How to Manage your Diabetes

April 30th, 2008 diabetes Posted in diabetic blood sugar, diabetic diets, diabetic meals, diabetic medication, diabetic medications, diabetic socks, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply, free glucose meter, glucose control, glucose diabetes, medical billing certification, medical coding Comments Off

Diabetes is a disorder which affects the body’s ability to use insulin properly. People with diabetes are not able to produce insulin or enough insulin. Insulin is important as it controls the amount of sugar in the blood and the rate of glucose in the cells. Glucose produces energy and the food for our brains which is essential to maintain a good health . According to the American Diabetes Association there are around 18 million Americans suffering from Diabetes. It is estimated that 16 million are Pre-Diabetes.There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 only affect around 8% of the total population of diabetes. People with this type of diabetes usually have it in early stage of life. Their pancreas cannot produce insulin at all. They are considered Insulin-Dependent and they have to take insulin for life. This situation could have been cause by a virus. There is now no scientific cure for Type 1 Diabetes. We won’t, in this paper, deal with Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes usually occurs around the middle-age and is the most common with around 90% of the total population of Diabetes. Their pancreas don’t produce enough quantities of insulin. There is a new phenomenon, that is an increasing number of young people developing Type 2 Diabetes. This is linked to the rates of obesity among younger age category of the population. This is becoming a social and political issue since obesity is the biggest factor in getting diabetes and obesity is considered also to be linked with sixty different diseases. The big concern is that when blood sugar is not maintained at a proper level, complications will surface. High blood sugar levels can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and nerve damage. Their pancreas don’t produce enough quantities of insulin. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead also to cardiovascular disease and it is more likely that patients with diabetes have greater chances to contract cardiovascular disease and the majority of them also suffer from high blood pressure

If you suspect to have diabetes, and you have a family history of diabetes, and you are overweight, it is imperative that you consult health professionals in order to measure your levels of glucose in the blood. There are some symptoms like loss of libido, chronic fatigue, wounds not healing normally, blurred vision, excessive urination that are also very good signals.People controlling their diabetes can live a normal life. The first step is to examine your eating habits and determine which foods should be avoided and which ones would be more appropriate for your situation. Some changes in lifestyle, exercise on a regular basis and an appropriate healthy diet should be undertaken. It would be beneficial to remove toxins from your body and undertake a good body cleansing program since now we are living in a very toxic world. The second step would be losing extra weight because as mentioned above obesity is the most important factor in getting diabetes. The third step would be to get some natural supplements to stabilize and decrease your blood sugar levels but always consult a health professional before replacing your medications.

Among natural supplements, I suggest organic garlic supplement like Kyolic (good for stabilizing and decreasing blood sugar levels), Coenzyme Q10 (good for heart protection and immune system , stabilization of your blood sugar), Magnesium (good for increasing energy), Vitamin C (good for preventing complications), Vitamin B Complex (good for improving the metabolism of glucose), Zinc (good for compensating deficiency among those with diabetes). There are natural products offering a mix of those supplements. Using natural supplements can help you to ensure proper blood sugar levels and to stay healthy for a long time.

If you revise your lifestyle, there will a time that extra insulin and medication will not be needed any more.

Gilles Coulombe, B.A. B.LL D.S.A.
Health Couselor
http://www.NewHealthFrontier.com
Gac@videotron.qc.ca

If you suspect to have diabetes, it would be more than appropriate to take the necessary steps proposed in my article. As I mentioned with a controlled diabetes, your can stay healthy for a long time. However, uncontrolled diabetes can lead you to major health complications.

Take action now, for an healthier and happier life. The natural supplements suggested in my article can do the job. It would be wise to remove first the toxins from your body. The cleansing program of Bowtrol is very good. Q10 from Botanic will help you to protect your heart and immune system. Balance your blood sugar naturally from Health Resources is becoming a big winner. Be a winner yourself and take action now.

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Natural Treatment For Diabetes

April 30th, 2008 diabetes Posted in diabetic blood sugar, diabetic diets, diabetic meals, diabetic medication, diabetic medications, diabetic socks, diabetic supplies, sugar diabetes Comments Off

Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes is a serious illness where the body loses its ability to utilize insulin, a chemical our pancreas makes to control the level of glucose in the blood. Type 2 often develops in overweight adults. Insulin tablets are sometimes used for type 2 diabetes although insulin is given in injections in more severe cases.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition usually brought on by lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise and too much sugar or carbohydrates in the diet. Because it is lifestyle related, this condition is easier to control and may even be reversible with the natural remedies.

