is less likely to spike your glucose. Dribble it on salads, baked potatoes, pasta’just about anything.

18. Peanut butter

One study found that eating peanut butter dampens the appetite for up to 2 hours longer than a low-fibre, high-carb snack, making this childhood favourite a grown-up weight-loss ally. The monounsaturated fats in PB also help control blood sugar. Looking for a new way to enjoy it? Try raw or steamed veggies with this peanut dip: Bring 2/3 cup water to boil in a saucepan, stir in 1/3 cup creamy PB, 1 clove minced garlic, 2 teaspoons fresh-grated ginger, 2 medium chopped scallions, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and a dash of chili powder. Simmer 2 minutes, remove from heat, and stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Wait until it cools, then start dipping!

19. Whole-grain bread

 

Eating white bread is practically like eating table sugar when it comes to raising blood sugar. So if you eat a lot of it (and this includes bagels), simply switching to whole grain may improve your sensitivity to insulin. In one study of nearly 1,000 men and women, the higher their intake of whole grains, the greater their insulin sensitivity and blood-sugar stability. Don’t mistake any old brown bread, or even multigrain, for whole grain. If it doesn’t have the word ‘whole’ in the first ingredient, don’t buy it. And look for the coarsest bread you can find; the coarseness will slow digestion.

20. Sweet potatoes

Choose a baked sweet potato instead of a baked white potato, and your blood sugar will rise about 30 percent less. Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients and disease-fighting fibre, almost 40 percent of which is the soluble kind that lowers cholesterol and slows digestion. They’re also extra rich in carotenoids, orange and yellow pigments that play a role in helping the body respond to insulin. Plus, they’re full of the natural plant compound chlorogenic acid, which may help reduce insulin resistance.

#Diabetics: When #diabetes attacks kids #diabetic #A1C #insulin #T1C

Contrary to popular belief the only older people suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, more and more kids are now are diagnosed with this illness all over the world. The type of diabetes that kids are prone with is the "type 1 diabetes." Also known as " juvenile diabetes," this type is diagnosed in almost 40 children everyday in the United States of America alone.

Type 1 diabetes can be considered as the rarest type compared to other diabetes types such as "type 2 diabetes" and "gestational diabetes" but now, more and more people—especially the younger ones suffer from it. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs person's body is stopped form producing enough insulin, which is a type of hormone that every human needs. In order to survive, people—especially kids—with this type of diabetes should have insulin injected in their bodies every single day in order to continue living. 

With the help of modern technology, kids with type 1 diabetes can live a normal life because they have better options in terms of blood glucose testing and insulin administration which are just some of the common processes that diabetics undergo. To help kids cope up with their condition, more and more medical facilities now offer treatments that can help the child live an active, healthy, and a life filled with fun excitement just like other regular kids.

Dealing with diabetes in children

Parenting a child is enough challenge for a parent once he or she has decided to form a family. But when a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness such as diabetes, parenting and raising this child become more difficult, challenging and at times, frustrating. To help parents deal with their children when diabetes attacks them at such an early age, experts say that they should:

1. Encourage and help the child to develop healthy eating habits. Once a child is diagnosed with diabetes, it makes his or her world smaller. There will be more restrictions especially in eating. These restrictions can lead to eating problems that will be harder to manage once they get older. So as early as now, parents must instill among their kids the importance of eating healthy and well-balanced food to avoid further diabetes complications. Parents must also make sure that the child follows the regular schedule in taking in snacks and eating meals. But if the child doesn’t want to eat a certain type of food you’re offering, don’t force him or her. Instead, give the child a variety of healthy foods that he or she can choose from. 

2. Ensure to test blood glucose levels regularly. The ideal frequency of blood glucose testing is at least four times per day. If possible, the parents should monitor this themselves to ensure that if the child is coping up with the condition or not.

3. Instill in the child the importance of regular exercise. To avoid being obese that can lead to more complications among kids with diabetes, parents must make exercise a part of the child's daily living. This exercise should not be so rigorous, it can be a simple walk, jog, or even helping out with household chores as long as there's enough movement for the day.

4. Reassure the child of your love and support. There are kids with diabetes who think that having the chronic illness is their fault. Many of them also think that they have that condition because they did something bad or they are not just good enough for their parents. To erase these doubts in the child's mind, parents must always ensure their child that they will support him or her no matter and they will love the child no matter what.
anchor2health

#Diabetics Exercising with #Diabetic or other health limitations #Diabetes

NO MATTER YOUR WEIGHT

            TO GET the maximum benefits from stretching to minimize the loss of flexibility caused by aging and accelerated by diabetes, include stretching exercises into your new, healthier lifestyle a minimum of two or three days per week. This will also help you maximize your strength gains from any concurrent resistance exercises you may be doing.

 Exercising with diabetic or other health limitations 

            Is your health your main excuse for not being more physically active? Whether your biggest health complaint is high blood pressure, loss of feeling in your feet, or arthritic knees, it’s time to change your way of thinking. There is mounting evidence that older individuals with chronic health problems respond just as well to exercise training as their younger counterparts, yet many older people still choose not to be physically active. While it’s true that 85 percent of people over the age of sixty-five have a health problem that they may view as a deterrent to exercise, diabetes should definitely not be among them, and neither should almost all of the others.