One herb that is most beneficial in the management of diabetes alone is herb golden seal (Hydratis canadenis). Golden seal is a bitter herb that has an antibiotic effect on the body and is used by many to fight infections. It is used by diabetics to lower the blood sugar. Pre-diabetics/ borderline diabetics have used golden seal with success before using insulin to lower sugar levels. Many diabetics have used golden seal herb along with other herbs to eliminate the need for insulin.

A combination of any of the following herbs will help to bring down and regulate blood sugar: cedar berries, burdock, horseradish, golden seal, and Siberian ginseng.

Psyllium hulls are also an excellent bulk fiber to use when suffering from diabetes. The fiber swells in the digestive tract and slows the absorption of sugars, which help keep blood sugar from spiking up and down rapidly. Taken before each meal, psyllium hulls are a positive addition for diabetics, especially those who lack fibrous foods in their diet.

Diabetes has been highly associated with a chromium deficiency, largely due to a top soil deficiency where our foods are grown. Herbal sources of chromium include kelp, licorice, and spirulina. Sugar and refined foods deplete chromium.

Trace minerals and zinc are other helpful supplements for diabetics of either type. Zinc is an important nutrient to diabetics because this mineral influences the digestion of carbohydrates in the body. Pumpkin seeds are one of the richest sources of zinc from nature.

Circulatory Herbs such as cayenne pepper are useful. They improve the circulation, balance the glands and strengthen the kidneys.

Exercise lowers the blood sugar levels as well incorporating a regular exercise program into our life is important either one is diabetic or not but if one is diabetic its important because he is suffering from high blood sugar. Walking is the most natural and comfortable form of exercise, it reduces blood sugar, improves circulation, cleans lymph nodes, increases the heart rate, gets the lungs pumping, and is a wonderful and safe exercise that every diabetic can enjoy.

I am a Urethane Technologist by profession. I don’t know much about diabetes. I only know that diabetes is a disease we can only fight if we have the right knowledge.I know that if I will not learn I will die a miserable death like my grand parents, so I am in a continuous process of learning each and every day. I have been diagnosed pre-diabetes last year. By eating proper balanced diet, exercise and following “Eat to live and not live to eat” we can live a healthy, joyful life just like non-diabetics.

For more information visit my free sites Red Diabetes and ABC of Diabetes to help diabetics. Visit these sites to regularly for the latest advancement and grab my free ebook I will be launching soon.

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D-chiro inositol in treatment of diabetes type 2

April 30th, 2008 diabetes Posted in Diabetes supply, blood glucose meter, blood glucose monitors, diabetes diets, diabetes drug, diabetes information, diabetes medications, diabetes nutrition, diabetes test, diabetes testing, diabetes treatments, diabetic blood sugar, diabetic diets, diabetic meals, diabetic medication, diabetic medications, diabetic socks, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply, free glucose meter, glucose control, glucose diabetes, medical billing certification, medical coding, medical transcription, sugar diabetes Comments Off

Many people have heard about d-chiro inositol as a simply white powder or a simple compound. However, d-chiro inositol is an important component of the membranes of your cells and it is vital doing many biological processes in your body, d-chiro supports a number of essential “signaling molecules” that instruct cells how to behave. D-chiro inositol is an investigational agent that increases sensitivity to insulin. It has shown been promising treating people with less severe diabetes and women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

D-chiro inositol is found in a monomethylated or glycosylated form in legumes - especially in buckwheat -, beans and other plants and in complex structures, such as microorganisms. If you eat food containing d-chiro inositol, you will reduce efficiently high blood sugar levels.

D-chiro inositol has proven to influence the action of insulin in women who have insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia due to a d-chiro inositol deficiency. The amount of this one in muscle has been shown to be lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes than in normal people. However, there is one big problem; D-chiro inositol is not commercially available, neither as a drug nor as a nutritional supplement.

D-chiro inositol supplementation is generally well tolerated. Gastrointestinal effects such as nausea or diarrhea are occasionally reported with high doses used. However, no toxicity has been reported.

Nevertheless, pregnant women using d-chiro inositol may stimulate uterine contraction.

People affected by depression may suffer symptoms of bipolar disorder because of this agent, if you are taking antidepressant such as: fluoxetine sertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine and italopram, is recommended that you ask for doctor advise, the same with 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists, such as sumatriptan, because d-chiro inositol might increase the depression effects.

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Bad Food for Diabetics - Have You Excluded Them From Your Diet?

April 16th, 2008 diabetes Posted in diabetic blood sugar, diabetic diets, diabetic meals, diabetic medication, diabetic socks, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply Comments Off

There’s no one diet for diabetes. General guidelines exist, such as “eat less fat and saturated fat” and “eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.” Your diabetes meal plan must be based on your individual needs. When it comes to what to eat and what not to eat for diabetics, advice is abundance. With so much well meaning advice from various sources, it can be difficult to determine what food you should be including as part of your diabetic diet. Instead of what we should eat, why don’t we start with the types bad food for diabetics?

Basically, a diet low in saturated fat with well controlled blood glucose levels that incorporates weight control, exercise and fewer refined sugars is recommended. Controlling blood glucose levels with diet, and in some cases medication, is the key. To keep blood sugar levels under control, a diabetic diet strikes a balance among the carbohydrates, fats, and protein you take in. In addition, a 1,500-calorie diabetic diet restricts calories and fat. These fruits helps to control blood sugar, levels. Due to their low glycemic index, they promote a gradual increase in the blood sugar level which is highly beneficial to diabetics.

Carbohydrates encompass a broad range of foods, including table sugar, fruits and vegetables, and grains such as rice and wheat. Carbohydrates (be it potato or table sugar) typically take from five minutes to three hours to digest, whereas protein takes three to six hours and fat can take eight or more hours. That’s why different foods have different effects on blood sugar, such as why ice cream (higher in fat) raises blood sugar levels more slowly than potatoes. Carbohydrate choices should come from whole grains breads or cereals, pasta, brown rice, beans, fruits and vegetables. Increasing dietary fiber is a general guideline for the entire population rather than specifically for people with diabetes. Avoid simple, processed, and concentrated carbohydrates. Highly processed carbohydrates in packaged food such as, fast food, white bread, and white flour products, have a high glycemic index that causes spikes in sugar levels. Sugar and refined carbohydrates are undeniably linked to diabetes.

Beware of sugar-free cookies and other products made for diabetics. Even though they’re sugar-free, they may contain trans fats or have more fats than their sugary counterparts. Sugary foods are fattening. Many foods that have a lot of table sugar are very high in calories and fat. Sugar-free candy as well as as other products using the term “sugar-free” should be evaluated for total carbohydrate content. Sugar alcohols, though listed by their weight content within the food as listed in the Nutrition Facts panel, are not metabolized (broken down and used for energy) the way true sugars are.

If you have alcoholic drinks on an empty stomach, they can make your blood glucose level go too low. Alcoholic drinks also can raise your blood fats. Many people do not realize that milk can raise the blood sugar, because it doesn’t taste sweet?, but it does contain lactose, which will turn to glucose. One container of sugar free, fat free yogurt is also equal to one carb choice.

Eating good quality foods that are high in nutrients and fiber can help normalize blood sugars. Working with a doctor and being vigilant about diet can make a difference in the long-term health of a person living with diabetes. Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables may satisfy sugar cravings without jeopardizing sugar levels; the fiber in fruits, vegetables, and grains can regulate how quickly sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The ideal diet for people with diabetes aims to maintain a balance between sugars, fiber, fats and salt. No foods are completely forbidden but some foods, especially sugars, fats and salt need to be consumed in restricted quantities. Learning about Diabetes and making the right lifestyle changes, can help you maintain blood glucose and blood fat levels as close to normal as possible, as well as maintaining a reasonable body weight. All of these factors will help you to reduce the risk of developing the serious complications of Diabetes. Fat should be removed before cooking.

Following diabetic restrictions does not mean boring and mundane diet. Knowing what to eat and how much is the key to a healthy diabetic diet. Visit FreeRecipesForDiabetics.com to get free recipes for diabetic diet, meal plans, diabetic food grocery list as well as diabetic diet tips.

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Diabetes - Causes and Prevention

April 16th, 2008 diabetes Posted in blood glucose meter, blood glucose monitors, diabetes diets, diabetes test, diabetes testing, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply, glucose control, glucose diabetes, sugar diabetes Comments Off

Diabetes mellitus (sometimes called “sugar diabetes”) is a condition that occurs when the body can’t use glucose (a type of sugar) normally. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body’s cells. The levels of glucose in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose enter the cells.

In diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or the body can’t respond normally to the insulin that is made (type 2 diabetes). This causes glucose levels in the blood to rise, leading to symptoms such as increased urination, extreme thirst, and unexplained weight loss.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes)

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for 10-15% of all people with the disease. It can appear at any age, although commonly under 40, and is triggered by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or chemicals in people genetically predisposed. People with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times a day and follow a careful diet and exercise plan.

Type 2 diabetes (previously known as non-insulin dependent diabetes)

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with the disease. This type of diabetes, also known as late-onset diabetes, is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. The disease is strongly genetic in origin but lifestyle factors such as excess weight, inactivity, high blood pressure and poor diet are major risk factors for its development. Symptoms may not show for many years and, by the time they appear, significant problems may have developed. People with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes may be treated by dietary changes, exercise and/or tablets. Insulin injections may later be required.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

GDM, or carbohydrate intolerance, is first diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test. Between 5.5 and 8.8% of pregnant women develop GDM in Australia. Risk factors for GDM include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a community or ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal after the birth, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life. Self-care and dietary changes are essential in treatment.

Causes Of Diabetes

Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar), resistance to insulin, or both.

To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process of food metabolism. Several things happen when food is digested: A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body. An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel.

People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because their pancreas does not make enough insulin or their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally, or both.

There are three major types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. The body makes little or no insulin, and daily injections of insulin are needed to sustain life.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 and makes up most of all cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adulthood. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to the insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the growing number of older Americans, increasing obesity, and failure to exercise.

Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes.

Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans. About 54 million Americans have prediabetes. There are many risk factors for diabetes, including:

1. A parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
2. Obesity
3. Age greater than 45 years
3. Some ethnic groups (particularly African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic Americans)
4. Gestational diabetes or delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
5. High blood pressure
6. High blood levels of triglycerides (a type of fat molecule)
7. High blood cholesterol level
8. Not getting enough exercise

The American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults over age 45 be screened for diabetes at least every 3 years. A person at high risk should be screened more often.

How To Prevent Or Control Diabetes

Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. You can do it by eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. In other words: you don’t have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards. Learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.

Small Steps. Big Rewards. Your GAME PLAN to Prevent

Watch Your Diet

There is no one magic diet that works for everyone. Nor is there a single diet that works best for one individual over a long time. Pay attention to your genetics, and to your ethnic group’s traditional foods. If you are African American, that does not mean overcooked vegetables or pork rinds. Such garbage came on the nutritional scene only recently, and is not a true ethnic food. The same is true for Italians who overdose on pepperoni pizza. Being Italian myself as, well as having enjoyed fantastic African cuisine, I can tell you there is a lot more to these diets than the recent introductions often associated with these cultural groups.

Except for Eskimos and a few other highly specialized ethnic groups, all diets must adhere to the same few macronutrient rules. For example:

Eliminate as many processed carbohydrates as possible.
Don’t eat carbohydrates 2 hours before bedtime.
Balance your fat/carbos/protein in a roughly 30-40-30 ratio (this is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule–it doesn’t work for everyone).
Eat at least 5 or 6 small meals a day.
Always eat a high-protein breakfast.
Did you know that the peanuts offered on airlines are LESS fattening than the fat-free pretzels?
It’s true. Stay away from fat-free foods–they make your insulin levels do a yo-yo, and that makes you put on fat. Yuck. Worse, it sets the stage for adult-onset diabetes.

Do NOT eat white flour, bleached flour, enriched flour, or any other kind of wheat flour that is not whole wheat. The glycemic effects of such flours will work against you. Eat whole grain flours, and try to get a variety. Amaranth and soy are two good flours. Eat oat groats instead of oatmeal. In short, get your grains in the least-processed form you can. This holds true for everyone, regardless of genetics (unless you have a malabsorption problem). This one “trick” will help you keep your insulin level on an even keel, and that is paramount to diabetes prevention and management.

What also holds true for everyone is: drink lots of water! Fill a gallon jug twice a day, and make sure you drink all of it. Once you get as lean as you want to be, cut back to a single gallon if you want to. For added fat loss, drink chilled (but not super cold) water. Sodas do not count. Such beverages are extremely unhealthy, for reasons I won’t cover here. However, I will say that if you want to get osteoporosis, soft drinks are for you. Soft drinks make for soft bones.