            Although most everyone can exercise safely and effectively, diabetes does bring additional risks, as discussed in the preceding step. However, you can still exercise to your potential—as long as you respect your limitations. To stay safe and get the most out of your activities, follow the exercise guidelines published by the ADA. The remainder of this section will address how you can overcome other common health concerns, allowing you to be as physically active as possible.

            Cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, you may also have cardiovascular disease. Remember that about a third of all people with diabetes are not even aware of having it; sadly, many of them first learn of their condition while in the hospital after suffering their first heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event. Does having heart disease mean that exercise is not for you? Absolutely not. Resistance training is now recommended for everyone, even people with known cardiovascular disease who have had a heart attack or stroke.

  Diabetic people in supervised cardiac-rehabilitation exercise programs engage in various forms of exercise, and you may choose to join such a program if you know you have cardiovascular disease; you may also prefer to exercise on your own. It’s important to know that you’re more likely to experience angina (chest pain) due to reduced blood flow to your heart muscle (ischemia) during an aerobic activity like treadmill walking than during weight training. 
Studies have shown that lifting a heavy weight ten to twelve times may increase your blood pressure more than aerobic work, but it doesn’t raise your heart rate as much. Ironically the higher blood pressures reached during resistance training ensure that your heart muscle gets more blood than it would during aerobic activities. If you know that you have some coronary artery blockage from plaque buildup, moderate weight training may actually be a safer activity for you than most high-intensity aerobic ones.

            If you prefer aerobic activities or if you do both types, use pain as your guide. In general, if reaching a certain heart rate (in number of beats per minute, or bpm) causes you to develop chest pain during exercise, always exercise at an intensity that keeps your rate at least 10 bpm below that pain threshold. For example, if slow jogging causes you to feel angina at a heart rate of 140 bpm, then lower your exercise intensity by walking briskly instead, to keep your heart rate at 130 bpm or below at all times. In addition, be aware that a heart attack may have symptoms other than pain localized in your chest, such as pain that radiates down one arm or shoulder or your neck or that feels like bad heartburn. If you experience any unusual pain or other symptoms during or following exercise, get checked out by your doctor as soon as possible.

 Diabetes can also potentially cause you to experience silent ischemia, a reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle through the coronary blood vessels that is painless and symptom-free. If you experience a sudden, unexplained change in your ability to exercise, without any other symptoms, immediately stop exercising and consult with your physician as soon as you can to rule out silent ischemia.

3 Whole #Eggs Every Day for #wellness #longevity

Eat 3 Whole Eggs Every Day! You’ll Be Surprised What It Does To Your Body 

Several years ago the health organizations from all over the world warned the population about the cholesterol content in the eggs – just like avocados or coconut oil, it was believed that the eggs are also dangerous for our health. One egg includes 180-186 mg of cholesterol while the liver generates 1000-2000 mg of cholesterol every day.

If you eat foods with high concentration of cholesterol, the liver will adapt the production. By consuming eggs you will not increase your cholesterol levels, but only substitute one cholesterol with another.

This is why you should consume eggs regularly:

Nutrients

Eggs contain high levels of vitamins A, B6 and E, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium and many other important nutrients. The foods that include all of these minerals and vitamins are very rare.

Cholesterol

Eggs include good cholesterol (HDL). This cholesterol is not dangerous for your health, instead, it is very beneficial since it assists the body to generate vitamin D and hormones like testosterone, estrogen and cortisol.

The good cholesterol doesn’t build up on the walls of blood vessels like the bad cholesterol does. Instead, the good cholesterol cleans them and disables appearance of diseases like atherosclerosis. It doesn’t raise the possibility of cardiovascular diseases and reduces the concentration of bad cholesterol. You should avoid consummation of sugar and have a healthy diet and lifestyle in order to keep your cholesterol levels balanced.

Choline

Eggs are very rich source of choline which is important nutrient that allows proper brain development and improves the memory. It is a precursor to a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine, and it is vital for the pregnant women because it reduces the risk of development of abnormalities in the fetuses. 90% of the American population lacks of choline, which is the reason why they are prone to muscle damage and non-alcoholic liver fatty disease.


Keeps your vision sharp

Lutein and zeaxanthin are potent carotenoids that improve the vision. They lower the possibility of age-related macular degeneration and keep your eyes safe from sunlight harm while lowering the possibility of cataract by 50%.

Feed your muscles

2 eggs contain the same levels of protein like 1 portion of meat, but without consuming the fat and acidity of the meat. In many diets you will see an instruction of eating only the white of the egg, but you should know that the half of the protein concentration in the eggs is located in the yolk.

Feed your bones

Eggs also contain high amount of vitamin D and calcium which are necessary for the adequate bone development and firmness. Vitamin D allows better absorption of calcium in the body, while calcium is necessary for adequate blood clotting, nerve signals and muscle contractions.

Promote weight loss

Since the eggs are rich in many nutrients, they will make you feel satiated. They are low in calories and thus they are very helpful when it comes to losing weight. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition and The International Journal of Obesity did a studies that confirmed the fact that consuming eggs for breakfast lowers the amount of food you will consume during the day. 

This will result with weight loss and decreased body fat.