Make sure to eat at least 5 or 6 small meals a day, rather than one big one. Doing so levels out your insulin and your blood sugar. Forget about that full feeling. If you find yourself overeating out of anxiety or boredom, fix the underlying problem — don’t add to it by poor eating!

Stay Healthy.

My Name is Abayomi Aje, I have written many articles concerning weight loss and other health related articles some of which can be found on my blog at http://yourhealthdoctor.blogspot.com

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Diabetes Treatment With Vitamins

April 16th, 2008 diabetes Posted in Diabetes supply, diabetes diets, diabetes drug, diabetes information, diabetes medications, diabetes nutrition, diabetes test, diabetes testing, diabetes treatments, diabetic blood sugar, diabetic diets, diabetic meals, diabetic medication, diabetic medications, diabetic socks, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply, free glucose meter, glucose control, glucose diabetes, medical billing certification, medical coding Comments Off

Diabetes is tagged as the silent killer disease. This is due to the fact that almost all of the patients suffering from this disease rarely know that they have it at all. Diabetes rarely exhibits symptoms. More often than not, patients would feel nothing wrong with them. There won’t be notable changes in their bodies and so they never address the disease until after it is too late.

Right now, there are quite a number of medications that were developed to manage the effects of diabetes in a patient. However, the actual cure is yet to be found. Medical doctors around the world claim that the medicine that could totally wipe out this disease is still in the development stages.

Since doctors can’t fully assure their patients that they can treat them from diabetes, people are constantly looking and trying other methods of treatment. Currently there are a number of natural remedies for diabetes out in the market. But still, the most effective of it all are vitamins and minerals.

Patients don’t die due to diabetes. It is the complications of the disease that affect them most. And this is exactly where vitamins play a very crucial role. Adding the right types of vitamins to your diet would provide you with relief from diabetes and its symptoms. Hopefully, you can maintain that healthy condition throughout your lifetime.

Vitamins C, E, A, and B are very good for diabetic patients. Each of these vitamins has their own role to play inside the person’s body. These vitamins could help a lot in regulating sugar production and energy exertion.

Vitamin C for Diabetes

Vitamin C is the vitamin that can save cells from dying. Diabetes doesn’t really cause death. What brings rise to a severed medical condition are the complications of the disease. The role of Vitamin C for diabetes patients is to prevent cells from converting sugar into sorbitol, which is another type of sugar but in alcohol form. The build-up of sorbitol in the body could lead to kidney and nerve damages.

Diabetes Treatment with B Complex Vitamins

If there were one disease that could be treated by the B complex Vitamins, it would be Diabetes. Almost all B complex vitamins contribute in alleviating its nasty effects in the body. Niacin, folic acid, thiamin, and Vitamin B6 play a role in converting starches and sugar to energy. Deficiency of the B vitamins would only cause increased sugar content in the body. A complete B vitamin supplements should help your body in managing the disease.

As such, it is strongly recommended that foods rich in these vitamins should be taken regularly. Eat good amounts of fruits and vegetables to ensure that your body gets the necessary nutrient you need each day. However, it is also important that you tell your doctor the type of diet you are following. Doctors need to monitor a diabetic’s food consumption and weight for better disease management.

Examples of food items that you should take are green leafy vegetables, fruits, wholegrain, nuts, and dairy products. Ask your doctor how much and how often you can eat these foods. It should depend upon your body mass index and your way of living.

Vitamins are the perfect supplements of the commercial medicines that your physician prescribes. Keep in mind that full recovery form diabetes is attained faster if you continue taking your prescription medicines and not abandon them in favor of the natural remedies.

The author is the owner of VitaminBag - http://www.vitaminbag.com For more information about vitamin treatments for Diabetes visit http://www.vitaminbag.com/treatment/diabetes.aspx .

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Diabetes - Methods Of Insulin Delivery

April 5th, 2008 diabetes Posted in diabetic supplies Comments Off

Insulin may be delivered in one of a number of ways: under the skin (subcutaneous), into the muscle (intramuscular), or into the vein (intravenous). The instrument used for delivery of insulin may be a syringe/pen-needle, syringe autoinjector, hydrospray injector, IV infusion equipment, or insulin infusion pump. Subcutaneous insulin is given only by syringe, pen, autoinjector, or hyprospray. When insulin is administered by vein, into the muscle, or with an infusion pump, only the short-acting insulin is given. The fastest way to receive insulin is through an injection into the vein. The next fastest way is to have it delivered by syringe and needle into the muscle. The peak action of intramuscular insulin is about 1/2 hours, rather than the 2 to 4 hours for insulin injected under the skin.

The important points about giving insulin subcutaneously are to ensure the cleanliness of the process and to give the correct amount at the right time . All parts of the procedure are important. However, while omitting certain steps will not have a detrimental effect on the blood-glucose levels, omitting some steps will. When getting insulin out of the bottle, first clean the top of the bottle, then replace the vacuum in which the insulin is placed by injecting into the bottle an amount of air that is equal to the amount of insulin to be removed. To be sure the correct amount of insulin is injected, you can do the following: check that the amount of air to be injected into the bottle is equal to the amount of insulin to be removed, check the amount of insulin in the syringe in relation to the dosage to be given, and check the syringe. against the bottle to make sure that you have placed the insulin from that specific bottle into the syringe.

To assure that the right bottle is chosen at the right time, color-code the labels (for example, red for morning mixture, green for the Regular at supper time, and blue for the bedtime NPH dose).

Read more on New Diabetic Information. Check out for Diabetic Supplies US and Specializing Diabetic Supplies.

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How Do You Adjust to Having Diabetes?

April 5th, 2008 diabetes Posted in Diabetes supply, diabetes information, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply Comments Off

How do you adjust to the diagnosis of diabetes or to being told that you have one or more of the complications of the disease?

Reacting To The Diagnosis

If you have just received the diagnosis of diabetes or if you have just heard of someone else with diabetes who is suffering from a variety of problems, you may be somewhat fearful. In any case, you know that having this disease will have a significant impact on your life and on your family’s life. As our mentor, Dr. Robert L. Jackson, has stated, ” This is a disease that has the potential of helping families to grow.” As complicated as the management program may seem, Dr. Jackson feels that it can be basically simple: eating nutritious foods to meet the needs of growth and activity levels, taking the amount of medication needed to cover the food and activity, and testing to see whether the decisions have been correct.

When you are first diagnosed, it is not helpful to you when others say that at least it’s better than having cancer (or some other disease), however true this may be. Even when they say, ” You’ll become more healthy because you’ll learn how to really take care of yourself,” it does not help at first. You’re too emotionally involved to be ready to learn at this point. Perhaps you’ll even find yourself saying some of these things to others about your diagnosis. Your family and friends may feel awkward around you. You can guide them by telling them that they don’t need to say anything; they just need to support you. Simply saying “I’m sorry this has happened to you” or giving you a hug can be enough at this time.

Seek out support people: those with whom you can talk comfortably and to whom you can display your true feelings and thoughts.

Ask your family to keep junk food out of the house; to not tempt you by offering you sweets; to give you an injection now and then (if you were really ill, this would come in handy); to learn how to treat an insulin reaction; and, especially for immediate family members, to attend diabetes education classes with you.

When the emotional edge is less and you start asking questions, then go to a source to learn as much as you can.

If you feel that you really haven’t adjusted to the diagnosis of diabetes or to having a complication of the disease, consider some other ways of thinking. Consider the ways of healthy living that are part of your control of diabetes. This knowledge could be shared with others. In the case of a complication, consider being grateful that the complication was discovered at an early stage, if true, or that stabilization of the complication is more possible now than it was 10 years ago. Consider talking to a counselor, pastor, or psychologist. There may never be an answer that satisfies you, but once you can accept the reality that you have diabetes or a complication, grasp this as a challenge, then get actively involved. As noted earlier, in some situations early diagnosis of a complication and improvement of diabetes control can reverse or slow the progress of the complication.

Read more on New Diabetic Information. Check out for Diabetic Supplies US and Specializing Diabetic Supplies

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Buying Diabetic Testing Supplies and Blood Glucose Meters Online

April 1st, 2008 diabetes Posted in Diabetes supply, blood glucose meter, blood glucose monitors, diabetes test, diabetes testing, diabetic blood sugar, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply, free glucose meter, glucose control, glucose diabetes Comments Off

Daily blood glucose tests are a way of life for anyone who suffers from diabetes. Without daily testing the diabetic is unable to properly manage and treat their disease which can lead to life threatening complications. Diabetics normally test their blood sugars from 3 to 7 times a day which can quickly diminish their diabetic testing supplies.

These supplies include a blood glucose meter, test strips, lancets, and alcohol wipes. All of these except for the glucose meter need to be purchased on a regular basis as they are used up. This used to mean a trip to the local pharmacy to re-supply but now with the internet it is possible to work with a diabetic supply company that will ship the needed supplies on a monthly basis.

Now that the inconvenience of traveling to the local pharmacy once a month is no longer a problem it does pay to choose a reliable diabetic supply company. The good companies work as an intermediary between their customers and the insurance providers and Medicare. They do all the necessary paper work to speed up the process for their customers. This helps to ensure that the diabetic does not have to spend any money out of pocket, except for co-pays or deductibles.

Be sure to use a company that is well known and has an established track record in the diabetes testing supply business. Many times checking with your doctor for recommendations as to which company provides the best service works well. The good companies will also ship your supplies free of charge and set up automated shipments so you can be sure that your supplies will always arrive on time.

Managing diabetes is a lifelong task. Having the necessary diabetic testing materials on hand is an important part of this task as is having a well maintained blood glucose meter. Having a reliable supplier can make managing this disease easier and bring a certain peace of mind knowing that you will always have the tools you need close by.

Visit the website Diabetic Diet Plan for more information about buying diabetic testing supplies on the internet by clicking here.

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What Doctors Don’t Tell Diabetics About LDL Numbers

March 31st, 2008 diabetes Posted in Diabetes supply, diabetes diets, diabetes drug, diabetes information, diabetes medications, diabetes nutrition, diabetes test, diabetes testing, diabetes treatments, diabetic blood sugar, diabetic diets, diabetic meals, diabetic medication, diabetic socks, diabetic supplies, diabetic supply, sugar diabetes Comments Off

American standards of medical practice dictate that almost every diabetic will eventually be placed on a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, as soon as blood tests come back with an LDL number over 100 mg/dl two times in a row. But most diabetics, and many doctors, don’t realize that standard blood tests don’t even measure LDL, they estimate it.

While the numbers diabetics get with the lab reports tell them total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides, the LDL number is a guestimate. That’s because low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is lighter, bulkier, and harder to measure directly, so labs make a quick and dirty approximation as follows:

Total cholesterol - HDL - 1/5 of triglycerides = Estimated LDL.

We tend to think of cholesterol as either HDL (”good”) or LDL (”bad”), but there is also another form of cholesterol, VLDL, or very low density lipoprotein. Cholesterol is actually an essential substance, not a poison. Every cell in the body is lined, in part, with polymers made with cholesterol. Brain tissue requires enormous amounts of cholesterol. Cholesterol protects the “insides” of cells from oxidating chemicals “outside.”

Most of the body’s cholesterol is made in the liver. Only about 15 per cent, typically comes from food. Larger, lighter particles of cholesterol are progressively stripped down and used, VLDL to LDL to HDL, but only the LDL can become oxidized and trapped in the linings of blood vessels. And not all the LDL poses an atherosclerosis risk. The form known as apo-B can form plaques. Apo-A does not.

But how does this explain why diabetics are so often prescribed statins for cholesterol?

Let’s say you take your diagnosis of diabetes seriously, and you work hard to get your sugars down. You diet, you exercise, you take medication. You lower your blood sugars and your body has less excess glucose to turn into triglycerides.

Let’s take another look at that equation:

Total cholesterol - HDL - 1/5 of triglycerides = Estimated LDL.

If you lower your triglycerides, you raise your estimated LDL.

That would be fine if VLDL always equalled 1/5 of triglycerides, but it doesn’t. As you get better and better control over your diabetes, your LDL estimates are going to appear to go up, whether there’s more LDL in your bloodstream or not. Many diabetics are prescribed statin drugs they don’t need because it’s easier to write a prescription than to run another blood test.

Be forewarned that direct measurement of your LDL can cost more than all the other blood tests for your diabetes exam put together. If the test comes back that you do not really need a statin, however, the blood test pays for itself in about four months–and you will not be needlessly exposed to any side-effects of statin drugs. Even better, a doctor who takes the trouble to measure your actual LDL is far more likely to respect all the effort it takes for you to control your blood sugars.

 

Robert Rister also wrote Could Curcumin Lower Cholesterol? and Red Yeast Rice for High Cholesterol

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